#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire

Summary

Shawn Ryan Show - Episode #186: Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire

Host: Shawn Ryan
Guest: Brett Cooper
Release Date: March 27, 2025

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1. Introduction

In Episode #186 of the "Shawn Ryan Show," host Shawn Ryan engages in a deeply personal and insightful conversation with Brett Cooper, a 23-year-old conservative cultural commentator and former actress. Brett opens up about her tumultuous journey from a challenging childhood to her meteoric rise at The Daily Wire and her subsequent decision to pursue an independent path. This summary delves into the key discussions, profound insights, and emotional narratives shared during the episode.

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2. Early Life and Family Background

Brett Cooper shares her unique upbringing, marked by frequent relocations and a complex family dynamic.

• Birth and Early Years:
  Brett was born on Orcas Island, Washington, during a ten-year stint her family spent seeking solace from her parents' strained marriage.
  Quote [00:22]: "Arya, it's very freeing."

• Family Structure:
  She has two brothers, Chase and twin Reid, both significantly older by 12 and 14 years, respectively. Her father, Brett's stepfather, passed away from brain cancer when her brothers were young, further destabilizing the family.
  Quote [12:58]: "They had a lot of disdain for each other. We lived in a big house that was, like, very long."

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3. Impact of Brother's Death and Family Struggles

The death of Brett's biological father profoundly affected her family, introducing grief and instability.

• Brother David's Passing:
  At age five, Brett witnessed the sudden death of her twin brother David from a cardiac arrest during a rowing session, a traumatic event that scarred the family.
  Quote [35:47]: "I still have it." (Referring to a keepsake David left)

• Emotional Fallout:
  David's death led to heightened tensions between her mother and stepfather, culminating in a hostile divorce when Brett was fifteen. This period forced Brett to emancipate herself, seeking independence amidst familial chaos.
  Quote [31:15]: "15."

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4. Journey into Acting and Early Career

Brett's passion for storytelling and acting provided an escape from her troubled home life.

• Acting as an Outlet:
  From a young age, Brett immersed herself in theater, dance, and community performances, using acting to channel her emotions and find solace.
  Quote [64:15]: "I'm so good at auditions, I have to hear rejection and face it."

• Challenges in the Acting Industry:
  Despite her dedication, Brett faced the harsh realities of the entertainment industry, including frequent rejections and the struggle to find fulfilling roles.
  Quote [67:06]: "It was like the meeting of the minds."

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5. Marriage and Personal Life

Brett discusses the profound impact of her marriage to Alex, which provided stability and support amidst ongoing family challenges.

• Meeting Alex:
  Their connection was instantaneous, rooted in mutual respect and shared values, leading to a swift and deeply meaningful relationship.
  Quote [141:06]: "We had a ton of fun."

• Building a Supportive Partnership:
  Alex's unwavering support enabled Brett to navigate her personal traumas and professional ambitions with greater confidence and resilience.
  Quote [152:35]: "Friendships are hard."

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6. Career at The Daily Wire

Brett's tenure at The Daily Wire marked a significant phase in her career, propelling her into the limelight.

• Joining The Daily Wire:
  Brett was recruited by The Daily Wire to host the "Comment Section with Brett Cooper," a role that resonated with her passion for storytelling and cultural commentary.
  Quote [01:39]: "And that's cool."

• Rapid Growth and Success:
  Under her leadership, the show garnered 4.5 million subscribers within three years, becoming one of the platform's fastest-growing channels.
  Quote [198:50]: "It was a rocket ship."

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7. Departure from The Daily Wire

Brett's decision to leave The Daily Wire was driven by a desire for creative freedom and personal integrity.

• Seeking Independence:
  After achieving remarkable success, Brett yearned to forge her own path, valuing autonomy over corporate structure.
  Quote [203:45]: "I've got a great team. Many of whom I've worked with for a while or worked with at the beginning of starting all of this."

• Overcoming Fear and Embracing Change:
  Despite fears of uncertainty, Brett embraced the opportunity to create content that aligned more closely with her personal values and vision.
  Quote [204:01]: "I was ready for something different."

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8. Transition to Independent Show and New Ventures

Venturing into independence, Brett established her own platform, "The Brett Cooper Show," focusing on authentic storytelling and cultural discourse.

• Establishing an Independent Platform:
  Leveraging her experience and audience from The Daily Wire, Brett launched her own show, quickly amassing over a million subscribers in its first month.
  Quote [204:06]: "It felt like a rocket ship."

• Creating Meaningful Content:
  Her independent show emphasizes genuine conversations, personal narratives, and addressing topics often sidelined by mainstream media.
  Quote [208:17]: "Do what you love and be open, man."

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9. Handling Personal and Family Mental Health Issues

Brett candidly discusses her family's ongoing struggles with mental health, including her stepfather's depression and her twin brother Reid's schizophrenia.

• Therapy and Coping Mechanisms:
  Beginning therapy at age 14, Brett developed tools to navigate her chaotic family environment, although she paused formal therapy after overcoming a tumultuous period.
  Quote [05:05]: "I couldn't comprehend the magnitude."

• Support Systems and Healing:
  Marriage to Alex provided Brett with a stable support system, enabling her to confront and heal from her past traumas while advocating for others facing similar struggles.
  Quote [53:37]: "I'm doing okay."

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10. Future Plans and Personal Growth

Looking ahead, Brett aspires to balance her burgeoning career with personal goals, including starting a family and continuing to impact her audience positively.

• Embracing Motherhood:
  With her husband Alex, Brett looks forward to expanding their family, aiming to cultivate a nurturing environment while maintaining her professional endeavors.
  Quote [215:20]: "I hope soon as possible."

• Continued Commitment to Storytelling:
  Brett remains dedicated to her mission of storytelling, aiming to inspire and support her audience through authentic and relatable content.
  Quote [220:53]: "Build the foundation, stay true to yourself and just be open, man."

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11. Conclusion

In this heartfelt episode, Brett Cooper offers a compelling narrative of resilience, transformation, and unwavering dedication to her values. From overcoming early-life tragedies to achieving professional acclaim and seeking personal freedom, Brett exemplifies the strength of spirit and the importance of authentic storytelling. Her journey serves as an inspiration to many, demonstrating that with courage and integrity, one can navigate life's most challenging moments and emerge stronger.

Notable Quotes:

• On Therapy and Coping:
  Brett Cooper [04:12]: "I didn't need to go forever. I got through that period."

• On Faith and Signs:
  Brett Cooper [50:57]: "Every time I see a cardinal. Do you know the idea with redbirds that they're..."

• On Independence:
  Brett Cooper [204:52]: "I'm building a life and putting something in place."

• On Storytelling:
  Brett Cooper [68:50]: "It's about storytelling because it's all about human nature."

• On Future Aspirations:
  Brett Cooper [215:20]: "I hope soon as possible."

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This episode of the "Shawn Ryan Show" offers an unfiltered glimpse into Brett Cooper's life, highlighting her extraordinary journey and the profound lessons learned along the way. Her story underscores the power of resilience, the significance of community, and the enduring impact of authentic narratives.

Transcript

[Sean Ryan]

Brett Cooper, welcome to the show.

[Brett Cooper]

Thank you. Happy to be here.

[Sean Ryan]

I'm happy you're here. We got a lot to dive into. You ready?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, for sure.

[Sean Ryan]

Anything off the table?

[Brett Cooper]

No.

[Sean Ryan]

All right. All right. How's it going? Independent?

[Brett Cooper]

It's awesome. I'm having a ton of fun. Arya, it's very freeing.

[Sean Ryan]

Is it more challenging than you thought it would be?

[Brett Cooper]

Um, yes and no. I think I was surprised about the things that have challenged me. Cause I. I knew going into it that there was a lot that I didn't know that other people had managed and that I didn't have a hand on. And that was one thing that I never really loved, was that I didn't completely have a hold and a sense of everything that was going on in terms of my career and brand. So weird to talk about yourself as, like, a brand, but sort of how it ends up being. And so it's been really nice to dive into that, but of course, there's a learning curve with that. But it's been very freeing.

[Sean Ryan]

Well, we'll dive into that later. But I just want to say, man, like, I am. You're 23 years old, right?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

Very sharp. 23 year old. And I just have a ton of respect for you. I don't dabble with the Gen Z. Er as much. I don't get the opportunity. But, you know, I've been. I've been stalking you for a little bit. Sounds kind of creepy, but. No, like, you know, I saw, you know, obviously, the transition from Daily Wire and kind of disappeared for a minute, and you pop back up and, like, you got spunk in your step. You're just. You're crushing it, man.

[Brett Cooper]

And it's.

[Sean Ryan]

It's really, like, I got a ton of respect for people that can walk away from, you know, something where everything was handed to you. Maybe not handed to you, but, I mean, everything was taken care of over there. And now, like, you're tackling this thing head on, and it's tough, man. It's a tough business. And I just want to say, you're doing amazing.

[Brett Cooper]

Thank you.

[Sean Ryan]

And, like, I just. I wish the best for you. Like, it's really cool to watch your.

[Brett Cooper]

Journey, but it's been rewarding thus far.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah. I mean, you came out with a big bang.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

And that's. That's cool. Everybody starts off with a introduction here. So, Brett Cooper, you're a conservative and cultural commentator who has captivated audiences with your sharp insights and relatable perspective. You're a former actress who brings a unique blend of entertainment and politics into your audience. During your nearly three year tenure at the Daily Wire, you amassed 4.5 million subscribers as the host of the comment section with. With Brett Cooper. You're the host of the Brett Cooper show now, where you tackle current events, cultural issues and personal stories. You've attracted over a million subscribers in just one month. You are a voice for Gen Z, challenging the status quo and sparking conversations on topics often overlooked by the mainstream media. And you live on a farm here in Tennessee with your husband. And your one year anniversary is next week. Correct. Congratulations.

[Brett Cooper]

Thank you.

[Sean Ryan]

Congratulations. So I want to do a life story on you.

[Brett Cooper]

Okay.

[Sean Ryan]

I know there's a lot there, especially for a 23 year old man. You've been through, you've been through it and there's a lot of depth that I don't think, I don't think you've really gone in depth on a lot of this stuff on other podcasts, so.

[Brett Cooper]

Very rare.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah, I want to be the one. I want to be the one that gets it.

[Brett Cooper]

That's what my husband said last night as we were leaving dinner with you guys. He was like, this is the podcast. Talk about that stuff. And I was like, I know that'll be good.

[Sean Ryan]

Are you, are you nervous?

[Brett Cooper]

No, not at all. I love talking about you think you're.

[Sean Ryan]

Going to get emotional?

[Brett Cooper]

Probably.

[Sean Ryan]

Right on, man.

[Brett Cooper]

Cry easily.

[Sean Ryan]

It's like a therapy session.

[Brett Cooper]

I know, and I loved therapy. People rag on therapy a lot, especially on the right and I sort of do when I think people like overuse it. It was incredible for me and I.

[Sean Ryan]

When did you start therapy?

[Brett Cooper]

I was like 14.

[Sean Ryan]

14 years old.

[Brett Cooper]

A lot of shit going on.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah, I know, man.

[Brett Cooper]

To work through it. But. No, but I think that's the thing that. Not to go completely off topic, but it. There was a time in my life when I needed it, when there was so much going on that I couldn't comprehend and I didn't have the tools to navigate through. And so that's why I sought out help. And I went through a few different therapists trying to find somebody and I found somebody who was, yes, very empathetic and would listen, but was solutions focused of like, this is how you navigate this. This is what you need to say to this person. How do we better your communication so you can get what you need in this very, very chaotic family structure that you're living in? Like, it was very. It was giving me the tools I needed. So I didn't need to go forever. Like I got through that period. And I got to a point where I was like, I don't need to go trauma dump every Thursday afternoon. So I haven't been back. And I've wondered if there was like.

[Sean Ryan]

You don't go today. Interesting.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. Last year, I thought I might need to.

[Sean Ryan]

I think I need to. I've been kicking around the idea going back. I haven't been in probably seven years, I think.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. If you find a good person again, somebody that's not an enabler, which I think is hard to find, you look up like therapists in Nashville, and the first person that pops up is, like, the person who is in Matt Walsh's what is a Woman? And you're like, oh, fuck. Like, you're not who I want to talk to. But if you find, again, a good person that is focused on providing you tools so that you can make your life better, because they can't change your life for you.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah.

[Brett Cooper]

But if they help you break down the things that are in your way, the things that are out of your control, that give you a set of tools so you can move forward, that's an incredible. Whether that's a therapist or a life coach or just a mentor in your personal life, in your church, everybody should have something like that.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah. You know, a lot of times I think people just break it down themselves. You know, just hearing yourself talk, you realize how insane you are and work through a lot of those issues yourself. But, yeah, I think about going back. I mean, with the rise of the show and, you know, just a lot of people coming at you, it can be enraging.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

And that's something I'm kind of working through. But you dealt with that at a young age. And I want to talk about that later, too. Yeah, sounds good. So. But we have a couple things to knock out here, so I have a Patreon account, you know, that I do. Where's your subscription network? We have our cooper.com.

[Brett Cooper]

No, it's called Cooper Confidential.

[Sean Ryan]

Cooper Confidential. Nice.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

What do you do on there?

[Brett Cooper]

I do a weekly advice video. Do you remember, like, Dear Abby in the newspaper?

[Sean Ryan]

Yes.

[Brett Cooper]

I was obsessed with Dear Abby. And so I have people send in questions because a lot of the times when I get emails from people, it's like I'm having trouble figuring out something in a relationship or with college or. I know that you've dealt with this with your brother or your parents. Could you help me through this? So it's like these long, long questions that I've never really had the avenue to Answer before. Cause I can't just email people back all day long, even though I would love to. So we open up the question portal every week and people send in their questions and then I answer them in just like a casual way. We just kind of work through them together basically. So we do that and then we have ad free episodes and then like a monthly subscriber only newsletter that's much more personal stuff.

[Sean Ryan]

Nice. Nice.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

Well, this is from John Wallace.

[Brett Cooper]

Okay.

[Sean Ryan]

Could you comment on the current state of conservative politics? Now that the new administration is actively making changes and disrupting the liberal agenda, then there's a follow on. Is there more unity or is there behind the scenes drama and power grabs occurring?

[Brett Cooper]

Oh, gosh. Unfortunately, I think it's the latter. Cause I think that was actually my first episode that I did on the new show was sort of about that. I think that we are being very sore winners, unfortunately. I think the right is so used to losing and we talk about a victim mentality all the time of, you know, the left victimizes themselves. So we've been in a culture, it's like the perfect culture for nonprofits where it's like the left's getting us donate now, whatever. Like we've just been in that mindset that I think now that we've won in such a, a massive way and we've won culturally, I think everything, everybody was just like, we don't even know how to function. So I have a lot of hope. I'm really excited about almost everything that Trump is doing and his cabinet is doing. I love the people involved. I love RFK Jr. I'm a massive fan of Tulsi. I know her as you know her in our personal lives. I just think that she is one of the most magnificent people. He's surrounded himself with excellent individuals. Feels very different than 2016. So in terms of the administration, I feel really, really strongly in a positive way. But in terms of like this weird industry of like right wing commentators and whatever, like you go on X, I'm like, can you like, can everybody just like chill?

[Sean Ryan]

It's crazy over there.

[Brett Cooper]

So I think when you get out of like, there's a lot of X that does feel like the real world. But I'm also like, moms in Minnesota aren't like caring about this stuff. Like random people just like trying to get through life and hoping that gas prices are gonna go down. Like they're not seeing our infight. So I think it's a double edged sword of. I feel a lot of hope in Terms of where politics are going. And I hope that the right can get their act together and start or stop pointing fingers.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah. It'd be great to see a little unity. I mean, people are just so far apart nowadays, you know? But I think a lot of people are exhausted from it, too. I know I am.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

I'm so fucking tired of politics. I can't even.

[Brett Cooper]

I think people in this world are. I think just normal voters are. I think it's just been. It's probably one of the reasons why he won. People are just like, I can't do this anymore. Like, I don't care what you're gonna say about me. Like, I just want my life to be better.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah.

[Brett Cooper]

So I think that. That part, again, with normal people, I think that there has been some unity.

[Sean Ryan]

I hope the pendulum just, like, starts slowing down a little bit here. You know, I think maybe hopefully. You know, hopefully everybody's learned some lessons.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

And maybe we don't need to go so extreme. And that would be amazing. But probably way off, but probably wishful thinking, but. But. So everybody gets a gift.

[Brett Cooper]

Oh, I'm so excited about this.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah. Yeah. So there they are.

[Brett Cooper]

Oh, my gosh.

[Sean Ryan]

The magnificent Vigilance Elite Gummy bears. Legal in all 50 states, made here in the USA.

[Brett Cooper]

I can't wait. I'm so bummed because I wanted to bring you a gift. Cause I know that you give people your gummy bears, so I gave you your gift last night. So for anybody watching, I gave Sean some of our chicken eggs and one of our duck eggs.

[Sean Ryan]

Cause we get those this morning. We didn't eat the duck egg yet.

[Brett Cooper]

Oh, that one's special. Gotta have, like, a special omelette for that or something.

[Sean Ryan]

Thank you. Thank you for those. I'm just gonna say it. So, yeah, you got this cookie idea. I know you gotta do it, man. I know you gotta do it.

[Brett Cooper]

I desperately wanna have.

[Sean Ryan]

Cookie Company would crush it. It would crush. People love food, man.

[Brett Cooper]

I know.

[Sean Ryan]

You gotta do it.

[Brett Cooper]

I love food. I mean, it's like the.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah, yeah. Your husband was telling us at dinner last night he liked the Cookie Monster over there. Six cookies in one sitting. Amazing.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

But. All right, so let's. Let's dig in. You ready?

[Brett Cooper]

Let's do it.

[Sean Ryan]

So you grew up in Chattanooga, right?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. Well, we moved around a lot, but I call Chattanooga. I split my hometown, depending on how I'm feeling about it, between LA and Chattanooga. But I was born on an island in Washington state called Orcas island, off the coast of. It's in the San Juans. So out past Bellingham. And my family just randomly moved there. My brothers had gone to summer camp there for many years. And I think that's one of those places where you're either seeking something or you're hiding from something, basically. And I think my family was my parents marriage was never really strong. My dad was very unhappy and they just needed to like, escape. So they went to like the tiniest island possible. It was like idyllic in hopes that that would fix things. And so that's how we kind of ended up there. So they were there for 10 years. My brothers are 12 and 14 years older than me. So I was born at the tail end of that stint. And I think then they kind of outgrew it. And my brothers were. The education system wasn't great on the island. And my mom had tried to homeschool them because she had homeschooled. She ended up homeschooling me. But I think every kid is different and homeschooling just wasn't really.

[Sean Ryan]

Why were your parents not happy?

[Brett Cooper]

They're very different people. Incredibly different people. They were friends in. My mom had a previous marriage, so my brothers and I have different dads. And he died of brain cancer when they were very, very young. So I think.

[Sean Ryan]

Wait a minute. Hold your brother's dad's. Your brother's dad died of brain cancer when they were very young. How young?

[Brett Cooper]

Like three and five maybe.

[Sean Ryan]

Shit.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, it was really. It was. So we have my oldest brother, Chase, and then two twins. So my mom had tiny children and a terminally ill husband flying back and forth between Mayo Clinic. It was awful.

[Sean Ryan]

Damn.

[Brett Cooper]

And I think his brain cancer made their marriage very hard as well, because everything obviously just flips. And so he passed away. And my mom is chronically efficient, I would say. And she was like, well, I, you know, my sons need a father and I don't want to be alone. And she had known my dad in college and they were good friends. And he's a wonderful guy. He's very sweet. But they're very different people. And they dated for a short amount of time and it was always long distance. Cause he was in North Carolina and she was in California, which is where she and her first husband and the boys lived. And so they didn't spend a ton of time together. I think it was very like rose colored glasses. And it just wasn't from the get go. I don't think it was. Right. They're very different people. I think they would have been much happier with different. You know, my mom's very headstrong, very dominant personality. Super, very, very similar. And I think that she needed somebody who could stand up to her and combat that. It's like, when I met Alex, who was my husband, it was like I'd finally met somebody who was like, a sparring partner of mine, who wouldn't, like, put me in my place. Cause that sounds bad. But who was willing to, like, push back and go, no, you are in the wrong here. And here's how you could be better and I could do this. Like, I was so used to being able to do that with other people and to have somebody who was not gonna be a pushover, basically, and would be willing to debate things with me and discuss really, like, heavy and interesting subjects and wasn't intimidated by me in the slightest. And I don't think that was my dad. He needed somebody a lot softer, I think. And my mom needed somebody who was probably more dominant. And so I think it was just always very out of whack. Like, we talk about, you know, masculine and feminine traits and finding that in a marriage and a relationship, I think they were always off balance. So it was not great from the start. I don't think.

[Sean Ryan]

Your father wanted you aborted.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

Correct.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

When did you find that out?

[Brett Cooper]

Oh, gosh, probably when I was 15 or 16. 16?

[Sean Ryan]

How did that come up?

[Brett Cooper]

We. I was living in LA as a child actor. Everybody there is super pro choice. I think I had been on some set and everybody was, like, wearing their Bernie pins or whatever. Pro choice. And I just, like, very innocently asked my mom. I was like, what? Like, could we just, like, talk through this issue? She was super. I think that's why my brothers and I ended up the way that we did. Like, my oldest brother and I are very, very principled in our values and very comfortable, like, speaking about them openly. Cause it was like the dinner table. And just, like, even being in the car with our mom was like, debate was accepted. The hard conversations were not to be shied away from. Whether it was things that were going on in our family or things going on in the world. It was like, no, let's break these down together. She's a very, like, introspective. She's not academic, but she's incredibly intellectual. And so that was just a normal thing. So I was like, let's. Like, I don't. Let's talk about abortion. Like, I don't. I just don't understand. Like, what are these two sides of the coin? Like, I just didn't understand the issue. And so we started talking about that. You know, it was just like over the course of a few months. And I think that she had kind of weighed whether to bring that up. But that was what really changed her mind permanently about abortion was when my dad came to her, I was like, I don't want a child. Like, their marriage was already not great. It was an accident. I don't think he really got along with my brothers very well. And it was just like, I don't want this child.

