B (2:40)

Yeah, no, that's the amazing thing about life in general. You know, we impact lives, we touch people we have no idea, but it makes a difference. And you know, my grandmother who raised me said that Jesus was the light of the world, but we're all lights and we all have a responsibility to, you know, show what, what is possible because you don't know who's watching.

A (3:01)

Well, again, I appreciate you, brother, so much, so much. And, and Mr. Hudson, I love to start my show by asking my guest about their because. Right. Like, not your why, but. But that thing that's deeper than your why. Like, I call it your true purpose. Like if I were to ask someone what's your why? They say, like, my kids are my family. But then when I say but why? They usually say, well, because, blah, blah, blah. I care about the because. So if I were to say Ernie Hudson today, what's your because?

B (3:32)

Well, that's just kind of interesting, I think, because the simplest way is, was because I can. Because I'm still able to. Because for reasons some of my own, some of just God given, I'm blessed to be able to do what I do at a level that I, you know, I'm. I don't say I'm proud of, but I enjoy. But the real, I suppose, because is, you know, having family, having children. I talked about being an example, but just the possibilities. Because in our community, African American community, we hear all the stories of what is expected. Want to, you know, be an example of what's possible. You know, I'll turn 80 in less than a week.

A (4:13)

19Th? Yes, sir, on the 17th.

B (4:15)

And I never. Well, I shouldn't say I never expected, but that's a big number even in my mind. But to be blessed, to work and move around the way I am, you know, I see friends and so if God has given me this ability, I want to honor that and certainly, you know, do the best that I can do with the gifts that God has given me.

A (4:39)

You totally are doing that and then some. So again, you, you are living your because and I see it every day. And you know, you talk about turning 80 soon. And I know you hear this all the time. Ernie Hudson doesn't look 80, doesn't move 80. Like, I don't want to know what the secret is, what I want to Know is can I be adopted, get the last name Hudson so that maybe through osmosis, that rubs off on me because I've seen the genetics, I've seen Ernie Jr. And I've seen clearly, man, like I'm trying to be a Hudson. How about that?

B (5:09)

You know, I've been very blessed. I have four sons and they're, they're all amazing. Totally different in their own ways. Yeah, I feel very, very. I was a single dad to the first two and now my wife and I, we've been together for close to 50 years. But yeah, I'm, I'm just so proud of all the kids and none of them are quite living the lives that I expected. Then I had to let go and just go, you know what, do your thing and I'm here for you. And yeah, as I get older, parenting, looking at your children and realizing that it's their own journey and you have to support them.

A (5:47)

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. I want to talk a little bit about your journey. I mean, again, for years you've been that person I wanted to be. And so I feel like I know more about Ernie Hudson than most people. Right. So, you know, starting out in theater and doing things at Wayne State University, like when did you know that this was a path that you wanted to, to travel?

B (6:09)

You know, I think it was in 66. I had, I'd been trying jobs. I got married in 64, you know, right out of high school. My wife was just turned 16. So small town, this is what people did. My ex wife, who eventually earned a Ph.D. was really brilliant. She sort of introduced me to books and just started thinking out of the box. I went to the military. That didn't work out. Came back and so I was trying all kinds of jobs. I just wanted to. My grandmother raised me and said, you know, I want you to be something. So trying different jobs. I finally found a job with the Michigan Bell telephone company as a communications consultant where I got to wear a tie and I had a little secretary and, and I hated it. So I just felt a little frustrated because I've been trying so hard to find something. And we had moved to Detroit and I had an argument with my then wife and I just had to get out of the house. And I remember driving around and I saw a line of people lined up to go into this building. It wasn't a movie theater, but. And out of curiosity, I just sort of stopped and asked what was going on. And he said it was a play. I'd never seen a professional play.

A (7:26)

And I.

