Transcript of Keke Palmer

Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. Very, very excited about our guest today. It is the great Keke Palmer. Keke can do anything and is in everything. She's currently in the movie I Love Boosters and in the TV show The Burbs. She has her podcast, Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, and she is— she's gonna be in Spaceballs. She hosts Password. She's incredible. We talk about so many fun things today. We talk about being Virgos and the noblesse oblige that comes along with that. We talk about Mary J. Blige and what it's like to get into your anger. We talk about her season of restraint and what that looks like. We have such a good time. And she has to go to the bathroom in the middle of it, which has never happened before. And just goes to show how comfortable she was. That makes me so happy. But before we get into it, we always talk to somebody who knows our guest, who loves our guest, Wants to speak well behind their back and ask them a question. And we have a friend of the pod, writer, actress, queen, Paula Pell, who is Zooming in, who loves Kiki and wants to tell us all about it.

And I'm hoping right now is Zooming in from her new OnlyFans account. One can only hope. So, Paula, are you there?

Paula?

Paula, can you hear me, darling?

Woo-hoo-hoo!

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What do you say? I am the one who wants a really good hey. Hey!

Hi!

Hi!

What if we just do that for 10 minutes?

Hi! Hey! Oh, why— oh, did I— shit.

No, you're on.

I am?

Why?

Oh boy. Why is— why am I off now?

I can see you. You can't see me?

Well, they ask for— all they do— oh, here it is. All they do is ask me for another AI thing. Do you want? I know.

I had such a— I know we've talked about this. I had such PTSD about trying to sign my kids in during COVID to like various portals that I had a portal meltdown the other day. I know we all talk about it.

Oh my God.

There's gotta be a word that's gonna be made for like technological misery.

It's every single time I agree to do a Zoom and then I'll get an email like 10 seconds before and it says, "This is gonna be on Colander." And I'm like, "I'm sorry, Colander?" I mean, one of the real ones is BlueJeans. Nothing against BlueJeans, but like, I was like, "BlueJeans?

I'm sorry, BlueJeans?" They're like, "All you need to do is download this app." and go to a portal.

Now we're going to be on Werther's Originals, so if you want, but you are gonna have to do a breathalyzer under your computer. You do have OS 7.8, right?

Yeah, it's like, it's like, yeah, Old Navy, I'm cool with you remembering my password.

I'm like, bitch, I gotta, I got an Apple clamshell. I got a teal Apple clamshell.

Would you like a new password? This one feels like you use it a lot. It's like, yeah, because it's the only way I I don't remember. Do you think I could remember it if I don't use it for every device?

I want a plug and an outlet. I want a plug and an outlet.

The other day I tried to buy an old-fashioned alarm clock. I couldn't find one. I couldn't find a friggin' alarm clock.

I tried to take my blood pressure in a new blood pressure cuff I bought. 63. And I was feeling a little off 'cause I had a couple drinks, got real dizzy. And I was like, something's wrong. I drank 2 drinks in the hot, in the hot sun really quick. I feel weird. Um, but I got it out and it was so complicated and so many apps and profiles to fill out.

You—

we have to know this information about you before we do this and before you do. And I'm just like, I'll be dead by then.

I know. Uh, I, by the way, you're making me want to get a blood pressure cuff. I'm definitely getting that.

It's, it's supposed to do all these things. And of course when I'm on the internet, I fall for every— The funniest one lately is that during the snow this winter, I saw one that had this little fan that blows the snow off your windshield, like violently. And every single video was like immediate, like snow is immediately like an eraser off your windshield. And I got them and they were like this big and they blew like this.

Ooh.

And I got like 4 of them and was gonna gift them to people. And we were laughing so hard because it was like, this is the biggest fucking ripoff.

Oh my God, the weakest fan.

The Weakest Fan is a good, uh, reality.

The Weakest Fan now on Fox.

And they're just really weak.

Um, Paula Pell is here. Paula, it's so good to see you.

It's so good to see you.

We're talking about Keke today. We have got Keke Palmer in, and I was saying this, and I know you would agree.

Love her.

She's so good at so many things.

Her hyphenates have hyphenates.

I know.

Like, we're looking at her body of work. It's like Broadway and, you know, and singing and writing and podcasting and acting and also just, um, her being herself, like all the hosting that she does, all the way that she is someone else and herself. She's— I was trying to figure, you know, and I was like, she's like an old school entertainer.

She really is.

I wanted to talk to you today because you guys work together on The Burbs. And I know, you know, I know you are this way, and I imagine maybe we'll find out Kiki is this way too, but you know, there's no better gift than getting to do what we want with people who are professional and nice. It's like all you're hoping for. And I remember you saying right away that, like, working with her was so pleasant. What was it like to work together on The Burbs?

