Getting Representation Right with Mo Brings Plenty

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Yellowstone Official Podcast - "Getting Representation Right with Mo Brings Plenty"

Introduction

In the January 30, 2023 episode of The Yellowstone Official Podcast, hosts Jefferson White ("Jimmy") and Jen Landon ("Teeter") engage in a profound conversation with Mo Brings Plenty. This episode delves deep into Mo's personal journey, his role in the Yellowstone universe, and the broader implications of authentic representation of Native American history and culture in mainstream media.

---

1. The Gap in Yellowstone Content

The episode opens with Jefferson and Jen expressing their enthusiasm for the return of the podcast after a brief hiatus. Jen highlights the anticipation among fans during the gap:

• Jen Landon (00:41): "There hasn't been an episode of Yellowstone or the extended Yellowstone universe for going on a couple of weeks now."

Mo echoes these sentiments, sharing his personal experience of missing the show:

• Mo Brings Plenty (01:20): "Without that airing, I'm feeling incredibly. I'm not settled. I'm not happy. I'm a shittier person to the people around me."

This segment underscores the profound connection fans and hosts have with the Yellowstone series, emphasizing its impact on their lives.

---

2. Introducing Mo Brings Plenty

Mo Brings Plenty returns to the podcast after traveling across Europe. He humorously recounts his experiences in London and Paris, touching on cultural misunderstandings and the kindness he encountered:

• Mo Brings Plenty (02:16): "I went to London and I went to Paris and I got to practice my French, which is really bad apparently."

Jen playfully requests Mo to demonstrate his French skills, leading to light-hearted moments that showcase Mo's personable nature.

---

3. Mo's Authentic Cowboy Lifestyle

The conversation transitions to Mo's real-life dedication to ranching and rodeoing, illustrating his genuine connection to the cowboy ethos portrayed in Yellowstone:

• Mo Brings Plenty (07:38): "Gonna go to Texas. And we're doing a little bit with Bass Reeves."

Jefferson emphasizes Mo's authenticity:

• Jefferson White (08:19): "That is a perfect illustration for the audience that Mo is the real deal."

This segment highlights how Mo embodies the spirit of Yellowstone both on and off-screen, enhancing the show's authenticity.

---

4. Mo's Background and Connection to Native American Heritage

Mo shares his roots, offering listeners insight into his upbringing and cultural heritage:

• Mo Brings Plenty (08:19): "I was born on a Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota... I spent time on all three reservations."

He discusses his family's tribal affiliations and his early experiences with horses and rodeoing, which fueled his passion and led him to the rodeo world.

---

5. Role in "1923" and Commitment to Authentic Representation

Mo elaborates on his role as a consultant and coordinator for American Indian Affairs on the series "1923." He underscores the importance of truthful representation:

• Mo Brings Plenty (11:29): "I owe everything of where I'm at today to the Sheridan family... We have to do this because it is necessary."

Jefferson adds his personal connection to the portrayal of painful historical events:

• Jefferson White (14:45): "I also, in watching those scenes in 1923, it makes me weep. It's an incredibly painful history to confront."

Together, they discuss how the show aims to educate audiences about the atrocities faced by American Indian people, fostering understanding and empathy.

---

6. Emotional Impact and Personal Reflections

Mo candidly addresses the emotional toll of portraying intense historical moments, sharing his moments of vulnerability on set:

• Mo Brings Plenty (13:50): "I wept. And then I just have to look around and see the crew. Thank goodness. They're so amazing."

Jefferson relates by mentioning his own emotional response, emphasizing the show's ability to evoke genuine feelings and reflections.

---

7. Protecting Cultural Integrity in Media

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around safeguarding Native American cultural practices from misappropriation:

• Mo Brings Plenty (23:56): "We have to protect the culture and the people that the culture comes from."

• Scott Stone (24:35): "We left a lot of things out... to protect those people that are out there that were in search of something in their lives."

This highlights the meticulous efforts by the show's creators to present authentic cultural elements responsibly, ensuring they are not exploited or misunderstood.

