Full Show PT 1: Tuesday, May 12 [Vault]

Summary

The Bert Show – Full Show PT 1: Tuesday, May 12 [Vault]

Date: May 12, 2026
Podcast: The Bert Show

---

Episode Overview

This engaging episode kicks off with a mix of humor, investigative journalism, and genuine conversation. The Bert Show team tackles everyday dilemmas, delves into an undercover car repair exposé with local news reporter Wendy Saltzman, helps a listener caught in a white lie, and wraps with a heartfelt and revealing interview featuring comedian and actress Mo’Nique about her film "Precious." The tone is lively, honest, and often funny, reflecting the show's authentic, approachable morning radio style.

---

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Undercover Car Repair Investigation with Wendy Saltzman (00:31–11:02)

Topic: Exposing Overcharging and Upselling at Car Repair Shops

• Wendy Saltzman of CBS 46 joins the show to discuss their hidden camera investigation into car repair shops in Atlanta.
• Their team took a perfectly functional car to ten different shops (chains and mom-and-pop) to see if they would be upsold unnecessary repairs.
• Major Finding: Half of the shops tried to overcharge by 50% or more, including some charging for work not performed.
  • Quote: “Five of them overcharged us 50%.” (B, 01:25)
• The Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs reported car repair scams as their top complaint.
• Types of shops included Jiffy Lube, Express Lube, Goodyear, and independents.
• Use of fear tactics: Mechanics warned of imminent breakdowns to pressure unnecessary service, in some cases quoting over $1,100 for unneeded repairs.
  • Quote: “They said your transmission’s gonna conk if you don’t get this done...leaving us to believe we’d be stranded if we didn’t.” (B, 03:14)
• Advice: Build a relationship with a trustworthy mechanic and continue returning to them.
  • Quote: “Find a mechanic you trust and keep going back...That’s really the best way you can protect yourself.” (B, 04:52)
• Discussion about whether men or women are more often targeted, with consensus that most people, regardless of gender, don’t know enough about cars to defend themselves.
• Mechanics may receive bonuses for upselling; one shop had employees sign agreements not to upsell, but still caught employees breaking the rules.
• CBS segment includes actual confrontations with guilty shops, some reacting arrogantly or defensively.
  • Quote: “I go knocking on their door with a camera...we’ve got some people who responded being kind of arrogant, saying, we did the work and we’ve got the hidden camera footage to show they didn’t.” (B, 06:48)
• Listeners share similar stories about being scammed regardless of gender; dealership employees also chime in about unethical practices.

Memorable Moment:

The team jokes about inventing tiny “mini cams” for consumers, and calls for this investigation to turn into a wider series (roofers, tech repair, etc.).

Timestamps:

• 00:31 | Wendy introduces the undercover investigation
• 01:25 | Findings: overcharging and fraudulent repairs
• 03:14 | Mechanics’ fear tactics and scare quotes
• 04:52 | Tips on protecting yourself at car shops
• 06:48 | How shops responded when confronted

---

2. Things You Avoid Telling People—Emotional Burdens and Privacy (11:46–17:05)

Topic: Why We Sometimes Don’t Share Major Life Events

• The cast discusses life situations they avoid talking about to dodge difficult or repetitive conversations—breakups, illness, job loss, or financial struggles.
• Personal Sharing: One host shares her reluctance to tell a long-distance best friend about a recent breakup due to emotional fatigue and awkward timing.
• Other examples: hiding serious illness (kidney disease or even cancer treatment) from some people to avoid being defined by it or to maintain a “safe zone.”
  • Quote: “It’s the whole emotional explanation...sometimes you just don’t want to, because at the time, that’s what everybody wanted to talk to me about. And I felt like I don’t want to be completely defined by my illness.” (D, 13:37)
• Callers chime in with stories about concealing foreclosures and job loss.
  • Quote: “I just responded back, ‘I’m losing my house, I don’t really want to talk about it.’...It’s just a matter of not wanting to deal with the questions and the comments.” (F, 15:42)

Timestamps:

• 11:46 | Discussion of avoiding certain conversations
• 13:37 | Hiding illness and emotional exhaustion
• 15:42 | Caller: keeping a home foreclosure private

---

3. Listener Dilemma: Caught in a Lie About Her Career (17:10–32:55)

Topic: Navigating Lies for Social Acceptance

• Listener “Betsy” emails in: insecure about working a low-prestige job (tanning salon) among a church group of high-powered women, she lies about owning a PR firm.
• The situation escalates when she’s asked to volunteer her “expertise” for a nonprofit’s marketing efforts, and she panics.
  • Quote: “What was I thinking? How do I get out of this? I can’t back out and cancel on a nonprofit, yet I know nothing about this stuff.” (D, 19:23)
• The Bert Show ponders possible outs: faking illness, finding a friend to act as her “business partner,” or getting real marketing help remotely.
• Heated debate about whether PR/marketing is easy to fake. Some claim “just use keywords!” while genuine marketers call in to prod, correct, and offer advice.
  • Quote (comic): “Marketing and PR is one of them [professions you can BS]. All you gotta know is how to sell something.” (E, 21:09)
• Stan, a real marketing professional, calls with actual advice: she should treat the meeting as a "discovery session"—ask questions, listen, and take notes.
  • Quote: "Start the meeting with more of a discovery meeting, where you ask a lot of questions...you can sit and listen and take notes and, you know, nod your head a lot." (G, 29:17)
• Some listeners vote for honesty; the group debates whether it’s more compassionate to cover for Betsy’s lie since it’s in service to a nonprofit.
• The hosts joke about “starting a whole new life” or switching churches to avoid the consequences.

Timestamps:

• 17:10 | Betsy’s email and dilemma described
• 19:23 | Betsy’s panic about the meeting
• 21:09 | Is it possible to “BS” marketing?
• 29:17 | Stan’s professional advice: the discovery meeting
• 32:08 | Callers suggest honesty or making an “amnesia” exit

---

4. Interview: Mo’Nique on Comedy, Confidence, and “Precious” (33:00–44:15)

Topic: Mo’Nique Gets Real About Her Path, The Film “Precious,” and Life Lessons

• Mo’Nique discusses her roots in comedy (starting in Atlanta), her experience in stand-up, and how she's never had a truly rough time on stage.
  • Quote: “I’ve always had a great time on stage. I’ve never had that moment of, ‘Oh God, maybe I should rethink this.’” (H, 33:49)
• Talks about transforming into a talk show host: for her, it’s all a fun playground, not a burden.
  • Quote: “The biggest challenge? I don’t look at any of it as a challenge, because it’s a big playground.” (H, 35:04)
• Mo’Nique’s fearless, live-in-the-moment attitude stands out.
  • Quote: “I have zero fear. And what is failure?” (H, 35:43)
• On "Precious": discusses the film’s heavy subject matter (molestation, abuse, triumph) and her personal connection as a survivor.
  • Quote: “I didn’t have to mentally prepare for the character because I knew the character. I was molested as a child...so when Mr. Daniels said action, that’s who I became.” (H, 38:09)
• Shares story of being approached by a moved audience member and how that “win” outweighed any awards.
  • Quote: “We won right there...If one person walks away and thinks differently...that’s a great thing, baby.” (H, 36:19)
• Clarifies that Tyler Perry and Oprah only joined "Precious" after it was finished, to support its release.
• Praises co-stars, especially Gabby Sidibe’s breathtaking performance.
• On why hard movies matter: “You get that real good cry out, but it makes you stand. It makes you not complain. It makes you not judge.” (H, 43:13)
• Displays warmth, authenticity, and gratitude throughout the interview.

