374: Charlotte Mckinney | The HoneyDew with Ryan Sickler #374 | Full Episode

Summary

The HoneyDew with Ryan Sickler, Episode 374: Charlotte McKinney | February 23, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this candid and humorous episode of The HoneyDew, Ryan Sickler sits down with model, actress, and budding stand-up comedian Charlotte McKinney. True to the podcast’s mission—“highlighting the lowlights” of life—the conversation dives deep into Charlotte's adverse experiences with dyslexia, addiction, mental health, toxic relationships, career pivots, and her journey through sobriety. The tone is confessional, raw, and laced with comedic relief, offering equal parts laughter and insight for listeners navigating similar “lowlights.”

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Charlotte’s Family Background & Upbringing

• Origins: Charlotte shares her multicultural family history—her dad is from the Bahamas, her mom from Canada (01:10-03:10). They met in the Bahamas (“she was the slutty tourist, my dad was just in a band...”), eventually moving to Florida to open a used car dealership, which Charlotte describes as “actual hell” because her parents both worked and lived together for 40+ years (02:28-04:22).
• Childhood: Raised in Orlando with an older sister, Charlotte felt like the “wild one” compared to her “trophy” sibling (04:44-05:57, 19:55-20:22).

Education & Dyslexia

• Struggles in School: Severely dyslexic, Charlotte always struggled with reading and writing, requiring audio learning and visualization (05:41-07:00). Even in acting, she develops her craft by listening to recorded lines rather than reading scripts.
• Dropping Out: She dropped out of high school junior year at 16/17 due to academic difficulties, intending to pursue modeling (07:41-08:10). Though her parents allowed it with the condition she’d get a GED, she never finished (08:10-09:29).
• Lingering Insecurities: Not having a diploma remains a source of insecurity. She contemplates returning for it, seeking “confidence I definitely lack” (08:22-09:37, 11:12-11:52).

Modeling & Acting Career

• Early Struggles: Charlotte used modeling as a springboard to Hollywood, though initial gigs were unglamorous e-commerce work. Her career broke with Guess Jeans, leading to the famous Carl’s Jr. burger commercial (11:52-12:44).
• Being “The Burger Girl”: Despite diverse achievements, public recognition clings most to her viral ad (“I will forever be known as, like, the burger girl”, 12:57-13:05).
• Breakthroughs: The Carl’s Jr. fame led to signing with UTA and appearing on Dancing with the Stars—which she “hated” and exited quickly (14:15-14:56).
• Comedic Leanings: Always drawn to comedy, she found the modeling world lacked humor. Acting roles (like Joe Dirt 2) offered a sense of play absent in fashion (13:40-14:14, 51:26-52:41).

Substance Use: Alcohol & Drugs

• Early Partying: Drinking began at 13 in the Bahamas, where regulations were loose ("You have a pair of tits, you get a drink.” 15:41-15:57). Drinking became entwined with managing “severe anxiety.”
• High School Drinking: Known by her parents for regularly sneaking vodka in water bottles and lockers, she was sent to AA in high school, often playing the “creepy guys” line to dodge meetings (15:34-19:32).
• Party Lifestyles in Miami & LA: Charlotte recognizes that being busy with work helped her focus, but when idle, she spiraled. Miami’s party culture presented a fork in the road: “become a total drug addict, or move to LA and try this other path.” (21:46-22:14)
• Relationship to Partying: Partying remained a “whole life” theme, especially when dating “bad boys” and through toxic relationships. Drugs became more prevalent, including recent experiences with dangerous new substances like “pink cocaine” (2C/Tusi), prompting a sobering realization about the risks of fentanyl and overdose (25:53-30:44).

Sobriety Journey

• Recent Sobriety: At the time of recording, Charlotte was 45 days sober after a close call with drug misuse. She’s previously done a full year sober but often relapsed during periods of boredom or heartbreak (26:21-27:09, 36:48-37:04).
• Sobriety Challenges: Temptation is greatest when not working, during bad breakups, or within romantic relationships with non-sober partners (37:06-39:08, 58:55-59:14).
• Benefits & Struggles:
  • Best: “the mental clarity” and stable mood (“I suffer with depression… not being hungover, just staying solid”, 40:35-40:49).
  • Misses: “The fun. The chaotic, like, excitement. I don’t have that right now” (41:00-41:13).

Navigating Relationships, Intimacy & Dating Sober

• Dating Challenges: Admits to “boy craziness” as her “biggest problem,” always relying on alcohol or drugs for intimacy. Recently experienced her first sober date (“Whoa, this is so weird”, 38:14-38:43).
• Sexuality & Comedy: Finds humor in “relearning” sex and dating without substances; jokes about asking ChatGPT for advice on initiation (39:13-40:13).
• Current Priorities: Focuses on herself and sobriety, acknowledging how hard it is to be sober while dating someone who isn’t (58:53-59:14).

Life in Comedy & Support Networks

• Comedy as Therapy: Stand-up and writing offer structure and purpose in her sobriety (“Stand up has just been … my thing,” 45:32-45:33). She finds the comedy community welcoming, especially among sober women (46:03-47:10).
• Self-Awareness in Stand-Up: Only three years in, she’s realistic about her current skill level but hungry to “put the work in and get better” (46:28-47:18).
• Parental Views: Her parents support her unconventional career but are distanced from the intense self-revelation that comedy requires (47:18-48:18).

Navigating the Entertainment Industry

• Sexualization & Harassment: Opens up about being sexualized and harassed in the business—“I was just put in such a place with my body...horrible people,” and wishes she’d had a stronger female support group early on (53:44-54:39).
• Ryan’s Story: Ryan shares his own workplace sexual harassment experience, noting the rarity and double standards men face (54:51-56:38).

Wisdom & Reflection

• Advice to Her 16-year-old Self: “If you’re in a bad situation or relationship… get out as soon as you can. You think you have all the time in the world and you don’t. Stayed too long.” (59:32-60:02)
• Ongoing Growth: Recognizes a pattern of staying in the wrong situations “too long” and urges herself and others to trust their own advice (60:05-60:14).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “She was the slutty tourist. My dad was just in a band.” — Charlotte (02:42)
• “I have that nuttiness of just knowing things are going to work out. The delusion I think I had really early on.” — Charlotte (11:27-11:36)
• “No matter what I do or things I accomplish, I will forever just be known as, like, the burger girl.” — Charlotte (12:57-13:05)
• “You have a pair of tits, you get a drink.” — Charlotte on Bahamian drinking laws (15:41-15:57)
• “I suffer with severe anxiety as a kid, so that for me [alcohol] was just like, oh my God, I can… relax.” — Charlotte (17:43-18:04)
• “My parents loved me almost too much. They should have been a little harder on me maybe.” — Charlotte (20:48-21:05)
• “The drugs and the drinking always have to do with a guy … I have really bad intimacy issues. So, like, coping with, like, just being intimate with someone… I have always drank.” — Charlotte (37:52-38:09)
• “Pink cocaine … there’s this new drug on the market called Tusi … I found out that [now] it’s all fat, you can die. So I was just like, this has gotta stop.” — Charlotte (28:21-28:36)
• “I love the ceremony [of smoking weed].” — Charlotte (34:46)
• “What do you miss the most about [drinking/using]? The fun. The chaotic, like, fun. Excitement. I don’t have that right now.” — Charlotte (41:00-41:13)
• “If you’re in a bad situation or relationship… get out as soon as you can. …I’ve wasted a lot of time with the wrong people.” — Charlotte (59:32-59:56)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:10-04:22 — Family background: Bahamas, Canada, Florida, parents’ car dealership
• 05:41-07:00 — Dyslexia struggles, learning style, impact on acting
• 07:41-09:29 — Dropping out, GED attempts, insecurity about education
• 11:12-14:14 — Modeling roadblocks, Carl’s Jr. opportunity, start in comedy
• 15:41-17:16 — Early drinking in the Bahamas, high school drinking stories
• 18:04-19:48 — Alcohol-related trouble, parental reactions, AA in high school
• 21:46-22:14 — Miami party scene as career crossroads
• 25:53-27:09 — Party lifestyle, dating, relationship choices
• 28:21-30:44 — Pink cocaine, fentanyl era, overdose risks
• 40:35-41:13 — Sobriety: best/worst aspects, living with clarity vs. chasing chaotic ‘fun’
• 46:03-47:10 — Comedy’s support community, self-awareness as a comic
• 53:44-54:39 — Being sexualized and harassed in showbiz, need for a female support group
• 59:32-60:14 — Advice to her 16-year-old self: “get out as soon as you can,” trust your own advice

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Final Thoughts

Charlotte McKinney’s honesty provides both laughter and empathy in mapping out a journey through learning disabilities, substance use, and the messy process of self-discovery in show business and life. Her story—reflecting on both “fun chaos” and real dangers—offers no easy answers, but plenty of hard-won lessons, especially for listeners navigating sobriety, self-worth, and authenticity.

