It's Where I Am with Zandra Polard

Unknown Speaker 0:00
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Zandra Polard 0:52
Good morning Las Vegas. It's Zondra poll art with it's where I am. today. I have two comedians, buddy Lewis and Ray. Great to great comedians, writers, comedians, you know, we got to lighten it up sometimes. But he's been on the show before. And, yeah. And your call almost from what is it called the culture in the comic? Yes. Because in the comic, yes. He was just here a few weeks ago. See Reggie Rogers. So it's, it's nice to have you on this time.

Unknown Speaker 1:28
Well, thank you. I'm glad to have a return visit. I hope you win with C on your show. We you got to come to you got to come to our show sometime.

Zandra Polard 1:39
I did I did to your show. And I advised everyone not to listen to you.

Unknown Speaker 1:44
Well, that's why you got

Zandra Polard 1:47
everyone. Let me clarify. I advise everyone not to listen to your advice.

Unknown Speaker 1:53
Oh, yeah. Well, you know, I you. I give that rational, sensible, smart, philosophical slash, you know, psychiatric, and I give him a straight Yeah, you gotta want to hear the truth. You try to be politically correct. Not well,

Zandra Polard 2:16
you know, you have to leave all of the advice up to that relationship expert who has see Richard Rogers. So

Unknown Speaker 2:22
he's my main man we have we have fun. So I tried to keep it light like you're trying to do right now. Try to keep the light.

Zandra Polard 2:30
Good. So I want to also bring in Ray, thanks for coming on the show. Man, so I hear you doing some great stand up comedy right now. You're going on tour soon?

Unknown Speaker 2:43
Oh, yeah. Just got off to about to go back home to you know, half milk comedy tour near my tour that headline myself, finance myself produce it. Come down to film and I'll be directing it. But yeah, so Sam is you know, you got to wear multiple hats. You know, to came off from doing my own one hour special stuff to do. So. I stay busy. Oh,

Zandra Polard 3:08
wow. You sound a lot like me. I do a lot of my own stuff. Yeah, too.

My goodness. Oh, no. This is this is so this is so true. This is so true. That's why I have all five of my fingers. So you know

Unknown Speaker 3:36
what, when he talks back, you

Zandra Polard 3:38
know, I try I try to go on the edge a little bit here. Because you know, it's public. It's public radio. Yeah, I know you will write.

Unknown Speaker 3:48
You know, sometimes I've been known to go and just throw caution to the wind. I'll jump in. And you know what?

Zandra Polard 3:56
They'll, they'll cut half of his show, too. So, we've been talking about love relationships for most of the month of February and now we're in March. And we're going to have a lot of conversations about women. You know, but I wanted to, you know, get the man's perspective this time. Yeah, so

Unknown Speaker 4:21
it's March, which means many of the women found out in February. They are the thigh beat. Find out No, medium

Unknown Speaker 4:38
in we're talking about I'm giving up men

Unknown Speaker 4:46
gave up on you before

Zandra Polard 4:49
moving on. Oh my gosh. You know what, speaking of Lent, what did you give up for 40 days and 40 Nights. When did you give up?

Unknown Speaker 4:59
You know what I'm gonna be honest, and you know, I'm not able to tell this lie. You know, I used to be very LinkedIn heavy. When I was a kid, you know, we used to, you know, the Lutheran church was very LinkedIn, serious, you know, you got the links and you know, you did Easter. I haven't been a regular churchgoer in that regard. When it came up on me, like it came up on me, so I didn't really, I really didn't have a thing to give up for Lent. So because I just, I just realized within it, so I know that sounds terrible and trifling, yes, but I might find something to give up. So maybe I give up like something. You know, I gotta figure it out. I got to think about what I really want to give up. Because I forgot me it was even happening. You know, no, length has become something that's in your pocket for me right now. It's not it's not the religious ceremony that I that I grew up with as a kid, but I'm gonna I'm gonna think about that. I need to try and sacrifice something. And I'm gonna I'll probably by the end of the show, I'll let you know.

Zandra Polard 6:15
Okay. Well, you know, I gave up soda. That's my favorite. Really? Yeah. See?

