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[0:00] Corbin Bleu: What's up, everybody? This is Corbin Blue, and you are listening to the Art of Kindness.

[0:06] Robert Peterpaul: Hello, beautiful people. Welcome to the Art of Kindness, where we have compassionate conversations with artists from all areas of the entertainment industry who are using their voice to spread joy and make this big spinning planet in the universe a better place to be. I'm Robert Peterpaul, and I'm so glad you're here.

[0:34] Robert Peterpaul: Hello, friends! I missed you. It's so lovely to be back with you amidst the chaos of what's happening in the world. Thank you for clicking play. I hope you're hanging in. 2025 has already kind of been a roller coaster, right? Whew! January. What a year. But I am buckled up and luckily not alone in my car of the roller coaster to continue this metaphor. I mean, maybe we should start out by holding some space right now for all of the people that support us. You know, there's that phrase my nanny always says, which is you're not the only pole holding up the tent. And that really helps me when I feel like I'm the one that always has to be there for other people. But on the flip side, if there are multiple poles holding up any given tent, that might just mean that the main pole, the biggest one in the middle, is the person who owns the tent, the tent owner, okay?

And then let's say all the tiny poles around them are their support system. So while they are the one that has to keep the tent fully supported at all times, they can lean on these other little poles. Does that even make sense? Anyway, think about the little poles in your life, the people that support you. And I hope that that brings you some peace in what feels like a pretty tumultuous time.

[2:06] Robert Peterpaul: Speaking of, I want to say that I have been blown away by the love and support from each and every one of you in regards to what's happening with my family. I guess I should share that here now, in case you don't know. At the start of the new year, my mom had an alarming growth in her stomach. After a lot of twists and turns and ER visits, she was officially diagnosed with cancer. This is her second battle, and one that seems to fortunately have a positive prognosis, but I would still love if you could please keep her in your thoughts and prayers and wishes. We've also created a GoFundMe that I'll put in the show notes if you want to read more about her story. She is one of the strongest people in the world, I'm quite sure, and the strongest person I know.

She's been through so much, and I know she'll get through this too. And I know it'll be in part because of all of you sending your love and just keeping her in your thoughts again. So thank you for that. We love you, mom, and I'll share more at another time. You know, maybe I'll even interview my mom. I'll have her on the show that's on my bucket list. I just again wanted to thank you for being one of my little poles in my tent, if that metaphor has ever made any sense.

[3:34] Robert Peterpaul: As I mentioned earlier, kindness does hold space for the uplifting as well as the horrific. And I do really want to take a moment at the top here to acknowledge the LA fires, since we have been on a pause. I'm gonna share resources on how you can contribute to what LA is conquering over there. Luckily, things are being contained at this point in time. LA is truly, I think, one of the most resilient places in the world. Just as my mom is one of the most resilient women, maybe resilience is a theme today. And I have no doubt that my friends there, the community there will get through this. Especially if people continue to show up with the beautiful acts of kindness that they have been.

[4:19] Robert Peterpaul: Needless to say, there have been many reasons why I have not been on the mic with you all in a while, but I'm pumped to return with a true triple threat. He's a Cali native, a class act. And he can definitely dance. Ah no, he can! Today's guest is the Corbin Bleu. Corbin Bleu is a versatile actor, singer-songwriter, dancer, voiceover artist, and host. A great host, too. I was privileged to see him host the Jimmy Awards, and what a charmer. Bleu is best known as Chad Danforth in the Emmy-winning HIGH SCHOOL Musical franchise, which defined my childhood. No big deal. I was in the High School Musical, the musical at my high school. I played the cello. Stick to the status quo, no big deal. More recently, Bleu starred in the TV movies Love for Real and A Christmas Dance Reunion, and special guest-starred in seasons three and four of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on Disney Plus.

On Broadway, Bleu starred in the Tony-nominated 2019 revival of Kiss Me, Kate. I got to see him in this with my family, and he was magic, which is probably why he earned a Drama Desk nomination. I was also honored to catch him headlining Holiday Inn, for which he won a Chita Rivera Award. Other Broadway credits include Godspell and In the Heights. He's performed all over, but while we're talking NYC creds, you may have caught Corbin starring as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors at the West Side Theatre, opposite Constance Wu, and then Jinkx Monsoon. I mean, while you're listening to him, it's safe to say you won't feel blue. Eh? We want a stand-up gent.

[6:12] Robert Peterpaul: Full disclosure, friends, this interview started out with an act of kindness, which is honestly my favorite way to start an interview. But I was a little stressed. We had some technical difficulties, and I entered the virtual studio a little later than usual and very much out of my mind. But Corbin was truly so kind to me and accommodating, and sensed I was frazzled like frazzle rock, and he just breathed it out with me. We took a deep breath together. It was so nice. The difficulties unfortunately didn't stop there. But I mean, you know, this was the little episode that could, like the little train that could. We eventually climbed that mountain and beat every delay. Choo choo! As we recorded, we hit some audio bumps here because we actually had more people in the digital studio than usual.

Here's the deal, Leo. I've upped our compliment game. Game, friends. I had to get my head in the game, and for the very first time, sorry, I just got a flashback to singing "Get Your Head in the Game" and trying to bounce a basketball, dribbling it all over my high school stage while doing that show, and the ball definitely flew into the audience multiple times. Hopefully it didn't decapitate anybody. Anyway, okay, we upped our compliment game game, and for the very first time, this is exciting. We have a complimenter live and in person, surprising our guest. And this complimenter isn't just any complimenter. This one is a gem and a half, an icon in their own right. I don't want to spoil it, but get excited.

This person is phenomenal. As are you, my friend. I would love to connect with you further on social media. You can find us at Art of Kindness Pod on Instagram and at Robert Peterpaul there and in most corners of the digital world. I'd also really appreciate if you took the time to leave us a five-star review wherever you listen. But you know, you're already here listening, and that honestly means the world to me, so no pressure there. All right. Whew! Now without further ado, please welcome the kind Corbin Bleu. Ooh, that rhymes.

[8:37] Corbin Bleu: Well, let's do this. I'm so excited to see you. I know we've met like a few times briefly at different events and on the carpet where you meet a ton of people, so I don't expect you to remember, but I just want to say that because I've always admired sort of the way you seem to walk through this industry with a big old smile. And to meet you in person, it really checked out because you're not only very talented and someone that I'm glad people are admiring, but you're just like a very kind and genuine person. I've noticed that you literally, despite an event running late, talk about running late. All the industry is always running late, but you will make sure you stop and talk to everybody. And I really admire that. So I just wanted to like set the scene with that and say thank you.

[9:18] Corbin Bleu: Appreciate that, Robert. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you, thank you. I feel the same way. I mean, I always come across great people. I find that people tend to lead with respect more than not. And I find that if you put that out, you tend to receive it.

[9:37] Robert Peterpaul: That's true. I find that with kindness, and it's actually science. There's research that shows kindness really is contagious and it comes back to you, which I won't geek out about too much. I probably will.

[9:45] Corbin Bleu: Oh no, we can geek out all day. Let's do it.

[9:50] Corbin Bleu: I've always been a major proponent of kindness. I think that it needs to run our world.

[10:00] Robert Peterpaul: Well, you have that reputation. We have some mutual friends, and I've just heard that you're an incredibly kind person. So now that I've like ambushed you with compliments, I'm wondering the first question I always ask is how are you at accepting compliments? Because I feel like you must get a lot of them over the years and sort of in that teeny bopper world, I'm sure they're heightened sometimes. So how has your experience been with that?

[10:22] Corbin Bleu: Yeah, I mean, I think that I have a healthy need to diffuse certain compliments at times. I'm definitely not one that like I can't hear it. I do have a moment where like I'll listen to a compliment or something for a certain period of time. Usually, if it's a barrage then I get to the point where I'm like okay I hear you and I feel it thank you. But we need to move on I can't because I have a hard time and I do find that I want it to be mutual and you know if there is a sense of either it's gratitude or admiration I want to find the same thing in the other person. You know I know as performers we live for applause. Live the applause isn't that a song? Yeah. And so there is an element that I appreciate when someone does enjoy my work and I also do think that kindness is intentional.

I think that there are people who are just the naturally kind of course but even the most naturally kind person there is an awareness to it. So when I do hear that there is a reputation that I have of being kind I do know that I appreciate that because it is something that is intentional.