B (7:27)

And I went in, took a seat, and it was a play called Papa's Daughter, and it was about a father whose daughter got pregnant and he disowned her. And then in the end, they come back together. And when it was over, I was. I was so moved, I was in tears. And I thought, oh, my God, that is like, you know, if I could do something like that, but that's too big a prayer. I can't even ask God for that. And that coming semester, I needed an elective, and I took a theater, an acting class. And literally, when I walked in the theater and walked on stage, it's like, I knew this. I was home. You know, I'd never been home before all my life, you know, you're looking for this, you're looking for that. I felt I'm home. This is it. And that's when you ask God that prayer. If you bless me to do this, I. I will honor it. I will show up on time. I will do my best, you know. And from that time on, except for maybe a couple little odd things, I've never had to earn a living outside of my profession. I was with a group of actors. Joy Montaigne, Tim Daly, Joe Panliano. We were all sitting around and they were telling about various jobs they had to work in between. And I've been blessed, you know, even raising a family to be able to earn a living acting and in the business.

A (8:51)

And I'll be honest, the hardest part of staying consistent in the gym isn't motivation. It's knowing exactly what to do when you walk in. That's why I've been using fitbod. I open the app and it builds my workout instantly based on my goals, the equipment I have, and even how my muscles are recovering from. From my last session. It honestly feels like having a personal trainer in my pocket without the guesswork. What I love most is I don't have to waste time planning the workout is there. It pushes me and it adapts as I get stronger so I'm not hitting plateaus or getting bored. If you want to level up your workout in the new year, join Fitbod today to get your personalized workout plan. Get 25% off your subscription or or try the app free for seven days at fitbod. Me Mick that's F I T B o d me Mik. Here's the real truth about AI. AI didn't change my businesses because it's cool. It changed my businesses because it removed friction. My teams move fast. Podcast production, media deals, leadership development, we have systems everywhere, and for a long time, speed meant chaos. Then we leaned into Zapier. Zapier is how we stopped talking about AI and started deploying it. We used Zapier to connect the tools that we already use every single day. Leads get enriched automatically, workflows trigger without reminders, systems talk without meetings. And here's what matters. You don't need to be technical, you don't need it. You don't need complexity. Zapier is built for real teams doing real work who want real results. No hype, no buzzwords, just time back and momentum forward. Join the 3.4 million companies already automating with Zapier and transform how you work with Zapier and AI. Get started for free by visiting zapier.com Mick that's Z A P I E R A.com Mik and then let's talk about from theater and plays to the big screen. Right? And for those that are listening, those that are watching, that's not easy either, Right. Like, you may want to do the Hollywood route, but being selected, breaking into Hollywood, especially at the time, it's not easy now. But you could argue it's a little bit easier now than it was in the late 60s, early 70s when you broke in. Like, talk to us about that transition from theater to Hollywood.

B (11:29)

Well, I mean, just the numbers now you turn on TV and it's. It's not at all unusual. See, multiple lot of shows having black, even black leads. That was unheard of. I mean, it might be Sidney Poitier, but there will only be one Sidney Portier until Denzel comes along. But. Right, so they have to reject the roles.

A (11:48)

They have to reject them for anybody.

B (11:50)

