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DJ Envy
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Gia Casey
Panoramic moonroof, ambient lighting, bows and massaging leather. Appointed seats are optional features.
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DJ Envy
To take a moment to give a shout out to our sponsor. Stand up to all Hate. This one is important to me because you know, we joke, we debate, we go at each other. But hate? That's not it. If you see it, stand up to it. Because there's no reason to hate. Use your voice is one of the most powerful tools in this fight. So join us at the Breakfast Club in standing up to it. If you see hate, speak up and call it out. You can learn more by following supwithhate on Instagram and TikTok.
Charlamagne tha God
Wake that ass up early in the morning.
Gia Casey
The Breakfast Club.
Jess Hilarious
Yep, it's the world's most dangerous morning show. The Breakfast Club. Charlamagne tha God Lauren LaRosa is here. Jess Hilarious is here. Who's filling in for Envy? Lauren Laros is filling in for Envy. Isn't he filling in?
DJ Envy
He's here, I'm here. But she's filling in.
Lauren LaRosa
Yeah, yeah.
Jess Hilarious
He's a guest today, though, because his new book, Real Life, Real Family, was with the queen of the house, Gia Casey is out right now. What comes out April 15th.
DJ Envy
Comes out April 15th. Yes.
Jess Hilarious
How you feeling, Gia?
Gia Casey
Humbled. By being given the opportunity to write a book about something that is the most important thing to me, the thing I'm the most passionate about, the thing that brings me the most joy. Family, parenting, my household, our home. So, yes, I'm very humbled.
Rashawn Casey
This is the second book.
Gia Casey
Yes.
Rashawn Casey
It's amazing. You know what? Let's just rewind it back. For those who don't know, who is the KC Crew? Where did that name come from? How did y'all get started?
Gia Casey
Do you remember the Casey Crew?
DJ Envy
Yeah, it's our last name. What do you mean?
Gia Casey
No, no, no. But do you remember how we came up with the name?
DJ Envy
No. How do we come up with the name?
Gia Casey
We were doing our first podcast, and it was before we were doing, like, the audio version, the video version. It was just the audio version. And we started the podcast without a name. And we sat there, and we kind of was coming up with, like, different names. And one of us said, well, how about the Casey crew? You know, our last name is Casey. We have a whole crew of kids, a whole gaggle. What about the Casey Crew? And then people, you know, DM'd us and emailed and whatnot, and they said, yeah, we love that name. We love that name. So we decided to call ourselves the Casey Crew.
Rashawn Casey
Amazing.
DJ Envy
That's what it came about.
Lauren LaRosa
Whenever you post on social, you always hashtag the Casey Crew.
Gia Casey
Yes.
Lauren LaRosa
And envy does as well. But one of the things that you guys do really good from the podcast to bringing it online, is you pay attention to the comments and the responses. Yeah. And you guys bring them into the podcast, but you also, like, reflect on them on social media. So I want to read one of the. The posts that. That we pulled, and I thought that this was great. You inspired me. This is someone commenting to you guys. You inspire me. I wish all parents had this level of intention, planning, and vibe. Truth is, most parents, moms are stressed, overworked by trying to make ends meet in harboring trauma. Therefore, it's passed down to the children. You've passed down light and love because of that and because of what you are. High five to all of the parents doing their best. And you use that as a moment to talk about. Like, no, it'd be. It get a little crazy over here, but. Oh, yeah, but it's important because when you, if you've ever been around your family, it is a lot of love and a lot of light, but I'm sure on the inside things get crazy.
Gia Casey
Well, you know, that's a big misconception. People assume that because you live a certain lifestyle or because you've earned a certain financial status that you don't have the same problems that they have. You know, in the same comment section you'll see people like, oh, it's easy when you have money. Oh, you know, like your problems are not our problems. But that is such a misconception. You know, we just got over one of the toughest years of our lives, probably the worst year of our life. Two years that. Yeah, the last two years have been. And that's a conversation for another day. But we've gone through a lot of trauma, a lot of disappointment, a lot of heartache, a lot of sadness and things that we had to shield our children from, things that we had to figure out how to keep that brave face and how to not let it affect our family foundation, you know, because that trickle down effect is so real. Your kids know when you're not happy. They know when you're stressed, they know when you're struggling. They know when you're upset with one another and they receive that energy and they project that energy. And that's something that is universal because there's not a single family out there that doesn't have trials, tribulations, heartache, setbacks, financial stresses. I don't care who you are, you have experienced that. So financial abundance, financial security, even for people that have that, that in and of itself doesn't mean that you're happy. Some of the most miserable people that I know do very, very well.
Jess Hilarious
That's right.
Gia Casey
It doesn't mean that you come along with the skill set to know how to live a happy life and, and how to teach your children how to have a happy life. So that comment really, really stood out to me because she spoke on the troubles and the trauma and the word trauma that she used. And Rashawn will speak on the word trauma. Sometimes he feels as though it's a word that's overused, but it's a word that represents something that so many people endure. The difference now is that we have words to identify how we feel and what we go through. And it's articulated because when our feelings and our experiences are articulated, then you're able to communicate. Yeah, People are able to understand you. You're able to understand other people. You're able to have empathy and compassion for other people. Because now we're all speaking a universal language, like the word triggered, like the word trauma, like the word gaslight. Gaslight. You know, these are things that some may think are overused now, but. Yes, but it. There is value there. There is value there because now we can see each other, we understand each other.
Jess Hilarious
When you're trying to create a safe space, you know, how is it to venture into an unsafe space like the comments, especially with somebody that's on the air every day, you know what I mean? People have an opinion about envy every day.
Gia Casey
So I read every single comment, every.
DJ Envy
Last comment, every YouTuber comment.
