Salisha Thomas: Broadway's New Queen on Dreams, Determination, and Stage Success

Summary

Mick Unplugged: Salisha Thomas—Broadway's New Queen on Dreams, Determination, and Stage Success

Episode Title: Salisha Thomas: Broadway's New Queen on Dreams, Determination, and Stage Success
Release Date: March 31, 2025
Host: Mick Hunt
Guest: Salisha Thomas

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Introduction: A Moment of Triumph

The episode begins with Salisha Thomas sharing a pivotal moment in her career. While performing as Diana Ross in the national tour of Trevor in Chicago, she receives life-changing news.

Salisha Thomas [00:00]: "But while I was playing Diana Ross in Trevor in Chicago, I get a text from my agent saying, the role that you did on tour has opened up on Broadway. Do you want it? I'm like, are you kidding me? I've been waiting for this moment my whole life."

Mick Hunt warmly welcomes listeners to another inspiring episode of "Mick Unplugged," setting the stage for an engaging conversation about Salisha's journey to Broadway.

---

From California Dreaming to New York Magic

Salisha recounts her bold decision to leave California under challenging circumstances. Facing reduced work hours at Disneyland and the end of a tumultuous relationship, she impulsively moves to New York City with only a month's visit in mind.

Salisha Thomas [02:37]: "I never wanted to think, what if. Like, what if I listened to my heart? What if I took the chance. I just. It's okay if you fail. Just try."

A serendipitous encounter with a homeless man in New York provides the catalyst for her transformative move. His seemingly prophetic advice urges her to seize the moment.

Salisha Thomas [02:22]: "But when I got here, Mick, I just fell in love. I fell in love with it."

Within two weeks, Salisha leaves California for good, embracing the unknown and landing the first national tour of the Beautiful—the Carole King musical.

---

Navigating the Broadway Landscape

Mick dives into the intricacies of Salisha's Broadway experience, contrasting the stability of long-running shows with the dynamic, high-stakes environment of touring productions.

Salisha Thomas [14:01]: "There are so many different ways to approach the Broadway world... Some of them are broke, but they've got credits and a reputation, and they're shooting for that Tony."

Salisha describes her initial Broadway debut with Beautiful as a dream realized, working alongside inspiring colleagues and adapting to larger, more complex productions.

Salisha Thomas [09:42]: "Audra McDonald... She's the queen. So, you know, again, all the humbleness in my good friend Salisha, you highlighted."

---

Embracing Failure and Personal Growth

A central theme of the conversation is the importance of embracing failure and personal flaws as stepping stones to success. Salisha emphasizes that resilience and authenticity are crucial in both personal and professional realms.

Salisha Thomas [27:38]: "... your why is about to be your child. Should be your why. But why? What's the because? And so if I said, Salisha, what's your because right now? Like, what's that thing that's like, this is my purpose."

Drawing from her upcoming book, "Why Be a 9 When You Can Be a 10," Salisha discusses embracing imperfections and showing up authentically.

Salisha Thomas [27:38]: "It's about embracing all of your flaws and showing up in this world exactly as you are."

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Balancing Career and Personal Life

Salisha opens up about her personal life, including her marriage to Andrew and her pregnancy, highlighting the delicate balance between a demanding career and personal happiness.

Salisha Thomas [22:03]: "I'm currently singing backup for Hugh Jackman in his residency there. It's one weekend a month. It's like, ah, let's go. Such a great gig."

Mick offers heartfelt congratulations as Salisha navigates the challenges of impending motherhood alongside her Broadway commitments.

Mick Hunt [23:12]: "Congratulations."

---

Writing from the Heart: Salisha's Book

The conversation shifts to Salisha's book, delving into her motivations and the messages she aims to convey. Her book serves as a vessel for her experiences and lessons learned, encouraging readers to embrace their true selves.

Salisha Thomas [37:27]: "Why Be a 9 When You Can Be a 10? It just brought me a lot of joy. It actually kind of wrote itself."

She shares anecdotes that tie into her book's themes, such as running a marathon without training and overcoming personal setbacks.

---

The Power of Community and Vulnerability

Salisha addresses the importance of sharing personal struggles to foster a sense of community and support. She challenges societal norms that discourage openness about hardships.

Salisha Thomas [40:43]: "We are literally all in this together."

Her candid discussion about a miscarriage and the subsequent support she received underscores the healing power of vulnerability.

Salisha Thomas [41:07]: "We are literally all in this together."

---

Final Thoughts: Unleashing Your 'Because'

As the episode wraps up, Mick and Salisha reinforce the podcast's core message: discovering and leveraging one's 'Because'—the deeper motivation that drives action beyond mere 'Why.'

Mick Hunt [43:26]: "All the viewers and listeners, remember your because is your superpower. Go unleash it. You the best."

Salisha provides her listeners with ways to stay connected, promoting her own platforms and encouraging ongoing engagement.

Salisha Thomas [42:17]: "They can follow me on the Salisha Show on Instagram... thesalishashow.com."