Oh, it was and is. I mean, the whole— we're getting ready in October to shoot the second season of it. But it remains, like, such an incredible joy that— there is no— there's no dark side to it. Like, because she is, um, she's so non-stop in terms of what she's creating and what she's doing in the world that, like, you watch her and you're just like, you know. And she's raising a little darling boy, and it's like, she is so non-stop but yet so present in each thing, even when she's multitasking and getting her her hair and makeup done in the trailer, and she's also on a podcast, and she's also talking about her music video from her album that's coming out. And it's like, sometimes when people are like that, you watch them, and I think it's my age too, where I'm just like, how do, how do they do all that? And just, if you sit and talk to her about anything genuine, she's right there. Yes, she wants to talk about it. She wants to hear what you have to say about it. She'll hold your hand. She'll We've gotten tearful together in the makeup trailer talking about our lives and what we won't tolerate anymore, and love, and just— There's so many good things that I've derived from just being in her presence, truly.

I was getting my hair blown out at a Drybar, and I sat down—

By the way, congrats on your hair. I just wanna point out again, most beautiful hair in the biz next to Tina. I'd love to see you guys fight it out. Okay, sorry, continue.

Half of it is blonde right now. Right now, and half of it— this is, this is God's colorist right here, but, um, who is this gorgeous woman? God's colorist. She's kind of almost transparent, and she's just very weird. Um, I'm in Drybar while we're doing, while we're doing the burbs, and I sit down, and Akilah and the Bee is on, and I look up and I see baby Kiki with like braces and glasses and just like having this this incredible touching scene with an adult Oscar-winning actor. Just like the two of them having this quiet scene together. And I'm just like, "She was born fully cooked." She was just— She was born Keke Palmer that I know.

So excited to talk to her because she is exactly what you just said. It feels like she's just very good at talking. And being in the moment and connecting. She's like, she's a real connector.

Yeah. And she's positive in a way that's not bullshitty. Like, she, she's positive in the way that you say, oh, cheerfulness is a choice, and it's a constructive choice. It's, it's a choice that actually changes your trajectory of your day if you look at it and say grateful, cheerful, joyful. Um, and, and that gratitude thing, she just lives through that all the time of like, I can't believe we're gonna get to— we get to do that, you know. And then And you want that because there's nothing worse than working with people in showbiz with dead eyes that don't realize how incredibly lucky they are to be doing—

Oh my God.

Yes. —the thing they're doing at the moment. And you just wanna slap 'em hard across the face. Or you hope that in the script you get to, so you can privately have the satisfaction.

Do you have a question for Kiki? You're very good at questions.

What does it look like for Kiki Palmer to rest? Like, not exhaustion, not, "I can't even see, I'm so exhausted, I have to lay down," but like her restorative rest. Like, for her to describe her favorite restorative rest.

That is a great question. I cannot wait to ask her. I know she'll be thrilled that we talked, 'cause I know she loves you right back. Thanks, P. Love you.

Give Kiki a big kiss for me.

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Thank you. Right back at you.

It's so good to see you. Virgo to Virgo. I know! We were talking about it earlier. Sure, sure. Keke and I are both Virgos. And I mean, you've named an album, I mean—

Virgo Tendencies, you know. Virgo Tendencies. We have the Virgo tendencies. What are Virgo tendencies?

Let's go through them.

I'm working on mine. We can kind of be know-it-alls. It's fine, it's fine, it's fine. We just see things. Yeah. Just so right away, and we want you to know, but we gotta— Hold it in. Yeah, we are great organizers in our own way. It doesn't always look—

Talk to me about how you like to organize. I know you love to. I saw your beautiful house. Oh my gosh. I said, tell me what your new favorite way to organize is. Like, oh, like, is there a system labeling everything?

Okay. Talk to me on that labeling. Like, everything has a particular place and spot. Yes. Contacts, skin masks, ones for hydration, ones for exfoliation. Oh, we're talking.

Okay. We're in the bathroom. Yeah, we're in the bathroom.

Everything is organized even by my bathroom. Bedside supplements at the top, all my, like, eye masks, like getting ready to wind down. Then underneath is the journal. I even have written out my cycle things, you know, and what I need for them, what type of foods I should be eating at that time.

I always get shocked when people tell me that they don't write out or like think about what they have to do the next day or what— like, I can't, I can't, I don't understand how people organize their days without a list. I don't either.

And that's so weird to imagine that that's so specific to a personality type. Yeah, that's right. It to me seems It seems like the only human way to function, but I guess we're one of one, or a group of one.

Well, there are some very important Virgos in the world. You are one of them. Beyoncé is one of them. Um, Zendaya—

Can we talk about Kobe Bryant? Kobe Bryant. Mother Teresa. We even have them in the spiritual realm. I always need people to know that because it's more than entertainment. We even have a strong, prayed-up Virgo. You know? And look, I'm not gonna go there, but— I heard that we celebrated on Christmas, but I heard that Jesus maybe was born in September. That's what I heard. That's what I heard. That's what I heard.

Capricorns like to claim him. But we really have him. We know the real deal. We know the truth. We know that Jesus kept his eye masks very separate from his settlements.

I mean, you can't have disciples and not organize them. You can't have a crew like that. You can't be, you know what I mean? You can't have that setup. 100%.

He was running a lot of things.

He was running a lot.

I'm just saying.

He was like, you go over here, you go over here. I'll turn this to this. Orchestrating everything.

I'll turn this to this. Watch. Okay.