Gia Casey
I interact. Um, it started when I had a lower follower count. It started because I always felt that if someone follows me, that's an investment, and a small investment maybe, but it's an investment that they put into me. And they're looking at my contact content, they're looking at my pictures. And you left a comment, I want to respond back to you. I used to respond to almost every comment, you know, but then when my followers went up, I wasn't really able to do that. And that was something that, you know, I. I had to take that on the chin. I wasn't able to. But it's a sign of respect. And you said, why do I do that to myself? Because I'm strong enough to do that.
Rashawn Casey
That's right.
Gia Casey
I'm strong enough to do that. The comments don't, if they are negative. And I have to say, I don't receive a lot of negative comments, thankfully, thank God. But if they are negative, I look at it as insight. I might ask myself, why might someone have that perspective? Why may you have drawn that conclusion to me? It. It feeds my mental. Because I'm a thinker. I'm a deep thinker. I mull over things. I love to understand people. I love the concepts that kind of create society. I love to understand cause and effect relationships and things of that nature. So for me, the comments are food. And they also bring me happiness when they're good. It lets you know that you're reaching someone, you're whatever it is that you're putting out because it's. It's in the sense of sharing. There's a lot of things that I don't share, you know what I mean? So if I choose to share and it's well received, then that's a good feeling. I think that's why a lot of people are on or part of the reason why a lot of people are on social media, you know what I mean? And I'm strong enough to do so. And that's because of the way that I was raised. Yeah, I was raised to be a very strong and resilient woman. It comes directly from my parents. And I'm fortunate in the sense that I can look back and identify things about the way that I was raised that created the individual, the woman, the mother, the wife that I am. And for me, it's a very beautiful thing. Both of my parents are no longer here. So to be able to say, wow, when my mother did this every single day, or when she took me here once a week, or when she said this to me and those compliments and that the way that she fed me and she fed my soul and the joy that I experienced and the amount of fun that I had as a kid, like, I loved my life. And it's not because we were wealthy. We were not. We're a middle, middle class family. I'm from Brooklyn, from East Flatbush. We weren't raised, you know, like, I'm from an urban area. And it's not. Had nothing to do with money. It had nothing to do with wealth. It had everything to do with what my parents poured into my home and the love that I felt. And that is what we put into writing this book. There's a lot of books that we could have written. You know, so many ideas came. Oh, because Real Life, Real Love was a huge success. It was a national bestseller. So it's like, oh, you can write a book about this. You can write. We said, we want to write a book about family. It's what we know best. It's what we know best. We've had so many ups, so many downs, so many wins, so many losses, so many things that we thought we were doing right that we weren't, that we had to regroup and make sure that we were balanced, you know, as. As a married couple. Because when we didn't agree, it's like, my way is better. No, my way is better. And this, you know, we had to come to a meeting of the minds. You know what I mean? So. So our relationship, you know, the relationship grew, you know, because we had to learn how to see eye to eye as parents. So there was just. There was many, many ups and downs. And we wanted to pour that all into a book. You know, we wanted to let everyone know, like, it's really that village Mentality. It's really that, like, we are a community, especially our black community. Because I'm black. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. For the record. For the record. Thank you for the blood. He is 100% black. He doesn't have an ounce of Spanish blood. But it's like, I know that you're well aware because you speak to things of this nature often, but our history is being erased in schools, and it's being stripped away silently in society. So the foundation starts in our homes.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah.
Gia Casey
We have to teach children how to identify themselves. We have to teach children that sense of belonging, and they have to understand that they come from something meaningful. And if you leave it up to society to teach them that, you're going to wind up with children that are lost, that are overlooked, that don't know how to identify themselves, that get taken advantage of, and that are susceptible to what society wants for them. So for us, our core, our nucleus, our foundation, our home supersedes every. Anything else in this world. We put our family first.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah. Would you say that you and Envy have two different parenting styles? Who's the more lenient parent? Who's the more lenient parent?
DJ Envy
It depends what it is.
Rashawn Casey
Okay.
DJ Envy
Like, you know, everybody knows. My dad is retired police officer and ex military, so I'm disciplined. I was the yellow, the screamer. Because I said so.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah.
DJ Envy
Gia's a lot different. Like, she wants to know why.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah.
DJ Envy
Why did you feel that way?
Rashawn Casey
And I can tell she likes to break down.
Gia Casey
Yeah.
Rashawn Casey
If you don't get it, you gonna get it by the end of the day.
Lauren LaRosa
Up on the words.
Gia Casey
Exactly.
DJ Envy
So you gotta think, really think before you speak to her. Because she's like, all right, well, explain that. Like, I just said it just because. No, no, no. Explain this. But. So I'm more like. Cause I said so. She's more like, well, you can't go to the mall because of this. Because this could happen. Explain your parenting style. Mine is, my dad was like, no. And you didn't ask why it was what it was. You just figured it out later. Gee, is a little different.
Jess Hilarious
I prefer the explanation.
Gia Casey
Yeah.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah.
Gia Casey
So that's how my parents were with me. I knew that my parents were invested in me living a happy, fulfilled, and fun life. And we didn't go lightly on the fun. And. Because I knew that. And. And my parents never said no just for the sake of saying no. Because parents are overworked and they are stressed, and the last thing they want to hear when they walk through the door is, mommy, can. I. Can you take me here, can you buy me this? Can we watch this together? Can we go, like, slow down? No. And sometimes you say no. You don't even know why you're saying no. That's not a good parenting technique. You really have to take a moment. You have to take a beat. We all have to take a beat to listen to our children and be patient. And because I knew that my parents were invested in me that way, I knew that when they said no, there was a good reason. Because they would never slight me. They would never tell me no because they were too tired. They would never tell me no just because they didn't want to be bothered. So it's like, oh, well, if Mommy said no, that means that I'm not supposed to be there. Or that means that she genuinely can't take me. And they both would take the time to explain to me, you know, like, you don't want to go to that party in Coney island because in that neighborhood there's a lot of shooting and da, da, da. And you're a young girl and. And I'll take it a step further. You know what my parents used to do from time to time? They would take me to a party. Not the one in Coney island, but a party. And they would park and wait outside for me for two or three hours until I came out. And this was before cell phones and all that stuff. My dad had this little portable tv. And he would recline his seat, set the portable TV up on the dashboard and just watch TV until. Or whatever it was that he was watching until I came out. That let me know that my parents rooted for me. They wanted me to enjoy life. So when they told me no, I knew that I had no business considering it. Considering whatever it was that I was considering.