[Sean Ryan]

So you're living in la, the abortion topic comes up, you bring it up to your mom. And I mean, how did she bring that up to you?

[Brett Cooper]

I don't even remember. But it was probably something that was very straightforward. She doesn't mince words. She's not somebody who is, I guess, soft or brings anything in.

[Sean Ryan]

It's very matter of fact.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, it's just like this happened. And she had always been, in her mind, she was like. I think she was more pro life, but kind of understood the pro choice argument in terms of government overreach. And, you know, it is a woman's body. And then what was actually an issue that she had to decide and what was put in front of her. And I think that she had to reanalyze the issue from, like a much more personal perspective. And I think she basically said to my dad, she was like, if you want this so badly, you go make the appointment. And he couldn't bring himself to do it.

[Sean Ryan]

Damn.

[Brett Cooper]

Cause like, he couldn't even. It was just like such a. Like a threat, basically. Like, I don't want you. He just wanted her to go do it.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah.

[Brett Cooper]

She was like, I'm not. And that was all like.

[Sean Ryan]

I mean, how did you. Do you remember, like, her telling you?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, but it also didn't surprise me. Cause I knew my dad. My dad and I never had a great relationship. It was just kind of like, okay, yeah, I guess.

[Sean Ryan]

How about today?

[Brett Cooper]

Much better.

[Sean Ryan]

Have you ever asked him about it?

[Brett Cooper]

No.

[Sean Ryan]

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[Brett Cooper]

Maybe one day. I've talked about having him on the show and break like trying to break through a lot of different things. I have a lot more, a lot more empathy for him as I've gotten older and I understand him more because I think that I saw him for his faults in my parents marriage which they were, you know, they both had their faults but outside of that marriage I think I saw a broken man who was just not the right relationship. He'd had a really hard family life growing up.

[Sean Ryan]

Do you think he'll watch this?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, probably. He watches everything.

[Sean Ryan]

Well that'll probably strike up some questions.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, for sure. Like I had done a. I think he watched the video I did with Raelynn where We talked about this, and we sang together because she has a song about her mom almost aborting her, So I believe he watched that, but.

[Sean Ryan]

And it's never come up.

[Brett Cooper]

Mm. Mm.

[Sean Ryan]

How often do you talk to him?

[Brett Cooper]

Every month or so. I definitely still have some boundaries up, for sure.

[Sean Ryan]

Mm.

[Brett Cooper]

And I think he does as well. But I think in. One of the greatest parts of growing up is seeing your parents as humans with their own childhood, their own baggage. Learning so much about, like, I knew what my mom had gone through as a mother of losing a husband. One of my brothers died at 17 years old, going through a really, really bitter divorce and being in a very unhappy marriage. When my other brother now has schizophrenia. I mean, she's just been, like, hit after hit. Her, like, joke is, like, it was like, Genghis Khan and, like, former life, like, what happened? But seeing that. But then understanding things from her family and her past of, like, you see this full human being that as a kid, you don't. You can't comprehend. And I think I got to start seeing that at a younger age because of her honesty and her transparency and even her honesty about my dad, of things that he wouldn't bring up, but of her comfort in being able to say, XYZ happened. It's not really my story to tell, but, you know, this happened with your grandfather and your dad, and he went through that. And being able to, like, see that, you know, 17, 18 years old was like, oh, God. Okay, so this was not the right marriage. This was a hard childhood. And this is somebody who has really been lost, I don't think has ever found, like, true fulfillment. And I look at him, and I'm just like, I just want to give you a hug, basically. And it's really helped our relationship. And the other thing, too, that I never expected was marrying Alex and bringing somebody into my life who didn't carry the baggage and the weight of growing up in this environment and didn't experience the heartbreaks and didn't experience feeling let down, didn't experience growing up in the shadow of schizophrenia and death and divorce and was able to look at my dad as just a human and who was able to find him so endearing and funny and kind, and then being able to see him through my husband's lens of, like, picking up the phone every time he calls and being like, hey, I just talked to Mike.

[Sean Ryan]

Wow.

[Brett Cooper]

And that's made me so much better.

[Sean Ryan]

I mean, it's. It's pretty amazing. You know, I want to dive into all of it, but it does sound like you had a really tough childhood. And, you know, a lot of the stuff we spoke about at dinner last night, I mean, you know, a lot of people don't get out of that. You know, it just carries on from generation to generation to generation, and. And somehow, you know, you broke through it. You're obviously a very strong woman. But what. What did your. What did your parents do? What did your mom do?

[Brett Cooper]

She's a stay at home mom.

[Sean Ryan]

She was a stay at home mom.

[Brett Cooper]

And your dad, he worked in finance, like, and not finance in any kind of like. Like, really cool or, you know, very well. Like, he was a. Like a banker at a local bank in Chattanooga doing, like, nonprofit stuff. I think. I don't think that's ever what he wanted to do. He was good at it. But I think that he. There was. He would have been a great professor. He's super academic, very esoteric. So I think that's probably also, you know, there's such a lesson in. I think I learned a lot from watching him. There's such a lesson in that of. You don't have to, like, love everything about what you do, but if you don't find a sort of fulfillment and passion in some sort of your life to fill that void and to fill that cup, you're always gonna be searching and you're always gonna feel lost, and you're always gonna, you know, substitute it with other things and other vices. And so I think there's often people kind of, like, joke about the cliche of, like, do what you love, but it's like, if you don't have some kind of. Like, if you don't feel like what you're doing is important or, like, it speaks to some part of you and you can't identify that, then you have to find it in some other part of your life. And if you don't have both. I think that's what I watched with him, where there was, like, it wasn't in his career, wasn't in his personal life. He wasn't happy in his marriage. Our family was a mess.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah. Yeah. Trapped.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

What were you into as a kid?

[Brett Cooper]

Everything. I basically did everything because I was homeschooled, so I was. Had the time to do so many things. So I was obviously into theater, and I was a dancer, so I did ballet, was a competitive gymnast, did community theater, singing lessons, was super weird and outdoorsy. I was like the whole, like, homeschool kid that was, like, sitting under the tree, like, looking at leaves and, like, digging holes. With my hands. We, like, lived on, like, five acres, ten acres in Chattanooga. Had a Save the Earth club in, like, second grade. And because I was homeschooled, there was, like, nobody in it. It was just me and, like, one other friend. My whole family sails very randomly. Like, my dad grew up in North Carolina, so he would sail. And then when we lived on the west coast, Norca island, my brothers learned how to sail. And so I would go on the Tennessee river at our, like, tiny little, like, boat club thing, where they would have tiny little, you know, like, kids sailboats and Opties is what they're called. So I would sail. I rock climb. Chattanooga's a huge rock climbing town.

[Sean Ryan]

How much did you guys bounce around?

[Brett Cooper]

So we went from Washington to Chattanooga, and then when I started acting, we bounced around.

[Sean Ryan]

Okay.

[Brett Cooper]

And so I was like, I just fell in love with it. And my mom was very against it, But I also think she saw kind of an out, like, a way to escape her life in a way. My brother had just died, and I saw an emotional outlet that gave me the ability to be creative and escape my life and what was going on and the intensity of that and gave me a creative outlet. And I just kept wanting to do more. I was like, I would go on. Like, I wasn't allowed to have a computer, but I would go on her desktop and be like, Annie auditions nearby and be like, there's one happening like, an hour away. I want to go do this musical. And so we would go audition. My mom would drive me, like, an hour plus to rehearsals and to shows. And then I was like, I think I want to be on Broadway. And so I wrote a letter to a manager in New York and was like, I want to be Jane Banks and Mary Poppins, and I'll, like, I will fly up to meet you and do an audition, and then you'll help me get this role, whatever. I was just super motivated. And I think she saw kind of an escape. But she also. After my brother David died, her perspective as a parent changed. Where she was like, if I had known that David only had 17 years, but what I have said yes to and obviously not give in to your child's every whims, but if there was something he loved more than anything, what would I have done?

[Sean Ryan]

Let's rewind a little bit before we get into the acting. So we moved from Washington to Chattanooga. How much older were your brothers than you?

[Brett Cooper]

12 and 14 years.

[Sean Ryan]

12 and 14 years. Were you close with them? Are you close with them?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, I was never super close to my oldest brother, Chase, because when I was born, he was already going off to boarding school. He knew he wanted to be in the military, so he went to the Marine Military Academy in Texas, because the Marines don't have a college, but they have a high school. So he did that and then basically spent the next four years working to get into a service academy and got into all of them and chose the Air Force Academy. So he was. And he spent every summer, you know, at the summer programs at the Naval Academy at Air Force at West Point. Got his pilot's license at, like, 15 years old. So he was super, incredibly motivated, knew what he wanted to do with his life. So he was kind of out of the house by the time that I was born, so I didn't get to know him as well as a kid. I think I was probably around 15 years old when we really started getting close. When all the stuff, again, we can talk about later. That happened with my older brother, my other brother. We really got close then. But Reid and David are the twins, and so I grew up with them and was super close.

[Sean Ryan]

Super close. 12 years older, and you guys are super close.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. And David died at. Because we were all living together. So, like, when I think about my childhood, you know, David died when I was five years old, so I don't have a ton of memories, unfortunately, but it was just like, me and Reid and my mom that's a surviving twin.

[Sean Ryan]

What kind of stuff were you experiencing at home with your mom and your dad?

[Brett Cooper]

I unfortunately didn't know anything different. Like, it was icy. I never saw any affection. There was a lot of disdain for each other. We lived in a big house that was, like, very long. They would be, like, on opposite ends of it, basically. And to their credit, I think that they tried and they tried for me. And especially after David died and my brother Reid really started struggling, I think that the damage after that was irreparable after losing a child.

[Sean Ryan]

Mm.

[Brett Cooper]

But they did try in their own ways. But it was like, I'm so grateful that I'm here, and I wouldn't change of the world. But it was. It's like I look at that as, like, that was probably a marriage that never should have happened just because they're so, so different. Like, and it's not like, a different, like, complimentary way. Like, it's just, like, you are just. And there's a lot of affection there, and you spend 20 plus years with someone because they were married for a long time and they got through the divorce. And they're friendly now.

[Sean Ryan]

How old were you when they got divorced?

[Brett Cooper]

15.

[Sean Ryan]

15.

[Brett Cooper]

And that's when I had emancipated myself as well.

[Sean Ryan]

We'll get there. We'll get there. Let's go back.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

So your brother dies at five. At age five.

[Brett Cooper]

I'm age five. He's 17. He dies on a. They went to a school in Chattanooga. They were on the rowing team. They were both super athletic, very artistic. I mean, they were like the most well rounded guys. They're both brilliant, incredibly artistically talented. Like, I can't even. I have my own creative talents. Like, I can't draw for crap. And they were both, I mean, brilliant, but also brilliant at math. Like, my brother Reed had a perfect SAT score. I mean, just so well rounded, incredibly athletic. They were on the rowing team, just good guys. And out of nowhere, David had a cardiac arrest and fell off the rowing machine right in front of reed. They're 17 years old, identical twins. They never had that, like, separation that, like, psychologically twins have to go through. And if you're not a twin, like, I don't even think I can understand what that feels like. But I've talked to enough twins now, and I've talked to reed, you know, 17. I think this is the. We're going into the 18th year since David has died, so he's now been gone longer than he was here. And I've spent enough time talking with Reid throughout that period of like, they had never. They were still one person. They had done everything together. And he watched his brother die in front of him. There were no defibrillators in the gym. There was nothing anybody could do. He was basically dead on sight. It was Valentine's Day in 2007, and yeah, it was. I mean, that changes the family forever. And it's. There were so many different. It's like a grief is such a patchwork, like a quilt, in my opinion, because everybody's perspective and journey is different. My mom's journey was completely different than my dad's. You know, this is not my dad's biological son. He never adopted my brothers. They had a lot of. It was very tense. Like, the week before David died, they had a huge. My dad in. David had a huge blowout. David even went to my mom that week and was like, why are you still in this marriage? Like, this doesn't work. I think she had a ton of regret over that. And he. So my dad's journey was completely different. I think he's. But just because he wasn't their Biological father. I mean, he had spent 14 years with them. It was very different than my mother's. Reid's journey as a identical twin was completely different. Something that none of us could ever understand. My older brother, Chase, had a completely different journey that I don't even think I really know much about. He's very. He's military. He's, like, closed case done. And he was far away at the time. He was in college then. Mine was completely different than anybody else's because I didn't know him. I did. Like, I have these memories of things we would do together, and we would wake up on Saturdays, and he would make me waffles, and we'd go, like, ride in the car together and that kind of thing. But my grief was, like, growing up, and everybody has all of these memories with this person, and you don't.

[Sean Ryan]

Do you remember how you found out?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. So it was Valentine's Day. I got a phone call from the school, and again, that's like, the. My mom is so. I truly think it's one of the best things she's ever done in terms of raising us. She was so honest. There was no hiding anything, which I think in the world of helicopter parenting and trying to protect your kids and kind of putting them in this glass box, that's become very abnormal. And people would look at our life and be like, why would you not shield them from this? But I'm very glad that she didn't. But it was just, like, looked at me and went, david's collapsed. We need to go to the, like, put down your Valentine's that you were made. We were, like, having a Valentine's Day party, and we have to go. And I remember getting in the car, and I had, like, the Valentine that I had made. David. I was just, like, five years old and holding it.

[Sean Ryan]

Oh, my God.

[Brett Cooper]

I haven't talked about this in so long. So I watched all of it. I got to the school as who's being put in the ambulance. We went to the hospital, and I had, like, a nurse take me out as they were, you know, talking about what was going on, and they had no idea what happened. I was wearing lime green clogs. And I remember because it was. We were there until very late. I was walking through the halls of the hospital. I could hear my, like, Hannah Anderson clocks, like, clomp through the hospital hallways. It's, like, funny the things you remember. They were in, like, a very dark, purpley room, and I had no idea what happened. They think it's some kind of Like. Like epigenetics. If something, you know, environmental happened, genuinely no idea at the time. Nothing came with the autopsy. We all immediately, especially Reid. You know, we came to Nashville, went to Vanderbilt. They have one of the best pediatric cardiology programs in the country, probably the best did. I mean, hundreds of tests to figure out, you know, was there any risk for Reid. And there was nothing. Nothing. And David always drank Red Bulls in the morning. He would drink, like, two Red Bulls a day. He would drink one on the way to school, and my mom would always kind of like, david, he probably shouldn't drink that. And he would be like, mom, everybody's drinking them. Sudden there was, like, a gut feeling of, I don't think this is good for you. And she asked the doctor at the time, like, do you think this, like, his caffeine intake? Like, what? Like, there's no. We have no answers. What could have happened for a completely fit. No chronic illness, no history of anything, Collapse and die within 15 minutes. When you have an identical twin brother standing here with no problems, who still to this day doesn't have any problems, never had any scares or anything. Um, and she was like, could it have been, you know, let's talk about what he. My mom was very matter of fact of, like, let's figure it out, like, what happened. We need to, you know, obviously, like, prevent this from happening to any of the other kids. She brought up the Red Bull, and they, like, laughed at her. And last year, a study came out that over, like, from the last 10 years about the cardiac effects of drinks, like, Red Bull. And so that's just, like, one thing. But again, you have no. They threw around something called long qt, which is a rhythmic condition, which I actually. I go in for, like, EKGs and testing. We all do. Like, I don't know if Chase still does, but every five years or so, we'd go in and I'd get routine testing. And they noticed something a few years ago. So I came back up to Vanderbilt. We did all of that, but it was nothing worth really addressing. But I monitor my caffeine intake for that reason. I kind of always. I look for, like, defibrillators in rooms at gyms and that kind of stuff, but nothing serious. But that long qt, that was just kind of a shot in the dark of, like, maybe it was that. And that can be just spurred by environmental things. So, yeah, that's completely out of the blue.

[Sean Ryan]

What did the Valentine say?

[Brett Cooper]

I think it was just Happy Valentine's Day. Like, Love, Brett Judavid. With a little heart. It was a lollipop. It was one of those ones you get at the store where you have the little note that, like, sticks up on it. I still have it.

[Sean Ryan]

You still have it?

[Brett Cooper]

Oh, yeah. That little book that I made him after the fact. My mom was, again, she's so intentional about everything, and she faces it head on. Which I think when you were in the fog of grief, I look back and I'm like, wow, you did this. But if she knew even at that time that, like, my experience was gonna be so different than everybody else's. And so she, you know, put all these little papers together and made a booklet, and she was like, I want you to draw out your favorite memories with David. She knew I would forget them. So I have this whole little book of, like, my terrible stick figure drawings of, you know, going skiing and, you know, making waffles in the morning. And I would love when, you know, David would be, like, in the car with me and he would, like, play float rider or whatever. So I have all those written down, and she has those in her house that I can go back and look at. But I'm very like. She knew even at that point that it was going to be a very different journey for all of us. And I think that she handled mine very, very well. And I. You know, she ended up running a grief organization for many years called Compassionate Friends, and which, if anybody out there has experienced the death of a child or sibling, is an incredible organization that is just about the death of a child. There wasn't a chapter in Tennessee region, and so she created one and ran it. And through that, I met kids that had been in a very similar situation as me where they lost somebody that was older than them. And again, it's so weird because you grow up and you watch your family struggle and you, you know, you hit every Christmas and every anniversary, and it's. You're, you know. No, Christmas was never the same in our house. Like, you holidays, after losing somebody so close to you will always feel just empty. This goes like. This is a deep cut as, like, an English major. But Alfred Lord Tennyson is a very famous English poet, and he has a very, very long poem. It's basically a book called In Memoriam that tracks his experience through grief after losing his best friend. And I remember I read it in college and I was just, like, hit, because I'd never heard anybody show the waves of grief over, like, the course of 10 years of, like. And there was these moments each year that he would Cover in the poem about holidays and Christmas specifically. There's something about those days that are so. You know, they're about family and about community and about coming together in love. And how can you do that when you've lost somebody that's so important? Just seeing that was like, okay, it's not abnormal what my family is feeling. And having that community through that organization was really helpful. And through that, I met other kids, like I said, who had lost siblings that were older than them. Because you. You grew up in the shadow of grief, which changes your childhood forever. You grow up desperately wanting to have the memories that everybody else does of, like, you got 17 years with him. I got five, you know, three of which I have no concept of any memory, one of which he was at a boarding school. So it's like, maybe I got one year. And then you feel kind of stupid because it's like, should this even impact me? I was five years old. But it completely changes the trajectory of your family and your life. And then I was. I literally. I almost said subconsciously, but it was much more tangible than that. I didn't think I was going to live beyond 17 years in one week because that was when he died.

[Sean Ryan]

Wow.

[Brett Cooper]

His birthday was February 7th. He died February 14th. Because you idolize this person. And I've talked to people who have lost parents at a young age and who have lost older siblings. And I had 12 years of still looking up to him. He was still my older brother.

[Sean Ryan]

I mean, it's not just one year, though. You know what I mean? Even though you don't have a memory of the first three years, I mean, it's there.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

You know, I see it with my kids.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

You know, 1 and 3. And I see my youngest, you know, totally infatuated with my 3 year old. And I mean, so there's still that. There's that bond, you know, that's. That's real forming every minute of every day.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

She doesn't want to do anything that her brother's not doing, and. And so. Well, you don't have a memory of it. It's. The psyche's in there.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

It's ingrained.

[Brett Cooper]

And it's hard to rationalize that when you feel ridiculous, but it's like that bond, that idolization that you see with your daughter and your son of, like, you just keep having that. And I was like, I want to go do the things that he did, and I want to be as smart as he was and I want to be as good of a person as he Was. And then you get to that point. And I didn't, like, see a life beyond 17 in a week. And I remember it was my birthday's October 12th. I had midterms. It was a week after that, and I had like an English midterm. And then it was like my second year at community college, and I had a Spanish midterm later in the afternoon. So sitting in the parking garage in my car sobbing because I had, like, made it, I felt so guilty, man.

[Sean Ryan]

What age did you start thinking that? What age did you start thinking you wouldn't make it past 17?

[Brett Cooper]

Probably like tween years when I really started to be able to think critically about the entire experience. And as it got closer then it was like. Like, it genuinely. It felt like such a betrayal.

[Sean Ryan]

A betrayal?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. Of him. Of like, how did. How did I get here? Like, why am I. How do I get to live longer than you? Such. Would you idolize somebody for so many years? Like, you were a much better person than I was. It's like, you deserve so much more and why am I here? But that's also like, on the flip side, it's such a fire under your ass. Of like I always say, I feel like I'm living for two people. Because he had such big dreams. He was so smart, he was so creative. It's like, I never want to waste an opportunity. So my mom gave so much to me and pushed so hard for me to pursue the things that I loved that would, you know, make me better, happier, more fulfilled.

[Sean Ryan]

Does that turn you into an overachiever?

[Brett Cooper]

Sure. Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

We're doing pretty damn good.

[Brett Cooper]

I know. Yeah. I don't even think about it as overachieving. It's just like, just don't stop.

[Sean Ryan]

Push it to the limit. Yeah, Well, I mean, you know, we have a. You know, this is a huge veteran audience and a lot of kids, you know, that have lost parents, lost siblings.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

I mean, what advice do you have for them, especially the young kids? I've seen it. Yeah. I've seen my friends die, and I've seen their 5 year olds show up to the casket with an American flag over it. They don't know what's going on.

[Brett Cooper]

No, I think.

[Sean Ryan]

Or maybe they do, you know, but.

