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[0:00] Jessica Rush: Hi, everyone. Welcome to this episode of Mamas Talkin' Loud. I'm Jessica Rush.

[0:04] Cara Cooper: And I'm Cara Cooper. Today, we are talking to two unbelievably inspirational women who have done it all on their own, from cradle to college, as single moms in showbusiness.

[0:15] Jessica Rush: Here's our conversation with Jennifer Sanchez and Tony nominee, De'Adre Aziza.

[0:30] ♪ Musical number: "Mamas Talkin' Loud" — performed by Jessica Rush & Cara Cooper ♪

[0:50] Cara Cooper: Good morning. Good morning. Hi, mamas. Buenos dias. Hello. You know, just sitting up here, alone since my child left me, still remembering all the times I was his mother.

[1:12] Jessica Rush: Honestly, emptiness, the emptiness is so real, right?

[1:15] Cara Cooper: It's the weirdest thing ever.

[1:18] Jessica Rush: Yeah.

[1:18] Cara Cooper: Oh, my God. But to have a moment for yourself, or lots of moments now, right? I mean, that's something.

[1:27] Jennifer Sanchez: No. The thing is, it's so dysfunctional. But I literally said this the other night. I was like, because he's moved down or whatever. And I was like, but if he called me and was like, Mom, I got to move back in, whatever the scenario was, I'd be like, you know, getting the place ready. I would go get him his favorite foods, all the things that we love to do for our children. And I would be so overjoyed, even though I know that we're supposed to raise these children who then go out on their own, and become their own people, and follow. You got to let the bird fly.

[2:01] Cara Cooper: Yeah, but I don't really like it.

[2:03] Jennifer Sanchez: Me neither.

[2:03] Cara Cooper: No. I bet.

[2:05] Jennifer Sanchez: I'm like, I raised you to be independent, but then he's independent. I'm like, wait, what? So you don't need me? It's such a mindfuck.

[2:13] Cara Cooper: Well, guys, I mean, that's true. But y'all, okay, so you're here today, everyone. Hi, these are two incredible rockstar mamas. They are here to talk about being single moms, and single moms with the actor life, which that's a whole nother, I can't even begin to imagine how y'all made it through.

[2:33] Jessica Rush: Bow down. I bow down. I can't even begin to imagine.

[2:37] Cara Cooper: No. And they've raised these boys. Their boys are grown and out like they just said. So you guys—

[2:44] Jennifer Sanchez: Wait, how old is yours? How old is—

[2:46] Cara Cooper: She is 19.

[2:53] Jennifer Sanchez: Wait, how old's your baby?

[2:55] Cara Cooper: She's 19. I mean, they were always so close. Jared's just 20.

[2:58] Jennifer Sanchez: Wow.

[3:00] Cara Cooper: Wow, you guys. All right, well, tell us more about them. Their personalities, what they're up to.

[3:05] Jennifer Sanchez: Well, we both had them when we were six, right?

[3:08] De'Adre Aziza: Exactly, because it was just one of those, we both had one of those Virgin Mary moments when we were really young, still in elementary school, because we're barely cracking 30. Right, Jen?

[3:22] Jennifer Sanchez: Exactly. No, that's exactly right. It's crazy how the math sometimes doesn't work out.

[3:28] De'Adre Aziza: Yeah, this isn't retinol on my face.

[3:32] Jennifer Sanchez: Not at all. It's just, I have no wrinkles because I'm young.

[3:36] De'Adre Aziza: But you actually have no wrinkles, so I don't—

[3:38] Jennifer Sanchez: Yeah, I was going to say, I'm looking at you and—

[3:40] De'Adre Aziza: Girl, I got this so dim. I'm just so dim right now. I was like, oh, we going to see each other's shit. Well, here you go. This is the face. Well, okay, so Jen, so let's see here. I had my son at 23, and I was just like, okay, I got a kid now, what? And I worked in restaurants for five years.

[4:10] De'Adre Aziza: And before that, I had just been doing background work on TV and film. I had no agent, no manager. The industry didn't care about me. They were just like, NYU picked five people to get agents when they graduated, and the rest of us, they were like, thanks for the money. Here's your student loan bill, bitch. So like, you know. That's it?

