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[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. Happy Thanksgiving week. Woo! I can't wait to eat all the food. I mean, I can't wait to think about what I'm grateful for. Ha, yes. Well, one of the things I'm grateful for, besides each and every one of you tuning in to hear me ramble on and on with some pretty cool humans each week, are organizations that are actually making our world a better place. One of those that I recently discovered is You Gotta Believe, YGB. I was beyond fortunate to attend their 10th anniversary Voices Stars for Foster Kids Fundraiser at Town Hall in New York City recently. YGB is an organization dedicated to finding permanent families for older foster youth. They are celebrating a decade of impact with this milestone event, which featured performances by Rosie Perez, ha ha ha, Kate Reinders, our friend J. Harrison Ghee, and more shining stars, and you're gonna hear from some of them during this live bonus episode.

[1:36] Robert Peterpaul: Now, as you've probably come to gather, the live red carpet episodes are unhinged. There's lots of energy, lots of talking. They're unhinged in a fun way. And I think that's amazing because y'all get to kind of be there right on the carpet with me and hear what I'm hearing. So I hope you enjoy this red carpet episode, which again features so many incredible talents, speaking to the work that YGB is doing, and of course, kindness. This event also coincides with National Adoption Month. Today, nearly 400,000 children are in foster care in the U.S. with around 20,000 aging out annually. Without the stability of a family, these young people face higher risks of homelessness, unemployment, and other hardships.

YGB is committed to changing that reality. Join us as we learn more about this organization. And please, as you're celebrating Thanksgiving with your family, which I know it's a hard year to get together for some families in this climate, I hope you can take a moment to at least feel gratitude for the fact that you have a family. Whether that's blood related, a chosen family, having stability in the sense of having a community and a network of support is something I know I'm grateful for, and something that YGB really hopes for older foster children. Without further ado, please enjoy this live bonus episode. We'll be back soon.

[3:17] Alex Temple Ward: My name is Alex Temple Ward. I'm performing tonight, and I'm happy to support this amazing organization. Yeah, tell me about tonight. We're at the You Gotta Believe Gala. I think it's the tenth year for an amazing cause. I mean, I think it's important. This cause is important just for the safety of kids, right? I mean, it's important to keep them in homes, in safe, stable homes so that they are taken care of until they can grow and become adults and full functioning and work and become full members of society. And I think that we're also in a time right now that things are looking pretty scary politically, and I think that things are about to become a little bit more unsafe in this country, personally.

[4:04] Alex Temple Ward: I think you hit the nail on the head with the word stability, too. Like we all need that nowadays, but especially these children.

[4:10] Robert Peterpaul: Absolutely. My podcast is called The Art of Kindness. And so when I look at this organization and so many others that use art to make the world a better place, I would love to know, do you have a kindness tip? Something tangible that you think people out there at home can do on their own corner to try and make the world a little brighter.

[4:26] Alex Temple Ward: A kindness tip. Yes. And it could be related to tonight. I think offering a smile is kind of just the basic for me. Like that's no matter what the situation, no matter how you're feeling personally in your own life, you don't know what somebody else is going through. So offering a smile, offering grace is kind of the basic, the most basic thing you can do. That's why the pen—well, that's not why the pandemic was hard, but the masks, I was like, my eyes are both trying to discern like what face you're making at me, and I'm not really knowing.

[5:02] Robert Peterpaul: What are you singing tonight?

[5:03] Alex Temple Ward: Um, I see are people revealing what they're singing tonight? Is that—this isn't gonna go out until after, so I think I think you can. I mean, I'm singing, I'm not gonna reveal it just because superstition. But I will say that singing superstition. I'm definitely singing a song that is close to this cause's heart and my own heart as well. Um, it's a beautiful song. Well, thank you so much for being here. It's great to meet you.

[5:22] Alex Temple Ward: Nice to meet you. Thank you so much. Thank you. I like the jacket.

[5:26] Sherri Saum: Hi, I'm Sherri Saum. I played Lena Adams Foster on the TV show The Fosters and Good Trouble. And I'm excited to be here tonight because it's the 10th anniversary of You Gotta Believe, and that just means that the attention, people at these kids are getting attention, these kids who are a little older than, you know, the babies that always get adopted first. And these kids that still very much need someone in their corner. And look at everybody here tonight. It's growing, it's only going strong, and yeah. So I'm thrilled. I'm thrilled to be here.

