Shea Couleé: From Crafty Queen to Marvel Star!

[00:00:01] Speaker A: Welcome back to now. No opportunity wasted. I'm your host, Angelica Ross. Baby, listen, let me go ahead and set the tone right away, honey, because I need us to remind ourselves that we are listening and we want to bring our higher selves to this moment right now and throughout everything we do, especially with the election happening right now. So Today is Monday, November 4th, and today's Word for the day from Buddhism, Day by Day Wisdom for a Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda says, quote, trust is difficult to earn and it is easily lost. The trust built over a decade can be shattered in an instant by one offhanded remark or deed. A person who is not swayed from their chosen path, even during the most trying times will ultimately find that he or she is trusted by all. End quote. Baby, I needed that word on today. I really needed that word because this election season has definitely been trying my last nerve and I've been, you know, staying the course and just trying to get accountability and answers. But the end is near, my friends. The end of the election. That is, if you haven't voted already. I don't know what you waiting for, but please make sure you make it out there and vote tomorrow. Or hopefully you got that mail in ballot in on time. Or like me, you voted early. Yes, I voted and I voted early. And although who you decide to vote for is your choice and a private choice if you choose. But I choose to be public about who I ultimately voted for because I realized as I continue to prepare for a potential run here in Georgia, I want people to know that I will stand behind my voting record and I am always willing to engage in civil discussions. But my experience online hasn't always been civil. I've had so many people coming at me sideways, actually, because I have chosen to vote third party instead of voting for Kamala Harris. And Lord knows I want to be voting for her as the first black president. But I can't. Now, I voted Democrat all the way down the ballot. And I look specifically for candidates that were endorsed by the Working Families Party, which I am an official dues pay member of an independent party, not Democrats, but the Working Family Party. Now, even though the Working Family Party also endorsed Kamala Harris for president, you know, her campaign specifically did not win my vote. It's not just about her unwavering commitment to Israel's right to defend itself. It's the lack of integrity for me. And I get it. Many of us understand that to some degree that's a part of the job as a politician. But I believe it's our willingness to accept this as the way things are that's actually part of the problem also. I mean, we say we want accountability, but so many folks are just unwilling to even ask their candidate or the current president for accountability. The questions that have been screamed at me are ones that will be better served posed at your potential presidential candidate. And if this is truly the way that things have to be or going to be, then I definitely can't be a part of that. I'm not faking the funk or manipulating and doing all that. I don't want anyone assuming that there are moments where I am utilizing political tactics of manipulation, lying, or just overall untrustworthy behavior. Y'all can keep that if that's the way that you want me to represent you. Should I win my run for office, then I'd have to decline because I didn't already show folks once. I'm not the one to just shut up and play the game or play along. Not in Hollywood and definitely not in politics. I'm of the understanding that the political is personal. Integrity is not only a personal value of mine, but it's one that I expect to see present in the political process. Otherwise, what is any of this, even for y'all? What is this for if there's not integrity in our elections? What is all this for if there's not integrity in our politicians? One of the main points that I heard from Harris supporters is that they are choosing the person that they believe will have the best chance to organize against and to push them more left. But these folks ain't even pushing Biden right now. Biden on vacation. So my decision was somewhat inspired by that sentiment. So shortly after Kamala Harris gave the terrible answer on her stance on trans rights in an interview, Rudolph Ware, more affectionately known as Butchware, Jill Stein's running mate, also made some transphobic remarks and also mentioned being in favor of a 16 week abortion ban. I think, if I'm not mistaken, but I believe this aspiring VP was speaking out of turn as well as showing a little inexperience in dealing with the type of media that is trying to get their gotcha moment and get you to say something controversial. I believe that, you know, I believe that they would be the kind of administration that I could organize against. As many third party candidates have been seen at many of the protests throughout the year, I feel that whatever gaps there are in their understanding of trans rights, that can be closed by confronting misinformation at the door, baby. The Harris supporters couldn't wait to tag Me and gloat. They swore they had a gotcha moment to point out how foolish I was to support the Green Party because of the transphobic remarks that Rudolph Ware made. So I just picked up the phone and I messaged Butch myself and I asked him about it. See, when your work isn't limited to the characters in a social media post and you have the networks and the credibility to be able to pick up the phone phone and have folks actually take your call. Yeah. Now, I'll admit I had to send a few messages before he responded, but, you know, obviously the election is right around the corner. I'm assuming he's wildly busy, but he gave me his cell phone number to reach out, and so I did. Now, when I reached out, he told me that that interview he felt like was a. A setup, a transphobic and xenophobic setup to quote him specifically, and said that it was edited. But folks who saw the interview were having a hard time finding the signs of that video being edited. And even if it had been, I told him that saying you don't believe that biological males should be allowed to play in women's sports is a situation, whether you intended to or not, where you were repeating Republican propaganda about trans people. They got you. So he since put out a statement, but as I told him, it left much to be desired. People are tired of politicians speak. They need to hear it