---

Key Takeaways

• Embrace Risk: Salisha's leap from California to New York exemplifies the power of taking bold steps towards one's dreams.
• Authenticity Over Perfection: Embracing flaws and being true to oneself fosters genuine connections and personal fulfillment.
• Resilience Through Failure: Viewing failure as a learning opportunity is essential for growth and eventual success.
• Balancing Life and Career: Striking a balance between professional ambitions and personal life leads to a more holistic sense of well-being.
• Community and Support: Sharing personal struggles can build a supportive community and alleviate feelings of isolation.

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Notable Quotes

• Salisha Thomas [02:37]: "I just fell in love with it. I'm like, this doesn't make sense. I can't just, like, upend my life."
• Salisha Thomas [27:38]: "It's about embracing all of your flaws and showing up in this world exactly as you are."
• Mick Hunt [43:26]: "Remember your because is your superpower. Go unleash it."

---

Connect with Salisha Thomas

• Podcast: The Salisha Show
• Instagram: @thesalishashow
• YouTube: The Salisha Show

---

"Mick Unplugged" continues to inspire leaders, doers, and aspiring individuals to harness their inner motivations and create meaningful impact. Salisha Thomas's journey is a testament to the transformative power of dreams, determination, and embracing one's true self.

Transcript

[Salisha Thomas]

But while I was playing Diana Ross in Trevor in Chicago, I get a text from my agent saying, the role that you did on tour has opened up on Broadway. Do you want it? I'm like, are you kidding me? I've been waiting for this moment my whole life.

[Mick]

Welcome to Mick Unplugged, the number one podcast for self improvement, leadership, and relentless growth. No fluff, no filters, just hard hitting truths, unstoppable strategies, and the mindset shifts that separate the best from the rest. Ready to break limits? Let's go.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting episode of MC Unplugged. And I am here in New York, Times Square. Couldn't do this show without having the talented, the best, the creme de la creme. When we are talking about Broadway, we are talking about my good friend, the one and only by Salisha. Salisha Thomas. Salisha, how you doing, girl?

[Salisha Thomas]

I'm like, I'm so happy to be here. Thank you so much for having me.

[Mick]

I am happy too. But why are you over there giggling, though? What's so funny?

[Salisha Thomas]

Because I don't ever hear anybody hype me up like that. That's. That's my favorite thing to do about.

[Mick]

Well, I gotta hype up the queen. Come on now. I can't have the queen in the building and just say, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the stage the one and only Celicia Thompson. I couldn't do that.

[Salisha Thomas]

Okay. All right, you know what? Thank you, thank you, thank you for having me.

[Mick]

You know, and I forgot to say, California's finest, you know, Fresno is in the building. So my wife is from California. Bay area.

[Salisha Thomas]

Right on. I love the Bay Area. The Bay Area, it's so beautiful. It's a different vibe. I lived in Southern California for a little while and that was nice, but I like the Bay Area.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

When it comes to California, New York is really New York.

[Mick]

Is it? So what got you here? Let's just go there. What got Celicia from Cali to New York? I mean, we were like old school, like east coast, west coast rival. Like, you flipped.

[Salisha Thomas]

I did. I was in college at Cal State Fullerton. Barely graduated, but I did it. And I did it early.

[Mick]

Okay.

[Salisha Thomas]

I was working as a vocalist and a princess at Disneyland, and I loved it. I got dropped down to one day a week.

[Mick]

Okay.

[Salisha Thomas]

And I'm like, how you supposed to live on one day a week, y'all?

[Mick]

Right.

[Salisha Thomas]

And there were some other things going on. I got out of a bad relationship and I came out to New York City to just visit for just 30 days. I didn't tell anybody except my one friend who lives here now. I gave all my shifts to her, and it was a secret, and I. But when I got here, Mick, I just fell in love. I fell in love with it. I'm like, this doesn't make sense. I can't just, like, upend my life. And I met this. This is going to sound so crazy. I met this homeless man while I was here in New York two weeks in, and he sat down next to me waiting for the A train, and he said, I don't know who you are, but you need to move here, and you need to do it now.

[Mick]

Mm.

[Salisha Thomas]

And I had goosebumps all over my body. His eyes were twinkling, like, I'm not making this up.

[Mick]

Wow.

[Salisha Thomas]

And I get on the train. He didn't. The door shut, and he mouths the words, good luck.

[Mick]

Okay.

[Salisha Thomas]

I put my notice in that day to Disney. Within two weeks, I had gotten rid of everything in California and was. And finished my last days at Disneyland and was back in New York. And the week I got here, I landed the first national tour of Beautiful, the Carole King musical.

[Mick]

Look at you. So we're gonna back up. So you met this beautiful homeless man. Is this the love story? You cleaned him up?

[Salisha Thomas]

No.

[Mick]

Shaved him? This is now hubby. No.

[Salisha Thomas]

No.

[Mick]

Okay. All right, hubby. Sorry. I just. I had to make sure. At least I'd ask. I had to do my due diligence.

[Salisha Thomas]

Oh, my gosh. Can you imagine if I marry the homeless woman?

[Mick]

That would've been the love story of all love stories.

[Salisha Thomas]

No, I never saw him again.

[Mick]

Oh.