[5:54] Robert Peterpaul: I'm so thrilled you're here. And when we look at, you know, nights like tonight, I think specifically there's something to be said for using the arts to help build this change. Can you kind of speak to that and why you think the arts is sort of the way to get things done in this crazy world?

[6:10] Sherri Saum: I know. I mean, I really feel like, you know, what we do is we touch humanity, we express what's happening, and we—humanity is like a common denominator with all of us and telling stories and people being seen, being represented. Um, it touches something, it reaches globally. It can evoke change. And so even though it seems like, ah, it's TV, it's entertainment. No, it's a big deal. And people are touched, they see themselves in characters, and I think it's a really powerful medium.

[6:42] Robert Peterpaul: Speaking of reaching people, I want to geek out over Lock and Key, but I think I'll stick to The Fosters tonight. It makes more sense, maybe. When people come up to you, especially about The Fosters, and maybe I'm sure share very heartfelt stories with you. What's that experience like? Because I'm sure it's a lot to take in, but also wonderful.

[6:58] Sherri Saum: It's wonderful, but it's also awful because I'm always like reduced to a mess in the middle of an airport or in a grocery store because it's so touching to me. And people are always, you know, they begin by apologizing. Like, oh, I'm so sorry. You might—and like, are you kidding me? This is like the honor of my life. I'll never ever get tired of hearing someone that was touched by the show or encouraged or felt seen by the show. It's like it's great to be working as an actor, but then to do something that actually makes people feel like they matter. I'm like, what—how do I get so lucky? You know?

[7:28] Robert Peterpaul: I know. Well, Lock and Key killed it on. One of my favorite parts of Lock and Key, I'm just gonna keep saying that. My podcast is called The Art of Kindness. So I would love to know, it could be relevant tonight or just in general. Do you have a kindness tip, something tangible you would like people out there listening to do on their own corner to try and make the world a little bit brighter?

[7:46] Sherri Saum: I mean, you know, it's really at this point it boils down to the simplest things. I know being like in an elevator and just feeling like, oh, I can't do—I can't deal with this day, and someone being like, uh, you know, I love your coat, you know, just commenting instead of keeping the comment to yourself, like, oh, I think that girl is so great, or whatever your thought is in your head, like say it out loud to somebody. You never know what that could do for their day, how it could turn it around, like the smallest act of like just a compliment, you know. Picking your tip, putting your phone down when you're in the elevator. We're all in the elevator like this. I mean, am I lying, right? It's like they're connection breakers, it cuts the wire. It's just like we forgot how to interact. So just having a moment of hey, seeing someone and having them see you, like remind us of us ourselves of our humanity. I think that's—I love that.

[8:33] Robert Peterpaul: We just had Betty Who on the podcast who's amazing, and she said a similar thing, and we were joking that it's the positive version of if you see something, say something.

[8:41] Sherri Saum: Exactly. Exactly. Instead of just keeping it in, just say it. I go up to people all the time, like the guy who's like doing the baggage handling at the airport. Like, I love that. I love those boots. Where did you get them? Or just anything that you know strikes me to say, you know.

[8:56] Robert Peterpaul: I love that. Well, thank you for that, and thank you for being here. I hope you have a great night. It was great to meet you.

[8:56] Sherri Saum: Thank you.

[9:02] Charlene Tilton: Hi there. I'm Charlene Tilton. Yes, and can you tell me why you're excited to be here tonight on this beautiful 10-year anniversary evening?

[9:10] Charlene Tilton: Like you said, it is the 10th anniversary for You Gotta Believe. And what I love about this New York-based organization that really helps foster children nationwide. Um, they focus on children from 10 years on up until 18 until they age out of the foster care system. And I was raised in foster care from the time I was three years old to eight years old, and then I had to go back in at the age of 15, but I chose not to. So I was on my own and lived with friends. So I know it's important for those older kids to get some help.

[9:49] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, and what do you think about the way in tonight is the arts and kind of using the power of the arts to raise money and promote this wonderful cause?

[9:57] Charlene Tilton: Well, first of all, it's a great show. I'm a fan of everybody that's performing tonight, so I'm very excited to watch the show. Well, my podcast specifically is called The Art of Kindness. So we focus on kindness in the arts and all around the world. I would love to know if you have—it can be based on tonight's mission or not, but a tangible kindness tip, something you would like people out there listening to do on their own corner just to make the world a little better.

[10:21] Charlene Tilton: Um, it's hard in these times. It sounds kind of cranky. I like that, but get off your cell phones and look at people in the eyes. I literally was at a coffee shop, and a woman on the phone never even made contact with a person, just telling what she wanted and never looked and said please or thank you or anything. Just look at somebody in the eye. And have a moment of connection.