[12:01] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, I do think it's intentional and that's something I've learned too across the board. It's like even with a self-tape if you don't have that intention if you're not going in there with a specific intention it just might not work out the way you planned or you might not be bringing the energy you plan on bringing which is usually the I try to bring less frazzled energy here, but sometimes you gotta be kind to yourself too. So I admire that definition and I wonder, you know, speaking of self-kindness, like all of that is so beautiful. But how have you protected yourself? Because that's a lot of energy to put out there. I can sort of relate on like a smaller level, and being at the stage door and always greeting people on the street, I'm sure. Like, how do you kind of protect your own energy and make sure you have that time to, you know, recenter?

[12:45] Corbin Bleu: That's a great question. It's actually something that has taken a long time to navigate. And I still am navigating and learning. But when my career really started to take off, of course, was following High School Musical. I was 15 years old when we shot the first movie.

[13:06] Corbin Bleu: Wow. So I was a kid, had no idea, you know, still figuring out so much of yourself. Yeah. Of your you're still your brain is still developing. Some of us is still developing, you know. Right to know. All of a sudden at this very young age be put under a microscope and for so many people to all of a sudden now recognize your face and that there's a lot of energy that is coming at you that is both positive and negative, because of course there are fans, but then of course there's always haters.

[13:48] Corbin Bleu: Yeah. Um and I think that being especially through the Disney machine, um I was of course and and and as a as also as a human being, I I do always been uh um wanting to serve others as just something that I've been taught uh from from a a moral standpoint from my from my parents. Uh and then again yes because of of of Disney you know all of a sudden you're a quote unquote role model now and you wanting to always have a certain portrayal of of this this this uh good kind human being and um which you uh depending on the scenario can be very easy or can be very difficult uh if you are dealing with people that it's the negative yeah and there's disrespect. And I think that was something that I had took a long time to learn that uh I don't have to let someone walk over me just because I'm in this position.

Um I always lead with kindness and respect but I have learned to shut down very quickly uh any form of disrespect. Um and the second that I I I get that I'm not going to be rude to you but you have now lost that intentional respect and kindness that I do want to put out into the world. Now it can easily be remedied if there I see that there's all of a sudden an awareness that there's a switch that's been flipped.

[15:36] Corbin Bleu: Yeah. But um but again I I I I think my biggest thing and my biggest protection is that I I know that I I can't please everyone and that I don't have to um yeah I don't have to deal with disrespect. No I mean I'm gonna putting on a t shirt and a tattoo it to my forehead. I think it's well it's brilliant because then you're switching to the other side of kindness which is self-kindness and self-preservation and you have to show yourself that as a public figure I'm sure. In this day and age, everybody listening I feel like at least in these times can maybe relate a smidgen more because we all have these social media weird platforms and some of us are getting a ton of comments with with some hate and some of us aren't but there's maybe a little bit more empathy there at least in this day and age. I don't know if you've seen that at all, but I think people I do experience that.

[16:28] Corbin Bleu: I I think I think j I think just think generally generationally. Yeah. I feel like you know a lot of that does come with progress and it comes with um that this newer generation also does seem to be a lot more just accepting of of others um and and of everyone just being themselves and who they are. Uh how beautiful yeah it it it is a beautiful thing and and um I mean I I just think back to growing up as a kid even we're we've seen we've seen so many ch so many changes in our society to you know with with with Black Lives Matter with with me too with there there are just and and that's obviously spread into to so many other cultures. Um but I I just think about you know growing up as a kid w as a as a mixed is a half black half white child uh in the early nineties it was such a sh it wasn't as common to even see.

And the whether it was just because it's something that was unknown there it was an element of uh rudeness or or uh people being unkind uh just just because it's again it's it's it's a territory that is not um people are not always comfortable with and I think because this generation is again so much more naturally comfortable with just people being who they are because we all know we're all human beings uh and come from different colors creeds you know whatever it may be uh I I think that just knowing that people um have so much more of an acceptance I think that that makes a huge difference.

[18:14] Robert Peterpaul: Well speaking of acceptance it's what I heard there A is is wonderful because you seem to have a very strong understanding and patience and empathy for people. I mean even the way you just spoke about your experience growing up you seem to have a knowledge that okay this isn't me it's sort of what they're going through and uh first of all I mean that's brilliant to have at at any age to learn and second of all I think we can all take something from that note but I was curious you know looking at kindness to kind of set some context here for today's conversation sort of what is your definition of kindness and how do you think it has changed over the years having gone through everything you just mentioned and and more.

[18:54] Corbin Bleu: Hmm wow um that was a big question.

[18:57] Robert Peterpaul: It is a big question.

[18:58] Corbin Bleu: I the the the second part of the question is is the harder part where how has it changed over the years? Um I I don't know I I feel like kindness I mean in in in my opinion kindness has always been the same it's just how it's applied I guess um the from d kindness is so many things. I mean it's it is it's it's respect, it's awareness, it's it's forgiveness, it's patience um uh it's it's also self um aware you mean as as you said you have to be kind to yourself but it's also very selfless um I think I think one of the biggest uh things as I said earlier uh of it being intentional is knowing that uh kindness isn't always necessarily uh connection um I think a lot of people think that just because you're you're you want to kindness means just going up and and talking to everybody that's that's even that isn't necessarily the case I that's why I I think it's truly intention and awareness uh to what each individual person might need in uh in that moment um you know I I one of my a moment that stuck with me that was just so cool uh and and I thought was was a great moment of kindness and and I don't think that this person realizes how much it stuck with me um was of course you know I I I always appreciate if anybody does recognize my work or if they they talk to me about it um but you know I'm I'm also like I'm I'm a busy guy I gotta like I got I got things I gotta do.

[20:51] Corbin Bleu: Yeah and I can't and I do want to take the time to to stop and and and talk to people if if possible but I remember I was I was walking uh in New York, I was in the city, I was on my way to an audition, actually. And uh I passed by this guy on the street, he had headphones on, and he recognized me. And instead of walking up and saying, Hey man, just want to say hey, he he looked at me and said, You're awesome, Corbin, and kept and it was such a moment of it it was it was recognition of obviously me and my work, which is so cool and I I appreciate, but I felt like it was it was also such a recognition of someone's space and and time and uh and energy, and he didn't even wait for a response. He just he said it and and kept on walking.

[21:53] Corbin Bleu: And I think that you know there that can be applied to s I mean I when when we're walking about and and you know you're you're in a grocery store and and you you see someone you want to to you know give a compliment or or something like that, you know, it doesn't even necessarily need a response. Uh it and that's where it can be selfless. Uh that you j it's just about putting out that positive energy into the world. You have no idea what that it might have on someone. Um like if he just gave me the biggest boost walking into an audition.

[22:31] Robert Peterpaul: There you go.

[22:32] Corbin Bleu: Like, and didn't know, didn't know what it meant to me after after that. Um so yeah, I love that story because it it can be very vulnerable. We talk about this all the time on here to just smile at someone on the street or say hello, but it changes everybody's energy, it changes the atmosphere, it changes how you then go about your day, and it is a ripple effect. And I'm happy to hear you say that because my I always thought it was a weird approach if I ever recognized anybody to just shout like, you're great, or I I never I don't get like too starstruck unless it's, you know, like you. One time I saw one time I saw Whoopi Goldberg and I just like I blacked out and I just shouted whoopy. But usually it's like a oh I love you, and then just keep walking.

[23:10] Robert Peterpaul: So it's nice to hear that that's has an effect. And I think that can extend just in life. If you're a trader Joe's, love your shirt. You know, oh I got the same thing. Like just that moment of of connection is kindness in itself. And we don't have to have it. Like I like what you said earlier, and I listened to an interview with you, and by the way, it's not lost in me. You d it seems like you haven't done too many podcasts, so I extra appreciate you being on this one. But I heard you talking with your wife on one about sort of how the connection sometimes, if you're apart for a while, can get like disrupted. And that's true with every relationship. And I think that's pretty fascinating because it doesn't mean that there's not the love and the kindness there to your earlier point.

