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- [00:01]
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- [00:31]
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Grainger knows. When you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail, filters ready to clog H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-Grainger click granger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.
- [01:00]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Life is always lifeing. As long as you live life, there will be things thrown at you. There will be trials, there will be tribulations, there will be obstacles that you have to overcome. Some you will, some you won't. It's all about your level of resilience and endurance. Everybody goes through something when they are being challenged. As a parent, just as a caregiver, just a guardian, you don't even have to be a parent. You can be somebody who watches over someone's kid. I don't get it right every day. That's why I do have a village. I thank God for my parents, my husband, my son's father, my mother in law, my father in law. Like it's a village. It really takes a village. None of this is easy. We make so much of so little. It can be such a minuscule issue. And we overthink and we amplify it in our mind. Just overthinking, creating scenarios and just going down these rabbit holes and it's like, yo, just stop and breathe. There's no manual to it. And every journey is different. Like I always express like it is different. But we all do what we gotta do. There's an instinct that kicks in and we got it.
- [02:08]
Rudy Rush
You are listening to Mick Unplugged, hosted by the one and only Mick Hunt. This is where purpose meets power and stories spark transformation. Mick takes you beyond the motivation and into meaning, helping you discover your because and becoming unstoppable. I'm Rudy Rush and trust me, you're in the right place. Let's get unplugged,
- [02:31]
Mick Hunt
ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to another exciting episode of MC Unplugged. And today, I'm truly honored to be with someone you've known for a long time, from skits to the Breakfast Club. But I know her as a best selling author. And we're going all in today on Baltimore's finest, Miss Jess. Hilarious. Jess, how you doing today, dear?
- [02:53]
Jessica Moore Toliver
I'm good, Mick. Thank you for that introduction. That was nice. I like that.
- [02:57]
Mick Hunt
You heard me say Baltimore, right?
- [02:58]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Baltimore all day without the tea. Don't put the tea in.
- [03:01]
Mick Hunt
I got it down.
- [03:02]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yes.
- [03:04]
Mick Hunt
So, Jess, I was just telling you how proud I am of you for this book. And we're gonna go places with that book. But, you know, I always like to ask my guests about their. Because that thing that's deeper than their why. I call it like your true purpose, your true mission. So if I were to say, Jess, today in 2026, what's your. Because why do you keep doing the things that you do?
- [03:27]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Oh, man. For one, you know, the obvious reason, my children, you know, and then legacy is very important. It's very important. I saw a clip of Mike Tyson one day. He was talking to a young reporter and they asked him about his legacy, and he just, like, his whole aura changed and he was like, what is legacy? Legacy is stupid. That's just like, you know, and I just. I was like, no, no, legacy is very important. Obviously there were things there, you know, that hurt him. I don't know what that was about, but that was the first time I ever heard of legacy spoken of in a way that was against everything that I had ever known it to be. And I was like, oh, my God, no. So my heart shattered for him, like, legacy is one of the most important things to ever leave behind. That's why it's important to have children. In my opin, it's like, what are you doing all this for? It has to be for a reason, you know, and that's why I wanted to share a piece of literature, you know, such as my co parenting memoir. So death. Do we parent? Because parenting is so linear. Like, it's different for everybody, but it's an ongoing thing. It's something that will never end. Relationships and friendships, contracts, you know, everything has an ending except parenting, you know, and that's very important, Very important. And every journey looks different, but I believe that we can all get the same outcome, you know, just with communication. And that's. That's really showing up for your kid, no matter what the other parent has put you through. So that's the main reason why I wanted to. That's my main reason why. There we go.
- [05:05]
Mick Hunt
There we go. No, I love it. And we're gonna get into a lot of the book, and I have a bunch of notes because I made my kids read this book from the viewpoint of this, because I call them my kids, but they're in their 20s now, right?
- [05:22]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Adults. Yeah.
- [05:24]
Mick Hunt
And they're going to be parents and are parents. And so understanding that something that I thought was really dynamic in the book was you talk about you and Rome, and Rome's in the book as well, too. And it's just like at some point you had to realize we aren't gonna make it.
- [05:44]
Jessica Moore Toliver
That's right.