spoken plain. Your statement did not address your transphobic remarks, nor did it address how you were in favor of any kind of abortion ban, because we not here for that. Now, I know that he was in the middle of preparing for a three day speaker event, including Mark Lamont Hill, Saul Williams, Jill Stein and more. So I'm sure there will be more coming out in the next coming days, so I will stay tuned. But I also did see that Jill Stein's campaign has joined forces with Claudia De La Cruz's campaign so that they can ultimately reach the objective of that 5% and that getting 5% of that vote would get them equal access to the ballot and unlock federal funding. Now we can maybe finally break up this two party system and provide people with more choice and possibly even rank choice voting instead of this electoral college nightmare that we're currently dealing with. So I had the immense pleasure of catching up with the fabulous Shea, a multitalented drag performer, singer, advocate, and now a Marvel star honey, with her upcoming role in the Marvel series Iron Heart, set to premiere this June. Now, Shaya and I also take a trip down memory lane, and we were reminiscing about our early days back in Chicago, where Shay was known as the plug for those seeking a little green relief before cannabis was legalized in Illinois. You know, the girl had my back. Shea Coulee also shared her recent experience of voting in this upcoming election and reflecting on how her perspective on civic engagement has evolved since she first voted for obama at age 19. From crafty queen to polished performer, Shay is sharing a masterclass of lessons that she has learned about creativity and fiscal responsibility. We also get to talk about her evolution in her identifying as CIS to embracing being non binary boots. Take a listen to this inspiring and truly heartfelt conversation where we're celebrating resilience, creativity, and the endless possibilities that come when you refuse to waste any opportunity. Take a listen. Well, welcome finally to now, Ms. Shea Coulee. How are you doing? [00:09:58] Speaker B: Hey, girl. I'm doing well. I'm doing well. So good to see you. [00:10:03] Speaker A: It's always good to see you. It is so always good to see you. You know, I think it's. This is the last time I saw you in person at a. At the Halloween function in Chicago. That can't be the last time. Really? [00:10:15] Speaker B: I think so. I was like, it would either be that function or. I remember. Was that before or after we hung out in New York and Brooklyn? [00:10:26] Speaker A: Oh, that might have been actually before. [00:10:28] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:10:29] Speaker A: So I think we hung out in. [00:10:30] Speaker B: Yes, okay. Period. But yes, yes. [00:10:32] Speaker A: So I got to, you know, I've been. I've been around for a little bit of the spectrum of Shea. Cool. You know, we've been around the beginning of the days, you know, back in Chicago. [00:10:43] Speaker B: Yes, girl, I remember. [00:10:46] Speaker A: Do you. Do you remember when I first got to meet you and I just paused and created some air there for a second in case I have to like, edit here real quick. But just saying. Are you okay with me talking about how we originally met and say, I mean, you know, but I was. The girl was looking for the weed and you had the connection. [00:11:05] Speaker B: Oh, absolutely. I am not ashamed of that at all. Me neither. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. [00:11:13] Speaker A: So, you know, I just remember in the early days of me building trans tech with my co founder, Joey Grant, who you. You know as well, Right? [00:11:22] Speaker B: Yes. [00:11:24] Speaker A: Listen, those days were really hard in building my nonprofit. You know, things were going on and a girl, you know, needed her own self care and needed to find who were the girls that knew where the green was at. And my girl Shea Coulee was ahead of the curve with that. [00:11:41] Speaker B: Yeah, girl, I was the plug. Yeah, I was the plug. For the girls, because this is like, before weed was recreational in Illinois. So, girl, yeah, I was the plug. [00:11:52] Speaker A: Like, you know, for a small amount of time, I was actually the plug, too, because I was like. There was a moment when I was just like, well, shoot, I need to go ahead and get this little side cash. And again, I say that very openly because it say that, like, I come from a place within our communities where. Girl, get it by any means necessary, because this system is not set up for us to succeed. You know, hopefully you have certain coping mechanisms and things around you to support you when you're making risky decisions and whatnot. But, child, that's why I only dealt with people, you know what I'm saying? That I really knew. Like, girl, what you need, you need an eighth, right? [00:12:29] Speaker B: I got you. Come on over. [00:12:32] Speaker A: So, Shea. Okay, so one of the questions. I usually start with this question, but I just jumped right in because I haven't seen you in so long. My first question, official question to you, is, how is Shea doing right now? [00:12:49] Speaker B: Ooh. How is Shea Coulee doing right now? I just got back, like, literally just got back from dropping off my ballot for the election. [00:13:04] Speaker A: Yes. We love a voting queen. We love a voting queen. [00:13:07] Speaker B: We do. It felt different. [00:13:12] Speaker A: What do you mean? [00:13:14] Speaker B: It just felt I was in. Okay. First. First election I ever voted in, ever, was for Obama. I was 19 years old, just, like. I mean, on cloud nine. [00:13:29] Speaker A: I didn't know you were that much younger than me. Okay. [00:13:37] Speaker B: But, you know, like, so. It was, like, so exciting. I was just like, wow. Just my first time getting a chance to exercise that. Right. It just. It felt like anything was possible. Right. And then came the 2016 election, where obviously, you know, Donald Trump was running, but was just like, baby, this is so crazy. That man is not gonna win this election. So still very hopeful, very optimistic. And then the results of that happened. [00:14:08] Speaker A: You know, Gooped us all. Yes. [00:14:10] Speaker B: Gooped us all. And so, you know, then Biden stepped up. Was not really my pick for the 2020 election, but I said mine either. [00:14:21] Speaker A: Literally not. He slid right through as we canceled out everybody else. Yeah. [00:14:26] Speaker B: I was really like, wait, hold on. Wait. Who? [00:14:28] Speaker