To anybody else to get them, you know, so, yeah, that was. And it was very clear. And then Roots came out. I remember Roots came out and we thought it would open up and it went the other way. It shut things down. I mean, it's. So it was a deliberate attempt to not include us. But I got into theater in probably the first 10 years, from 66 until maybe 73, I think I was on stage, I did plays. I think that's where the confidence, where you just, you know, where you, you love the craft. I tell people, as a kind of a joke, that, you know, the theater is where I found love. And movies and TV is like sex, you know, it's great if you can get it. But, you know, don't think this is love because, you know, they'll move on very quickly. But in the theater, you know, you rehearse for four weeks and you get to know the people and they're like your family and you support each other. And it was very, very supportive. When I came out to Hollywood was kind of my marriage ended and I really wanted to go to New York, but my ex wife, who was then working on her PhD did not want to take the kids, which was a shock to me because I never heard of anybody not how do you not take the kids? But she was serious. And so me and the kids came to Hollywood. And I came to Hollywood because I have a brother who was there and I knew that no matter what happened, he would always be sort of a bankrupt. And I got a little one bedroom apartment and I heard a number one in ten. So in my mind, if I can get one in ten interviews, you know, I'm going to be okay. So there was a lot of rejection, but I never got the 1 in 10. It was always, I never, you know, it was always. And I think it's just a lot of. I talked to a lot of men about taking the responsibility. I was a little thrown off when I had to take the responsibility of my kids because I thought it would hold me back. But the truth is, it's the thing that really gave me a certain determination. I'd go into a meeting and they would say, no, thank you. And I would go, no, hold up, we're going to do this again. Because I need this job. I need to set an example for my sons of what's possible. I didn't want to say to them, oh, this is America, you can do whatever. And yet I can't live my dream. So I was just determined. I think maybe the biggest thing, and I talk a lot about this when I didn't have a dad, never knew my father, or never met him, and my grandmother would say that God is my father. And as a little kid, I kind of embraced that because I was always embarrassed by that. My brother, I have a half brother. He knew his father, his father wasn't around, but at least he knew who he was. And so Hudson is my brother's name. My grandmother wanted to keep the same names. And she would say that that source that is our creator is aware of us and will aid us and it speaks to us and it will guide us and that's our birthright. It's not like you have to go and join somebody's whatever. And so all my life, especially when it came to acting, I realized that I didn't have the money or the connection, but that source would Guide me. And it would. It would open doors when I couldn't even imagine. And so there were times when it would be like, impossible. And yet somehow or other a way was made and I knew that I. It wasn't me doing the making, you know, so it was my job to show up and be prepared and give my best. But that was pretty much all I could do because I didn't, you know, I didn't have friends who could manipulate things or knew anybody who. But I just had to. A story in the Bible about the brides who were waiting for the groom and then several of them fell asleep and they weren't prepared, but the one who was ready. So my job was always to be ready for that. That opportunity. And God is now on one hand, I think when I said that prayer about wanting to be an actor, maybe I should have thrown in there, you know, multi millions.

A (15:55)

And you were starring role in that prayer, huh?

B (15:58)

Yeah, I should have been more specific. You know, I wanted to be a working actor, and God is blessing me to do that, and I'm very thankful. But I've had friends who've come along and gone on to get a bigger name or whatever. But I look at my, you know, my family and I've been blessed to travel the world and I have no regrets. But sometimes you got to go, well, there's no Oscar on my shelf there, you know, so, you know. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's. That's true. Yeah. And I. I'm just very, very, very blessed. But I know that it's because of, you know, a lot of people say, well, they believe in God and all that, and I'm not pushing any kind of religion, but I do believe there's a source. I see a lot of people say they do, but they're. They seem to be very afraid of a lot of things. And I'm like, if. If that's true, then I don't really have to worry about it. I just have. I just have to show up. Don't get long answer. I apologize. I can run on sometimes.

A (16:59)

No, no, no, that's perfect. This. This is your time. And I'm never. I'm just honored that you're here with me. And hearing you say those things makes me reflect back to. To the roles that you play. Like, I look at you, and the roles that you play seem to carry, like a moral weight to them. Right, right. Your leaders or fathers, men of principle. Is that on purpose by the roles that you select? Like, walk us through, like how you select the Roles that you will say yes to?