Follow Charlotte:
Instagram: @charlottemckinney
Upcoming film: Busboys
Stand-up and more: See her socials for dates.

“If you're in a bad situation or relationship… get out as soon as you can. …I've wasted a lot of time with the wrong people.” — Charlotte McKinney (59:32-59:56)

Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

Connecticut. Come see me at Comics Roadhouse March 13th and 14th. Get your tickets now at ryancickler.com

[A]

the Honeydew with Ryan Sickler.

[B]

Welcome back to the Honeydew, y'.

[A]

All.

[B]

We're over here doing it in the Night Pan Studios. I'm Ryan Sickler. Ryan Sickler.com and Ryan Sickler on all your social media, thank you guys for supporting this show and anything I do. And if you got to have more, then listen to me. Every week I've been saying it. You gotta see the Patreon. Go check out the Honeydew with y'. All. It's this show with you all, and you all have the craziest stories I promise you'll ever hear anywhere. All right? And if you're still unsure, if you go check out the best of episodes that are free right here on the YouTube channel. We've done with Tom. We've done with Josh Wolf. Check those out. A cup of coffee a month and you're getting hundreds of episodes. And if you'd like to be on the show, then submit your story to honeydewpodcastmail.com if you sent it before, send it again. We get a lot of entries and submissions and bump it to the top. We'd love to do your story. All right. That's the biz. You know what we do here? We highlight the lowlights. Always say that. These are the stories behind the storytellers. I am very excited to have this guest here with us. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Charlotte McKinney. Welcome to the Honeydew, Charlotte McKinney.

[A]

Thank you for having me, Ryan.

[B]

Thank you for being here.

[A]

So exciting. We just met.

[B]

We did just meet. You have good energy, though.

[A]

You do, too.

[B]

Thank you very much. Before we get into your story, please, right there. Promote anything and everything you'd like.

[A]

I guess just my social. Charlotte McKinney. And I'm in the new Busboys movie that's coming out soon, so keep an eye for that.

[B]

Any dates? Any podcasts?

[A]

Yeah, I just. I'm working on getting one together, so I can't really talk about that, but I just did Adam Carolla's yesterday if you want to.

[B]

Yeah. All right. Great.

[A]

Yeah. There we go.

[B]

Yeah. So I did just meet you today, so I want to get to know you quickly.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Just chatting out there. You were. You said you're from Orlando.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Now, is that where your whole family's from? Or, like, are they your parents Floridians, or are they going to Orlando? Because it's like a Disney?

[A]

No, no, my dad's from the Bahamas.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And then my mom's from Canada and they met in the Bahamas and somehow ended up in Florida. They have, like, a used car dealership together.

[B]

Hold on. They met, like, on a trip?

[A]

Yeah, she was like the, like, slutty tourist. And my dad was like, yeah, my dad was just like, in. In a band and.

[B]

Yeah, it doesn't get sluttier than it was.

[A]

Funny.

[B]

A Bahamas band. And your mom's like, that's my guy.

[A]

Yeah, my dad was like, usually, you know, the women would come in. In the cru and then you get rid of them in a week. But your mother usually. Usually. Yeah. So that's kind of where mom was

[B]

like, you a get rid of.

[A]

Yeah, she was stuck.

[B]

So wait, so did she like. Like instant, like, she was like, no, this is it right here. Or did she go back to Canada, keep going, or was it one of

[A]

those, then kind of kept going to the Bahamas. So crazy.

[B]

And so when. So they go. They get married there in the Bahamas, in Florida. Okay, so what. What sends them to Florida?

[A]

My dad wanted to open up this car dealership.

[B]

So it goes from a band. What's your mom doing at the time, other than just bartending maybe? Listen, that job.

[A]

Exactly. Canadian.

[B]

What's your mom's name?

[A]

Susan.

[B]

All right. We love Susan, right? We love Susan.

[A]

We call her the Big Sus. Yeah, she's quite the time. I get a lot from my mother.

[B]

All right.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So why a used car dealership going from their bartender and a. And a guy in a band or like, we're gonna go do used cars.

[A]

I don't know, though. My dad just, like, loved cars growing up as a kid.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

That was just his calling. And they've been married for like 40 plus years.

[B]

All right. So you gotta love somebody to be married 40 years of work with them too.

[A]

And work. It sounds like actual hell.

[B]

No break.

[A]

No breaks, nothing.

[B]

No one to. To about anything or even run by. I'm like, what do you think of this? My wife did last.

[A]

Yeah, exactly. No. Yeah. So.

[B]

Man. Okay, so. Yeah. And so was the business successful? Is that like.

[A]

I would say so?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It kept us afloat.

[B]

So when do they. For when do they have children and how many do they have? And which one are you?

[A]

My mom didn't have me till she was like 3:37.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah, they partied and, like, got it out of their system and then.

[B]

Were you her first there? First?

[A]

No, I'm the second. So I have an older sister and Then me. So how much older? Three and a half.

[B]

All right. So she still waited till mid-30s to have kids?

[A]

Yeah, they. They waited. And that's why like I'm always like, oh, I don't want kids. But then I'm like, maybe something can change my.

[B]

Does your. Are you your. This might be a dumb question. Are you guys your dad's only kids?

[A]

Yes. Yes.

[B]

None of the cruise ladies that we know of.

[A]

There may be a couple Cruise y'

[B]

all should stay the off at 23 and me.

[A]

You know what I mean?

[B]

Like it's gonna be a cruise ship shows up.

[A]

Exactly. Like exactly.

[B]

All these are my dad's kids. Oh man.

[A]

So waiting for that day.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So is it just the two of you? Your sister?

[A]

The two of us, yeah.

[B]

And what are you guys doing in Orlando? The mom and dad are just doing that business.

[A]

They're doing that. We're in high school. I dropped out of high school in about when I was in June, junior year.

[B]

Why?

[A]

Before I just felt like if I didn't drop out, I'd still be there. I just really struggled passing any. I'm like severely dyslexic.

[B]

Oh, you. You are?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

When. When do you find that out?

[A]

I found that out at a pretty young age there it was pretty obvious when like I was not reading or writing or. So it def. Definitely took me some time to.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Learn how to read.

[B]

So you always struggle with grades and everything. Was it more about the. I mean the testing and the way you're looking at it, Was there any. What was the best way for you to learn? Let me ask you. That is dyslexic. If someone's going to teach you something, what is the best way for you? Is it a hand? If I'm going to say here's how we start a car. Is that a hands on thing or

[A]

do you hear it visualizing. And even like with my acting, I have to like listen to my lines. I don't read them.

[B]

I didn't even consider that I have

[A]

to play all my stuff back to memorize it.

[B]

So who reads it to you first then?

[A]

I'll. I'll read it and.

[B]

And record.