A: Right, right. [00:14:29] Speaker B: Okay. You know, and so with this current election, it's just like, as I've gotten older, as I've gotten more informed, just about the structures that are in place. People who I have voted for in my local elections, who I've seen through their tenure, either live up to what they said that they would do or not, and fall prey to people, you know, Getting into their pockets and being able to by them, it just like, girl, because it was a mail in ballet, I really felt like I was doing my. My SATs. Like, it, like, the anxiety. The anxiety. The excitement was, like, gone. And the anxiety of realizing that I was like, oh, these decisions are really going to affect me on so many different levels. Like, on local levels, all of that. [00:15:22] Speaker A: Girl, what state. What state are you voting from? [00:15:25] Speaker B: I'm in Illinois. [00:15:27] Speaker A: So you're still in Illinois? Yes. So. So, you know, what are some of. Do you remember, like, some of those major things that were up for. On the. On the ballot that you were like, oh, my goodness, girl. [00:15:36] Speaker B: Okay, so reproductive freedoms, just keeping that, you know, instated and keeping those safeties in place for women in Illinois that was up on the ballot. Taxing people who make over a million dollars annually to help offset the price of property tax. That was on the bill. I'm on the ballot. And what else was there? Oh, yeah. [00:16:09] Speaker A: Has your perspective on taxes change as you have raised up in the brackets a little bit? [00:16:18] Speaker B: Yeah. As I've gone up a couple brackets, it really makes me resent the police. [00:16:23] Speaker A: That much because what is your money going to. [00:16:27] Speaker B: Because I'm like, wow. I'm paying multiple salaries. [00:16:33] Speaker A: Absolutely. Wow. So. Well, first of all, thank you for being such a great role model as always and showing the girls how to use their voice and voting. But also, like, you are someone who, you know, I've been just a die hard, like, die hard fan of you for just so long. You coming from Chicago, I wanted to tap in with you on something, like, because I think you. You've been in the area for a long time, right? Like, working out of Chicago. So you were, you know, I'm working over at the KitKat Lounge over on Hallstead. You know, with those girls. I'm getting paid, what, 75 for the night, plus tips. And this is about their third restaurant. Now they want to open up one in Malaysia or this or whatever the case is. [00:17:28] Speaker B: Right. [00:17:29] Speaker A: What I know in the area that we kind of came up in as, as, as queens, it seemed like there was a very different experience from the white queens to the black queens in just a sense of one, you know, white queens being white men, when they take off of their drag and having jobs at places where they can be queer and they could be all. And they can buy the rhinestones and the fabrics and the sewing machines and the, you know, all the things or whatever, and you got these girls trying to pay for cab fare and the Mac makeup that they just wore for that evening. [00:18:00] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:18:00] Speaker A: Can you talk to me about what it was like for you in the beginning days, coming up in that environment, and how did you break through? Because you seem to have gone from this place of crafty queen to, like, polished crafty queen. [00:18:18] Speaker B: Yes. I feel like, you know, necessity is the mother of invention. You know, you creativity is birthed out of needing to make something. You know, not having the ability to afford designers and people to make things for me, I had to get in there and get my hands dirty and get detailed and work on it and build it with my own two hands. And that gave me a sense of appreciation for the amount of work that goes into things. So, like now, when I think about when I'm hiring somebody, I'm very considerate of their time, I'm very considerate of their energy, of their creative process. But it definitely taught me to be honestly more fiscally responsible when I did get the funds to be able to afford to have somebody step in and help out, you know, because now I understand kind of like what the market price for a beaded fabric per yard is. So, you know, sometimes when you send me that invoice, I have the knowledge to be able to ask a couple follow up questions to know if you're really charging me something appropriate. [00:19:41] Speaker A: Because the girls are crafty. Yeah, yeah. [00:19:44] Speaker B: They try to get really smart. So, yeah, I. It taught me a lot about how to just be. Be smart and also be able to save. Like, the girls know, like, I love to be, like you said, crafty. Like, crafty is like, it is a state of mind. Take a little and make a lot out of it. That, that's just like, I love that. [00:20:10] Speaker A: Now, you know, when I see, when I see, you know, because I have, I've been one, like, I'm one of those trans women that, you know, who has a special place for this for like, RuPaul's Drag Race and just obviously drag in general because for some reason, and this was, you know, a lot of the conversation over the years, which I've just. For me personally, you don't have to speak on this, but for me personally, I've just sort of given up on my level of engagement with Rue and conversationally in these spaces because, like, the acknowledgement comes in hindsight of, like, maybe changing policies and different things, like where now the girls can be openly. I think they can be openly trans on the show. But, you know, us knowing that that was a problem in the, in the, in the beginning and. [00:21:01] Speaker B: Right. [00:21:01] Speaker A: Certain things. And so what do you. Because now, as an advocate, one thing that I have learned, teaching people about all of these different pronouns, ways people are identifying gender fluid, gender, fuck, non binary, two spirit, you know, all these different things. And then learning and teaching that, you know, trans is this umbrella term that has all of that underneath it. So in my eyes, I'm looking at rue like, bitch, they all trans. Now what. You know, in this. In the sense that because of the non binary aspect that a lot of queens sit in and just like, I mean, let's, let's be real right now. Sis, you giving me non binary teens down. All right? You know what I'm saying? Like, bust down. [00:21:52] Speaker B: So wash day. [00:21:54] Speaker A: So how did just. It could be the same, it could