DJ Envy
Take a step forward. The other day, London, which is our 11 year old, wanted to walk to her friend's house after school. Her friend's house was a block away.
Gia Casey
Two blocks. It was two blocks.
DJ Envy
Gia drives in the car looking like a stalker and follows them the two blocks.
Jess Hilarious
As they're walking, I don't see a problem with anything.
DJ Envy
But London knew. London was like, that's my mom following us, so don't worry. But she just wanted to walk. And Gia followed her ass right to that house.
Gia Casey
Well, the thing is that, you know, she's 11, so she wants all of her friends, all of them, they walk home from school because they all live in the same neighborhood, and they all walk home. But London is not allowed to walk home. Hell, no, absolutely, positively not. And there's. There's this very significant reason for it. Well, at least a partial reason. And I said, all right, babe, you can walk, but I'm gonna follow you. Yeah, those two blocks. She was like, okay, Mommy, no problem. Meanwhile, you have other kids that might be like, oh, why can't I just. Can't you Trust me? I'm 11. I'm not stupid. You know, other kids will rebel. Our kids are so conditioned to understanding that it's for their safety, and they welcome it. Especially, like, our oldest, Madison. Madison, when she went to college, she was like, can you chip me?
DJ Envy
Like.
Gia Casey
Put a chip in her arm. Talk.
Lauren LaRosa
It's trauma.
DJ Envy
Gia was almost kidnapped as a kid. They tried to grab her when she walked in the door of Gia's face being cut. So we are very extra when it comes to our kids. And then, you know, Charlamagne, and, you guys know, things that has happened, you know, behind the scenes. But we're very careful when it comes to the kids.
Gia Casey
Yeah. When I was nine, a man tried to abduct me, and it was awful.
DJ Envy
She was walking the door, I was walking. No dog and all that.
Gia Casey
Yeah, he choked me out. Like, he. He had a change of clothes, hidden. He was caught. He was caught. But that's. That. Yeah, that story is in the book. But, you know, so I exper. I. I come from a place where I understand that the worst case can happen to you, you know, because we go through life idly. Like, oh, no, that happens to other people. You know, other people go through things like that. I've been through so much that I understand that the worst can happen to you.
Rashawn Casey
Right.
Gia Casey
So I protect my kids with vigilance because of that personal knowledge that I have of it.
Jess Hilarious
How do you make sure you're not. You're raising the kids out of love and not fear, though.
Gia Casey
That's such a good question. It comes with the explanations. Do you know what I mean? I don't tell them, you can't do this, and you can't do that. Why? Because I said so. Let me explain to you why. You know, sometimes we'll watch the news together, you know, when they're at an appropriate age at about nine years old, you know, I think that they're mature enough to ingest certain things. So what I do is I would record it on my DVR and then cherry pick different stories that I think that are appropriate, that speak to the protective measures that we take on them. You know what I mean? So it's like, if I See, a child abduction that's not too traumatic, I might save that and then show it to a child that's old enough. You know, I did it with Madison. I did it with Logan, and I find that they take that into their adult lives, and they're very, very. Madison. Like, Madison walks around like a police officer. She has a boyfriend. His name is Andrew. And when they go into a restaurant, she's the one that sits facing the door. She feels like the protective force in that relationship because her head is always on swivel, you know what I mean? She could tell you a car that was driving six cars ahead, you know, and she's always paying attention to license plates. When she was young, I used to go through, like, in case you get kidnapped scenarios, because it's the type of information that can save a child's life all day long.
DJ Envy
I do, like, count the stop lights on the floor.
Gia Casey
It's the type of information that can save a life. Especially now with all of this human trap trafficking and all the stories with, you know, you. They put like a zip. A zip tag on your. On your.
Rashawn Casey
Very creative.
Gia Casey
On your door, and they put a dollar or money near your. There's all. There's all these techniques. Girls are being taken.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah.
Gia Casey
So if you have a young girl, it is very proactive to educate them about the realities and the tricks and the cons that people. You know, because even me, as proactive as I try to be, that whole technique with a baby crying outside your house, I would. I would be inclined to open the door.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah.
Gia Casey
If I hear a baby crying and someone that sounds like a mother yelling and screaming outside the house, I am that type of person. But not me. But now I. I am. I am. But now I would. My heart with my. I would be inclined to open that door. But. But now with all the knowledge and some of the good things about social media is that so much knowledge is being spread, so now we're consuming good information as well. So I heard that. I'm like, wow, that's absolutely. Absolutely right. It jogs your thinking. It makes you say, oh, wait a minute. I do have to put myself first. Even if someone else, a stranger seems to be in need, I have to prioritize myself, my home, my family. So, you know, it's. It's important to spread information and to teach your kids. Even though it may be a little scary, but you do have to do it in a way where it doesn't incite fear.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah.
Lauren LaRosa
How do y'all go ahead.
Rashawn Casey
No, you go ahead.
Lauren LaRosa
How y'all pick and choose? What do y'all like, what y'all decide to be transparent about? Because there's so much, like you have stuff that you have to protect them from just because they're going to school. And you guys. People know you. But then you also have stuff that's just happening in the world that they could encounter with their friends. Like, it's just so much. And your kids are getting older and they're like, you know, like they're wanting to walk by themselves with their friends.
DJ Envy
How do you know if it was up to me? I'm transparent with everything, right? Gia has to hold back a lot. And the reason I think I'm.
Gia Casey
What do you mean?
DJ Envy
Well, the reason I'm so transparent. I'll explain. But the reason I'm so transparent is nervous.