---

8. Philosophies on Life, Unity, and Education

Mo shares his deep-seated beliefs on unity, education, and personal growth, drawing from his cultural heritage and personal experiences:

• Mo Brings Plenty (26:05): "It's about educating, it's about teaching, it's about sharing..."

• Mo Brings Plenty (30:06): "You have to... it's okay to make mistakes as long as we're learning."

He emphasizes the importance of embracing diversity, fostering understanding, and leading by example to create a harmonious society.

---

9. The Power of Horses: A Cultural and Spiritual Connection

Mo delves into the profound relationship between humans and horses, highlighting their significance in Native American culture:

• Mo Brings Plenty (31:34): "Horses are the bridge between the physical and the spiritual. They are what we consider our physical angels."

He discusses how working with horses has taught him self-respect, non-verbal communication, and leadership, drawing parallels between horseback riding and life's journey.

---

10. Mo's 30-Second Message to the World

Concluding the episode, Mo is prompted to distill his worldview into a concise message:

• Jefferson White (33:11): "If I said you have 30 seconds to speak to the whole world, what would you say?"

Mo responds with a powerful sentiment on life and legacy:

• Mo Brings Plenty (33:43): "Life is not just about yourself, understand and know. It's about the children and the generations to come."

• Scott Stone (33:50): "When we can fully understand that, then we will understand and know that we have the power and the ability to preserve and care for the environment so we can pass on a healthy world to them."

This encapsulates Mo's commitment to stewardship, cultural preservation, and fostering a better future for subsequent generations.

---

Conclusion

The episode "Getting Representation Right with Mo Brings Plenty" offers a heartfelt exploration of Mo's life, his pivotal role in the Yellowstone universe, and the broader themes of cultural integrity and representation. Through candid discussions and insightful reflections, listeners gain a deeper appreciation for the meticulous efforts behind the scenes to portray Native American history authentically and respectfully. Mo's philosophies on unity, education, and personal growth resonate profoundly, leaving audiences both informed and inspired.

Notable Quotes:

• Mo Brings Plenty (01:20): "Without that airing, I'm feeling incredibly. I'm not settled. I'm not happy. I'm a shittier person to the people around me."

• Mo Brings Plenty (11:29): "We have to do this because it is necessary."

• Mo Brings Plenty (23:56): "We have to protect the culture and the people that the culture comes from."

• Mo Brings Plenty (26:05): "It's about educating, it's about teaching, it's about sharing..."

• Mo Brings Plenty (31:34): "Horses are the bridge between the physical and the spiritual. They are what we consider our physical angels."

• Mo Brings Plenty (33:43): "Life is not just about yourself, understand and know. It's about the children and the generations to come."

---

This in-depth conversation not only sheds light on the intricate layers of the Yellowstone series but also underscores the importance of authentic representation and the enduring impact of storytelling in shaping societal understanding and unity.

Transcript

[Scott Stone]

Foreign.

[Jefferson White]

Welcome back to the official Yellowstone Podcast. I'm Jefferson White. I'm joined, as always, by Jen Landon. We've got a great conversation for you today and a little later.

[Jen Landon]

We have an amazing guest for you today. I am so excited for this conversation. This is a conversation that's going to span Yellowstone, 1923, 1883, from a perspective that you haven't heard yet. We're going to talk to Mo brings plenty right after this.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Hey, guys, we want to welcome you back to the official Yellowstone Podcast. I'm Jen Landon and we missed everybody.

[Jen Landon]

It's been too long. Yeah, we've had a few weeks off. We haven't recorded for a couple of weeks. And also, I'm going to be really honest with you, there hasn't been an episode of Yellowstone.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Oh, I know.

[Jen Landon]

Or the extended Yellowstone universe for going on a couple of weeks now.

[Jefferson White]

And it feels like an eternity.

[Jen Landon]

I, I feel incredibly. I feel like the beautiful world of.

[Jefferson White]

Montana, the American west, the sort of.