[4:32] Jennifer Sanchez: So I had no career before I had him. And then for five years, I didn't have a career after I had him, but I kept trying. Then the Passing Strange thing happened, and then I got—

[4:42] Cara Cooper: Tony Award nominee, everybody. Just in case you're wondering.

[4:45] De'Adre Aziza: I mean, hello.

[4:46] Jennifer Sanchez: Yeah. And also, wait, though. But wait, I was reading last night when I was doing my research, and I realized, I saw that you won an award for new theater performance. Like, was Passing Strange the New York?

[5:01] De'Adre Aziza: Yeah.

[5:01] Jennifer Sanchez: Yeah. Passing Strange was my first workshop, regional, off-Broadway and Broadway show.

[5:06] Cara Cooper: Oh my God. Tony nomination. Right. So we'll go back to that, but that is just incredible.

[5:13] De'Adre Aziza: Well, thank you. But I mean, listen, the first nine years, bottom line, I could not have done it without my mother's help. We lived with my mother in New Jersey, where I would run my ass to the bus and go back and forth to the city all the time. Then I'd get up at seven o'clock in the morning, get him ready to catch the school bus to go to school. And so I wasn't that into the theater world because I had to be more in the mom world. Like, I really had to keep a balance.

[5:37] Jennifer Sanchez: So there was no hanging out. There was no drinks. There was no like, oh, but I came to see your show. You can't hang out for a little while. I was like, I got to go to Port Authority, catch a damn bus. I got a kid to wake up in one. I can't, I'm sorry. I already missed the tucking him in. Like, I already feel guilty enough. So I got to go. And that was like the beginnings of my career. I felt like it was survival in a lot of ways, just like—

[6:01] Cara Cooper: Oh my God, yes.

[6:03] De'Adre Aziza: But in a very literal sense, like, okay, I don't want you to die. I want you, like literally, keep you alive, like all the things that we can just do to keep going.

[6:13] Jennifer Sanchez: Yeah.

[6:14] De'Adre Aziza: Like for our, whatever, like the jobs that we had, I was a waitress too. And, you know, like for keeping food, keeping them fed and not falling into traffic or whatever it is.

[6:27] Jennifer Sanchez: Yeah, no, totally. Because even though we lived with my mom, my mom was just getting by herself. So I was solely financially responsible. And it was like day to day, just like, okay, when does it get done today? Okay. You definitely need food to eat. Okay. And then we'd get off the school bus. My mom will be home by then, or I'll be home. And then when she gets home, okay, then I'm going to catch the bus to go to New York to do this, this show, whatever, whatever. Yeah, I'm on stage. Woo-hoo. Yeah, whatever. I don't care. And then I would run home. You know, it was just like, and not in a bad way to make our kids feel guilty, but there wasn't that kind of like relaxed, like cool actor vibe energy that I saw other people experiencing. I was like, oh, you're really enjoying this life, honey.

[7:14] Cara Cooper: You feel like a star. Well, guess what? I feel like a tired ass mom.

[7:20] Jennifer Sanchez: Well, and I think because for so many, a lot of people in our industry wait to have children, right? Like I think that it's an anomaly in and of itself to have had a child young, you know, under 30 these days. I feel like anything under 30 is like, oh my God, you're such a young mom. And so for, for y'all to have, for y'all who still have been working towards the success that you achieved as mothers, I, you know what I mean? Like that, of course you were like, oh, I don't get to really do the parts of this career that everyone else is getting to sort of sit and relish in or do the parties and the drinks and the, you know, because you had to get home. I mean, that's real.

[8:04] De'Adre Aziza: And the pressure around our industry is so intense to begin with, right? If you're just trying to support yourself, trying to make a career to support yourself, I can't imagine starting out with the extra pressure of needing to support another child, another person, you know, like just that, that, that the industry is so stressful to begin with. Like, I can't imagine adding that layer onto it. And you guys never had like, what I, what I think Jess and I would consider like the before time, the before kids time in the industry, where we, you know, had a different lifestyle. There's the before and the after, which we can talk about, but you, you've, the kid's always been there through your entire experience.

[8:39] Jennifer Sanchez: Yeah. Yeah. My before was high school.