I'll take care of it. I'll take care of it. It's, you know what? Uh, the other thing I just, I'm constantly always looking for systems. I know you like this too. I love a good girl. I love a good system. I'm like, tell me how you do it. I just found something on TikTok that I'm obsessed with, which is it's the steel container that you keep next to your stove when you're cooking. Oh, you know that you put like your utensils in. Yeah. There's a whole thing about like, What are the 6 utensils that you need next to your stove that, like, you use every day? And when I tell you that I have spent hours shopping for what is the best and only spatula, like, what are the 6 cooking tools I want? That's support.

That's self-support. That is— that to me is a day well spent. I love that kind of thing because honestly, it's really about optimization. I think we're actually fighting for ease, even though it seems like we're making our life more difficult. Difficult by doing these things. These things are actually on the path of ease because when it's already set up, you don't have to think about it.

You don't. Well, that's actually the theme of what I wanna talk to you about today is this idea of exactly that, like maximizing, optimizing. This is amazing. These are your amazing words.

This is the most Virgo-ing Virgo-ing session.

And rest and ease. Yeah. Those two things. 'Cause they are a— You need 'em both. Double-sided. They're a black and white cookie. You gotta have both. And I gotta tell you, Kiki, I texted you on the way. Over here. Um, whatever. I have your phone number. No big deal.

And, um, you look crazy.

And I, cuz I had such a peaceful feeling. Yeah. I had such a peaceful feeling coming to talk to you. I was like, I know that whatever we talk about is gonna be funny and real and you're so easy to be around and to talk to. Thank you for that. I know it's not easy to be an easy person to be around sometimes, if that makes any sense. But what I, What I know about you always is that you bring a very open and curious version of yourself all the time. And you're so talented and funny. Like, Kiki, you are so fucking funny. You are like an old-fashioned, one-of-a-kind entertainer who can do it all. You're like Martin Short. You're like Eddie Murphy. You're like, uh, like, uh—

Come on, vaudeville. I live for the old-fashioned because that's how I grew up. I know.

Like Lucille Ball. Yes! There it is. That's it. Obsessed. You are like Lucille Ball. I love that vibe. You can do it all. You are a Swiss Army knife.

There's nothing you can't do, Kiki! My girl!

But I think you do too many things. Oh, right, I do.

This is also true. Black and white cookie. Black and white cookie.

You are a mogul. You're a visionary.

You're a mogul. By the way, I was with Rasheeda the other night, and she told me that she's at your house.

She's staying with you.

Yes! She told me that, and she was like, "Amy told me you guys are gonna be talking soon." I said, "I know. I can't wait to see my girl!" It was so good to see her.

I know. My wife is staying with me for a while, and it's so nice.

Okay, we're gonna talk about the future.

We're gonna talk about the past.

We're gonna talk about— I wanna know right now, like today, what was your morning like? What do you do in the morning? What's your system in the morning?

This was a great day in the morning for me.

Okay, let's hear about it.

So last night I got to bed at a pretty good time.

Let's talk about sleep.

Um, so I was happy about that. How much sleep do you like to get? I mean, if I can get to sleep at 10:30, I'm really happy. Oh, that's a really, really happy. Totally. Last night I got to bed at 11:00 PM. That's still a pretty good one for me. Pretty good. Yeah. So I went to sleep, I had my alarm clock set at at 7:15 and then 7:30. What kind of alarm clock are we talking? I used to be, "Mrrr, mrrr, mrrr." Then I said, "Girl, that's too much. You need to be nicer to yourself." So now it's like, "Doo doo doo doo doo doo." So that's a little nicer, you know what I mean? And I have it on loud because I was planning to go to Pilates, which I made. I'm so happy. I went to one of my favorite studios. Actually, that's a lie. It is my favorite studio, Forma. I love it so much. So I went at 8:00 AM, felt so good about my life and myself. 'Cause, you know, I feel good when I get a little bit of a workout workout in. Yeah. And Pilates is perfect because it's not too intense.

Like, I'm not like trying to lose my life.

I want to tell you, you're becoming a Pilates instructor.

Yes, girl! What? I feel like that one clip where somebody's impersonating Oprah and they're like—

I think I did a sketch about that where my head blew up. Where my head blew up. Kiki, you are a Pilates instructor, girl!

Because I fell so in love with it and it became such a big part of my life that I'm like, I need— I want to be a part of giving bring other people this feeling.

Yeah.

Because it's really, really helped me. It's helped me too.

I do Pilates. Oh. And it is one of those things that makes me feel connected to my actual body. 'Cause I can feel a little disembodied. Girl, me too. I mean, I think we have a lot of similarities, but I'll try not to harp on the entire interview, but I do think we do. And one of them is like, I need to, like, I like, like, do you like to be smushed?

Oh my gosh. Like smushed together with a body or like, just like, like a heavy thing on you?

Like, okay.

Yes.

I could use more of that. Do you like stim a little bit? Like, do you put your feet under? Oh yes. Do you put your feet under cushions?

Yes. I put my feet under cushions. I like to be smushed up against things that are soft. I bite my jaw a lot.

Yeah. Just to feel the mm.

Oh my gosh.