be different. How did she lay identify at the jump? And where are you at with your identity now? [00:22:07] Speaker B: So in the beginning, I identified as Sis, even though I didn't really understand that term wasn't really around when I. Well, I. It was not in my consciousness when I started doing drag. But as I continue to do drag and I continue to have these real world, real life experiences of presenting feminine, it began to reveal. And no reveal is a really great way to. It just really began to reveal all the different layers of my gender identity. And I started to understand that it didn't feel one or the other, that there was this sense of duality and balance and yin and yang that were like, you know, going all together to kind of create the whole person that I am. And so it, It's. It's funny that you say that, because when we were doing season nine of RuPaul's Drag Race, I. I'll never forget we had this great conversation. I didn't make it in the final edit, but a peppermint was like, yeah, drag falls under the trans umbrella. And no one had ever said that before, you know, And I remember just being at the makeup mirror, like. [00:23:32] Speaker A: Right, right. [00:23:33] Speaker B: Sitting in my hotel room at night, like. [00:23:36] Speaker A: Right. But girl, I was starting to get it. I was starting to get it as I'm watching your confessionals, because I'm starting to realize some of the girls are showing up and they're in their boy drag in the sense of giving boy drag down. Miss. You know, Miss Vanjie will give, like, a good, like, beard and, like, jewelry and, like, you know, the hair and the whole thing or whatever. And then many of the other girls are somewhere in between. Absolutely, like, and literally somewhere in between. And what I love about the. The terminology around non binary or, you know, the. These terms Is that it actually is something that is so initially undefinable in itself of non binary. But then when you actually look at the people, it's. It to me, it feels correct in the sense of. Are you frozen? Are you there? I think you might be frozen. [00:24:38] Speaker B: I can hear you. My visual, my camera, like of the way that I'm looking is frozen, but I can hear you. [00:24:46] Speaker A: Okay. I think it just came back. Okay, it might be coming back a little bit. Okay, yeah, there. [00:24:51] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:24:51] Speaker A: Yes, you're slowly coming back. There you go. Okay, what was I saying? I was talking about the. Oh, yes. You know, there you can tell in the confessionals and everything. And you look at the people and when I look at them, there's a beauty to me. There's a beauty that is non binary. There's a beauty in the ways they have figured out. And you can't necessarily say, oh, it's more this than that. It's kind of just their own unique, you know, mix of things. So. So right now, are you still identifying as cis? Are you non binary or are you nothing or not? [00:25:36] Speaker B: I'm. I'm non binary. Boots. Yeah. Just brilliant. Because it's just like I really do live in that duality now. Do I? [00:25:49] Speaker A: Because I was about to say. Well, because what was that thirst trap that you had on IG the other day? [00:25:53] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, you know what I'm saying? [00:25:57] Speaker A: All I know is I saw Bob the Drag Queen talking about topic. I was like, wait a second now. [00:26:04] Speaker B: My sister was out in these virtual streets shooting her shot. I was like, oh, damn. I got the girls feeling a certain type of way. [00:26:12] Speaker A: Maybe body. Yes, body was on point. Everything was on point. But you know, you to me have just been again that type of person who's just beautiful. And that's what, that's what, like, what's. No, listen, that's what non binary folks really gag the folks on many, many times is just. It's a beauty either way you cut it. And so like for, for you with your cheekbones and your lips now, mama, them lips is like the best shape in the game. So much that. Did you. Did you. Did someone have to suggest to you or. Because I feel like you've been starting to trademark in a little bit within your merch and things like that. [00:26:57] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:26:58] Speaker A: So like what I know in the beginning, maybe when you were growing up, was it always a feature that you could proudly own? [00:27:06] Speaker B: Oh my God, I hated them when I was a kid. I thought that they were so big on my face, you know, I bet. [00:27:13] Speaker A: They was big on your little face, though. [00:27:15] Speaker B: They were, they were. Oh, my God. I grew into them. They were. Because they were. They. I mean, you know, I was like, you got them suit coolers. And I was just like, yeah, I know. [00:27:26] Speaker A: Did Kool Aid. Did Kool Aid have anything to do with that as well, or. [00:27:30] Speaker B: I mean, it can now, but I remember even when I started drag, I kind of like, even when I would, like, line my lips and do my lips, I kind of used to under draw them a little bit. And then I don't remember who it was. I think it was Kim Chi. She was like, bitch, stop that. You got such pretty lips. Like, go in, go in. And so now I'm just like, yeah, I love them and embrace them. And I'm like, yeah, you know, Yeah, I go through more chapstick, but it's okay. [00:28:02] Speaker A: So now you have, you know, we talked about, like, sort of your growth, but, you know, really just. Just superficially so far. So I. I want to talk about the fact of, like, obviously you talk about how budgeting and, you know, just learning to become crafty over that time. But I also know that, like, being a former pageant girl myself, you know, first runner up to Erica Andrews, when she went on to Continental, Florida Continental, I was first run up to her, and then to Bianca Brinsky and also to Zori Zanelle. So I've been a first runner up, you know, a lot in that. That system. And I. But I know that pageant game polishes you like nobody's business. What? What did. One, two. Has it been three rounds of drag racing? [00:28:53] Speaker B: Three. Three What? [00:28:55] Speaker A: How has three rounds of drag race competition helped you level up your game? [00:29:02] Speaker B: Ooh, that is such a good question. I think doing the competition, each and every time, I think I. What I wanted to do was try and reintroduce myself and utilize that filming experience as, like a time capsule to be like. And this is where you were absolutely