[A]

Yeah, I can like, I can read it and then I can record it. Get comfortable with it and then that's how I memorize it. But like just staring at.

[B]

So you're always off book.

[A]

Yeah, I have to.

[B]

I mean you kind of have.

[A]

I have no choice.

[B]

Yeah, that's what I mean.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So even with like now are you

[B]

doing that every Two seconds. Yeah. She's not ready, clearly.

[A]

No, even. Even with stand up, like, I kind of do the same thing. Try and just, like, memorize it enough. But, yeah, I've. I think, yeah, I'd just still be trying a path like 9th grade math, if I was still there.

[B]

So what were the hardest subjects for you?

[A]

All of them? Yeah, there was. There was not any. I think I was better with writing. And math was obviously really tough.

[B]

So dropping out's a. That's a significant choice for a junior. I mean, so what are you, like, 17ish in that area?

[A]

Yeah, 16. 17.

[B]

And do you just do it or do you have to, like, take a ged? Do you have your parents support with this? How does that all go down?

[A]

I told my parents, I'm like, look, I'm dropping out because I wanted to pursue modeling. And I was like, I'll get my GED eventually. But just like, I need to get out. I just can't be here anymore. And they were just like, if you get your ged, then that's fine as long as you get your ged. I never got my ged.

[B]

You didn't?

[A]

I tried taking it, failed miserably. So somehow I just, like, kind of just got away from. I was just like this. But it's something I've been, like, kind of thinking about recently.

[B]

I was just about to ask.

[A]

I kind of want to get it because I feel it may just give me the confidence. I sort of. I definitely lack confidence because I feel kind of all the time. So it would be nice to have that, like, say, like, you know.

[B]

Well, let me ask you this. Is your old high school know who you are, what you've done? Considering being dyslexic, would they be willing to give you an honorable or do. Or would they be willing to give you honorable? Would they be willing to give you a. Whatever.

[A]

Diploma.

[B]

A diploma. Not just give it to you, but a test. Yeah, a ged. So it's not a ged. So I'm saying it's an actual diploma from the high school GED sort of test. And would you take it?

[A]

I try.

[B]

What's your high school's name?

[A]

Boone High School.

[B]

Boone. Boone High School in Orlando, Florida. Home of the what?

[A]

Braves.

[B]

Home of the Braves. Boone. Let's go give this girl shot. God damn it. Whip up a test. 20 questions. Don't do more than that. Don't go hard on the girl, you know?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Quick 20. Give her a little social studies, a little math. Like that. Exactly. Yeah. You don't need to worry about phys ed or anything like that. Let's just know the sciences and like that.

[A]

Yeah, let's go. All right, so that's where I'm at

[B]

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[A]

yeah, I, I believe like this the start of my career and what I accomplished then I, I definitely look back and I'm like wow. Like I didn't expect this to happen.

[B]

And what did you expect to happen? Like when you dropped out in 11th grade, you were sure.

[A]

What I just, I, I have that nuttiness of just knowing things are going to work out. The delusion I think I had really

[B]

early on you got to be.

[A]

I was so delusional. I wish I had an ounce of delusion and the confidence I had back then because just being in this business for so long, you, you know, get worn out. But yeah, I just kind of was like, oh no, this is going to work out.

[B]

And you had said you wanted to pursue modeling, so had you already been modeling?

[A]

I wanted to use modeling to get, I'm from Florida. Like I knew no one in Hollywood. So I was like I can Use modeling to then eventually get to acting and comedy and that. And so I didn't. The modeling thing didn't work right away. Everyone was. I was short. I. It was the time when, like, curvy models weren't that exciting. So.

[B]

So, yeah, what are the. What are, like, what gigs are you doing? Are you doing print? Are you doing.

[A]

I'm doing, like, shitty, like, E Commerce.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Not great stuff for a while. And then that's when I got discovered by Gus, the denim company. And then that is kind of what helped with the modeling stuff.

[B]

Okay. So, yes, jeans was sort of the pop off.

[A]

Yeah, that was my pop off. And through that, I did some sort of interview or something in the owner of Carl's JR or the CEO of Carl's Jr found me through that, which

[B]

is where I had known who you were from that.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. And I feel like no matter what I do or things I accomplish, I will forever just be known as, like, the burger girl. But what.

[B]

At what point, though? Also, while the Internet's forever too. But I was gonna say at what point do, like, the fans age out of that, where you finally have this new group of fans? Right. You did what?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

What age do you think that is?

[A]

That's what I'm hoping.

[B]

Is it high schoolers now or. No, because how old's the. How long goes the spot again?

[A]

11 years.

[B]

So anybody my daughter's age right now, actually, and wouldn't know.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

You got a minute to wait?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But they can always go look these days on the Internet because you couldn't do that in the 80s and 90s. Now you can do that.

[A]

Exactly. But at the end of the day, like, I'm. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had and, you know, then was starting to do movies and everything I was doing was like, comedic roles. So that's where I really kind of was like, oh, I like comedy. And even with modeling, I always, like, tried having fun and poking fun at it, but everyone was so serious. And I think that's what I was just like this whole industry, it was so boring. No one had a sense of humor. I'd go to these shoots and I'd be like. And everyone was just like, so tight. So tight ass.

[B]

So.

[A]

Yeah, what.

[B]

Let me ask you this. What opportunity came from the Carl's Jr. Ad that. Listen, that surprised you. And you would have never thought, wow, I end up getting this because of that.

[A]

I think just signing with UTA at the time was pretty big for me. And then the opportunities they brought me they put me on Dancing with the Stars.

[B]

You weren't Dancing with the Stars. Are you a good dancer?

[A]

No, I'm a good dancer. Like, to myself, the car.

[B]

From the waist up. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Like, I'm not like a. 1, 2, 3.

[B]

How far did you go?

[A]

I made it like the second episode. I was just like this. I hated it.

[B]

Was it a ton of work, too?

[A]

It was so hard. Yeah, it was. It was nonsense.

[B]

If you're not a dancer, I. I can imagine. And I mean, that type of dancer where you. Again, memorizing these steps and all this too. It's a lot. Yeah.

[A]

And I'm at this time, I'm. I'm like, partying. I'm like, having fun. I'm like, I don't want to go sit in a dance studio hungover all day. I hated it. So. Yeah.

[B]

So talk to me about the partying and stuff. Is that. Were you already sort of partying in high school and stuff too? Yeah, you were. So when does that start? Is your older sister a little ahead of you and maybe gets into it a bit?

[A]

It started for me growing up going to the Bahamas. There was no drinking.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

My dad's where my. So we grew up every summer and winter. All the time. We grew up going to the Bahamas. And there's no. You have a pair of tits, you get a drink. There's no. They don't card you.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

So I start. I started and.

[B]

I'm sorry, I'm gonna interrupt for a second. So your dad's from there. So are you. Does he have family there? Are you also hanging out?

[A]

Yeah, exactly.

[B]

Okay. All right.

[A]

My whole family. Yeah.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

They're all still there. So I just grew up there. And I think that's when it was like, yeah, it was fine. And then it just took a pretty big turn when I got into high school and like, partying and drinking and just kind of has been my whole life.

[B]

Sobriety?

[A]

No, not sobriety. Being up has been my whole battling. I mean, my parents sent me to like, AA in high school.

[B]

Really?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Wait, why? What's going on in high school where

[A]

they are saying I'm getting caught with alcohol non stop?

[B]

Where in school in.

[A]

I would. I would hide booze in my locker. How.

[B]

Where are you putting it?

[A]

Water bottle.

[B]

Just vodka then.

[A]

Yeah. Straight vodka? Yeah, that's it.

[B]

So, you know.

[A]

No to give.

[B]

It's so funny. God, I, you know, doing stand up now and I'll go back to Baltimore and do a show. And a lot of people from high school still come out. They're also great. One of the girls was telling me, she goes, you know, the whole time I sat next to you on math, like, I had alcohol in my perfume bottle. And I said, what? She goes, yeah. I said, no. I. I was like, in ninth grade. She's like, yeah, I used to.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I go like this real quick. I was like, no.