Gia Casey
I want you to answer her. What do you mean first? Yeah, I'm like. Answer me first. I'm not. We should answer k first.
DJ Envy
Nah. But like, you know, so. So some things get, you know, like for instance, like with Logan, right? Logan, when he was in high school, used to get picked on all the time, right? But he used to get picked on. Guess for what reason?
Jess Hilarious
Oh, me and Leifkin.
DJ Envy
No, Because Charlamagne's gay. Yes. Yes. So stop being gay.
Jess Hilarious
I tell you all the time.
DJ Envy
When you gave me the ass, that's why. Pause.
Gia Casey
What? Wow.
DJ Envy
Ayo.
Gia Casey
Not naked.
DJ Envy
He gave me the butt cake. When he gave me the butt cake.
Gia Casey
That's not much better.
DJ Envy
You know what I mean?
Gia Casey
The butt shaped kick he gave me.
Rashawn Casey
No, we are not about to hate, bro.
DJ Envy
But it's a shirt.
Rashawn Casey
Don't do.
DJ Envy
He used to be getting made fun of because of that, so. But the reason I'm so transparent is there's so many families and people dealing with the same things but never want to talk about it. Scared to. So that's why I talked about the orgasm thing in the first book. That's why in the second book we talk about, you know, the time orgasm.
Jess Hilarious
Thing from the first. Shut up.
DJ Envy
No, no, no, no. We're not doing that every interview.
Gia Casey
You do that.
Jess Hilarious
He googles it every interview. Lauren, do you want to do some research?
Lauren LaRosa
No, I already know.
Jess Hilarious
You should tell a listener.
DJ Envy
So even like in this book, we talk about the time that Logan found.
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DJ Envy
Hey, what up y'all? It's DJ Envy. The first few months of 2025 have been quite a year. Work deadlines, group chats you can't escape, and your weird cousin's latest overshare. It's a lot. But here's some good news. You don't have to bring that stress into your car. The all new Nissan Murano is your piece on wheels, thanks to its available features. Imagine sliding into the relaxing, massaging seats that feel feel like they were made to melt your tensions. Take in the skyline views that let sunlight pour in and watch as your day brightens. I have a special playlist that always gets me right. And with the Bose premium sound system, you too can vibe like you're at your own private concert. Plus, with your 64 color personalized lighting option, you can set the mood any way you want. Be it romantic, chill, or in a straight up do not disturb mode. Let the Nissan Murano be your oasis in a chaotic world. Because sometimes the greatest rush isn't rushing at all. Drive the all new Nissan Murano today.
Gia Casey
Panoramic moonroof, ambient lighting, bows and massaging leather. Appointed seats are optional features.
Charlamagne tha God
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DJ Envy
A bloody condom at one of his friend's house. So he came. But he's. He's comfortable. Why you looking at that? It wasn't mine.
Gia Casey
He's like, oh, he found a bloody condom. Right, right.
DJ Envy
It wasn't our house. All right.
Gia Casey
He was at his friend's house.
Jess Hilarious
He was at his friend's house.
Gia Casey
And he was like maybe nine years old.
DJ Envy
Nine years old.
Gia Casey
He was about nine years old, but.
DJ Envy
He was comfortable enough to come.
Gia Casey
They were in the basement and the little boy had an older brother.
Jess Hilarious
So what did you say? Remember when Charlamagne gave daddy the ass?
DJ Envy
Oh, my gosh. So that's when we had the sex talk. And Gia had to have the sexual sex talks with Logan and Madison.
Jess Hilarious
What kind of sex talk, though?
DJ Envy
It wasn't a backdoor sex story.
Jess Hilarious
So it ain't just birds and bees. It's birds and wasp and birds.
DJ Envy
No, I'm serious.
Gia Casey
They. They got a full blown okay. Sex talk. They had to understand because if you leave it.
DJ Envy
Not back door sex talk. If that's what you. If.
Gia Casey
No, no.
Jess Hilarious
I'm really trying to figure out why was the condom bloody? I'm really.
Rashawn Casey
When somebody ran a red. Like, yeah, just rip somebody butt open. Somebody ran a red light out of it.
Lauren LaRosa
It also be like a first time thing.
Gia Casey
Yeah, yeah. But no, they. At that point I found that they were old enough and mature enough and you're. They're encountering things now. These conversations are being had amongst their peers. And I knew that if I didn't set them straight that they were going to be absorbing all of this wrong information and wrong ideas. So I told them sex feels good. It's a pleasureful experience. God made us that way because God wants us to reproduce. He wants us to create offspring. So he made it something that we would enjoy. But it's meant for someone that you love, and that's the reason why. So they're like, oh, okay.
Rashawn Casey
So.
Gia Casey
So what is it like?
Rashawn Casey
Yeah.
Gia Casey
And what did you say? Okay, if I'm being honest, I told them that there is a penis and there is a vagina and it does slide in and out. And my son Logan was like, so like this.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah, I'm Trying to make sure I get it right.
Gia Casey
I said, logan and Madison. Yes. They're 11. They're about 11 and 9.
Rashawn Casey
I laugh at everything.
Gia Casey
Then I'll never forget, since you asked, he was like, so is it like. I was like, yeah, something like that. I said, you know, some people look at it as a negative thing. No, no, no, he really didn't. No, he really didn't. He really didn't even, Even like my 11 year old son right now. He does not know. He asked me three days ago, like, what does sexual mean? I said, it's not for you to understand right now. So when they ask me questions that I don't want them to know about, and he's older than Logan was, but now with. I have a better grip on his friends and a grip on what he's exposed to on his phone and whatnot and parameters, boundaries. So I'm really abreast of what he knows and what he doesn't. And our lines of communication are way better. Way better. Like he. Like those kids, they come to me every day and when they get home from school, either for a half an hour, an hour, depending on what activity they have afterwards, they have their turns. They sit at the foot of my bed, they lay down, or they sit down and they tell me about their entire day. They tell me the best part of their day, the worst part of their day, and one kind thing that they did for someone else that day. So that's just our routine. That's our ritual. And they tell me everything. And you would be shocked and appalled to know the things that they divulge. But it's because we create that safe space.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah.