[Jen Landon]

Fantasy that I live for every week. In the absence of it, I feel a little depressed.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Yeah, I, you know, 1923 might be actually like my first experience with True Obsession with one of these shows. I obviously love all of the shows. It's hard for me to watch myself as an actor. So I don't run to the Yellowstone, you know, right when it airs because I have to take some anti anxiety meds beforehand. But 1923, without that airing, I'm feeling incredibly. I'm not settled. I'm not happy. I'm a shittier person to the people around me. I don't know what we're going to do.

[Jen Landon]

Yeah, it's going to be a while. But thankfully we have each other. And it sounds like, you know, you've been exploring at least one coping mechanism, which is that you went on a trip. Will you tell me about your trip? Your own little odyssey?

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Yeah, I mean, you're right. I have been coping. I ran all the way to Europe, I went to London and I went to Paris and I got to practice my French, which is really bad apparently. I feel like half the time the Parisians were like, you just speak English and don't ruin our language. Thank you, but no. Actually, Parisians are so nice. And I have to tell you, I vaguely remember that when I was little that like, them being very all like, up their own ass. They are so kind. Which means that the people of LA have become so horrible that they make Parisians look sweet. Our producer is laughing because. Our producer is laughing because he is from LA or lived in LA at some point and like he has moved outside of the county line and drives incredibly far. His life is totally inconvenient and it's just so he doesn't have to be in la. Scott, can you put your mic on and tell me if that's correct or not?

[Jen Landon]

He won't do it. He refuses to do it. And he has. He makes sure any.

[Jefferson White]

This is a nicely flattering description of.

[Jen Landon]

Him, so maybe he'll leave it in the edit. Jen, I would be remiss on behalf of our audience if I did not ask you to A, speak a little French and B, speak a little French in a teeter voice.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Okay. Okay.

[Jen Landon]

I just want you guys out there to understand that, that that's the actor that you know as Teeter on Yellowstone.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

I don't know how much that's correct, but beautiful French. I had a teacher tell me that they preferred me when I spoke French, that I was this like sweet, lovely thing. And then when I spoke English I was an obnoxious, horrible person, which I think is true. And speak French is in a teeter. How. How long? How long? Give me a second. Bonjour, Jaggy. Tight on France for a go. You what?

[Jefferson White]

Thank you.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

What if. Thank you for indulging French like her.

[Jen Landon]

Oh, yeah.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Actually goes full circle and it's.

[Jefferson White]

From your lips to Taylor Sheridan's ears.

[Jen Landon]

God willing.

[Jefferson White]

Season 5B of Yellowstone.

[Jen Landon]

The second half of Season 5, not Season 5B.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

But if we go to Season 17, storylines might have to get real weird.

[Jefferson White]

French cowboys show up to compete in a rodeo and Teeter speaks fluent French.

[Jen Landon]

Listen, you know we're putting it out there.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Just hold on. While we're on this theme, I'm thinking French Yellowstone. Right? In our show, what we've decided, people are shot and beat up all the time. Like that's just what happens. And in the French version, they, they just slap each other. They challenge each other to a glove duel. They just slappity slap.

[Jen Landon]

I think this is. I think this is money. Print it.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Me too.

[Jen Landon]

Print it. Jen, that's incredible. I'm also so, so glad you're back.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Thanks. Me too.

[Jen Landon]

I missed you very much. Selfishly, while you were on your beautiful journey of self discovery across Europe, I was sitting alone in my basement with this podcast microphone just waiting for you to log back in.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Lies, Jefferson.

[Jen Landon]

No, that's, that's, that's all I did. I've been here. I've been here for the, what, like 256 hours intervening.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

I had serious fomo. Because I wasn't sure if you guys were recording a bunch of things without me.

[Jen Landon]

So we did. We recorded six or seven episodes. And then Scott. Scott realized that how incredibly boring it was. He said something to me about. I think his exact words were, your voice is so annoying that we cannot use English.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

No one's even gonna believe that because look at that. Apple. I don't want to exclude Spotify, whatever, wherever you get your podcast, the people we always say at the end, but the reviews I can only read on Apple and all of. All of the reviews. Jeff, talk about your beautiful voice.