It's so good. Sometimes because when you're, when you're living up here, sometimes you have to be reminded, I have a body. Yes. It's so true. It's true. And Pilates really does that.

Do you think that the Do you think this is something about why we like comedy? Do you think that that's connected in a way?

Oh, really good question. That's a great question. I mean, that's why I think I always am enamored with dancers is dancers are always like in their bodies, like thinking about their bodies, moving them. And you can see how they move. They're just, they're inside their bodies. And I think you're right. Comedy, a lot of it is like, whee!

Like, like you're the— That's what's, we're, we're up in that air with it. And it's like, it's fun to be the disembodied, but then sometimes what I've learned with myself and what Pilates helped me to realize is that I've gotta have some more balance with this. Cuz it's fun to be we, cuz sometimes you need to be we. Yeah. But then it's like you need to also really have the practices that remind you that it's safe inside too.

Totally. It's crazy. Let's do the hundreds really fast.

By the way, it's time to work out. You didn't know? Okay.

You're hosting an amazing podcast and have for many years. I got— I had the pleasure of doing it and you're so good at it. Oh my gosh. And, um, what have you— What have you— like, I know I'm learning a lot about, you know, even how I communicate, how I operate, what I bring to the table. What have you learned about yourself from talking to all these people?

Well, you know, I felt like I always knew that I liked to talk, but I didn't know that it was something people enjoyed. You know what I mean? So I feel like I was so surprised, um, and delightfully surprised that people would want to hear conversations because that's what I love to have. Yeah. And so I feel like the podcast, I mean, I mean, you know when you're going to any podcast that it's time to talk, and it's time to get into something interesting.

But not everyone does that ever. Right? Like, I feel like you and I could talk forever and ever. That's not always the case with people who come in to talk. And it's fascinating to sit in the— to tolerate the silence of it too. It's hard. That's hard for me.

You know, a lot of, um— some people have asked me about that with the guests. Like, you know, "Do you enjoy every single guest?" And I was like, "I do, but every guest is different." The level of enjoyment is also predicated on how much they're willing. So, you're right that sometimes, you know, it's not that it's not a great time, but it's that maybe this person's not that open, and that's okay. I'm gonna meet them where they are, and still, we're gonna have a great time.

Well, that's what you can do so well is meet people where they are and mirror people, like, their energy. I find sometimes, you know, my, like, codependency, it's hard for me to not fill in a silence. And then, you're like, in your head, you're like, like, shh, quiet now, quiet, quiet. It's like, I can't, I can't stop talking.

That's the regulator. That's like, I got to regulate this. It's like rhythm. And I think about this all the time as a, as a performer. Like, I think we're constantly in rhythms. So it's like when we hear a downbeat, we like, oh shit, it turned into Macbeth real fast. Like, why are we now—

Can you say Macbeth on a podcast? Is that bad luck?

Like, it gets You know, so it's that. But sometimes it's like, that's what it needs to be. I'm also in a season of practicing restraint. Oh! Girl, I'm trying to pull— When I say you, I'm reining my shit in like my name is Rudolph.

Girl, I'm reining it in. Season of restraint.

Season of restraint, baby girl. Okay, what does that look like?

How— What— I feel that.

So— God, that is so hard. It's like seeing something and knowing something and not saying it. You know, having a conversation and deciding to let reality show me instead of pulling for more, asking for more. You know, if it doesn't feel good, right? If I have to contort myself or push in order for it to happen, deciding that I should pull back. You know what I mean? And I'm really happy that I'm in this season. And again, I always bring everything back to my son, but my son is really— bringing out the best in me because, as a mom, I feel like we had to practice restraint. That's right. Because we gotta let our kids learn things. That's right. We can't always step in the way. And so, that's teaching me that, "Wait a minute, I probably should be pulling back in a lot of areas in my life." And not only will that actually be a better service to the things that I'm a part of, but I'll also have more energy. Oh, yeah. When it's time for me.

And it's a hard lesson. It was a hard lesson for me to learn, which is actually, people feel closer to you when they get to take care of you. Which barf. I mean, like, like, like, like, I was like, what?

Why am I so adverse to that?

What do you mean? I know. I was like, what do you mean? I take care of people. That's my love language. And, and it's like, no.

And what are you gonna do for me? You're not even gonna do it right.

I gotta relax. You gotta do it. I know. I sometimes feel like you, an obligation that nobody's asking for, by the way, people aren't asking it of me, but an obligation to mirror, match, and take care of people. And then, And then secondly, speaking of Rashida Khadada, her sister taught me this. She was like, you cut the cords when you get home, right?

And I was like, I was— girl, when you started talking about visualizations, I said, give it to Melissa Joan Hart, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, my show, my girl. These are good rituals.

Do you know about cutting the cords?