here. And so that I could, like, look back and then be like, okay, and that's where you were. And then that's what you grew to. And then that's what you grew to again. So I guess what I learned was to try my hardest to not second guess myself and, like, really trust my instincts. It is such a intense. [00:29:55] Speaker A: I bet you it's like tennis, because they say. They say with tennis that you are really not playing against the other opponent. It's your mind game against yourself. [00:30:03] Speaker B: Mm. And then. And then. And it's just like. And then the, like, great tennis players are the ones that are able to really start to understand their opponents gameplay and adjust accordingly. Like, I mean, that was one of my things. I really loved about watching Coco Gal play. She. She is so quick to learn and observe her opponent and what she figures out how they like to play the game. I feel like it is damn impossible for her to not return that unless you hit it directly behind her back. Like, other than that, I feel like she got it. She got it. I love her. I love you. I was just playing tennis yesterday. I was like feeling myself. [00:30:49] Speaker A: So wait, you're. You're a tennis girl too? Because I play tennis. [00:30:52] Speaker B: Yes, yes, yes, I was. [00:30:54] Speaker A: I think we need a trans or non binary drag tennis league. I think we need a league. [00:31:00] Speaker B: Yes. All the girls get their installs on and then everybody comes to the chorus and they play and they slay. [00:31:08] Speaker A: And so who. Who would you say out of all the years now, I would say this. Like, I have. I'm like, I said again, y'all, who are listening or who are watching this? I have been a no joke, no cap, hardcore Shea Coulee fan. Like, just from the shows, Just see this, all the things and we get to. What was this? All Stars. [00:31:35] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:31:36] Speaker A: I just knew. I said, here we go. We're at the. We're at the finale. My bitch is gonna clean up. [00:31:45] Speaker B: Miss things. [00:31:45] Speaker A: Energy was on. It was Whitney Houston. I was like, we got this. We got it. It's Whitney Houston. We got it. My girlfriend slay. And then I look up and that bitch pulled off her wig and all them motherfucking rose petals came falling out. And I just saw the audience and I just like, you could have seen me like a sports fan in slow time. [00:32:09] Speaker B: I was like, no. [00:32:13] Speaker A: How. How. How did. What was that moment like for you? Did you know that she was pulling gags? Like, what was happening? [00:32:22] Speaker B: No, it was just like, girl, that whole experience was just like so crazy. What? Chill. Be quiet when you come in here. Sorry. That is literally my drag daughter buzzing my intercom. I was like, what? I'm not expecting the package or nothing. I look at it, it's her ass. She better be quiet. Yes, these children. [00:32:49] Speaker A: Maybe we can meet your drag daughter, have her wave, you know, Right? [00:32:52] Speaker B: The way they'd be running up on me. The way they be running up on me in my house. [00:32:56] Speaker A: I'm like, I love that your drag mother, though. Come on. Electra, right? [00:33:00] Speaker B: I got three. Kenzie, Bambi, and Chloe and like, huh? All koolaid. They all live in the neighborhood. Like, literally, if you look right behind Me, That's Kenzie's, like, back porch, like, Right. [00:33:15] Speaker A: So are you still. Do you still be bopping up at the, you know, the hydrate or at the, you know, do you still be at the Roscoe? Do you still pop up at the local spots? [00:33:25] Speaker B: You know what? When I have had, like, enough rest and some good naps and I am brave enough to be out past 11pm I do stop by the function because. [00:33:36] Speaker A: The punctures be late and all night long on that block I used to live on, Halstead. [00:33:42] Speaker B: Right. You know what I'm saying? It be going till late. So it's, you know, like the pandemic changed some things for me, and I was just like, I need to, you know, be able to. Excuse me. Just give me one moment. [00:33:54] Speaker A: Yes, yes, yes, of course. [00:34:15] Speaker B: Okay. Sorry about that. [00:34:17] Speaker A: No, you're so good. [00:34:18] Speaker B: Uhhuh. Because then she read it. If my partner is like, wait, what the. I. I wasn't expecting her. Nothing. You see, the children, you know what I'm saying? [00:34:26] Speaker A: We love the children. [00:34:27] Speaker B: We do. We love the children. We love the children. And I don't know why. I mean, I guess it's Halloween. I need to ask, like, bitch, what the fuck? This? [00:34:35] Speaker A: That is like, this. That's the second pride. Especially in Chicago, that's like the night that the girls don't. I know when I worked at work at KitKat Lounge, that was the night I never wanted to work Halloween, because all the girls think that it's their turn to perform the show. Like. And what I mean by girls is the girl girls and now perform during your show. And I'm like, if you don't sit. [00:34:58] Speaker B: Your ass down somewhere, stretch your ass down in that party city wig and shut, baby. [00:35:06] Speaker A: But it's. [00:35:07] Speaker B: Shut up. [00:35:08] Speaker A: It is like a second pride. I do feel like that's when the girls, especially the ones who are just now figuring out what makeup and hair can do, you know, I think that's like a first time for them to do that. But how. How do you deal with, you know, the one thing that was really challenging for me, and I think that it's challenging for some other girls. You know, I. I watch and I saw other girls come from Chicago, like Dita Reits and the Vixen, right. Came from Chicago as well, you know, and my girls, like, are kind of like me. And I noticed, like, in the sense that usually most of the black girls and. And a lot of the white girls too, end up following me from the show or whatever. I talk about all the things you know, especially like, you know, intersectionality and racism and all these different things. And sometimes the black girls have an experience that they might not be able to almost have the language to really clearly like address certain things that are going on. Microaggressions, various things. And I think that when I watch things like RuPaul, Drag Race or any of those things, to me that's like a magnifying, that's like a macro to the micro in a sense of whatever you're seeing on there is something that the girls are dealing with in the community as far as