[23:52] Corbin Bleu: Um I'm sort of flagging things mentally of what you said and well first first of all, I I I appreciate uh this podcast and its message. Um very much so thank you for having me on board. And and you're right. I I I I mean everybody has a podcast these days. I do get after them. Um and and you know, I I I I I definitely want to to focus on ones that I I I admire and I appreciate. So I admire you and and this. Thank you very much.

[24:21] Robert Peterpaul: I appreciate you.

[24:23] Corbin Bleu: Yeah, absolutely. The um yeah, I I my best relationships, my my I whether you know it's it's a family relationship, a friendship, um are those people that I obviously can go for months on end and not see, and then when we get back together, it's it's just like no time has passed.

[24:46] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[24:47] Corbin Bleu: And and I think that just comes from you know lack of of ego I guess. That's it's not I I don't need uh to to constantly hear everything as soon I know that I know that you're you've got your life going on and if you're just because you're not always thinking about me and you need to constantly text me or and vice versa does it mean that I don't have so much love for you and when we see each other it's it's going to everything's gonna work out great and you know we'll catch up.

[25:23] Corbin Bleu: Um obviously my wife is a different scenario with we like that's that's the one person that I I know like I we we have a we have a three week that we just can't healthy.

[25:33] Robert Peterpaul: So I heard you talk about it too on the podcast.

[25:36] Corbin Bleu: It's like yeah I mean I think that's important for everybody because sometimes even you see each other every by day but you don't really see each other. So even just having like a check-in throughout that month that you're home together it's like having that special time. I read somewhere some people do like a life dinner where it's one dinner every month where you can bring all your life goals and dreams and whatever to the table and that way you're both prepared to talk about something heavier. I read it I saved it I still haven't done it.

[26:03] Corbin Bleu: We we do we do a thing um uh that's called that's called updating our terms and conditions uh and and uh it's just because you know we we've as a married couple, we've made vows to each other for our lives.

[26:18] Corbin Bleu: Uh and as human beings, we all change. Um and what we needed at uh our time in our life when we've been married for eight years now.

[26:31] Robert Peterpaul: Congratulations.

[26:31] Corbin Bleu: Thank you. That's the infinity sign. We're together for 13. So we've we've been together for a long time. And because we've we've grown together, our wants and our needs have always have changed. And and and what you know we needed from that person years ago isn't necessarily the same thing that we need we need today. So there is always that check-in and it's also always understanding well, you know what what do I bring right now to this relationship that you that I that you need from me and vice versa.

[27:06] Corbin Bleu: I love that that's such great advice because we do reserve the rights to change our mind first of all. And I wonder if all this sort of like all these brilliant gems you're dropping could be the fact that you're the oldest child, right, of four? Did I make that up?

[27:11] Robert Peterpaul: You're very right. You know you research, I am the oldest child.

[27:23] Corbin Bleu: We have that in common, so I wonder if it's sort of like you feel the need to just always be checking in with people and making sure they're okay. I know I have that with my siblings.

[27:32] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, the weight of the world, that responsibility for sure.

[27:37] Corbin Bleu: You're like the second parent, and what wakes me up at night is stuff about them. I'm like, oh, I haven't seen them enough or I, you know what I mean? I'm too focused on this, and it's a real quality amongst—I mean, how many siblings do you have?

[27:40] Robert Peterpaul: I'm the oldest of four, so it's—

[27:40] Corbin Bleu: Oh, so we're the same. I'm also the oldest of four.

[27:56] Robert Peterpaul: Got it.

[27:56] Corbin Bleu: And it's all girls after me. I've got three younger sisters.

[27:58] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, okay, that's fine. That's different.

[28:00] Corbin Bleu: Yeah, and I feel like that's also played into my personality a lot just growing up. I didn't grow up with brothers, so that masculine energy of the like, oh, let's go each other up, like that kind of never came into play.

[28:14] Robert Peterpaul: Yep.

[28:17] Corbin Bleu: And I just always was, you know, very understanding of whatever was needed at the time from me.

[28:26] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, I can relate to that. I was like tracing—remember trace paper? Did you ever use that?

[28:30] Corbin Bleu: I was like tracing movie covers.

[28:33] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, it's like a 90s thing.

[28:36] Corbin Bleu: Okay, thank you. I definitely didn't black out and invent it. But like my siblings were wrestling, and I'm like tracing the cover for Hocus Pocus over and over again in a corner, you know.

[28:45] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[28:46] Corbin Bleu: But I was curious about that with your upbringing. You know, I guess it seems like you were born in New York and then were you raised in LA mostly or was it—

[28:49] Corbin Bleu: Oh yeah, for the most of my life. Yeah, I was so I was born in Brooklyn. My father is an actor as well. So we actually moved to Los Angeles for both of our careers.

[29:06] Robert Peterpaul: Oh cool.

[29:06] Corbin Bleu: I had started professionally as a child actor. So I started at two years old doing commercials and modeling, and I started also working in film and television as early as six and seven years old. So when we moved to LA in '96, we've been out here ever since.

[29:31] Corbin Bleu: And I've always gone back and forth my entire life. Both of my parents are very much New Yorkers, even though they've lived out here a long time now. My mom has still got a super thick accent. I always considered myself growing up in an East Coast home, even though we live on the West Coast. So I have love for both New York and LA.

[29:55] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. Well, I guess, you know, flashing over your career, of course, the high school in the room is that you eventually booked High School Musical, and it changes your life, and you're now a part of this beautiful legacy, which I really admire the fact that you're still keeping it alive. And I know it's been alive, it had the series that you were also in, but you go to so many events, you give back in so many ways to your fans, and that's not always the case with people, which is okay because everybody does things differently.

[30:20] Corbin Bleu: But yeah, I wonder for you, like when you think of High School Musical, like what do you think of? Like everybody thinks of you all, but what comes to your mind?

[30:30] Corbin Bleu: Which is crazy. It's still surreal. That I think my relationship with it, in the same way that, you know, as I've matured, I think my relationship with it also has matured. I view it in such a different light than I did years ago. Of course, after the initial weight of all of it, there was a part of me that did try to distance myself from it because, you know, you don't want to just be known for that your entire career. And luckily I've gone on to do plenty of other things.

[31:12] Corbin Bleu: But as time has gone on, you do remember and realize that no matter what, that is what gave me the career that I have today. And I think I also look at the project through the eyes of the fans as well. There are those projects for me. I mean, it's funny, you mentioned Hocus Pocus earlier. Like I watch it every single year. Right. Kenny Ortega directed it, and getting to work with him in High School Musical, that was such a dream come true.

[31:33] Corbin Bleu: But there are those projects.

[31:54] Robert Peterpaul: Well, we're here. We had the creator of Hocus Pocus on here, and they did confirm that it's in the works to come to Broadway. So we could manifest—you're a Broadway star. I mean, maybe we could manifest something.

[32:04] Corbin Bleu: Really?

[32:04] Robert Peterpaul: And Kenny wants to be a part of it.

[32:06] Corbin Bleu: I know, but who knows?

[32:08] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[32:09] Corbin Bleu: Yeah.

[32:10] Robert Peterpaul: So that would be exciting.

[32:11] Corbin Bleu: Oh, interesting.

[32:13] Robert Peterpaul: Think about that. Think about—let that manifest.

[32:15] Corbin Bleu: I don't know what we could do there. I mean, I'm—maybe it's a Billy Bones situation.

[32:24] Robert Peterpaul: Yes.

[32:24] Corbin Bleu: Or I mean, maybe you could do something with the cat or—I mean, I was about to say, what if it's big?

[32:29] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[32:30] Corbin Bleu: Yeah.

[32:30] Robert Peterpaul: Okay. So I'm just letting our producer in. They're just gonna listen.

[32:33] Corbin Bleu: And yeah. This is just our producer chilling, listening. So I just want to make sure you know that's what's going on.

[32:39] Robert Peterpaul: Thank you. I appreciate it.

[32:40] Corbin Bleu: Yeah, but sorry, continue what you were saying.

[32:41] Robert Peterpaul: Oh no, not at all. Well, what I was saying was that you know, there are those projects that I obviously grew up watching that when I think back on that is I have so much nostalgia and love for it because it just made my childhood. And I didn't obviously grow up watching the High School Musical movies. I was a part of them, but once they were done, I would watch something that I'm in once at the premiere, and then I don't usually watch it again.