[10:53] Robert Peterpaul: I love that. You're actually the second person to bring that up tonight. So it's true because multiple people have said it, I've thought it. And I also feel like that's what separates us from AI in these times, you know?

[11:02] Charlene Tilton: Oh, yes, the human.

[11:04] Robert Peterpaul: Thank you so much for being here. It's great to meet you.

[11:07] Charlene Tilton: Thank you, all the best. Have fun tonight. God bless. Bye.

[11:10] Anika Larsen: Sure, hey everybody. I am Anika Larsen. Can you tell us, Anika, why are you so excited to be here tonight on this 10th anniversary gala tonight?

[11:17] Anika Larsen: Oh my god, it means so much for me to be here. I have done—I have sung for You Gotta Believe many, many times. Um, I come whenever they call. I have nine brothers and sisters, six are adopted. I had one foster sister, so I really understand the importance of what they're doing. Um, this morning I was talking to my seven-year-old, my nine-year-old, um, about what I was gonna be doing tonight, and I said, when you guys get sick, at least half of the time, I don't know what to do, and who do I call? And they said grandma, and I said yes, and I'm 50. I still meet my mom almost every day. I call my—I call my mom every day, and at least three times a week. It's because I actually need something, some help from her.

And just I said, just imagine if you were 18 and you didn't have a mom or a dad to help you, and you were sent out to live in the world on your own. How would that be? How would that feel? 18 is not so far away for them. Um, and um, it was really nice to be able to articulate that out loud to remind myself of why I come here and why I'll sing anytime they ask.

[12:16] Robert Peterpaul: I'm glad you reminded us of all of that at home because I think that's gonna be a really helpful analogy story for people listening to put it into perspective. And as I told you, my podcast is The Art of Kindness, and so I would love to know in the theme of tonight. I usually ask for a tangible kindness tip. But do you have a tangible kindness tip that's relevant to children? And I guess helping kids in this day and age.

[12:35] Anika Larsen: Oh my goodness. That's a hard one. I wish you'd given me a day to think about that.

[12:41] Robert Peterpaul: Take a day.

[12:42] Anika Larsen: I mean, sure. I'll come—call me.

[12:45] Robert Peterpaul: I'll call you.

[12:46] Anika Larsen: I'll record it and send it. Um, I mean, I feel like honestly, it's the most important thing I can teach them, right? Like they're learning so much, and it's literally—I'm not sure if I've ever said it as blatantly as this, but it's under everything that I teach them. And I may have said it sort of as frankly as this, but there's nothing that matters more to me than kindness. I don't care how you break the rules, I mean it do. But you will not disappoint me more than if you're unkind. I guess that's the idea. Um, and I don't ever—I'm not explicit like that because that's sort of a negative framework to come at. But they are very well aware of that. It's like I'll forgive them anything, I will forgive them anything, but there won't be anything that I feel is as egregious or wrong than being unkind. And um, and that's sort of the foundation, that's what everything else that I teach them is sort of based on.

[13:36] Robert Peterpaul: Such a good mom. I love that.

[13:37] Anika Larsen: No, uh, it's hard. It's the—everybody says it's hard. It is harder than everybody says.

[13:41] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, they're relentless.

[13:43] Anika Larsen: You can't give them back.

[13:45] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, I just—I babysat so much, and then four hours later you give them back, but you're your own. You can't, and I wouldn't want to. I love them very much, but they're relentless.

[13:58] Anika Larsen: Yeah, it's a constant job. But I'm glad you're leading with kindness because I think at the end of the day, that's the most important asset that we have, the power of it. And you can say it all day long, but the modeling it is so much more important, right? So I'm very mindful of how I behave with others around them when they're watching.

[14:12] Anika Larsen: And it is science.

[14:17] Robert Peterpaul: I love that. Thank you so much. It was so nice to meet you.

[14:18] Janice Huff: I'm Janice Huff. I'm chief meteorologist for WNBC TV in New York City, but I also was the host of Wednesday's Child, which was for about 17 years, a program that we aired every week featuring a child who was available for adoption in New York City.

[14:36] Robert Peterpaul: See, I know how much work goes into pitching that kind of thing and working on it. Can you kind of talk to me about that process? Like, has this always been a passion for you?

[14:44] Janice Huff: Well, you know, I've always cared about the community and especially children in the community.