[8:47] De'Adre Aziza: You were in, oh, that's right. High school.

[8:47] Jennifer Sanchez: Yeah. Well, no, I was, I graduated high school and then I showed up to my, I, I got, I went, I applied for and was accepted to Eastern New Mexico University. I'm from New Mexico. It's like a local college. And I was going to be a music major and I showed up and I'm in my freshman year in the dorm room, like sleeping on the top bunk. And I'm like, dang, my stomach, I'm always throwing up, like down the hall to like the communal bathroom. Cause you know, we didn't have a bathroom. Wow. And so I lived like, I legit went to the nurse's office at ENMU and they were like, you're pregnant. And it was like, you know, my ex-boyfriend high school, you know, super sweet guy, Francisco, super, super, like we have a wonderful relationship as parents now.

[9:40] De'Adre Aziza: But you know, it was just like, Oh, but, and yet nevertheless, she persisted.

[9:54] Jennifer Sanchez: Yeah. And then so you became a Broadway star, like, hello.

[9:54] De'Adre Aziza: Yeah, I just, I texted Broadway and was like, um—

[10:02] Jennifer Sanchez: You paged them.

[10:08] De'Adre Aziza: I mean, back then it would have been a pager, right. It was a pager. Um, but Jen, how do you, I mean, you were in New Mexico to get to New York. I mean, like how long were you—

[10:14] Jennifer Sanchez: I have to echo D again, my mother. So my mother was, um, an elementary school teacher. And, um, after I graduated, um, I actually went in, uh, did, uh, two years in a master's program because when I graduated from college, Jared was three.

[10:35] De'Adre Aziza: So you stayed in school and you went into labor during my music final, my music final.

[10:42] Jennifer Sanchez: Oh my gosh. Incredible.

[10:42] De'Adre Aziza: And I was just like, I was like, Dr. Foley, I, yo, I cannot, the notes are moving. Like they are moving. If you come and look at them, they're moving around. Uh, that used to be a G note. Now it's an a note. So I got to go to the hospital. And I like went to the hospital with my roommate at the time. And like, I was a four hour drive from home, so nobody could come. So I delivered with this girl, this sweet girl, Jenny, who I really didn't know that well. And I was just like, would you mind just staying while I deliver? Could you just like, I'll totally buy you lunch tomorrow. Like I'm like, so I, we delivered, you know, she and I, the doctor was like, do you want to cut the umbilical cord? She was like, no. I was like, make sense. You don't really even know me. It's cool. It's cool. Thanks for staying.

[11:45] Jennifer Sanchez: Oh my gosh. So my mother came the next day. I had the summer off. I went back to school. So, you know, when he was like three months, that's when he started daycare or, uh, you know, like homesick or daycare type thing.

[11:55] De'Adre Aziza: So we went through that, like those three years and then he graduated and I just wasn't ready. He was so little and I was kind of shifting from like classical voice to theater voice. So I went to Oklahoma City for their two year program. And so we did that there. But then when he was five years old, which everyone knows is like more school aged and whatever, my mother, the saints of all mothers, she took a one year leave of absence from her elementary school teaching job and said, I'll move with you to New York. I will give you one year to try to make your dream come true, whatever you, you know, pursue this thing that you want to do.

[12:34] Jennifer Sanchez: So we moved to forest Hills, Queens, and I got a job. Yup. And I got a job in Chelsea cocktail waitressing. And then I would audition. That is so amazing. And it's amazing how our moms are like, listen, I'm going to give you, I'm going to give you an ultimatum because my mom said to me, she's like, no. Well, she later told me her mom said to her, listen, let her do her thing. And this was, this was before she passed. When I was a teenager, she was like, all right, she wants to go into this acting stuff. Let her do her thing. But if she hasn't found success by 30, you make her get a job. And

[13:10] Jennifer Sanchez: I did Passing Strange, I was 29. We did it! We did it! Just made it! And God always, I mean, for me, it's like, you know, always comes through. And I was like, I had, I had that one year that my mother's, like, TikTok was ending because she had to go back to work. It wasn't even like, she's like, I got to go back to work because I got to live my life. And, you know, my little sister was, you know, young, still growing up at the time. And at the year mark, I got Fireside Dinner Theater. Fireside Dinner Theater in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. No, legit, I was like, I've made it. And, and I actually had because I went for one contract. And then at the end of that contract, my mother was like moving back out of Forest Hills, like we had to like give up our lease, we had to, she had to go back to New Mexico, everything.