microaggressions from white queer people who don't have their anti blackness in check and things like that. So we're talking about like Chicago. I remember there was a moment where there was a club in Chicago. I want to say was it was kind of across the street from where Roscoe's is. And there was like the dj. There was this whole situation where the DJ was like, there was an email that went around that was like, don't be playing certain black music in the club. You remember what I'm talking about? Because they didn't want certain crowds to be coming in in there. And when I think about Chicago, I think about the fact that we had to go on the south side somewhere where like Flame Monroe was hosting a show somewhere or they was doing it. I think there was Joe's Pub or Issa the Ryan or there was these like hood spots and I loved going to them. Hood spots, right, baby? Yes. But in the zone where there are markers and you walk down the street and you see that this is the safe zone. These are the rainbow. We could see the rainbow rings that they have going down the street and what have you. And then as a black person, you realize like, even as a transient young youth, we have like the center on Hallstead to be able to help them. But because it's over a Whole Foods, the patrons who are going there are like, who, where do you belong? These, like, where do these people belong? [00:37:49] Speaker B: Right. [00:37:50] Speaker A: You navigate as a proudly black, not only in your appearance, but also in your music, your song choices, the way you show up, but also still having relationships and, and you know, friends that are white. How are you navigating this space and. Or how has it been, I should say, for you, navigating that space? [00:38:14] Speaker B: It has been something that I have had to do since I was six years old. So when I was six, we moved out to the suburbs of Chicago, Plainfield. And we went from being in a really diverse, like mixed community In Indiana, out to where I was, like, the only black kid. So I had to learn at a really young age. I learned about micro, macro, all types of white aggression, racism. And it. I guess, having all those experiences of being around them, I learned a lot about my opponent. And so once you start to. Especially, like, I'm a really observant type of person. Like, once you really start, it's kind of like that Coco Gauff technique that I'm talking about, you know? Yes. The beginning of the match, I'm just kind of, like, observing you, see how you operate, see how you work. And I think that a lot of times for white queer people or white CIS people in the LGBTQ community, a lot of times they don't expect for you to be a worthy adversary. So when you kind. [00:39:32] Speaker A: They don't consider you competition half the time. [00:39:35] Speaker B: So when you already understand their tactics and the way that they move and operate, I've learned how to dismantle those things by being really disarming and disarming. And when I say that, I mean being clever enough to realize what types of communication work well with them and what makes them feel comfortable. And it's not necessarily about being agreeable. I have no problems advocating for myself and for what's right and for what's equitable. I just know exactly how to communicate with people. Communication is really key, Abs. [00:40:20] Speaker A: Absolutely. Now, I've been trying not to, but, like. So I need. I need the insight, first of all, on the eyebrows. So what's going on here? Because, like, they're so thick. They're so. I mean, it's so. They're so beautiful. That's. Is that your. All your hair look, I know. Listen, I'm not just. [00:40:39] Speaker B: Most of it is. Okay. And this is the thing, because I had had such a hard time growing my eyebrow hair that I really just shaved them for, like, years and years and years and years, and I was just like, I really want to try and grow my eyebrows out. And my esthetician was like, okay, girl, put Rogaine on your eyebrows, girl. It was that simple. Rogaine. Just a little phone, and it's been. Not that. [00:41:06] Speaker A: You just dropped that. I ain't heard that one. [00:41:10] Speaker B: I heard it. [00:41:11] Speaker A: Y'all heard it here first. Wow. [00:41:14] Speaker B: Like, come on. It's hair. It's still hair. So I was literally, like, it was. [00:41:18] Speaker A: So obvious, you know, I consider you to be a master, like, not obviously, with these things as well, but, like, literally watching the creativity and sort of, like the thematic. When I watched you first of all, when you talk about the tennis match, I will say, though, between you and when you and Sasha were competing with each other, I think you guys did like a. It was a skit together. [00:41:43] Speaker B: Yes, yes. [00:41:44] Speaker A: That was one of those moments when I was like, y'all, this is like next level improvisation. You both were locked in so nasty. It was like, you are such a master at these things. I. I'm going to talk shit for a second and say like. So I have these partnerships that I'm doing different things with, like through Trans Tech, my non profit Trans Tech. And we have these partnerships with various organizations like Linux Foundation, Career Circle, all these different things that offer our members access to trainings, free trainings to give them tech skills. But one of those things that I was really proud of, our partnerships because sometimes when we're dealing with our community, it's almost the same way that people talk sometimes to homeless people in the sense of they only want to talk to you about what they think you deserve or what is necessary or what you should be focusing on right now, versus, like whatever I want to be focusing on right now or whatever else I want to be inspired by. So we have this partnership with Masterclass, where our members get free access to Masterclass, to that platform to watch those videos. And as I'm thinking about that and knowing that, you know, I had to develop a relationship in order to make that work, I'm thinking, you know what I would love to see and maybe I have the connections to possibly make it happen. But wouldn't you love to do a master? I think we need a Shea master class. [00:43:12] Speaker B: Oh, oh, that would be fear. [00:43:17] Speaker A: I think that would make us glam, but also glam makeup. As an artist. Yeah, but as an artist who it. Who has learned to create out of nothing, to create with various materials, how to, you know, make best out what you like. I just know that there are various