[33:08] Corbin Bleu: And so I, you know, haven't watched them religiously like the fans have. And it wasn't until I went back and did the series on Disney Plus that I was like, okay, I need to get back into the mode of this world. And I went back and watched them, and I just had such a different lens of looking at it going, these hold up.

[33:33] Corbin Bleu: And they're really good. I, as a musical theater nerd, as a musical theater lover, to be able to see how they did make musicals cool for that generation. And what's even more surreal to me is how it's continued. I think that's what really is surprising. I know that the people who grew up with it, that feeling again, I know that feeling with other things for me, but really what's I find so shocking is how it has had a resurgence that there are—whether it's people who have found it on their own or it's because the generation you grew up with it are now having kids and they introduce it to their kids.

[34:16] Corbin Bleu: But I will get, you know, middle school and high school students that are big fans of the project that I'm like, this came out before you were born.

[34:26] Robert Peterpaul: The legacy lives on.

[34:27] Corbin Bleu: Yeah.

[34:28] Robert Peterpaul: And I actually wrote that down here. Something that I'm so grateful for is as a High School Musical theater kid who was in musical theater when these movies were coming out, I saw such a difference in how people treated us as like the musical theater nerds of the school. I mean, I was always like a little Muppet bouncing around to all different groups, but I feel like there was such a switch, especially when we did High School Musical, the musical version and theater.

[34:50] Robert Peterpaul: It was like everyone came. We did like a whole auditorium thing during the middle of school. So it is such a special project on so many levels. I do want to make sure I have a little surprise game that I want to pump in here real quick.

[35:02] Corbin Bleu: Love game.

[35:02] Robert Peterpaul: Because it's irrelevant to this conversation, if you don't mind. And basically, it's called the compliment game. And I asked someone in your life for a loving statement about you. I'm gonna read it to you, and then you just have to guess who said it.

[35:17] Corbin Bleu: What?

[35:18] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. Um, it's really sweet.

[35:21] Corbin Bleu: Yeah, okay.

[35:22] Robert Peterpaul: I'm gonna—oh God. Uh, there's a cheesy theme song that I'll just insert here. Um, I did black out when I recorded this.

[35:30] Corbin Bleu: Okay.

[35:30] Robert Peterpaul: Everyone's beautiful in their own way. It's the compliments game on me.

[35:33] Corbin Bleu: Yay, okay.

[35:34] Robert Peterpaul: It's the compliment game.

[35:36] Corbin Bleu: Compliment.

[35:37] Robert Peterpaul: Yay! Bump.

[35:41] Corbin Bleu: Yes.

[35:41] Robert Peterpaul: Okay.

[35:42] Corbin Bleu: Yes, scoop.

[35:42] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, that was blacked out in Garage Band. If people are still listening, we are playing the compliment game.

[35:48] Robert Peterpaul: I have a really wonderful statement here for you. We'll say you get like three yes or no guesses. You can ask me yes or no questions and three guesses, and I'll try—I don't really know anything, but I'll try and help you out.

[36:00] Corbin Bleu: Okay.

[36:00] Robert Peterpaul: Okay. Okay. Okay. Woo! Put my reading voice on. Corbin has the biggest heart. His genuine love and zest for life is imbued upon everyone he meets. His smile is electric and authentic and brightens everyone's day instantly. I tip all of my hats to him.

[36:25] Corbin Bleu: Which I feel like could be a little hint. All of my hats. There's something with the hats.

[36:33] Corbin Bleu: First of all, I'm gonna cry. If that is—I cannot believe that anyone had said that someone close to me. That's amazing.

[36:46] Robert Peterpaul: So, um, this is someone that I had worked with before, correct?

[36:57] Corbin Bleu: Yes.

[36:58] Robert Peterpaul: Yes. Um, this is someone that I possibly have worked with for a long time.

[37:05] Corbin Bleu: Yes.

[37:05] Robert Peterpaul: Meaning over the course of many years.

[37:08] Corbin Bleu: Yes.

[37:10] Robert Peterpaul: I mean, the hat thing is really what's kind of driving it for me. Is this by chance Lucas Grabeel?

[37:18] Corbin Bleu: Uh, let's ask our producer here. Is this Lucas?

[37:23] Robert Peterpaul: Let me find out.

[37:29] Corbin Bleu: Yes.

[37:30] Lucas Grabeel: Bro, man. What's up, brother?

[37:36] Corbin Bleu: Welcome, Lucas. Surprise.

[37:40] Lucas Grabeel: What the fuck, bro?

[37:42] Corbin Bleu: This was part of the coordination here, Corbin. There were a lot of plates spinning. I've never done this before.

[37:46] Lucas Grabeel: You're the first, Lucas, and I appreciate you being here.

[37:50] Corbin Bleu: I totally call for it, by the way. With just the producer coming in, I was like, oh yeah, okay, sure. Why not? Whatever. I'm usually the other random phantom being on the chat.

[38:01] Robert Peterpaul: Oh hi, Penny.

[38:06] Lucas Grabeel: We actually just talked to Penny. Really, because he had headed out of town. Penny is also one of our family members. We adore Penny, but bro, I love you so much, man.

[38:16] Corbin Bleu: I love you too, man. You get this, Luke, really, this is my brother. Like I tell you, I again, as I said before, I grew up with all sisters. I only grew up with girls. So the fact that I never had a brother, this is it.

[38:32] Lucas Grabeel: I feel the same exact way. I just have a sister and yeah, Corbin, you're family. We're—and you got me forever.

[38:40] Corbin Bleu: Oh man, this is so good, man. You know, also one of the kindest, most incredibly talented and thoughtful human beings that I've ever met.

[38:50] Robert Peterpaul: Well, let's talk about that. I would love to know if you two have—it can be about each other—but stories of kind experiences on set. Welcome, Lucas, to the chat. I'm so happy you could be here.

[39:00] Lucas Grabeel: I was like shaking the whole time trying to figure out how to do this.

[39:04] Corbin Bleu: Well, we did it!

[39:06] Lucas Grabeel: Yeah, we did it. I'm so happy to be here. Thanks for having me. One story that comes to mind is like whenever we—like back in the day, you know, Corbin had that iconic giant pro hair.

[39:22] Corbin Bleu: And yeah.

[39:23] Lucas Grabeel: Every time someone on the street or on set or anywhere would be like, oh man, I love your hair. He like—it was like the first time every time was like the first time anyone had ever complimented his hair, and that's where like part of that quote came from.

[39:42] Lucas Grabeel: Like your ability to give a genuine part of yourself every single time over and over again. Like, you know, every time you meet someone, it's just—I just see that authentic part of kindness from you, just like giving yourself to people, and it's just like it's amazing.

[40:02] Corbin Bleu: Thank you.

[40:07] Lucas Grabeel: Thank you. Well, look at this beautiful way you're receiving it. I get so awkward and I'm like, no, it's not true. Say more. But I wonder for both of you, you know, Corbin, you've been in a million Broadway shows. I've seen you in Holiday Inn. I saw you recently in Kiss Me, Kate. I mean, you're such a star. You're both amazing performers. Lucas, we're all thinking of you this time of year with the Halloween Town franchise on our TV every five seconds, which I would love to talk about as well. But how do you both, speaking of kindness, like what are your tips for kindness on set? Like how do you both practice self-kindness in this crazy industry where it does require so much energy like you just said?

[40:44] Corbin Bleu: You know, for me, it really came from the beginning from learning the craft in theater when I was growing up. I was so fortunate to be a part of a community theater that was so involved in the local community in a small town in Missouri where I'm from. And we didn't, as performers, just perform. We had to hang lights and change gels and sweep the floors and take tickets and be ushers and work in the box office. Once you learn what it takes from all different perspectives and jobs to put a production together, you have that respect for those people and how hard they work to make the production happen. I think that's what it is. You're putting yourself in other people's positions and knowing that they've got a lot of things to do, especially on a movie set.

I mean, you have hundreds of people just conversing at the same time, doing all different jobs but working as a well-oiled machine together. It takes a lot of work from a lot of different-minded people. So respecting that makes it so much easier to give people their time, be patient, and spread love because we're all in this together, right?