[A]

Oh, stop.

[B]

Yeah, she'd drink. So I was like, clever little bitch. Yeah. Oh, you're an alcoholic.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. And you're. And you're an alcoholic.

[B]

Yeah. And you're an alcoholic in ninth grade.

[A]

In ninth grade, yeah. So.

[B]

So wait, what's the first thing you drank and you were like, I love this. Or what was it? What's the first time you got fucked up?

[A]

First time I got fucked up was in the Bahamas. Maybe I was like, 13.

[B]

Rum. Is it vodka?

[A]

Yeah, I think it was. Maybe it started with, like, champagne and, like, something not too heavy, and then I started with the hard liquor. And I just. I. I suffered with severe anxiety as a kid, so that for me was just like, oh, my God, I can, like, relax and it. Comfort like, it gave me. And so. Yeah.

[B]

And so back to. I interrupted. You were getting caught with alcohol, and your parents decided to put you in a.

[A]

Where.

[B]

How many times you getting caught before?

[A]

Like, oh, I'm getting. I'm just getting caught all the time. All the time.

[B]

What. What do you just.

[A]

Just boot? Like, they. My parents would, like, go to, like, the handle of vodka would all just be water because I would just take it. It was just. It never stopped. I'd have parties. If my parents. You would left for an hour, like, they weren't even going out of town. And I would be like, guys, like, it's a rager over here.

[B]

We got 45 minutes to pound it down.

[A]

Yes. Like, I was just a nutcase. And I think. I don't know. I just really. And so that kind of has always just stayed with me. And even when I had this success early on, I. I was partying. I didn't know how to. The anxiety, the strut. Like, I just didn't really know. Like, I look back at it now, and I was like, God, I could have had such a different career if I was very present. And you think. Yes and no. I think it could have helped tremendously.

[B]

So, AA in high school. How long are you there? And what's that?

[A]

Oh, I'm in and out. I'm.

[B]

Oh, yeah. Is it something you could leave, like, you sneaking out? Or are you like, is it I

[A]

think I told my parents. Yeah. I think I told my. I was like, the guys are creepy. I. I don't want to be there.

[B]

So that's all I'd want. I'd hear that as a dad.

[A]

Yeah, get her the out. Yeah, go back there. So it's like I won't.

[B]

You could play me like that.

[A]

Meanwhile, it's an all girl.

[B]

Yeah, we'll do it another way. No, they're sneaking in. She said they're sneaking in. They're sneaking in. Yeah, that would worry me too. Well, there's some in house. We'll do something.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay. So you're just getting away with it and you're still partying and fudgeing up. You. Now you're dropping out of high school.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I mean, what's your sister like? Is she the.

[A]

She's the trophy like sister still to this day, like the ying and the yang.

[B]

Like, do you know, Are you guys close?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah, we are. We've had our differences for sure. But like, are your, are your kids like one's a little crazy and one's more like type A.

[B]

Well, they're so different because they're so far apart. Once he's a boy, he's 22 and she's an 11 year old girl.

[A]

That's a very different.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I have a twin brother and we were very alike. I mean, fraternal twin. And I have a younger brother who's about almost four years and we're all, we're all very similar and different. You know what I mean?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But I wouldn't say anybody was the golden one. Our youngest was like, you know, he was like, liked the most.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

One foot. Loved on anything.

[A]

Yeah, I love that. Okay, that's funny.

[B]

So are they like kicking you out or are they still loving you? Are they what? Like, wow.

[A]

They're still very supportive, I guess like the grounding and that. It just never. Like my parents, My parents loved me almost too much. They weren't. They should have been a little harder on me maybe.

[B]

Good to hear.

[A]

So they were just. They were as supportive as they could be.

[B]

But also now I'm just putting myself in parents shoes. Like. Yeah, we've got a girl who hasn't graduated, a daughter, excuse me, who hasn't graduated high school. We also know she has problems with alcohol and she's going to Los Angeles.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

How do they even let you go? Do they support that or.

[A]

They start in Miami and. Yeah.

[B]

I mean, that's terrifying.

[A]

Terrifying. Like when I Even say this outline. I'm like, jesus, how old are you

[B]

when you're going to Miami by yourself?

[A]

I think by then I'm. I'm 18.

[B]

Oh, God, help me.

[A]

All right, which Miami is worse than la? So. So that was.

[B]

With all that temptation and stuff, you're already having problems. Yeah, you know, party.

[A]

It was. And I kind of had this moment when I was living in Miami. I was like, okay, I can live here. I can, like, become a total drug addict, or I can, like, move to LA and, like, try this.

[B]

Become a total drug.

[A]

Yeah. And still become a total drug addict. So I picked la.

[B]

Yeah. Good choice.

[A]

So, yeah. And then I, I.

[B]

How old are you when you move here?

[A]

20.

[B]

Okay. So about a year in Miami or so. And then you come out here.

[A]

Yes, exactly.

[B]

And then you start working and start

[A]

working and, like, when I have work, I. It's when I don't have work, is when I don't do well. So, like, I was busy, so I was staying, you know, focused. Focused and things like that.

[B]

But you mentioned being more present, so what do you mean by that?

[A]

So good. So good. So good. New spring arrivals are at Nordstrom Rack stores.

[B]

Now.

[A]

Get ready to save big with up to 6, 60% off rag and bone, Marc Jacobs, free people and more.

[B]

How did I not know Rack has Adidas?

[A]

Because there's always something new. Join the Nordic Club to unlock exclusive discounts. Shop new arrivals first and more. Plus, buy online and pick up at your favorite Rack store for free. Great brands, great prices. That's why you Rack. I think I was always just like, get the job done to go out, party. Yeah. So, like, instead of, like, really focusing on these opportunities that I had that were so awesome, I was just like, all right, let's.

[B]

But you're not. So here's what I want to ask you, because I learned a lot about alcoholics and addicts.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Sitting here. Are you going and partying with the staff and the crew so that you're also networking while you're partying? Are you going home and, like, drinking by yourself or your own spot where it's just.

[A]

No, it's more of like.

[B]

Like, are you trying to.

[A]

Guys I'm seeing at the time or the, like, friend group I'm with. Yeah. Guys played a big part of it, too. Yeah.

[B]

So you think that looking back, you could have still probably drank and hung out, but if you just did it with these people that you're working with and finding out more about this pa, worked on this thing, and we know. Yeah.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

It was more being boy crazy.

[A]

I was boy crazy. That's my biggest problem. The boy craziness still to this day.

[B]

Why?

[A]

I don't know. I have a great father.

[B]

This also is terrifying to hear.

[A]

God damn it.

[B]

I can do all the right things.

[A]

You can still be great things. And we still just have daddy issues for no reason. Oh, you know? Yeah, it's true. Not to scare you. I mean, this episode after me, you're going to be like, oh, my God,

[B]

let me call my daughter when I pick her up today later for after school.

[A]

This is what not to do.

[B]

So. But here's the thing. Like, I sit in those and I go, well, your dad's a Bahamian man in a band. And I'm like, I'm a fudgeing comedian. Like, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Very similar. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

Okay, so boys, early on, like, when do you know your boy crazy high school?

[A]

I was boy crazy. And then, yeah, I had, like, a first boyfriend when I moved here.

[B]

Who are your first, like, celebrity crushes? Like, give me date ranges here. Like, who or boy bands or whatever it is. Who's, like, the bad. Who's on the wall?

[A]

The bad boy?

[B]

Who, like, who. Who's a bad boy? You're younger than me, so who back then's the, like, a bad boy?

[A]

I don't know. I don't think, like, I'm like, oh, I've slept with that person, So I can't even say, yeah, okay, but, yeah, bad boys.