[14:50] Rosie Perez: Um, it was presented to us at the time by the Freddie Mack Foundation, way back when. And they wanted to do a push, a nationwide push for adoption for children. And not just little children, but older children too. And so it started there, and we were one of the first sites for it, and then it expanded and went all across the country. So it was really fantastic.

[15:15] Robert Peterpaul: That's so exciting. And now we're here tonight. It's the 10th anniversary. I can't believe it.

[15:20] Rosie Perez: I know. 10 years. Well, you know what I'm gonna say? You gotta believe it.

[15:23] Robert Peterpaul: You gotta, and we do, and we do believe it. Yeah, you know, what you were just saying was essentially the example of tonight. It's using the arts to make change. What does that mean to you?

[15:35] Rosie Perez: Well, just you know, having people in the arts making a difference. I love the arts, you know, I'm part of sort of part of the arts and what I do. And it makes a difference in the world. You know, it makes us feel good, we laugh, we cry, we're excited, we're happy, we're I mean, it has all emotions that are part of it, and they're part of the community at large. And this is definitely a community project when we're looking into adoption and wanting to help these children and young people find families.

[16:05] Robert Peterpaul: You know, in thinking of that, I usually ask for a tangible kindness tip because my podcast is called The Art of Kindness. So I'd love to know, and thinking about tonight and everything you kind of just eloquently put into words. What would you say to people listening at home who maybe aren't considering adoption, maybe they never will, but how can they help get involved?

[16:22] Rosie Perez: All I can say is that adoption for especially for older children, children over 10, young adults, it changes lives when these children find permanency because in foster care they're often in different homes all the time. They're not in any one place for a long period of time. To find permanency and love changes their life. You could be changing someone's life right now. And your own life.

[16:54] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, oh yeah. Joyful and happy as well.

[16:56] Rosie Perez: Yeah. And that stability is something we all need right now in these times, especially, but especially kids. I mean, I think about myself. Sometimes I'm like, what did I eat for lunch? You know, and it's like, I'm an adult, kind of.

[17:07] Robert Peterpaul: Exactly, exactly. So yeah, anything that you can do to help people that really need your help is always a great thing.

[17:14] Rosie Perez: I love that. That's the perfect place to leave it. Thank you so much. It was great to meet you. Have fun tonight. But we're mainly a podcast, as you know, so people can't see how wonderful you look necessarily unless they have like telepathy. Just tell them, just tell them.

[17:34] Kate Reinders: Hi, my name is Kate Reinders, and I am excited to be here tonight to join together with other people who want to show love to those who need a little extra love.

[17:44] Robert Peterpaul: I love that. Don't we all? Wearing a sparkly dress with hearts on it. What the world needs now?

[17:51] Kate Reinders: So when we look at it was good. Not my best. It's not my best, but I try. In looking at nights like tonight, you know, this is the 10th anniversary of You Gotta Believe. I feel like we are so lucky to be here on this evening where we're using the arts to make change. What does it mean for you to be here with this wonderful cause helping children?

[18:12] Kate Reinders: Well, I am on a different, a little different place in my life now that I am a parent, and my son is getting older, and I also just worked with a bunch of kids, as you know. I know. I still miss for the music of the series.

[18:24] Robert Peterpaul: That's right. Um, but so I really do think that it is so important that we really nurture the next generation and that we give what we can to make their lives better.

[18:35] Robert Peterpaul: From what I remember during our conversation and researching you, not in a weird way, was that you were very much the mom of the series and everyone would come to you as a mentor figure. How do you approach that in life?

[18:45] Kate Reinders: Well, that's a big question. No, no, no. I mean, it's a big responsibility that I take seriously, and that's another reason I think we need to celebrate all these people that are here tonight who care about the future, who care about children, and everybody has that parental, you know, part of them inside. And the kids now don't know, but it's in there and it's gonna come out, and then hopefully they will just keep something like this going another 10 years.

[19:13] Robert Peterpaul: Well, I think I asked you this on our show, but I usually ask for a tangible kindness tip. The carpet's getting a little kooky for everybody at home, so you probably won't hear it, but it's happening. So if you hear someone fall, it's me. But I would love to know do you have a tangible kindness tip? Something you would want listeners to do at home on their own corner to make the world a bit better. And I guess for tonight's theme, it can be about kids if you have one.