- [05:44]
Mick Hunt
And I think a lot of times people. You talk about relationships, you talk about friendships. Like I've had to kick people out of my circle once I realized we ain't gonna make it, but there's a greater purpose that we need to unite for. And that's where I wanted to give you kudos. Because I think a lot of times people miss that and then there becomes hatred for the other person.
- [06:05]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Right?
- [06:05]
Mick Hunt
Because it's like, well, we're not gonna make it. Well, let's just not do anything. And then the kid goes and sees all that. You talk about the energy that kids read and that they see. I mean, talk about that for the audience, for the viewers and listeners.
- [06:20]
Jessica Moore Toliver
It's very true. It's very, very true. That's why it's very important to have, you know, a hap. And, okay, so you don't want to conflate the two. Because happiness. I always have to. People always get mad at me when I say it's not about being happy, it's about having joy, right? Because there's a huge difference, you know, like happiness, you know, that's an emotion, and that can change in 10 seconds. You know what I mean? Joy is something that you wear, something that you feel when you find joy. That takes healing to find joy. That takes self awareness to find joy, self love. And it takes a lot of growing up to do, to even, you know, to have that once, you know, once you've lived through so much trauma. And that speaks to forming a healthy bond between parent and child. Because your child only absorbs what you put out. You are your child's first teacher, you know, so it's very important to be happy and joyous. Happy is amazing. But you, when you have emotions, right, and you're operating from a bitter place, if you and the other parent are not doing good or you know, y' all are facing adversities in your relationship or whatever, and it has nothing to do with the child. And you start to notice different patterns in your children because you are walking around bitter, upset, with these motions, emotions, and holding on to just all this bitterness and energy. And. And then you're projecting that onto your child subconsciously, because you don't. You're not doing it on purpose. Most of us don't do it on purpose. But then you start to see a change in the behavior, and you're like, where is this coming from? Why is he starting to act up? Lord Simmy is in school now, becoming a problem. He's being oppositional. He's being defiant because he is absorbing your energy, and now he's regurgitating it back to you or. And back wherever. Wherever they are. That's why it's very important to have. Have a grip on your mental health as a parent. Parenting is one of the hardest things. It's the most challenging thing you could ever do. But it's complex and it's complicated, but it's beautiful, you know? Cause it's life. Like, you're having your own people. You know, you're able to train your people up, you know, train your little. It's a village that you're creating, and your offspring is always supposed to be better than you are. So that's why your mental space. You just have to be in a great mental space to raise your children.
- [08:58]
Mick Hunt
I truly believe that. And, you know, you talked about legacy, and there's some moments in the book that, to me, were like, holy shit. Like, Jess was vulnerable and said that. And I'd be remiss by the way I've held up the book. But Till Death Do We Parent, definitely go get it. Wherever you buy books from, go get it. Literally, right now you talk about the breakdown moment, right?
- [09:25]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Oh, man. Yeah.
- [09:26]
Mick Hunt
Like, you talk about being miserable and being broke, right? And you feel like Rome's out there living his best life, and you're just like, why am I doing this? Like, why take us to that moment? Like, what is that really?
- [09:41]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Like?
- [09:41]
Mick Hunt
Because a lot of people, while they may feel it, they don't talk about it and accept that it's a real feeling. And I give you kudos for accepting that it's a real feeling.
- [09:51]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yeah, it's definitely a real feeling. And a lot of women go through it. A lot of young moms go through it. Even fathers, I'm sure, go through it. But being the mom, being the person, that has to be the Primary caretaker and, you know, the nurturer. And the babies, they come from us. They feed on us for nine months, and then they're forever connected to us. That was a very hard thing to write about because I did not have an emotional connection to my son until he was six months. I just did not. I didn't even know if I wanted to put that in the book because I was most nervous that my son would feel a certain way. That's why I had to have the conversation before the final. The final script was published. Because I'm like, no, I don't want him to. Kids are cruel. He is on his way to high school. He has a group of friends. God, I hear them talk. I'd be like, oh, gosh, I wasn't saying, oh, that's not how I talk to my friends when I was 14, you know what I'm saying? And the last thing I want or wanted was him to hear that part from someone else. And my son is an avid reader, loves reading. He read the book already, but I wanted to before he sat down and read that and could say, my mom didn't even have the decency to tell me how she felt. I'm old enough to understand somewhat, and that's also what I was afraid of as well, whether or not he was old enough for me to even have that conversation. But I still wanted to provide that scene and paint that picture, which was a beautiful moment as it relates to a connection that was birthed six months after his physical birth. You know, after me giving birth to him, I connected with him on such a level that I don't regret my feelings. I don't wish I could have done it different. I don't. Because what I felt in that moment was like a telepathic message. It was like. It was like, no, I am your mother. And from him, it was like, I'm your son. You're gonna get this together. You're gonna listen. You laid down and made me. And now you in here having a little spiral moment. And because my father's out there living his life, you chose to have me. You're gonna have to take care of me whether he is here with you or not. I swear it was those words. And he was just smiling at me while I'm crying and breaking down. Like, why did you choose me as your mother? And I swear he looked at me like, girl, I didn't choose you. I didn't even choose this life. Like, I didn't choose to be born, you know? So at that moment, I picked him up and that's when I connected with him emotionally and mentally. And it was just like, from there. Oh, my God. He went from being the baby to my son Ashton. My baby. My pride and joy, my responsibility. And it's been that way ever since.