[Salisha Thomas]

Nope. I never saw him again. I got here, and, I mean, there was a little bit of time before we started rehearsals, but I toured for two years while I was on tour. I took a week off, ran for a pageant, became Miss California, kept touring, and, you know, that was really. That's when I got to visit Greenville.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

I got to visit, like, the country. Got to see. I was in my early 20s and just very, like. What's the word? Like, I didn't own any furniture. I got rid of everything.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

I just was living in my suitcases and kind of flying by the seat of my pants and prepared to fail. Okay. If I failed. But giving myself the opportunity to fly just in case, if it did want to work out.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

I never wanted to think, what if. Like, what if I listened to my heart? What if I took the chance? I just. It's okay if you fail. Just try.

[Mick]

Yeah. So we're Gonna back up again, Miss California. You just casually, you know. And I was doing this, and then I won Miss California. And then I was, let's back up. Cause I know how humble you are. But we're gonna back up. And let's talk about Miss California. For those that don't know, it was.

[Salisha Thomas]

The Miss World organization, which in America, it's not that. Well, at the time, it wasn't that big of a deal. It was new to us in the world, it's recognized. But in the country, usually our countries just send a model. And that was one of the first two years that they held a pageant here in the States. And so the way they kind of did it was different than the systems usually run. And I just went as a delegate, a national delegate. And out of all the girls there, I had the highest score for the west coast, for the California. So I ended up with the title of Miss California. And they were okay with me being on tour. And each state that I went to, I was able to, like, volunteer and wear my crown and meet with my sister crown title holders, and it was really fun. I've run in a lot of pageants, and I've lost a lot of pageants. I'm been Miss Congeniality seven, eight times. Wow. And they're fun for me. Like, I haven't done it in a very long time, but I made so much, so many friends. I got scholarship money. And, like, when I was backstage, there was a lot of. Your earrings broke. Take mine. There was a lot of that. Also, pageants, I know they get so much flack, but I didn't even know I could sing before I did my first pageant. Like, I needed a talent. And one of the directors for the first pageants that I ever ran in for Miss Fresno, she. She became my mentor, and now she's my best friend.

[Mick]

Okay.

[Salisha Thomas]

But at the time, she was like, what's your talent? And I was like, I was just gonna memorize a monologue. She goes that in pageant world, that's code for, you don't have a talent. I'm like, she's like, can you sing? I'm like, I do at church. And so I took voice lessons for the first time. And I mean, literally, now I'm on Broadway. So I'm so grateful for that kind of like, that realization that I didn't even know that was there.

[Mick]

Yeah. So now you're like Etta James, Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, dropping in all the jazz, right?

[Salisha Thomas]

Yeah, sure. I love to sing jazz. I love a good show tune. As well, and I've recently discovered that I like rock. That's a very new thing.

[Mick]

Okay, give me your rock song.

[Salisha Thomas]

What's Tina's song? When I was a little girl, I had a rag doll. What's that song called? Like, when she goes up higher. I wouldn't yell it into the mic right here, but it just hits in this place where I'm like, it feels good, and it's not something I can do when I'm casually watching. Like, I have to use my whole body to sing it.

[Mick]

Tina, Tina, you're talking Nutbush. What's love got to do with it? We can keep on going.

[Salisha Thomas]

She's the queen.

[Mick]

She is the queen. She is the queen. But, you know, as she's passed, the title is now to you. You're the queen. So, you know, again, all the humbleness in my good friend Selisha, you highlighted. And then I was on Broadway. So let's talk about the Broadway story. So how did Celicia from Fresno, California, all of a sudden is now the star on Broadway?

[AT&T]

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[Salisha Thomas]

Oh, well, it was a dream of mine since I was little, but it was one of those, like, what are the chances? Like, what are the chances? But there was my hometown hero, Audra McDonald. She's got the record for. She has six Tonys and she's from Fresno, California.

[Mick]

Okay.

[Salisha Thomas]

She's three.

[Mick]

So there's a precedent that was set.

[Salisha Thomas]

Yes. I'm like, well, it exists. Somebody from my hometown is doing the thing. She's currently in Gypsy on Broadway, killing it. And watching her, I'm like, it's possible. I see it. And she's black like me.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

And so I felt like, okay, well, again, I always like to give myself permission to fall flat on my face. Because if you don't give yourself permission, what you gonna do if you just are afraid?

[Mick]

Live life of regrets. Right.

[Salisha Thomas]

If you don't put yourself out there, like, my life is full of so many failures, but when I get A yes. And when I get a win, it's. It's good.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

But no one. People don't see all the no's that I get. But for when it came to Broadway, I toured for what, a year? Nine months. And I loved it. I loved touring with the Carol King musical. And I put my notice in. Not because I didn't like it anymore, but I've always just wanted to live in New York. I came to New York and I got a show on the road, and I wanted to give it a chance. So I put my notice in not having anything lined up. Once again. Mm. And right after, I ended up getting a show called Trevor with the director who directed Beautiful. And while I was doing, I was playing Diana Ross, and. Oh, gosh, there's a great story there. But while I was playing Diana Ross in Trevor in Chicago, I get a text from my agent saying, the role that you did on tour has opened up on Broadway. Do you want it? I'm like, are you kidding me? I've been waiting for this moment my whole life. I don't even have to audition for it. I just have to say yes. And I said yes. And after I finished that run, they gave me two days. I moved to the city on a Monday. I rehearsed Tuesday, Wednesday, and I made my Broadway debut on a Thursday.