Girl, I've been cutting somebody's cord for the last month. Let's say it's a relationship, even a family member. Yeah. Whatever it— the thing you feel like is hooked to you. Yeah. For me, I was imagining the cord of this relationship that I felt was weighing me down. It was not good for me. I was feeling too emotionally pulled from it constantly. So, she walked me through visualizing a cord. And it was like— the cord was thick. It was like the weight of a ton. It was like thick, like almost leathery. And I could feel it right around my sacral area. You know what I mean? Like, it's deep. It's deep-rooted to my power source. And— And I just sat there and said, you know what? I need a knife. No, I need a motherfucking ax to cut this shit. So I just start visualizing where this cord is, right here in this missus. And every day, I was axing it. And it would try to come back. It would try to rejuvenate itself. And I kept axing it, axing it, axing it. And now it's gone. It's no longer there. But these visualization tools are— are absolutely necessary.

For me, it's more about like that feeling when you walk through a cobweb and you get that like feeling where you've got a cobweb on you and you're like, and you know it's around and it's kind of sticky. I think that way sometimes when I walk through my house, which is I gotta get rid of other people's cobwebs. And it can be like person that you walk past too that like gave you a shitty look or a bad conversation or even just like some version of yourself that you didn't like that day. That kind of feeling of entering a threshold clean and clear.

Whatever it takes. My grandma, I didn't realize this until I got older and I started to reflect back. My grandma used to always do, tell me and teach me to sweep in front of the porch and sweep in back of the porch. And it was just like this same kind of concept of removing everything. Mm-hmm. Making sure, you know, it's clean. You know, cleaning your space and kind of setting the tone and setting the area. I think those things, like, getting back into that stuff and talking with other women about that kind of stuff, kind of thing, it just feels so empowering. It's so good for the soul, you know what I mean?

Okay. You grew— I feel like you got a lot of this, like, really good sense of how to read people from Chicago. Yes. Where you grew up. And I bet a lot of people don't assume you're from the Midwest. They don't. They don't.

But I feel like I give Midwest vibes sometimes.

Yes. What's the most Midwest thing about you?

Well, I love the mundane. Wait. Like, I love simplicity. And that's why when people are always like— they always are interested in my dating life, or, you know, what type of— It's like, I'm always interested in everyday Joe. Because that reminds me of where I'm from. And that doesn't mean everyday Joe's not special. It just means that he's not flashy, he's not flamboyant, he's not taking up— You know, he might take up space because he's awesome, but he's not like— that's not how he enters the room. And I feel like that's— Chicago is very blue collar. It's very like— People are amazing and awesome, but they're kind of like, "No big deal." Totally. And so I love that kind of energy when people don't have to put on too much. You know what I'm saying? They can be themselves and they can give a little jazz, but it doesn't have to be, like, for a certain thing. It's just them being a cool person. Totally. I love, like, you know, picnics. Yeah. Going to the lake. You know, being in a trailer. I love a trailer. I love going, like, around, a road trip type of situation.

Like, just things that I feel like are very salt of the earth.

Who was a Chicago star that you saw when you were there? Like Bernie Mac. Oh my God. Can we talk about Bernie Mac?

Bernie Mac, Bernie Mac, baby. Bernie Mac, Chicago legend.

Love Bernie Mac. Bernie Mac. Rest in peace. Rest in peace. We love Bernie. He was, he hosted SNL. He was so nice.

I miss Bernie so much.

Tell me how, why he was important to you and how you met him.

No, because he was, so I actually I actually never met Bernie Mac. I didn't get to meet him, which is devastating. You know, it's devastating. I have a couple of those people too, where I'm like, how— I didn't meet Whitney Houston. Yeah.

God, Whitney would've loved you.

I feel like we would've been like, ah, dude! You know? But I loved her daughter, Bobbi Kristina. Yeah. Me and Bobbi Kristina met on MySpace, and we would always be like, "Hey, girl. Hey, girl." Love Bobbi Kristina. Rest in peace to Bobbi Kristina too. Yes. But, um, yeah, I always loved Bernie because— was he was so funny and so real. And always was able to ride the wave of, like, being edgy and saying something true, but also still, like— I think the wonderful thing about any great comedian is to be able to bring up difficult topics and metabolize them, help the public metabolize them through entertainment. And I think he was great with that. And he just was— Yeah, he just— He also seemed like a really sweet person. Everybody loved Bernie too, you know what I mean? So he just seemed to have a genuine spirit and obviously a great inspiration. So I love— Whatever I think I think about, you know, anybody Chicago greats, you know, Bernie Mac is one of the first people that come in my mind.

Now I'm picturing you and Whitney though, singing on stage. Oh my gosh.

Oh my gosh. That would've been—

God, that would've been incredible. Okay. Okay. Sorry. Well, but so you're in Chicago and both of your parents were actors. Yeah.

I mean, not professional, but they did it like on the— They met that way. They met that way. They did speech and terp. They met actually at a speech competition in New Orleans. That's where they had Popeyes for the first time. They always bring that up. 'Cause I guess like back then Popeyes was like Raising Cane's or like, Chick-fil-A before it became national. Like, it was only in New Orleans. So they always talk about, "That was the first time we had Popeyes." And that's why. Also, Popeyes has branded this. No, I'm kidding. But they loved— they always talk about that. They talked about their story of falling in love through the arts when they got back to Chicago. My mom went to New York, and she was going to be an actress and performer, and my dad stayed in Chicago. And they would be like pen pals, writing letters back and forth and talking on the phone every now and then. And my mom couldn't afford tap shoes, so my dad, like, spent all his money, and she had tap shoes at her door the following week, and that was so touching to her. And he was so supportive of her.