Timestamps:

• 33:00 | Mo’Nique on Atlanta and comedy origins
• 35:04 | Her attitude toward new challenges
• 36:19 | “We’ve already won”—the power of touching one person
• 38:09 | Personal experience informing her "Precious" role
• 43:13 | Why audiences shouldn’t avoid emotional films

---

Notable Quotes

• Wendy Saltzman on car repairs:

  • “It was just absolutely amazing to have the cameras to show what these people were saying they were doing and just watching them not do the work and charge us for it.” (B, 01:51)
  • “Mechanics...if you were a trustworthy mechanic, think about the loyal following you would have.” (D, 04:29)

• On emotional exhaustion and disclosure:

  • “There are some people who...had to find out, either through a friend of a friend...because it’s the whole emotional explanation. Sometimes you just don’t want to...” (D, 13:37)

• Mo’Nique on success:

  • “I have zero fear. And what is failure?” (H, 35:43)
  • “If today is my last day, I’mma have a good time on the ride.” (H, 35:30)
  • “We’ve already won...If one person walks away and thinks differently...that’s a great thing, baby.” (H, 36:19)
  • “Even though it’s emotionally draining...when you get that real good cry out, you then stood up. That’s what this movie is.” (H, 43:13)

---

Episode Flow & Tone

• Style: Lively, conversational, openly humorous, with moments of sincerity and empathy.
• Structure: Mixes informative segments (car repair expose), heartfelt audience stories, and creative problem-solving (the Betsy marketing dilemma) with a capstone celebrity interview.

---

Summary Takeaways

• Be vigilant and build relationships with service providers—trustworthy mechanics are invaluable.
• Everyone manages personal information differently; emotional self-preservation sometimes requires holding back from sharing even big news.
• Sometimes little white lies for social image can snowball; honesty may be difficult but is often the cleanest exit.
• Mo’Nique’s example: Even in adversity, confidence, authenticity, and living in the moment matter most. The impact on one person is sometimes the greatest achievement.
• The Bert Show’s relatable, engaging dynamic keeps even heavy topics approachable and entertaining.

---

For fans of candid, real-world discussion and feel-good radio with a dose of investigative journalism and celebrity insight, this episode delivers on all fronts.

Transcript

[Host 1]

With Vrbill's last minute deals, you can save over $50 on your spring getaway. So whether it's a mountain escape city break or a week at the beach, there's still time to get great discounts. Book your next day now.

[Wendy Saltzman]

Average savings $72.

[Host 1]

Select homes only with VRBoCare. Help is always ready before, during, and after your stay. We've planned for the plot twists, so support is always available because a great trip starts with peace of mind, the Burch show.

[Host 2]

So CBS 46 here. I mean, they are pretty much gonna confirm what I think everybody is a little bit insecure about when you go to get your car fixed, Right. How are you, Wendy?

[Wendy Saltzman]

I'm doing good. How are you guys doing?

[Host 2]

Good. Thanks for coming in.

[Melissa]

I am curious, too about this report on if there's gender bias or if this applies to everybody.

[Wendy Saltzman]

You know, that's such a good question. We were kind of wondering what happens. Everybody wonders. You take your car in and it's, you know, they take it back to the back of the shop and you wonder what the mechanic is doing under the hood. Especially some of us women. I mean, I know I'm that way. I have no idea. My car goes kaput. I don't know what's wrong with it. So we rigged a car up that was perfectly fine with hidden cameras. Three different hidden cameras on the hood underneath and took it in to see what kind of repairs they would suggest, what kind of work they would do and what kind of work they didn't do that they charged us for.

[Melissa]

So nothing's wrong with the car.

[Host 1]

It's like a perfectly running normal car.

[Melissa]

Nothing. No oil change, nothing.

[Wendy Saltzman]

We go in saying we'd like oil change and then see what they upsold us to. And we went into 10 metro Atlanta repair shops, and five of them, five of them overcharged us 50%.

[Host 2]

50% of the places you're gonna go to are gonna upcharge you when you go to get your car fixed.

[Melissa]

Knew it.

[Host 2]

Scary, man. That is really, really scary.

[Host 1]

Really frightening. And are they all the same company? Are they all different companies?

[Melissa]

No.

[Wendy Saltzman]

We went to Jiffy Lubes. We went to express Lubes. We went to some mom and pop stores, a Goodyear store. I mean, we kind of went across, say, what's happening here? And to me, I was pretty shocked. The governor's office of consumer affairs says car repairs are the number one complaint that they get. People saying that things were done wrong or weren't done. And I mean, we've just confirmed why that happened. It was Just absolutely amazing to have the cameras to show what these people were saying they were doing and just watching them not do the work and charge us for it.

[Host 2]

They're so convincing in some cases, not the ones that don't do the work. But, um, I'll specifically call myself out at Jiffy Lube. I just go in there for just, you know, one thing. And they would end up bringing out, like, the air filters and showing me this. That was corroded, and that's corroded.

[Host 1]

Isn't it always the air filter?

[Host 2]

Very few times.

[Melissa]

And we don't know cars well enough to know. Well, maybe my air filter needs change. You know, every time. Yeah. They tell me something's like, oh, well, maybe. Yeah. No, I haven't done that. And however many years they tell me, I haven't done it. So maybe, you know, and I'm trusting them.

[Jeff]

It's the same thing, too, with, like, big appliances at your house, like your air conditioner, your furnace or something like that.

[Host 2]

I don't know.

[Jeff]

Yeah, I think the problem's with your compressor. I'm like, I know. That's what I was thinking.

[Melissa]

Yeah. Because they know that you have no clue on how to. How it's put together. You know, I was gonna duct tape

[Jeff]

and fix it, but I figured, I'll let you do it.

[Wendy Saltzman]

Well, one of the other things that we're gonna show you guys tonight at 11 on CBS Atlanta News is some of the fear tactics that these people used. I mean, people who said, your transmission's gonna conk if you don't get this done. I mean, just, you know, basically leaving us to believe that we'd be stranded on the side of the road if we didn get these things done. One of the places actually tried to charge us over $1,100 for repairs that they said that we needed that we absolutely did not need. I mean, it's just amazing. The kind of stuff that we watched happen we caught on hidden camera. And then we go back tomorrow night at 11 and confront these guys about what's happening with the overcharges.