[Jen Landon]

Jen, it is, as always, a joy to talk to you, but we've got an audience out there who is as hungry for Yellowstone as we are. They miss it the same way we do. So for. For them, I feel very, very happy to say that we've got an incredible guest today. We're going to dive into all things Yellowstone, 1883, 1923, with a man with an incredible, unique perspective on the whole thing. We've got. Mo brings plenty with us today.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Thank.

[Jen Landon]

Thank you for being here, Mo.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

It's a great honor to always be with. To spend time with you guys. It's awesome.

I just want to, like, paint a picture a little bit for the listeners. So we are talking to Mo right now, and Mo is pulled over in his truck with his sweetie, Sarah Ann. And you are on. Tell me a little bit. You started. Tell me you are on your way to Texas to pick up horses.

Yep, gonna go to Texas. And we're doing a little bit with Bass Reeves. And then I'm gonna pick, load up our horses, hook our trailer up, and then get them back to Kansas.

[Jefferson White]

That's some cowboy shit right there. So that is a perfect illustration for the audience that Mo is the real deal. Mo really lives this life. He's been ranching, rodeoing for a long, long time. We had a chance to talk about that last year, Mo. But for folks who are just joining us now, also, Yellowstone's audience gets bigger. Very lucky about that. So for folks that don't know you who didn't have a chance to hear our last episode, will you just talk about your background a little bit and how you wound up on Yellowstone?

[Mo Brings Plenty]

I was born and raised on. I was born on a pine regular reservation in South Dakota, but I like to say that I was raised in Lakota country because my mother, she's from Shine river and we have relatives on a Rosebud reservation as well. So I spent time on all three reservations. I moved my tribal Enrollment over to the Shine River Reservation that my mom's from because she's mini Kosher Lakota. My father's Oglala Lakota, and I spent a lot of time just growing up as a kid riding horses and started rodeoing. That was kind of my ticket way out to adventure out beyond the reservation border towns and got to meet some real amazing folks in the rodeo world and just fell in love with it and been still in love with it, wishing I was young again to be able to do some rough stock riding. But now I just ride Greenbrook ponies at home, so. And try and hope like heck I don't get bucked off. And. And because it's. It's not the fall that gets you. It's that sudden stop. They call it a landing, but it's a sudden stop. That's. That's the. That's the part that gets to you and kind of sometimes takes the wind away from you so it feels like you can't breathe for a while.

Yeah.

And you hope, like, when that happens, you hope like heck that no one sees. Sees it. And so, yeah, it's always embarrassing.

Mo, I can't. I can speak for myself, and I am maybe going to be able to speak for Jeff, too. I don't know if either one of us, like, this is how, you know, we are leagues. We are so far away from being real cowboys ever. I have not fallen off a horse, Jeff, yet. Have you?

[Jefferson White]

Don't say it out loud, Jen. Don't say it out loud. We've been lucky.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

I understand, but I feel like it's this thing that it. Like it's. It's gotta happen. Right, Mo?

Of course it has to. That's. That's when you can really say, okay, I'm a horseback rider.

[Jefferson White]

You're supposed to have that experience when you're a kid. You're supposed to have those experiences when you're young. On the show, they say when you've got rubber bones. Jen, we are too old to fall off a horse for the first time.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Actually, no, you're not too old, because that happened to me not long ago. And so it still happens. For some reason, my mind hasn't caught up to my body yet. I still think I'm 16. I still think I'm invincible. I still think I can do all of these things, but when it comes down to it, I know it hits the fan and I'm thinking, oh, my God, what am I doing to myself?

[Jefferson White]

So for anybody that doesn't know, Mo also serves as the consultant and coordinator on 1923 for American Indian Affairs. So you're very involved in the teaching of that history. And in 1923, particularly, we're seeing an incredibly painful. A sort of very ugly chapter of that history. Will you talk about how you came to be involved as the coordinator and sort of in your capacity now?