B (17:26)

Well, to some extent, it's on purpose. You know, I always say most actors don't know why they're not working, and they don't know why they are working. Cause nobody will tell you the truth in Hollywood, I should say nobody. But it's rarely where you get the truth. I think you bring a certain spirit to what you do, even though the characters hopefully are different. And I believe the characters should serve the story. So I'm here to tell the story. And if you don't believe that I am what I'm supposed to be, then if you so focus on me and how I look and all that, then that's. That's a problem. But. But I've been asked to do things that I kind of go, you know what? I don't want to do that. And other people have done those roles and did very well. And I have nothing bad to say about that. It's just. It wasn't right for me to do. I think there's a reason things didn't unfold in certain ways, because sometimes there's a weightedness if it was a great story and the character was something. But unless there's a reason for me to be a certain way. And sometimes I've done things where they wanted me to be less than to underplay so much that it made somebody else. And I kind of had to fight those. But so. And then also a lot of the work is just the work that's offered. You know, it's not like, you know, there's a pile of scripts on. There's never been a pile of scripts on my desk that I'm going to. What do I want to do next? You know, say whatever comes up. And then you. You have the choice to say yes or no. And like I said, there's a few times when I just. I just. I did a. A television show called Highcliffe Manor. This was one of the first shows I got back in the 70s. And it was. It was a. It was a character from South Africa who was a voodoo priest, and his name was Bamboo, and he had gold teet and earring. And in it, it was a comedy. Him and his guy, his partner, who we call Buana, rode a canoe across the ocean to get to America. Some nonsense and. But I wanted. I needed a job. And, you know, me and the kids and the rent was due and I went in and I auditioned and did, you know, and they laughed, but I always had the feeling they were kind of laughing at me, you know, and then I got the job. And we were having some friends roll over, and Shirley Ralph was at this little gathering, and she was sort of looking through the script, and she said, oh, my God. And everything stopped. So I know you're not going to do this now. I hadn't really wanted to think about this, but then, you know, this character named Bamboo, and it's like Sambo and, you know, all these things that were there. And so we were in the middle of rehearsing, and I just, I just finally had to say, you know, I can't do this. Just went to the producers and said, I know there are a lot of people out there who would love the job. There's more money than I ever made in my life. But I, I, I can't. And thank you very much. So I left. And two days later they called me and said, you know, we thought about what you said, and we, we, we'd like to fix this, and we really want you. And so they changed the name from Bamboo to Smythe. And he, he's a voodoo priest, so he understands the that. But how about we make. He's a PhD so it's a PhD. You don't need the earring or the gold teeth. And so they vet a lot to make. We don't have to say Bwana, you know. And I think it taught me, it was early on that, you know, a lot of things, you can just go, no. Sometimes they may, they may not agree, but at least, you know, you can make the changes. Because up until then, I'm from theater, and you try to do what's written there, but it's a different situation. I did a television show with Ted Knight called Too Close for Comfort. And there was a line where I come in and we're ex convicts who come to repair this hole in the wall in the story. And as I walk in, I see the hole and I go, holy. Mahalia. And he said, no, I don't know what that means. I'm like, and I got the job. And I said, you know, I can't do this. This. I mean, I don't even, you know. And the cast agreed. Ted Knight, and they all kind of came to my defense, said, yeah, that. Why does they have to say that? That makes no sense. It just looks. But the producer said, no, I want him to say it. When he did the audition, he said it, and it was funny, and I, and I wanted, I go, but it's not funny. I don't, doesn't make any sense. He said, well, either you do it or I'll just have to get somebody else. So then I thought about the car payment and. Is due.

A (22:05)

Right.

B (22:06)

Reality.

A (22:07)

So I said, oh, my.

B (22:08)

Hell, yeah. And I don't think anybody ever saw it anyways. But, yeah, but I think you do have to go, you know, is this. Is this because you're going to live with it for a long time? Those shows we did in the 70s, they're still playing, you know, on air and, you know, and you have to. You have to own up to it. But. But I try. I've tried to maintain a certain integrity in the work that I do.

A (22:31)

Absolutely. And, you know, my favorite show that's out now is Ernie Hudson and it's the family business. And again, you're as. I'm becoming the patriarch of my family. Right. Like, it's like I'm about to be that right there. But how you, again, the character that you have, the power that you play and building a family empire and portraying, you know, just that for our culture. How important has that role been to you personally?