[Host 2]

Oh, that's good stuff.

[Jeff]

Don't get him.

[Host 1]

Don't get him.

[Caller/Guest]

We love that stuff.

[Host 2]

Well, so, I mean, at the end of the day, though, I mean, you really have to take some responsibility on for yourself. Like, if you don't know what you're doing, and I'm guilty as anybody, if you don't know, then you are opening yourselves up to getting taken advantage of.

[Wendy Saltzman]

But let's. I mean, let's talk to the Women in here, I have no idea. I literally just took my car into one repair shop and they were fixing some air thing and it turns out it was the transmission.

[Jeff]

It's totally cool to talk to the guys about that too, in here.

[Melissa]

I do think that's a misconception. I do think a lot of guys nowadays have no clue about cars either.

[Wendy Saltzman]

You know, I think so too.

[Melissa]

And I think that it just also shows on the other. Other end. I agree with Bert that it is our responsibility to know what product we have. And the number one thing we use every day is our cars. Some of us not a cast. But I think that it also shows mechanics. Look, if you were a trustworthy mechanic, think about the loyal following you would have by people. Because that is one of our number one fears.

[Wendy Saltzman]

Absolutely. And that's the advice that we got and that we're going to give people. In terms of how to protect yourself, the number one thing they say is find a mechanic you trust and keep going back to that mechanic. And that's really the best way that you can protect yourself. Because, you know, we can't know. Cars are so complicated these days. It is just kind of, you know, I mean, you're looking at it going, I don't know what's wrong with it. On my car, I can't even tell where the oil is or the coolant is. I mean, I'm that clueless.

[Host 1]

So did you guys explore the question of is it the owners of the shops or is it the employees of the shops that are the most likely to tell to overcharge you or tell you you need something you don't? Because I'm always curious if it's the employer maybe giving a kickback to the employee who upsells the customers and stuff they don't eat.

[Wendy Saltzman]

Absolutely. The impression that we got was that these guys somehow do get some sort of bonus off of selling you more things. I mean, we watch people saying, you know, hey, you got that? You know, boss, when they were selling us different things and we. One of the places we went to, they actually make their employees sign something that says that they won't do those upsells. But we still caught them doing the upsells, and now those employees are suspended after doing that. But the bottom line is the economy is bad. A lot of us are not going in. We're taking our cars in to get repaired. As much as we may have in the past, we're cutting corners, and so are they when it comes to your car. And we catch them cutting those Corners.

[Host 2]

And this is. This is happening on CBS Atlanta tonight. 11 o'. Clock.

[Wendy Saltzman]

That's right.

[Host 2]

And do you specifically call out which places passed and which ones did not?

[Wendy Saltzman]

Oh, absolutely. I mean, we're going to let you know which ones. There were certain places, all they did was the oil change. And then there were the other places that tried to give us, you know, a couple hundred dollars or one thousand dollars or more in repair work. And we're going to list who did the work, who didn't do the work. I mean, and the worst case where they said they were doing stuff and they just didn't do the work at all and they charged us anyway.

[Host 2]

Do you give these places that aren't gonna pass tonight, do you give them a heads up or will they find out tonight?

[Wendy Saltzman]

Oh, I go knocking on their door with a camera. I mean, they know what's going on. They're sticking hands, you know, in the camera, you know, don't put me on camera, you know, so we've. We've got them on camera responding to these allegations, and we've got some people who responded being kind of arrogant, saying, we did the work and we've got the hidden camera footage to show they didn't.

[Jeff]

That's awesome.

[Host 2]

This could be an entire series. Seriously. Roofers, air conditioner, air conditioning, computer repairman.

[Jeff]

Especially for you. You got. You put that geek squad kid through college.

[Host 2]

I think they're putting viruses on my

[Melissa]

computer when they get there.

[Jeff]

That guy's like, oh, Burke called again. Give me something I can hide in his computer.

[Host 2]

Hey, Jeff. Good Morning. You're on Q100. Hi.

[Stan]

Hey, you guys. How you doing?

[Host 2]

All right, how are you?

[Stan]

Pretty good. I actually tested this same theory, you know, which y' all are doing right there. And I went to a Just brakes and got an oil change and also got my brakes done. And I sat there and watched him do it. So, you know, everything was cool about that. And then later on, I went to a Tires plus and they said I needed brakes.

[Melissa]

He just had them done.

[Jeff]

Wow, that's funny.

[Stan]

Yeah.

[Melissa]

And did it to guys.

[Stan]

There is scam artists out there and

[Melissa]

did it to a guy. So it's not just a male. Female. I do also want to ask. Included in the study were dealers, you know, because I think a lot of people who own a certain brand of car will take that brand into their dealerships. Were they a part of this testing?

[Wendy Saltzman]

No, we didn't. We took it into quick lube type places, you know, just the quick in and out oil change places. But when we talk to the guy at the Governor's Office of Consumer affairs, he says he thinks that they're doing it at dealers too these days.

[Caller/Guest]

So.

[Wendy Saltzman]

And you know, one of the things that we're going to do, this guy had a really interesting point, was we would get one thing done at one place and we'd go back to the next place and they'd do the same thing and we'd go back to the next place and they'd do the same thing. So we're gonna identify what the most common upsells were that were given to us as well. So people can kind of keep an eye out for, you know, what kind of things they might be getting upsold.

[Jeff]

You should also market little cameras to put in the hood. They don't have to legitimately work in

[Melissa]

little manicams, little mini cams.

[Wendy Saltzman]

They can just carry me in their pocket when they go in.

[Host 2]

It's CBS Atlant tonight at 11 o'. Clock. Hey Mike, you're on the voice disguiser.

[Caller/Guest]

Hey, how are y'?

[Stan]

All?

[Melissa]

Good, thank you.

[Caller/Guest]

Okay. Like she said, like, you know, because I work at a dealership and some people there are good people and like if you find someone that works on your car good, then you want to keep them. But I mean, like some of the other people that I work with, like say you do some of the flushes or the transmission and stuff. A lot of the time all the really high priced chemicals that you're paying for, they don't even use. They just use cheaper stuff. So it's just, I mean, yes, it's pretty messed up.

[Host 2]

What is the benefit for the mechanics that work at the dealership to do that?

[Caller/Guest]

Well, I mean, honestly, I don't really know. Like, I mean, sometimes they just keep the chemicals and put them in their personal car or I mean they just do different things. I mean, or half the time they just don't even do nothing with them. They just let them sit there.

[Host 2]

Okay, this makes sense to me. This is a little bit like the same question we asked of the bartenders a couple of months ago. What's the benefit of the bartender for putting the well vodka in your drink instead of the Grey Goose or the kettle one? And the answer there was they take the Ketel one bottle home with them. And it's the same here with the mechanic is what he's saying is that they say they're putting the high quality chemicals in your car, but they're not. And they're taking those and they're using them for their own personal vehicles. So that makes a lot of sense.