And then one day, she doesn't hear from him, and she's like, "Where's this motherfucker?" She's pissed. She's like— A few days have gone by, like, "Who the hell? Where the hell?" And finally, she gets a call, and she's angry. She's like, "What do you mean Larry?" And they're like, "Larry got into a car. He got into a big accident." Oh my gosh! And his mouth has been closed shut. Wired shut? So he couldn't speak. She was on the next flight out. And she said, "I knew how I felt then, that I had to be with this man for the rest of my life." So she goes back to Chicago. They do theater in Chicago at the Black Ensemble Theater, started by Jackie Taylor. It still goes on. And my parents performed in this really cool musical called The Other Cinderella.

And they just fell in love. Foreshadowing.

Right, right, right! Which is crazy, right?

'Cause Keke was in Cinderella.

It's so weird to me, these little, like, things. Yes! And yeah, and then they started having kids and they kind of, it was kind of a dreams deferred situation. They were like, oh, reality hit.

What I love, you speak all the time so beautifully about it, is how your family made a big sacrifice to kind of support your dream. Yeah. They moved from Chicago to LA. Your siblings came too, right?

Did they come? My siblings came too. They came.

They all, they all picked up and moved.

They all picked up. So we drove 4 days and 3 nights. And then when we got there, it was like, oh my gosh, we're so broke. You know what I mean? How are we gonna get, pull things together? So I get an agent, uh, and we've been, we had been talking and emailing and I had met some people on one trip that I went with my parents. So we knew who I was gonna be working with. And I got me an agent immediately. I mean, really very quickly, I got a job. When I got that job— Was it—

What was the job?

It was a movie that I did with William H. Macy. I was 10 years old, and it was called The Wool Cap. And like, it was kind of like a play on Jiggo. So like, he didn't talk. And I was like this little girl that was like, "This me and my friend, you know? We need this." You know? The movie is so— It's so old. It was like a TNT film, and it had— Now, we did this movie, and my mom and I went to Montreal. It was the first time that my parents had, like, not been around each other 24/7, you know, in, like, since she was 19.

'Cause a lot of people don't know, when you're a minor and you're on set, you need an adult guardian with you at all times.

But then it's like, they're only gonna pay for one. Right. So my dad stayed back, and this was, like, kind of a moment where the family experienced what we knew we never wanted to really have to experience again, which was separation. Yeah. So my dad was in LA making sure we had a good place to stay. My sisters, like, And my sister and my younger brother and sister went back with my grandma for a little bit. And then, when we came back after that movie, we knew that it was like, whatever situation we get in, we need to make it to where we can be together at some point. Like, we have to figure this out. And so, that was like the beginning. And so, that caused for a lot of sacrifices. It's a lot of pressure on you too.

It's a lot of pressure on you. For sure.

Tons. And that I couldn't really hold. I think in the beginning, I probably talked about it more.

Mm-hmm.

And then, as time went on, it was a secret. I was just like, if I talk about this anymore, I'm gonna break. Yeah.

Because you've decided to do something that you love. You're a natural at it. You, the family is like, okay, we're behind you. And then of course, like with that comes like an expectation that you're not, you can't complain about the thing that's hard to do and you can't change your mind about the thing that's hard to do. No. And you have to keep doing the thing that you are really naturally good at and love to do because it's, it's taking care of a lot of people.

It's a lot heavy on that last part because our lives change. Changed tremendously. And once you— when you're in poverty, you don't really know too much. I mean, especially at the age in which I was. You know, when I left, I was 10. So, it didn't really hit me yet that like, this could be a problem. Now, certain things did, right? Like, I had experienced discrimination with my race. I had experienced like, "Oh, I can't get K-Swiss at Payless?" You know, I'd experienced some things, but they weren't— it wasn't so heavy yet. I still felt like, you know— And then, when you actually see it, when I actually started to see what I was missing out on, what my family was missing out on. Yeah. I felt that they deserved so much more. I felt we deserved so much more. So then it became like, how do I make sure that we get to have what I realized was like really things that all human beings should have.

But that's a, that's adult thinking and behavior. Yeah. That's adultified parentified stuff pretty early. And you've talked about, I love how you talk about it. I know you talk about it with your family. Like it feels like you've really, in, in a way that I think few people, you know, cuz you certainly don't You don't have to be an actor to have that happen to you. You can have— it can be any—

any— The parentification of the child is actually quite common. Exactly. Especially under capitalism. Ooh. It is tough, but it's the truth. And I think that's been such a big part of my healing and my family's healing because it all cost us something. People judged my parents so badly. They really, really judged them. And that was a hurt that I didn't know because I was also also feeling what I was feeling in my position. And so, them owning what— us talking about it and owning what that experience did to all of us, to be so perceived, to be so judged for what some things were out of our control. Like, I mean, how can you be— how can you reject the reality that my parents weren't gonna get the same opportunities that I was getting?

I think also, they had a daughter like you, and you are a very, very special person. I mean, I don't believe anybody's above and anybody's below, but you have a gift.