And the director at Fireside Dinner Theater said, Jen, you know what, I know your situation. I know you have a young child. You're good for my season. You want to just move down here for a year? So Jared and I moved to Wisconsin for a year before, before Broadway opened up for us. So we lived in Wisconsin actually for a year and a half. The universe takes care. The universe takes care. God takes care. It's like you, it, it, it, you have both of y'all. I mean, it's just incredible to hear you talk about your, this is just a snippet, you know, of the beginning of your journey through this life that you've built and created. But y'all, I just, I am already, I was in awe, but to just hear y'all persevering and pushing through and making your life happen for you and your sons is just absolutely incredible.

It is incredible. And it, y'all are some strong ass women. Strong women, obviously. Shout out to those mamas who, who like came, came and supported you through it. And also like gave you the framework to say like, guess what? I'm here for a while to help you through this, but then you're going to figure it out. Like, you know, just incredible. And I, uh, I remember when I booked Passing Strange, well, it was, uh, it was the Berkeley. So I'd already done a workshop and then they were like, okay, we're going to Berkeley rep and then the public. And I was like, oh man. And I told my mom and I told my son's father, I was like, well, I did book this play, but it's going to California for two months.

So, you know, it's all right though. Something. And they were like, what? They were like, you better go do that play. And I was like, what, what? Cause my son was starting kindergarten and I did not want to leave. And they were like, if you don't get your ass on that plane and go do that play, you know, cause they were like, you've this, this is what you've been waiting for. And so my mom and I got chills. I know. And my, and my son's father took over the parenting duties for that time I was in Berkeley. And that was the first time my back went out. I was just like my child in my spine, I feel it, you know? And he would write me letters saying, where are you? I hate California. Why are you there?

When are you coming back? Where is California? Where, where's my mommy? And, and I was just like, I'm the worst mother who ever birthed a child. And where did he move to the minute he graduated high school, California. I was like, I thought you hated California. Oh, you like it now? I showed you these letters that I kept that I laminated. Yeah. And I showed him, I did keep those letters and I showed him, I was like, see, you said you hated California. You couldn't wait to leave, huh? Well, ladies. All right. So we need to know more about your son. I mean, we've, we've heard sort of the, you know, the beginnings of their lives told through your experience. So will you share with us a little about your sons?

They're, you know, who they are, what they've grown up to be, what they're doing, what their names are. Yeah. And I don't think Jess, I don't think we've spoken to anybody with kids who have left the house. He took to Audra and Audra's daughter is gone, but she has a little one at home still. She has a four year old at home. So we haven't spoken to anybody who's experiencing emptiness, who has like the entire childhood experience to speak about. Oh man. I mean, I would bring my son to rehearsals a lot. And like, um, I did this play, uh, Detroit 67 at the public and Sam's soul was in it. And she would, um, like do makeup to make scars and gashes on herself for part of the show. And when I would bring him when I would have to bring him to rehearsal and I tell him, sit in the Newman green room, don't go in anyone's dressing room.

You sit right there. Mommy's going to go do the scene. I'll be right back. And I'd come downstairs and he would have gashes drawn on him and be wearing like a Viking hat. Like, you know, it was like a community of actors, Brandon Durden and Michelle Wilson. Um, and, and you know, Francois, they would come and they would, you know, take care of him while I was doing my scene, you know, they'd be like, yo, your mom's going to be right back downstairs and like, Oh, probably like five minutes. She'd be right back down. And he would just say like, your friends are weird. This is weird. And then all he wanted to do in high school was plays and musicals and he wanted to be an acting major. He goes to USC.

And when he told me he wanted to be a theater major, I was like, why, what the fuck is wrong with you? Have you not seen all the shit that I went through? Like you went through this shit with me. Are you crazy? You are smart. You are, you are really smart kid. You cannot be a theater major. That's for the rest of us who just don't have the brain capacity to be astrophysicists. What the fuck are you doing? That's not true. There's a lot of smart actors, that's not true. There's a lot of smart actors. But for me, I was like, I couldn't concentrate on damn math and science. I had to be an actor. I was like, this is all I could do is do silly shit and make voices. So this is what I'm going to do for him.