[Monique]

Right?

[Host 2]

Well, this is gonna be good TV tonight.

[Wendy Saltzman]

Oh, yes. And stay tuned tomorrow night at 11 when we go do those confrontations with these stores. I mean, it's just always fun to see the way that these people react. If nothing else, we're calling them out on the spot and we are getting things changed. We got some employees suspended who were trying to rip you off. And, you know, we're out there trying to protect you, help save you money. So, you know, are they like the

[Host 1]

Chinese restaurants that Adam Murphy goes after who all of a sudden don't speak English?

[Wendy Saltzman]

No, unfortunately, they couldn't use that excuse.

[Host 2]

It's Wendy Saltzman from CBS Atlanta. And thanks a lot. Appreciate you coming on in.

[Melissa]

And thanks for doing the study.

[Host 2]

Yeah. And we'll probably end up running the audio from TV last night. Tomorrow morning also, the Bird show premier

[Wendy Saltzman]

hosts on VRBO deliver quality vacation rental

[Host 2]

stays with fast responses and clear instruction.

[Host 1]

So you don't have to worry about surprises. I asked our host a question about

[Wendy Saltzman]

the house last night and he got

[Monique]

back to me super quick.

[Wendy Saltzman]

See, that's the premier host move right there.

[Melissa]

Wish I had a premier group chat.

[Wendy Saltzman]

I asked them where we should have

[Host 1]

dinner last night and they left me on red.

[Monique]

I know you saw it.

[Melissa]

It says it.

[Host 2]

Classic group chat move. Don't walk into a surprise book a top rated verbo. Stay with a premier host if you

[Jeff]

know you vrbo, the vert show.

[Host 1]

So you guys ever had something that you've gone through that you just stop telling people? Cause you just don't want to go through the hassle of the conversation.

[Host 2]

Like telling the story again.

[Host 1]

Yeah, just telling the story's bad. Yeah. And so, you know, I had a boyfriend for almost the last year and we broke up about a month ago. And one of my best friends still doesn't know about it because I just don't want to go through the conversation.

[Host 2]

She can't be like a first tier best friend. Then she's got to be like a second or a third.

[Host 1]

No, she is. She's like one of my best friends from college. She just doesn't live here in Atlanta. And so about three hours of a time difference. And with our schedule being so early, like when we're done with work and I'm like going home or like calling friends on the way home or whatever, it's still like early in the morning. Like she's just getting to her office at work or whatever. So by the time she's done with work, we're already in bed. You know, we're already going to sleep. So the time difference has something to do with that, too. But I just don't feel like going through the whole story because it's gonna be like, well, why? And what happened and this and that. And then I'm, you know. You know, potentially get all emotional about it again when I'm like, you're fine.

[Melissa]

You just want to detach yourself from

[Jeff]

it for a moment.

[Host 1]

Yeah, but that does that. That is screwed up. Like, there is something wrong with me that I haven't told her, and it's

[Host 2]

been weeks, and she's gonna be so offended.

[Host 1]

She is gonna be. Will you.

[Host 2]

Will you tell her that the breakup happened later than it did just so she's not offended by how much?

[Host 1]

I hadn't even thought about that. Yeah, I hadn't even thought about that, but I just feel like.

[Jeff]

When'd you guys break up? Oh, last year. Last week? Yep.

[Host 1]

I just don't even want to go through, like, the whole exhausting, you know, process of what that takes to go through, so I just, like, avoid it. Like, I wonder if somebody's just, like, avoided telling people in their life about, like, even bigger things that, like, lost their job, divorce or.

[Melissa]

Divorce, or when I got sick with my kidney disease. Like, I felt bad because there are some people that. Who did not live here who had to find out, either through friend of a friend or, you know, online. You know, when the AJC covered the story that had to read it online or. Because they. Yeah, I. Because it's an explanation. It's the whole emotional explanation. It's their initial what and how did you know? And you have to go through the whole kind of storyline of how it started and end, and sometimes you just don't want to, you know, because at the time, that's what everybody wanted to talk to me about. And I felt like I don't want to be completely defined by my illness. So there were times I just didn't want to talk about it. And those. You know, in talking with those friends, if I had any interaction with them, it was just kind of nice not to have to deal with it, you

[Host 2]

know, Melissa sparked a memory for me is that Stacy and I have a friend that went through her whole cancer process without telling her parents. She didn't tell anybody in the family because she knew that they would dote over her and they'd move down or they'd be overly concerned, and she sort of felt like, I've got to deal with this thing. With me and my husband and if I get my family involved, it's gonna be a mess. So I gotta take care of myself. So she is about 3/4 of the way through her cancer process right now and the healing. And she just now told her parents and her brothers didn't know anything about it.

[Melissa]

I could understand it because that's all anybody wants to talk about. And after a while it's like, can we. Because I had arguments with my family, I had arguments with Millie and Pete. Can you, when we talk, can you ask me about something else besides how I feel?

[Jeff]

So maybe by not telling a couple people then that's your safety zone.

[Melissa]

That's my safety zone.

[Host 2]

Y when you happy place, when you go that long though, eventually you have to tell everybody in the family. And then the order that you tell them in is so important because she told some in laws before she told her actual brothers and her brothers are having a really tough time giving that up.

[Melissa]

Yeah, I can understand that.

[Host 1]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Host 2]

Hey Kelly, good morning. You're on the voice disguise.

[Caller/Guest]

Hi. Well, I am in the process of leaving my house and I have not. Well, I have told some people, told my family and told other people that my best friend, I really did not want to tell her about it. And one day she was asking me about my house by email and I just responded back, I'm losing my house, I don't really want to talk about it. And she, you know, couldn't let that go and was asking me questions like, well, have you tried getting a second job or a part time job and all this stuff and it's like, look, I've tried. Thank you. I don't really want to talk about this anymore. So it's just a matter of not wanting to deal with the questions and the comments.

[Melissa]

Yeah, it's exhausting.

[Host 2]

You just get to a point where you've played it out in your head so many different times and hit it from so many different angles and it's

[Host 1]

emotional to go there. So you know, like I know as soon as I pick up the phone and call her, it's going to be emotional. It's gonna send me like back into the thinking about all of those things like all over again and rehashing it all just like it would be with your illness or with, you know, with losing the house or whatever. And I think just like aren't up for the emotional strain or the, you know, or the sadness it's gonna put on you.

[Melissa]

And this time of year, how many people have not told people about Their job loss. And they've probably been out of a job for six, eight months and probably still haven't told people about it.

[Host 2]

You know, the bird show.

[Jeff]

Hey, the bird show. And I screwed up. I didn't have the story exactly right. First of all, the woman's not gonna be on the phone with us. So that was my mistake. I think she was going to and she got nervous. But she did write Tracy a detailed email, and she is a big fat liar.

[Melissa]

As a matter of fact, I believe

[Jeff]

the subject line of her email is liar.