[Brett Cooper]

I don't think you understand the magnitude of it until later. You understand the magnitude because they're gone. But as you get older, you realize the magnitude of what that means for the rest of your life and what you'll carry. So I think that would kind of be the advice is Just know it will never go away. And that doesn't have to be a bad thing. It's just like, I think people think of, like, oh, you're grieving. And we would have, you know, family, friends and even people in our family who would say, she's like, literally, somebody in our family told my mom, it's been 10 years. Why aren't you over it? But you'll never be over it. And you can choose to let that cripple you, or you can choose to let it fuel you. You can choose to let it determine your life in a really negative way where you are constantly living in the shadow of this, or you can make a choice to live a life that's great in spite of it and in honor of them, which I think is the decision that I made pretty clearly at a very young age. Like, I remember at like 11 years old being like, I'm doing this for me, and David being very clear about it. And I was probably like a chronically self aware kid, which is very abnormal. But you have to. You make a very conscious choice because it's been 17 years and I still, on the anniversary of his death, was like sitting in the bank parking lot just like crying a couple weeks ago. But it's also really special because you have the opportunity to never let somebody's legacy go away. Be able to, like, speak their name and share their stories for your benefit, but for other people's benefit as well. And so, yeah, it will never. It will. Grief will change over the years. It will feel less all consuming. You might go, you know, when you're in the thick of it. I think my mom would say she never felt like there would be a day that she could get through without consuming her. She can now. She thinks about him every single day. It drives so much of what she does. It drives the fact that she's never given up on my brother Reid, who struggles so much. But it changes, and it does get easier, and you learn how to cope with it better, but it will always be there. And so you should try to look for the beauty in it. And the other thing that she always said to me, starting from when I was very young, is that, you know, grief wouldn't exist if we didn't love so deeply. And that's a blessing that you got to love. It's kind of like it, you know, it's love that doesn't have anywhere to go anymore. So now you can choose where you're going to put it and what you're going to do with It.

[Sean Ryan]

Do you believe in God?

[Brett Cooper]

Hmm.

[Sean Ryan]

Do you think your brother's watching over you?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, I think of every time I see a cardinal. Do you know the idea with redbirds that they're.

[Sean Ryan]

Oh, yeah, I know.

[Brett Cooper]

I drive out of our house, live in the middle of, you know, the backwoods. There's one spot where I'm driving out on this dirt road and every single day, without fail, even in, like the season when cardinals should not be there, drives right in front of my car.

[Sean Ryan]

How does that make you feel?

[Brett Cooper]

Incredible. And it wasn't there all the time. Didn't see him a lot, say him, because I literally just like, hey, that's David started this summer. I was really going through a hard time, felt very lost, was really questioning if what I was doing was right and some career decisions that I was gonna be making. And that's when I started seeing him. And I haven't gone a day without seeing him since.

[Sean Ryan]

And what did that tell you then?

[Brett Cooper]

I'm doing okay.

[Sean Ryan]

Lean into your gut.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. We did all sorts of things. My mom visited mediums that right after. I mean, I haven't done that and I kind of want to, but, like, she did. She went to multiple mediums, like one in New York, where you don't tell them or even his assistant, like, who you are or anything about you. And you go to this hotel room and he would just like sit there just like talking about it is so weird. And both her first husband and David popped up.

[Sean Ryan]

Are you serious?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. We're like, there's a 17 year old young man here who wants to speak to you. I mean, it was like, I was actually just thinking about this meeting the other day. I was googling, trying to see if I could find him. I need to ask my mom the name because I would love to go just do this. But yeah, she was able to speak to Don, her first husband, hear from him. She had a miscarriage between the. Between the boys, I think. And I'm pretty sure that one of the medium things, that baby came in.

[Sean Ryan]

Said something, you know, the lights just dim behind you twice.

[Brett Cooper]

I saw that. I believe in all that stuff.

[Sean Ryan]

Me too. I know it's real, man. There's not a. There's not a doubt in my mind.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. Which also is another part of this that can be very special. Again, it's all like. It's something that's really hard to hear and it's hard to implement. But it is about perspective. At the end of the day, if you can think of it as I will let this drive me. I will be a better person in spite of this. I will live for both you and me. And I will make you proud. And I will know that you're always around me. Like, that's pretty cool.

[Sean Ryan]

But ez, do you think he's here right now?

[Brett Cooper]

Absolutely. I think I'm so like, selfish about him. Like, he doesn't go day without being with me. Yeah, he's got a bunch of people to bounce around with. But I'm like, no here.

[Sean Ryan]

You're the baby.

[Brett Cooper]

I know exactly. Need to send him over to my other brother though. You need to go help him.

[Sean Ryan]

We'll talk about that in a minute. Yeah, let's take a quick break.

[Brett Cooper]

Sounds good.

[Sean Ryan]

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[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

Have you ever heard of the Long island medium? I think that's what they call her.

[Brett Cooper]

Yes. Yeah. When she on some reality shows.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah, I think she's been on a ton of stuff.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

But my wife's, my wife's family had some crazy stuff happen with that. They went to, I guess they do like a show and it sounded like it was pretty intimate. And without getting too into detail about her family, she had some family members that they lost their dad and they went to this, they went to this medium as kind of like, you know, just entertainment.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

And you know, she was like, oh. The medium was like, oh, you know, I'm getting this. And all these people raise their hand. I'm like, no, it's not you. And oh, like they're saying this. And all these other people raise their hand and it's like, no, it's not you. And she said, they know that you go in the closet and spray your dad's old cologne in total privacy to remember him. And her family member just started like crying immediately. And then, you know, then there was a little bit more. I can't remember the rest of it, but it's like, man, that stuff is wild.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

You know.

[Brett Cooper]

Have you seen the telepathy tapes? No, you'll have to ask the team downstairs about it. But there's a. I'll butcher the explanation, but it is, it's a podcast that's been blowing up and it focuses on non verbal people with autism.

[Sean Ryan]

Really?

[Brett Cooper]

And just telepathy and all of that and not just being able to communicate, but like being in separate rooms and like this person will have like a ball or something and they'll have this person in the other room and it's like, so what are they looking at? And it's like a purple ball.

[Sean Ryan]

That's crazy, man.

[Brett Cooper]

It's just all like.

[Sean Ryan]

It's like some type of connected consciousness.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, yeah, the brain is like. There's so much we don't know and I think that cannot be fully explained and probably never will be explained. And that's probably, you know, faith.

[Sean Ryan]

But yeah, I'm with you. You know, it's like I just, I don't think any. I don't think that we are aware of our full capability. You know, I've. I've doven into the subject several times with the psychic type stuff and the remote viewers and stuff like that. And I think that's a fascinating subject. And you know, there's, of course there's everybody else who claims it and which is just complete. But. But yeah, I think that the, the human mind is capable of so much more than we can even fathom.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

You know, and it's. I think it's been dubbed down just from century to century to century and into what we are today. But, but I mean, in a lot of those guys talk about it, you know, like how, how they think that it may have happened. But yeah, and I use, I mean, I just in a weird way, I use that in business and what I'm doing. And there are no fucking limits, you know? And, like, we're just capable of so much, and we put these false limitations on ourselves and trap ourselves in these little prisons, you know, And a lot of people, we all suffer from it somewhat. Right. But some a lot more than others. But we just. Anyways, yeah, I just. I think that we are capable of so much more than what we're doing. And if you can wrap your head around that and start to realize there are no limitations, then amazing things can be accomplished. And you're doing that, by the way. So congratulations. But let's lighten it up a little bit.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

So you moved to California, you start getting into acting.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. So I.

[Sean Ryan]

At least I think that's lightning up. I don't know how you feel about California, maybe.

[Brett Cooper]

No, California is fine. No, I spent. So. I've spent 10 years of my life there. It's like, I think of my childhood in Chattanooga, and that is where the most formative things in my entire life happened. You know, it's where I lost my brother. I mean, it's just like that's rooted there in so many ways. But I. My adolescence was spent in la, and my mom was born there, and they had lived in California prior to me being born. They lived in Northern California. So in a lot of ways, for her, it was just, you know, going back home. Yeah, I started.

[Sean Ryan]

I mean, that had to be a culture shock, right?

[Brett Cooper]

Oh, completely.

[Sean Ryan]

Going from Chattanooga, Tennessee.

[Brett Cooper]

I hated it.

[Sean Ryan]

To la. You hated la?

[Brett Cooper]

Well, I loved what I was doing because I didn't ever think of acting as a job. I didn't think of it as a job until I was, like, 15 and started. I was going into college and had to start thinking of it as, like, a career and a job. And then I was like, oh, I don't know. It was just fun again. It was like you go through something so intense as a small child and you have nowhere to put that emotion. And to have something that allowed me to, you know, walk around in somebody else's shoes and to kind of safely express things I didn't feel comfortable expressing in our home. Like, I would. After my brother died, I would hide in cabinets.

[Sean Ryan]

Really.

[Brett Cooper]

Like, I would literally, like, I would go in the kitchen cupboard and, like, shut the door. There was, like, a cabinet in our house in North Chattanooga where I would do it. There was a house, a cabinet in. On Signal Mountain where I would do it and I would lock my. Like, I was just a shutdown and acting gave me the hold On.

[Sean Ryan]

Why would you go in the cabinet?

[Brett Cooper]

I was. Just wanted to be alone. It was safer. It was like I could be somewhere that was, like, my own space. There's like. I mean, I still do that sometimes.

[Sean Ryan]

Do you still lock yourself in the cupboard?

[Brett Cooper]

Not in a cupboard, but, like, there's not. There was a day I was working on the show and I just felt so, like. Like last week, I felt so overwhelmed, and it was like every noise in the house was just, like, too much. And I went and I literally sat in my dark closet, closed the door, didn't turn the light on, and just finished writing the show. And I was like, I just have to be. You just kind of, like, turn stuff off. And I think I felt that at a very young age of. There was so much noise, like, emotional noise. There was my brother, there was my mom and dad grieving individually and fighting and a lot of change. And I felt like I didn't have something of my own. And it being a small, confined space, just felt like that pressure of, like, this is safe. And acting gave me the ability to, I guess, be big, to, like, explore, express things in a way that I wasn't able to express. Like, I. My mom would always say, like, I would go on stage and become like an animal. Like, I would just, like, light up. I loved being able to not be Brett and be somebody else and experience their experiences. That's why I love doing things on stage. And, you know, I went. I love theater. Theater's my first love, I would say, and ended up going to LA. And the reason why I went to LA is because if you're under 18 and you want to be on Broadway, there are height limits. You can't be taller than 5ft most of the time. And I was super tall, like, grew like a string bean. So the manager that I had written a letter to at 8 years old saying I wanted to be on Broadway was like, you can go home to Chattanooga and you can just keep doing regional theater and maybe audition for a show here and there, or you can go to LA if you want to keep acting. Because you are 5 foot 2, you're 11 years old, and you're not going to be hired for anything. You've got seven years to kill, basically, because they won't. And the reason for that is when you're at the very back of the house on stage, they want you to look significantly smaller than the adults on stage. There can be no confusion about whether you are an adult or whether you are a child on screen or on Stage, so it makes sense. But that was heartbreaking for me because all I wanted to do is be on Broadway.

[Sean Ryan]

At 8 years old, you knew you wanted to be on Broadway?

[Brett Cooper]

Oh, yes. I was like, that's what I want to do. We would go see Broadway shows. It would like come through Atlanta. We would drive up and see them. I was like, that is what I want to do.

[Sean Ryan]

Would you act just as an 8 year old just playing around?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. So yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

What would you do?

[Brett Cooper]

I would act out things in our front yard. I was constantly writing stories. And the funny thing is we went and saw theater. We didn't have television in our house. We had ATV and I was allowed, we were talking about this last night. I was allowed to watch the Andy Griffith show and I Love Lucy and that was all. So it wasn't like I was watching movies and TV shows like I want to be on Disney Channel or whatever it was. But I just, I read constantly. I love stories. At the end of the day, what drives me more than anything in like this career still today in acting is a love of story, is understanding why people do the things that they do, how stories change us. I've been personally positively impacted by stories, whether they be through literature or on stage or on film, of seeing yourself in a character or being able to put yourself in their shoes and that being an incredibly transformative experience. And for me, politics is storytelling because it's all about human nature. I think that's why I am interested in it because it's, you know, it's reality tv, it's a Shakespeare tragedy, whatever. Depending on the day, those can kind of be interchanged a bit. But. But it is about story. And I love every day getting on my show and being able to tell a story and bring people in and weave that together and take them along on this journey and have a beginning, middle and end and hopefully leave them changed at the end and like have them think about something in a different light or feel something through me telling this story. And that's why I loved acting. So I didn't at, you know, 11 years old, I didn't care if it was on stage or on film. I was like, I just want to tell stories. I just want to act.

[Sean Ryan]

So it was both a hobby and an escape?

[Brett Cooper]

Yes. I don't think I could have like said that at 10 years old. I was just like.

[Sean Ryan]

You didn't realize it was an escape.

[Brett Cooper]

I was just like, I love to act.

[Sean Ryan]

When did you realize it was an escape?

[Brett Cooper]

I think a lot of things clicked for me around 13 years old, 13, 14. It's when stuff really took off with my parents. Divorce got messy. It's when my brother Reed had his first psychotic break to. It was when I think I just became a lot more self aware as all of those things were happening. And I think that's when I kind of realized like, oh, this is why I love it, because I'm not me. And that was also why starting to do things on camera for like this. Whatever industry I've ended up in of like this cultural commentary, whatever it is. It was so weird for me because I was just being brat. Being Brett was very hard. It was the reason why I never sang in public. My first professional job actually was singing. First time I was ever paid was to be in the Atlanta Symphony Operas production of La Boheme. I'm a classically trained singer. I've been doing it the longest out of any of these things just because I was in like choir when I was younger. And to this day, I am petrified of singing in public because it's. It's me. Like, I can sing in a musical and I can be a character. And I'm on this ride of, you know, whatever character I'm playing, I'm, you know, getting through the entire show, beginning, middle and end. I'm not Brett. I'm this person. But if you ask me to get up on stage and just sing you a song, it is like I have like stripped down and I might be better at it now that I've gotten so comfortable of, like, I'm sitting here, I'm just being Brett streamed to millions of people. It's like, you know, I have however many billions of views over the last three years, so I've gotten more comfortable with it. But I spent over 10 years avoiding just being Brett and being a character because it helped me. I think that helped me understand me more.

[Sean Ryan]

Do you think you still have a lot of walls up?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, for sure. I've gotten. I mean, I would have never cried in front of you. Five, six years ago. I remember the first time that I ever cried in front of somebody. I was sitting in the Burbank Public Library, sitting outside in the grass, having a picnic with one of my good friends at the time in la and something had happened with my brother. And that was the first time I ever cried in front of somebody that was not my mom. Like, even like showing any kind of emotion in that regard. Terrified of letting people in. Could not, like, felt like I'd been burned enough by my dad. I Couldn't let him in. I don't think he wanted to let me in either. I was just like. I was really having a hard time processing things.

[Sean Ryan]

Have you ever thought about psychedelics?

[Brett Cooper]

Now I'm terrified of them.

[Sean Ryan]

Why?

[Brett Cooper]

Things that could go wrong. What could go wrong? I think my brother is. I don't think my brother did them well. But I look at my brother who has basically tried every single drug in the book and didn't do anything that was intentional or for healing. And so I think I've. My impression has been tainted by that. But we even were, like, talking last night of, like, maybe that would be good for him to go do something that is intentional and tailored for healing.

[Sean Ryan]

Maybe it would be good for you.

[Brett Cooper]

I know what I did do, though, was, have you ever heard of emdr? That was kind of the. And that's not even close to psychedelics. But that was probably the most transformative thing I ever did in therapy. I don't think I. And that was like, I wouldn't be able to be here having this conversation with you without that of, like, tapping into things that I had never even considered processing or thinking about the way that they impacted me and my childhood. And there were so many things that I had forgotten that in doing that therapy. And I did multiple different kinds. I did the rapid eye movement, which is harder for me. What ended up really working are the eggs that they, like, put in your hands that are little vibrating things, and you hold them and they go, cha, chicka, chicka, chicka, chicka. And that was super. I mean, it was like I locked in immediately. And it was like floodgates. Floodgates of everything I watched and saw. And even things were relatively recent that I was. You know, that was going on with my brother and his schizophrenia of stuff that I just didn't consider, didn't time. It was, like, so normal to me at that point.

[Sean Ryan]

So that was the thing about psychedelics, is the walls completely come down.

[Brett Cooper]

Kind of scary.

[Sean Ryan]

It is until you do it, but they completely come down. And there's aspects of yourself that you never realized were there. You find out who you are, and because the walls come down. And some of the walls, I think, at least with myself, you know, you don't even realize certain walls are up because they've been up so damn long.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

And then when they completely go away, you find a lot of things out about yourself. Might be something to look into. Maybe not. I don't know.

[Brett Cooper]

You'd go with my brother.

[Sean Ryan]

Would I?

[Brett Cooper]

I said, no. I Could go with my brother.

[Sean Ryan]

That could be really good. Yeah, that could be really good. Did we talk about this on your show? Can't remember.

[Brett Cooper]

I don't think so.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah, I did it and I didn't realize I had all these walls up. And it just changed. It changed the entire trajectory of my life. And it was already. It was going like this, but with my family, with my wife, with my son at the time, you know, I didn't have my daughter yet. And it helped me be more in the moment. It helped me be more open with my wife. It took a lot of the fear that I didn't even realize I had business wise. And then my business went straight up because I realized I wasn't beholden to anybody. And all the fears of. Well, you know, the fears. The fears of being in the limelight and having millions of people following you and feeling beholden to an audience. I mean, all of that went away. It all fucking went away, man. And I'm just. I'm a huge proponent of it. I've seen so many people turn their lives around with get rid of addictions, anxieties, depression, post traumatic stress, all that kind of stuff, man. Like the walls come down in your life trajectory. Just it's. You find out who you are and you lean into that and also kind of reassures that your intuition is pretty much right on the money.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

But.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, probably good with. I don't think I'm somebody that's super anxious, but there is a perfectionism that is ingrained in me. I think when you. And then I really. I mean, even yesterday on Alex's and my drive to dinner, I was just like. I don't even know what set it off, but I'm such a. My entire childhood, between David's death and my parents divorce and my dad is somebody that desperately wanted to please and could never really please. And there was so much going on that I was constantly a peacemaker. And I. It's ironic that I do what I do, but I. Rocking the boat in my personal life is incredibly difficult. I can stand up to people in business. I've done really hard things when it comes to career and business. I've taken a lot of risks. I put myself out there. But when it comes to like my personal life, there are like little minute things where I feel like I'm gonna let somebody down and disappoint them. I allow myself to be a doormat because I'm so terrified of the repercussions of not being too loud, of being. And again, I think that goes back to acting of, like, it gave me the opportunity to be big, to be 100% me. Even though I was, like, playing another character. I went from being in this house where I felt like I had to be in this. Like, I'd put myself in this cupboard, make myself small. So because everybody else was dealing with much bigger things, I was like. I remember thinking that as a kid, like, I'm. Whatever I'm going through, it's not as important. And I was aware enough of that, and I just desperately wanted to keep the peace. I was like, if I can fix this situation, if I can just keep people together and happy and we can just walk on eggshells, we can get through this. And maybe they won't fight, Maybe he won't drink, Maybe Reid won't do xyz. And I think I still carry that. And it's this. It's so ironic because I get online and I especially. Three years ago, when I was first starting to share, things were very controversial. I think now I. It's more culturally acceptable to talk about what we talk about and what I do on the show. But three years ago, it's, like, ironic that I have so. I carry so much weight and anxiety in my personal life. Like, I. And this is why Alex. I'm so, like, he's the greatest man of. I could not, like, let him be angry at me. Not even be angry, but just to, like, oh, Brett, why'd you like. I was petrified. I couldn't, like. I don't even know how to describe it. Like, I didn't even want to take, like, one misstep. I think another person would have seen that and kind of rolled with it and been like, great. She's gonna do whatever I want. And he looked at that, and he was like, that is inhibited. That's like, a problem that you can't even. That you burst into tears and are hysterically crying at the thought of disappointing me over. You burned chicken for dinner. And I was just like. Because I had this person that I respected and loved so much already early on in our relationship, and I was like, you're just another person I can't let down. I can't let you down. He was like, it's chicken. It's like, if you can't even. And that's probably the thing that my mom and looking at our relationship has had, like, the most gratitude for. Alex for helping me with. Is standing up for myself in family, in work. I don't think I would have done Anything I did in the last 12 months without him, I don't think I would be as confident in my family and navigating the relationships and anything in my personal life without having that person who looked at me and went, that's really not normal. Like, what happened to you to make you think that this is so. But I still, like, I've gotten a lot better, but I still will just, like, be set off. I had another, like, chicken incident the other day where I opened a package of chicken and it was mislabeled. And I was like. Had this recipe that I was making for dinner, and I thought it was one kind of chicken. And I opened it up and it wasn't. And I was just like, oh, no, it's all gonna be ruined. And I, like, threw the package of chicken and I was like, oh, my God. It was whatever. And he came home from the gym and he was like, what the hell have I walked into? And I was like, you're gonna be disappointed. And then it was like five minutes later, I was like, oh, I'm doing it again, aren't I? The lights just flickered and you hear that and you're like. But I'm in, like the most loving, supportive relationship with the most, like. He is so even tempered. It's one of the things that I love most about. He's like, unflappable. He has, like, had the most normal, healthy family. They're incredible. I love my in laws. Then he met this girl who was like, has been through all of this stuff and he's, you know, absolutely undeterred and is so steady and never looked at it as like, you're broken, you're whatever. It's just like, this is like, your life will be better for you anyway. So that's probably what I would. It's interesting to help me with that.

[Sean Ryan]

Cause you're overconfident. You know what I mean? Maybe not overconfident. You're very confident. The Brett Cooper that we all know is very confident.

[Brett Cooper]

Oh, I'm incredibly. There's like nothing I can't do in my mind.