[19:35] Kate Reinders: Well, I think, you know, walking around at least being in New York again. I realize how loud it is, how hard and hard it can be out there listening to the voices and the kids saying their kids stuff. But I think we all need to remember that we don't know what it's like to be them, and we don't know what it's like to be in their shoes. So whether it's the man yelling on a subway today, or if you think like, oh, those kids are so loud in the restaurant or something. Just remember we're all doing our best.

[20:08] Robert Peterpaul: We're all doing our best, and you know who did their best? The people that made the Wicked movie, and I just need to know what are your thoughts? Have you seen it? I know it has nothing to do with tonight.

[20:22] Kate Reinders: No, but it does. But the people want to know.

[20:24] Robert Peterpaul: But we're talking about good, right? We're talking about doing good and giving you a goodness.

[20:27] Kate Reinders: Yes, and kindness. Um, and yeah, and we're talking about another generation, which is so exciting with this movie, I think. That wicked, yes, it's 20 years old, but now when I mean, when I was a kid, I grew up on that Annie movie and the Grease movie. Right? Because I lived in Michigan, so it wasn't like it just popped over to Broadway. Um, but so I'm super excited about it. I haven't seen it yet, but it looks fantastic.

[20:56] Kate Reinders: And the costuming alone. I cannot wait. And I wish, I wish for a closet full of pink.

[21:03] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, I hope you get it. Fluffy pink.

[21:06] Kate Reinders: I hope you get it, and I hope you have the best time tonight. I'm gonna let you go because I've taken up so much of our time. It was so good to see you. Have fun. You're the reason we're here.

[21:14] Seth Rudetsky: Sure. I'm Seth Rudetsky, my husband James Wesley Jackson, who lost his voice. But we are here to help older foster youth find families. Because a lot of people think only babies need families, but everyone needs a family no matter how old they are. And we have our friends who are stars coming to support us.

[21:29] Rosie Perez: Speaking of stars. Yes, I was I was in the child welfare system, I was a ward of the state, and I also was in the foster care system. And I have to tell you, when you are a child like that, you have fantasies and fairy tales that someone's gonna come along and rescue you and provide you with a home. I was fortunate my aunt was able to do that, as well as my dad, but a lot of kids are not. And so that's why I'm here today, because every child deserves love. Every child deserves a home of their own.

[22:00] Seth Rudetsky: And what this organization really pushes is that it is more a gift for the parents than it is for the teenagers. And we have to support these kids because what Hoppy sees is they can age out of the system. Meaning by the time that they're 18 years old, they're just saying bye, good luck. And I know a lot of kids who experience that that were in the home with me that were not as fortunate as I was. So that's why it's so important.

[22:33] Rosie Perez: I love what you're saying, because it is actually science that acts of kindness do give back to the giver as well as the receiver. I think this is such a perfectly timed evening because we just had Before come out, which I think is a little bit relevant to the conversation tonight, the TV show Before.

[22:49] Seth Rudetsky: Just so I make more sense as a sentence for people listening at home.

[22:52] Rosie Perez: Yeah.

[22:53] Seth Rudetsky: Before on Apple, everybody, Judith Light came on the podcast. I would love to know what does it mean for you, especially as someone who always champions such change in the arts with your wonderful work. What does it mean for you to see more representation in the arts in regards to helping children and foster children?

[23:09] Rosie Perez: To me, it's just it's so obvious that children need to have help. And it and it's bizarre to me that everyone thinks you could be in a foster home and age out at 18 with no family. When I think like the amount of times that parents paid my rent or just like gave me advice about college, like it's such an obvious thing, but people really don't know about it. And a lot of people are ashamed of being foster youth and they don't talk about it. So this is just a great organization for outing people, for making people admit that they've been in foster youth and not to be ashamed, and to help people that are currently struggling with being in foster care and aging out of it.

[23:39] Seth Rudetsky: You're so right. I was just on the phone with my mom before. I'm like, I'm gonna talk to Rosie Perez and Seth Rudetsky help me. My podcast is called The Art of Kindness. So the last thing I'll ask you is about when we look at acts of kindness, do you have a tangible kindness tip for people listening at home? It maybe towards children specifically, something everybody at home can do just to help our kids feel more safe in these crazy times.

[24:00] Rosie Perez: Give money, a lot of money to organizations like this, to help them help the young kids that are in foster care. Giving money means so much because it costs a lot of money to run an organization. You gotta believe that org. And reach out to people, just connecting with someone and calling them really cheers them out. When Rosie calls me, it irritates me. But when other people call me, it cheers me up.

[24:25] Seth Rudetsky: I know you were there, sorry. You ignored the call, that's why you didn't know about Before.