- [12:53]
Mick Hunt
I love it because that was the moment that I was reading the book that I picked up the phone, I called my youngest and I said, hey, I'm sending you a book right now. I'm ordering on Amazon. It'll be there tomorrow. He's like, what's the book? And so I started telling him the title, and he's like, dad, I don't have kids.
- [13:12]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Right, Right.
- [13:13]
Mick Hunt
There's a moment in this book that I need you to understand because you talk about Ashton looking at you, like, pretty much saying, get your life together. Cause we gotta move on.
- [13:21]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Right? Right.
- [13:22]
Mick Hunt
I'm hungry.
- [13:23]
Jessica Moore Toliver
He Pampers.
- [13:24]
Mick Hunt
Well, my youngest son, we had a moment like that where he was just like, hey, Dad, I know you say that all this is going on, but can we go get some cereal, though? Like, that was you.
- [13:39]
Jessica Moore Toliver
My problems ain't your problems, bro. Like, you know what I mean?
- [13:43]
Mick Hunt
But as a parent, that makes you understand the beauty.
- [13:47]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yeah.
- [13:47]
Mick Hunt
Of we put so much pressure on ourselves that sometimes talk about, you're just trying to eat some cereal. You know what I'm saying?
- [13:56]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Right. Right. It's like we make so much of so little. Like. You know what I mean? Like, it can be such a minuscule issue, and we overthink and we amplify it in our mind. Just overthinking, creating scenarios and just going down these rabbit holes. And it's like, yo, just breathe. Stop and breathe. You know, there's no. There's no manual to it. And every journey is different. Like, I always express, like, it's different, but we all do what we got to do. There's an instinct that kicks in, and we. We got it.
- [14:30]
Mick Hunt
Y. Yeah. Yep. Another thing, I love that you wrote in the book, and then you also talk about it on social media. You talk about it in a lot of interviews. And I. I like to segue to my segment I call the Unplugged Truth. And you have the most real truth ever. You say, I don't care what it looks like. I still don't get it right every day.
- [14:54]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yeah.
- [14:54]
Mick Hunt
And I think people need to understand that, because I believe exactly what you. I tell people, someone that appears to be perfect just run away. Because whatever they're about to tell you, whatever advice they're about to give you, it Ain't real. Because the people I listen to don't get something right every day. And that's what I appreciate.
- [15:15]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yeah. And exactly what you said, like, that leaves me so speechless because, yeah, the people that you think like that, you looking at like, I know that person got it all together. I know every day is just sunshine and rainbows for them. I know that their kids don't have problems. I know that. Nah, you don't know. You don't know. Everybody goes through something when they are being challenged. As a parent, just as a caregiver, as, you know, just a guardian, you don't even have to be a parent. You know what I mean? You could be a guardian. You can be somebody who watches over someone's kid. You know what I mean? I don't get it right every day. That's why I do have a village. I thank God for my parents, my husband, my son's father, my mother in law, my father in law. Like, it's a village. It really takes a village. None of this is easy.
- [16:08]
Mick Hunt
Not. Not at all. Not at all. And another truth that you have, that's also in the book, and I think this one stopped me on my tracks too, because again, you're very vulnerable, which I appreciate. In the book.