I was like, you better use your brain. So he's not a theater major. You did it. You talked about it. No, but honestly though, it was because he, he really does love academia. And he, I think was bored once he got in there and he was doing massage circles and shit and wasn't talking about like how the galaxy like was created. Cause he went to St. Ann's school. All those kids do is, you know, smoke weed at home and then go to class and smoke weed with their parents and then go to class and talk about like the world life existence. You know what I mean? He gets to USC drama theater school and he's like, ha, ha, ha, hum, back in your arms. He was like the fuck I'm not thinking, you know? So, um, yeah, he don't, he don't like them kind of games.

So he is now majoring in sociology and psychology. And I'm like, thank you. Oh, well done mama. Yes. Well done. You did it. You know, you have to be very careful. You have to be careful with your wishes for your kids. Cause they want to rebel. So if you're like, Oh, you should do this. They're like, no. So you have to shut up and then see what direction they go in. Then when you see them like, you know, running towards a moving train, he's like, get off the tracks. We're going to take a quick break. Don't go anywhere. We'll be right back. He's an astrologer right now. Two spirit star seed. Oh, can we do plugs? Two spirit star seed is his, um, website. He's an astrologer. Plug away. Oh my gosh.

I'll go. Yeah. I'll sign up. I love astrology. I will go there. This is over. Okay. So Jared moved back to Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is so like, you know, you, you will do everything that you can to like, you know, move your children to like New York city to like, you know, leave your town. And he was just like, baby bird was just like, but my home, I mean, he would spend summers with my mother and his father every summer. So he would get that opportunity to go back home. All the cousins, all the family, like all of everyone is in New Mexico and I'm the only person in New York city. So when he was old enough, he, um, was just like, yeah, I could have a car. I could have a job. I could have money.

I could have space, space, honey. So he went back and he's doing so well. He's, um, he is going to school part time at, um, the community college out there and he's working full time at a Dunkin' Donuts. So he's keeping boot care running, keeping boot care running. Okay. It's time to make the donuts. Yeah. He loves to work. Um, you know, um, I don't think he knows what he wants to do yet, which is a thousand percent. Okay. Like he's just, you know, working, he's made friends, he's got a car, he's got a place. He's, he's, uh, he's living with my mom, so he's still getting fed. Well, we know he's in the best hands, honey. Mommy helped you get all the way to Broadway, honey. So he's going to be a billionaire.

Probably. Exactly. I'm like, are you, I'm like, are you starting to get some of that Duncan stock? I'm like, get that Duncan stock. So he's really, uh, he's just like, you know, it's funny. Your kids are who they are. He's just got so much common sense and a level headedness and, uh, he just really sees things. And, you know, it wasn't even a question. It was just like, I've got to go back to, uh, to new Mexico and I'll never forget. I took him to the airport and I took the bus home from LaGuardia and I cried the whole way home. And then I got off like way before my stop, because I was just like this crying on the bus. It's like, it's only, it's, it's okay for like 10 minutes, but once you get into the 40 minute zone, like, like it's getting, it's gets a little bit like people start to really, you know, wonder about you.

So I got off and I walked home. Like, it was like, I don't know, maybe like a 40 minute walk home too. So I walked home and then I just like left all my tears and watered the land. And, um, and it was been, I mean, how long has she been gone? Like it, it, it took me a full year before I felt even like a semblance of my, of like starting to kind of climb out of it. Yeah. Well, he's a sophomore now. See, the thing is for me and him, it was just me and him for so long. Cause the first nine years we, we lived with my mom. Then it was us living on our own and I knew it was coming. I said, this kid is going to leave and I'm going to sit in a ball in a corner and die. So the only way to not do that, I was like, I have to do something radical.