[B]

Okay, so you like bad boys. I got it. All right, and then you have a boyfriend when you come out here or you meet someone out there.

[A]

I met an actor, okay. Who kind of found a photo of me and was like, how do I get in contact with this girl? And that. That relationship was very. Just toxic and dark and. Yeah. And did not help me with where I was in my career at all.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So at what point do you say to yourself, all right, this drinking thing, it is starting to become a problem?

[A]

45 days ago. This is all very new.

[B]

Six weeks ago.

[A]

Six. Six weeks ago. Not even. Not even Ryan. Okay.

[B]

All right, so we're in it right now.

[A]

No, I've. I've dabbled with sobriety. I've gone a year before. I've done a full year without.

[B]

Well, wait, let me pause you for a second, because I don't even mean that. I don't mean that. I mean, when. At what age were. Are you where you say to yourself, all right, this is a problem. I don't mean, like, we need to fix it now. I just mean we're like, okay, this is something I'm battling and to continue to battle. Like, when do you know? Is that young, too? Do you know?

[A]

Like, I think I've always.

[B]

In a phase. Like, I think I've always known. Yeah.

[A]

And then more recent, like, just really knowing.

[B]

Okay, why. Why 45 days ago. You don't have to say anything you don't want to say. And you also say anything. It could be used against you in court or anything.

[A]

No, I. When I would. It wasn't for me. It's not so much drinking. It was. It was drug use. It was getting. Getting drunk to. To get drugs was always.

[B]

So you're just getting drunk to get drugs?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Why don't you just skip past the drunk part, though?

[A]

My. Well, I didn't really get into drugs well in Miami, I guess. Yeah. I've always kind of done them, but I don't know, the drinking kind of just turned a switch of like, let's keep this going. Going as much as we can.

[B]

And so to keep it going, I'm guessing, is, well, what Miami's.

[A]

Yeah. Cocaine.

[B]

Okay, so let's talk about that, too.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Because this is a different era of cocaine.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Is poison cocaine everywhere else?

[A]

Totally. And I think that's what. Recently I was, like, doing this, like, pink cocaine. Recently it was like this new. Yeah, recently there's this new drug on the market called Tusi.

[B]

And I was doing the names and the 2C. It's called.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's pink.

[A]

And it's pink. And I started doing that. Reese. It's like a new. And. And I was. And I found out that, like, now with these, it's all fat. You can die. Of course you're gonna die. So I was just like, this has gotta stop. This has gotta stop.

[B]

Of course.

[A]

So that. That's what scared me is, like, what you're saying in this time we're in now, whether it's pink, whether it's white, whether. Whatever the it is, you can't trust it. And, like, even in.

[B]

You're talking about the people who are giving it to you, all of it, white, black, yellow, pink, purple, whatever. Yeah.

[A]

Can't trust them or the drugs.

[B]

Listen, it's a different world. Like, Yeah, I know this sounds like old man, but, you know, the 80s, they were just cutting it with, like, bullshit. Like. Yeah, like, just bullshit to make the coke go further for the dollar. Now they're poisoning people. And I. I say this all the time. I feel bad because I'VE had. I've been affected by it. I've had a friend, young daughter was like 22 and got this much and it was the end of her life.

[A]

And those are the stories that just break, like just.

[B]

It's crazy. And so, you know, I had to educate. So my daughter, he came to visit us. This was probably when she was like five or six maybe. And he was crying when I saw him. You know, it's not. And I'm like, how are you doing? And so she asked me like, why is he crying? I was like, you know what? I'm gonna tell you the truth. It's on the back of buses everywhere now.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know what I mean? Like, I'm going to tell you the truth. Yeah, he. His daughter got some. A drug that was poisoned. And that's the other part. It's like, oh, they say these people overdose. You didn't overdose. Overdosing is taking so much that your body shuts down. You were poisoned. If you take that much, that's not an overdose. That's poison. And you die. So now I keep hearing everybody too is like, well, we test it. Or I trust my dealer. We test it. Like, I don't want to fucking test. I'm not a chemist. I know I'm not a chemist.

[A]

We don't know.

[B]

It's. No, my guy's my guy. My guy.

[A]

And I was hearing myself say these things and I was like, well, my guy would never. I'm like, who would the do, I don't know.

[B]

Get it from? And who do they get it from? It could be 10 people before it gets to our guy.

[A]

Yeah, your guy.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

You know, so I think that's when I really realized I'm like, I can't be doing this.

[B]

Can I ask you. And you don't have to answer specifically or anything. Did you. Have you lost anyone? Is some. Did something scare you like that? Have you ever had to be this time of year? Everyone talks about going dry, but at Athletic Brewing Co. We're skipping that because we prefer going Athletic, which isn't dry at all. From crisp goldens to hoppy IPAs and limited releases in between, you'll find something that fits your style. Every single non alcoholic brew is packed with flavor and the same craft experience you love. So, yeah, you could call it dry, but there's really nothing dry about it. Find your new favorite near beer@athletical brewing.com. athletic Brewing Company fit for all times. Have you ever had to have the fucking Narcan shop?

[A]

No, no, no.

[B]

None of that?

[A]

No. I lost people in high school from the.

[B]

From fentanyl.

[A]

Not from fentanyl, but like, opioids were really big. There was someone we lost in. In high school, but that never really like, scared me because I wasn't doing pills. But I think now it's just hearing these stories. Even if it's not someone close to me, it's hearing these awful stories about it. But no, I had a time recently where I overdid it and I didn't. I didn't overdose, but it was a very close call. And I just go. I just looked at myself the next day. I'm like, get it together good.

[B]

You had that moment fucking wake up.

[A]

That could have turned really bad. Or you had a little, like, it's just too fucking risky. And I. And I did it a year and then I would get 50 days and then just get bored. And I'm about to hit 50 days again and I get bored and I like. But I just need to remind myself, like, it gets better. It will be okay. And just to continue to. Are you just a weed guy?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's all. Do you drink?

[B]

Not anymore.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Well, I. I mean, I'll do shrooms every now and then. Every now and then?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

The nice. Reset the mind. Yes. Weed is my go to. I. I used to drink, like when we started doing stand up early on, I would drink. I've never been a. I mean, a drink in high school and shit too. But it's never like really, I don't know the degrees with anyone, honestly. Yeah, I would see like person after person get a dui. Another dui. Another dui. And at the time I was seeing someone, she got a dui. And I'm watching what they do to you. I'm like, wait, so it's $10,000 and it's not like that gets wiped off your shit. It's $10,000 plus it's here for a DUI. The last, I think, I don't know, seven, eight years drive clean. Also the. I didn't know you had to go do a meetings. I didn't know any of that. You had to get them signed. You couldn't cheat.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

There's no license for a year. So it's the. And Uber wasn't around then, so it's taxis or buses and shit. Like the horrible deal of that.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I was like. So I started considerably cutting back then. Excuse me. And then after I had these health issues and they made me go on blood thinners.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

They were like, you could smoke, but you. You shouldn't drink anymore. And I was like, easy, great.

[A]

So, yeah.

[B]

But I'm also. How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?

[A]

32.

[B]

I'm 20 years ahead of you.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So. And I find earlier you can do it, the better it's gonna be for you, you know?

[A]

And then, I mean, even when I was sober, I would still, like, I smoked weed every day for, like, five years and that quitting weed was harder than quitting anything.

[B]

Is that right?

[A]

That is the hardest drug to quit. Do you smoke every day?

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Oh, good luck if you ever try and quit.

[B]

I've quit a few times.

[A]

You have?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

What are your thoughts?

[B]

I'll tell you. I quit one time when my daughter's mom and I split, and I was like, oh, she's taking me to court. So I quit for a few months. So I would make sure my, like, P test or whatever.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. Of course.

[B]

I. The only thing I noticed, I wasn't more agitated. It took a few days to get past the. Just the habitual. You know, I like to.

[A]

I love the ceremony.