- [16:21]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yeah.
- [16:21]
Mick Hunt
You talk about you not wanting to tell Rome, right? Like, when you first found out you were pregnant and you were. Not that you didn't want to tell him. You were just scared.
- [16:30]
Jessica Moore Toliver
I was scared.
- [16:30]
Mick Hunt
And I think a lot of times a truth that we need to understand is it's okay to have the emotion of fear. It's just not okay to let it run you.
- [16:41]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Right?
- [16:41]
Mick Hunt
And again, I applaud you for that vulnerability and that conversation. Like, walk us through that moment, man.
- [16:50]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Listen, Mick, I could sit and talk to you all day because that is literally the epitome of what the feeling was. It's like, yo, y' all do not understand the amount of fear. I was like, ugh. So I, I, I'm in the house by myself now. I'm in Rome's house, and he went to go play basketball. And I'm 19, and I'm like, looking at this test and I'm like, oh, my God, it says positive. And you know how you already know something, but it's nothing like that confirmation that that moment of clarity where it's like, boom, oh, no, this shit is real. Like, oh, it was positive. And I knew, but I really knew in that moment. And I was like, damn. Not only do I have to tell Rome who I think I'm gonna scare away. I have to tell my parents, who don't even know I'm dating. They don't even know where I am right now. They think I'm somewhere else.
- [17:51]
Mick Hunt
Wow.
- [17:52]
Jessica Moore Toliver
The amount. Oh my God, like the amount of paranoia and just anxiety. It was like I could have really, really had a heart attack in that moment. And then he walks through the door and I walk down the steps and we're making eye contact and he's like, what's wrong? Because I look worried. I'm trying to look good, you know, I'm trying to be cool and, you know, get my nerves all together. And he's like, what's in your hand? And I just drop it. He picks it up. He's like, you're pregnant. I'm like, yeah. He's like, oh, my God, we're gonna be a family. And I'm like, okay. Not what I expected. Okay. So I did. I'm not gonna lie, I felt better. But that was very short lived because I still knew we're not ready for this. We're not ready. You know, I'm over the first hump of Jerome not running for the hills, not saying, oh, well, look, you gonna have to take care of that. You on your own, you know what I mean? Cause that's. And I think I was so scared in that moment that I wanted him to say that now. Now as an adult, just looking back, I think I was so afraid to have this baby and, you know, and just thinking about my life and how much it would slow down and almost stop, you know, I'm not even out of my parents house yet, you know, I haven't even been knowing Rome this long. I think I'm in love, you know, But I think I was so afraid that I wanted him to react that way, just to have a reason to get rid of my child. And when he reacted the other way around, I felt a relief. But then I was even more afraid because I'm like, damn. Now if I do get rid of the baby, if I do schedule this appointment to get an abortion now, I'm gonna hurt his heart. I'm gonna hurt him.
- [19:54]
Mick Hunt
Well, thank God you did it.
- [19:56]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yeah, thank God.
- [19:57]
Mick Hunt
Every day I thank God the other part though. So you tell Rome that's cool. You gotta go home and tell mama now.
- [20:05]
Jessica Moore Toliver
God, crazy. Born and raised in the church, two strict parents. Well, my dad was more lenient, but my mom was the one that's like, ooh. She was stern and she, oh my God, very nurturing, affectionate. And loving lover, my angel. But still. Coming up. Mm. Mm. That lady. We ain't played with her. We ain't played with my dad either. Former Marine. And just all the structure. And into that, we had rules. Oh, my God. From A to Z, back to A. It was crazy. So I'm over there, and I asked Rome to go with me. I was like, I don't want to tell them by myself. Can you go with me? And he goes, yeah, let's tell him today. I was like, damn, you trying to get me killed. Like I just told you. Let me get a second. Give me 24 hours. Something, you know? And he's like, no, I think we should get it out the way, because I want to, like, start telling my friends and family. He was so excited. He was on such a high. I was like, okay, all right, let's do it. The sooner the better. Anyway, we go over to my mom's house, you know, to my house. My dad answers the door. That's not who I want to see right away. I'm like, ooh, why couldn't my mother answer the door? And so he's not even like, come in. He's just like, who is this? And Rome is behind me. He's trying to look behind me. Like, who you bringing to my house? 8:30 at night? I'm like, oh. Cause we had to catch the bus. I'm sorry. So we go in the kitchen. You know how that saying. A mother knows, honey. She knew something was up. She knew before I even said it out of my mouth. Like, just a look that she gave me. It's like, I know something is up. First of all, you didn't. You're not bringing no little knucklehead to our house this late at night, right? For nothing.