[42:13] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, let's do it! Yeah, that's so true. You're pushing me to my limit now. You're pushing me to my limit. I'm gonna bop my top off. That didn't make sense. Corbin, did you have anything, any tips you wanted to add there? I obviously actors do have a reputation for usually being the ones that have the ego on set, and I have found that the most incredible actors that I've worked with are the ones that don't have anything to prove. They show up on set knowing that their part on the project is just one of the moving parts. Everyone that is a part of that set is just as important to make it happen.

[43:07] Corbin Bleu: I definitely make a point, and as I said before, it's intentional. You know, it takes effort. I always make a point to learn everyone's names. I do love Broadway and theater because you actually get a face sheet. In film and television, you just get the call sheet, and it basically says everyone's name and next to it, it says what their job is. So I will make a point to, prior to working on the project, go over the call sheet and learn who does what. Because I've been on enough sets, I can look around and go, okay, I know that that's the gaffer, and I know because I learned it before, his name is this and this and this. But with theater, they actually give you not just the call sheet, but a face sheet that has everybody's face next to their name.

[43:56] Robert Peterpaul: That's so fascinating. That's great. I wish that we did it on film and television sets. I feel like it's something we need to implement because it makes such a difference just being able to walk in knowing exactly what everyone looks like with the names already. That just creates such a more level playing field and an opportunity to say everyone's names and form that connection.

[44:25] Corbin Bleu: Yeah, we need a kindness committee on sets for that. And I feel like what's most important is, you know, when you do these carpet events, we, as the press, get face sheets a lot of the time. But sometimes the photos are a little out of date, so it's a little bit like, oh, are you Sandra? No? Okay, moving on. I don't know who I am either. And so I think updated photos are also great. But on a serious note, I've spoken with our dear Gavin Creole often, who we just lost, and that was the tip he gave when I had him on the podcast. It was to just remember people's names, which might sound really simple, but I was thinking about this today. It's like, how many times do you get on the phone with a restaurant to make a reservation or something for X, Y, and Z? And it's kind of like you can't just dive into the conversation, and then you're too far in, and you don't even know the person's name.

[45:12] Robert Peterpaul: So it's true.

[45:14] Corbin Bleu: I will say I can't say that I always remember it in the long term. It's just because that's a difficult thing to do, especially with our industry. You know a lot of people with their work. You go to your office, and you're with those same exact people year after year. You might have people come and go, but with the entertainment industry, each project, you could work on something for a month, and you have an entire crew of people, and then you leave them and go to the next one, and it's an entire crew of people again. You compound that over years; it's so many people. I say all the time that it is a bit like an Etch A Sketch. I remember everyone from working on the project, and then it all goes away, and then I gotta remember it again the next time I see them.

But while I'm within that bubble, I do find it important. It's the same thing, even with your, like you're saying, a phone call. If I call and need to talk to customer service with my cell phone company, and the person says, "Hello, my name is XYZ," I try to commit that to memory at the beginning so that way, as the phone call is going, I can actually reference and say, "Thank you, XYZ. Thank you so much."

[46:35] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[46:36] Corbin Bleu: My name is... There's some kind of creep. I don't know if you can hear that. There's some kind of creep and white noise coming into this chat. I don't know what that is, but...

[46:42] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, I do hear it.

[46:45] Corbin Bleu: It might be relaxing to people.

[46:48] Robert Peterpaul: Is this another surprise? I did try to have a triple surprise. It didn't come my way. I tried Monique. No, I did try, but hopefully...

[46:59] Corbin Bleu: Oh my God, could you imagine? I didn't even have the right email, I think. So that's not anyone's fault. But Lucas was so kind to make this happen right away. And now that I have two icons here, I would love to know a little icons-on-icons moment. You've both worked with such extraordinary folks besides each other, even outside of the High School Musical world on Broadway and Halloween Town, Debbie Reynolds. I would love to know if either of you have worked with someone who you feel like really was a role model on how to carry yourself with grace on a set and what you learned from them.

[47:35] Lucas Grabeel: I have one. So, as I said, I started really young, and I still remember this encounter. I worked on Galaxy Quest when I was eight years old. I loved that movie. It's an awesome movie. I played young Tommy Weber, and Sigourney Weaver is a lead in that film. I was on set for, you know, I think two or three days. The impact that she had, I mean, I'm a kid. She's obviously got a lot of work that she's gotta do, but she made the point and had the intention to make my experience special just by finding little moments here and there to talk to me. Even when I was wrapped and done, she came up to me and said, "Thank you for your work." That lasting impression of a massive star in this industry as a child really had such a huge effect on me. I have such a vivid memory. It's just written in my mind from being eight years old. Talk about an icon—Sigourney. Not only her acting skills, but she's just weaving love and kindness, and I love that story.

[49:13] Robert Peterpaul: Lucas, I had asked that question. Do you have anything that came to your mind? No pressure.

[49:17] Lucas Grabeel: Yeah, I've been so fortunate to work with so many kind people. You know, like Corbin said earlier, so many actors are not the most approachable, and I don't have a whole lot of friends that are actors because of that reason. But you know, when you meet someone who is just so kind and warm, it makes it even more special. When I was shooting Milk, I worked with so many A-list people that I admired for so long, and Josh Brolin comes to mind. I also had a small role in the film and was there for a month maybe to shoot on and off. We had a lot of breaks and stuff, but he remembered me. We had dinners together. It was a very close-knit cast, and we were very familiar very quickly. He always had no reason to go the extra mile and show me extra kindness.

But years later, I saw him at the Cannes Film Festival, and he waved me over from across a restaurant, sat me down, and we had a long conversation. Just like Sigourney, he didn't need to do any of that, and I would have still thought he was a great guy, but he took that extra little thing to be warm and welcoming and remember me, and that was just great.

[50:58] Corbin Bleu: Well, I was gonna say, you know, Lucas, for some reason, that story just now made me think the reason why that happened is probably just because he's present. That just made me think of another part of kindness. It's not just about putting on a smile and giving compliments; if you are simply doing it just to do it, it might not settle into your brain in the same way. If you're truly present in the moment, if you're curious about someone, if you're actually living within the moment, it creates stronger memories. Thus, to be able to actually remember those moments, like when he saw you across the room, it was genuine.

[51:56] Lucas Grabeel: Yeah, yeah.

[51:57] Corbin Bleu: Putting things off of you and onto the other person is what kindness is truly about because we all are thinking about ourselves more than we are thinking about other people most of the time. We get so worried about what other people think about us, but most of the time, people are just worried about what their hair looks like.

[52:20] Lucas Grabeel: Exactly.

[52:21] Corbin Bleu: When you sink in and connect with someone—eye contact, remembering their name, putting questions forth to them instead of just talking about yourself—it really makes a difference, and people remember that.

[52:40] Lucas Grabeel: Yeah, they remember how you make them feel. Side note, not that it's bad to worry about what your hair looks like, but when I do, it's when I'm getting ready by myself in the mirror in the bathroom. And then when I leave, I'm like, okay, now let me forget that and be present. Except for virtual discussions when you're like, am I a Brello pad? But you know, other than that, I agree. There was a study, I think—I might have seen this on Instagram, I don't even know if it's true, honestly—that people are more worried about what their hair looks like, and no one even notices their hair because they're worried about their own hair.

[53:16] Corbin Bleu: It's interesting. Everything we're describing here, I think actually translates to acting, right? I mean, putting something onto the other person when you're in doubt, listening to each other, being a kind scene partner. As soon as someone cuts you off, and then you have to be in love in a scene, that's still underneath there, even though you're acting. It's interesting, and that's one of the reasons I wanted to start this podcast because it's interesting that actors and celebrities tend to get this egotistical reputation when they're some of the kindest people I know. I think there certainly can be the other thing because you have to champion yourself, right? But I'm wondering while I have you both here as well, we touched on this earlier, Lucas, how do you feel like you navigated the Disney machine so beautifully?

Because that's another thing that I've admired about both of you. You're on the other side of it, appreciating what you had and giving back to all the fans, and you didn't get caught up. I mean, from my point of view, at least in the experience that a lot of child actors have.

[54:12] Corbin Bleu: So I'm just curious what you attribute that to, and how you feel like you were able to be sort of grounded adults in the world. Well, I mean, a few things. One, I appreciate that. Thank you. You know, we all had our moments of not dealing with it well because how could you without any sort of information on how to deal with something so crazy. And even high school musical set aside, the Disney machine, once you are a part of the family, like it it's wild and crazy and unpredictable and intense and all of the things. One thing I came out to LA when I was 18 without my parents I didn't have like the you know the parents around me. I wasn't a child. So that helped just kind of being a little bit more aware of myself and not relying on someone else just kind of you know guiding me through the situations.