Unknown Speaker 6:21
And you know what's so funny? All the things you. You people give up. I've already indulged in them today.

Zandra Polard 6:28
Well just repent and starting.

Unknown Speaker 6:31
Yeah, that's what I'm trying to do because I'm drinking this ginger beer.

Zandra Polard 6:36
Hey, so Ray, we need you to jump in this conversation man. What are you giving up for Lent?

Unknown Speaker 6:42
Oh, well, I'm Muslim, so I don't I give up a lot of stuff anyway, so I had to do with plant just don't do it. You know, sickness is in our family. So a lot of sugars and all that type stuff. You know, just cut out a lot. I don't eat pork. So I pretty much plan ahead date.

Zandra Polard 7:06
Okay, well then what about when we were talking about preparing for Women's History Month? What is it about women? That something you'd like to share? Something encouraging? I'm like, Buddy

Unknown Speaker 7:25
What women I don't I mean, you know, you're young. I'm like your mouth. You're gonna talk a lot talk fast talker gradual. I'm cool with all that type of stuff. And y'all y'all just real nice. It depends on depends on the day, the time of the month in unranked. genealogists sport is all I know. You get off

Unknown Speaker 7:52
that one man, right.

Zandra Polard 7:56
I like I like being spoiled. But you know, I really I love being spoil. But the theme but I'm speaking more of like, the plight of women. Right? So both of you guys are writers. There are more writers that are women. Now there are more women directing?

Unknown Speaker 8:20
That's true. Yeah. We, we, we we need to open the open the open the doors for more women, especially women of color, to express themselves and story and then in, in, in film, you know, because women have a have a different perspective. And we've been so man heavy over the years with with, with, with with story with with the direction of a film and television that that you that you need it, you could you could definitely say there's a need for more women to tell their version of a story or to feel their, their their vision of a story. You know, we could use that. So it's never it's never I think society is always benefited. We women are a part of it. Collectively, you know, you know, you know, I think so many so many cultures, and sometimes countries have this, this thumb on the back of women's necks and it's you know, sometimes this is, you know, it's not cool, but I think we need especially in the entertainment business, we could use a few more. Few more ladies stories, know what I mean. Let them tell their story.

Zandra Polard 9:45
So here's a question for you to either one of you ever asked. You know when you're in your writing process. Do you ever get advice from a particular woman?

Unknown Speaker 9:56
Well, me being a woman Manage by female my whole career. Okay, so I know all too well about you know y'all because you know the oxymoron is Ray Grady's dudes, dude, and then I go to a chick 409 Not a chick. Oh my god, lady, you'll go to the system, I would think and I'm saying. So when they see it, they go, Oh, my buddy knows. Everybody knows. Me. So I'm fine with it. Liz. I don't have time to be telling what you can't do. Right? Oh my god. I don't if you want to play basketball with us, put a jersey on. Come to art. See the defense for a buck grab. You want to be honest with us? Equal treat? At the end and a bit like the rest of us? Will we begin in about a coach?

Zandra Polard 11:04
Hey, so I have I have a question about the B word. Since I can't say it on public radio, but the female dog. You know, when you're doing comedy, do you often use that word?

Unknown Speaker 11:16
Often? Yeah. I mean, not the question. The question is, do I use it? Do

Unknown Speaker 11:21
you use it at all? Often?

Unknown Speaker 11:23
No. Okay, good. You know, you know, there's a there's a joke, I tell that there is a difference between a bee and a garden tool. What? A garden tool will sleep with everybody in town, but a bee will see what everybody in town except

Unknown Speaker 11:52
that's pretty good. What about you? What about you? Right? Okay, so like, the

Unknown Speaker 12:01
reason why I use it is because it's a mirror. And these are just words when we was taught this when he was children. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Now we've seen as more people that are hurt by words.

Unknown Speaker 12:14
Oh, yeah, definitely. Cuz that was.