- [21:43]
Mick Hunt
This ain't the prom no more.
- [21:44]
Jessica Moore Toliver
No. Yeah, you. You wait. You passed that. What's going on? You gonna graduated. What's up? So who. I tell her, this is my boyfriend and I'm pregnant. Her and my father, they're puzzled for a minute. My father needs to go out in the backyard to get some air. He was so, like, taken aback, but just disappointed and just frustrated. Like, damn, we didn't even know you were dating. Not that we'd say that you couldn't, but we didn't even know. And you just. Are you pregnant, too? Like, what is happening? When did you have time for. They're questioning themselves, like, what the hell? Like, how do we not see or know or even think about this with her right now?
- [22:25]
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- [22:57]
Jessica Moore Toliver
My mother, I remember her just walking around. Cause she was finishing like dishes or something like that. I remember her walking around and as she put her right hand on my back and put her left hand on Jerome's back and she began to pray. And I just burst out in tears. Like, I just. I could not control myself because a part of me was just like, I know I can't do this. I know I can't. I know I can't. But this boy is so happy. And he lost his mother. And I know he looks at this as a sign from his mother, like giving him a child. And it's just. I just. I could not break his heart. And then my mother told me before I went to bed that night, she was like, listen, this is ultimately your decision. You need to think long and hard about the decision that you are about to have to make. And you can't wait too long to make it. This will change your life. No, your life won't stop. But it will be much more complicated than you thought it would be at 19. So you better figure out what it is that you want to do to be successful. Because you don't plan on going to college. You don't have a job right now. You don't even know what you want to do, what industry you want to catapult yourself into for work. You don't. I haven't even. You don't know. You're still a baby yourself. So think and think wise and think hard. And I knew what she was trying to tell me, like, and it wasn't, you need to get an abortion. It was think about yourself, your life. Because she knew that I was thinking about Rome more than myself, you know? So, yeah, that was. That was. That was hard too.
- [24:41]
Mick Hunt
That motherly wisdom right there.
- [24:44]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yes.
- [24:44]
Mick Hunt
And now I guess you got it now too, right?
- [24:46]
Jessica Moore Toliver
I do. I do.
- [24:48]
Mick Hunt
Yep. I know in the book, and you talked before about how your mom was preparing you all your life to be a mom and how that was very special. And I love hearing you say that too. I'm gonna go to my next segment. I call it Hot takes. And you get to live hot takes every day. That's what you do for a living.
- [25:11]
Jessica Moore Toliver
That's true.
- [25:12]
Mick Hunt
That's what you do for a living. So I'm gonna give you a Jessica Moore. Not even a Jess. Hilarious. I'm gonna give you a Jessica Moore Hotel.
- [25:22]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Okay, now look, I done got married, so. Jessica Moore. Taliver.
- [25:27]
Mick Hunt
That one, yes. That one.
- [25:29]
Jessica Moore Toliver
That one, yes. Jessica Moore Toliver. Now, the more. It's still more now, but, you know, I just. I added my husband's last name.
- [25:34]
Mick Hunt
Moore Toliver. Let's go.
- [25:36]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yes.
- [25:36]
Mick Hunt
I'm gonna give you this one. You've said it before, but no one is fully healed. There's a lot of us carrying scars, and sometimes we gotta accept and see that.
- [25:49]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yeah, right.
- [25:50]
Mick Hunt
Like, we gotta accept and see the scars that other people have. You know, we talked earlier about no one's perfect, no one's got it together, but no one's also fully healed. Talk to us about that a little bit.