[Mo Brings Plenty]

You know, I really honestly owe everything of where I'm at today to the Sheridan family, to Taylor and Nicole. You know, it's. Taylor has this space, and he allowed me to occupy this space and be me. And in the past, that was never welcoming, but Taylor's changed that. And again, I owe it all to him. And so I looked at 1923, and I knew what it was going to be about. As I was reading the scripts, I had a general idea of it, and I was like, man, do I really want to go back to that space and into that moment and to that memory. But I thought, we have to do this. I have to be a part of this because it is. It is necessary. It is necessary because society has almost forgotten that where we as American Indian people that have been through that and experienced it, whether it's through loved ones or ourselves, we. We can't forget about that. And. And so the more that society understands the treatment of our. Of what had. What had happened to us as the people, then maybe they will begin to understand who we are, and it will also begin to humanize us even more as American Indian people. There are moments that I had to get up and walk away from the monitors and just go be by myself. And I'm not going to lie. I wept. I wept. And then I just have to look around and see the crew. Thank goodness. They're so amazing. And see them and just be like, okay, yeah, we're just doing a show. But for me, it's not just a show. It was our lives. And so I just had to get back around the good, amazing crew that we're so fortunate to work with and share some laughs again and get back into that space and go back, even our background, our young little children that were off the reservations. Wow. They. They nailed it. And it felt good. And we just became a family unit, you know, with all. With each other and supportive. We were all from different tribes, but we all been through this. And so it was. Even the folks that played the nuns, the priest. I mean, you know, that for me, when I. When I meet people today, that's why I wear my braids every single day, you know, when I meet them, I remember and I Know, but I. I meet them with a smile and. And I shake their hands. I acknowledge them, but I acknowledge them and introduce myself in my own language. Just kind of a way to say, yeah, we've been through that, but we're still here. And here we are together. What could we do together? Put our minds together, work together, no longer judge one another, but work together to make a better future, a better tomorrow for all people.

[Jefferson White]

I gotta say, Mo, I think I speak for myself. I'm sure I speak for much of our audience, too. I also, in watching those scenes in 1923, it makes me weep. It's an incredibly painful history to confront. And I have no doubt that the burden of showing that history and carrying that history is a very heavy burden. But I hope that, you know, I have been, I have to admit, very naive throughout my life about this history. And I have to say that for me, the experience of working on Yellowstone, the experience of watching 1883 and 1923, I'm going to carry that history with me now, too. You know, in order to reach, as you. As you spoke about, the joy of coming back together, to find this joy of unity. It does feel like one of the steps is being honest about the history. And I hope that you feel that your work, being honest about this history is an important step towards coming together in the now, in the present. We're so grateful to have Mo with us today. We're going to keep this conversation going right after this.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

I don't know why this made me think of, like, mo, you look amazing. It was the Critics Choice Awards just recently, right? Is this where I. Where Golden Globes. Golden Globes got, you know, I keep up to date guys with the award shows. Either way, whichever one was giving out awards, you looked amazing.

[Scott Stone]

Thank you very much.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Amazing.

[Scott Stone]

Well, I was there on behalf of.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

All of us, I was there. Honestly, when I was backstage, I was thinking about all them young kids that. Them young boys that are growing their hair long and try to represent their culture and that are going through their struggles and doubts. I was thinking, you know, I hope they're watching this so they can see that it's going to be okay.

That's awesome.

[Jefferson White]

It also feels like where we left off, where we left off this season also feels like there's kind of new and interesting threats on the reservation. Particularly, it feels like Angela Bluthunder, who, I must say, Mo was wary of from the very beginning. I feel like Mo was warning Rainwater about Angela Blue Thunder before we ever met that character. So I think that, you know, Mo was right about that one because Angela Blue Thunder has really turned on Rainwater, and now there's this young political threat, Martin kills Minnie. There's this, like, sort of political plot kind of brewing against Rainwater on the Res. So I'm so excited to see the role that Mo plays in hopefully helping Rainwater navigate this challenge, because it's a unique. We haven't seen Rainwater and Mo have to face this kind of internal threat.