Gia Casey
We create that soft place to land. We create a no judgment zone. You could tell me anything. It could be the world's worst. I will never, ever judge you. I will help you fix it. We'll extract all the lessons, everything that you need to learn from it. Whether you were wrong, whether you weren't, whatever it is. Like, this is your safe space.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah.
Gia Casey
And they have that foundation. So they share. They share. And we take that time like we share.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah. You have six kids. So was there anything. Because y'all had all age groups.
Gia Casey
Yeah. Right.
Rashawn Casey
So is there anything that you felt like in the beginning y'all didn't know? And until y'all got to that six kid.
Gia Casey
Of course.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah. Like what were some of the. I'll give you an example that you didn't know. You just was like me and Rashawn winging this.
Gia Casey
Like, I'll give You, I'll give you an example. But to speak to what you said, like we wrote a book, that doesn't mean that we know everything. And it doesn't mean that it's not an evolution. It doesn't mean that we're still learning every single day. Like I said earlier, it's a sense of community where we share our experiences and the wins and the losses so that other people can understand they're not alone. And it comes in all shades, all forms, all fashions, all financial groups. We all speak a universal, universal language as parents. With Logan, so one of the fails, and this was something that we disagreed on, so it was the explaining everything to the kids. I have the patience to do it. And he really is a because I said so type of guy. And it worked beautifully with Madison. But with Logan, from a young age, I would explain everything to him. And he's a mama's boy times 30. Envy tells us he is that boy. Like, we have a thing, you know, And I have a different thing with all of my kids, but me and him have our thing. Like, he calls me at all times of the day, all time. He will call me at 3:00 in the morning. Like it's 12:00 in the afternoon. And she's like, yeah, what's up, mom? What's going on? You good? Yeah, I'm good. I was just. I'm at the club. I'm about to FaceTime. You, Lucas and Andrew are here. Take a look. Take a look. And I'm like, what's up? Sleep is up, but okay. You know what I mean? Like, we're very, very close. But it kind of went wrong with him because what we found was that we created an environment where he felt that he was entitled to an explanation. And he felt as though, because we gave him too safe of a space, that he could challenge me and he can challenge a decision that I made. And he's very. And he's very intelligent. He's very, very intelligent. So Rashawn always says that I'm like a lawyer, right? He says it all the time. I know what it feels like because I have a Logan, and Logan lawyers me. Do you know what I mean?
DJ Envy
So they do it each other all day long.
Gia Casey
Yes, all day long. And in a lot of ways, I enjoy it because I feel like he's. He. He really does challenge me.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah.
Gia Casey
And he's one of the only people that I feel like does that in my life. And I love to see the mental exercise. I love to see how his brain is moving and how he's getting around the things that I'm saying and things like that. So it's good at his adult age now because he's 21. But when he was a child, it wasn't acceptable, because I'm going to explain, because this is what I do. But now you're not understanding that that's a grace that I show you. It's not something that you're entitled to. This is a courtesy that I'm extending to you, but you're not entitled. So we had to dial that back, teach boundaries, and then we had to teach boundaries and let him know his place because he started to misunderstand his place. So that was. That was a fail, in a sense. And Rashawn would always look at me like, see, I told you. Like, see, I told you.
DJ Envy
I'm always the bad guy. Cause now I gotta go discipline that, right? So now me and Logan get into it.
Jess Hilarious
And now you can't beat Logan. Cause Logan beat him.
DJ Envy
So now I gotta discipline Logan, and then me and Logan get into it. But one thing about Logan and all of our kids, which is the craziest thing, is they're very forgiving. Like, with Logan, I have to get sometimes so disrespectful for him to understand. And the next day he's like, hey, dad, what's up? And I'm like, hey, dad, what's up? But that's how he is. And he just has conversations. But we have those conversations and we understand and we talk. But he's. He. He's the one that. Just like his mom.
Lauren LaRosa
Did you feel like a failure?
Gia Casey
No. No, I didn't feel like a failure. But I knew that that technique wasn't. Wasn't necessarily a fail, but it needed tweaking. So then we had our other four, and there was a huge gap, there was about nine years between Logan and London. So I wanted to maintain what I always believed in and how I was raised. But I wanted to implement some of because I told you so as well. Like, I am going to explain to you, but I'm going to let you know that it is because I'm showing you grace and it's because I respect you. So in turn, you have to respect me and you have to respect the decision, and we can talk about it as long as it's coming from a good place. And I'm not sensing any attitude from you, any entitlement from you or anything that I don't like to feed as we sit here and discuss it. So you got to make sure you keep it, right?
Rashawn Casey
Yeah.
Gia Casey
And my kids get it. So this pack of three, because Peyton's three years old, but my 11, my 10, and my eight, they get it. Like, I tell them if they're really curious, they might question, and then after I say it again, they're like, okay, absolutely, whatever it is. And so it's through that trial and error with Madison and Logan that we're able to take all the good stuff, you know, all the good stuff and pour it into this second batch of kids.
Lauren LaRosa
No, go ahead. I feel like I'm asking so much, so.
Rashawn Casey
No, it's okay.
Gia Casey
I'll.
Rashawn Casey
So in the beginning, tell us.
Jess Hilarious
Shut up.
Rashawn Casey
Going back. No, I'm not doing.
Gia Casey
Now.
Lauren LaRosa
We might come over there with you together. Don't play with us.
DJ Envy
So.
Rashawn Casey
No. So going back to something you said earlier. You were saying that the past two years was very traumatic. And not getting into that. How challenging was it writing this book? Like, was it ever moments where you and Rashawn or just you, like, broke down? Like, not, like, giving up, but it was challenging for you to get deep into any, you know, any of the chapters or what you went through within the past two years.