But also like I grew up in a small town and especially Missouri is like if you got a chip on your shoulder which a lot of people do actually but you know like especially in legally blonde the musical yes you you just auditioned for that so I'm oh nice um people will let you know and so it was very important to my family that I maintained a level of humbleness and and realness and groundedness so that I didn't fly off the rails and become an egomaniac. But I also I think the third part was that I w it scared the shit out of me. I was so fearful of all of this attention because I thought, oh, you know, my dad was a farmer. Like I thought I was gonna have to like work hard all day every day for decades until I would get a glimpse of the success of high school musical and it happened so quick, so fast, and so much at one time, it overwhelmed me.

And so I you know, I would walk behind the red carpet a lot of times if I if he would let me um and not get my picture taken and uh, you know, just always kind of be in the background and that kind of helped me um, you know, not like look at it from a different perspective uh and not just be in it all of the time. But you know, I know that that my career suffered because of that.

[56:56] Robert Peterpaul: No, I mean not from where I'm sitting, and but it's you're right. I appreciate that. It's important to have other things. And I mean I just need to say too, behind you you have this beautiful background with all these I mean instruments, you got a banjo, guitars. Yeah. I know that's mixed into what we do, but like having other sort of interests is also just so important. And what you were saying before about like being interested in what the gaffer's doing, being interested in the script coordinator and all this other stuff, it also gives you that appreciation versus just only like having the tunnel vision of booking a job.

[57:30] Corbin Bleu: Right, exactly. I have to say that about Lucas. Is he is one of the truest artists that I know. Um that it and it's because you're it's just because you're so real, dude. It's and you're you you have always expressed yourself so truly through your art. Um and it and it it's so not for fame. It's so not for a a misconstrued goal that a lot of people go for and and because of that your your appreciation for your work and I know like the the appreciation that I have for your work. Um it comes from such a real uh true art place. Um I would tell you like he does. He plays he plays every single instrument.

[58:23] Lucas Grabeel: I can see that.

[58:28] Corbin Bleu: So it and and it's because he does just always um express himself through that way. And and he gives and he gives to the people uh that he loves too through through his through his art. Uh thank you. I'm gonna This wasn't supposed to be a gush on me. I'm supposed to gush on you.

[58:43] Robert Peterpaul: No, I did I did have I wanted Corbin to tip his hat as well toward the end year toward you and you did it naturally, which is pretty beautiful and yeah, this this was just such a wonderful experience to have you both here in this little surprise setting. And I'm sure most people would ask you, you know, like what's next on the high school musical front together. And while I have you here, I probably should ask you that. But instead I'm gonna ask you, Lucas, if you would also like to be a part of Hocus Pocus the musical that is coming to Broadway.

[59:11] Lucas Grabeel: Uh yeah.

[59:14] Lucas Grabeel: Okay. Um Yeah, no, I I have been um trying to get on Broadway uh since I was uh eighteen. Um and you know What's going on, Telsi, Terra Rubin? Well No, I'm sorry, I'm not I'm gonna call them. I've signed contracts, they you know, scheduling has been a thing. I was, you know, working, you know, it it's been a myriad of reasons. We almost did we almost did the he he almost took over for me after God spell.

[59:51] Corbin Bleu: Yeah.

[59:52] Lucas Grabeel: Oh wow. I was gonna uh close rent um when rent closed on Broadway, but high school musical three interfered with that, and I was gonna do Book of Mormon, but I was on a TV show, and they wouldn't let me, you know, it was such a hot ticket, they wouldn't let me do anything less than six months, and you know, uh so yeah, I I just have always said, you know, it wasn't the right time, and when it when it happens, it will be right, and hocus pocus sounds right.

[1:00:23] Corbin Bleu: Sounds right to me too. I'll be a PA, I'll be a tree in the back.

[1:00:27] Robert Peterpaul: Well, I think that's wonderful. As we kind of come down from this like high school musical high, I've had some people on here that have been through sort of what you both what you both have, which is going through like a cultural phenomenon. So I've spoken with people after Hamilton, all this stuff coming down from like this high school musical machine which lasted so long and now you're I mean you're always in it. How do you, I guess, like combat these these down moments? Like, where do you go? What do you where do you turn? I think it'll be relatable on smaller levels for all of us listening, but it's it's important to know where to recharge, otherwise you kind of just burn out, and then you can turn it inward and be like, well, where's my next high school musical? You know what I mean?

[1:01:07] Corbin Bleu: Well, it's a big question. You want to go, Lucas?

[1:01:11] Lucas Grabeel: From hocus pocus to this. No, I mean, I I was just gonna say it's hard. I and and Corbin Corbin does a much better job than I do.

[1:01:20] Corbin Bleu: Uh that's not true with this.

[1:01:21] Lucas Grabeel: No, it's it is true. I I I am currently suffering major burnout, and I uh this is the second year in a row around this time that I've felt it. And it you know, it's really difficult to remember all of the tools that you've learned in the past to like apply because so much of the time you don't realize it until you're a month, two months into the the drained despair and anxiety and depression. Like some of that is really hard again about being present. Like if you're not present and checking in with yourself, it's really easy to just like burn the candle at both ends, run the battery while it's dead, and just recharge just as much to get through the next day, and then you're just stuck, and it takes even longer to rest and recuperate and get back to that.

And and I know all of the things to do, but making the decision to do them and taking the energy that it takes to to do those things, like hobbies and laughter and dancing and silliness and all of that stuff, it it it feels when you're in that place like it's impossible. It's like, you know, uh people who are depressed. It's like, yeah, of course, eating healthy and exercising and seeing the friends that I love will make me happier, but I don't want to do that because I don't I don't care about anything. And it's uh it's yeah, it's just difficult and uh every it's a cyclical thing for me. I always find myself in that place, and not always, but I always find myself coming back to it, and each time I get a little better about recognizing it quicker and remembering the tools that I have in my bag to go to.

But it's it's a lesson that I feel like I'm gonna be learning over and over again for the rest of my life. And it's just not something that just oh you get this one thing and you do it every time and then everything's better. It's not. It's it's hard, it's difficult, it takes practice, and uh it takes a lot of energy, and um especially now the the with the status of the world, it's just when you're when you're just dealing with your own stuff and then looking outward and everyone else is dealing with craziness too. It it helps a little bit to you know rely on that and know that you're not alone, but you sure feel alone when you're when you're in it.

[1:03:59] Robert Peterpaul: Oh yeah, those islands in the stream, we're just we're all there together, and I pre I really appreciate you sharing that because I I'm in a space where I feel very similarly right now, and I know a lot of people do, and for me, sleep is kind of the first thing that goes out the window, but it's an interesting parallel because when we are on these highs, like if you're in a show in these other moments, that the same stuff can happen, like sleep also can go out the wind. It's like impossible to get sleep in this business, honestly. So um just hearing you say that I think will be helpful to a lot of people because they'll they'll feel heard.

[1:04:31] Corbin Bleu: Mm-hmm. It's and it is uh and you're completely right, it it it does happen uh on even on the opposite side too, you know. It I and that's why when we're always trying to measure our happiness with success, uh that's not the way to go about it. Yeah. Uh, uh because you can't be in a season of success and feel burned out and feel unfulfilled. Um and uh I have always found that it's just practicing gratitude. Um and really also focusing on what do I want? What is going to make me happy in that moment. As I had said before, you know, we always change, updating our terms and conditions and relationships. It's the same thing for ourselves. Whatever what do we need in that moment right now? Um is it that I I do need a new hobby or something or a goal to to focus on, or I need I need space, I need time.

I because I've there are there are times where you know I I do, I just I just want to turn my phone off. Lucas, Lucas knows that I I disappear. Like it it's I will because I I do I I love I love like I'm I'm I'm like a 100% all in person on anything that I do. And if I'm going to if I'm going to take on a project, like it's gonna get every part of me. If I'm gonna talk to a human being, they they've got me. Um and but it's the same thing that sometimes that cup when my cup is empty, I'm gonna go in 100% as far as like trying to fill it in. And uh this is also why, as I said before, you know, my like my best friends in the world, they know that like time will could pass and we don't see each other for some time.