- [26:01]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Well, life is always lifein', no matter what. So if you. You're walking around and you're telling somebody, or if you hear someone say, oh, no, I'm fully healed, I'm good, ain't nothing, you know, not that I'm trying to force problems on people, not that I think there's something wrong with everybody, but life is always lifing. As long as you live life, there will be things thrown at you. There will be trials, there will be tribulations, There will be obstacles that you have to overcome. Some you will, some you won't. You know, it's all about your level of resilience and endurance. Right? But healing is doing the work, recognizing trauma, recognizing baggage, recognizing that you aren't perfect. And there are some things that you may have to work on. You know, when you recognize those things, you work. You work to assess them properly. You work on how to navigate through conversations. You'd be so surprised how many people can't have a conversation because it's complicated or because it brings a level of discomfort that one is not yet to sit through. You know, people are not yet ready to face conflict or have a mirror turned on themselves. Healing is, like I said, very linear. It can go one way, it can go a million ways, and it can take forever to heal. But you will. You can heal from something, but then something else happens. You're still living as you're healing, so you're never going to be fully healed from everything. But a work in progress is what you are. A fully Healed person is a perfect person. And there are no perfect people.
- [27:45]
Mick Hunt
They don't exist.
- [27:46]
Jessica Moore Toliver
No, they don't exist. Richer, poorer, whatever.
- [27:50]
Mick Hunt
Right?
- [27:50]
Jessica Moore Toliver
You're going to go. Yeah, listen, healing is needed for everybody.
- [27:56]
Mick Hunt
Absolutely. Absolutely. Here's my other hot take. And you can't come through the screen on me. So.
- [28:01]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Okay.
- [28:02]
Mick Hunt
Virtual. So I've been in a couple of. I'm gonna say fights. Altercations in my life. I've been in two almost altercations, and both of those were in Baltimore.
- [28:13]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Oh, man.
- [28:14]
Mick Hunt
Because somebody called me a dummy, and I said, what in the world? I did not know at the time that that was a term of endearment in your city. Where did that come from? Like, when did this dummy just become cool?
- [28:28]
Jessica Moore Toliver
You know what's crazy? I started hearing it when I was about 11 years old. I was 11. That's when it started to being. It would. They started using it real heavy as a term of endearment because let. My. My father and my mother said they never said that shit to none of them. They. Listen. The older people, they. I wish the hell one of y' all would. That. That came up with my generation. I was in elementary school, on my way to middle school when I started hearing that. Real, real, real heavy. And my. My peers. And we all used it in a few generations thereafter, but they don't say it no more like they used to. My generation still walking around. We in our 30s. We still. Dummy. What's up? You our Mayor Baltimore Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. Dummy. What's up? I'm so sorry that you had to. That you had to get into a fight, but that. That really means you smart. All right.
- [29:18]
Mick Hunt
I almost did. Luckily, the crab cakes were good. That's all I'm going to say.
- [29:22]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Period. Listen, that's another. That's another. That's our. Our. Our endearment dish. There you go.
- [29:29]
Mick Hunt
Right? Yeah. That's what we serve, Craven.
- [29:32]
Jessica Moore Toliver
That's right.
- [29:34]
Mick Hunt
That's. That's about how it went down. And I was like, I'm not from around here.
- [29:37]
Jessica Moore Toliver
That's right.
- [29:38]
Mick Hunt
You thought I was from. But it is not here. I got one more dummy left.
- [29:42]
Jessica Moore Toliver
I used to think of that all the time. I used to be like, why do we say it to people who are not from here? It's so offensive to other people who. Who aren't a part of this Baltimore culture. But it should be from Baltimorean to Baltimore, and it should not be from Baltimorean to tourists. It should not be.
- [29:56]
Mick Hunt
Nah, not at all. Not at all. I just. My last segment or second to last segment.
- [30:02]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yeah.
- [30:02]
Mick Hunt
I call it the room you've had and will continue to have an illustrious career. Right. You've done things that most people, and I'm just gonna say it, that, that look like you don't get to have, that look like us that don't get to have. Like, you have earned every room you have ever been in. So I'm giving you your flowers for that.
- [30:24]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Thank you.
- [30:25]
Mick Hunt
Talk about the one room. Whether it was a meeting, a dinner, a lunch, whatever it was, what was the one room that truly changed your life when you knew this is it. This is what I'm doing.
- [30:37]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Hmm. The one room. Well, the one room that started it all was Wells Fargo arena. And that's what it was. Wells Fargo arena in Baltimore City, 2016, on the stage, performing in front of 13,000 people, opening for Martin Lawrence. I knew this is where I belong. This is what I'm gonna do. This is what I want to do, is be a standup comedian in my own city. Got a standing ovation after a 10 minute set. My third, fourth time on stage maybe was opening up in front of Martin Lawrence, you know, for Martin Lawrence in front of 13,000 Baltimoreans in my city.