[Melissa]

Yes, exclamation point, all caps. But what are we gonna do? We have a name that we wanna call her.

[Jeff]

You just make it up.

[Melissa]

Betsy. Betsy.

[Host 1]

All right.

[Melissa]

We'll call her Birch show listener Betsy Liar. Betsy.

[Jeff]

Betsy.

[Melissa]

All right. She says hi, Tracy. Does Birch show give advice to their online listeners? I used to live in Atlanta. Was a big Birch show listener until I moved to New Jersey for my husband's job. I wake up early just to listen to you guys online. Thank you. I was hoping you'd be willing to help me out even though I don't live in Atlanta anymore. My problem is that I am about to be caught in a lie that could ruin my entire social life. Since moving here, I've been pretty lonely without any friends. My husband suggested that I joined the women's group at our new church. I thought it was a great idea, and that is exactly what I did. The group is filled with so many women with successful careers. We've got doctors, lawyers, a surgeon, small business owners, and a bank president. There are a few women who don't work, but they all stay at home. They are all stay at home moms who left their big careers to raise kids. Now, as for me, not only do I not have a successful career, I have a pretty lame job right now. I am working at a tanning salon for extra cash. I'm working side by side with 18 year old girls. I've never had a, quote, career. I don't even have a college degree. Obviously, I was a bit embarrassed when around all these women, so I told them I owned my own marketing PR firm. I know nothing about marketing or pr.

[Monique]

That's a big one.

[Melissa]

Yes. And she said this really didn't matter until recently. Two of the women on the group have been doing some volunteer work for a nonprofit organization. Apparently, this group needs some marketing and pr.

[Monique]

Oh, no.

[Melissa]

They asked if I'd be willing to offer my expertise for a good cause and I agreed. I have my first ever business meeting set up for Friday afternoon, where I am to offer my advice to these women on what I think they need to do to market their organization. What was I thinking? How do I get out of this? I can't back out and cancel on a nonprofit yet. I know nothing about this stuff. They probably know more than I do. Please help. Oh, no. Betsy.

[Host 1]

Immediately I say. Flu, flu, flu, flu. You got the flu today, but then

[Jeff]

it doesn't go away.

[Host 1]

I know, but she can at least stop postponement trying to figure something out.

[Jeff]

And what? Take a marketing class.

[Host 1]

Supposed to be this afternoon.

[Melissa]

Or find that somebody who knows marketing. Get a friend, a college student.

[Jeff]

Can't you just BS your way through marketing?

[Host 1]

No, no, no, no, you can't. We need to find her.

[Melissa]

Stop trying to.

[Host 1]

We need to find her a real marketing person to come in as her quote unquote business partner.

[Melissa]

Well, she need matching T shirts too.

[Jeff]

Yeah, they need to be dressed alike.

[Melissa]

Yeah, but remember, she's in New Jersey now. And one of the things is she doesn't have friends up there, so she doesn't have anybody that can come in as her partner or her associate.

[Jeff]

But what about someone in Atlanta who could be a marketing partner over the

[Melissa]

phone, like on a conference call?

[Jeff]

Yeah. And then she could say, you know what, I think that's a great idea. But that's really my partner, my associate, this is.

[Melissa]

Her specialty is nonprofit. So I'm gonna let her.

[Jeff]

And have her on speakerphone or something or like maybe just take very detailed notes during the meeting and say I'm gonna run these by and then hire a marketing PR person.

[Melissa]

Now let me play devil's advocate for a second because listeners suggested that we help out. Who was it that they wanted us to help in a lie yesterday with? Oh, with the woman who had said that she had been left and cheated on and that's why she started this relationship. Her boyfriend or soon to be fiance thinks that their, you know, their relationship is based on that. Well, listeners said that we should help her with her lie. And we said, oh no, we would never do that.

[Jeff]

But this is for a non profit.

[Host 1]

Somehow I'm more sympathetic to her.

[Jeff]

To which one? Our girl today.

[Melissa]

Yeah, our email today.

[Host 1]

Because she just wanted to fit in. She just wanted to be cool.

[Jeff]

I just wanted to.

[Host 1]

I just wanted to talk about something that I don't know how to talk about.

[Jeff]

But I think, I mean, not. I think that for the most part there are some professional topics or whatever that can be easily BSed through marketing. And PR is one of them.

[Melissa]

Are you sure.

[Jeff]

Yes.

[Melissa]

You just saying that?

[Host 1]

I think you're just saying that to be combative.

[Jeff]

We live in a city of 9,000 marketing and PR people, and most of them went to school for, you know, marketing and pr. Marketing, communications, like they. Oh, Jay, all you gotta know is how to sell something.

[Melissa]

I get offended when people, you know, belittle our job.

[Monique]

Okay, Jennifer, it's not belittling.

[Jeff]

I'm just saying give me something to sell.

[Host 1]

Yes, you are belittling.

[Melissa]

How do you market a nonprofit since anybody can do it?

[Jeff]

Well, first of all, you don't have a budget, right? So that's the first thing. How are we gonna do. See, listen, here's how it starts. How are we gonna do this?

[Melissa]

You wanna be her. Why don't you go with Betsy and you be her marketing?

[Jeff]

The. Here's what I know going into it. It's a nonprofit, which means they don't have money because they're nonprofit, okay? So you go in and you go listen. What we need to do is find some grassroots gorilla marketing type stuff. Booyah. Keywords make you sound smart. Grassroots gorilla.

[Melissa]

But you have to create that grassroots marketing campaign for them.

[Jeff]

Postcards.

[Melissa]

Postcards.

[Jeff]

You do a postcard that explains what the nonprofit is, and you pass it out in areas where your target demographic kind of congregate, then you spin it back on them. Where do you think your target demographic is? Booyah. Demographic keyword. Target keyword. Boom.

[Host 1]

Why don't you do it?

[Melissa]

Yeah, why don't you do it?

[Host 1]

I think it would actually be really funny to listen to you BS your way through a meeting like that.

[Jeff]

BS my way through my whole life? I could do it, no problem.

[Melissa]

Save that.

[Jeff]

Hey, listen, I'm about to BS my way through knowing what this woman's name is. Nydia.

[Caller/Guest]

That's exactly it.

[Jeff]

Booyah. Keyword. How are you?

[Monique]

I'm good.

[Caller/Guest]

I have a degree in business.

[Monique]

And if she can't find someone to help her through this process, she should

[Caller/Guest]

go online and figure something out. Because they have shortcuts online about promoting nonprofit organizations. They do things a little differently for tax purposes. And she can find a lot of information quickly online.

[Melissa]

Well, she'll have to do that because the whole point of her being a part of this women's group is to get friends. So she doesn't have, you know, she doesn't have any friends in New Jersey. So she's trying to impress these women.

[Host 1]

She leave her church.

[Jeff]

What if she jacks up the whole thing? Like, what if it's a non profit, you know? Trying to find a cure for a, B and C and she screws up the whole thing and the non profit has to close.