[Sean Ryan]

Then behind the scenes, you're very self conscious.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. Which I feel like, to an extent is like a healthy balance. Because I. Not the way that it manifests in, like, my very personal life where I still am having to. That's such like a weird, lefty, like, psychological term, but, like, unlearning those things. But I'm having to let go of that because I'm not in a relationship or an environment where that's going to hurt me anymore or I'm going to feel any repercussions for that. I don't need to keep a boat steady. And I still like will have moments where I feel that. So that part of it isn't healthy and I know that. But I do think there's something to be said for when I go to work, when I turn on the camera, when I'm talking about the things that I care about that I know are good for people, that I believe in, that I believe in truth, that my voice doesn't waver, that I have lofty goals for myself, that I think about my brother. I'm gonna live for both of us. I want to do all these things. I'm never going to say no to an opportunity. I'm going to take a huge risk and then. But I also go home and I know that I'm like, I'm not really the shit. I'm not the most important person in the world. I don't think that I am. I'm not in it for fame or power, money, whatever it is. I genuinely love what I do. I love telling stories. So I think there's an aspect of it that's I think probably has helped me a little bit, but the self conscious aspect of it certainly doesn't.

[Sean Ryan]

You're a wise woman, man. I'm being serious, especially for 23 years old. But just in general you're very wise and you know, it's super impressive to me that that's how you've taken your brother's death is living for him. And I mean this is something we talk about so much right here because we talk about a lot of loss because my background and a lot of the guests background being military, special operations, it's just part of it and it's powerful.

[Brett Cooper]

I'm not the only person who comes on here and breaks down and cries. It's. You have a. Something in this room.

[Sean Ryan]

Well, the thing is a lot of people will take death and they will, they'll take the loss of a loved one and it will debilitate their entire existence. You know, and when people ask me for advice on, you know, how to deal with loss or I ask a guest on how to deal with loss to include you at 23, having been through it at 5, I mean it's like that's how you have to look at it. That's how you, that's how you have to look at it. Do you think that person would want to watch you suffer and mourn and ruin your entire Life out of grief and no, man, that's not what they would want. They would want you to win. They would want you to live your life to the fullest. And so I think it's just amazing that you've already figured that out and sound like you figured it out a long time ago. And so I don't know how. Good for you.

[Brett Cooper]

It shocks me.

[Sean Ryan]

Intuition, man.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

Powerful.

[Brett Cooper]

It's very. It's genuinely thinking back and now looking at kids that I meet that were, you know, this age and looking at young people and knowing that at 12, 13 years old, I was tangibly thinking, I'm going to break a cycle. That's weird. So, I mean, it's powerful, but it's like I was thinking that already.

[Sean Ryan]

It's not normal.

[Brett Cooper]

No, it shouldn't be weird. That should be. I wish that for any young person that's, you know, I didn't have the worst childhood in the world. I had something that was very abnormal and it was very hard. But I know that there are a lot of kids that have gone through far worse things and very different things and we've all had our own different walks of life. And I think that there are some of us that see again, that see that as fuel and that are given the gift of being able to be like chronically self aware or just aware of your situations, to have that light bulb moment. But I was articulating that in my mind and to other people. I remember talking to my like Sunday school teacher at a young age and being like, I will not replicate. What I've seen is there was so much unhappiness and so much. My parents are both brilliant individuals and that marriage held them back in a magnitude of ways and there was so much unhappiness already. And then adding in my brother's death, death, adding in, you know, schizophrenic diagnosis, adding in my father's major depressive disorder, adding in suicide attempts into our family. It was like, I'm not. I'm going to do everything I can because I knew there's more to life than that.

[Sean Ryan]

Did you go through family suicide attempts at a young age or is this later on?

[Brett Cooper]

No. Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

Did you know that?

[Brett Cooper]

Mm.

[Sean Ryan]

What was the first one?

[Brett Cooper]

12, 13. That like those years, shit went down, basically. Yeah. My dad. There was a lot leading up to that of threats of it and my mom had dealt with that. That was something she didn't share. I think she was right too. I don't think it's my right to even share that. Here and talk about his family, because that was very personal. And they worked. She fought those battles in private. It was a heavy weight to carry. And then, yeah, around. I was 12, 13. It was. There wasn't any hiding it. It was in front of us. And not, you know, physically, but it was. We were involved. I was driving around Chattanooga with my brother Reed at 3am looking for him. Standing on the Chattanooga walking bridge, wondering if he had jumped, because we had no idea where he went. We knew he was somewhere.

[Sean Ryan]

Jeez.

[Brett Cooper]

So there was incredible unhappiness.

[Sean Ryan]

This was common.

[Brett Cooper]

Mm. That was the only time that a biggest step was taken and that I was. That my brother and I were involved and brought into the kind of. The circle of it.

[Sean Ryan]

Where did you find him?

[Brett Cooper]

He came home.

[Sean Ryan]

How did you know it was a suicide attempt?

[Brett Cooper]

Gave us postcards. As he walked out the door.

[Sean Ryan]

He gave everybody a postcard.

[Brett Cooper]

He couldn't really understand it until he put the pieces together, and they're very ominous. And I. You know how I was telling you at dinner last night that I had a Nancy Drew fixation? And I would go, I busted my brother's high school party and that kind of thing. And I. Anyway, we were given these. I guess I went back into Nancy Drew mode, given these postcards, and I was like, something's not right. My mom was super confused. Reid and I were watching some movie on the couch. He walked out of his office, gave us a postcard, gave my mom a postcard, and left. Didn't say a word again. I was just like, something's not right. I started looking around the house, and I found a manila envelope with a suicide note on his bedside table with all of his information. Will testament. Then I brought that into my mom, and we called the police.

[Sean Ryan]

Holy shit.

[Brett Cooper]

I'm so grateful he didn't do it.

[Sean Ryan]

What was it like when he came home?

[Brett Cooper]

I ignored him. I was so angry. I don't think he wanted to see us. Anyway. He went straight to my mom. And then looking back, I don't know, I ignored him because I was so hurt. I just went into my room. I don't even know the right. You don't know how to handle that till 13 years old. I don't know if what I did was right, but I really shut him out after the fact. And we already had. Even at that young age, we were like. Because I'm so much like my mom. And I've often wondered if he saw that and kind of resented it because they had so many problems, and he wanted me to Be something that she wasn't and that I wasn't. There was already a lot of anger there and a lot of hurt. I'd been let down a lot. He wasn't super involved. And that was when I started asking questions. I think I was probably 13. I need to get my dates right. Because that kind of led into that whole period of all the curtains were pulled back. That's when I learned about his family and everything he had gone through. And suddenly it all made sense. And even with understanding that and going through the process of learning it over those years after the fact, I was. It was like. It was just really hurtful. But I often wonder again, what's the best way to. As a kid, what do you do? I felt so much guilt being like, did I? Should I have. You know, that goes into the whole doormat kind of thing. Should I just have tried more? Should I have been what he wanted? Should I not have. Should I have kept the peace more? Is there anything I could have done that I caused any of this because there was so much anger and that I was so hurt that he would have attempted to do such a thing. And it really made things hard after that.

[Sean Ryan]

Where do you go from there as a family?

[Brett Cooper]

Divorce I hadn't blocked for a long time, which again, I look back and I was that right. But I mean, it was like fireworks and I just couldn't. That's when I went into therapy around that time that I had, you know, was living in California still. I would spend six months at home, six months in California. He stopped coming out to visit. My brother was full schizophrenia, in and out of hospitals, homeless. There was so much going on and I just had to shut everything out. But it took a long. Again, it's like in a way, moving back to Nashville or moving back to Tennessee is what I needed in a lot of ways. I needed to meet Alex. I think I needed to be closer to my dad. I needed to leave my mom. I had spent basically every waking moment with her. We were probably a little too connected. I think there was some codependency that we needed to let go of because we had been through together. It was like me and her through suicide and divorce and schizophrenia and death and an acting career, like living in a tiny LA apartment. And I think that I needed to literally move across the country and unwind some of that. And she knows this and I feel comfortable saying it, but I became a spouse to her. She was super lonely, as you would be. And I took on a lot of that weight for her. And I wouldn't change that because she really needed it. But I had to get here and separate. And it gave me the chance to connect with my dad as an adult in a way that I hadn't been able to with a lot of just like, I'm gonna let it go.

[Sean Ryan]

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[Brett Cooper]

I mean, I told him that I was moving back and he drove up to Nashville to help me move into my first rental house. It was so uncomfortable. I was so. We were both so awkward.

[Sean Ryan]

How long had it been since you'd seen him?

[Brett Cooper]

A couple of years.

[Sean Ryan]

How long had it been since you talked to him?

[Brett Cooper]

A while. Yeah, it was very hard. It still is. I don't think I'm. And I think I could be a lot better still. I think now I have let go of expectations that I don't think will ever be met. And now I look at him and look at our family and it's like, all right, so we're all here. This is the. My mom would always say she says this in terms of family and emotions and politics and philosophy. But in order to assess anything, you have to look at your current reality. You can't think of idealism, of what you hope people would be like, what you hope the world would be like, of what a politician you would love for them to do, of what you hope somebody would do in your life. You have to look at things as they are and go from there. And I think I'm at a point now where I look at him, I look at our family, and I'm like, this is where we're fricking at. This is what we've gone through. There's no changing that. I'm 23 years old now. I don't. You have no financial power over me. You have no anything. It's like I have to look at you as a human being who has been hurt, who struggled so much, who I probably hurt, and you hurt me and just go from there, because the last thing I want to do is spend the next. You know. And even when we were really struggling and we didn't talk, that wasn't what I wanted. It's what I felt like I needed. I think I needed to block a lot of stuff out and just assess everything, But I didn't see that as being healthy or right. And I don't want to live a life of regret, of I pushed somebody away that needed me, that. I'm at a point now where I think I'm grown enough, I'm mature enough, I have my ducks in a row that we can have an adult relationship and not have the kind of father, father, daughter, like, it's never. It's never been us. It never will be us. But I love him. I want the best for him. He's given a lot, especially recently, to my brother, who really struggles. He really showed up for him in a way that genuinely took me by surprise, which was incredibly, like. I think healing, in a way, is that you're putting somebody else first and you're giving a lot.

[Sean Ryan]

As awkward as it was, did it feel good that he was there?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. You want your dad to show up?

[Sean Ryan]

What was the conversation?

[Brett Cooper]

Well, there was nothing of substance. It was like, where do you want your couch? And I'll help you move this in? And that kind of thing, and we'll. He lived in Nashville when he was really young, and actually the neighborhood that I first lived in was, like, two blocks over from where their little house was, so that was funny. We talked about that. He watches the show. He does, and that was really special.

[Sean Ryan]

Did he tell you that?

[Brett Cooper]

Mm. Took a while. But he did. And he was. I don't know, hearing that somebody's proud of you when you've always wanted to hear that. Doesn't matter how late it is, still feels good.

[Sean Ryan]

I'll bet he's very proud of you. Yeah.

[Brett Cooper]

And I think he's doing a lot better. Again, the most important thing I've learned from. There's always something that you can learn from these situations. They kill you or they make you better and smarter and more introspective. But a lot about what works and doesn't work in a marriage. Finding compatibility. And then I think with him, the most important thing is finding purpose. You have to find something that drives you because a life without is very, very lonely. You have to get over yourself, to pour into people and get over your own bullshit. And I think having a career or something that drives you helps you kind of get out of your own head and your own issues. And I think it was just a domino effect of all of that and a bad marriage and all that. So it's. Yeah, it's funny. Cause I'll sometimes. I was reading a Reddit post at one point, somebody had sent me about me and it was like, does Brent have daddy issues? Like, I had no idea. It's like, I guess she's like, become. You know, she speaks about it in a way that is like she's learned from it. And that's what I always. I would never say I have daddy. I think I have family issues. I think, as all of us do. I think we all have things that impacted our childhood that it was really helpful for me to hear stories like this. You know, I love coming of age novels and I love family drama. And I think the reason why I loved it and hearing, you know, stories spoken in this way because it made me feel less crazy. It's like, nobody's family is perfect. Even meeting my husband of like, outside perfect family. They all love each other. I was so stressed the first day I met his parents. I was like, I don't even know how to operate in like a functional. People love each other. You all are like, functional. You're all productive members of society. This is great. And then you beat him and you're like, oh, no, you've all got your. You've got your shit too. Everybody's going through something. You have no idea the weight people carry.

[Sean Ryan]

What's something you would want your dad to know about you? What would you want to tell him?

[Brett Cooper]

I'd want to tell him that I forgive him and that I desperately wanted to make him happy. I think he spent a lot of our, you know, my time growing up with him butting heads and being in totally different realities. Kind of like you're just in totally different planes of existence. They're like ships in the night or. And it was rare at a very young age. We had a great relationship. You know, My earliest memories are being in the hiking backpack. You might have one with your kids, where they, like, sit above your head and picking wild blueberries and blackberries on Orcas Island. He would do warm milk and poetry. And we would sit in front of the fire and he would warm up milk and he would have like, coffee or tea and he would read out loud to me. The reason why I love stories is because of him. And I think when I became older and more headstrong and we went through my brother's death and just so much changed, that changed our relationship dramatically. I've never stopped loving him. And we fought constantly. And a lot of it was rooted in. I'm just trying to make you happy.

[Sean Ryan]

I better love to hear that. You want to go to California now? Yeah, let's do it.

[Brett Cooper]

Nice.

[Sean Ryan]

So you got to California.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. Was acting. Yeah, I love. I love it. There's very few things that I love as much as acting. Again, it goes back to story, it goes back to storytelling and escape. Industry is not for me.

[Sean Ryan]

I mean, you got into it. So you got into it by writing Letters as an 8 year old.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, and painting pictures, really ugly pictures. I wrote a letter to a manager who was representing a ton of kids on Broadway, said, I want to be Jane Banks, Mary Poppins. They were on Broadway at the time. And I drew a picture of myself on stage. And my mom helped me make little velvet curtains that went on the poster board. And it was me. In my face. I had a bowl cut. Bangs my bowl, my bowl cut in the Jane Banks costume on a stage. And I sent it to him. And he had that up on his wall for like 10 years. However long I was working with him. He was like, nobody has ever like, this was so wild. Nobody's ever done this. But I knew what I wanted. I was like, I want to figure out how to make this happen. And I found him by watching YouTube videos of interviews with young people that were on Broadway of these, like, you know, 8 to 15 year olds. I started putting the pieces together. I was like, he's in all of these videos. He represents all of these people.

[Sean Ryan]

Damn.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, I was in it. It's like that always sunny meme where he has the. I was like putting all the pieces together. People talk about that with conspiracy theories. I was like, how do I get on Broadway? Yeah. And I just, I chased it. And my mom was like, I don't want to take you to la. This sounds awful. And I begged, I begged, I begged, begged. And so we would try it here and there. We would do like three months at the beginning of the year, which is called pilot season, when all the shows are getting greenlit, and then would go home for the summer and then I'd come back in what's called episodic season, when all the shows then are working, they're running, and you have guest stars and recurring roles and that kind of thing, and would audition for those. And you know, it's funny, all the hate comments that I get from people, they'll usually go back to acting. They're like, oh, you're a failed, like D list actor. It's like, yeah, I didn't become, you know, Zendaya or whatever, but I worked consistently. Like, I was able to cover an apartment, I put money away to be able to buy a car at 16 and help put myself through college and, you know, paid for my acting classes. Like my parents didn't just give me my money to just like go spend at a young age, just put into an account. There's a, you know, Coogan accounts where the state takes 15% that I received when I became 18 and we put all of that back into acting. So acting classes, improv classes, dance classes. She never wanted me to feel like it was a job or like I was benefiting, you know, from it. Cause like, what 10 year old should be making tens of thousands of dollars for a count of TV shows? That's a mind fuck.

[Sean Ryan]

And you emancipated yourself at 15.

[Brett Cooper]

15, yeah. And that was for a myriad of reasons. It was family was the root of it. Because my parents divorce was incredibly hostile and went on for a long time. And it got to the point that I was being used as a pawn of I was 15 years old and there was like, if you give me custody, I'll give you your money back or whatever it is. And you know, my dad was like, you need to come back to Tennessee and live with me. And it was just like I became used in that way and didn't like the feeling. And I don't think my mom liked it. That wasn't how she wanted to end that marriage. And again, I think my dad felt really out of control and I just wanted to remove myself from the equation. I was like, you don't get too use me in this. So that was a big part of it because I was, you know, I was working. I was working as an actor. I was about to graduate, about to graduate high school. I had a full time job at Trader Joe's because I always worked outside of acting to make sure I had, you know, fun money. Because I didn't use any of my acting money. That was all just in other accounts. So if I wanted to go hang out with a friend or buy a dress or whatever, I had to, you know, babysit and go work at Trader Joe's. Whatever it was I could cover, you know, living in an apartment with a roommate.

[Sean Ryan]

And how do you find a roommate at age 15?

[Brett Cooper]

I had a good friend of the family from Atlanta, like at a summer camp that I had gone to and she was a couple years older and she was moving out to LA right around the time that I had emancipated myself. So she moved into the apartment that my mom and I had shared. And so I emancipated myself. Another big part was my brother's psychosis was really hard. He was, he'd gotten pretty violent and my mom was kind of torn in a million different directions of the divorce was happening in Tennessee. I was in la. My brother was in la cause he had been bounced around and struggled and went to India for three years to find himself and again did every drug in the book and came back just completely different and really did not get along with my dad. They had a huge falling out. He came out to LA and just continued to struggle. So he was homeless at the time. And I had some concerns with like that sounds bad saying it out loud, but like cps. Oh, I didn't want like it was, it was not a good environment. And I was in therapy at the time. And they were just like, again, you know, this isn't normal. Like the person that lives in the bedroom next to you having, you know, hearing voices and having a psychotic break and knives pulled and chasing through streets and you know, he. When somebody is going through psychosis, they are not the person that you know. And they don't see you as your sister or as their sister or their mother. They treat you differently and they would think of you as a girlfriend, an enemy or whatever. Whatever was happening, you can't control it. And I just felt like I had all of this autonomy. I had so much control in one part of my life. I was like, I have a career, I guess. Cause I've been acting and I make money, but I'm about to go to college. I was about to turn. It was the summer before I turned 16. I graduated high school. I had this, like, worked the 6am shift at Trader Joe's every day. Worked six to two. And I'm basically like this adult. And yet, you know, I couldn't go work on set without my mom. When you're under 18, for good reason, your parents have to be within eyesight and earshot. And at the time, I was working on that TV show, Heather's, and they had planned a second season that was going to be shooting internationally. And that was in the middle of all of this. And I was like, how am I gonna get. How am I going to be able to work and do this when there's a war happening in Tennessee that my mom has to handle, when there is a different kind of battle here with her other child that she has to manage? And I was just bounced in between it. And I think that there's part of me that hears me saying that and is like, that's so selfish to be like, I'm just going to remove myself from it. But I had the means to do that. I think it made it easier on everyone, too, if, like, there was a weight lifted off of my mom. Cause there was just so much legality of, again, if anything ever happened with my brother and I. Wow. And if I got wrapped into this custody thing when I was, like, on the cusp of adulthood and was making strides again, was about to start college, and so it was not contested. I didn't go to court and bring my family in and be like, I hate all of you. I'm leaving. It was just like. I even had a conversation with my dad. It was a hard conversation, but I had a conversation with both of them, and they were both very in support of it. And I was like, I can't be in the middle of this battle. I've done it for too long, and I'm not leaving you. I'm not saying I don't want to be around you. I'm not saying I don't want to be in this family. But clearly you have crap that you need to work through. I don't even say it's crap. It was heavy, heavy things in their lives, and I just need to be let go. And it was a very. You know, it's not a. It's not something I suggest. I wouldn't go around and say, if you're having a hard time, just go emancipate. Yourself. Like, I was. It was a very unique situation. It's a very heavy thing. My oldest brother, that's when we got really close. Had to be brought into it as, like, an advocate. And, you know, if everything failed and fell apart and I couldn't make money anymore, I was gonna go, you know, live with him, or he was like, I'll come out to California and I'll take care of you. But I just. It was literally, like, two coasts, these, like, battles. And both of my parents, I think, acknowledged when they were confronted with it, that it was like, we are putting you in the center of things that you. You know, your future at this age, when so much is about to open up for you, shouldn't be dictated by what's going on here. And it really. In a lot of ways, it didn't change how we navigated our family. Like, I was still super close to my mom. When their divorce was finalized, she moved back to California. She bought a home, moved back in. My brother would, you know, come in and out, depending on when he was in hospital, when he was homeless. I saw my brother constantly. He was homeless in Pasadena for years. And I would go out and find him. I was telling you last night, he loves fine cheeses. And so I would go and take him to Whole Foods and with his, like, shopping cart of things and would buy him the things that he wanted. I'd go, like, literally, like, find him in the park, wherever he was. So it's a very, like. It was a nuanced thing. I didn't say, screw you. I don't want to be in this family anymore. I'm never gonna speak to you. It was. I need to be legally released from the liabilities of being in this mess, of being taken from you and put into a system at 15 years old because of things that are going on that I don't want to say I could have handled, but that I felt. I mean, I had been going through it for. And I could have. You know, I was able to remove myself from the situation in many ways, but through CPS and stuff with my brother and, you know, I don't want the liability of your divorce and this being messy and a judge dictating where I go and what I do when this is your war and I'm paying for my own life, man, and I'm graduating high school at 15 years old, and you're about to tell me that everything that, you know, my life could be because of my brother or because of a divorce. So it just. It protected you know, it removed the protections of being a minor that for me ended up. I think we're more of a danger in that. Not a danger, but that we're. It was gonna make things very difficult. So it was a. I think it was a very important thing. But again, I don't recommend it. It's very severe.

[Sean Ryan]

I mean, do you hear yourself right now?

[Brett Cooper]

Yes.