- [31:30]
Mick Hunt
I don't even think people realize if you're watching this, if you're listening to this, that like your first open mic, people had to tell you to go do it, right? Like, they were like, nah, I was scared as hell.
- [31:42]
Jessica Moore Toliver
I was like, nah, I'm used to making my videos behind the phone and that. You know, if people in your face, they can't, you can't delete, go back, edit, delete and do something to repost. No, you got to make them people laugh. They in your face. Ain't no edit. Come back, cut. None of that.
- [31:58]
Mick Hunt
Yeah.
- [31:59]
Jessica Moore Toliver
And I did it. And from then on, I've been doing it.
- [32:05]
Mick Hunt
Yes.
- [32:05]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yeah.
- [32:06]
Mick Hunt
Yes, you have. And that's another thing I want to give you flowers for.
- [32:10]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Thank you.
- [32:10]
Mick Hunt
Because, you know, starting in that era of the social media comic, right. And a lot of people to this day get labeled that. And they can't adjust because it's different.
- [32:20]
Jessica Moore Toliver
It is.
- [32:20]
Mick Hunt
And I'm not, I'm not talking about it in a bad way. It's just, it's different to, to be live and to feel the energy. Because to your point, like when it's you in the phone or you in a skit, like, you can perfect it as much as you want to.
- [32:33]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yeah, right. Yeah.
- [32:35]
Mick Hunt
When somebody's sitting in front of you and I, I never understand this. Go to a comedy show and you got people that are just sitting there like this. It's like you paid money to be here.
- [32:42]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Like, why did you. Why did you even come? Like, yeah, you know, why did you even come in here? But, so, yeah, doing comedy is one of the hardest. I hear people say it's one of the hardest things to do. It's just in me. I've always been funny. I've always been able to make a stiff room, laugh. I make shoulders go down. You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't. And then I make them bounce because the people be laughing, honey, I'm telling you.
- [33:05]
Mick Hunt
Absolutely.
- [33:05]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yeah. Yeah.
- [33:06]
Mick Hunt
Absolutely, yeah. Everybody again giving Jess a shameless plug. Jessilarious.com, like, you can go see where she's going to be. She has her tour up there. You can get her book there. Again, wherever you can get the book. This book is the greatest. Wherever you can get it, go get it. I don't care if it's Amazon Books, a million Barnes and Noble, your local bookstore, go get it. My job is to make this a New York Times bestseller.
- [33:35]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Oh.
- [33:37]
Mick Hunt
Week after week after week after week after week.
- [33:38]
Jessica Moore Toliver
I love your job.
- [33:39]
Mick Hunt
That's what I'm here for, Jess.
- [33:40]
Jessica Moore Toliver
I love your job. That's.
- [33:42]
Mick Hunt
That's. That's my only job.
- [33:43]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Thank you.
- [33:43]
Mick Hunt
That's all I got. That's all I got. Jess, you've been gracious. I'm gonna get you out of here with this rapid fire top five, quick five. Okay, ready? What's been your favorite stage?
- [33:58]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Baltimore, Maryland. The Lyric Opera House in Baltimore, Maryland. Okay, okay. No, I'm sorry. No, no. The Hippodrome in Baltimore, Maryland. The Hippodrome in Baltimore, Maryland.
- [34:14]
Mick Hunt
Ooh.
- [34:15]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Can I do another one?
- [34:16]
Mick Hunt
It's your show.
- [34:17]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Okay. The Hippodrome in Baltimore, Maryland. And also MGM casino in D.C. oxen Hill. Yes. My two favorite. That's DMV right there. That's Baltimore and D.C. they my people.
- [34:33]
Mick Hunt
There you go.
- [34:34]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yes.
- [34:35]
Mick Hunt
Combining the world together. I love it. I love it. You've had a long day. You're on set with knuckleheads all day. You're giving us truth all day. When you've had a long day and it's time to have that meal, what suggests eating?
- [34:48]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Ooh, Berea tacos. Okay.
- [34:55]
Rudy Rush
Okay.