[Mick]

Holy. Ladies and gentlemen, that is not easy. There's a lot of memorization that has to go on. There's a lot of marks that you have to hit. And oh, by the way, you're not just talking. You have to sing, and you're with people that you probably haven't been around.

[Salisha Thomas]

Oh, no, I meant the lead. While we were doing the show, like, I'd see her on all these billboards and trash cans all over Times Square. And in the first scene that I was in, she came up. Cause in rehearsal, she wasn't there. It was her stand in. And so on stage, she comes up to me and I'm like, it's the girl from the Billboards. Selisha, you have to say your line.

[Mick]

Right, Right. No fangirl moment. I know.

[Salisha Thomas]

I wish I could have gotten to meet her before. Like, it was so cool to me. Yeah, it was. It was completely surreal. But to be fair, it was the same show as on the Road, but a completely different cast, a very different set. I thought our set on On Tour was incredible by Derek McClain, who's done so many things on Broadway and, like, Academy Awards and Golden Globes, he's done so many things. It was A great set on the road. But the Broadway version, it was bigger, higher, more things moved. It was an operation. Yeah, yeah. And so there were definitely a little bit of some learning curves for the first national tour. I set that show so I knew where I like to stand and when I like to stand. Broadway had been open for four years at that point. They had their own choreography backstage. And so even though I'm used to being in the wings on this scene, they're like, no, no, no. You need to go change downstairs at this time. So that was different, but it was all fine and good once I found that rhythm. But.

[Mick]

Wow. Yeah, wow. So for those that don't know, walk us through a Broadway audition. Right. Are you on one play, like, your entire life? Do you audition for other? Like, walk the casuals, like me through being on Broadway and what that means from your perspective.

[Salisha Thomas]

There are so many different ways to approach the Broadway world. I have friends who have been in Lion King for over a decade.

[Mick]

Wow.

[Salisha Thomas]

They call that a government job. Okay, okay, okay. Where you get to go to work and you have a good feeling. It's gonna be there tomorrow.

[Mick]

Right, Right.

[Salisha Thomas]

You gonna get that check. You know exactly what to do. You can make your grocery list while you at work. It's like you don't learn anything new.

[AT&T]

No, no.

[Salisha Thomas]

You just go to work, you do your thing, and then you go home to your. If you've been in a show that long, you go home to your apartment and your family. That's one way of looking at it. Then I have friends who jump from show to show to show. Some of them are broke, but they've got credits and a reputation, and they're shooting for that Tony. They want to get the role of a lifetime. They want to build that list of, like, leading roles. But because they're jumping from show to show, sometimes there's gaps in between the shows. Yeah, but they.

[Mick]

It's like that job Hopper. And you gotta explain. So From April of 2021 to today, you don't have nothing on there. Why?

[Salisha Thomas]

Yeah, exactly.

[Mick]

Okay.

[Salisha Thomas]

But you might know their name and their face, so that's a different approach. And then there is the chorus, where you can jump from chorus to chorus and always be in a show and stack up your credits. But you might not be famous, but you're always working or you're always swinging. There's just different ways to approach it. And my feelings change all the time about it. At first, I just wanted to be on Broadway. And that first show that I got, Mick, it was A dream come true, really. It was better than I ever thought it could be. I was so happy. My cast was so welcoming and fun and loving and, like, people who I'd listened to on the CD for so long, I'm standing next to them on stage and just in awe of them. I never, ever, ever took that for granted. And the show that I did after that, boy, oh, boy, was it a very different experience. I got my butt kicked. I got my butt kicked. Yeah, I did.

[Mick]

All right. Do tell, do tell, do tell. Where did I start?

[Salisha Thomas]

The Britney Spears musical?

[Mick]

You see the face?

[Salisha Thomas]

I know, I know.

[Mick]

Okay, okay, okay.

[Salisha Thomas]

There was a lot happening.

[Mick]

Okay.

[Salisha Thomas]

There was a lot happening on all angles in that show. Ultimately, I am so grateful for that show. I'd never taken a swinging position before, like an understudy.

[Mick]

Okay, so explain what a swinging position is. Cause some people are, like, swinger. What you talking about?

[Salisha Thomas]

Why you swinging? A swing is like, a super understudy, where you're covering almost everybody. Well, in my case, almost everybody in the company.

[Mick]

Okay.

[Salisha Thomas]

So sometimes a swing can cover three roles or four roles, and a lot of times it's people in the ensemble. They had me covering 12 roles, pretty much the entire ensemble and six of the leads. That's not normal.

[Mick]

Okay. Sounds tedious.

[Salisha Thomas]

It was.

[Mick]

Sounds like your brain is on fire. Because it's like, wait, who am I today? Oh, no, that's. Oh, damn. I messed up.