So I bought a one-way ticket to Barbados. One way, honey. Well, I was like, I'll come back when I want. I just had to, I, my lease was up and he left and I was like, you know what? Forget it. I'm out of here. I'm just going to go. I'm going to go do something extreme and crazy to take my mind off of this. So I went out there and thought about him all the time. But besides that, at least I was out of the environment of New York. Out of the norm of that hustle. Right. You get so used to the rhythm, right? Yeah. Even when they're 15, 16 and they don't want to spend time with you, you're still like, I need to be home by dinnertime to at least have a decent dinner for him in case he, you know, doesn't go to honeycomb and wants to come home and, you know, actually have, you know, food here.

And so his favorite cereal, just so that, you know, there's like something on the shelf that he can at least eat. Yes. Yeah. And then like, you know, I, I just, I, I felt the need to do something radical. Then I got over it. I came back and settled into a groove. And then, you know, recently he came home because of the damn Demick and, um, he was here for like four months. And then he was like, okay, we're in a pandemic. Cool. I know how to do this in LA. I'm out of here. And so we left and went back. Cause you know, that's his, he chose LA. He loves the sun. He loves the weather. He loves the LA like energy, you know, I mean, he's like into it all. He's like vibing. Yeah. Both of our kids, they let the West coast, the sun, I can't blame them.

Like, you know, you gotta be half crazy to live in New York. You do, right. And I can't think crazy. They were like, bye. Yeah. I mean, I, you know, I, our listeners who've been, you know, following along, I know this, but I've been in La Jolla since the shutdown happened. Cause my husband was doing a show out here. So I'm on the West coast. Yeah. So we're, our apartment in Inwood is, you know, it's there, but we're.

[26:20] De'Adre Aziza: Welcome to the show, Jennifer. I'm so excited to talk about our experiences as single moms in show business.

[26:50] Jennifer Sanchez: Thanks, De'Adre! It's great to be here. I think our journeys really highlight the unique challenges we face.

[27:20] De'Adre Aziza: Absolutely. From the hustle of auditions to managing our kids' schedules, it’s a constant balancing act.

[27:50] Jennifer Sanchez: And let's not forget the emotional rollercoaster that comes with it. There are days when it feels overwhelming.

[28:20] De'Adre Aziza: For sure. But I think we also find strength in our community and the support we give each other.

[28:51] Jennifer Sanchez: Yes! That support is crucial. It’s what helps us keep going, especially during tough times.

[29:07] De'Adre Aziza: And the joy we feel when we see our kids succeed makes it all worth it.

[29:20] Jennifer Sanchez: Definitely. Watching them grow and thrive is the best reward.

[29:50] De'Adre Aziza: So true. I remember when my son had his first big performance. I was so proud!

[30:20] Jennifer Sanchez: That’s such a special moment. It’s like we’re passing the torch in a way.

[30:37] De'Adre Aziza: Exactly! And it’s inspiring to see them embrace their passions.

[30:50] Jennifer Sanchez: It really is. I think our experiences as performers help shape their understanding of hard work and dedication.

[31:20] De'Adre Aziza: Yes! And it’s important for them to see that success doesn’t come easy.

[31:50] Jennifer Sanchez: Right. They need to understand the value of perseverance.

[32:20] De'Adre Aziza: And as single moms, we’re teaching them resilience every day.

[32:51] Jennifer Sanchez: Absolutely. It’s a powerful lesson that will serve them well in life.

[33:03] De'Adre Aziza: I love that we can share these insights with each other and our listeners.

[33:20] Jennifer Sanchez: Me too! It’s all about lifting each other up and sharing our stories.

[33:50] De'Adre Aziza: And I hope that by doing so, we inspire other single moms in the industry.

[34:20] Jennifer Sanchez: Yes! There’s so much strength in our stories, and they deserve to be heard.

[34:49] De'Adre Aziza: Exactly. We’re not alone in this journey, and together we can make a difference.

[35:19] Jennifer Sanchez: Well said, De'Adre. Let’s keep the conversation going!

[35:46] De'Adre Aziza: For sure! I can’t wait to dive deeper into our experiences.

[36:14] Jennifer Sanchez: Same here! There’s so much more to share.

[36:43] De'Adre Aziza: Let’s do it!

[37:12] Jennifer Sanchez: Let’s inspire and empower each other.

[37:37] De'Adre Aziza: Absolutely!

[38:03] Jennifer Sanchez: Here’s to all the single moms out there!