[Sean Ryan]

At 15, it's crazy. With everything you've been through, you graduate high school, you emancipate yourself. You have a full time job at Trader Joe's and a full time acting career and you're caring for your schizophrenic brother.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, I mean, for that summer when I emancipated myself, he was homeless, he was refusing to take meds. My mom had kicked him out, you know, before that. And I emancipated myself. And she went home to deal with the divorce and to divide their assets and help my dad sell the house. Cause he had to move out. And her going back there, I think helped make it less contentious. It was really hard when they were apart, so she had to go handle that and kind of close that chapter. And so it was just me and Reid. And some days it was funny. And go sit with him and his dudes in their shopping cart. There's a. There's the main street in Pasadena, California. There's a place called Earth Cafe for anybody who lives in la. And then across the street there's a church. And then there's like a shopping. A strip mall. There was an alley and that's where he slept with a couple of other guys all with their shopping carts. And so, yeah, I would go bring him like a little gift bag, like, here's some water. Like, I'm not. I haven't given up on you. And sometimes it was funny and just like I was with him. And some days he would be, you know, passed out in front of the target. Me not knowing whether it was an overdose or whether it was heat stroke. Cause it was, you know, August in Southern California, getting calls from people in his homeless community that had little flip phones saying, and I. One of my. My community to college was in Pasadena. So I just so happened to. That was not really intentional. But I went to Pasadena City College for a lot of my community college classes that in Santa Monica College. But, you know, I would get calls when I was leaving school from his best homeless friend, Jason, being like, Reed really needs you. And I would have to go find him. And yeah, there was one time when he was high on Something pretty. I'm pretty sure it was meth. And was sitting on top of the rubble of a recently demolished house saying that he was Jesus when nobody could get him down. So when you talk about grief again in, like, talking to people and saying, you know, what advice do you have? Grief isn't just about death. I grieved my brother David. I grieved the life that I didn't have with him. I grieved his actual existence, and I grieved my brother Reed, because he's nowhere near the person that I grew up with. I don't know if he ever will be. Like, I was sitting with him last week at visitation hours at his psych hospital. I see it in his eyes. And he has this, like. He has a twinkle that he's always had, and he's very. He's very smirky. He's always been very mischievous. Everybody loves him. Like, even just, like, sitting in the little, like, cafeteria and watching nurses and people walk by, and they're all like, oh, you, Reed, sister. Like, we love Reed, but he's. There's a lot of him that's gone. He doesn't speak anymore. Sometime in the last three years, he stopped speaking. So when he's out of the hospital and he has his phone, he will communicate through text or he'll write something in his notes app and show me. In the hospital, he doesn't have his phone, especially in an involuntary hold. So he has a little notepad. And so we sat for an hour talking and writing things back and forth. But I've had to, I think, let go of the hope that he'll be who I knew as a kid, I don't think that's fully gone. There's always part of me that's like, what if. If he did psychedelics? If he woke up one day and said, I am gonna make. I'm gonna change my diet. I'm gonna change my lifestyle. And this is the thing that's so infuriating is our medical system basically sets people like my brother up to fail. And it's this endless cycle where without his meds, he's a danger to society. But with the meds, they're debilitating, and he's so unhappy, and they pump him, you know, through. It's so dehumanizing. Or he's, like, pinned down and injected, and they caused, you know, paralysis and tremors and, you know, whatever it may be. Some of them really scary, had cardiac effects with, you know, our history was so scary. And nobody ever talks about diet or lifestyle or other options. He was in an involuntary hold in Idaho for almost three years. I didn't see him for three years. He stopped speaking somewhere in there, which I don't blame him. These places are not. They're not like, pretty rehab places. There aren't places like that. There isn't a place where he can go, like, live safely in a nice assisted living rehab. If there is, somebody should let me know. They're like, really shitty halfway houses or psych facilities where you can't leave, where you have no rights. And so I don't blame him for shutting down. But you're put on these meds because you can't function without them, and you're given the crappiest food. And I was so angry, just like last month, that I'm his guardian, by the way. That was another thing we dealt with last year of we had to fight for so many years, my mom did, to get information about him. I mean, he would be arrested, taken to hospitals. We have no idea where he is. He'd be switched from doctor to doctor to doctor, literally, like, trying to chase him down to get information. Not in, like, a, we need you back, but of, like, how could we help you? We don't even know where you are. And so we finally were approved guardianship. And Reed knows. And I think he was happy that it was me, that he trusts me a lot, which I'm really grateful for. But though he was released from this involuntary hold, he had a halfway house and seemed to be doing better. But, you know, I was talking with my mom, and it was in Idaho. It was in Boise. He only got to Tennessee recently. It was a whole other situation. He kind of accidentally got here. I had to think maybe it was a God thing, because my mom and I had been talking. It was like, it'd be really great if he could get close to you. He just went missing one day and showed up in Tennessee. So worked out. But the point being, he was there for three years. He stopped speaking, and there were no changes to his diet. He was fed the worst food, his hospital food. I was in visiting hours last week, and we were given, like, crappy cartons of milk and, like, Teddy Grahams. And all these studies are coming out about, you know, the effects of carbs and sugar on the brain of the. This has been happening for years of, you know, keto diets being instrumental in keeping schizophrenia at bay. And we have people that have literally removed the voices from their brains, have been able to. Now they live totally normal lives, are in Relationships or getting married by living a very, very strict lifestyle and diet. And no doctor has encouraged that. And it's such a missed opportunity. It's like he was there for three years, and he came out worse, man. And now we're back to square one. And it's this awful cycle of. Again, of course he's getting worse. Like, you go into these places. I've been visiting him for years at various different hospitals. It's awful. It's prison. It's maximum security. Of, like, in order to go back and visit him, I go through, like, mazes of hallways and doors and keys and whatever. And I have to. I can't even bring him, like, socks. Like, you're not allowed to bring anything in because they could harm themselves. Like, he's. It's like, again, I look at him, I'm like, no wonder you stop speaking that. What other option is there? And we've brought him home. He's lived with me, he's lived with my mom. He's lived on the farm. He's. They've tried everything, and it's just a constant cycle of meds off meds, jail, hospital out, meds off meds. And I don't know if that'll. No idea if that'll change, but you kind of have to find peace with the fact that maybe that's just, again, going back to, like, this is the reality. And I'm. It's not what I hope for him. It's not what I hope for our family, but I've, you know, found peace in that. That I want him to know that I'm never not gonna be there. Like, even if it's three years, if you end up in Tennessee in your first week in an involuntary hold, I'll be there. And I think he. He feels a lot of shame because we went through hell together. And I've seen a lot of things that I think he never wanted me to see. He's done things to me that I think he's incredibly embarrassed of. And we, like, don't really talk about it, but I've tried to let him know as many times as possible without getting into it, that it's like, I know it's not you. I'm still gonna show up. And it's even harder for my mom, but with, you know, I don't want to put words in her mouth, but I think that it'll be very easy for her to let go easier and just to say, you. You know, you're not trying to make any changes in your life. You are taking advantage of us. You don't want to use the time when you were on meds and you're doing better to try to change something in your lifestyle, to do anything. You would refuse therapy. Like, you would only go to therapy if I went with him. So we did that for a while together, but I had to go with him. Um, and I think that, you know, my oldest brother has always advocated more of, like, let him go if he wants to do a shit ton of drugs. If he wants to go be crazy and not accept help, let him go be crazy. You can't control that. And I think my mom is like, I'm not a parent yet. I don't know what that feels like. But she already lost one, so she's tried to let go. She said it a ton of times of like, get out of the house. Like, if you're gonna act this way, go be homeless. Cause you can't do this under my roof. Which she should have done, and I give her so much credit for. Ten years later, she shows up, is at a halfway house, and he eats a new set of clothes and a new, you know, bedroom, because he has a little room in his halfway house. She goes and gets it.

[Sean Ryan]

Damn, Brad, how do you stay so strong?

[Brett Cooper]

I don't know. I think there is a. Not a beauty, but there's a. There's kind of an advantage to this going on for my whole life, basically to where I don't see this as some catastrophe every time something happens. Which seems like a really fucked up thing to say. But it's like, at this point, it's like, okay, that's life. I'll handle it. I don't have to say it's normal. Cause it's not. My family's not normal. My relationship with my brother is far from what I would hope or want. But I think I learned really, really early on that life is messy. And I think it's hard learning that as a kid. But I also. I wouldn't be me without it. I think I went through hit after hit after hit, and they were all very different then you're saying, okay, I'm gonna pick up the pieces, I'm gonna keep going. What can I learn from each of these things?

[Sean Ryan]

When's the last time you offloaded like this?

[Brett Cooper]

My gosh. While.

[Sean Ryan]

Have you ever.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

How's it feel?

[Brett Cooper]

Feels really good. I think I did earlier on in being with Alex, of. There was so much I had to share in the back of my mind. I was always kind of like, it's gonna scare you off. And it didn't. I shared a lot of it in therapy. Again, that therapist in LA credit hurt so much, I wasn't able to verbalize any of it. And so much of it hadn't happened at that point. But I was not able to even break down what I felt because it felt just so commonplace for me. So it's been in different periods. I don't make a habit of carrying around open wounds and baggage. I don't think that that's the healthiest thing, but I think it. You can't go through life suppressing. And I think that both Reed and my dad suppressed a ton. And so I think that while I might not offload in this capacity, especially not in a public capacity frequently, it's probably the only time I've ever done it publicly. I'm not afraid of it in the slightest because I would rather it be out there. I would rather be vocalizing it and processing it. And even if I'm not speaking to someone about it, I'm never not thinking about this stuff. It's all very like, you know, in my face, especially with my brother. It was never something that I was able to hide from it. Like in the moment I was able to process it. And I think about it constantly. I think about what life will be like in five years. I think about when my parents pass away and if Reid is still here, what is that going to look like? I think about and how if, you know, if things haven't changed, how will I care for you? What do you need? I think about my dad and I think about repairing that and moving forward from that. I think about trying to, you know, protect my mom and make her life easier because she spent so much of her life fighting and rebuilding and things being crushed. And so these are all things that I consider and by default then I process everything because I've seen what happens when you run from the things that have hurt you or the things you can't control in your life. I think my brother, I think a lot of his situation, I never want to call it like a problem or. But you know, when David died, he was 17 years old. He went to an all boys school. It's not really in the environment that you are vulnerable and you process grief, especially when it's so public. He refused therapy. You'll tell my mom, I cried once. I don't care anymore. I'm over it. And then you get, you know, 10 years down the line and we're sitting together and he has now Struggled with drugs and addiction and alcohol and is hearing voices. And he finally says, like, I think about him every single day. They were talking last night. But he kind of looks like Jesus in a lot of ways. Like, he, like, keeps his hair super long and stringy. He's super skinny. He's really tall. He's like, six four. He has a huge beard. And I would always be like, reed, please shave it. It's so ugly. It's, like, scraggly. He'd call it his, like, flavor saver. And I was, like, so disgusting. And there was one point where we were having this conversation. My sweater's getting all over my hands. And he was like, I look in the mirror and I see him. He walks through life with this person that he is permanently intertwined with and who is not here anymore, who he sees every single time he looks in the mirror. And so I think that, you know, again, I've watched what happens when you don't process things, when you don't put in the work initially to go through the motions and feel, you know, the depths of what pain you need to feel and how you're going to learn from it and repair and rebuild. I've seen my dad run from his family in his past and replicate mistakes that his father made and refused to speak about it. And I think that there's a lot. My mom did that a lot, too, because she had to, because she had other kids and she had a husband that was struggling, that was suicidal. And so she just kept going. And I watched all of that. I was like, I'm not going to be that.

[Sean Ryan]

How did Alex handle this, your husband?

[Brett Cooper]

Like a champ. His. His mother in law, who. Or my mother in law, who I adore. I think she was more concerned than he was. She was like, oh, this girl's kind of like, she's got a lot of stuff. Love you, Des. I know you're gonna listen to this. She's gonna be, like, crying the entire. She cries more than I do. Just saying something. But. But no, he's. It's. It's truly, like, remarkable. He is completely unfazed and unflappable. And not that he doesn't care. He feels very, very deeply. And I think rather than looking at me and seeing something that was, you know, ooh, you're, you know, damaged goods. You have all these problems. It was like, I won't put words in his mouth, but in the way that I feel, it's like he stepped in and was like, I can create a bubble around you that's safe. And I've never had somebody who is as stable, who, like, can take hits and redirect, and I can, but I think I'm, you know, been through a ton. I'm, you know, emotional. And.

[Sean Ryan]

Is he the first ability that you found in life?

[Brett Cooper]

I think it's the purest form. My mom was very stable. I mean, a constant. But she's your mom. She's gonna be there. I found stability in external factors, like school. I threw myself into academics. I had my, like, high school transcript put on my wall because I was so proud of it, because I could control that, and that was stable. But I say that it's pure because he doesn't have to be here. He didn't have to choose me, and he did, and he's unwavering. And I have some incredible friends who have, you know, have seen me through a lot of these seasons, who have been very stable, who have been very gracious and have, you know, I've introduced them to things that are definitely out of their element through my family and have stuck with me. But it's very different when you, you know, fall in love and marry somebody.

[Sean Ryan]

How's it feel to lean into that?

[Brett Cooper]

Oh, it's incredible. I've never felt safer. I've never felt more feminine. I was like, I'm a very capable person. Like, I've navigated a lot, built a career, you know, independently as a kid. I have lived alone. I've traveled. Like, I've done a lot. And I met him, and I was like, I don't have to carry everything. I don't have to put all the pieces together by myself.

[Sean Ryan]

How'd you guys meet?

[Brett Cooper]

Through Daily Wire.

[Sean Ryan]

How, though?

[Brett Cooper]

He walked in for his second interview, and I think his first one was over the phone, and I was the first person that he saw at Daily Wire. And apparently, I was scowling at him, and he walked in and he was like, oof. I don't know who that. I didn't have a show yet. I didn't have anything. And he was like, that girl is like, we're enemies. In his very Alex voice, which you now know of. Like, very sarcastic and funny. And in my mind, I was like, who is this? It just, like, something clicked. I was like, that's somebody. And then at the time, I didn't have an envelope. I was, like, in a cubicle. And they put his cubicle directly in the row behind me. And this man has the, like, most explosive, boisterous laugh. And there's, like, a pause when he's like telling a joke. And then it just, like. I mean, you can hear it. If he was downstairs right now, you have all this soundproofing you could hear echoing through the halls. And it is, like, the most captivating, endearing thing. But I would just hear him. He would be right behind me. I would just find myself turning around, like, who is this person? And he kind of reminds me of my brother in a little way. Like, he has this, like, twinkle in his eye, and he's really spunky, and he's really, really smart, and he's interested in a million different things. And again, I could just. Like, no matter where he was in this huge office, I could hear. I was like, that's Alex, and he's laughing. So then I was trying to look him up. Cause I'm a girl. I was like, stalk this guy. Who is this? And I was told, like, don't shit where you eat. Don't. Like, whatever. But something about it. I was like, who is this? And I could only find him on LinkedIn. And I didn't have, like, a. I think I, like, forgotten my password. I couldn't log in, so I could only see, like, part of his profile. I, like, scrolled all the way down, and I saw Chattanooga, Tennessee, and my brother's high school. And he went to high school with him. And it was like. And then I would see him going and getting water. He drinks more water than any person I've ever met in my entire life. Shower. Very different because I, like, dehydrate myself on a daily basis. And so I would go, like, position myself by the water cooler. And there was one day where he was walking through and he was getting water. I don't remember what comment I made, but I sparked up a conversation. I was like, I desperately have to, like, how do I bring up Chattanooga? I'm like, how do I. And somehow it came up and I was like, oh, you're from Chattanooga. Like, I wasn't gonna say. I was, like, stalking you on LinkedIn. And then I think I ended up, like, talking with him in the break room for, like, two hours that day. I don't even know what I was supposed to be doing. I don't know what he was supposed to be doing, but I was just like, I think that's my person. He felt the same way.

[Sean Ryan]

And he, like, right off the bat.

[Brett Cooper]

It was just like there was something. And he's always said he felt really similar and wavered back and forth because he was always like, I'm never gonna be date Somebody that I work with. That's crazy. And he had a conversation with his mom, and she was like, oh, don't do it. What if you break up with her? What if it's awful? Like, she just started the show, and he was like, if I ask her out and she says, yes, we're not breaking up. Like, that's it. Like, I think that's. I think she's it. And asked me out in the parking lot. I was, like, shitting my pants. I was like, oh, my God. And then, yeah, I went on one date, and it was. We, like, shut down the restaurant. We went to Lachlan Table and eat Snashville. And, I mean, it was like, they hadn't closed for, like, an hour. I had no idea. He's great. Yeah. It was just. I was, like, instantaneous. And I went home for Christmas that year, and I went into my brother's yearbooks that have been in my mom's desk for 15 years, and his picture was right there. And I would sit in her office because I wanted to see my brothers and all their friends. I would flip through, like, while she was working, I'd flip through the yearbooks. They're called the Facebooks. I would see all the pictures of the boys. I would find my brothers. I had no idea that he was in there.

[Sean Ryan]

Did he know him?

[Brett Cooper]

I knew his little sister. We had had play dates, and because he's a few years older than me and we always lived, like, five miles away from each other and had no idea. I was really good friends with his other younger. His younger brother's best friend. And our moms had mutual, really good friends and never crossed paths.

[Sean Ryan]

Did he know your brothers?

[Brett Cooper]

Mm. Mm. He knew of David. I think David has a memorial statue at McCauley. And I think David died the year he was an incoming freshman. But it rocked the school, obviously, in a big way. And we had that statue put in. It's this big flame. It's like the eternal flame that's still there at the school. So he knew that, but he didn't know them personally. They were three years older than him.

[Sean Ryan]

How long did you guys date before he got married?

[Brett Cooper]

Year and a half.

[Sean Ryan]

How'd he propose?

[Brett Cooper]

I was in Budapest filming Pendragon for Daily Wire, and we had been out there. He planned on coming with me, and he was training for a triathlon, and he tore his ACL and his MCL and had to get surgery, like, the week that I was leaving, so he couldn't get on a plane. He had all this recovery. He was, like, locked up and all this stuff. So in his mind, he had just bought a rig. And he was like, how the hell am I going to propose? I can't even, like, bend my knee. What am I going to do? I can barely walk. And so, unfortunately, but also fortunately, I was in Budapest alone for, like, eight weeks, I think. And I think that was a really good test in a lot of ways, because we were an ocean apart, an entire time zone apart. And it kind of reminded me. I was like, oh, yeah, I can survive alone. Like, I'm not with a person, but I want him. And that was a good reminder. Cause I was like, I don't. I don't need you at every moment of every day, even though we spend so much time together. But I want you here. I want you in every aspect of my life. Which was. I already knew that I wanted to marry him, but that was just kind of a nice. I don't know, confirmation. And then he flew out and he spent, like, two months in Budapest and then went home for. He had a client that needed to be. He needed to be in person. Yeah, he flew out and proposed, like, the second day that he got there. And he proposed at Fisherman's Bastion in Budapest, which is, like, right outside of the Buda Castle. I had an inkling, but I had no idea. I was sweating profusely. He was so nervous. He made me walk from my apartment all the way across Budapest over this huge walking bridge. Cause he thought it would be so romantic to walk at, like, sunset. And we had to hike all the way up to the bastion. And I was like. And then we got up there, and I was like, oh, what's happening? Cause I sat on his Apple watch. Something popped up. And the photographer was like, I'm at the spot. I was like, oh, God. So I started having, like, heart palpitations. Cause I was sweating. I was, like, hiking up these, like, stairs. I was like, what am I getting proposed to? I'm dripping in sweat. I had to, like, take off my jacket. And he was, like, trying to get me to go where the sunset was, where he had picked out the spot. And I was like, I have to go water. I have to go water. And then there were so many people there. And apparently he had gone the night before, and it was empty. And he had, like, walked around with all the. He had talked to, like, the concierge at the nicest hotels. Budapest was like, if you're gonna propose, where do you propose? Budapest. And while I was on set, the Day before, he had, like, scoped out all these locations. And apparently at sunset the night before, nobody was there. Everybody was there that night. Everybody. And I am like, yet it goes back to this thing of like, I'm on camera 24 7, but not 24 7, but I don't like attention in my, like, normal life. And so I was like, oh, my God, does he not know me well enough to know that I don't want to be proposed to in front of whatever? So I get my water and I'm like, stressing, oh, my God, it's happening. We come around this corner, we're walking down these stairs, and there's a violinist. And I'm like, oh, fucking hell. I was like, there's a violinist, there's a show. What's going on? I don't not want the romantic gestures. And it wasn't for me. It was just. This violinist was just there, like, busking. And there was like. I don't know, this sounds so bad or racist or whatever, but there were like four Asian tour groups that were there that night, and they all had selfie sticks and they were all there. And I was, like, so overwhelmed. I looked over at him and he was, like, also so screwed. And thankfully, we're at the spot where he had picked out. It was like. It kind of ended up being out of the way. But I was walking down and I was like, please, God, don't have this person serenade me in front of all these people. We just walked past the violin. So then it ended up like we got to this point, but I had, like, amped up over this, like, 45 minute endeavor of getting here of like, oh, my God, oh, my God, oh, my God. And then it was totally normal. It was just like, in a really sweet spot and you could see the whole bastion. You could see the entire city. Yeah, he proposed there. And then we spent the next eight weeks in going between Budapest and Italy, where we were filming the show. It was great. And then we got home end of December. It was like day before Christmas. I got home from Budapest and then started planning our wedding in January and got married March 30th. So three months.

[Sean Ryan]

Where'd you guys get married?

[Brett Cooper]

The venue at Birchwood. My best friend owns it. So it was down in Franklin or past here, Franklin, like Columbia, wherever it is. But yeah, it's pretty cool.

[Sean Ryan]

One year, next week. Congratulations.

[Brett Cooper]

Thanks. It's been awesome.

[Sean Ryan]

Sounds like it.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. I've seen so many people. I don't know your experience with this, but I always say like, the first year is the hardest. And it was hard, but not because of him. It was hard just because we had things going on. I had work things. He left the corporate world and started a whole new business. We took a huge risk and bought this farm that definitely couldn't afford at the moment, but we were like, we desperately want this. So we just, like, were planning a wedding and doing that. We were, like, basically, like, flat broke after we got married. We had just bought this, you know, all this land and put a wedding together, and he was starting a business. And then I had a huge work transition and I had family things, and it was. There was just a lot of things we had to go through and deal and build, and he was the easiest part.