[Salisha Thomas]

Yes.

[AT&T]

Okay.

[Salisha Thomas]

There was a lot of that.

[Mick]

Got it.

[Salisha Thomas]

And I ended up going on before I was expected to go on. So almost every new role that I went on for, I had not been rehearsed for. That is crazy.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

Is Broadway.

[Mick]

Gotcha.

[Salisha Thomas]

You got me on stage feeling my way around. Everyone's hoping that I say the right line at the right place, and then I sing my heart. Come on, y'all. This is. That's a little crazy. Yeah, I went on for. They swung me on for a lot. So we. It was a short run. We were only open for three months. We had 123 performances. I was on for 68 of them. Again, not normal. I went on for one of the lead roles over 25 times, but the actual lead, it was basically Disney meets Britney Spears. All these Disney princesses with Britney Spears music, and they're finding, like, their feminists. Like, they realize they don't have to do the same stories that have been written for them.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

And so Snow White and Cinderella are the two, like, lead leads. Cinderella's on stage the entire time, and I was not the first cover for it. I was like the second cover for it. So I was super duper not rehearsed. And that one going on for that one without any rehearsal at the last moment. It was very crazy. I get hot thinking about it, man. It was a crazy day.

[Mick]

So then what became your first lead?

[Salisha Thomas]

My first lead, Snow White.

[Mick]

Snow White.

[Salisha Thomas]

Playing Snow White in Once Upon a One More Time. That's the. Oh, wait, no. I went on first. One of the stepsisters in Once Upon a One More Time. That was my first principal debut, I would say.

[Mick]

Okay, how did that feel?

[Salisha Thomas]

Full house, extended applause. Not just for me, for the show. For. It was such an electric night. I think it was like industry night. So our peers were in the audience and they were wild. They were wild. And I just remember feeling like I've always wanted to feel this or feel or see what it was like. And this feels great. A lot of times when I'm in the spotlight, I get nervous, I get stage fright, and I'm stressed out. And so I'm not always able to enjoy the pressure until the very end. And I'm learning how to enjoy something that I've wanted for so long that has so high stakes when it begins, not just right towards the end when I'm like, I think I made it. And the life that I'm building for myself, there seem to be more and more high pressure situations. And I just realized, like, life is too short to not have fun. Like, what's the point of manifesting all this stuff or praying for it if when it comes, I'm stressed out?

[AT&T]

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[Salisha Thomas]

I don't want to be stressed out. At the end of this year, I'm supposed to be the soloist at Radio City Music Hall.

[Mick]

Let's go.

[Salisha Thomas]

Thank you.

[Mick]

Let's go.

[Salisha Thomas]

I'm currently singing backup for Hugh Jackman in his residency there. It's one weekend a month. It's like, ah, let's go. Such a great gig. He's such a great guy, too. And if my date to sing at Radio City is just this one moment in time. And it's a hard song. Never enough from the greatest showman. Okay, it is. I gotta, like, show up with my whole body with that song. And then also I have to relax because I can't sing it. Stressed out. It's such a hard song. I have to be relaxed. How? The thing that I've been working on and with my husband too, is how can I perform at the highest level? How can I. If I have to wait for a very long time, for one moment in time, how can I perform at the highest level after waiting for so long and to stay relaxed when those feelings. Few minutes come? And I'm going to tell you something that a lot of people don't know. And it's okay. You can air this whenever you want.

[Mick]

Let's go.

[Salisha Thomas]

I am pregnant.

[Mick]

Congratulations.

[Salisha Thomas]

Thank you. Thank you. I feel crazy.

[Mick]

It's okay.

[Salisha Thomas]

I feel. I'm like. I can see myself in the monitor. I'm like, stop. Literally, that's what I was looking at.

[Mick]

Stop.

[Salisha Thomas]

I was like, oh, those pants barely fit.

[Mick]

Stop it. Stop it. Congrats, though.

[Salisha Thomas]

Thank you.

[Mick]

First.

[Salisha Thomas]

Yes.

[Mick]

Even more congrats.

[Salisha Thomas]

Thank you.

[Mick]

Look, that little homeless man has come. You did good, bro. I'm joking. I'm joking. I'm joking.

[Salisha Thomas]

That's so funny. But I brought it up because I'm supposed to be doctor on October 8th. I'm singing the solo October 3rd.

[Mick]

Oh. On stage. Water break. During the note.

[Salisha Thomas]

During the note. Not during the note. Not during the note. That's close, right?

[Mick]

That's. Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

In my last checkup, it said October 6th. I said, hey, what's that? She said, oh, don't look at that date. I was like, it's there on the screen every day. Kind of matters in that week.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

Anyway, so again, the high pressure situations, but trying to stay relaxed and in that case, keeping a whole baby inside.

[Mick]

You're gonna do great. I promise. You're gonna do great.

[Salisha Thomas]

Do you think I can keep it inside?

[Mick]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

Do you think I can keep my mouth shut if I'm in labor and not tell anybody?

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

You think so?

[Mick]

Yeah. The baby knows. The baby's a part. The baby's gonna do its part. It's a star in there. It's a star. He knows or she knows the moment. But this is mom's moment right here.