[Scott Stone]

Before, you know, And I am so glad that that has been brought up into the show because it is something that does happen, truthfully, every single day in Indian country on reservations. And so, yeah, I'm really excited and anxious, too, to see what's going to happen, you know, because in the first thought that came to my mind was, well, I got to saddle up Zorro and get ready to drag some more folks. But, you know, that may not be the answer here. And so, you know, but it's. It's like, it's. It's gonna be really exciting to see how this all unfolds, and I'm just pumped about it, honestly. It's gonna be something that. It's a legitimate deal. We see it all the time. And so now we get to expose this to society and see how it's gonna unfold for everyone.

[Jefferson White]

Yeah, that incredible. I also. I feel like I should mention in season four of Yellowstone, as Casey kind of goes on this personal, spiritual journey, he turns to Mo and turns to Rainwater for guidance in that spiritual journey. Will you talk about the process of as. As that was showing up in the script? Were you working alongside Taylor in terms of what that journey looked like? What. Will you talk a little bit about what Casey was doing in season four?

[Scott Stone]

Okay, first of all, we're going to be talking about Taylor Sheridan. Taylor Sheridan is such a. He's such a history buff. I mean, he. He does his homework. And. And second of all, Taylor Sheridan has been with my people. He's been through these ceremonies. He's been, you know, a part of them, helping. And so he knows. And so Taylor knows quite a bit about. About our culture. And so what. I didn't have to work with him in that. All I had to do was simply put it together in a way that it would show society, show the viewers that we still do do this in our. In these days and help them to understand it, and then also set it up in a way that it's going to protect the original steps of the ceremony itself. We left. We left a lot of things Out. And we left songs out that are part of that. And even in setting it up, there was clear to the Buffalo Rope how we did everything. There are certain ways of doing things and how we put someone in that particular setting specifically. And so for us, for me, from the character Mo and what Casey was going through and what he was seeing, he was constantly seeing the wolf. And so for that particular moment was when he reached out, we saw Rainwater and Mole. For me, how I translate it was that they saw an opportunity to bring him in, to help him to understand of how to sort it out. And so we created this space for him so he could have that moment. And he saw his own struggles. I mean, as we all watched, you know, we saw what he was struggling with within his own mind. And then it came down to him understanding the difference between his mind and his heart. And he began to follow his heart again. And so that's what that setting, that scene was really primarily about. Casey's a strong individual, and we all know the strength that he has and his abilities to push through and carry on and keep pressing on, I should say. But he needed a moment to allow himself to be vulnerable within himself. And that scene gave him that space. That particular setting gave him that space to be vulnerable. And we saw what he went through.

[Jen Landon]

Yeah.

[Jefferson White]

And it seems like he particularly needed that strength going into the tragedy he faces right at the beginning of season five. Like, him and Monica really needed the sort of strength of that tradition and that history. And they leaned heavily on that strength and that sort of knowledge of self to navigate the tragedy that faced them at the beginning of season five together now.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Exactly.

[Scott Stone]

I mean, when they lost their little one. I mean, you know, I buried three of my own brothers when they were infants. And so that scene was very realistic for me. I mean, even, you know, again, we did some things that were not fully what we normally do but we gave an idea of some of the steps in the processes that we go through and supporting individuals that lost loved ones, whether they're young or elderly and the people that were present. And part of that was. I mean, the song, even the song. The song was such a beautiful song. You know, it was a traveling song. And so that my father and my brother composed and created that we could. Was so fortunate enough to use on the show. I mean, everything that we do has meaning. And it's about those that are still here and those that have made that transition and traveling home. And so it's all part of it. And so it's just a Beautiful. Life's just beautiful all the way around.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Mo, I have a question for you, and I'm sorry if I missed it when you talked about leaving certain things out, making sure that what goes into the show, it is accurate and filled with integrity, but then leaving certain things out. Is that for the protection of some of. Yes, it's the processes so that they can't be, you know, abused or misappropriated?