[38:30] De'Adre Aziza: Yes! You’re doing an amazing job.

[38:45] Jennifer Sanchez: Keep pushing forward!

[39:13] De'Adre Aziza: Together, we can redefine what it means to be a mom in show business.

[39:30] De'Adre Aziza: I think the biggest thing for me was just the hustle. I mean, I was a single mom, and I had to figure out how to make it work. I had to find childcare, I had to find auditions, and I had to do it all while being a mom. It was a lot of juggling, but I think that’s what made me stronger.

[40:00] De'Adre Aziza: I remember there were times when I would have to bring my son to auditions with me. I would have him in the stroller, and I would be in the waiting room, trying to keep him entertained while also trying to focus on my lines. It was chaotic, but it was also really rewarding.

[40:30] De'Adre Aziza: And then, as he got older, it became a little easier because he could understand what I was doing. He would come to see me perform, and I think that really inspired him. He saw me working hard, and I hope that taught him the value of perseverance.

[40:32] De'Adre Aziza: There were definitely moments where I felt overwhelmed, but I always tried to remind myself why I was doing it. I wanted to set a good example for him, and I wanted to show him that you can pursue your dreams, even when it’s tough.

[40:34] De'Adre Aziza: I also had a great support system. My friends and family were there for me, and I think that’s crucial for any single mom. You need people who can help you out, whether it’s babysitting or just being there to listen when you need to vent.

[40:36] De'Adre Aziza: And now, looking back, I’m so proud of what I’ve accomplished. I’ve been able to work on some amazing projects, and I’ve been able to raise a wonderful son. It’s all about balance, and I think I’ve found a way to make it work.

[40:38] De'Adre Aziza: I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that it’s okay to ask for help. You don’t have to do it all on your own. There are people who want to support you, and you just have to be open to receiving that support.

[40:40] De'Adre Aziza: I also think it’s important to take time for yourself. As a single mom, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and forget to take care of yourself. But if you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else.

[40:42] De'Adre Aziza: So, I try to carve out time for self-care, whether it’s going for a walk, reading a book, or just having a quiet moment to myself. It makes a huge difference in how I feel and how I approach my day.

[40:44] De'Adre Aziza: I think that’s something a lot of moms struggle with, especially in this industry. It’s so demanding, and it can be hard to find that balance. But it’s crucial to prioritize your well-being.

[40:46] De'Adre Aziza: And I’ve learned that it’s okay to say no to things that don’t serve you. You don’t have to take every opportunity that comes your way. Sometimes, it’s better to focus on what truly matters to you and your family.

[40:47] De'Adre Aziza: I’ve also found that being a single mom has made me more resilient. I’ve had to face challenges that I never thought I would, and I’ve come out stronger on the other side.

[40:49] De'Adre Aziza: I think that’s something that a lot of single moms can relate to. We have to be resourceful, and we have to find ways to make things work, even when the odds are stacked against us.

[40:51] De'Adre Aziza: And I think that’s a beautiful thing. It shows the strength of women, and it shows that we can do anything we set our minds to.

[40:53] De'Adre Aziza: I’m just really grateful for the journey I’ve been on. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been worth it.

[41:01] De'Adre Aziza: And I hope that by sharing my story, I can inspire other single moms to keep pushing forward, no matter what challenges they face.

[41:03] De'Adre Aziza: We’re all in this together, and we can lift each other up.

[41:05] De'Adre Aziza: I think that’s the most important thing we can do as women and as mothers.

[41:07] De'Adre Aziza: Support each other, share our stories, and remind each other that we’re not alone.

[41:09] De'Adre Aziza: That’s what this podcast is all about, and I’m so glad to be a part of it.

[41:19] De'Adre Aziza: I think it’s important to have these conversations and to create a space where we can talk about the realities of being a single mom in show business.

[41:21] De'Adre Aziza: It’s not always glamorous, but it’s real, and it’s our truth.

[41:27] De'Adre Aziza: And I think that’s what makes it so powerful.

[41:29] De'Adre Aziza: We’re sharing our stories, and we’re showing that we’re not afraid to be vulnerable.

[41:31] De'Adre Aziza: That’s what connects us, and that’s what makes us stronger.