[Salisha Thomas]

You hear that?

[Mick]

Yes. They know. I promise.

[Salisha Thomas]

Why do I believe you right now?

[Mick]

You should. You should. The moment the baby Knows the moment. He's gonna do his or her part.

[Salisha Thomas]

I think it's a boy.

[Mick]

He's gonna do his part. Mom's a star. Star in the making.

[Salisha Thomas]

Can we stay connected?

[Mick]

Absolutely, absolutely.

[Salisha Thomas]

Because I want to give you updates.

[Mick]

For sure, for sure, for sure. I'll look at my calendar too. I might. October 8th.

[Salisha Thomas]

No, that's the due date, right? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay.

[Mick]

October 3rd. I probably can't be there. The two dates that we've talked about, I can't make either of those dates.

[Salisha Thomas]

I'm like, you travel a lot. You all over.

[Mick]

So. Wedding anniversary, September 29th. So, you know, I don't know if what the plans are just yet. Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

How many years for you?

[Mick]

It will be two.

[Salisha Thomas]

Oh, my God.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

You're a newlywed.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

How is it going?

[Mick]

Amazing. Amazing.

[Salisha Thomas]

Congratulations.

[Mick]

Thank you.

[Salisha Thomas]

Big, big congratulations.

[Mick]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Salisha Thomas]

Did you do a big wedding or small?

[Mick]

It was smallish. It was like a hundred of our best friends.

[Salisha Thomas]

Yeah, that's the best, that party.

[Mick]

It was a ten minute ceremony and a four and a half hour party. All the singing and dancing you could imagine.

[Salisha Thomas]

Selecia, that sounds incredible.

[Mick]

It was like 90s 80s R&B, some late 90s, early 2000 hip hop.

[Salisha Thomas]

Listen, big party, that's the vibe right there.

[Mick]

Big party.

[Salisha Thomas]

That's the vibe. That's the vibe.

[Mick]

Absolutely.

[Salisha Thomas]

That's the vibe.

[Mick]

Absolutely. So back to you, though. You can't get off that easy. Listen, come on now. You tried to make it about me. I know you're a podcast host over there too. I saw what you tried to do.

[Salisha Thomas]

I'm like, so tell me about your.

[Mick]

You've said, because I've counted five times, you're not afraid to fail. I think that is so important for everybody that's watching, that's listening. Why is that a big component, not just for you, but something everybody should embrace?

[Salisha Thomas]

I talk about it in my book a lot. It's called why be a 9 when you can be a 10? And it's a fun book. It doesn't take itself too seriously. And on the outside it could feel like, oh, reach for perfection. But that's not what it's about. It's about embracing all of your flaws and showing up in this world exactly as you are. Because there is nothing better than somebody who is okay with exactly who they are. That puts everybody at ease. Even if you're just a mess, if you own your mess. But like, it just. It just. There's something magical about those unicorns who just are self Actualized and show up unapologetically themselves. And I think part of that is embracing the parts of you that might not be pretty, the parts of you that might not be polished or completely put together. You know, sometimes I'm pretty awkward. And I used to really be embarrassed about that, and now I just kind of embrace it and I don't care. Like, right. That's just who I am. And when it comes to how that translates in my career, I put myself out there a lot. A lot. And sometimes I even will save the rejections that I get because I'm like, I can't believe. I can't believe I tried that. Like, who has the audacity to do. Like, I will even shock myself because I realize all it takes is one. Yes. All it takes is one major opportunity to come your way. And it's like, bam, Everything's different. Just like I dated a bajillion people on the road. I had a boyfriend in every major city in America. Okay. None of them were the ones.

[Mick]

How many were homeless, though? Is that a trend? No. Okay. Okay, my bad.

[Salisha Thomas]

I didn't know. None, if anybody. I was the homeless one because I was living out of suitcases. But all it takes is to find that one person who is like, oh, you're weird. I'm weird too. Let's do this together forever.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

You just gotta get it right once. But you have to be okay with hearing the no, seeing the no, getting the no's. And when the stakes are high, those no's hurt extra. When you're like, that one would have changed my life. But when you keep putting yourself in those positions and you're in the arena, you're in the arena of greatness. You're in the neighborhood getting big nose. It hurts. But you in the right neighborhood.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

And it's just a matter of time.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

Keep showing up.

[Mick]

I love it. I love it. And show all the way up, too. Like, that's my thing. If you're going to show up, show all the way up. Like, anything you do half hearted is never going to make it. Like, that's why people that have side hustles. And everybody knows I say this all the time, at some point, either make your side hustle the main thing or quit side hustling.

[Salisha Thomas]

Ooh.

[Mick]

Because you can't live in two worlds. That's right.

[Salisha Thomas]

Why am I convicted?

[Mick]

Oh, did I touch something that hit a nerve?

[Salisha Thomas]

I'm sorry, I needed to hear that.

[Mick]

You can't side hustle forever. You cannot, you can't and you're limiting what should be your main thing by trying to side hustle.

[Salisha Thomas]

Because if it's your side hustle and it brings you joy. What. There's a reason why that passion is in you.