Unknown Speaker 12:18
I use it. Yeah, I think it defines you at that right moment. Because every woman is that when she feels like being one word for us. No word to me. Oh,

Zandra Polard 12:31
I have one. Cut out a couple. I'm not more on Public Radio. Well, the reason why I ask is because my, my husband is an aspiring comedian. He's never been on stage. But it's like is on his bucket list. Right? So he wants to do like a, what is it called? Like the night when you try open mic? Open Mic. So when he goes over material with me, he keeps saying be this and be that and I'm like, That's not funny to me. Well, first

Unknown Speaker 13:07
first mistake he's going, he can't go to you because you don't tell jokes. Okay, the first thing you should do is go on stage and let the audience and get his confidence up. I mean, wait about six, seven months and never tell you his jokes. Never tell you his jokes, you can just be up to show like, Oh, my goodness, my husband is either terrible or

Unknown Speaker 13:35
great. He makes a good point. That's what all phases of the entertainment business if you're whether you're a singer, you're a rapper, you're a dancer, don't show the people close to you. You know, sometimes don't do that. Because, you know, people are dream killers, and they don't even know, my dream killers. And sometimes is, is like you said, I like it. And so, you know, eventually he's gonna feel that that you don't like it. So you're in a sense of you in a way. It's not that you don't have an opinion, you should have an opinion about this or that or whatever. But at this stage and at this level of the game for him, that's that can be detrimental to his dream of getting on stage because the person who is closest to is telling them she don't like what he's doing

Zandra Polard 14:33
here. That makes absolute sense.

Unknown Speaker 14:35
So I think what he could do, he could do yourself a favor and not tell you he could just practice on you where he's like, you know, he should just like what I used to do. I used to just say stuff, as if it may if it made my ex wife laugh, then I knew it was funny to people who aren't who don't have senses of humor.

Unknown Speaker 15:05
Oh, I know this is a gym right now right after this. Because my ex was a was a network sensor. That's what she did for a living. She wasn't standing and practicing to she was always looking for the natural like, job. Okay, you know, so if I made her laugh, I knew that I had. I had. I mean, and I wouldn't even tell her I was telling jokes. You know, I wouldn't even tell her. I was practicing. I just say some stuff.

Zandra Polard 15:34
Yeah, because I know. See, buddy, I've known you a little bit longer. So I know that you started out you went off to university for something completely different? Yep. I was in microbiology. Yeah. So and then when did you decide to do comedy?

Unknown Speaker 15:51
When I realized I wasn't gonna be a doctor. Okay, what I got that full credit, full credit did physics and organic chemistry, I was like, You know what, I need to do subjects because believe me,

Unknown Speaker 16:09
so, okay,

Unknown Speaker 16:10
I think I think I was, you know, people don't realize mandate, a lot of comics. Their lives have been in and about comedy, but they just didn't know it. You know, like, for example, I knew I knew I had a sense of humor that was that was could have been more marketable when I was in, like, fifth or sixth grade,

Unknown Speaker 16:36
okay. You

Unknown Speaker 16:38
know, I was, I was the, I was the most humorous guy, three years in a row in my high school. So, I knew I had a talent for making people laugh. I just didn't, I just didn't really get into it until after I got out of school. Because, again, it's not that you're, you know, you're, you're, you're having your dreams, you get your dreams deferred sometimes, but other people's expectations. Sure. And so, my mother never expected me to go to college, and of course, become, you know, something that was useful and could make money doctor lawyer, you know, something, you know, they wanted me to do something, and I, I kind of went into to, to the medical profession. I don't really know that into microbiology, because I want to get into the medical medical profession because I had an uncle that had a thriving dental practice in DC in silver spring. And I was like, shoot, I if I get out of school, go to dental school, I can go work for him. And, you know, I started my career, you know, I had a plan. But that wasn't my gift. And I think that a lot of times, especially in society now, and especially with African American kids, we don't encourage we're doing it a little bit more now. And it's becoming more of a thing now to be entrepreneurial in your, in your, that's a pursuit that people won't look down upon anymore. You know, a lot of the and I credit a lot of the, the internet and social media guys and gals that are doing this thing, it's like, you can become a celebrity writer, director, producer, by doing that online, you can do that online. So it's not a pipe dream to say I can become I can become a celebrity or a actor or whatever. By doing this online. That wasn't available to me as a kid. Right, right. There were three networks on TV. That's right. You know, it was CBS, NBC