And I think I realized just how much courage it took my parents to really let me go and really, like, let me be me because, yeah, it was a lot.

Little Akilah in the B, Kiki. I mean, it must be wild to have your inner child in a movie.

It's so crazy.

You know, it is like you can go, you're like, "I'm gonna go check out my inner child," and you turn it on. I mean, that performance, you in it, and that moment is so tender. It's so precious and so special. It hits me more now. Do you want—

Has Leo seen that? He hasn't seen it yet. Leo does, has shown— that he doesn't think I'm that dope. He has. It has started to appear that I'm not really cool to him. I remember I was playing some— I was playing some Drake, you know? And I was like, "Ay, ay, ay." I was like, "Ay, G. Ay, G." "Mommy, no." "Stop it. Stop it. No. You need to stop being silly." You're like, "Excuse me?" Everybody loves when I get silly.

Silly pays the bills, honey.

Everybody loves when I get silly. He loves when I do the silly thing. You hate it somehow. Oh, yeah. He's like, "Cut that shit out." It's crazy how brutal they can be. It's— I mean— His space for my silliness is this much. He'll gag with me for a minute, and then he's like, "Stop." He's like, "Please cut the clown shit." It's crazy. It's so true.

But that's healthy. That's healthy. That is so good. Oh my gosh.

'Cause they really set you straight.

And also you do not want your kid to be like, you do not want your kid taking care, like taking care of your ego and feelings. You just don't, you don't want them to be like, oh, I gotta make sure that mom feels funny today. Oh my gosh. That's dangerous. Oh, like if your kids, oof. My, my, my, my son the other day was like doing back to me all my fake laughs. And I was like, I feel so seen. He was like, mom, you know, you didn't think it was that funny. And I'm like, what do you mean? He's like, well, 'cause you were like, ha.

And I was like, I was like, "What?" And he was like, "You know when you go, 'Huh?'" And I was like—

And I go, "Stop paying attention to me." I know. It's so incredible. They're really— They're always watching. Okay. Can I talk to you about a couple of people that you worked with? 'Cause there are some people that you work with that I love. And I know you've worked with some very, very special people, and they've meant a lot to you. And you have worked with so many wonderful women. And I do wanna ask and specifically focus on the women that you've worked with. Angela Bassett. Okay, talk about Angela Bassett.

Angela Bassett, hands down, incredible. Working with her on Akeelah and the Bee was the best gift that I could have coming into this industry. And she taught me something that I didn't really understand well enough till later. But she taught me a skill of how to get to the emotion without damaging yourself. Ooh! Because I think for many years, 'cause I didn't have a lot of experiences as a kid, it was hard for me to attach what the character was going through to something that had happened to me. To me without damaging myself, without being like, "My grandma died." And so, when I was on set with her, I had a scene where Dr. Larry leaves me, you know, doesn't help me anymore. And she— I can't cry. I can't get to the emotion. And she's like, "Who helps you with everything?" I'm like, "Oh, you know, my mom." You know, she's like, "Who takes you to— who helps you with your lines? Who takes you to the auditions?" I'm like, "My mom." She was like, "Well, what if your mom said, 'I'm not helping you anymore. You can't do the thing that you love'?" "Love." And I immediately started crying.

And that was like something that I now understand. I do it all the time. But for many years from that moment in between, I struggled with doing the wrong thing, which could be really hurtful to you as an actor, 'cause your emotions don't know that you're kidding. That's right.

Sometimes what helps me cry is I'm like, "I'm doing such a bad job in the scene, I can't cry." I'm not kidding.

Queen Latifah. Okay, Dame.

Dana Owens.

Dana is so remarkable. She's really something. She taught me what it means to be a CEO, to be a businesswoman in the game.

Dana, if you're listening, please come on. Oh, yo. Have you had her on your pod?

She's never— Yeah, she doesn't do— I ain't seen her.

She doesn't do pods. Come do me and Keke's pods. We'll do it together. That would be sickening. Yeah. She's something else.

Because she doesn't really talk too much. So if you hear her, you'll be like, "Whoa!" Well, she's a queen.

She doesn't have to. And boy does she—

She also taught me how to walk. I still haven't got her walk together, but when I tell you that queen Queen is titties up, ass back.

Incredible. I know.

I love the way she walks. I know. It's such a hot walk. Yeah. That back is straight. Yeah.

The chest is high. Regal, smart, funny. Love Queen. Great sense of humor about herself, which like doesn't take herself too seriously. Of course. Like you learn so much about somebody when they come and host SNL. Like immediately, you learn immediately. Yeah. 'Cause they're nervous. You learn what people get, what are like when they're nervous. When they're nervous or stressed. She was so fun and funny. And I've told this story before, there was a moment where me and her and Maya had to sing these, like, jingles. And it was very SNL, like, live show. They're counting down, like, 10, 9, 8. And then the stage manager's like, there's no music. 5, 4. And we're like, what? 3. And she's like, just sing without music. 2, 1. And we're like, la la la la la la. And after, she was like, she I just, like, had such a good time with that— The chaos. The chaos. What did you learn from her?