Gia Casey
You know what? I'll be honest with you. No pun intended. But I'm an open book.
Rashawn Casey
Mm.
Gia Casey
I'm not a private person. I've never been a very private person. And it's because I feel as though the value in life is truth.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah.
Gia Casey
You know, even if it's not pretty. You know, there's no value to anything if it's not honest.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah.
Gia Casey
If it's not true, if it's not transparent, if it's BS it's worthless. You know, if you wrap everything in a pretty bow, it's worthless. Because who can relate to you?
Rashawn Casey
Yeah.
Gia Casey
Nobody. I can't relate to people that appear to be perfect or pretend to be perfect.
Rashawn Casey
That's right.
Gia Casey
Because I don't know you. I don't know anybody like you. You know what I mean? So anytime that I'm honest or I'm vulnerable about something, to me, it's like giving a little gift from myself. It's sharing something that I know other people wouldn't share because they'd be too embarrassed or it disrupts the image that they're trying to present so that I don't respect. So it's very easy for me to tell my truth from where I genuinely come from.
Jess Hilarious
I love that y'all have a family mission statement.
Lauren LaRosa
Yes.
Jess Hilarious
What is the mission statement? And tell people the Importance of that.
DJ Envy
Well, just so we know we don't have it on our wall and make the kids read it when they walk in the house. It's not that type of mission statement. It's not like that. So our mission statement is just something that we, you know, as a family, we all live by, right? And I'll read some of them. And the reason is, is we are a close unit, right? So if you see us together, we're all always out together. You see me the other day with J. You've seen me before, and Charlamagne has seen me before. So the mission statement is we are a unit, right? We all ride together like we are really a unit.
Gia Casey
A unit.
DJ Envy
I'm an only child, so I'm heavy into taking care of each other, right? We respect each other. Of course. It's simple. We make sure that, you know, we respect each other's feeling. We always have each other's backs. That's one thing that we always do. And, you know, sometimes when we have conversations up here, I always talk about my kids. So when they see stuff on social media, at times I have to stop them because they will go in, especially Logan. Logan will go in.
Gia Casey
He's like that. Oh, yeah.
DJ Envy
We always uplift each other and point out the good in one another, right? So we see that more especially with our girls in dance because they compete against each other a lot. So when they do, we have to make sure that regardless of what happens, like, a couple of weeks ago, London lost, and we thought London got jerked. So I told, you know, I had a conversation with Brooklyn, and Brooklyn was like, dad, don't worry, I'm gonna get first and second four. And she went out there and bust ass and got first and second.
Gia Casey
She got first place and second place.
DJ Envy
And gave the first place to her sister, because that's what it was. We represent each other at all times. That's how it always is. So we always tell our kids, if we're not there, you make sure that those parents come back and say, oh, my gosh, he was such a pleasure. He was polite. He was this. Even with Jackson at the game, you know, Jackson said thank you a million and one times to you. He said hello a million and one times to you. Because that's what he's taught to do.
Gia Casey
You show respect one second before you go on with that. My goal for my kids is that when they leave our house, I want everyone that they come in contact with to know that they're well loved. Do you know what I mean? Like I want them to know that they're well loved. What we teach you inside this house, you exemplify outside of this house. And it's so interesting because, you know, as parents, we have a goal, you know, and these are goals that we vocalize to one another. So when we get calls from other parents, when our kids are on a play date, teachers, principals, both sets of kids went to a new school, and we got calls from, like, the parent, the teachers, like, what are you guys doing in that house? What are you doing with these kids? Like, I've never seen this before. And all three of them are like this. It lets you know that you're doing something right. You're doing something meaningful. Those teachers know that they're well loved. And of course, other children are well loved. It's not that, but it's coming from a mental space that you understand. And like what we talked about earlier, about articulating words and things, when you articulate something to a child and you do it in a way where they understand what it means and what their actions mean, because you can love your child to death, you could take a bullet for them. You do. You work hard, you hustle, you do everything for your kids. You love your kids, but they could still go out and be a menace.
Lauren LaRosa
Right?
Jess Hilarious
Right.
Gia Casey
Because the lessons may be lost. And these are things that a lot of parents don't put into perspective when raising children. Because what do we usually do? We take it. We take, like, you know, an idea and we throw it up against the wall and we see if it sticks or not. You know what I mean? Oh, that worked. Oh, that didn't. Okay. But a lot of people don't have something tangible that they can go back to and be like, this is. This is. This is a way to create a foundation. This is a way to create a structure. And because we had so many ups and downs, we were able to do that and put it in one place.
DJ Envy
And I think the biggest story I know you hate when I tell a story was Jackson. Right. So we had a parent teachers night a couple of weeks ago, and a teacher came up to me, teacher that I had no idea, didn't know who he was.
Gia Casey
He was a stem knight.
DJ Envy
Stem knight, Right. So he walks over to me, he was like, are you Jackson's dad? And I'm like, yeah. When a teacher usually asks that, it's usually some bs, right? So I'm like, oh, here we go. What did Jackson do? And he was like, I just want to tell you, you know, Jackson did something that no child or adult has done in my life. I'm like, well, what's that? And he was like, the other day, I'm walking down the hall, and Jackson comes running up to me, and he goes, you know, are you okay? And the teacher was like, what do you mean? He was like, you just don't look as happy as you usually do. Are you all right? Is anything bothering you? Would you like to have a conversation with me and just talk it.
Gia Casey
He is. His mother, Charlize, psychiatrist, Teacher's like, what?
DJ Envy
He's like, nah, you just don't seem as happy as you do. But don't let things stress you out. Just pray on it, and tomorrow will be better, right? And if you need to talk to me, come talk to me. And he said, jackson ran off. And he was like, I've never had an adult or a child ever do that to me. So he was like, whatever you're doing at home, continue that. And you know what I mean? That just shows what the kids are learning at home is worth everything.