B (23:02)

Yeah, it's been great. And I have to give a huge shout out to Carl Weber. He first got in touch with me about this project and said, I want to work with you. I respect your work. And. Because a lot of times in the past, especially at the fight, I don't fight for rules much anymore, but, you know, you had to go through changes. And it's the lead, which is usually I'm playing somebody else's something, and it's about this family, but it's a mob family, and I didn't see it. It's very clearly that's what it's about. But. But I know at the heart of it, it's about family and it's about, you know, my children. In fact, this season, kids, it can be challenging, but. But it was a chance for me to play that, to be that father. Valerie Penniford, who plays my wife, I. I love her so much because. Yeah, so. So that's what it's about. I'm amazed at the respect and appreciation that the fans have really come to it, because at first I wasn't sure. We started with very little money, and then, you know, we. We made a little movie and then bet, sort of added some and made a first season, and then we kind of. And I think it's gotten a lot better. The actors have really grown so much, and it's a great show where we can. I'm bringing in a lot of friends, people that I know work on the show. As a guy named Patrick Duffy who plays the Southern sheriff. The first movie, not the first movie I got, but the first movie I got when I moved to Hollywood was a Man from Atlantis and I had a little partner. He was the big star. He was the star of the show. So that was, I don't know, 50 years ago or something. It's, it's great for me to have him on the show and to, and kind of see in that circle. But now I do a show called Boston Blue where I'm the patriarch, but I'm a Baptist pastor.

C (24:56)

What if I told you that 2026 is the year you launch your business? Maybe you've got an idea you just can't shake. Or that hobby that everyone in your life is telling you to sell. Taking that first step and finally taking action can feel impossible. But with Shopify, all you need to turn your dreams into your new future is at your fingertips. Make 2026 the year you transform into the entrepreneur, founder and boss you were meant to be. And the one powerful move to make it all happen is starting your business with Shopify. Shopify gives you everything you need to sell online and in person, giving you all the tools to easily build your dream store. Choose from hundreds of beautiful templates that you can customize to match your brand and you can set up quickly with Shopify's built in AI tools that will help you write product descriptions and headlines as well as edit product photos. Millions of entrepreneurs have already made this leap from household names like Gymshark and Mattel to first time business owners just getting started. Marketing is built in too. You can create email and social campaigns within Shopify to reach customers wherever they are. And as you grow, Shopify grows with you. The same dashboard that you start with will evolve as your business does to handle more orders and expand to new markets in 2026. Stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at shopify.com realm. Go to shopify.com realm. That's shopify.com realm. Hear your first this new year with Shopify by your side.

A (26:37)

This is pro linebacker TJ Watt and I'm back with YPB by Abercrombie for another activewear drop. My second co design collection has new shorts and tanks that keep up with all my in season workouts. And their new Restore collection is a game changer off the field too, because even pro athletes like me need rest days. Shop YPB by Abercrombie in the app online and in stores because your personal best is greater than anything.

B (27:08)

But it's also family. And family is. Family's been the most fascinating thing for me and I love being able to kind of explore it in these different roles. Like I said, growing up without a dad and not knowing my mom, she died when I was three months old, so. But I had my grandmother people don't tell you much about. So I had my brother. I would see families. And I think the thing I wanted more than anything, I didn't think about a profession as much as I wanted to be a dad. I wanted to have a chance to do for someone what nobody ever did for me. You know, nobody introduced me to sports, nobody took the time to do. So Families, you know, and how we connect, how we. I have grandkids, great grandkids. And it's challenging because it's. But I love the family business and being able to be that patriarch and also if I'm going to have to do this illegal thing, which we don't focus on a lot or as much, but like I said, it's more about family. But at least be reasonable. If I have to do something, you will know why I had to do it. Not just me, because out in the Boston. Whatever.