[B]

Yes, That's. That's. Yes. It took me more. That was harder to get past. Like, oh, right now I'd be grabbing this and stuff. After that, no problem. But what I did experience was anxiety dreams every night for, like, a month, and then they finally went away. But it would be dumb.

[A]

But you get dreams back.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

When you don't smoke.

[B]

Well, hold on. Where are my keys? Or. I'm here to do Charlotte's podcast, and it says to go to 2, 2, 2 2. And I see 2, 2, 2 1. I see 2 to 3. Where is it? Where is it? Dumb shit like that. And so, yes, Dr. Drew said, well, you'll start dreaming again. You're not hitting your REM state, blah, blah, blah. Well, yeah, I'm here to debunk that, because I will. I got a CPAP machine maybe a year or so ago, and I don't use the Darth Vader mask. It's got a little nasal pillow. And immediately started dreaming again.

[A]

But good dreams. Yeah, okay.

[B]

Wonderful, creative dreams.

[A]

Nice dreams.

[B]

It wasn't that I wasn't dreaming because I didn't get to. Or excuse me. It wasn't that I wasn't getting to REM because of the weed. It was because I was having sleep apnea and choking in my sleep and never getting a deep sleep. It had nothing to do with it for me.

[A]

For you. For you.

[B]

He's wrong about that. In general, yeah. For me, I started dreaming again regardless of whether I smoked weed or not. When I, like, really started sleeping well.

[A]

Got it.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I noticed my dreams just coming back.

[B]

You do?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Are they anxiety dreams, though? Are they good dreams?

[A]

It's a mix. It just depends what mood I'm in before I go to bed, I guess.

[B]

But that was the withdrawal for me.

[A]

Yeah. Was the dreams.

[B]

It was. And a little bit of the, like you say, the ritual, but that was a few days. The dreams lasted like a month.

[A]

It's crazy.

[B]

I go to bed and I'm like, we got a flat tire. Like, it was all.

[A]

You wake up.

[B]

Yeah. Everything's starting off disorderly.

[A]

You're like, ah, so rough. Yeah.

[B]

So you've been in and out of sobriety or fighting it and stuff.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And your longest stretch is 50 days.

[A]

A year.

[B]

A year.

[A]

Okay. I made a year. Yeah. What was that year? That was four years ago, maybe.

[B]

And so what happens? It's truly boredom that trips you up. Yeah.

[A]

I'm not working.

[B]

Are you going through something when you trip up?

[A]

My last recent. Kind of. When I started getting back into it pretty heavily was just like a bad breakup. That'll get you. That was.

[B]

My next question is also how much do guys play in. Not that they're forcing it on you in any way or whatever, but their lifestyles as well, where you're like, I can't. If I'm around that I'm gonna partake.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

All the guys you date, have you

[A]

ever dated a. I dated a sober guy for seven years, and then when that ended, I started dating.

[B]

Wait, his sobriety ended or.

[A]

No, you guys, we ended.

[B]

Why?

[A]

He cheated on me.

[B]

Oh. It didn't have anything to do with you doing.

[A]

Maybe I was a nightmare, but I mean, besides that.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

No, I, I. The. The drugs and the dot and the drinking always have to do with a guy. If I'm out with a guy or I like a guy, I. I have really bad intimacy issues. So, like, coping with, like, just being intimate with someone. I always kind of have always drank.

[B]

What do you mean? Just like the communication and talking one on one to someone.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And you feel like it's intense.

[A]

Like, I can't. Like, I've never. Recently, I went on my first date sober, and I was like. Like, whoa, this is so weird.

[B]

Say that again ever.

[A]

Charlotte, I've always had a drink on a first date.

[B]

I see what you mean. Not wasted. No alcohol.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Dry.

[A]

Dry as.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

What was that like for you?

[B]

What was that like?

[A]

I mean, it's it's hard.

[B]

I mean, that pork. Does that guy know that, too? Like,

[A]

touching my hands, I was just like, this is great.

[B]

This water doesn't have any alcohol in.

[A]

I'm losing my mind.

[B]

How did it go, though?

[A]

It was. It was fine.

[B]

I mean, it's also tough because you're. You're judging and living an experience you have and. And trying to also figure out if you don't, is this a. Is this a new guy?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

First date?

[A]

No, no, no. Hang out. It was fine.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

But, yeah, just that in general, even right now, I'm, like, talking about in stand up, like, just always having, like, sex. Drunk and now sober and, like, how awkward and weird and, like, you're relearning how to, like, do stuff as a normal person. Do stuff.

[B]

Normal person.

[A]

Like, how does this work?

[B]

How do y' all do this?

[A]

How do you all do this? Does anybody have notes? Can someone help them? On ChatGPT, I'm like, how do. How do I initiate sex now? Like, it's like, so what are you talking about? I just don't.

[B]

Listen, you're a woman and just say, yeah. And a guy is like, okay, that's the easiest part. That's the easiest part. You could also ask men how they have to do it, because we're the ones that have to figure out, yeah, you're good.

[A]

I guess. You're right.

[B]

You're good.

[A]

All of it is just.

[B]

You can walk in and be like, hey, I would like to have sex with you. And your guy's gonna be like, okay. That's how you initiate. It's easy.

[A]

I guess I just don't know how to. I don't know. It's just been a. It's been a challenging time, but I'm getting through it, and it's funny, and I'm. I'm enjoying finding the humor in it and. And all that. It's all right.

[B]

I'm gonna ask you a few questions. Let's start with this one. What's your. What's so far? And while you've done it for a year before, too, what's your favorite part about sobriety, then, like, being so.

[A]

My favorite part and what keeps me going day by day is the mental clarity.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I was so even with the weed. My moods were just. I couldn't keep a stable. I suffer with depression.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

But I think just staying, like, not being hungover and just staying, like, solid.

[B]

Okay. What do you miss the most about it?

[A]

The fun.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

The chaotic, like, fun. Excitement. I don't have that right now. So, like, if I want to, like, drink, I go to an open mic.

[B]

Like, I mean, that's not fun. It's dangerous, but it's not fun.

[A]

Exactly. Living on the edge.

[B]

Okay, what. Other than sex? What did you used to do that maybe. Have you tried it sober? Not sex. I mean, other than sex. I'm saying, what else would you do? You say fun and chaos are, like,

[A]

just going out, socializing, and you just

[B]

feel, like, 10ft tall and bulletproof when you're.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And you don't. You would never be that same. Charlotte out.

[A]

Yeah. Even now. Like, even my friends asked me to, like, a dinner the other night, and I was just like, I don't trust myself. Like, I was like, I'll.

[B]

Well, that's growth.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

That's responsible. Yeah.

[A]

So I, like, cancel because I knew that that was a group of friends who partied really hard, and I was just like, thank you, but I can't.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Be there right now.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So it's. It's.

[B]

And you don't have any temptations around the home. You're more of an outside.

[A]

I'm an outside.

[B]

You don't keep a little?

[A]

I. I do mushrooms, but no little.

[B]

In case of emergency, break glasses around the house, stuff in a shoe or anything like that.

[A]

I have a little molly save.

[B]

I knew it.

[A]

Because that's my favorite.

[B]

Is it really my number one. That's your number one? That's a party drug. So what are you doing when you go out? Are you dancing?

[A]

Like, what are you doing?

[B]

You're a dancer. You go to those kind of clubs?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

What are the hides and all those.

[A]

No. Maybe just, like, concerts or.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

House parties or after hours.

[B]

When's the last time you went to a house party?

[A]

45 days ago.

[B]

I don't know.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Who's still throwing house parties?

[A]

Creeps. Right.

[B]

I guess I thought maybe you had a circle of friends. It's just dudes. You're saying dudes, and you're trusting enough to go to these house parties? What are house parties like these days? We're gonna do your way back and talk about house parties.

[A]

Parties these days?

[B]

Yeah. For these guys, everyone is a house party.