Rashawn Casey
You know what I mean?
Jess Hilarious
So you need to report that teacher, too. He don't need to be in the school system.
Gia Casey
Next day.
Rashawn Casey
He probably was like, you got some time at the. I am going.
Gia Casey
So.
Rashawn Casey
I mean, London was the only person that saw him at.
Lauren LaRosa
His name.
Gia Casey
A city saw him.
DJ Envy
His name is city.
Gia Casey
So that was stem night. But at the parent teacher conference, one of the teachers said that if she could use one word to describe Jackson, it would be grateful. And she said, In 30 years of teaching, I've never used that word with a child before. I said, well, what do you mean by grateful? He says, she. She said, every day, after every lesson, he comes up to me and says, thank you for teaching me today. And I said, really? And he said. She said, where? Like, where did. Like, where does he get that from? That's his own interpretation. But when he plays sports, after every game, I tell him to shake the referee's hand and say, look him in the eye. Look him in this. Look him in the eye. A nice, strong handshake, and say, thank you. And do the same thing with your coach. Because these are people that give their time, that don't have to give their time, and it's for you and for your benefit and your learning and your greatness. So you acknowledge that man or that woman and you say thank you. So I think that that's his interpretation, how he's doing it in another way. You know what I mean?
Rashawn Casey
Y'all are such a beautiful family.
DJ Envy
Thank you.
Gia Casey
Thank you.
Rashawn Casey
And this man will crash out for any of y'all.
Gia Casey
Like, I know.
DJ Envy
Behind the scenes a bunch of times. And Jessica was like, yo, you crash out for your family. I'm like, you goddamn right.
Rashawn Casey
No matter what.
Gia Casey
What? Tell me. I'm interested.
Jess Hilarious
Crashing out.
Rashawn Casey
Excuse me?
Gia Casey
Huh?
DJ Envy
Nothing.
Rashawn Casey
No, I don't. No, shut up. Anyway, when is baby number seven coming?
Lauren LaRosa
So annoying you.
Gia Casey
The shop is closed. The ship has sailed.
DJ Envy
Well, the shop is not closed. When you say closed, meaning snip snip. We ain't snip snip.
Gia Casey
Oh, no, no. There's no snip snip. But I know how not to get pregnant.
Lauren LaRosa
Vasectomy.
Gia Casey
Huh?
Jess Hilarious
My wife wants me to get a vasectomy.
Gia Casey
No, no, I don't want him to get a vasectomy.
DJ Envy
Yeah, we not having no more kids.
Lauren LaRosa
In case you ever wanted.
Gia Casey
No, I just don't think it's necessary. I know how not to get pregnant.
Rashawn Casey
Yeah.
Jess Hilarious
Wives out there who want these husbands to get vasectomies. I'm sorry, say that again for the wives who want their husband.
Gia Casey
I don't know. Other. Other women may have gotten pregnant unintentionally and have a different view, but me personally, I just. You know, like, people have asked me, like, do you want to get your tubes tied? I just like our natural bodies, and I like them to function the way that they function. And if I can take a human precaution to prevent a particular result, and I'll do that. I don't. I don't think that it's. For me, it's not necessary. I absolutely understand why people do both of those procedures, but for me, I just don't find it to be necessary. That's all. You know?
Jess Hilarious
Exactly. April 15th. It'll be out in bookstores everywhere. Everywhere. You buy books, man. Gia, thank you for pulling up.
DJ Envy
That's.
Gia Casey
Thank you so much. You can pre order on Amazon right now.
DJ Envy
And for everybody else, we just want to add this last part. We actually wrote it with somebody that helped us out that. You want to talk about that. That helped us with terms and helped us with different phrases and helped us with. Made sure that we were actually doing the right thing when it came to raising our kids.
Gia Casey
Yeah. So we wrote it alongside a psychologist because. Because we wanted to make sure that our outlooks were. Were on the level that I would want to put it out to the public. I wanted the psychological research and quarterbacking behind the way that we parent to pretty much put a stamp on it, to know that what we're doing not just from our personal experience driven point of view is sound, but from a psychological point of view is also sound. I wanted to make sure that alongside the truth and the transparency and the experience that we had that backing to the book as well. I wanted that level of value in the book as well. So. And also, you know, if you have a child with anxiety, add, adhd, other setbacks, other disabilities, you know, we speak to you in this book as well because those people are very like, they don't have that many resources. This book is for anyone who is a parent, a single parent, a parent that is married, a single woman, but.
DJ Envy
Maybe about to have kids next, someone.
Gia Casey
That wants to have a child.
DJ Envy
I didn't look at you, Lauren.
Rashawn Casey
Wow.
Jess Hilarious
Nobody looked at you.
Lauren LaRosa
First of all. You did look over here.
Rashawn Casey
I looked at you.
Gia Casey
Thank you. It's forever. It's a very relatable book and there's a lot of exercises in the book. We kind of also created it in like a workbook style. So there's a lot of reflections, there's a lot of places in there for you to answer questions so you can kind of analyze yourself and understand your own point of view in a way of like articulation where if you haven't really thought about certain things, it'll jog you to think about things. And even if you don't, do, don't take our take. It encourages you and helps you to come up with your own takes on parenting. So there you have it.
DJ Envy
April 15th. Guys, pre order it now.
Gia Casey
Pre order it now.
Jess Hilarious
Real family. That's right, the Casey Crew. It's the Breakfast Club.
Charlamagne tha God
Wake that ass up early in the morning.
Gia Casey
The Breakfast Club. The best moments happen when you're with your people.
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Laughing, vibing, just enjoying life.
Gia Casey
Coke is making those moments even sweeter.
Coca-Cola Advertiser
Share a Coke is back. And it's all about sharing with the whole crew.
Gia Casey
Doesn't matter if it's your bestie or bro, there's a can with their name on it.
Lauren LaRosa
So grab one for the squad and make some memories.