[Mick]

Then put that whole. As one of my uncles would say, put your whole ass in it, then. Yes.

[Salisha Thomas]

What is your favorite thing that you love?

[Mick]

This getting. You can't replace human bonding. Right. Like, my thing is I just love hearing people's stories. I love being able to let others listen to people's stories because everybody's going through something, and you never know. The word that Celicia just said or is about to say is a moment that somebody needed. And there's always, like, every episode I do, I get a response from different people. That's like, I needed that. Thank you. And that's. That's my thing. Like, so my thing with make unplug is your because. That thing that's deeper than your why. To me, your why is superficial. Right. Like, I could. Your why is about to be your child. Should be your why. But why? What's the because? And so if I said, salisha, what's your because right now? Like, what's that thing that's like, this is my purpose. This is my motivation. This is my accountability when I don't need it. What's your because?

[Salisha Thomas]

Wow. Are you asking me for real?

[Mick]

For real, for real.

[Salisha Thomas]

You know, my priorities have changed quite a bit, and I recently went to a Tony Robbins conference, and it was wild.

[Mick]

Okay.

[Salisha Thomas]

Am I in a cult? Maybe. Did it change my life? Yes. And one of the exercises that we did in the arena, there was thousands of us. What? Like, he turned off the lights. The kids had to leave, and.

[Mick]

Oh, yeah, this is water. But. But.

[Salisha Thomas]

Right, okay. And there was an exercise of basically seeing your life as it would be if you let all your disempowering beliefs take the front seat. Continue to take the front seat. And we went deeper and deeper down that road, and seeing what that could look like was very painful. Letting your doubts. Letting my doubts and the, like, the most disempowering things I could think that I realized weren't even true.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

What does your life look like if that is in the driver's seat? And so with my new priorities now, being my family, it's always been career, career, career, career. Let's climb this ladder. And I think I will always be a career girl. But now I'm married, and I love my husband. I love him. Yeah, I love him. Like, I didn't think I Could love a person like I love my husband, Andrew.

[Mick]

Let's go, Andrew.

[Salisha Thomas]

He's so special in so many different ways. And I've started to maneuver differently. And now we're gonna have a baby.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

Everything just feels different. And I. There is a. There is a life that I've always wanted to live, and I've gotten to live it up to an extent in my own life. But thinking about having my child grow up with that just being baseline.

[Mick]

Mm.

[Salisha Thomas]

It's kind of freaking cool, right? Can I do that?

[Mick]

You sure can.

[Salisha Thomas]

Can I, like, create a life that I've always wanted and it's just, like, normal to the. Like, that would be my dream and a challenge for me. Like, can I do that?

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

I'm not sure if that answers the.

[Mick]

Because it does. It does. And here's what's crazy cool. And I don't think most parents have thought of this. I'm glad you did. You can give your children the life that you wanted. And I think a lot of times we settle and we do it the opposite way. Well, you know, I couldn't do this as a kid, and neither can you. Or I didn't have tv, so you're not. You know, like, we get in those. Because I didn't. I'm going to make it tough. I'm going to raise you tough so that you appreciate. Well, you can also appreciate and have. I'm not going to say luxury, but you can have comfort and appreciate it all at the same time.

[Salisha Thomas]

Let's go.

[Mick]

Right?

[Salisha Thomas]

Yeah.

[Mick]

Right. It's okay.

[Salisha Thomas]

And for me, it's very important that I don't raise assholes. I want them to be kind. What? I know, like, I feel like there's, like, a stereotype. Like, if you grow up with something, you're gonna be like this. I don't know what my kids will grow up as. I'm like. I'm not rolling in the dough, but one day I wanna be. And when that happens, I want my kids to be humble and kind and generous.

[Mick]

That's it. That's it. That is it.

[Salisha Thomas]

I hope I'm a good mom.

[Mick]

You're gonna be a great mom. Stop.

[Salisha Thomas]

I've never done it before.

[Mick]

Most people haven't. Most of us start that way, you know? Gotta. Gotta start with one. Gotta start with one.

[Salisha Thomas]

Oh, my gosh. I'm gonna throw up.

[Mick]

No, please don't.

[Salisha Thomas]

Literally, please don't.

[Mick]

Janitorial services.

[Salisha Thomas]

Oh, my God.

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[Mick]

So, Salisha, you talked about the book. What encouraged you to write the book and give us the title again?

[Salisha Thomas]

Why be a 9 when you can be a 10? You know, I've always written, I have journals and journals and journals of writing. And I wrote a book in the Pandemic that will never see the light of day. It's completely, completely inappropriate. And I couldn't use it. I couldn't use it for public, for public use. But I wanted to write something that I could use. And that book that I'd written in the Pandemic, it had a lot of good stories. There was a love story in was unrequited. It didn't work out. And it was just. Everything about it was wrong. But it tied into all these awesome stories, some of which I've told you about. And I'm like, well, where can I use these? And also, how can I get my message of embrace failure, embrace your flaws, enjoy life by being you instead of what you think people want you to be. How can I put that all together? And it was, it just brought me a lot of joy. It actually kind of wrote itself. And so it gave me an outlet to put some of my favorite stories. Like running a marathon without training on a two show day. Like that to me was a little bit. I did that. That was wild. I get to write it down. I get to tell. I don't actually think that's in the book. Regardless, I get to tell, get to tell these stories and wrap it up with like what I think. I don't know. I just, I just want it to encourage.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

That is my goal.