[24:29] Rosie Perez: No, but that this was I know I gotta let you go. Congratulations on 10 years, and I wish you the best tonight. It's gonna be amazing.

[24:34] Jenna Leigh Green: Great great to meet you. Uh hi, I'm Jenna Leigh Green, and I am excited to be here tonight because this is an amazing celebration of some beautiful, wonderful children and young adults, uh teenagers who deserve all the love and care in the world, and there's not a ton of organizations that actually focus on this specific need. And so I just think that it's beautiful that this organization exists.

[25:00] Robert Peterpaul: I think so too. It's the tenth year. I believe they've helped 400 older children be adopted, which is incredible. What does it mean for you to work with this organization?

[25:09] Jenna Leigh Green: I mean, I'm not sure how long you have been working with them, but no, I'm brand new. This is my first year attending, and the more I hear about this organization, the more it really speaks to me because I think that a lot of people are not super aware of the fact that in the foster care system the younger children are the ones who are fostered out much more quickly and much more often than the older kids, and they deserve the love and care. And you know, once they reach 18, if they haven't been placed, they're kind of left to flounder. And there are really amazing families out here and you know, all across the country who I think would be interested if they knew. So it takes organizations like this to to kind of get the word out and to let them know that there are some beautiful, wonderful kids who are still kids, you know, but they just might be a little bit older than the you know the tiny ones.

[26:02] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, we are we've all been talking about it tonight. I'm like, think about how many times I still call my parents for things. I mean, I think everybody as they get older still so much relies on their parents, so I can't imagine at such a young age being in that position.

[26:15] Jenna Leigh Green: Yeah. You know, and and you never know. I mean, there's lots of different reasons for looking to get involved in the foster care system. There also might be some people who, you know, have raised their children, but they still still feel like they have a lot of love to give, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they want to change another diaper. So, you know, this is a beautiful way to kind of connect older kids with families who still have a lot of love to give, but you know, they might not want to be starting from the very beginning.

[26:43] Robert Peterpaul: Well, as I told you, our podcast is The Art of Kindness, so I usually ask for a tangible kindness tip on these red carpet style events. But I would love to know if you have, I guess, a tangible kindness tip as it relates to children, something people out there listening can do on their own corners just to maybe make children feel a little bit safer in today's day and age.

[27:03] Jenna Leigh Green: I think the children are a lot smarter than we give them credit for, and I think that they are wide-eyed observers. So I think that it is very important to always be aware because kindness is learned and children repeat what they see. So I think that just making that conscious effort to show kindness because the kids around you that are in your orbit, they'll see it and they'll repeat it.

[27:29] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, I love that. Thank you so much. It was so nice to meet you.

[27:32] J. Harrison Ghee: Hi, I'm J. Harrison Ghee, and I'm excited to be here because building community is so important, and especially at a young age and getting kids who desire and long for family and home and community is something is an easy yes to show up for tonight.

[27:49] Robert Peterpaul: You know, our product is all about kindness. Was there a role model you had growing up that sort of gave you a certain act of kindness or something you remember as you're here tonight that's just on your mind?

[27:59] J. Harrison Ghee: I was like, don't make me get emotional right now. Literally, one of the the first people was my elementary school principal. Um, she just saw me and nurtured me and is still a part of my life. Um, and comes and sees my shows and and loves on me and is such a the definition of kindness in this world, and it is like it makes me get emotional every time I think about her, truly.

[28:22] Robert Peterpaul: Well, as you know, we ask about kindness tips on this show and looking at this amazing evening, it's the 10th year anniversary and helping children, specifically older children. Do you have a tangible kindness tip? Something you think people at home can do to help children around them in their community and sort of I guess specifically assist these older kids.

[28:43] J. Harrison Ghee: Kindness with consideration and awareness. Um really not just blindly engaging, but like considering each child individually, um meeting a human where they are as who they are, um, and loving them wholeheartedly.

[29:01] Robert Peterpaul: So beautiful. Well, thank you for being here tonight and spreading all the love. I'll let you go enjoy yourself. I will say Betty Who was on the pod today, and for about 10 minutes we talk about you.

[29:10] J. Harrison Ghee: I love I love them so much. Betty was like, I love Jay. I was like, Jay was on here and I did a whole gospel thing where I was like, you just talk because I'm I'm gonna listen.

[29:18] J. Harrison Ghee: Oh they were like, that sounds right, I'm gonna listen to that. Thank you for all you do. I appreciate you.