A (28:19)

So anyway, definitely my favorite show first season. I binge watched it in like a day and a half, like literally the whole first season. And I've been hooked. And it's literally one of, like I said, my. My favorite show that's out there now. So kudos to you for that. You talked about Boston Blues. So before I get you out of here with my quick five, what else is Ernie Hudson working on?

B (28:43)

Well, you know, between those two shows and I'm up here and we shoot at Boston Blue in Toronto. I never worked in Toronto and at my age now I'm like, you know, this is. I'm not at home, so we're gonna have to have a conversation as we move forward. We got picked up for a second season, but yeah, it's, you know, so it's. It's fun, but also Toy Story and I'm enjoying a lot in it. Call Weathers. Yeah, I've known Carl for 40 years, but he originated the thing, the role in GI Joe or something. So when I took the role, I had no idea this was true. The fans informed me that it happened, but. Which is fine. But. So I'm be doing that. I think it comes out next year, the new Toy Story. And there's another project being Ghostbusters that I can't talk About. I'm like, really?

A (29:36)

But we won't say anything about it. Yeah.

B (29:38)

So I, I, you know what? I'm. So. They call me Ernie. You know, you can't. Anyway, fans tell me everything I know about Ghostbusters. They know about it things before I even hear of it. But, yeah, no. So I've been blessed to stay busy. And, you know, I did a. Just did a kind of a layout for Men's Fitness. I did this thing called Gym to Fridge, which has been, I guess, on YouTube. But. So I'm trying to convince them that, you know, I'd be a great cover for men over a certain age and men in general.

A (30:09)

I was gonna say men over 30. That's Ernie Hudson right there.

B (30:12)

You are the model. So hopefully I would love to. But I'm just, I just stay busy, you know, and blessed to, you know, the phone still rings and, you know, I, you know, people say, when will you retire? And I. In my business, thankfully, you don't have to retire. You retire when they stop calling you, I guess. But also, I think there's a point when I've worked with some fellow actors, some younger than me, but they struggle with lines and memorizing and sometimes even physically, I was working with a friend who was on a walker, you know, just physically not capable. And I think if the time comes when I'm no longer capable of bringing my best, I think that's one that I think. I hope I'm aware enough to just step aside as opposed to someone telling me that, yeah, I need to.

A (31:04)

Yeah, absolutely. Well, again, honored to have you on. I'm going to get you out of here. Rapid fire, five questions.

B (31:11)

Okay, you ready? Sure.

A (31:13)

All right. What's the favorite. Your, Your favorite line that you've delivered on screen?

B (31:18)

What comes to mind right off the top of my head, if there's a steady paycheck in.

A (31:21)

And I'll believe anything you say.

B (31:23)

I don't know if that is. But that's what came to my mind.

A (31:26)

There you go. There you go. What's one movie you wish you would have starred in?

B (31:31)

One movie. Maybe, you know, the Rocky stuff. The Rocky movies. That would have been. And I love what Carl did. I take anything away, but I think I could have brought up. Yeah, I wish I could have started that.

A (31:43)

There you go. Good stuff. I think I know the answer to this, but I'm gonna ask it anyway. What's one hidden talent that you have that most people don't know about?

B (31:51)

The hidden talent. I think I'm, I think I Have a comedic talent that I. I've done some comedies, but I've never been able to, you know, just take some material and have fun with.

A (32:03)

That's exactly what I would have said.

B (32:05)

Oh, okay. Yeah. No, I think most people think I'm very serious and I'm going. I don't know. I think maybe the voice.

A (32:11)

Yeah.

B (32:11)

And they need to wall. He's very. And I'm. I'm. I always feel like I've never had a job. You know what I mean? Yeah, I have. No, but people do. I have raising kids. I know how to. To turn my voice and maybe expression, to just make it when I'm on the set and people get a little too goofy, friendly. I'm trying to make a backup, you know, so.