[Sean Ryan]

Did your family go to the wedding?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. Reid wasn't able to be there, which really sucked.

[Sean Ryan]

But his family, like him.

[Brett Cooper]

They love him. My dad loves him. My brother Chase loves them. My mom loves him. They sometimes talk more than I do. They're on the phone at, like, midnight talking about chickens and what kind of eggs the chickens are laying and all that kind of stuff. They love. I'm terrified of birds and they love the bir. But, yeah, they get along really well.

[Sean Ryan]

I'm happy for you, Brad.

[Brett Cooper]

Thank you.

[Sean Ryan]

Amazing guy.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, he's great with the little.

[Sean Ryan]

I know you know what I mean from last night and. And going up to your place, but really happy person. I can see it.

[Brett Cooper]

He's very joyful.

[Sean Ryan]

You picked good.

[Brett Cooper]

I know. I'm proud of myself. I broke a cycle.

[Sean Ryan]

Should be.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

But let's take another quick break.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, sounds good.

[Sean Ryan]

I'd like to invite you to gain access to an exclusive experience on Vigilance Elite. Patreon. Our patrons are the driving force behind the success of this show, and their support allows us to keep doing what we do. Depending on the tier you choose, you'll get access to benefits, like behind the scenes footage before each interview, early access to episodes, end of the month, live zoom calls with me, exclusive merch and more. Join us and become a patron starting at just $5 a month by visiting patreon.com vigilance elite. That's patreon.com vigilance elite. Thank you for listening to the Sean Ryan Show. If you haven't already, please take a minute, head over to itunes and leave the Sean Ryan Show a review. We read every review that comes through and we really appreciate the support. Thank you. Let's get back to the show.

[Brett Cooper]

All right.

[Sean Ryan]

Brett and Cookie.

[Brett Cooper]

Cookie.

[Sean Ryan]

Cookie was born when?

[Brett Cooper]

Eight weeks ago.

[Sean Ryan]

Eight Weeks ago.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, we got her last night, so she had to make an appearance.

[Sean Ryan]

There she is.

[Brett Cooper]

In all our glory.

[Sean Ryan]

Cute as hell.

[Brett Cooper]

Alex wanted me to not say that we had gotten a puppy last night when he gave me the gummy bears. Be like, actually, I brought. You heard your wife really wanted a dog.

[Sean Ryan]

He does, man. She's got puppy fever. She should be in here to beat Cookie.

[Brett Cooper]

Oh, yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

But. So let's move back into acting. So we got.

[Brett Cooper]

We've rerouted about 10 times.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah, we went down some rabbit holes, and it's been amazing. But. So you started. Where did you start? Kind of getting into political commentary. You were at Prageru for a little bit, right?

[Brett Cooper]

Yes. So it was 2020. I was at UCLA and I lost basically all my friends due to politics. I think it's a very common story that a lot of people have. I know Cookie. I've been through, especially young people. And in 2020, where I didn't really say anything that was, is this not gonna work, Cookie? You don't wanna hear about me being canceled. I think she might distract. I'm gonna get Alex. Can Alex come up and get her? I don't think you like this.

[Sean Ryan]

So Cookie's not a little camera. He's a little camera shy.

[Brett Cooper]

Oh, she.

[Sean Ryan]

She.

[Brett Cooper]

Don't misgender my dog.

[Sean Ryan]

My bad.

[Brett Cooper]

I know.

[Sean Ryan]

I'm sorry.

[Brett Cooper]

No, she's camera shy. It's funny. Our other Saint Bernard, I brought her and did a live stream with her right after we got her. And I was still doing comment section. She fell asleep on the desk and was just like, she's a lot more chill. No, I. There was so much political unrest, obviously through Covid, and we're getting into the midterms, just past the midterms, and George, Floyd and blm and I never intended to make a political statement. I just kind of realized that things were. There wasn't as much love and tolerance as I thought there was. And I knew that most of my friends thought differently than I did. I was in a very liberal industry. I was still acting when I was at ucla and I knew, you know, people would walk around with their I'm with her pins. I had really good friends, you know, during 2016 election that literally had, like, I'm with her painted on their nails and all this stuff. So I knew that I had different opinions, but I just never brought it up. I didn't think that it was for a workplace. I was also very young. I didn't vote in the 2016 election. And I think it was still kind of. I knew what my values were, what my principles were, but I didn't really understand how that translated to politics and current events. And I kind of had to learn that. And it came to a head in 2020. And, yeah, I literally did nothing other than saying, I'm not a registered Democrat.

[Sean Ryan]

That's what you said.

[Brett Cooper]

And I'm not voting for Bernie or Biden. In the midterms, and there was already some unrest because one of my best friends at the time, my big and my sorority, actually, she was voting for Biden because Bernie was too extreme for her. She even got flack. Like, how could you do that? It's like some establishment politician. He's a shill, all of this stuff. So she got a ton of hate. Then I come in here. Then it's like, yeah, not voting for either of them. And things started to change then, and it wasn't like a, you're canceled, we hate you. But it was a lot of vitriol, a lot of questioning. I had communist manifestos chucked at my head. I walked into a party, literally had one day, Brett, like, fucking read this, literally thrown at me. When I walked into a party, people knew that, you know, I had family from the south, my dad's whole family, like, going back in our lineage. Like, I could be like a Daughters of the Revolution. I have a, you know, direct line back to a revolutionary soldier. Deep, deep roots in the south, in North Carolina. And my grandmother was raised on a tobacco farm, very poor. And we were just talking about family and history, and they heard that and they were like, so you own slaves? And so then, like, drunkenly, at parties, they would say, yeah, Rhett's like, they're a racist friend from Tennessee. Her family owned slaves. Just things like that.

[Sean Ryan]

Are you serious?

[Brett Cooper]

Yes. And it got more and more heated. And I was supposed to live with this whole group of friends going into my senior year.

[Sean Ryan]

And this all came just because you said you weren't going to vote for Biden or Bernie.

[Brett Cooper]

Does it.

[Sean Ryan]

There's no mention of anything else?

[Brett Cooper]

No, I think they understood it. And we had a conversation later, and I was like, I mean, yeah, at the time, I wasn't like, gung ho for Trump, but I wasn't anti him. I was just like, yeah, I'll vote for Trump. He's our president now. I think he's doing a good job. He's the Republican, but he says, makes sense. I was never thrown off by any of the media hit pieces or things that he said. I was just like, he's just like an abrasive guy. He's an entertainer. It was like totally normal. I was like, okay. And my mom was very. And I was living at home, going to school, so we would talk about politics a lot. And she was never his biggest fan, but voted for him and really respected the fact that he was a businessman. And that made total sense. My brain was like, yeah, why would I not want somebody who has run businesses and built empires to run our country? That makes total sense. Like, it's him or these people that have been in government for 50 years and have done jack shit. It just moves so clear in my head. Didn't even think of it being majorly controversial, especially when I knew that my friends and I had differences and we had never, like. I respected them, I accepted that we had differences. It was just so. I just hadn't been faced with that yet. And then suddenly it all flipped. And then after Covid, you know, everybody had gone home and we were in these group chats. We'd be on Zoom together. We'd hang out, you know, in that weird twilight zone of be playing, like, games over Zoom and have hangouts and whatever. It was me in all these group chats. And they would, you know, say things like, you know, we're road tripping to the beach. And it was like June of 2020. His friends, like, getting out of their homes in Chicago and going to South Carolina so they could go to the beach while simultaneously shitting on Republicans, being like, yeah, we just saw like a idiot with a Trump flag on out of his car. My dad said that if we had hit him, he wouldn't have given a shit. Like that kind of stuff. And I'm like, in the group chat and you're saying that to me, like, I hope we just run over all these Trump supporters knowing that I was in there. And I was still just like, oh, it's fine.

[Sean Ryan]

It was like an indirect shot at you.

[Brett Cooper]

And I went along with it. I was like, oh, that's okay. Like, they still love me. We're still friends. I'm still in the group chat. We're still gonna live together. And my brother Chase, you know, I wasn't really listening to my mom, and she called him and I was like, I think you need to talk to Brett. This is weird. And he called me and he was like, you know, those aren't friends. You're about to go live in like a tiny two bedroom, Westwood, Westwood apartment with these four people, and they can't even respect you for having a Different opinion. When you've spent the last two and a half years not bringing anything up, not starting fights, loving them, caring for them, being supportive. It's not what friendship's about. And that's kind of when it clicked. And so I told him. I. You know, it had really reached a head where it was, like, it had gotten less indirect. And I had a conversation with, like, each of them individually, and I was like, we're going into this election. I can I trust that we're all gonna be friends after this? And it was like, oh, I don't know. It was just very, very intense. Maybe you should live this after all. And I was like, maybe I shouldn't. That was around the time we got. You know, my sorority basically, like, turned fricking upside down during blm. And girls were getting called out and kicked out of the sorority because they racially profiled people. Because there was a guy who. UCLA is a very public campus. It's not closed off. It's in the city. Sorority row is just in a Westwood neighborhood, so anybody can walk up. And there was a couple of guys that were coming in and breaking into the sorority houses and trying to attack young women. One of them was black, and they were trying to find this guy. And so one of the girls had seen a man who has an exact description wearing the exact hoodie, walking sisterly around campus and wrote in our group chat, I think I saw him. I'm gonna send it to the police. And it was a black guy. And she got absolutely tarred and feathered for racially profiling. Wow. Like, publicly in this group chat of, like, I don't remember her name. Becca, whatever it was. Of like, you. This is so disgraceful. You really need to check your privileges. She was, like, called in front of the board. I was watching all this transpire, like, we lost our ever loving minds. There's a man who's breaking into sorority houses. And that had been going on for months at this point. And the campus was, like, sort of shutting down. But some people still lived on campus. It was like a ghost town. And, like, these houses were being broken into. And this girl was absolutely, like, destroyed in front of everybody. And then there was all this stuff of, like, well, we as like, the Pan Hellenic Council. And, you know, Kappa Delta has. We have to make a BLM statement. I was like, we're a fucking UCLA sorority. And then Kappa Delta, like, the head chapter made a statement that wasn't good enough. And then that was super messy. And Amy Coney Barrett was a Kappa Delta. And so right after all the BLM stuff, when she was nominated Kappa Delta, the head, you know, chapter made a statement, as they should have, saying, this is now our most, you know, successful alum. She's going to the Supreme Court. They had to apologize for celebrating because she was anti women's rights. It was a mess. And then the thing that I was just like, I'm done with all of this. I had just said, okay, no, I'm not gonna live in this apartment. But I was like, maybe I'll stick it out in the sorority like the last year. Why not? Maybe there's. Because I kept thinking, if campus reopened, it was nice to have, like a place to go and study and activities to go do. I was like, I might as well, I've already paid. And they sent out the house manager, mom person sent out a letter talking about the election, telling us all that she hoped we voted correctly and we voted for women's rights and that we didn't forget that. Said there was a man in office that was gonna take all of that away from us. And that she, you know, being older than us, knew all of this and was wiser and that she hoped that we showed up and voted correctly. I was like, I can't frickin deal with this. I mean, it's just like.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah.

[Brett Cooper]

So then I. That was at the end of 2020, like going into the fall semester. So I basically just disconnected from everything, which honestly was like the greatest gift I could have been given, because I think it wasn't a bad thing. But I'd gotten really engaged in UCLA life over that year and a half because I had gone to community college. Then I transferred into UCLA as a junior man, had joined the sorority, had gone to the football games, had gone to the parties, had met people, was gonna live on campus, all of that. And Covid just pulled me out of it and recalibrated me in a lot of ways, where I had to become very intentional about my values and my principles and the people that I was surrounding myself with. I became super lonely. Cause the world was shut down. And my family was one of the only ones that was like, yeah, sure, let's go to Yosemite. My brother's gonna like, fly across the country and come vacation with us. I'm gonna go outside and not wear a mask. I was still working at Trader Joe's, so I was with people 24 7. I didn't get sick. I was fine. I was like, what's happening? Like, the world moves on. I was able to focus on where I wanted my career to go. Cause I was at that point where I was looking at the, you know, the Hollywood industry. And I had already kind of at that moment thought that maybe acting wasn't for me. Not that I didn't love it, but I hated the way that the industry operates. Whereas, like, I looked around at the people who I considered mentors, who were older than me in the industry, and I did not like the lives that they were leading.

[Sean Ryan]

Why? What about it?

[Brett Cooper]

They had no control.

[Sean Ryan]

Control over what?

[Brett Cooper]

Their own personal lives. I mean, it was like a good friend of mine was on a. Probably one of the most famous TV shows of the last 20 years. It was a lead role. Had to live out of state for months at a time. Husband stayed home and raised the kids. Barely saw them. Kids went off to boarding school. She was not engaged. You know, friends of mine who were in their 30s, who I would be on TV shows with, they would, you know, we'd work together, they'd go on and they'd, you know, be a serious regular on a Netflix show. And they'd be 30 something, living in a townhome with four other adults because they couldn't afford their own home.

[Sean Ryan]

Wow.

[Brett Cooper]

People who didn't see their kids. And the thing is, even at a young age, I did not like the fact that every part of my being was just a tool for you to use. Like, you have an audition at 2pm today. You have to be there at this time, turn your entire life upside down. If you book it, you're flying to Vancouver tomorrow for four months. And it was hard as a kid too, because you were. I loved it so much. But you would have friends book a job and it would be one of your best friends. And they'd literally move to Vancouver for however many months or years because they were shooting a show, ready to go to Arizona or Texas, wherever people are. Because so few things actually film in LA these days. I'd go abroad and I thought about what I really wanted in life and I wanted to be a mom. I wanted to get married, I wanted to have a family. And I really wanted. And this probably, you know, now in knowing what you know about my family and talking about this, where I had a lack of control, I don't think I was the right person to just hand that over. Where it's like, you tell me where to be at any point. Like, it could just be for an audition in Santa Monica at 5pm that's really annoying to get to. Or it's, I'm moving abroad for however many months. I'm gonna be away from my whole community, family, whatever it is. But also, you tell me, you know, dye your hair. You're not skinny enough, you're not fat enough. You need to, you know, you're just a shell for somebody, which is a really beautiful part of acting. And it's one of the reasons why I fell in love with it. But it got to a point where when I started to think about it, instead of a hobby and an escape and I thought about it as a career, I was like, I don't. I don't think this works for me. And I didn't like the fact I didn't have control over the projects that I did. Cause I was in no position. I was a working actor, but I was in no position to like, pick and choose my projects. Obviously, I just did. I went where the work was. I didn't like that. I hated the characters in almost every script I was sent. I just, like, they were bad people. Like, the stories that I was, you know, being put in to tell. I would go and audition for these roles and be like, what is. Like, what is society getting from these stories? They're so awful. Like, all these characters, they're bad people. I'm putting, like, filth into the world. So that was really hard. I felt just like such a values disconnect. I felt trapped. And so then I thought, okay, maybe I'll go work in production. I could change things. I could go be a producer. I could. I could go tell stories. Then I worked at. It was kind of like my dream job, honestly at the time. Worked at this production company that I massively respected. The work that they were doing. It was very story first and character first. It was like big budget independent films, like, they weren't going through any huge studios and was working for them in 2020. Because I had already kind of been thinking through all of this while I was in college that, you know, I manipulated myself at 15. We've already kind of like gone through that. So I was making my own money, paying for my life. It now had become a job. And so I had a couple of years to think about that. And I was working at this production company in 2020. Happened. George Floyd happened. And my job changed from receiving scripts and passing them onto the producer on the basis of or the production team on the basis of it being really good characters and good people. That would leave an audience change and a story that was worth telling because it. The whole idea of this production company and what I was supposed to seek out was that at the end of the film you were better in some way. It's not hitting you over the head with a Bible. It's not like this is a feel good. Whatever it was. Just at the end of it, something's been sparked in you. And there's good people in it who are complex, who are broken, who you see heal.

[Sean Ryan]

You're pumping good into the world.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. And it changed from that to, we have way too many white stories. I need you to find me a Native American story. Right now. We don't have any trans stories. We're gonna be attacked. Go find that. So it became identity first. I was like, oh, God. Like, so I can't even, you know, I'm an entry level person. I can't even change it from here. So I felt very lost there. And so I did finish up my time at ucla Again, I'm very, you know, find the good in everything. Find, you know, the lesson that you're gonna learn in this experience. What good thing can you take from it? The good thing that Covid gave me was that it removed me from all those environments. It took acting away, it took production. Like, the whole industry basically shut down. UCLA shut down. My social life, sorority, everything went away. And I just dove into studying what I believed in and trying to build something for myself. So I did a business program at UC Berkeley's Grad School for Business, Haas School of Business, which is where you as an undergrad could go and basically get a condensed mba. And so I did that, which I would have never had the time to do, but I was able to do it because it was remote. I did what every English major who's confused about her future would do. And I studied for the lsat. I took the lsat. I was like, I'll go to law school. And at that time, I was super engaged in politics. I was like, I'll go be a 2A lawyer. I'll go into constitutional law. I'd been shooting for years with my brother. I felt like the world was under attack. Like, had no idea what was happening. My mom, you know, was a prepper. I'd become a prepper. And I was like, I'll go into 2A law. And then I was like, what the hell am I doing? Like, I shouldn't be a lawyer. I hate. Like, I don't want to go read contracts for the rest of my life. And I had talked with some constitutional liars, and they were like, there's too many liars right now because there's too many grad schools because it's. There's a financial incentive for. Universities create grad programs because the government gives. The government gives subsidized, limitless loans for grad school. So that's why grad programs for lesbian dance theory. That's a joke we all make interesting.

[Sean Ryan]

I didn't know that.

[Brett Cooper]

Because you don't have to have the financial incentive to be able to make money after or have a job afterwards. You have limitless loans. So. So every university and their mother created a law school. And you can see in times of recession, lawyers spike because people can't get jobs. They just go back to grad school. They get a student loan. It's happening right now.

[Sean Ryan]

Interesting.

[Brett Cooper]

And so I talked to some lawyers and a mentor of mine who worked at the foundation for Economic Education. I kind of missed a chapter, but I'll go back. But I was writing for the foundation of Economic Education. She knew that I was going to go to law school. Her name is Hannah Cox. People have probably seen her on Twitter, and she kind of. She gave me an assignment, and she said, I want you to. I told her about this conversation that I'd had with these constitutional liars who were like, I don't think this is. This isn't what it's cracked up to be. And I think that your skills are better used elsewhere. If you want to do advocacy, you can do everything that we're doing except signing the briefs. Do you need to go put your life and career on hold when you're already engaged with, you know, in that year when everything shut down, when I had no friends, that I found Community at Pragerus, and I was like, I'm an actor. I can do things on camera. I can help produce things. You want me to make social media videos for you? So I have nothing to lose at this point. I'll go be an outward, you know, conservative. So I started making videos that way and made videos for Young Americans for Liberty and got hired there and was obviously an English major.

[Sean Ryan]

What age were you when you jumped into Prageru?

[Brett Cooper]

18.

[Sean Ryan]

18, yeah. And you found them?

[Brett Cooper]

Mm. I reached out. They brought me into their office and had a whole tour. Yeah. Their head of PR now, her name is Sabrina. She was running Prager Force, which was their student program, which is still, I think, an incredible program. She knew that I was in LA and I had joined Prager Force to just try to, like, meet people, and they would do monthly, like, zoom calls for, like, all the lonely, you know, teenage conservatives around the Country. And she was like, oh, you're in la. You should come into the office. And I really like all of this. I give a ton of credit to her because she brought me in and she said, I think that you could have a real voice. Like, could we. What can we offer you? Would you like to do videos for us? Can we give you resources? Like, here we can all, you know, love to be friends with you. Like, she gave me a community, and she really helped point me in the right direction and said, I think you could do something here. I had never even thought of it. I was like, commentary. Like, what do you mean? And so everything spiraled from there. And started working at, you know, doing videos for Young Americans for Liberty and got a job there and got a fellowship. I was a Haslett Fellow at the foundation for Economic Education and was writing for them because I had a writing background through school, had gone to, you know, the TPUSA events. Just became engaged purely out of a utilitarian, you know, standpoint of. I just. I needed community. I felt so lonely. I never thought, like, I'm going to go be a right wing influencer. This is gonna be like, I'm going to go do commentary. I just wanted people. And I thought I had a unique skill set that it was kind of missing on the young. Right. Like, there were no younger voices. Will Whit at Prageru was the only one. And so just started making videos here and there and grew an Instagram page from zero to like 7,000. But, yeah, I was still thinking, I'll go to law school and I'll just go do constitutional law. Like, that's how I'll make a difference. And Hannah Cox at FEE said, she gave me a writing assignment. She said, I want you to go tell me why there are so many lawyers. Like, okay. And then tell me the economic ramifications of that and how the government has screwed with the free market in that regard. Great assignment. And I did that. And I was like, holy shit, I can't go to law school.

[Sean Ryan]

Did you hear. Did you ever hear from your old sorority friends?

[Brett Cooper]

Mm. Mm. Well, I. Not my friend, but I've heard from girls who were in my sorority at the same time who knew me, who, like, three years later were like, you probably don't remember me, but we were in Capitol. We were in the same pledge class. We were like, you know, pledge class after me. And I wish I had known you at school. Cause it was so alienating. I mean, we couldn't find each other.