[A]

I guess it's like after hours at someone's house, and everyone's just high as. And, like, you don't even. You're not even having real conversations.

[B]

And is this the place where you're doing pink cocaine?

[A]

Pink cocaine. Molly cocaine. And you're just, like, talking to.

[B]

Are they in the hills? Are they nice houses? Yeah. Yeah. Are these, like, sketch.

[A]

They're nice.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I've had my fair share of sketchy houses in Florida, but these are. No. A little more elevated.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

All right.

[A]

Kind of.

[B]

And do you tend to see people, you know, there, like, cross pads?

[A]

Yeah. I mean, I've been going out in this town for a very long time.

[B]

Is it still a lot of the same faces and it is, but even

[A]

recently, there was this guy who you'd always see out and then recently OD'd on fentanyl like he did. Yeah. So it's the. It. It definitely, like, you're seeing how it catches up with people.

[B]

Well, also, if that guy's been out forever and you've seen him a bunch, that's how close it also is to you. That's one. I mean, it's a touching a person away from you that terrifies me.

[A]

It's so scary, and I think that is what scared, like, just got it. Me done with it. It's just too risky. Too old for. I'm 32. Like, I want to. I want to get my career back. I want to work. I want to be like, I can't be around this.

[B]

No. Because it will kill you.

[A]

It will.

[B]

They're not trying to.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

They don't care.

[A]

Yeah. You kind of. And what I've noticed, and I'm sure you've seen this in comedy. It's like you kind of hit a point in your 30s and 40s, you're like, you can either continue partying and live this lifestyle or you get sober. There's kind of. I mean, obviously not like sober sober, but, like, you kind of can't continue to do it at a point.

[B]

Like, even. Even if you can, your body's going to give out. Some point you're living. You don't get the health, the aspects of it. And 32, you're so young. Imagine 20 more years of that to your body. It's gonna wreck it, right? It's gonna wreck your body.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

If you don't die first.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Young as.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

It's crazy out there.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It's. It's. I mean, and this sounds so dumb, but it's not safe to do drugs anymore.

[A]

It's really not.

[B]

It's really not even safe to do drugs anymore at all.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

The times have changed. Charlotte McKinney. I really can't be doing that.

[A]

Can't be doing this.

[B]

All right, so where are we putting our energy now, then? What. What do we. What do we like to do to take place of Old habits. Do you have, do you knit?

[A]

Do you read?

[B]

What do you like doing?

[A]

Stand up?

[B]

Okay.

[A]

It's just been stand up and writing and. Yeah, I, I eat more sugar. I notice I'm like, eating more.

[B]

Is it hard for you to be in the stand up environment with all the temptations out there?

[A]

I mean, yeah, I mean, who wouldn't want a drink or a shot before going out? That's, you know. But I never really mix drinking with getting up on stage. I've always made sure to always not be up on stage.

[B]

Okay. So that, so that's familiar for you.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

All right.

[A]

But I feel there's a pretty big community in the sober world in comedy. I'm grateful to know some really awesome girls who are sober and, and all that. So I feel great.

[B]

A supportive network of ladies in this shitty business that could trip you up at any second and does to the best of people.

[A]

Yes. All right. Yeah.

[B]

How long you been doing comedy?

[A]

Only three years.

[B]

Oh, fuck. So I'm really putting yourself to the test all over.

[A]

Oh, what are you doing sober and like three years in college, probably the worst thing in the world. I, every day I wake up, I just want to, you know, itself is

[B]

hard as fuck and then so brutal into it.

[A]

Oh, it's hell. And I'm in a place right now where I'm like, I know I suck. I want to get better. I'm trying to find my voice. I not suck, but, like, I know I can do better. And you're doing shows with these amazing people and you're like, fuck, I just need time under my belt. And so.

[B]

Well, good for you for having that attitude about it because I'm very realistic.

[A]

A lot of people.

[B]

Yeah, good for you.

[A]

So I know, you know, where I stand and how much work I need to put into it and just get better, keep getting up.

[B]

What about mom and dad? Are they in support of this comedy move?

[A]

They are. I mean, it's, they've always been very supportive, but, like, yeah, I think just talking about crazier things now, it maybe scares them a little bit.

[B]

You dive into your life.

[A]

Yeah, I don't know. I don't, I think deep down they don't love it, you know, like, what

[B]

would they rather you do? Did they want you to work in the family business where they, like, come sell these cars?

[A]

They knew that would never happen and they knew I just have always loved the entertainment world and, and all that, so I, I, they didn't expect me to do anything else. But I think sometimes with Comedy, it's. It's a little much to see your

[B]

daughter talking about, so I verbally said out loud already, do not get into comedy. Don't. Well, there's also no set structure or anything in this business for any of that. It's.

[A]

You can say whatever you want. And sometimes the more shock value it is, the more. And views. It's. It's a weird.

[B]

But also in the sense that, like with, you know, if you want to be a doctor, it's. Here's the things you knew to do, here's the things you need to do in order to be a doctor. Called a doctor now.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

How good you are or bad you are is how much you put into that.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But there's no set rules of say, okay, you want to be a comedian. You do these four years of this, and now you're. There's none of that.

[A]

No.

[B]

And there's also a business where, I don't know, might be a director and you might remind him of a shitty ex wife.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It's like, I don't want to see her every day and it's got nothing to do with you or anything. And it's just like. Reminds me of my ex and I don't even want to see her anymore. It's like, oh, awesome. Thanks.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So I don't know, I feel like, you know, you put. Think about putting eight years into comedy. You're. You're a junior in college right now.

[A]

Now. Yeah.

[B]

Imagine that. And you're going for a doctorate.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

A master's whatever. Imagine that. You're like, I got to do all that to get to that. And then. Then I got to really put the work in to be good at that. I'm just gaining my knowledge right now. It's a wild thing to think about.

[A]

It's insane.

[B]

Yeah. What the matter with you? Like, you must love it. You must love it.

[A]

It. I really do.

[B]

What is it about. Do you feel free on that stage? Do you or. And in the sense of, like, you're not worrying about sobriety and all these

[A]

other things kind of get out of my life for a little bit. But I think for me, like, even being in the entertainment and the acting or in modeling, I was around such, like, not saying comedians are great people, but it just feels like a. I don't know, a community I like being a part of. Like, I feel so seen and like, I like these people when I'm around them. Like, I can have a horrible night and bomb. But, like, just hanging out with other comedians I just. I love it. And I feel we're all kind of like our own weird thing. And just, it's. There's. I don't know. I've. I've weirdly found such comfort in it in a weird way. And people are like, what are you talking about? This is the hardest. I'm like, it's hard, but I don't know, it just. It's been weirdly welcoming for me. I've had my bad, dark times, and I'm not saying it's been easy at all, but. I don't know.

[B]

Can we go back to your Carl's Jr spot?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

As a dad and mom.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Are they supportive of that?

[A]

Very.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

All right.

[A]

As crazy as that sounds, they were so excited for me. And.

[B]

Because here's the other thing. I want to ask you this now, on the east coast, at least where I'm from, up there, it's Hardee's. Is a Hardee's in Florida. So are you the Carl's Jr. And the heart? Like, is there a Hardee's Change? For real?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So that part of the us Might know you as the Hardee's Girl.

[A]

Yeah, no, she. Yeah, I'll take whatever.

[B]

Whatever. Yeah, whatever. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay. So they were like, all right, we're supporting.

[A]

They were very supportive.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah. They thought it was really cool.

[B]

And what's the first thing that Law got for you?

[A]

You.

[B]

After that, I mean, you say uta, but, I mean, first. Next job, I should say my first

[A]

movie was Joe Dirt, too.

[B]

Wait, you went right from Carl's Jr. To Joe Dirt, too?

[A]

Yeah. No acting experience, but I did good.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, I. I loved it.

[B]

Did you? You did like, it Fell in love.