[Host 1]

Oh, well, hey, she'll have to leave

[Melissa]

the church before that happens.

[Jeff]

Hey, Aaron. Hey, how are you?

[Caller/Guest]

Good. Good morning.

[Melissa]

Good morning.

[Caller/Guest]

I'm just curious, like, how old is this lady?

[Jeff]

I mean, she's old enough to know better.

[Monique]

I just say, yeah, why is she

[Caller/Guest]

so insecure that she feels like she really has to make up this whole like elaborate lie that she owns a

[Monique]

marketing firm to fit in at a

[Caller/Guest]

women's group at a church.

[Host 1]

Yeah, but still, I'm sure it was just like, you know, casual conversation, like she's thinking she's gonna be part of the flower guild and you know, put up some bouquets every weekend and make some new flowers.

[Jeff]

What's it called, the Junior league?

[Host 1]

Yeah, no, the flower guild at church. You know, and then they're all going around like, well, what you do, what do you do, what do you do? And she just spits it out.

[Melissa]

See, she took my kind of lying a little further because my kind of lying would be if somebody said, hey, Melissa, are you in marketing? I'd be like, yeah, sure, sure. Can you help me?

[Jeff]

Does it get you away from me and wrap up this conversation? I am indeed.

[Caller/Guest]

Yeah.

[Melissa]

So she said she was a marketing pr, but I could see easily when somebody said, hey, can I get your help with your marketing? Sure, yeah, yeah, that'd be great. I'd be happy to do that. You know, so I can see where, where she could easily do it because

[Jeff]

I do it every day and I don't think I'm with Jeff.

[Melissa]

You tell me you do something and I'm like, yeah, I know about that movie, I know about that song. Sure.

[Jeff]

Listen, Ben's trying to challenge my marketing expertise. What do you got, Ben?

[Stan]

Hey, Jeff, if you're going to market for a nonprofit, they actually do have giant advertising budgets. They're just not generating money except for the charity. So make sure if you're the specializing person in a nonprofit for marketing, you don't. Well, I know you guys have no money to work with. They probably have a pretty good size advertising budget.

[Jeff]

No, no, no, no. You don't say that. Ben.

[Monique]

Hi.

[Melissa]

Alright, expert Jeff, I've been in marketing

[Jeff]

now for four minutes.

[Host 1]

He called you out on that? No, Ben's very smart.

[Jeff]

What you say is, look, you're a nonprofit, you don't want to spend a lot of money. You want to stretch your dollar cause

[Host 1]

you don't have a lot of money. That's another key phrase.

[Monique]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Stretch your dollar.

[Stan]

They only need a non profit advertising campaign is to generate revenue so they have some sort of budget they're going to use to try to generate donations.

[Melissa]

Stretching your dollar is not just a nonprofit.

[Jeff]

Stretching your dollar is the name of my marketing firm. Jeff.

[Melissa]

Get it? Stretching your dollar.

[Jeff]

Stretch your dollar.

[Host 1]

That should be the name of your company.

[Monique]

It is.

[Jeff]

It is now. Hey, Lauren, what's going on?

[Monique]

I was just calling because I'm a small business owner and I actually have

[Caller/Guest]

a full time job, too, working for two women in Alpharetta in marketing.

[Jeff]

Okay.

[Monique]

I don't know when I heard this. I mean, I thought it was funny

[Caller/Guest]

because everything you guys say is funny,

[Jeff]

but now let me ask you a question. You work in marketing. Now, I'm assuming your degree is like an associate's degree in restaurant management.

[Monique]

Actually, no. I have an art education degree.

[Melissa]

Oh, honey.

[Jeff]

All right.

[Melissa]

I love art education, but I just. Yeah. What did you.

[Jeff]

When did you make the leap from watercolors to marketing?

[Monique]

Well, because I was selling my. Actually, people collect my work over the last 11 years, so learning how to market myself the whole time. I helped open a school because of that. I helped raise money for them, and

[Caller/Guest]

then I helped do the design of

[Monique]

all of the brochures that went out for the school. I just was done with schools.

[Caller/Guest]

I couldn't handle the politics in school,

[Monique]

so I left and I wanted to

[Caller/Guest]

divulge into marketing because I had done

[Monique]

so well at the school and these

[Caller/Guest]

ladies took a chance on me, and they've really been happy with what I've done.

[Host 1]

So you can help our listener.

[Jeff]

We're gonna have to put our resumes together because I don't think you, you know, even.

[Melissa]

Don't you get your degree in job.

[Caller/Guest]

I mean, if you think a restaurant

[Monique]

manager can do it, then why can't

[Caller/Guest]

an art education person do it?

[Host 1]

You can totally do it. I'm sure you're excellent at it. Don't. Don't buy into what Jeff is saying. I think you could totally help her, especially if you're willing to do like a conference call with her.

[Monique]

Yeah, I could do either. A conference call? I mean, it depends on what time I'm actually going into the office right now. But I mean, she could even call

[Caller/Guest]

me later, say that she's an associate

[Melissa]

in Atlanta sometime this afternoon.

[Jeff]

Are you okay with lying? I mean, I know you're in marketing, so for the most part you are,

[Monique]

but come on, I don't even feel like I'm lying. I Feel like I'm helping a nonprofit. That's the part that I don't like.

[Jeff]

No, but you're gonna have to lie. What do we decide to call her? Betsy, for our virtual listener? You're gonna have to essentially lie in order to help her because she's gonna say, this is my partner in my marketing firm, you know, Betsy Boop, PR or whatever.

[Host 1]

Watercolor marketing.

[Jeff]

Yeah, there you go.

[Melissa]

It's all for a good cause, though. It's all for. You could be her consultant. And that's not lying.

[Monique]

She could be somebody who worked alongside with her a long time ago.

[Stan]

Perfect.

[Monique]

And I'm in Atlanta and I specialize in non profit.

[Jeff]

All right, hold on, hold on. We're gonna get your information. Okay.

[Melissa]

The non profit angle, is that why we are.

[Monique]

Okay, you know what?

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Melissa]

It's for charity. It's a good cause.

[Host 1]

And it's also because it's Friday, anything goes.

[Caller/Guest]

Our.

[Jeff]

Our next caller, his name is Stan. He works in marketing, and for some reason, he has a lot more credibility than anyone else we've talked to about marketing, because Stan is a marketer.

[Melissa]

Stan, man.

[Jeff]

Stan, what's going on?

[Stan]

Hello, Bird show.

[Melissa]

Hey, Stan. Hey, Stan.

[Stan]

I've been in marketing PR for about 25 years. The last six were nonprofits. And these aren't charitable nonprofits. These are, you know, association, trade associations, professional societies, and the other callers. Right. There's, there's, there's budgets for marketing. It's not that they can't do marketing. It's just that you can't show a profit.

[Jeff]

Right.