Zandra Polard 18:47
and ABC. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 18:49
So if you didn't follow the plan, you know, or having a plan for getting onto those networks. When I started doing stand up comedy there was the Johnny Carson show that's all comments made it Brian had to go sit on his couch you had to perform on the Johnny Carson show you had to do Leno that was about the only way you could get on it you know so so that's changed and I think and so you can you can make your dreams come true on your own. You can kind of make your dream as a as a as a performer as a writer as a stand up as a singer. You know, a singer can get on you put a YouTube video but you sing it every day. Eventually you go people don't be like okay, this person

Unknown Speaker 19:35
right. I agree.

Unknown Speaker 19:38
I think that is the one good thing about social media that is is sort of changing the the I would say the path of the yellow brick road to success is different. It's not gonna everybody's not gonna walk that same yellow brick road path, you know, that we had to do when I first came up or the people who came up before me

Zandra Polard 19:59
who I don't think Ray is as old as you are, buddy. Of

Unknown Speaker 20:03
course not. Luxurious beats you don't get this kind of you don't get this, you get luxurious when you you under 40 When you

Zandra Polard 20:17
were paying for those who are listening, for those who are listening on wish

Unknown Speaker 20:21
to spare some of that's all up in his beard.

Zandra Polard 20:25
For those who are listening on the radio, you, you can rear you can see who you let me talk. We

Unknown Speaker 20:35
still got hopes and dreams and that'd be

Zandra Polard 20:38
when you finish taking over, let me know. Okay, I just wanted to say for those who are listening and not seeing, you can watch. It's where I am on its way m.com on my YouTube, and then you can also listen on podcast platforms, such as Apple, Spotify, Google and Amazon. Now, right? Yes, ma'am. Can you please tell us about your journey as a comedian?

Unknown Speaker 21:07
Oh, wow. Um, I used to be a telephone installer. Cable installer. Oh, wow. I did hazmat before you know, start telling jokes. And he's been married at the time. And you know, during that time of marriage, your kid you young you don't really know what's going on. He's not paying attention. And like, buddy, it's funny that he was even saying DC and Otto did have a he had his own telecommunications company inside of not simple spring, but it was it's called buoy mare. Okay, so you know, Billy, Prince George's County, refugee County. So I went there but work. I didn't go there too soon. No, in a time, because I'm too serious. too serious. But you know, you always got to have I don't know. You know, I think I was always funny, because when I tackle the streets of Chicago, if I can make gangsters laugh, I can make anybody. That's easy. So now, here we go. 22 years ago, my baby boy was being born. He was born and father three sons. So any guy that wants to get a son DM me at grading? I'll tell you how to get a boy. Make sure you get a boy. No girls. Oh, we we don't produce them. We produce men over here. But um, no, I just said I was married. You know, marriage life wasn't really working for us because we you know, young upstairs and I just needed to vent and my barber to this day. He was always on me about like, Yo, man, you gotta get serious.

Zandra Polard 23:01
Okay, you started out in the barber shop.

Unknown Speaker 23:05
Well, I was just going in and just mess with the cats. But I would never, you know, I didn't take you see I just talked about cat to have a sense of about me being whatever. But Mike Miller. Very, very instrumental in my career Early on, just by letting me know like, if you do not go get on stage, I will no longer cut your hair. Oh, wow. What a punch. Yeah, that was a huge bush. Right. So 30 days later, I was at Reynolds comedy club in Chicago. Oh, wow. bombing.

Unknown Speaker 23:39
means you're not doing Oh, I know. Yes, sir. Okay.

Unknown Speaker 23:42
So, and then those bombs start to come smiles. And then laughter. Again. Yeah. There's a bookkeeping war. Do you make money matters? I think it'd be a celebrity stuff. So stay with me. I don't think it was hard. You know why? Because I don't care about the audience. Okay, a lot of comics care about what you think. I don't. Yeah, buddy. Cozy to tell you. The funny it's funny that we all your show. Right? And he probably don't even remember this, but I'm gonna say it anyway. Quick story about buddy. I moved here. In 2008. NBC had a big writer's strike, right?