- [34:55]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yes. Berea tacos. Yes. Whether I make them, my husband make them, or we ordering them, everybody can cook in this house. So yes. Okay.
- [35:02]
Mick Hunt
All right. Baltimore. She didn't say crab cakes.
- [35:04]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Y' all heard I Didn't I didn't.
- [35:06]
Mick Hunt
She been giving y' all love. She said, berea tacos.
- [35:09]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Berea tacos. I live in New York. Ain't no damn crabs up here. Shoot.
- [35:16]
Mick Hunt
All right, so Breakfast Club. A lot of love. Been rocking with y' all all my life. Who's the most boring person on the show?
- [35:36]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Everybody who does front page news. Anybody who does. Just because politics is boring to me.
- [35:41]
Mick Hunt
There it is.
- [35:42]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yeah. No shot to the person. But front page news, honey. I'll be like, sleep. And it'd be six o' clock in the morning. I'd be like, what? Trouble.
- [35:49]
Mick Hunt
Gosh.
- [35:50]
Jessica Moore Toliver
That's it. But they know they born shooting.
- [35:53]
Mick Hunt
There it is. All right. Charlamagne, obviously from South Carolina. From the low country. I'm from South Carolina. From the upstate. Who's your favorite person from South Carolina? Jess.
- [36:09]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Charlamagne. To God. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. That's.
- [36:14]
Mick Hunt
It's all right. He's mine, too.
- [36:16]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Yeah, that's fine.
- [36:17]
Mick Hunt
I wouldn't have liked it if you
- [36:18]
Jessica Moore Toliver
said me, you know, and then also, that's my big brother, man. Like, that's just for sure mentorship. That's. That's. Oh, my God. That's the person who will give it to me straight. That's the person that's. Sit your ass down in the corner. You know what you did, and I don't feel sorry for you. Go sit your ass down. Like, that is a real. Big brother.
- [36:38]
Mick Hunt
Exactly. But I always got you back.
- [36:40]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Always got my back. Always got my back. He kick it in. Then he always. Then he. Then he put a band aid on it.
- [36:45]
Mick Hunt
There it is. Yeah, there it is. Last one. As the story of your legacy unfolds, what's one word that you want to make sure defines your legacy?
- [37:04]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Resilience. Resilience. I can get through anything. I have gotten through everything. And still more to come. I'm still. Listen. I invite the obstacles. I love a challenge, but like, even unwanted challenges and, you know, unforeseen controversies or just what anything. I have gotten through it, you know, My level of endurance and resilience is immaculate to me, you know? Yeah. And that's because I'm a good person and I have a heart of gold. I am a person and I'm real. And you're only gonna always get what you see. Jessica Robin Moore. Toliver.
- [37:53]
Mick Hunt
Toliver.
- [37:55]
Jessica Moore Toliver
You got it.
- [37:57]
Mick Hunt
Absolutely. Absolutely. Hey, everybody, do me a favor, a couple of favors. One, go follow Jess everywhere. Google her. You'll get all her social handles. But I'll make sure that they're in all the show notes, in the descriptions here. Do me a huge favor. Go get this book. I can't tell you enough how. If you're a parent, you need this. If you want to be able to hear an amazing story through parenting, you need this book. I love this book so much. Jess, I'm gonna do this on Instagram. The first 20 people that message me, parent, I am going to send you a copy of the book.
- [38:35]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Oh, wow.
- [38:36]
Mick Hunt
And then do Jess and I a favor. When you get the copy, take a picture, tag Jess, and tell her something amazing that you found out in the book. Right? Like that we need this book. It's already going viral, but we need to take it to the stratosphere. This will be a New York Times bestseller in 2026 because of this community. And Jess, thank you. Go get it. Go get it.
- [39:03]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Thank you.
- [39:04]
Mick Hunt
Love you from my core.
- [39:06]
Jessica Moore Toliver
I love you, too.
- [39:06]
Mick Hunt
Appreciate who you are. Just all the amazing things that you were doing and the blueprint that you are. I can't thank you enough.
- [39:15]
Jessica Moore Toliver
Thank you, Mick. I appreciate you.
- [39:17]
Mick Hunt
Love you. Got it. And to all the viewers and listeners, remember your because is your superpower. Go unleash it.
- [39:25]
Rudy Rush
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.