[Sean Ryan]

Damn.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. I don't really have. So I have a couple of friends from ucla, but they weren't from my time there.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah, gotcha.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. But that's how it all kind of started. So I withdrew from law school the day of my orientation. I was like, it's not for me. It was after that writing assignment, after all those conversations, I was like, I'm not gonna do this. I was living in Idaho with my mom because I had she after the divorce. And when Covid happened, she was like, this is the sign. I need to get out. You know, you don't need me anymore. I had applied for, you know, law school at ucla, at Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount. And then she had said that she wanted to go to Idaho. So I was like, I'll apply for University of Idaho. Why not? And they had a dual JD MBA program, which I was really interested in. So rather than three years, it'd be four years. I'd get an MBA and a jd. So I got into that, and she bought this farm sight unseen in Idaho and said, I'm getting the hell out of California. I don't want to be, you know, carded for a vaccine. I don't want to wear a mask. So left. My brother left. We. It was my brother Reed. He was doing really well at the time, and we all moved to Idaho, and Reed and I got a little duplex, and I quit Trader Joe's in la, and I came to Idaho. And I was writing for fee and doing all these, like, conservative nonprofit stuff. I was working as a waitress at a steakhouse in Boise. Just such a fun job. People like crap on serving. I had a hell of a time serving. I loved that. And, yeah, so I withdrew. Had this whole plan ahead of me. I was like, I'll go to University of Idaho. Because I didn't want to be in California either. And my whole family's here now. And I withdrew. And my mom looked at me, and she said, you have to figure out what you're doing with your life. Like, you can't just. Are you just going to live in Idaho and be, you know, a waitress? Like, you need to come up with a plan. And so I got a permanent role at Young Americans for Liberty, being their marketing strategist. And I did social media for them. I did copywriting for their development team, which in the nonprofit sphere is sending out emails for development, is fundraising, so ran campaigns for them. And I had, like, a big girl salary, which at the time I thought was like, I'm making a lot of money. It's like More than my minimum wage at Trader Joe's. And although Trader Joe's actually pays very well, we're a great company. If you need a job, it's the best place to work, hands down.

[Sean Ryan]

But I'll keep that in mind.

[Brett Cooper]

I know, yeah, if everything goes to hell, we'll both be back there. I'll be in the box stocking the milk again. That was my favorite job. And, yeah, so I kept doing that and then randomly got a DM from Daily Wire who said, we, we're looking to start a show with a young person. We love your social media and what you're doing. And so I took some meetings with them. They sent me some videos to react to, just to, like, hear me on camera. And Uzur, I told you this at dinner last night, but I haven't shared this publicly. My brother's most recent. Well, now it's second to most recent. Psychotic break happened the week that I was offered the job with Daily Wire. Like, December of 21. I was really weighing a lot of things, and I was petrified to take this job because as I've kind of, you know, set the scene for you, my mom and I were super intertwined. There was a lot of weight to carry. I felt like we were. Things were good for the first time. Like, she was happy. She bought this farm that she's always. She had always wanted to have a farm forever. My dad never wanted. Her first husband never wanted her to have a farm. And I was happy, you know, I was living with Reed. Reed was doing great. He was even talking about going back to school. And it just felt like things were humming. And I had a job where I felt like I was making a difference. And I thought, I'll just meet, like, a nice guy in Idaho, and I'll live near my mom and I'll buy a farm soon. And, you know, I had horses at her property, and it was all normal. And I was like, I can't leave this. And she'd had a pretty hard conversation with me where she basically grabbed me by the neck because I would. Didn't even. Like. I was petrified to even take the call with Daily Wire and send in a tape. Cause I was like. I just, like, I was so out of the game. I hadn't auditioned in so long because I hadn't been acting in a couple of years. And I felt like that was behind me. And it's such a testament, I think, to, like, risk taking and betting on yourself is habitual. I don't think that's Something that is ingrained in most people. It's certainly not in me. It's like a practice that I like every couple of years. I gotta. I just did it a couple months ago. You have to take a leap, shake something up and challenge yourself. If something isn't right, you just. You have to do it. And I was definitely at a stall in my life. I didn't. I just. You know, I was a waitress. I was withdrawing from law school. I was working this marketing job. But, you know, it was remote, so I was working this way, whatever it was. But I was comfortable. And with acting, the beautiful thing about it is that you get told no 90% of the time. From a really young age, I had learned how to get rejected. I didn't care. I was like, at, you know, 12 years old, I would go in and you bare your soul to somebody, and you're performing, you're singing, whatever it is, and they go, okay, thank you. And you walk out the door, and you. 90% of the time, you never hear anything from them. So if you're somebody who likes, like, gratification and that kind of thing, to be an actor that's not some kind of celebrity, it's really hard. Like, it does. That just doesn't work that way because most of the time, they don't give a shit about you. Like, you don't hear anything from anybody. They don't say, it was really great, we're going in a different direction. You maybe hear that 1% of the time. You just go in and you do it. So that was, like, such a crucial part of my growing up, and I hadn't done that in two years. So this felt like a huge risk. I was having to sort of audition for this and send in a tape. Obviously, they're gonna have a show with you. They wanna see. What are this girl's values beyond social media? What can she do in a longer format? Cause I've basically only done tiktoks and that kind of thing. And I got up to the deadline and I was not gonna send in a video. And I went over to House and I was, like, bitching and moaning about it and saying, I know nothing. I'm gonna do it. I just wanna stay here. I'm gonna be in Idaho. And she grabbed me by the neck and she said, I don't care. My mom rarely swears. Tracy's like, I don't give. If you decide not to take this job or do whatever, but if you stand in front of me and say you're not Even gonna try, then I'm incredibly disappointed in you. And hearing her saying she was. I was like, okay, because that's like, she is the person. Like, I wanna please her the most. We've been through everything together. I respect her so much. I was like, if she's saying that, and she was like, then you're not the person that I know that I raised you to be.

[Sean Ryan]

Wow.

[Brett Cooper]

Who took every risk, who put yourself out there constantly that went on stage and was an animal that tried everything that would go, you know, for the last. You know, it was eight years at that point. Ten years, really? Yeah. I was 18. So it was 10 years, a decade of auditioning and being on stage and, you know, being, you know, rejected and getting up and trying again, even if you never got a role and you're gonna stand in front of me and you're not even gonna try. And I was like, you were right. So I went home, I recorded it, and I got the job. And then I had to decide whether. And then she was like, if you don't wanna take it, you don't wanna take it. That's a once in a lifetime. Like, they weren't gonna come back and ask me in a year. Like, you want someone to do a show, they would have found somebody else, like, on social media to do a show with. And the part that I had talked to you about last night is that I was trying to decide whether I wanted to uproot my life and do this and leave and start this whole new thing. And I could tell in my brother's eyes that something was not happ. Like, not right. He was on his meds. He wasn't taking drugs. Boyce is a very clean city. Idaho's very buttoned up. We lived in a very. Like, in the outskirts. He had no access to anything, and he just started to crack. They just. The drugs just weren't working anymore. And you can always tell when he's kind of. When you hear. When he's hearing the voices, because when you're having a conversation with him, if you've had a conversation with anybody that has schizophrenia, they're talking to you, but they're also talking with the voices that they hear, and they're telling them how to respond to them. So our conversations really slowed down. He started to get more unstable. And it was like, two days before I had to make my decision about whether I was gonna leave and do this. Take this job. And he asked me to come downstairs, and I walked down to his apartment, which was under my house. Or our house. I had a little apartment upstairs. He had one downstairs. And he looked at me, and he gave me this purple crystal that I still have. He put it in my hand, and he said, you need to go to Nashville. It's your destiny. I was like, reid, what do you mean? And he was like, you have to promise me that you're gonna go. You have to go. I was like, for this job. He was like, you must move. You must be there. And he was like, they're telling me that you have to go. And in my mind, I was like, okay, your voices have told you, like, some crazy things. Like, we have spent the last 10 years, like, I don't even know. I don't wanna know if I wanna try these voices. And he was like, I'm telling. This is your destiny. You must go. I was like, okay, well, whatever. And I woke up the next morning, and he was gone. And he had a full psychotic break. When the police found him, it was in December, out on a bench in the cold, completely in a full psychotic state. And that was the last sort of coherent conversation we had, was him telling me to go. I take that stuff seriously.

[Sean Ryan]

Like, yeah.

[Brett Cooper]

But I knew that I probably should go. And I knew that it was a great opportunity, and it was risky. It was scary. I was gonna be alone. But I also knew that I was gonna be working with a lot of people in this world that I respected. I mean, I'd been listening to, you know, Matt Walsh and Michael and Candace and Ben.

[Sean Ryan]

You'd heard them all before.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. In the last couple of years, I'd listen. Yeah. Huge deal. And I knew more than anything that what I would get from it, even if things didn't work out, even if a show didn't take off, even if they never, you know, if we never developed a show, if it never got greenlit, whatever it was. That I had the opportunity to work with people who were better than me at what I was doing, who were principled, who were great at what they did, and even not in, like, this weird industry, but who just seemed like good people. And I got there. And those individuals, like, I'll always say this, but, you know, you hear Matt Walsh online. That's who he is in real life, like Michael Knowles, he walks the walk like I had to. It was, like, crazy. You know, Jordan Peterson, I'm doing my show. And he was like, I want to meet the Internet girl. And he's, like, walking in and wants to meet. And I. But I get to have these, like, you do the TikToks, right? The YouTube.

[Sean Ryan]

The TikToks and the YouTube.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, exactly. And so in my mind, like, I knew that it was a huge deal, but I was petrified. And again, I was comfortable, and I said, okay, screw it, I'm gonna go do it.

[Sean Ryan]

They brought you on to do a show, and so walking in there for the first time, I mean, how. How often was it that you were listening to them? I mean, was it pretty frequently? You're listening to them all. All the time.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

And so you walk in and there's.

[Brett Cooper]

I mean, Ben at like 15 years old when I was. We had that conversation about abortion. When I learned that my dad wanted to abort me, like, when I was looking up, you know, information, it was his debates that came up.

[Sean Ryan]

Wow.

[Brett Cooper]

It was like, you know him at college campuses, you know, I love listening to Michael. Michael made me think about God in a way that I hadn't in a really long time and just kind of shut off from that, Especially living in la. That's the most secular place you can be, especially in Hollywood. So these were people that meant something to me and, you know, still do. Became very good friends and mentors and will always be grateful for that.

[Sean Ryan]

And were they all there when you walked in the door?

[Brett Cooper]

No, Jordan wasn't there yet. And it took me a while to meet them because, you know, I was in development for the show. So, like, I was brought on to do the show, but I was like, social media content creator. And then we took a few months to do the show. So when the show launched, that's when I really got to know them. Then they were like, oh, you're legit. They gave you a show.

[Sean Ryan]

How was it meeting Candace for the first time?

[Brett Cooper]

Terrifying. Kidding me. She's like. So I had met her, I'd gone to Mass, and she was, you know, George is Catholic, and she had not converted at that time, but I knew, like, she sort of knew who I was. And she filmed in a different part of the studio than I did, so I didn't really cross paths with her. And her husband George was like, it's so funny if you know him, but he loves YouTube, so he would watch my show and be like, hannah, this is the girl at Daily Wire. And she's like, I haven't even met her. Like, who is this? And then I accidentally parked next to her at Mass one Sunday. And this is like the Michael Knowles effect of like, I need to go to Mass. I need to get my life together, whatever it was. And I was like, oh, my God, Candace is here. And then I saw George look over at me, and apparently he was like, that's the girl at Daily Wire. And that was, like, the first time she had ever, like, seen me in person. And then she was in the office, like, a couple of weeks later and officially met me. But she's one of those people you're talking about this downstairs that she is this, like, firecracker of personality, and you, like, see her on screen and you're like, oh, my God, I don't even know what to expect about this person. And she is one of the warmest individuals. She's incredibly charismatic, she's incredibly loyal. And I would hear things around the office of like, oh, Hannah's walking in. And it was like everybody revered her and kind of feared her. And she just comes up and gives you, like, a huge hug. So, yeah, that was really special. And Matt, you know, I think the first time he ever, like, really officially met me was when his team was like, you gotta go on her show to promote something that he was doing or help her promote her show. And we just had a ton of fun.

[Sean Ryan]

And so it was welcoming right off the bat.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, they were you.

[Sean Ryan]

I mean, how did it feel walking in there, starting a show with the people, like, I don't know if you'd call them idols, but, you know, people that you look up to in the industry, and, I mean, now you're right there with them.

[Brett Cooper]

That was a fish out of water for sure. Imposter syndrome. But also, you know, you were. I'm very overconfident, so there was some imposter syndrome, but it was like, yeah, I can do this. I can talk to a camera, I have opinions, and I don't waver in what I believe, and I have fun telling stories, and that's what I got to do every day. That's what I still get to do, is like, what I loved about acting, what I loved about working at that production company and searching for stories at the end of the day was telling stories with interesting characters and with interesting meaning that leave people changed, that leave you thinking about something in a different light that make you feel something. And I got to do that every single day. And it was a really nice marrying of all the things that I loved. I wasn't acting. And there's always a part of me that's like, you know, I love that living on stage. I'm doing my tour in the next couple of months, which I'm so excited about, because I love being on, like, I Love feeding off of an audience. And this is like the whole. I love entertaining and I love telling stories in that medium. So I was able to kind of like mesh together all the things that I cared about. And it was not the career that I ever expected for myself. But I think it's really beautiful because you, if you follow the things, like if you find the. If you find the core of why you love what you love, because it's usually a lot deeper than what you think. It's not the superficial, like, I like this job because of xyz, but it's like, why does that fill your cup? Is it the people? Is it the things that you accomplish? Is it the feeling that you're making a difference, whatever it might be? Is it the storytelling aspect? Is it the solving of a problem, whatever it may be? And if you can't do what you dreamed of as a kid or spent 10 years of your life in LA like I did, thinking, like, yeah, I'll just go be an actor forever and work in this industry. I'm totally content and fulfilled now with what I'm doing. Because the meat of why I loved all of that I get to do every day. And I get to do it now, especially being independent. I get to do it and I'm in the driver's seat. I get to decide, you know, who I work with. And I can, you know, honestly tell my audience that if I'm sitting down with somebody, if I'm collaborating with somebody, if I'm partnering with somebody, it's because I want to. It's because I trust them.

[Sean Ryan]

How did you. Before we get into independent, how did you guys come up with the concept? How did you come up with the comments section?

[Brett Cooper]

So it was a funny story because there were two different sides of it. But I had had the idea for a very similar show that I pitched to Prager U actually, and it was like a quippy, funny. I still have the pilot, actually, and it's me in my LA apartment. I've got my leg up on the chair. Cause that was my whole thing at the beginning of COMED section. Like, I always had my leg up and I was going through news stories from a more right wing, common sense perspective. And I even read some comments and I had all the funny memes and edits in there and I edited it myself in imovie. And my purpose of that was it was trifold, I think, because one, I didn't feel like there was enough content on this side of the aisle that was short form that would reach my generation because we have the attention span of a P. And that was why I added in all the edits and the memes and the sound effects, which is. A lot of YouTubers were doing that at the time. I was a big fan of this girl named Emma Chamberlain who had blown up on YouTube over the past 10 years or so. And she always had really funny edits and sound effects and they would keep me just captivated in these videos. And I also felt like there wasn't anybody that was like me speaking to young people. Like I said, Will Wit was the only one I had a lot of people that I would find on YouTube and, you know, I would listen to Dennis sometimes and he would pop up on my YouTube feed or Michael and, you know, Ben and K would watch Candace's. I was like consuming her stuff during blm, all of her live streams and her rants and all that. But there wasn't anybody that was. There wasn't anybody who was young or just like an average girl. Like, the young women that I saw were like the Trump admin interns and they're like pencil skirts or like the Fox News women, or they were like the, you know, the hunters in Montana. And I wasn't either of those. I was like, I'm just kind of a. I don't know, I'm not. I'm just sort of in the middle. I'm just. I don't want to really be preached at, but there's a lot of stuff going on in the world that doesn't make sense and that's chaotic and I'm losing friends and I feel alienated and lonely. And if I feel this way, then I know other people do. So maybe I could do something about it.

[Sean Ryan]

Was it all you. You came up with it all.

[Brett Cooper]

So that was my side of it. And so I had this pilot pitched and so when Daley Wire approached me, I was like, actually, I had this idea for a show and they have obviously a very strict pitch policy, as anybody does in entertainment. They're like, actually, we can't. If you pitched it somewhere else, like, we can't accept your pitch. Not even hired yet. And so we were just sitting in this zoom meeting. They were like, this is our idea. You know, it'll be a short form show. We want, you know, really funny edits and memes and you'll read comments. I was like, this is like, this is perfect. This is like the meeting of the minds. And it was so cool. And I think people assume and I've said this before that, it was like the suits there that were going, we need to reach the young people. It was like the entire show was created by people that are around my age. They were all newly graduated. I think the oldest was like 24. So it was created by. Out of necessity for the content that we wanted to consume. Made by us for people our age. And so we had. They got the green light to hire me, even though I don't think the suits knew, you know, why it was being hired. But they were like, okay, you know, try it out. And somehow got it greenlit. Even though the execs were like, we don't really understand the show, but if you think it's gonna just try. So we had no money, tiny budget. You know, I was in the back of a studio that was shared by two other people, had like a little tiny corner. We had no paid ads, nothing, no marketing machine. They were just like, see if anybody watches. And it was just really, really was perfect. Cause the people that we were working with, we just had like, that's how you kind of know that something's hopefully gonna work and that you've created something great. When it's like, we've all felt this need for something that's very similar. We all came together and had already been thinking about this. It was like, this has gotta be magic. And they brought the comment section, like, the name. They had already had the name and they had tried the concept with another young woman who had worked there previously. And what they brought to it was having it be driven by comments of like, that's a unique, you know, kind of value add. Of don't just talk about your values and opinions, but like, what are normal people on the Internet saying? I was like, that's a great addition. So they contributed that part. And we developed it for three months and then launched it in the end of February or March in 2022. And in the back corner of that tiny studio with no money, no paid ads, nobody really paying attention. We hit a million in four months.

[Sean Ryan]

You hit a million in four months?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

You amassed 4.5 million in three years.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. It was a rocket ship. We were the fastest growing show and on, you know, the right. We were one of the top three fastest growing YouTube channels on all of YouTube.

[Sean Ryan]

Wow.

[Brett Cooper]

Again, no money, no anything. I mean, we had money, we had support. You know, they gave us like $10,000, $20,000 to buy the cameras and build, you know, a set and get, like, the headphones, the mic and all of that stuff. But it was a Lot of it was organic of people just sharing it.

[Sean Ryan]

Wow.

[Brett Cooper]

Seeing.

[Sean Ryan]

So they gave you a $10,000 budget and you created a 4.5 million viewership.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

That's fucking insane.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

In three years, how did that rank against the other shows we.

[Brett Cooper]

Ben always had significantly more. I outpaced a lot of them. Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

Any jealousy?

[Brett Cooper]

No, I don't think so.

[Sean Ryan]

Felt good.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. I mean, I was just like, shocked as anybody. I was like. I don't even know how. I was like, this is wild. No. And I'm so. And I, like, I think about my brother saying that and all of these things that have now happened since then, and I'm. I'm really, really grateful for the shot that they gave me. And I had great people. You know, that core team who launched the show with me, that was like dream team. And we were so much synergy, and it made me, like doing that show every day. We did 10 episodes, a week, sometimes more, but two episodes a day. It made me so much better in basically every aspect of my life. I got comfortable being Brett on camera, not being behind a role, kind of like we talked about very early on. I became incredibly articulate in my beliefs. I became unwavering. I think I became less of a people pleaser in my work because I had to go on camera every day and share what I thought. And I was getting death threats and being called a transphobe and a racist and whatever. You're a pos.

[Sean Ryan]

Did that bother you?

[Brett Cooper]

Not really, actually. Because I felt so strongly about what I believed, and I felt like what I was doing was important because I would meet people in person. I think that was really, really helpful. Who were my age or around my age who said, like, thank you for saying what I'm too afraid to say or what I. Like, I felt. And I felt crazy for thinking this, and you make me feel like I'm not as alone. Especially young women who came up to me and said that, because it was all born out of. Out of purpose of me feeling that exact same way.

[Sean Ryan]

Did that start happening immediately?

[Brett Cooper]

Pretty soon after? Yeah. It was very weird. But thankfully, because I'd been in acting, my mom was very proactive in conversations like that, because she was like, at any moment, any of these auditions, you know, I was auditioning for things like Wolverine and. Or Disney Channel, whatever, these things that, you know, if I had actually booked any of those, my life would have blown up in an instant. We watched that happen on a regular basis. People that I knew was in acting classes with. So we had Lengthy conversations about fame and influence growing up, because my mom was like, you could walk away from acting in a moment. I wouldn't care. Because I would believe that what you learned was important and you had a great time doing it. You have no pressure to do this, but if this is what you are going to be doing and you're auditioning for these huge things that could literally change your entire world, you need to know what fame is and you need to have such a secure sense of self and understand that the reason why you have that and why you would have the money and the power and the influence is because of those people. So you better not act like a piece of shit. Basically.

[Sean Ryan]

Good advice.

[Brett Cooper]

You can't compromise that. And it was like, that was from a young age. Because again, you never know. You could have booked something and then suddenly you're on some show every week and everybody knows who you are. So it was very proactive and that, you know, when I left to move to Nashville, she had the same conversation with me again. She was like, I don't know if they're ever gonna make a show with you. I don't know if you're gonna become some well known person. Don't forget everything that we've talked about over the last 10 years. Cause it's still applicable. And I didn't.

[Sean Ryan]

She was right.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. And it happened really fast, so I think I was prepared. But I remember the first time I was like, actually recognizing public, I was in my pajamas at Costco. I was like, maybe I shouldn't wear my pajamas out in public anymore. Maybe that's not the best thing to do. Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

What did the execs think? I mean, a million in four months.

[Brett Cooper]

It was like shocking.

[Sean Ryan]

What were they saying to you?

[Brett Cooper]

Well, they brought us into a meeting and Gwyneth Mast turned to somebody on my team and was like, so how much money did we put behind this? Like, how many paid ads? And he was like, none. Nothing. And they were just like, okay, like, I guess let's just keep going. Yeah. But I just tried to, like, stay in my lane and keep going. I was undeterred. I was like, this is a rocket ship. Let's just keep growing.

[Sean Ryan]

I mean, with that kind of a success in that amount of time, I mean, that's damn near unheard of.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

What was. What was your motivation to go independent? When did that pop into your head?

[Brett Cooper]

I was ready for something different.