[A]

That second being on set, I was like, this is. This is insane.

[B]

That's also probably a set where you show up and you can be you at the ruse. And they're playing along, and it's not the other serious.

[A]

It was Fred Wolf that I got to work with on that, and he was just so great. And I was like, this is so sick. How do I make this my life? I mean. But. And I think why I got into stand up, too, is with acting. I have so much downtime and, like, you're not work. Like, work is very hard to get. So for me, it's just like having something else to do and structure. And I get so bored waiting.

[B]

Yeah. And also, if you're not on a series or something like that, it could be. Who knows when you're getting it and then when you do it goes pretty quickly.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

And what's next?

[A]

Yeah, you know, like I've shot two things in the last two years and those aren't even out yet. Like. Yeah. The amount of time things take and so yeah, I'm really grateful for it all. I just want to be working more.

[B]

But how often you. Are mom and dad still in Florida?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

How often you go back and visit?

[A]

Pretty often. I love Florida. I pull a lot of like my like comedy of Florida and just Florida in general is such a. I'm so interested by Florida and Florida people. I think it's wild. People are insane. So I love going there and like just being. And getting out of LA and just being around like normal people. I love it.

[B]

What's it like growing up in Orlando? Is it like Anaheim here? Is it Disney crazy?

[A]

I grew up like going to the

[B]

beach, but also is. Is Disneyland like right over there?

[A]

I was not.

[B]

I wasn't really near Disney neighborhood next to it.

[A]

No, no. I. I didn't do any of that. We didn't even really go to Disney. I'm not a Disney person. No. Yeah.

[B]

Without maybe naming names, most up thing that happened to you in showbiz.

[A]

Where do we begin? Where's my long list?

[B]

What, Anything you're comfortable with. Because I'll bet. And if you want to name names, you can name names too.

[A]

I just start a lawsuit on your show? I think for me it was just being sexualized. I was just putting in such a place with my body at the time and I just was so sexualized by such horrible people. But I learned from it.

[B]

So how do you protect yourself from that? And. And can you. Can you in this business, can you protect yourself from that?

[A]

I don't think you can.

[B]

I think you can try as a woman.

[A]

I think you can try. I wish I had more of a female support group when I started.

[B]

You ever talked to any men that have been sexualized?

[A]

I haven't. That could be very interesting. Have you?

[B]

I was sexually harassed at a job.

[A]

Okay. No way.

[B]

I really was. Well, I've never talked about it. It's the first time ever saying it and stuff. But I was. Went to HR and everything.

[A]

No way.

[B]

Yeah. I was told if I did what this lady did, I would have been putting handcuffs in front of everyone and let out of the building and I would never work again.

[A]

And that's.

[B]

And they gave that lady. You ready for this? Two weeks, three weeks later, employee of the month.

[A]

But of course, where to go? Of course.

[B]

Because that's how it Goes, swear to God.

[A]

I'm so sorry, Ryan.

[B]

Don't be. It's all good.

[A]

But that's the thing with.

[B]

Also can defend myself. If you have a man after you. Excuse me. And he wants to impose his physical will on you. I mean, unless you know some MMA shit or you're. You know what I mean? Like, he. A girl said it to me recently, a couple of years ago, hey, how many men you walk by on the sidewalk and you fear them? I was like, not many. And she's like, how about imagine. Imagine everyone? And I was like, I never thought of that from like a lady's point of view where like this man, if he wanted to, could muscle me or whatever.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

Even if it's not rape me is kill me.

[A]

Yeah, whatever.

[B]

Against my will.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I was like, huh. So I never felt threatened in that way.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

But. And it was all done like on the company email, so it was an easy forward to hr, like, here you go, here you go.

[A]

Here.

[B]

He's a. No, another one. Here's another one.

[A]

Yeah. Insane.

[B]

But nothing like I'm sure that you've had to deal with in any way. And I don't want to compare it at all. You just asked me if I ever have.

[A]

No, I'm just.

[B]

I have.

[A]

That's crazy.

[B]

It was, it was wild. It was a while.

[A]

So wild.

[B]

It was a while.

[A]

But that's my point. It can really be. It can happen to anyone. And I. I think men still deal with it just as much.

[B]

Nah, not just as much at all. I can tell you this. I know a bunch of. Of dudes. I don't know one that's ever had that ever, ever. And I'm 52 at this point. That was maybe, I don't know, how many years ago now. So.

[A]

Yeah, it.

[B]

No, it's not even close.

[A]

No. Yeah.

[B]

No.

[A]

Yeah. I walk out the door and there's something that. Yeah, not really, but. But no, I, I.

[B]

Bunch of sweatpant boners just waiting out there for the whole. The whole world.

[A]

The whole world. No, but I. It's something that has been a big part and I think again, why I used drugs and, and needed this escape so much because I just didn't know how to handle such attention or the. Just what. How men were drawn to me.

[B]

Can I ask you this too? Also, that's, in a way, I don't want to compare it to, you know, sobriety. But you were always boy crazy. You said.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And now here they are come.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

You know what I mean? So it's like, not that you're. You're getting what you asked for in a sense of what their behavior, but I mean, here come the boys. So. Yeah. How do you handle that?

[A]

You don't.

[B]

Because you're just. I mean, I can't even hear that. Here's what I asked for and what I want. And here they come.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. It's weird.

[B]

Is that just a nightmare?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Have you ever been on dating apps or anything?

[A]

I had a friend in my last breakup put me on Raya and I was like that, like, take it off. I like.

[B]

Couldn't you rather just meet someone naturally?

[A]

Yes, if it takes longer and it's harder. I'm just more of like having a natural moment with someone I don't know. And I feel like guys who see photos of me and then like, I don't.

[B]

They have a preconceived idea or whatever. Yeah. What about without getting too deep into this guy you're seeing now? Is this your first like sober sort of dating relationship, whatever you're doing there?

[A]

I guess, yeah. I'm trying to keep things.

[B]

Is he sober?

[A]

No.

[B]

How hard is that?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I mean, even said yeah. Yeah, it is hard.

[A]

I'm forever single in my head. But I don't know, I'm just. I'm My focus right now is me and staying sober.

[B]

But I'm saying, how hard is it to stay sober around who's not.

[A]

It's too hard.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And that's why. Yeah, it's. It's impossible.

[B]

I understand.

[A]

So we shall see.

[B]

Well, good luck with it. All right.

[A]

You're so fun to talk to before.

[B]

Thank you. Before we get out of here. Advice you're given to 16 year old Charlotte McKin.

[A]

Where do we begin after all that? I'd say if you're in a bad situation or relationship or anything like that, get out of it as soon as you can. Cuz you think you have all the time in the world and you don't. And you're like, oh, this. You know, I've wasted a lot of time with the wrong people.

[B]

So I'd say stay too long.

[A]

Stayed too long. That's my great advice. Yeah. I need to take it.

[B]

I don't know if anyone's ever. I know, right?

[A]

I need to take my own advice.

[B]

That's the advice I think I would give. The advice you'd give to your friend. Take it. You take that.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Listen to yourself.

[A]

Always. Yeah, always.

[B]

So, yeah, that's great.

[A]

Them, if they're not treating you right. Get the out.

[B]

Get the out. Today, now.

[A]

Today, now.

[B]

Good for you. All right, one more time. Promote everything and anything you like, please.

[A]

Nothing. I. I guess just me.

[B]

Socials.

[A]

Charlotte McKinney on social. Keep an eye out. I put dates on there.

[B]

And keep an eye out for some movies that are coming, boys.

[A]

And. Yeah.

[B]

All right.

[A]

To be continued.

[B]

Well, thank you very much, Ryan.

[A]

Thank you so much. This was a blast.

[B]

You're welcome. Thank you for doing it.

[A]

Thanks for.

[B]

And you guys, as always, Ryan Sickler on all your social media. We'll talk to you all next week.