[Scott Stone]

Most definitely. I mean, unfortunately, there's a lot of, I like to say, spiritual predators out there. And so when they view something, they would take that and they would, you know, included into their sales package and so, and use it on people that are. That are truly in search of something in their own life, you know, and part of their spiritual journey. And so it's no different, regardless of it, what faith it is in all aspects. And so we had to be able to protect the culture and.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

And this.

[Scott Stone]

The people that the culture comes from. And so that was why we left so many things, you know, certain things out just for that sake, you know, and also to protect those people that are out there that were in search of something in their lives, you know, that are on a spiritual journey.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

And.

[Scott Stone]

And so because in. People are misled and misguided. And so it's just part of what we do on Yellowstone. And Taylor understands and knows that and the need and the importance of it, and so does Michael Friedman. And I love them guys. You know, I love everyone we've been working with. And so everyone's been so understanding and so supportive of all of it, and so it's great.

[Jefferson White]

Mo, thank you so much again for joining us. We're going to keep this conversation going right after this.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

I feel like you have this sort of wise teacher heart message that you carry in life, and I feel it from you, even when, you know, you and I are just shooting the shit. Like, it's just something that you sort of. Kind of. You just sort of give a gift to everybody that you come in contact with. And I feel like, Am I wrong? It feels. It does feel like a conscious choice on your part to move through the.

[Scott Stone]

World that way, you know, you're absolutely.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Right, Jen, because it is about. It's about educating, it's about teaching, it's about sharing, you know, because we're. We as American Indian people, we still, you know, we can't change the past. I know that. I mean, we can't even change five seconds ago.

Right.

And, you know, but so I'm working towards educating people while really it's re Educating. We have to re. Educate society about who we are, what we've become, where we're at and the direction we would like to go as a whole. And really life's been about unity. It's about how do we unify one another regardless of race, regardless of faith. You know, because there's so much segregation in society today, it's a shame. And due to the fact that we can't all get along and all can't at least be in the same ballpark, you know, I feel that the future for all of us as people is in jeopardy. And so I try not to. I don't mean to sound like it's a bummer. Society is a downer. It's not. You know, there's a lot of beautiful things and we have so much in common, regardless of where we live, regardless of what we're doing, what are, you know, what, what we love doing because we all share the same planet at the end of the day. And we have to preserve something for the generations that are yet to come. Not just the children of today, but the generations that are yet to come. And so I try to go through life, I always ask myself this question. If I had 30 seconds to address the entire world, what would I say? And knowing that those 30 seconds could impact the world and the people within it. And so I always try to think in that aspect and try to guide my life in that way as well because it's so important. I mean, you look at what we do on Yellowstone, it's not just entertainment, it's educating. It's. It's also inspiring, you know, and so we inspire people to do things and, and so our show is very heavy. I mean, thank goodness for your guys characters because that's the enlightening part. And it brings, you know, it brings laughter and, and it has that feel good. And so we, we always constantly educating and, and so if we're not continuously learning ourselves. This is my grandfather, my grandfather, Philip Brinksplin. He always said this. You will always be a student of life as long as you're willing to learn. And as when you're willing to learn, you're going to be able to teach others. And so other than that, you become stagnant and what they call flatline. Basically, you know, you got to have your ups and downs. And my grandpa Selah Black Crow shared that. He goes, you got to have ups and downs in life, grandson. And the reason why you have those ups and downs in life is because it's a good indication. It's a sign to you to let you know that you are truly alive.

Just when you were talking there, I'd never seen it this way before. So I feel like you're doing that thing again where you're like, you're changing me in this moment, just talking to you. But you were talking about the ups and downs and that when you're stagnant, they call it flatline. And I just had this image of like a heart monitor that when there are no ups and downs, it's essentially you're a little dead. You're a little bit like the walking dead. And I think that so much. I find that unfortunately, so much of our days are oftentimes spent in the pursuit of things that aren't going to give us ups and downs because we don't want to feel. But the important thing is, is to feel, is to grow, is to learn, is to mess up.