[Sean Ryan]

You just wanted a new challenge or.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, I think I. You know, we've covered a lot of different things and There have been different moments in my life where I had to make kind of like, a decision that was like, you know, that leap of faith and that risk, and I hadn't taken one in a while, and I felt very complacent, and I was good at what I was doing, and I was doing it every single day, and we were making a difference, and I was in a very good rhythm, but I had gotten complacent.

[Sean Ryan]

Was it freedom?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

You wanted more freedom. What was the final straw? Almost nobody would give that up.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

And start from scratch. And that's why I respect you so much.

[Brett Cooper]

Mm. That was. It was terrifying. I had to. You know, Alex and I had a conversation many. This was not like a. Like, this was a lot of thinking and praying and analyzing, and we looked at each other, and we're just kind of like, are you willing to. Are we basically willing to lose everything and start from scratch? Because, again, we had. You know, Alex had just started his own business. We had bought this farm that was, like. It was stretch. We really wanted it. And I was like, I could leave, and it could backfire on me immediately. Nobody could care. Maybe I wouldn't make any money. Maybe I would have no anything. And I basically just had to decide, like, does that matter to me? And it didn't.

[Sean Ryan]

And it worked.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. Then it wasn't because I was like, yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

A million subs in one month when you launched your new show.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. It was very humbling and gratifying. I was like, okay. But it was. I mean, it's terrifying. And I literally, like, our conversation was like, like, are we willing? My mom had just decided to move to Nashville. I was like, are we willing to go move back in with her and, like, literally start over? If, like, you're funding our life now, Alex, and I can't help it all, and I'm making no money. Like, if all of it went away. And at the end of the day, like, I don't really care about being famous. Like, it comes with what I do. But I would be very. I would be just as happy if I was telling stories in a different capacity again. It's finding the root of what you love to do and then applying it. I don't need this to survive. I don't crave it. I do it because I love sharing stories with people. I love, hopefully making them think differently about the world. I love making people feel like they're not alone in whatever they're going through, whether that's, like, on my subscription platform where we do our Dear Brett series, and I'm able to talk to people. Like, I had a girl last week, you know, talk to me about, you know, she has a grandfather with dementia who is, you know, forgetting who she is and has gotten violent and is like, how do you. How do you go through that? Like, how do you still love somebody and be there, but protect yourself and know that, you know, that isn't the person that you know anymore? I got to talk about my brother, which I don't often get to do, and it's like, I. I've had so much crap happen in 23 years. It's like, I hope that I can make somebody's life a little better if they haven't experienced this and they're now going through it for the first time. I hope I can make you feel less crazy about the world and feel less alone, but I don't have to have 4 million or a million subs to do that. Like, that isn't why I do this. I could go work. I could go back to Trader Joe's, and I'd be happy.

[Sean Ryan]

Well, you just described the why.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

And you definitely. You hit it. And you seem very fulfilled.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

That's good to see. Not a lot of people have that, man.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

Not a lot of people feel fulfilled in what they're doing.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. And that was the first step to freedom of being like, I'm okay if this doesn't, and I'm willing to fight to make that happen.

[Sean Ryan]

When you left your maid of honor, best friend, was it Reagan? Is that her name? Took over the comments section. How did that feel?

[Brett Cooper]

Friendships are hard.

[Sean Ryan]

Are you guys still friends?

[Brett Cooper]

I would say so.

[Sean Ryan]

Would you like to still be friends?

[Brett Cooper]

Of course. I talked about that, actually, in another Dear Brett thing. Adult friendships are really hard. You always think it's going to get easier. Kind of just gets harder. And with more people knowing who you are and having influence and having eyes on you, then you kind of question people's motives in being friends with you. And it's kind of, like, hard knowing how to meet people. And so I'm. I'm, like, loyal to a. Maybe a fault, but I like.

[Sean Ryan]

Do you feel that she was disloyal and taken the role?

[Brett Cooper]

No. She can do. She's an adult. She is. She. And this is what I will always stand by. You have to make the decision that is good for you and your family. I did that, and she did that.

[Sean Ryan]

Why do you think the friendship fell apart? If you wish her the best of success?

[Brett Cooper]

Friendships are hard.

[Sean Ryan]

Do you Want to say anything to her?

[Brett Cooper]

That's difficult question. But at the end of the day, I do. I wish you success and I wish you well. And I hope that she chases the things that she wants. And I never wish that, you know, to not work for anybody. And I mean that genuinely. People, you know, there have been so many people that have come in and out of my life over the years, and I think that it's important to let go. Can't control everything, even though you might like to. People make their own decisions. Sometimes it hurts. But at the end of the day, everybody's figuring it out. And we make choices, we live with choices. We do what we believe is best for us and our goals and our dreams.

[Sean Ryan]

So, yeah, good for you.

[Brett Cooper]

That's a healthier way to handle it.

[Sean Ryan]

Good for you. How long was it after you left the Daily Wire that you started it?

[Brett Cooper]

Um, my Last day was December 10th, and I think we started the show at the end of January. I believe it was a good rest period. I had a lot. A lot to consider and recalibrate and reflect on, and it seemed a lot longer in the moment because you go from. To silence was really nice. And I had to think about a lot of the things we've just spoken about. And I had already been thinking about that for months leading up to that, of the why and the how and what can I build and how can I produce it in a way that is authentic, that is meaningful, that doesn't compromise values? And I wanted to do right by people. I care so deeply about this audience and this community that I've built. And I know that they trust me and I care for them, and I wouldn't have what I have today. I mean, they've changed my life in a myriad of ways where it's like having this community of people that tunes in and watches you. It makes me better, it makes me articulate, it makes me have more integrity with myself. Like, they hold me to high standards and encourage me to continue holding myself to high standards. I think about the impact that I'm having in the world on a much broader scale. I want to make sure I am being consistent with what I say on screen and what I'm doing in my personal life. And if I'm saying I believe in independent voices and freedom and doing what you believe in and standing strong in that I have to do the same. And I can't. Like, it just forces you to go. Like, I think if you are a person with integrity and you have eyes on you and you're speaking about that. I don't know how you can not do that behind the scenes. I just, like, I can't comprehend that. And so I think it was really good. You know, I spent months thinking of, like, what is the best way? What does this next chapter look like? And there was a lot that I wanted to consider in terms of, you know, Alex is in my life, and I do want to be a mom. And that's the thing that I've dreamt about for my entire childhood and, you know, life and now and how can I build a life and a career where I get to do what I love, but I get to be the kind of mother that I want to be and have the kind of balance that I hope to have? And again, it, like, if it didn't work, if nobody cared, I would be fine. Like, I would, you know, having babies, working a job, being with my family, being with the people that I love might not be as, like, exciting as some of the stuff that I get to do, but it's. That's, like, really good life. And at the end of the day, that's what I think about, and I now have the freedom to build that.

[Sean Ryan]

When are you thinking about having kids?

[Brett Cooper]

I hope soon as possible.

[Sean Ryan]

Really?

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

Good for you.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

How will you balance it all?

[Brett Cooper]

I think I've put myself in a very good position over the last couple of months of thinking of, you know, having that in mind, of I have, you know, I've scaled back a ton and. Which I think has made me better, actually, and probably made me better on camera and what I do. But I'm building a life and putting something in place. And Alex actually has taken on a much bigger role because he's in advertising. So he actually handles a lot of that side of the work for me, and he manages a lot of the business side of it, which is. He's much better at it than I am, which is great, where I have a lot more free time than I ever kind of expected. So I look at that and I'm like, this is obviously how I want to fill that time. And I think I actually just recently did an episode about this because there's this whole idea that started in the 80s of women being able to have it all. You should have it all, and be this girl boss. And. And it's ironic that they said, have it all because they never intended children to be included in that, but women thought that they were, and so they would go work their, you know, nine to five jobs and climb the corporate Ladder and be like, how do I now? I can't, like, I can't have it all. I'm, you know, candles burning at both ends and so, you know, I'm not there yet. I don't know exactly how on a day to day basis that will be managed, but I know that I'll be saying no to things. And life is prioritizing things based on the stage of life that you're in. And if we weren't planning on having kids, if that was in my future, I would probably be building a very different career. Maybe I wouldn't have, you know, taken a shot to try to go build something myself, but it was important to me to be able to say I want to have the freedom to say no and not have to go be. It's the same thing with, you know, with acting of. I want to be in control and know that I can be the kind of wife that I want to be and the kind of daughter that I want to be and the kind of mother that I want to be. And it's a real privilege and a blessing that I'm working on building that. And I still get to do what I love, but I probably won't do it. I don't know. Like, the analogy that I made on my show is that like, yes, a woman can have like eight children and go and have, you know, be a partner at a law firm, do X, Y, Z. But she definitely won't be the, you know, super engaged homeschool mom that drives her kids to like every single appointment and thing that, you know, a mom that prioritizes being at Homewood and that mom that homeschools all of her kids, she might have a part time job, she might have, you know, so many of the mothers that I know do work, but they have built a career and a life that allows them to be the mother that they want to be. And so they have, you know, like I think about my mom, she didn't work, but she ran organizations and she would write for the newspaper and she would teach cooking classes out of our house just because there were so many things that she as a person just enjoyed and wanted to share with people and would do things here and there to keep herself engaged. And it was so impressive, I think, to my brothers and I, to see this woman who was so engaged and so dedicated to the career of being a mother of building and nurturing, productive, intelligent members of society. But she had so many interests and she built so many different things and she was so impressive and she brought Us along with all of it. And so. So she gave up a corporate career. She was in textbook publishing. She was working at WWE Norton. She walked away from that. She could have had a totally. And I asked her about that growing up, like, do you regret that? She was like, well, I often think about what it would have been like if I had stayed in the, you know, the more commonplace path of pursuing that. You know, I'm gonna go be the partner at the law firm. I'm go be the president of publishing. I'm going to go run this real estate agency, short term real estate. Later on, she was like, but at the end of the day, that wasn't what drove me. And so I found other ways to be fulfilled and build things. And she built incredible things. She ran that incredible organization. She ran a cooking school. And my brothers were younger, but it was like out of her house. So I have always thought about that and knowing that my career might look different than a woman who decides to have a full time nanny or not have kids. And I never want to shame women for doing that because every person is on their own path, but no individual man or woman can have it all. We talked about that when you came on of, you give and you take. And there are times when I've been so ingrained in work and I've had to scale back, and I just know that it'll be about prioritizing what is important at that moment and building something where I can give to my family in the way that I want to give.

[Sean Ryan]

There's not a lot of people doing it.

[Brett Cooper]

Mm.

[Sean Ryan]

You're in a very unique position here. And I mean, who will you look to for advice, especially with the mom stuff.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

Business stuff. I mean, Candace seems to. To manage it all.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. Candice says, and they keep it all in house, which is wonderful. And, you know, she and George run everything together, which was really the. I loved watching that. And I looked at Alex and I was like, I want that. I don't want to. I don't want to offload this to anybody else anymore. Like, I trust you. I don't trust a lot of people. I trust you, and let's do this together. And he, through helping me build this, gives me the. But he's giving me and our family the freedom to be able to go, you know, have a farm, have a bunch of kids by, you know, this is not what he. It's like sort of in line with some of the work that he does, but he's taken on a huge bulk of it. Which I'm so grateful for, but, yeah, for sure. Her. And then the other one is Liz Wheeler. She's incredible. And she is. She's a mom. She has two kids. She's at the Blaze. She has a podcast, and her husband works. And she is the most dedicated mother. And she, you know, when she's doing her show for an hour and a half during the day, her husband is with their kids, and then for the rest of the day, she is like, they're never out of her sight.

[Sean Ryan]

Good to hear.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. And they go wherever she goes. If you hire Liz for a speaking engagement, if you had her on your show, she would be. She would have her kids there. And if she can't have them there, she says no. And if it means missing out on something, she says no. And we had a long conversation about this, actually, last year, where she was like, you have to put yourself in a situation where you have the freedom to do that. And if that's the kind of mother that you want to be, if you still, if you feel called to this vocation to do this work, you have to be able to set those boundaries, because otherwise you're gonna be pushed around. You're gonna be told what to do. And she set just an incredible example. And I don't know if she talks about that often. She talked about it in a speech. She was given an award recently, and I went and saw her talk, and so she talked about that. But I don't know if she's talked about it very publicly, but she's been a wonderful resource and inspiration in that regard. That'll have staff, you know, they, you know, have family that comes and helps, and that's their support, which, you know, my mom, a saint, is leaving Idaho. She's, like, selling the Stream farm, and she's coming here to be a near us. Cause she was like, I want to be here. And, you know, Alex's family is here, and we're going to be this village. Because she didn't have that. And. And that was really, really hard on her. And she didn't have that kind of, you know, when her husband was dying of brain cancer, she had nobody nearby to, you know, care for my three brothers. When she had to go to the Mayo Clinic for three days at a time or anything like that. And she was like, I'm going to give you the support that I never had. We're going to do this, and I'm going to be down the street from you. And if you're busy and you're doing A show, and there's this opportunity that you don't want to give up. I never want you to feel like you have to say no. Like, you will have to because you'll be prioritizing things. But I'm gonna be there and I'm gonna support you. And that was. You know, Liz has done that with her family, and so she's like, she's really, really wonderful. She deserves a lot more cred than.

[Sean Ryan]

That's cool, man.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, she's great. She's super consistent, too. She is like a firecracker.

[Sean Ryan]

I'll bet she is.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. And a very good mother. So, yeah, it's a weird industry and it's a unique situation, but it's also not because every family is thinking about this. I think this is a thing that women think about all the time when they get to this point in life and how you are going to balance it and what you're going to prioritize. And I think that society has, like, become very skewed where for so many years, like, starting when my mom was having kids, I mean, she was absolutely crapped on for choosing to not work. I was like, this is so embarrassing. You're giving up your entire career. How could you do this? Like, you're just a mom. You're just a mom. And then we just went so far in that one direction. And then now on the right, I see, like, if you go on, like, right wing Twitter, and I get called, like, you know, Allie Beth Succulents Wheeler and I, Candace, we get called, like, undercover feminists because we actually have a job and we work and it's like, guys, I sit in front of the freaking camera and I, like, talk about the things that I care about, like a couple times a week. And then I go outside and I, like, birth cows and take care of chickens and cook dinner and write about things that I care about. I want to write a book this year. I'm like, I'm gonna go do that. But it's like, it's really not that big of a deal. So now I feel like the pendulum has shifted in this other direction where there's so many women. And Ali Beth and I talked about this very recently where it's like, there's normal women who are balancing it all. And in this, like, economy especially, it's rare for family to be able to live off of when it comes. I don't think it's comfortable for a lot of people. And so now we have these people on the right that are, you know, sitting on their high horses saying, that's so embarrassing. You're a terrible husband if your wife has a job. You're a terrible woman if you don't give it up or whatever it is. If you have a side hustle that's like, for the entirety of history, women have worked and contributed to their families.

[Sean Ryan]

Mm.

[Brett Cooper]

That's, you know, I quoted, you know, Proverbs 31 in that episode where I did, where, you know, she contributes to her community and she's engaged and she works in the fields to, you know, bring food. It was like when we, you know, when we were an agricultural society, women were engaged in the family businesses. You read, you know, Jane Austen stories. They worked in the dress shops. Like, it was always a very specific class where the women didn't work. And then we had, like, the 1950s where there was that period of, like, at the house. But even that was like a very middle class, upper class idea. And I feel like now on the right, we've glamorized that to the point where so many people have now looked at women and been, like, full. You're an embarrassment if you work. That's feminism running through your veins. I'm like, actually, I think it's just.

[Sean Ryan]

Everybody'S got an opinion and you're at a level where a lot of people want to drag you down.

[Brett Cooper]

Oh, of course.

[Sean Ryan]

And, you know, being independent, it's kind of like being a free agent. Everybody wants a piece. Everybody wants what you have. Everybody wants to consume you. All the sharks are after you. How do you and I know that's happening to you? From conversations we've had offline. And so what I am curious about is how do you. How do you know who to trust? How do you know who's not full of shit? Especially in this industry, Everybody's full of shit.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

Have you found anybody that's not.

[Brett Cooper]

I have.

[Sean Ryan]

You got a great team around you.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah, I have a great team. Many of whom I've worked with for a while or worked with at the beginning of starting all of this. And I think keeping it small is key for me right now. Keep a lot of it in house. I've had tons of requests and offers to outsource to xyz. And I'll never say that there isn't a time where I would consider, like, okay, maybe I could work with this person or build something with this person or do a collaboration. But right now I'm at such a. Like, we're. We're just building this as this tiny little team, and it's working and it's humming, and I'm learning so much. And I trust every single person that I interact with on a daily basis that they have, you know, that they are a person of integrity, that I trust them, that they have my best interests at heart, that we have a shared vision for what I want to accomplish with every video that I put out in the world. I want to make sure that every single thing that I do matters and that I'm not just doing something for views or for clicks or. Because it'll be a means to some end, but that it's like I'm sharing something that is important, and they get that. And so we're, you know, and they push me in the ways that I should be pushed. Question things that need to be questioned. Like, we have hard conversations of, like, okay, you want to do this, but why? Like, the why is like, we keep hammering back to. There should be a reason for every single move that I make or video that I put out. And so right now, it's just. It's people that I. It's funny you say, how do you know to trust? It's just. It's a very tiny group.

[Sean Ryan]

Small pool.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah. And. And I think it takes spending more time learning about the opportunities and the options and not jumping into anything too quickly. And I also think building something that I'm proud of that can stand on two legs where, you know, there's a lot of freedom and not needing somebody else. And I feel like I'm in a very, very, very fortunate and lucky position where right now I can say no to things. I'm very honored. I'm grateful. But I can do it on my own. And I don't want to expand this bubble and invite people in to now, again, start telling me who to be, where to go, how to do what I do, who I don't know intimately. Cause it's a very. And we've talked about this, too, off camera, but it's a weird situation when it's a brand, but it's you. If you hand the reins off, you know, to somebody else and you lose control, and it's like, I don't like what you're doing to my brand, but that's me as a person.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah.

[Brett Cooper]

And if I don't have control over that, like, at the end of the day, I have to live with myself and look in the mirror. And so I want to make sure that, you know, again, it's like the business of self. You're in the business of personality or whatever. It is. So you just have to. Constantly thinking about that.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah.

[Brett Cooper]

Which also, you know, it's important for the audience. It's important for what you're building. But also as a human being, like, again, when I go to sleep tonight, when I look at my husband, I have to feel like I'm being consistent. I have to know that I'm having integrity with myself, with an audience, and feel really good about that because it's so public.

[Sean Ryan]

Good, good. What do you see it developing into?

[Brett Cooper]

I don't know. I'm excited. What is the cookie company. We talked about that earlier.

[Sean Ryan]

You gotta do the cookies.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

You've gotta do the cookies.

[Brett Cooper]

I'm excited.

[Sean Ryan]

I'll be your best customer.

[Brett Cooper]

Sounds good.

[Sean Ryan]

Guarantee it.

[Brett Cooper]

I have a subscription and my wife. But no, I'm not sure. And that's kind of the exciting thing. I think that you have to be nimble and flexible, and, you know, my life is gonna change. I'm gonna get older. I'm gonna be, you know, hopefully be a mom and have other things happening in my life. And I think you have to be adept and nimble, and I'm gonna let that be the driving force. And then everything, you know, we'll have to work around that and still build something that I'm proud of. And I don't know, like, I really. It's such a. I want to build something big that's meaningful, but I don't have an image in mind of what that is. I just want to be able to continue sharing goodness and entertaining people. Like, I genuinely. I love telling stories. I love making people laugh. I love making them feel like I'm an entertainer at heart, which is so weird to say in this whole world, but it's like, I do love making people feel something. I love sitting in the audience and watching something that moves me to tears. I love watching a great film. I love reading a book that I can't put down because it's completely changed the way that I've thought about the world, and I love being able to do that. And so I don't know the. You know, the avenues that. That'll take me down. But I think if I keep that as the forefront, I'm sure I'll have a great time.

[Sean Ryan]

Build the foundation, stay true to yourself and just be open, man.

[Brett Cooper]

Yep.

[Sean Ryan]

But, Brett, amazing interview. And, I mean, I don't know if you ever think about this, you know, but if you don't, you might want to. But just think about all the people, you know, that you've. You've influenced. And I mean, you're an inspiration. You know, I mean, at 23 years old, you've already built a hell of a legacy.

[Brett Cooper]

Yeah.

[Sean Ryan]

And you're making it okay for people to talk about what they believe in, no matter what that is. And you're a pioneer. That takes a lot of courage. So congratulations.

[Brett Cooper]

Thank you.

[Sean Ryan]

And you inspire me.

[Brett Cooper]

I'm grateful.

[Sean Ryan]

It's really cool. So.

[Brett Cooper]

Well, you're paving a path of your own, and you were asking about people that I look up to. I mean, you are like, I hope all of your viewers know, and I think you guys do, but it's. You are the real deal. And, like, who you are sitting across from me, being on camera doing your interviews, that is who you are. And you are like a steadfast example of integrity and consistency. Again, I think especially in this weird political world. Doesn't exist. That's also like in every industry in Hollywood and entertainment. There's so many people when it comes to this world of having influence, and it's pretty great. It's very special.

[Sean Ryan]

Thank you. Thank you. Well, Brad, I wish you the best of success and thank you.

[Brett Cooper]

Thanks for having me.

[Sean Ryan]

Michael Rosenbaum and his small bill co stars take you behind the scenes of one of the greatest shows of all time. We're gonna watch every episode. Join us. It's big talk. You remember when I had to shave my head?

[Brett Cooper]

Oh, I think I was angry with this one on Smallville.

[Sean Ryan]

Yeah.

[Brett Cooper]

I mean, I get it.

[Sean Ryan]

The scene you did. And this is the one that got me fired.

[Brett Cooper]

Okay. What?

[Sean Ryan]

Here we go. I love the excursions with me and welling. It's everything that Superman stands for. It's talk ville talk, but we always talk about it. It's a great thing. The Smallville rewatch podcast. Follow and listen on your favorite platform.