[Stan]

A couple two pieces of advice. I would start the meeting with more of a discovery meeting, where you ask a lot of questions and just listen and find out what their problems are, what their communication needs are, what they're. Find out more about their audience. Just be that listener to understand more about the association. You can sit and listen and take notes and, you know, nod your head a lot.

[Jeff]

Yeah. And you don't even have to take because you can remember most of the stuff. So you could be playing mash. You could be all sorts of crazy

[Host 1]

stuff on your notes, Online poker, crossword puzzles.

[Stan]

Just ask them their goal, even know goals and objectives. We've all heard those terms for marketing and for business. Let's talk about your goals. What are your objectives with the organization? What, What? Let me. Let's talk about your business plan. What kind of things do you want to do?

[Jeff]

Stan? Would you be. Would you be willing to talk directly to her one on one? Maybe even during this meeting?

[Stan]

I Got to work today, so probably not during the meeting at the same time she is.

[Jeff]

You're in marketing?

[Stan]

Yes.

[Melissa]

Don't be disrespectful.

[Jeff]

Just go on a client visit.

[Host 1]

I do like Stan's buzzword of a discovery meeting.

[Jeff]

Sure.

[Host 1]

That's good.

[Jeff]

You've got significant amount of credibility because of the keyword and the name. Stan. Do you have a mustache?

[Stan]

No.

[Jeff]

Okay, well, you're still good. Hold on.

[Melissa]

We're gonna get your information now. I mean, I feel better because. Because all the marketing people are calling up to support.

[Jeff]

No, not everybody's supporting, but Betsy's eventually

[Melissa]

going to have to come clean. I mean, she can't.

[Host 1]

No, she can move.

[Melissa]

She's lying to people. She's lying to people in the girlfriend. New church. I think she in church.

[Jeff]

I think she just needs to go through this and then convince her husband that they need to change religions.

[Host 1]

What kind of church does she go to?

[Melissa]

She doesn't say everything in the email. Scientology. She can always find another one.

[Host 1]

She could just switch and become from. She could go from Presbyterian to Methodist and nobody will know.

[Monique]

No.

[Jeff]

Episcopalian.

[Host 1]

Episcopalian, yeah.

[Jeff]

Hey, switch it up. She can just sit at home and watch that TV church that my grandma used to watch. Hey, Kathy.

[Melissa]

I have it online now.

[Monique]

Yeah.

[Jeff]

How are you?

[Monique]

I'm fine.

[Jeff]

All right, turn your radio down so we can hear you loud and clear and then kill our buzz.

[Monique]

Okay, I gotcha.

[Jeff]

All right, go ahead.

[Monique]

Okay. I think you guys are going off in the wrong direction. I think we need to go more with the line. I mean, she's just gonna get in and they're gonna ask her to do other things.

[Jeff]

Sure.

[Monique]

I mean, I've been in church groups before, and you're just going the wrong way. I mean, she could just say to these. These women, look, you know, I really wanted to fit in. I really screwed up. You know, I don't really have a degree in marketing. You know, I just really think you're really taking her down a really dangerous path.

[Jeff]

So are you proposing honesty?

[Monique]

Yeah.

[Jeff]

Okay. Kathy, thanks for calling. Yeah, we'll have none of that on

[Host 1]

this show, as evidenced by the past week.

[Melissa]

Yeah, well, why doesn't she just say her company went under? She just needs to say her company went under and she doesn't work there. No, she's trying to create new friends in this new town. And I do think she's starting off

[Jeff]

on the wrong foot, but that doesn't. If she says her company went under, she still has the experience. I think what she needs Is amnesia like I think she needs to?

[Host 1]

An evil twin like the soap opera?

[Jeff]

You guys remember Katherine Heigl in the last episode of Grey's Anatomy where she just asked the same questions every three minutes?

[Melissa]

No shit.

[Jeff]

No.

[Melissa]

I stopped watching that show years ago.

[Jeff]

Next church group. She just needs to start doing that.

[Host 1]

And they'll just think that she has early onset Alzheimer's.

[Jeff]

Right.

[Host 1]

And they'll start their own nonprofit for her.

[Jeff]

Perfect.

[Host 2]

The Bird show.

[Jeff]

Get it?

[Host 2]

The Bird Show. Monique, there's so much ground to cover with you here, I don't even know where to start. I guess we can start with Atlanta. Were you living here in Atlanta before the talk show, or did you come here specifically to do the talk show?

[Monique]

I lived in Atlanta years ago. Yeah. This is really where I got my start in comedy.

[Host 2]

I didn't know that. I thought it was Baltimore.

[Monique]

Yeah, well, I told, like, my first jokes in Baltimore, but then comedy was really hot in Atlanta, so this is really where I got my chops wet.

[Host 1]

Nice.

[Host 2]

So what clubs did you used to do your comedy at? And what years are we talking about here?

[Monique]

It was the comedy act theater, and then it was Uptown comedy corner.

[Host 2]

Okay.

[Monique]

Peachtree.

[Host 2]

Were they nice to you? Because those first couple of times that you try stand up, I'm sure so hard. Were they nice to you, or did they just come down on you?

[Monique]

You know what? Knock on wood. I've always had a great time on stage. Like, I've never had that moment of, oh, God, maybe I should rethink this.

[Melissa]

Was comedy something you always knew you wanted to do?

[Monique]

I've always wanted to be an entertainer. I've always wanted to be famous. But exactly what it was gonna be, I didn't know until I told my first jokes.

[Melissa]

What was your first joke?

[Monique]

Mm. Y' all got the people ready?

[Host 2]

It was dirty,

[Monique]

huh?

[Host 2]

It was dirty.

[Monique]

Of course. Yeah. It was honest.

[Caller/Guest]

Mm.

[Host 2]

What was the subject matter?

[Monique]

But I just call it honesty.

[Host 2]

And how about Atlanta? Now, I know you were here back in the day, but Atlanta now? Like, where? If you're doing your show at bet, where are you hanging out now? Your favorite places to go?

[Monique]

You know what? I'm such a homebody, baby. Once I'm done doing the talk show, I bring it home. I got babies 4 years old, right? So the party happens right here with the Wiggles, Blues Clues, Sesame Street. We get down.

[Host 1]

So, Monique, what's been the biggest challenge Transforming into a talk show host for you?

[Monique]

The biggest challenge. I don't look at any of it as a challenge, because it's a big playground. But when you on the playground, baby, you just play. Now, you might not ride all the rides real good. I'm still trying to balance the seesaw, but I'm still playing.

[Host 2]

You seem to have this kind of attitude that, God, I wish I had it actually, like, you just don't take it too seriously. Like, if it works, it works. If it doesn't, you're still gonna move on.

[Monique]

Well, only because I'm a big believer and tomorrow is not promised. So if today is my last day, I'mma have a good time on the ride.

[Host 2]

So you don't. You have zero fear of failure.

[Monique]

Zero fear. And what is failure?

[Host 2]

Well, like, let's say the reviews for Precious came out and they were. You must have been nervous that they were going to be absolutely terrible.