You have to. I mean, you know, that's where it's okay to make mistakes as long as we're learning, you know, and we will never know what we. Where we at, where we're at. We will never know the growth of ourselves if we don't make a mistake. And. And so it's fine to make mistakes as long as we understand and know, okay, all right, I'm not going to do that again. And so we continue to grow. I mean, it's just. It's no different than riding a horse. You know, if you do something on a horse and that horse decides to break into and buck you off, then you're going to know, okay, I'm. I know not to do that with that horse because not every horse is the same, you know, And. And so you have to. Each horse has their own personality, and so you have to try to understand those personalities and coexist with them and, and work together with them, you know, and so that's why I love horses so much. They.

They taught me so much in that I got. I had, like, so many questions, but I'll start with the horse one and then move back. One of the things that I felt is that my life has been changed by working with horses more. And I come, you know, I don't have that history. I'm wondering if there are certain things that you might be able to pinpoint that you see as a benefit from working with the animal, like the horse and being in relationship with it. I think it's something that society is missing out on a lot. The more we become attached to technology, computers, etc. And leave that Other part behind, you.

Know, when it comes to horses, point blank. I'm going to go to a cultural traditional teaching. Horses are the bridge between the physical and the spiritual. They are what we consider our physical angels. And not only in the physical life do they carry us and are they there for us, but also when we make that transition in life into the next, they are the ones that are going the, the greater, the greatest relationship that we've had with one particular horse, that horse will also make that transition to carry us home. And. And so the horse has taught me self respect. It has taught me how to be able to communicate or be observant and communicate without words. I don't have to speak someone's language to understand their body language. And so the horse has taught me how to be a leader in my own life. Not be a leader for others, but a leader in my own life. Because we've been taught to be followers so much that we don't know how to be a leader in our own life. So we end up trying to follow our own life. And when we follow our own life, we end up just following whatever's thrown at us. And so to be a leader, we know how to observe it and make a decision, a proper decision, and navigate our way through in that aspect. And so that's all teachings from the horses.

[Jen Landon]

I don't want to take too much.

[Jefferson White]

Of your time because you're out doing cowboy shit and you know, it'd be dis.

[Jen Landon]

I don't want to get in the way of that. You mentioned earlier a tenant that you.

[Jefferson White]

Live by this idea that you want to be ready if anybody ever tells you, hey, you have 30 seconds to speak to the whole world. And I hate to put you on the spot because you've spent about 40 minutes teaching us, telling us incredible things. But if I said you have 30 seconds to speak to the whole world, what would you say? What do you think distills all of your worldview into 30 seconds?

[Mo Brings Plenty]

30 seconds.

[Scott Stone]

Life is not just about yourself, understand and know. It's about the children and the generations to come.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

And when we can fully understand that.

[Scott Stone]

Then we will understand and know that we have the power and the ability to preserve and care for the environment so we can pass it, pass on a healthy world to them. And understand and know that diversity is not just about skin color. We have to embrace the cultural diversity. When we embrace cultural diversity, then we truly have the ability to acknowledge and embrace that the Creator is honestly perfect if it's just about skin color, but not culture, then we are doubting that the creator is truly perfect. Is that 30 seconds, Mo?

[Mo Brings Plenty]

That's perfect.

[Jefferson White]

Thank you so much for spending this time with us today. Thank you for your friendship. Yeah, thanks for pulling over on the highway on your way to pick up a horse. Believe me, Yellowstone fans would not want you to slow down. Yellowstone fans are grateful that you're out there getting these shows made. So thank you, thank you, thank you for joining us. Mo. Thank you for everything you do to bring the Yellowstone universe to life. Talk to you real soon.

[Mo Brings Plenty]

Thank you, guys.

[Jefferson White]

The official Yellowstone Podcast is a production of 101 Studios and Paramount. This episode was produced by Scott Stone.

[Jen Landon]

Brandon Gis is the head of audio for 101 Studios.

[Jefferson White]

Steve Razis is the executive vice president of the Paramount Global Podcast Group. Group special thanks to Megan Marcus, Jeremy Westfall, Ainsley Rosito, Andrew Sarnow, Jason Reed, and Whitney Baxter from Paramount. And of course, David Glasser, David Hutkin and Michelle Newman from 101 Studios.