[Mick]

Okay.

[Salisha Thomas]

Is for when people come in contact with me, they feel encouraged and they feel inspired. And if they're like, that basic girl can do it, that means I can do it. Listen, I think anything is possible. And it's so easy to look at people who are where you want to be or somewhere where you think like that's not a thing and just to feel like, well, that's only possible for those kind of people.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

And that's how I've always looked at. At the people who I look up to. And I've been fortunate enough to start meeting the people who I've looked up to.

[Mick]

Okay.

[Salisha Thomas]

Slowly but surely. And I realize they're all just people.

[Mick]

All day. All day.

[Salisha Thomas]

What?

[Mick]

Yep.

[Salisha Thomas]

Like, that is wild to me.

[Mick]

Mm.

[Salisha Thomas]

And why is that? Why does that feel so mysterious?

[Mick]

Right? Right.

[Salisha Thomas]

Like, take that filter off and stop gatekeeping.

[Mick]

Let's go. That's what I'm talking about. That's the truth. That's the truth.

[Salisha Thomas]

Figured something out.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

How does that benefit you to not share what you learn?

[Mick]

Right.

[Salisha Thomas]

With your peers, with your sisters? Like. Like, let's communicate. I shared something on my blog a few months ago about. I think I had a miscarriage. And I feel like you're not supposed to tell people that.

[Mick]

Okay.

[Salisha Thomas]

But I was like, what if I don't tell anybody? That's, like, the most isolating thing in the world. That'll make no sense. Who made these rules, Mick?

[Mick]

It wasn't me who made these rules. Right?

[Salisha Thomas]

You supposed to just go through stuff by yourself and not tell anybody. That feels completely alienating and isolating, like, you're all alone. And I wrote a blog about it. And do you know how many of my friends came out of the woodwork to tell me about their stories?

[Mick]

Wasn't just you.

[Salisha Thomas]

No, my friends who I've known and a lot of it. A few of them, it had happened that week for them.

[Mick]

Wow.

[Salisha Thomas]

I'm like, hold up. All y'all. Was just going to hold on to all this. In pain, suffering by yourself. That is crazy to me.

[Mick]

Yeah.

[Salisha Thomas]

We are literally all in this together.

[Mick]

Yeah. Good stuff. Celicia, words of wisdom. I didn't know you were a philosopher as well.

[Salisha Thomas]

Shut up.

[Mick]

You do it all. You do it all. The philosophy from Celicia Thomas.

[Salisha Thomas]

Oh, my God.

[Mick]

So, Celicia, you've been amazing with your time. I know how busy you are. I do want you and Andrew both to know. Very proud of both of you.

[Salisha Thomas]

Thank you.

[Mick]

Very proud of both of you. Uncle Mick is here for you guys, I promise.

[Salisha Thomas]

Uncle Mick?

[Mick]

Yes, Uncle Mick is there.

[Salisha Thomas]

Thank you.

[Mick]

Absolutely. So, Celisha, where can people find and follow you? Not that they don't know where to find you, but where do you want them to follow you?

[Salisha Thomas]

Thank you for asking. They can follow me on. At the Salisha show on Instagram. That's the name of my podcast. My. My YouTube. Well, I guess my new YouTube's not called that, but it's my show. Is called the Salisha Show. My Instagram is called the Salisha show, and my website is thesalishashow.com. it's like bye Felicia but with an s. But it's spelled S to the A to the l to the. Just kidding.

[Mick]

Oh, keep going. You know how to spell your name? You don't know how to spell your name.

[Salisha Thomas]

S, A L, I, S, H, A.

[Mick]

Okay. Ladies and gentlemen, this has been my good friend, Ms. Salisha Thomas. Salisha. So honored to have you.

[Salisha Thomas]

Thank you.

[Mick]

This has meant the world to me.

[Salisha Thomas]

Thank you.

[Mick]

Can't wait to see you on stage again. Can't wait to meet my little niece. Nephew. When he or she remembers that mommy's the star. Gonna give mommy her day and then. Yes, okay. Absolutely.

[Salisha Thomas]

Thank you.

[Mick]

You got it.

[Salisha Thomas]

Thank you for encouraging me.

[Mick]

All the viewers and listeners, remember your because is your superpower. Go unleash it. You the best.

[Salisha Thomas]

You're incredible.

[Mick]

You the best.

[Salisha Thomas]

How dare you make me feel so safe.

[Mick]

That's what I'm here for.

[Salisha Thomas]

What the heck?

[Mick]

That's what I'm here for.

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Mick Unplugged. If today hits you hard, then imagine what's next. Be sure to subscribe, rate and share this with someone who needs it. And most of all, make a plan and take action, because the next level is already waiting for you. Have a question or insight to share, send us an email to hellocunplugged.com until next time, ask yourself how you can step up.