elements of this. So I'm going to put in a word for you over at Masterclass, my people at Masterclass, and just drop that. But also I have a collaboration I'm doing with. Actually, it's not public yet, but I'm going to say it here anyway. But I have a collaboration I'm working on with Canva where I have created a sort of course on inclusivity and creative inclusive campaigns and whatnot. And I just, you know, I know that they've been very interested in these things too, but I just think that you're one of those people at that master level that people need to learn From. Because of the journey and how you put it all together. [00:44:15] Speaker B: Yes. And you know what I love? I love to teach my mom. She's a Sunday school teacher. I guess I get that from her. Like, I just, you know, love to talk and share. Where's mom? She's still out in playing field. She's still out in playing field. [00:44:33] Speaker A: Is mom just as much as a Kool Aid fan as we all are? [00:44:37] Speaker B: Yes, she is. Yes, she is. Mom is, you know, she's out there sharing the songs with her friend. You know, we got a fan base over at her church. You know, it's really good song. [00:44:51] Speaker A: Speaking of songs, I want to make sure I even talk about that too. Like, so you and I both, you know, we. We have, you know, tapped into our music creativity. And for me, you know, I grew up in the church choir. I play piano by ear. I just grew up with this music. But transitioning in the beginning started to delay that for me because I just couldn't find my voice. What was the journey like? Because I'm telling you, I got all to see every song that you didn't dropped. I got it all. So, like, so. And I love that you. You play everywhere in your range. [00:45:25] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:45:25] Speaker A: What did it take for you to get to a place where you were comfortable and confident? Singing. [00:45:32] Speaker B: I think for me was truly when I started just taking lessons and started to learn that the best way to go about singing is to sing it the way you talk it. And so then I had to, like, really start to pay attention to what my natural speaking range is and where, you know, that's comfortable vocally, instead of trying to, like, reach into some kind of, like, high stratosphere and sounding strained and labored, I was just all like, well, baby, that's just not what your voice wants to do. So once I got over that and just started enjoying my voice for how it sounds and kind of getting over that vocal dysphoria of hearing your voice played back to you through speakers that I think all vocalists deal with. Then it just became fun and just kind of about, like understanding more about technique and how to achieve certain sounds. [00:46:31] Speaker A: But my all time favorite song is Cocky. [00:46:35] Speaker B: Yes. That was like, really the easiest one. We literally, like recorded that in a living room like in like 30 minutes. [00:46:43] Speaker A: That puts me in the right mood. I'm piercing. I'm cocky. [00:46:49] Speaker B: Hey. [00:46:50] Speaker A: Yes. So what is. So what is? Okay, now, you know, I'm. I'm taking up enough of your time. This name of this podcast is no opportunity wasted. And that is because you know, I recognize that, like, life comes with its challenges and with its opportunities. And I mostly see every challenge as an opportunity, but it really isn't an opportunity if you don't take advantage of the moment. If you don't, if you aren't prepared for that moment. For you right now, no opportunity wasted. It is October right now. What is in your sights? What is in Shea Coulee's sites as the next opportunity, maybe for you personally, professionally, as a community? What is this the next opportunity you see on the horizon? Oh, like, are you trying to do some acting? Like, what are, you know, what are we. [00:47:53] Speaker B: So. Yeah, so Iron Heart, the Marvel series I did, is going to be coming out in June. So. And I filmed that two. [00:48:07] Speaker A: She's a Marvel girl. I know. Marvel's very slow. Marvel's very slow. [00:48:14] Speaker B: I'm just so eager because, you know, it's my first, you know, time and so I'm just really eager to see the performance because, not gonna lie, I've like, had so many, like, cold sweat nightmares where like the show comes out and like, my acting is like terrible. Like, it's just like we're all watching and my acting is like, no, don't go over there. Like, I just. So I'm literally just like, please. [00:48:41] Speaker A: Well, listen. Like. Well, hopefully you are taking your advice in a sense of not second guessing yourself. Because literally every time I've shown, seeing you show up to the acting challenges and different things like that, like, you have it. Like you just have that instant even Peppermint. When I saw. When Peppermint came on to pose and she had her role on to pose, I was like, girl, you got it. [00:49:03] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:49:04] Speaker A: It's just that it's really these situations where we haven't had many opportunities to be in. Seen in that spotlight. [00:49:10] Speaker B: Yes. And it's. Think about post. We actually just recently did a rewatch of that this summer. We normally do it in the fall. We're trying to be all like. But we were just like watching it this summer and just like H. Candy's episode every single time. [00:49:26] Speaker A: It's just, I. I want to watch it so bad. [00:49:29] Speaker B: I'm always a puddle by the end of that. [00:49:31] Speaker A: I think I'm going to do a watch party. I. Because I talked to the fan, the fans are like, listen, we'll. We'll hold you through the process because I. I haven't seen it in so long and I want to. It's just that it takes me on such an immense roller coaster because I was laying in the casket so, like, there was. And I had a body double for when I had to step out of the casket and they, you know, still needed a body in there. But I had an experience like, I don't know, many people might have where I was, like, vicariously experiencing my funeral. [00:49:59] Speaker B: I. [00:50:00] Speaker A: Girl, where I knew there was going to be a bitch and I wanted to raise up like, I know the. [00:50:04] Speaker B: Fuck you ain't here at my funeral. It was just so good. And, you know, just the storyline with Candy's parents and just like, all of it, it just like, who. Oh, that was some good, girl. That was some good. [00:50:20] Speaker A: So let me. Let me ask you. Okay, so before we go. Okay. I. And I