This is one of them right here. I I will like pull a full Pisces and just disappear off the face of the earth and like turn my phone off because I need to just be in in silence. And I and and I know that that's you know, it's just what I need in that moment in order for me to continue on doing the things that I know I do well. Um so yeah I I do think it's it's very important. And and while that you know it's I know there are people that might listen to that and go, you know, how can you do that? That's that's that's not okay. Um to me I it's it's so much more important for me to be able to fill my cup focus on what I need to be able to do. Um so that way I can then come back around and give.

[1:07:12] Corbin Bleu: Well also airplane rules, you know put on your oxygen mask before you can help others. I mean like if you're not if you're not good you can't help anybody. You're just gonna be pouring your uh stuff onto them.

[1:07:27] Lucas Grabeel: Yeah.

[1:07:28] Corbin Bleu: My nanny always says that put your oxygen mask on first. Honestly if my oxygen mask is on, I'm still like blacking out and screaming if the thing's going down. But the metaphor works because you can't give from an empty cup as we're saying here. Another another thing is I I heard a uh Martin Short talk on a podcast once that uh he at the end of each year he gives himself he has a uh like a report card and he divides his life into different sections.

[1:07:54] Robert Peterpaul: Uh work, family, fun, health, travel, hobbies, I don't know, something something like that.

[1:08:03] Robert Peterpaul: And he gives himself a grade of how he did in those areas throughout the last year.

[1:08:11] Robert Peterpaul: And s like what Corbin said, so so much of uh especially a artist or performer's life is your identity so tied closely to your resume and and what you're doing currently and you know success and happiness all being on what your work is um and and I caught myself when I was hearing this I was like so much of the time when someone says hey how are you doing I would be like well I just did this and I'm about to do that and then only focusing on what the work is and if you only focus on the work then even if you have an A in work and you've got Fs and everything else you're not gonna be happy.

[1:08:54] Robert Peterpaul: So he said that you know whenever I would um you know uh see a dip in my career I noticed that the other things I wasn't spending enough time with family or friends I wasn't traveling for pleasure I wasn't working on my health you know taking care of myself so it's all encompassing uh to be able to have that uh that that success and joy uh in life because it's not just one thing it's everything.

[1:09:25] Corbin Bleu: Yeah I thank you for sharing that.

[1:09:27] Corbin Bleu: I love that.

[1:09:27] Corbin Bleu: I'm gonna re-listen to that like 80,000 times on a loop and play it every day.

[1:09:31] Corbin Bleu: It's sort of like the saying you you can only juggle well I I almost said this the wrong way which would have been uncomfortable but you can only juggle like three balls at once.

[1:09:38] Corbin Bleu: You know you can't or whole yeah anyway blacken out but I that's something I had to learn when I first started auditioning right like you go in there the casting director says how are you and you the actor brain in you wants to be like I'm so good I just booked a T-Mobile commercial I just but really what humans want to hear is just you know I'm good it's sunny out like I I just went got a cookie you know like I I think that human first approach like you're saying is a much healthier way.

[1:10:04] Corbin Bleu: Um so I love that for checking in on your life and yeah I think that's really valuable.

[1:10:10] Corbin Bleu: Yeah I I I because of that too I've also stopped asking what's next in in in the industry.

[1:10:20] Corbin Bleu: Just because that that is a constant question.

[1:10:23] Corbin Bleu: And you know I like right now um I have projects I have some I have something that is a possible thing in 2025.

[1:10:36] Corbin Bleu: Hocus pocus the music um hocus pocus right um Halloween town musical and I just finished a run uh in Little Shop and at the moment I have no actual project to talk about and I am so happy because I'm home.

[1:10:55] Corbin Bleu: I haven't been home in a very very long time.

[1:11:00] Corbin Bleu: It's I've I've been going from project to project which again not like knock on wood.

[1:11:04] Corbin Bleu: That's fantastic.

[1:11:05] Corbin Bleu: I'm happy to be working um but I'm actually home right now and and to be able to see my friends and see my family um and not talk about work.

[1:11:17] Corbin Bleu: Um not talk about like what I'm getting ready to go do.

[1:11:20] Corbin Bleu: I it's been it's it's been a really wonderful stress reliever.

[1:11:26] Corbin Bleu: Um and just because I I do I try I I I don't like to ask any more of my my colleagues like hey what which what you working on next yes like that I try to never ask that question in these interviews we're working on right now is life.

[1:11:42] Corbin Bleu: But that's that's an important part.

[1:11:45] Corbin Bleu: Staying alive.

[1:11:47] Robert Peterpaul: And look how much we had to talk about we of course touched talked on uh about career stuff, but I mean there's so many other things to just talk about.

[1:11:54] Corbin Bleu: My you know, my another thing my nanny always says is watch what comes into the void.

[1:11:58] Corbin Bleu: And I think in this day and age, we don't necessarily allow there to be a void all the time because we're always on our phones, we're always go go go and sort of self-medicating with all these amazing things that are in front of us, or going to be an activist or whatever it is.

[1:12:11] Corbin Bleu: So I think just like letting yourself have that downtime and just to be bored is underrated.

[1:12:17] Corbin Bleu: I know when I was bored, that's when I would, you know, lay on the couch upside down and start walking on the ceiling and you know, do all sorts of random things.

[1:12:23] Corbin Bleu: Trace and movie covers, as I told you before.

[1:12:26] Corbin Bleu: So letting yourself be bored.

[1:12:33] Corbin Bleu: Oh, okay.

[1:12:35] Corbin Bleu: I'm throwing my notebook.

[1:12:38] Corbin Bleu: No.

[1:12:39] Corbin Bleu: I I can't take credit for that.

[1:12:40] Corbin Bleu: I heard that somewhere else.

[1:12:41] Corbin Bleu: But um yeah, it does uh like we used to before cell phones, we used to just sit and and not do anything.

[1:12:52] Corbin Bleu: And uh, you know, just I think back, you know, I'm I'm a redneck, so like sitting on the front porch and just watching the cars driving.

[1:12:52] Robert Peterpaul: Sitting on the front porch.

[1:13:02] Robert Peterpaul: What's that dolly song?

[1:13:03] Robert Peterpaul: She's like I love that part.

[1:13:05] Corbin Bleu: Uh so yeah, uh we we need stillness uh in our life to to combat this crazy influx of just kinetic energy all of the time.

[1:13:17] Corbin Bleu: Cause yeah, we are just we've never been this the society that we live in today has never happened.

[1:13:23] Corbin Bleu: And and we are technology's growing at such a high rate.

[1:13:26] Robert Peterpaul: I don't mean to go off on a tangent here, but you know, go off.

[1:13:29] Robert Peterpaul: I know and I want to be respectful of both of your time.

[1:13:31] Robert Peterpaul: I know we said an hour, so you know, feel free to give me the cane at any point, but also feel free to go off.

[1:13:38] Corbin Bleu: Well, we're just inundated, you know, and we need we need to we need to, like Corbin said, turn the phone off.

[1:13:46] Corbin Bleu: Cut out, you know, the world just for a moment, just to like sit with ourselves.

[1:13:52] Corbin Bleu: Because if we don't check in with ourselves, uh we're only living outside in this frenetic energy, and you're gonna just be zapped and gone in an instant.

[1:14:06] Corbin Bleu: And give the Corbens of the world the benefit of the doubt.

[1:14:08] Corbin Bleu: I I have so many friends that also need to retreat.

[1:14:11] Corbin Bleu: And just knowing those people and knowing, oh, it's not personal if they didn't answer me.

[1:14:15] Corbin Bleu: They'll answer me in a month.

[1:14:16] Corbin Bleu: You know what I mean?

[1:14:17] Robert Peterpaul: I think having that awareness as well as the uh the other friend.

[1:14:22] Corbin Bleu: Yeah.

[1:14:22] Corbin Bleu: So true.

[1:14:23] Corbin Bleu: And not not zapping, you know.

[1:14:26] Corbin Bleu: It's and you just uh just thinking about again, um it just maybe what you were talking about before, just about being okay in in the stillness and the silence.