A (32:31)

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Talking about fitness, how often are you in the gym now?

B (32:36)

You know, if I'm being really honest with this, because, yeah, a lot of people think I. I'm very inconsistent. I'll get in a mold and I get to the gym three times a week, sometimes four. And then I'll do that for two and a half months. And then I don't do anything for six months. You know, I mean, I. If I get caught up with stuff. But when I say I don't do anything, I don't. I don't get in the gym. I've never been a gym rat. I've never been a bodybuilder. You know, whatever I am, it's God given. But I will now, as I've gotten older, probably from my. Definitely my 70s, I'll stretch out, do a light stretching because you want to be flexible. Because the. One of the biggest dangers as you get older is falling down and breaking something. So I'll try to stretch and I. There are five things I do. I do push ups. I'll try to get to a. I'll try to. I do about 100 pushups, but with three sets. So maybe I'll do 40 at first and then whatever. But as long as it's over 100. Some kind of stomach crunches, you know, squat. I mean, the crunches or sit ups or leg raises, something that focuses on the abdominal muscle. Squats that just gets the blood going in my legs and planks that just because for me, the fountain of. Not the fountain abuse, but the look of you is in the midsection, you know, you. No matter what's happening, if you can keep that midsection, you know, so that's the area that I kind of focus on. If I lay flat on my back And I don't get the full extent of my rib cage. I know that I probably should. And also I think as I get older, it hasn't been so much exercise as much as dieting and sometimes fasting. If I really feel, if I get starting to get out of stream, I'll just stop eating. So, you know, just being aware, you know, of what we're taking in because you can exercise all you want, but if you're not eating right, you know, so just being aware of the common sense stuff that, like I said, the universe will guide you. And we know my grandmother say don't, don't, don't worry about doing something brilliant. Don't worry about, you know, just don't do the stupid stuff. And we all know what the stupid stuff is and we do it anyway and there's a price to pay for it. So just use your common sense.

A (34:48)

Absolutely. Last question. Mr. Hudson, today, if you could describe your life in one word, what would that one word be?

B (34:55)

Blessed. Blessed. Blessed. Just the last thing I do before I go to bed is get on my knees and pray. And the first thing in the morning is just gifts. Thanks. And my prayer is just thank you. I just, yeah, just. I was. They dedicated the street I grew up on. They changed the name to my name. I went back for the ceremony. Had a lot of state representatives and city officials and all that, but there were hundreds of little kids who lived in the projects where I, who kind of came out. And I thought they all reminded me so much of me. And I realized that there was no. I wasn't an athlete that could jump higher than. I wasn't a. I was just a kid. But I had a faith in something that allowed me to dream outside the box and not be limited by. Because society tries to limit our dreams. And I know that there's greater things and that's that belief in God. And if some people, I know a lot of people in trouble with the word God, I don't think it matters, you know, the universe or whatever, but whatever that got us here has carried me through my life and I'm so thankful.

A (36:06)

Man, this has been my favorite interview. I finally got to talk to the person that I was shaping my fatherhood around. And I can't thank you enough, Mr. Hudson. And I know you're gonna say, call you Ernie, but you are Mr. Hudson right now. And because I owe you that, because you mean that much to me. So thank you so much.

B (36:27)

Thank you. And you honor me by just saying that. I mean, honestly, I just just, you know, you're. You're the. The next generation coming up. So just, you know, I admire and appreciate you. Thank you. You know, just being your best.

A (36:39)

Thank you so much. And to all the viewers and listeners, remember your because is your superpower. Go unleash it. That's another powerful conversation on Mick Unplugged. If this episode moved you, and I'm sure it did, follow the show wherever you listen. Share it with someone who needs that spark, and leave a review so more people can find there because I'm Rudy Rush. And until next time, stay driven, stay focused, and stay unplugged.