[41:53] De'Adre Aziza: I just want to encourage all the single moms out there to keep going. You’re doing an amazing job, even when it feels like you’re not.

[42:03] De'Adre Aziza: You’re enough, and you’re capable of achieving your dreams.

[42:13] De'Adre Aziza: Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

[42:33] De'Adre Aziza: And remember, it’s okay to ask for help and to lean on your support system.

[42:43] De'Adre Aziza: We’re all in this together, and we can lift each other up.

[42:53] De'Adre Aziza: Thank you for having me on the podcast. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share my story.

[43:13] De'Adre Aziza: I hope it resonates with other moms out there, and I hope it inspires them to keep pushing forward.

[43:23] De'Adre Aziza: We’re all capable of greatness, and we just have to believe in ourselves.

[43:33] De'Adre Aziza: Thank you again for this platform, and I look forward to hearing more stories from other amazing moms.

[43:53] De'Adre Aziza: It’s been a pleasure to share my journey with you all.

[44:03] De'Adre Aziza: Let’s continue to support each other and lift each other up.

[44:13] De'Adre Aziza: That’s what it’s all about.

[44:23] De'Adre Aziza: Thank you!

[44:33] De'Adre Aziza: I appreciate you all.

[44:43] De'Adre Aziza: And I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of us.

[44:53] De'Adre Aziza: Let’s keep shining bright!

[45:03] De'Adre Aziza: Thank you!

[45:13] De'Adre Aziza: I’m so grateful for this opportunity.

[45:23] De'Adre Aziza: And I hope to connect with more moms out there.

[45:33] De'Adre Aziza: Let’s keep the conversation going!

[45:53] De'Adre Aziza: Thank you!

[46:03] De'Adre Aziza: I appreciate you all.

[46:13] De'Adre Aziza: And I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of us.

[46:23] De'Adre Aziza: Let’s keep shining bright!

[46:33] De'Adre Aziza: Thank you!

[46:43] De'Adre Aziza: I’m so grateful for this opportunity.

[46:53] De'Adre Aziza: And I hope to connect with more moms out there.

[47:03] De'Adre Aziza: Let’s keep the conversation going!

[47:13] De'Adre Aziza: Thank you!

[47:23] De'Adre Aziza: I appreciate you all.

[47:33] De'Adre Aziza: And I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of us.

[47:43] De'Adre Aziza: Let’s keep shining bright!

[47:53] De'Adre Aziza: Thank you!

[48:03] De'Adre Aziza: I’m so grateful for this opportunity.

[48:13] De'Adre Aziza: And I hope to connect with more moms out there.

[48:23] De'Adre Aziza: Let’s keep the conversation going!

[48:33] De'Adre Aziza: Thank you!

[48:43] De'Adre Aziza: I appreciate you all.

[48:53] De'Adre Aziza: And I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of us.

[49:03] De'Adre Aziza: Let’s keep shining bright!

[49:13] De'Adre Aziza: Thank you!

[49:23] De'Adre Aziza: I’m so grateful for this opportunity.

[49:33] De'Adre Aziza: And I hope to connect with more moms out there.

[49:43] De'Adre Aziza: Let’s keep the conversation going!

[49:53] De'Adre Aziza: Thank you!

[50:03] De'Adre Aziza: I appreciate you all.

[50:13] De'Adre Aziza: And I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of us.

[50:23] De'Adre Aziza: Let’s keep shining bright!

[50:33] De'Adre Aziza: Thank you!

[50:43] De'Adre Aziza: I’m so grateful for this opportunity.

[50:53] De'Adre Aziza: And I hope to connect with more moms out there.

[51:03] De'Adre Aziza: Let’s keep the conversation going!

[51:13] De'Adre Aziza: Thank you!

[51:23] De'Adre Aziza: I appreciate you all.

[51:33] De'Adre Aziza: And I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of us.

[51:43] De'Adre Aziza: Let’s keep shining bright!

[51:53] De'Adre Aziza: Thank you!

[52:03] De'Adre Aziza: I’m so grateful for this opportunity.

[52:13] De'Adre Aziza: And I hope to connect with more moms out there.

[52:23] De'Adre Aziza: Let’s keep the conversation going!

[52:33] De'Adre Aziza: Thank you!