[Monique]

Well, let me just tell you how I think about that, okay? I couldn't pay attention to the numbers or the reviews. My hope is that one person will walk away and think differently. And if one person walks away and thinks differently and either gets themselves some help because they have been molested, or they're the and they get themselves some help, guess what? That's a great thing, baby.

[Melissa]

Well, and the passion that you have in your voice, I mean, obviously comes through in your character. But have you at any moment thought to begin your Oscar speech?

[Monique]

You know what? We've already won. We've already won. And I have to tell this story because it was so sweet in the moment. We did a Q and A out in LA for the Directors Guild and after they did the screening, we were out in the lobby and after the Q and A, we were talking. So this Asian brother comes up to me and he has tears in his eyes and he says, monique, what I'm getting ready to say is gonna sound weird, but I am Mary Jones and I treated my brother and sister like that. Now we're hugging and we're holding each other really tight and he's sobbing and I said, congratulations for your honesty. Now go get you some help. We won right there. So, no, I haven't developed any speech because we've already won it.

[Host 2]

So many aren't going to know who Mary Jones are. This might be the first time they're hearing about Precious. So if you're going to do like a, a 30 second review of exactly the character in the movie, what is that?

[Monique]

Precious is a movie of illiteracy, sexual molestation, physical abuse, HIV and aids. But it's also a movie of triumph. It is heartbreaking, but it's heart healing the characters in this film, you even know someone like them or you might be them. So it's a movie that I suggest everyone goes and sees because it's life changing.

[Melissa]

How did you mentally prepare for your character?

[Monique]

I didn't have to mentally prepare for the character because I knew the character. I was molested as a child, and I was molested by my oldest brother, Gerald. And my brother was that character. He was Mary Jones to me. So when Mr. Daniel said action, that's who I became.

[Host 1]

Wow.

[Host 2]

When you had to turn it off, you know, after scene, did it bring back a whole bunch of memories for you from your past?

[Monique]

No, because before I went to New York to begin filming, my husband and I had a sweet conversation. And he said, mama, leave it on the floor. When he says, cut, let it be cut. And that's what it was.

[Melissa]

Mm.

[Host 2]

It's amazing to me that you could

[Wendy Saltzman]

just turn it on.

[Monique]

That's so brilliant, because when he said cut, he would put on some house music. Baby. We would dance and eat crab legs and laugh one ol party.

[Host 1]

How did it feel for you when Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey got behind the film?

[Monique]

You know, I understood it because they both know what it's like to be molested, and they speak about that openly. So I understood it. And we were very appreciative and excited because they are the most powerful black people that we know in this country in the entertainment world. So we all know when Oprah Winfrey puts her name behind anything, Right? Just go ahead and get you a small island wherever you want.

[Host 2]

You know, we've had Tyler on a whole bunch of times, but working with him, like, if you didn't know his name, what makes that guy, who. Who we know as Tyler so special?

[Monique]

What makes Tyler Perry so special?

[Host 2]

Yeah, what makes Tyler Tyler when you're working with him?

[Monique]

Well, actually, I've never worked with Tyler.

[Host 2]

I thought he produced a movie, Right?

[Monique]

No. Let me. Let me explain how this went down.

[Host 2]

Okay.

[Monique]

Once Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry saw the film, the film was already done. Oh, in the can. Done. Once they saw the film, then they said, oh, my God, how can we be a part? How can we help? So that's how they came onto the film.

[Host 2]

I gotcha. Okay. I had to.

[Host 1]

They saw it at one of the small festivals, Right?

[Monique]

Right. But the film itself is totally the vision of Lee Daniels, who was just absolutely brilliant. He is the most brilliant director of all time.

[Melissa]

Did you ever have to pause when taping scenes because it got too emotional?

[Monique]

Didn't have to pause. But there was one scene where I had to get myself together when actually two. One when she. When Mary Jones throws the baby. And the other scene is when she throws the little girl and calls her an animal. So it was those things that when he said cut, I had to go grab that baby, grab the mom, and we all had to have a group hug, right? Like, wait a minute, honey, let me get myself together. But that was it.

[Melissa]

Now, I teased earlier about you and your Oscar speech, but another person that's getting a lot of attention for their role and this is Mariah Carey as well. So how is it working with her?

[Monique]

Amazing. Yeah, amazing. When I tell you I don't know where people get their perceptions from, I really don't. And it's unfortunate that the media is just what it is. This woman is amazing. Brilliant.

[Host 1]

So you think she gets the diva label unfairly.

[Monique]

Oh, so unfairly. Really was on time. Every day was just on point. Just beautiful. So every experience that I've had with Mariah Carey, five thumbs up.

[Host 2]

Well, everybody, I mean, every critic already is saying, like, Academy Award, Academy Award for you and for the movie. So congratulations with it. I mean, what a coup for you. Has anybody in your camp ever said, you know, this is way before you took this role? Has anybody ever said, you know, you probably just want to stick to one thing, you either want to do drama or you want to do comedy, but people aren't going to buy in both roles.

[Monique]

For people that have said that in the camp is no longer in the camp. And you know what, guys, really quick, I have to say this about the young lady who is the star of the film, Gabby Sortebay. She is so amazing. She's breathtaking. Like, there were times that I would be watching her performance as I'm in the scene with her and I would be saying, wow. Like, oh my God. And it's her first time, wow acting. So it's a must see. And, and just everybody. Paula Patton was amazing. Lenny Kravitz was amazing. Sherri shepherd was amazing. Just everyone was just amazing.

[Host 2]

Is there any fear that, you know, we're in this sort of recession right now and people are kind of bummed out? Do you think that people will stay away from a movie that sort of emotionally drains you when you're in it?

[Monique]

No, no. People are gonna run to this film because even though it's emotionally draining. But have you ever been in a position where you were trying to get over something and when you got that real good cry out, you then stood up that's what this movie is. You get that real good cry out, but it makes you stand. It makes you not complain. It makes you not judge. It makes you say, I refuse to live the rest of my life locked up inside of myself. And if I do, shame on me.

[Host 2]

Well, Monique, good luck with this and good luck with the movie. I know it's gonna be number one next week. I really do.

[Caller/Guest]

Brother.

[Host 2]

Everybody is saying such great things about us. So good luck with it, and thanks for hanging out with us.

[Monique]

Thank y', all, baby, so much. God bless you. You too.

[Melissa]

Bye bye.

[Monique]

Bye. Bye.

[Melissa]

She's awesome.

[Host 2]

So confident. Do you love that kind of confidence?

[Host 1]

Definitely.

[Host 2]

The name of the movie is Precious, and it comes out this weekend.

[Melissa]

Yes.

[Host 1]

Well, it opened in Atlanta on Friday, and then it'll.

[Host 2]

The wide release is this weekend.

[Host 1]

You got it.

[Host 2]

All right. It's Precious, and that is Monique, and she says Mariah Carey is going to blow you away. It's what everybody is saying. You're on the vert show.