Gia Casey
But hurry, because these Coca Cola limited edition bottles and cans won't be here forever. Don't miss your chance to share a Coke with your favorite people.
Charlamagne tha God
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Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club – Interview with Gia & DJ Envy
Episode Title: INTERVIEW: Gia & Envy Talk 'Real Life, Real Family,' Parenting Styles; 'Casey Crew,' Trials, Tribulations + More
Release Date: April 15, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
Description: The Breakfast Club, known as the world's most dangerous morning show, features DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, and Charlamagne Tha God as they engage with guests in candid conversations. In this episode, Gia Casey joins DJ Envy to discuss her new book, parenting methodologies, and the dynamics of the Casey Crew.
The episode kicks off with DJ Envy introducing Gia Casey, who shares her excitement about her upcoming book, "Real Life, Real Family." Scheduled for release on April 15th, Gia expresses her humility and passion for writing about family, parenting, and household dynamics.
Notable Quote:
Gia Casey [02:31]: "I'm humbled by being given the opportunity to write a book about something that is the most important thing to me—the thing I'm most passionate about, which brings me the most joy."
Gia details the genesis of the "Casey Crew" name, explaining that it originated from their initial podcast sessions where they sought a name that resonated with their identity and family. The positive feedback from their audience solidified the name, emphasizing the communal and familial spirit of their brand.
Notable Quote:
Gia Casey [03:07]: "We started the podcast without a name... one of us suggested the Casey Crew, reflecting our last name and the whole gaggle of our kids. People loved it, so we stuck with it."
The conversation delves into the contrasting parenting styles of Gia and DJ Envy. DJ Envy, influenced by his father's disciplined and authoritative approach, tends to set rules firmly, often saying "I said so." In contrast, Gia prefers a more communicative and explanatory method, aiming to instill understanding and mutual respect.
Notable Quotes:
DJ Envy [13:24]: "My dad was a retired police officer and ex-military, so I'm disciplined. I was the screamer because I said so."
Gia Casey [13:44]: "I like to explain why, ensuring that when we say no, it's understood and respected because there's always a good reason behind it."
Gia shares personal experiences that have shaped her vigilant approach to parenting, including a traumatic incident from her childhood. This has driven her to proactively educate her children about safety without instilling fear. The family incorporates actionable lessons, such as recognizing suspicious behavior and prioritizing personal safety.
Notable Quote:
Gia Casey [20:24]: "It's important to spread information and teach your kids, even though it may be a little scary, but in a way that doesn't incite fear."
A significant part of Gia and Envy's parenting philosophy revolves around fostering an environment where children feel safe to share their thoughts and experiences without judgment. This open line of communication ensures that the children can confide in their parents, allowing Gia and Envy to guide them effectively.
Notable Quote:
Gia Casey [30:13]: "We create a soft place to land. We create a no judgment zone. You could tell me anything. I will never, ever judge you."
The Casey family live by a shared mission statement that emphasizes unity, respect, and support. This collective ethos ensures that each family member upholds the values of respect and gratitude, both within the home and in their interactions outside.
Notable Quote:
Gia Casey [39:10]: "I want everyone that they come in contact with to know that they're well loved."
Gia and Envy discuss the challenges and learnings from raising six children of varying ages. They highlight the importance of adapting parenting strategies to suit each child's unique personality and developmental stage, ensuring that lessons are tailored and effective.
Notable Quote:
Gia Casey [35:33]: "Through trial and error with Madison and Logan, we're able to take all the good stuff and pour it into this second batch of kids."
The interview candidly touches upon moments where parenting strategies didn't go as planned, particularly with their eldest son, Logan. Gia reflects on the necessity of setting boundaries and the evolution of their approach to discipline, underscoring the importance of learning from these experiences.
Notable Quote:
Gia Casey [34:13]: "We had to dial that back, teach boundaries, and let him know his place because he started to misunderstand his place."
Gia emphasizes the broader impact of their parenting methods, noting feedback from teachers and other parents who recognize the positive influence their kids have. This reinforces their belief in the importance of instilling gratitude, respect, and love within the family unit.
Notable Quote:
DJ Envy [42:19]: "What we're doing at home is worth everything."
The episode concludes with Gia and Envy reiterating their commitment to honesty and transparency in parenting. Gia discusses the collaborative effort behind their book, ensuring it is both experience-driven and backed by psychological research, making it a valuable resource for diverse parenting challenges.
Notable Quote:
Gia Casey [37:00]: "The value in life is truth... there's no value to anything if it's not honest."
Key Takeaways:
Honesty and Transparency: Gia and Envy prioritize truthful communication with their children, fostering trust and understanding.
Safety and Resilience: Personal experiences inform their vigilant approach, balancing safety education without instilling undue fear.
Adaptive Parenting: Tailoring strategies to each child's needs ensures effective guidance and growth.
Community Impact: Their parenting philosophy extends beyond the home, positively influencing their community and peers.
Resource Development: Their book serves as a comprehensive guide, blending personal insights with professional expertise to support diverse parenting needs.
Upcoming Release:
Gia Casey's book, "Real Life, Real Family," will be available for pre-order on Amazon and in bookstores starting April 15th. Co-authored with a psychologist, the book offers practical exercises and reflections aimed at helping parents navigate the complexities of raising children in today's world.
Notable Quote:
Gia Casey [46:05]: "We wrote it alongside a psychologist to ensure that our approaches are sound both from personal experience and psychological perspectives."
Closing Remarks:
The episode wraps up with Gia and DJ Envy encouraging listeners to pre-order their book and continue supporting the Casey Crew. Their heartfelt discussion provides valuable insights into effective parenting, emphasizing the importance of love, respect, and open communication within the family.
Final Thought:
This episode of The Breakfast Club offers an intimate look into Gia and DJ Envy's parenting journey, blending personal anecdotes with practical advice. Their candid conversation serves as an inspiring guide for parents striving to create a nurturing and resilient family environment.