Zandra Polard 24:30
Oh, yeah. I remember.

Unknown Speaker 24:34
Buddy laws was hosting this room. He was a part of this, this room called saris. And they were doing like the celebs who come through the bill Bellamy's the Kim Whitley's. God bless the dead Goetsch you know, Charles, he was you know, he was buddies friend. Brilliant, brilliant brother. And he's doing that Carlton, Carlton, you In Carlton Davis it's so Xandra he would just be like coffee like I gotta take you to Sara's so sad I'll be so nervous and Buddy it's a nice to be out here. I just look like Fidel Castro. I have a big old beard blow dried out picking in I've been to you bougie thought I came to prison or the wolf you could do so I was just so I wasn't I wasn't playing I wouldn't play among all the three boys. So I live in a hotel and just gotta count I'm not gonna curse but what I'm so bloody laws is the host. And I just seen this statue. Who is dead you right? I'm sitting I suppose this dude, I'm sitting front sort of place. It's about 53. Comedians. I'm one of them. I bought five buddy is hosting. That's the first time I've seen a host dictate a room where anything in the room, it was a joke to him. Anything and everybody that was because this is our lives on a table where we want to eat about No, no dog on suitcase. Nobody cares about that. Bring us on TV. Then it's my turn to go. He says sound like some old dude. Who was great. I'm right here. Look at it. And I woke up. So we have five minutes. Right? We got five minutes. Right? And this is first amendment, Doug Williams and my last resume, you know, produced a dope Comedy Series for about what five years, buddy? I believe 545 So, buddy, last is the host so Xandra I've never rushed through my set. It was I put it right. Now be really good. Sure. Nobody tells everybody he takes the mic. He was like okay, all right. You'd be good.

Unknown Speaker 27:16
Buddy, like okay,

Unknown Speaker 27:17
I get it. You did good. Right. And so that's the first time that I was like, I'll just I'll just this won't be a breeze this buddy buddy was very big that push you don't even know that you didn't know took now that's my first time telling you don't remember that problem.

Unknown Speaker 27:40
I remember you came back. But I was a tell you i There are a lot of comics. Oh have buddy my first time on stage kind of stories or buddy. I was a young comic stories because I put them all up in my room.

Unknown Speaker 28:02
Yes, he did. Oh, wow. I didn't know you might go now they're doing the heavy hitters.

Unknown Speaker 28:11
Hey, listen, I gave everybody shot. So people came back and some people didn't. And I tell you there are a lot of cons. I'm Alicia Cooper who's a talent now. One of the first times she got on stage dog and like she either Rodriguez first time she got on stage gave it a blue.

Zandra Polard 28:35
Hey, man, I saw one of the Wayans brothers back in the 90s. And he bombed on stage. You know, a lot of times they're trying stuff out, right? Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 28:48
And when you're young comic, your subject matter is is restricted to the things you know about and are the things you think are gonna are gonna make people that you're not. You're not you yet. And a lot of these comments have grown into their personalities they're they haven't grown on stage into this is who I am. This is who I'm going to

Zandra Polard 29:12
man. That takes time. i That's understandable. Until

Unknown Speaker 29:16
that time comes. You gotta go in enrollment and take these lumps.

Zandra Polard 29:22
Oh, lot of lumps. Hey, we got one minute left guys. Do you want to tell everyone where they can find you?

Unknown Speaker 29:29
Ready? You go first man. Okay,

Unknown Speaker 29:32
thank you for having me on Xandra Instagram, at Grady comedy and YouTube Ray Grady man, alpha nation. Thank you guys so much man.

Unknown Speaker 29:43
Buddy was the real buddy who was joke's on Instagram and Facebook. I have shows coming up and I'm really excited. The movie I did with Chris Spencer back on the strip will be out in theaters. All

Zandra Polard 29:57
right. Well, thank you for those of you done No, I am also in back on the strip. So you got to look out for me in the back somewhere. But I'm there, but I'm there. Alright guys, thank you so much. Hey, it's entrepreneur lard. It's where I am here on 91.5 Jazz and more every Saturday at 7:30am. See you next time. Thank you. Bye

Transcribed by https://otter.ai