swear, this time, I am gonna let you go. Are you. Have you been watching Global All Stars? [00:50:29] Speaker B: Oh, okay. So I am actually getting ready to be binging it all this month. [00:50:35] Speaker A: Oh, okay. [00:50:36] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:50:36] Speaker A: She's catching up. Yes. [00:50:38] Speaker B: Yes. [00:50:38] Speaker A: The reason why I ask is because I was like, is, you know, now that there's a new franchise, is there chance that we're going to see Shea Coulee go for the global stage? [00:50:48] Speaker B: Oh, my gosh. Oh, my God. I mean, you never. You never know. You never ever, ever. No, it's. It's just like the. As the. It's like as the platform and the franchise continues to develop, it's just like they're always coming up with. With something. [00:51:08] Speaker A: Baby, when I tell you that's one thing I will give that is brand. [00:51:12] Speaker B: Yeah. Hello. [00:51:13] Speaker A: With some auto tune. I will give her all of that. [00:51:18] Speaker B: But. [00:51:18] Speaker A: Yeah, no, go ahead. [00:51:20] Speaker B: Oh, I was just gonna say. I was just like you. You. You. You never know with them. So if it. If it. If there is an opportunity and it makes sense, then. [00:51:29] Speaker A: And it makes sense. That's. I think that's the key word. Would you ever do, like, Dancing with the Stars? [00:51:35] Speaker B: Oh, baby. Yes. Like I would do Dancing with the Stars. I could see you eat that up foods, baby. The form. It's there. Abc. Wait, it's on abc. [00:51:47] Speaker A: Have you taught? Yes, absolutely. [00:51:49] Speaker B: Abc. Call me. [00:51:50] Speaker A: Okay. Yeah, listen, abc. I want to see Shea on Dancing with the Stars. Let's make it happen. [00:51:56] Speaker B: And another thing that we're manifesting because we're talking about, like, what. What we're trying to work on this next. I'm. I'm. I'm gonna go to the Met Gala this year. We doing that. Especially with this. Damn. [00:52:09] Speaker A: Oh, yes. Oh, I'm gonna speak that into existence for you. I'm gonna even numb your whole rain. Get killed a couple times. [00:52:15] Speaker B: Right? I'M gonna chew that shit up. I'm gonna eat it up. [00:52:22] Speaker A: Hey, Shay, I want you to continue eating it up, because there is never time when you don't eat. Sometimes I be worrying about, is this girl gonna have bad cholesterol or something? Because she's always eating. She's always eating. [00:52:33] Speaker B: And I do cook with butter, I'm not gonna lie. But that's okay, because you guys, you do need to get your macros to get those good. [00:52:39] Speaker A: Yes. [00:52:40] Speaker B: Butter avocado is good for you, I swear. [00:52:44] Speaker A: Well, thank you so much, Shea Coulee, for just being a real. A real one, you know, for. For showing the girls what it looks like to step your. Step the games up and just. I cannot wait to see what comes next. And also, I know, like, I've been juggling so hard, and things have been really difficult for me on the side, and I'm, you know, on the podcast, I'll be explaining a little bit more of all of that and as it's unfolding, but getting to a place where I'm actually about to possibly. I am about to list my house for sale. I'm going to move into a bigger home on some acreage and all the things. So once I get really settled, get my studio back up and everything. Shay. [00:53:21] Speaker B: Yes. [00:53:22] Speaker A: We have got to get in the studio. [00:53:25] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:53:26] Speaker A: And we're. You and I, we're gonna figure it out. I. I produce and I do some other things, or you got some tracks and blah, blah, blah, whatever. Well, we're gonna figure out a nasty collaboration. [00:53:36] Speaker B: Okay, guys? Where. Yes. [00:53:38] Speaker A: I'm down. So you got some. Listen, we're gonna open up the dialogue. I may have some tracks, you may have some tracks. We may have a session. We're gonna schedule it, whatever the situation is, but me and you need to hit a bop. [00:53:49] Speaker B: Yes. Okay. I. I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm here for it. I am here for it. We're about to start working on this next project soon, so. [00:53:57] Speaker A: Yes. Yes, please call me. [00:54:00] Speaker B: Yes, we'll do. [00:54:01] Speaker A: All right. Thank you so much, Shea Coulee, and y'all. We will be right back. All right. Thank you, Shay, for joining me now, and thank you for being a friend. You are a golden girl. Thank you for being a creative inspiration across the board with music, fashion, makeup, and more. I cannot wait to see you slay in the Marvel universe. Now, before we go, I'm gonna go ahead and drop one more Buddhist breadcrumb real quick and touch on a concept establishing the correct teaching for the Peace of the land. In essence, basically, this is making sure that as a society, whether we chant or not, that we are establishing a correct view of each other and that that is, we all have value. You, we all possess a Buddha nature. This is at the heart of our Buddhist practice. Sharing Buddhism with folks and helping them to establish a correct understanding of how valuable their lives are, especially in a world that is constantly trying to devalue us and make us believe we have nothing to offer if we don't look a certain way or have certain abilities. I was visiting a friend yesterday who checked into a mental health hospital. He reached out after I hadn't heard from him in a long time and basically said, you know, he lost his mind and had to check himself in and get back to himself. During our visit, I was able to share Buddhism with him and study and chant. We chanted together for a few minutes, and I could immediately see that it was already having a positive effect on him. Every person that I introduced Buddhism to has an exclusive, you know, connection with me as their support system. And I do this because I understand that when we change, our land will change. So one of the ways that I'm going to continue to do the work is by helping people see that their lives are valuable and hold potential to be absolutely happy, that they can develop the courage to take on all of life's obstacles with determination that you can win. Now, if you'd like to learn more about Buddhism, go ahead and text me. Text now to 404-737-1450 this week. Don't let the chaos of this election break the bonds between friends. Recognize that whether we see it or not, we are all Buddhas. Let's practice treating each other that way, no opportunity wasted.