[1:14:33] Corbin Bleu: It's another acting connection.

[1:14:36] Corbin Bleu: Um, you know, you're you you you you find the moments of stillness, you find the moments of silence in a scene.

[1:14:43] Corbin Bleu: And and why do we study that in in acting and finding that in in moments, but we we don't we don't find those moments in life.

[1:14:54] Corbin Bleu: And it it is so important to just be okay with stillness, with the silence.

[1:14:59] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, and isn't that the best thing about theater?

[1:15:01] Robert Peterpaul: That's my favorite thing, is you put your phone down in the dress room and then you do all sorts of weird stuff backstage, and then you play on stage, then you come back and you do a little prank in the wings or whatever it is, and you're just you're hydrated, you're not on your phone.

[1:15:12] Robert Peterpaul: I mean, it's it's very healthy in a lot of ways.

[1:15:14] Corbin Bleu: And then you get home at midnight and you're like, but you know.

[1:15:17] Corbin Bleu: That's besides the point.

[1:15:18] Corbin Bleu: But you've both been so generous with your time.

[1:15:20] Robert Peterpaul: Lucas, thank you for helping me pull off this surprise.

[1:15:23] Corbin Bleu: What an amazing surprise it was.

[1:15:26] Corbin Bleu: Well, so that was so cool.

[1:15:28] Corbin Bleu: Thank you, Robert, for putting together that surprise.

[1:15:30] Corbin Bleu: Lucas, I love you, bro.

[1:15:32] Corbin Bleu: You know that.

[1:15:32] Corbin Bleu: Thank you so much for being here.

[1:15:34] Corbin Bleu: Like, this is so cool.

[1:15:35] Corbin Bleu: I I truly, truly was surprised.

[1:15:37] Corbin Bleu: Like not a whatsoever.

[1:15:39] Corbin Bleu: Like, first of all, the the quote, uh, such a surprise there, but then for you to actually be here, well done.

[1:15:47] Robert Peterpaul: Both of you.

[1:15:47] Robert Peterpaul: This is the first time we pulled that off.

[1:15:49] Robert Peterpaul: And I would I would love if we could close out by you both just sharing a short tangible kindness tip for listeners.

[1:15:56] Robert Peterpaul: So something you would want people to do on their own front porch in the sunshine, for lack of a better metaphor here, to make the world a little bit of a better place.

[1:16:05] Robert Peterpaul: I know I've asked you this on carpets before, Corbin.

[1:16:08] Robert Peterpaul: Uh Lucas, I'm at like random events in the city asking kindness questions when it literally has nothing to do with anything else.

[1:16:14] Robert Peterpaul: I'm like a little Muppet, like, what does kindness mean?

[1:16:16] Robert Peterpaul: And they're like, We're actually promoting uh the Drama Desk Awards, but okay.

[1:16:22] Corbin Bleu: I think at a time like this when uh so many times we find ourselves in a situation where someone across from us shares completely different views than we do.

[1:16:34] Corbin Bleu: Uh there's such a an immediate uh feeling to just draw a line in the sand and disconnect from these people if they don't believe the same way that I do, I don't want to have anything to do with them.

[1:16:48] Corbin Bleu: And there's a there's a uh a good part about life to not surround yourself with people who don't serve you know, or think the same and serve the greater good that you're trying to achieve as well.

[1:17:03] Corbin Bleu: But in those moments, I've find myself often now trying to wipe away the line in the sand and try to reach across and connect with that person.

[1:17:13] Corbin Bleu: Because as Mr.

[1:17:15] Corbin Bleu: Rogers said so beautifully, you can learn to love anyone once you've heard their story.

[1:17:22] Corbin Bleu: And I feel like if we can just stop the the rising anger and reaction to when someone says something that we don't agree with, but to stop and say, hey, tell me how you came to that and tell me where you where you came from.

[1:17:41] Corbin Bleu: Let me hear your story.

[1:17:43] Corbin Bleu: That kind of kindness can uh stop this divisiveness and really bring us together.

[1:17:50] Robert Peterpaul: Wow that was that's incredible.

[1:17:53] Corbin Bleu: I I can't top that you can try.

[1:17:58] Corbin Bleu: The reason why he popped to the top to tune in to Lucas Grabeel because he is got he's got both of you for you.

[1:18:09] Corbin Bleu: That no truly that was so beautiful.

[1:18:11] Corbin Bleu: I I could not have said it any better.

[1:18:14] Corbin Bleu: That I I I think that right now we are dealing with some of the mo is as as much as we talked about earlier that people are also so accepting we also at the same time are are are seeing the most divisiveness that we have ever seen.

[1:18:32] Corbin Bleu: And it does make us not want to to talk uh and and just being able to still spread kindness even though we don't see eye to eye I mean I I I truly I think that's beautiful, beautiful advice.

[1:18:49] Corbin Bleu: So beautiful.

[1:18:50] Corbin Bleu: And I think kindness is part of the anecdote.

[1:18:52] Corbin Bleu: So I encourage everyone out there to try to take a moment to listen to each other.

[1:18:55] Corbin Bleu: And even if you don't agree, realize that you probably really do agree and want the same things.

[1:19:01] Corbin Bleu: It's just dependent on how somebody else was raised and they're doing what they what they know how to do.

[1:19:06] Corbin Bleu: So open up the floor for maybe a kind conversation there.

[1:19:09] Robert Peterpaul: But if the two of you need a podcast, we will produce and just listen to you both drop gems every second.

[1:19:15] Robert Peterpaul: Because wow, you both given so much.

[1:19:33] Corbin Bleu: We're all one.

[1:19:34] Corbin Bleu: We're all the same.

[1:19:35] Corbin Bleu: And when you see it like that, it just all of these stupid little discrepancies that we have with each other are meaningless.

[1:19:45] Corbin Bleu: Nothing matters.

[1:19:46] Corbin Bleu: Nothing really matters.

[1:19:47] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[1:19:48] Robert Peterpaul: So why not be kind?

[1:19:49] Corbin Bleu: Yeah.

[1:19:50] Corbin Bleu: Amen.

[1:19:51] Corbin Bleu: To quote uh Bohemian Rhapsody, nothing really matters.

[1:19:54] Robert Peterpaul: You are correct.

[1:19:54] Robert Peterpaul: That's why I love planes.

[1:19:56] Robert Peterpaul: You just see how tiny we really are.

[1:19:58] Robert Peterpaul: You know, it puts things into into perspective.

[1:20:00] Robert Peterpaul: Uh well, thank you both for sharing that in so many things and surprising Corbin and then giving us this little bonus time together.

[1:20:08] Robert Peterpaul: I just admire you both so much.

[1:20:10] Corbin Bleu: And Robert, we admire you too, man.

[1:20:12] Corbin Bleu: Thank you.

[1:20:12] Corbin Bleu: Thank you for for having a podcast that is surrounding kindness.

[1:20:17] Corbin Bleu: I I think it's such a beautiful thing.

[1:20:19] Corbin Bleu: I'm I'm I'm so happy to be a part of this.

[1:20:21] Robert Peterpaul: Yay.

[1:20:22] Robert Peterpaul: Well we'll we'll check back in soon.

[1:20:24] Robert Peterpaul: And I do think you two need your own podcast, so I I will hound you about that.

[1:20:27] Robert Peterpaul: When people ask you what's next, you say you two are going on the mic.

[1:20:33] Corbin Bleu: What am I working on?

[1:20:35] Corbin Bleu: I'm working on myself.

[1:20:36] Corbin Bleu: I was about to say he's gotta cook it.

[1:20:38] Corbin Bleu: So don't you worry.

[1:20:40] Robert Peterpaul: I love that.

[1:20:40] Robert Peterpaul: Well, thank you both so much again.

[1:20:42] Robert Peterpaul: I just I'm glad that we have people like you to admire in this business because it's rare, you know.

[1:20:47] Robert Peterpaul: So everybody listening, I hope you enjoyed your time with these two icons, and I wish you both the best.

[1:20:53] Robert Peterpaul: I'll see I'll see you around.

[1:20:55] Corbin Bleu: Definitely.

[1:20:56] Corbin Bleu: Thank you.

[1:20:57] Corbin Bleu: Thanks, Robert.

[1:21:01] Robert Peterpaul: Until next time, remember everything is gonna be a okay.