Yeah. Learning about pressure. That people are watching, even when you don't think they're watching. Because I remember when I'd worked with her, I started working with her a couple of different times. And I was like, you know, one of the last times, the director was like, "You know, it was hard to figure out who we wanted to give the role to, and we spoke to Queen, and we asked who she thought was the best person for the job, and she said you." And so, I was thanking her for, like, you know, "Thank you for believing in me." And she said, "Well, Keke, I've actually been— You know, it's not just me believing you. I've actually been seeing, watching you." And I'm like, "Dang, you was watching?" And she was like, "You are professional. You show up to everything that you do. And so keep— 'Cause you don't know—" I just remember thinking in that moment, like, "Wow." Like, my work ethic precedes me. You know, the way that I continue to move into the game, it's gonna count for something at some point.

Also, it's not what you say, it's what you do.

You know what I'm saying?

Like, even though we like to talk, you like to talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, like— My, I, acts of service for me is a love language. Like the way people, what people do. You can say whatever you want, but like, what did you actually do? Yeah. And it sounds like she was like, she did things. She made things happen for you continuously over time. Yeah. Yeah. That's amazing. Do you like to cry?

Are you a good crier in real life? Yeah, I think so.

I think I'm that, are you an easy crier?

I think I'm that person that's like, I was like, time to cry.

But do you cry by yourself or—

I cry actually alone quite a lot.

I love crying alone.

Some people could say I have a depression issue. No, I love crying alone. But I love to cry alone. Me too. And I save space and hold space for it where I'll just pick up—

Me too. Sometimes I'm like, ooh, I'm gonna cry tonight. But it is, it's like, I'm gonna get a TV show. I'm gonna get under my, I'm gonna get on my BioMat. I'm gonna get in my—

I'm gonna cry. I'm going to cry like my life depends on it.

I will literally cry, cry, cry.

I cry, and it's so— because it's actually like a release. It's a release of the sadness that you need brought out that you buried. Maybe it was from yesterday, maybe it was from 10 years ago, but you caught it in the ether of your mind. You're like, "I never cried about that." I think I also have a lot of anger. A lot of anger because, you know, it's such a thing as a Black woman where it's like, "Ugh, can't be angry." But this season, And then it's like, it goes to the point where it's like, "Bitch, you should be angry for that." You know what I mean? And so I feel like I'm dealing now with the realities of holding space for the fact that I'm allowed to be angry without wearing the weight of the perception around being an angry Black woman. You know? So I think I have a lot of work to do there, where I allow myself the space to be pissed off. So the idea of just like, "Aah!" I started getting into rock music a little bit more.

Fuck yeah.

Oh God, a couple rock songs that I wrote. Whoa! Oh my gosh. And I'm like, "Nyah!" Because I'm letting that rage out. You know what I mean? I need to be like, yeah, because it's like I'm actually angry. Yeah. You know, I didn't let it out, you know? Fuck yeah.

No shit. It's crazy. God, I love that for you, Keke. I love that. I love that anger. I love that era for you. I do like that very much. Yes. And it's—

Demi Colisse. I hate you so much right now. Aha! It's important.

Wait, what are some good angry songs? That is a good one.

Oh my gosh, I love that. I also love Fifi Dobson. I grew up loving Fifi Dobson. She's like OG classic, you know, that's my girl. Other songs that are like really good for screaming.

Really good for screaming songs, I mean.

I mean, you can go that G4L, like Rihanna back in that one, that one right after Good Girl Gone Bad. She was pissed.

Yeah, and Bitch Better Have My Money is not screamy, but it's angry. You know what I'm saying?

Yeah. Also, what? What? Now? I just can't figure it out. You remember that one? I love that album because that album was like— the second album was like— it was like Good Girl Gone Bad. And then the second album was like, yo, I'm in a dark place, angry. It was really— I mean, those albums were just so curated in a way that told us the story of a woman becoming.

I felt that way with Mary J. Blige.

Mary is that too.

Mary had like a way of expressing That like, mature anger. Oh my gosh. Mary. Mary.

And then I'm just fine, fine, fine, fine, fine. Like she showed us.

Yeah, she showed us the whole arc. I know.

Let's get it crunk up on up.

Mary, I also am obsessed. I'm obsessed with Mary.

And now she's on stage like, can't wait to get off. Also, did you ever hear? I love her down.

Success, you know, is the minute you're on, you're waiting. True Capricorn energy. Oh, she's— you're so right. We need her to marry. Please, if you and— oh my gosh, Mary and Queen are listening to this together, please come on. Please, please. Um, okay, JLo. Oh, love JLo. Okay, I feel like you guys have a work—

get me up off her, my girl.

Okay, what did you love about working with her?

Well, first of all, I love that she's a real boss bitch and she don't She's very like, "Come on." But she's, again, watching. And she has respect for people that are showing up and giving 100%. And so we kind of bonded because she saw me, like, on my grind. I wasn't, like, trying to be too, like, "I mean, I'm on Van." But I was like, "I have so much respect for you." And then boom, I'm going to what I gotta do, and I'm focusing on my thing. And she was kind of like, "Well, how can I help you with that?" Like, she really liked that I was in my own bag. Bag. And we became really close after that. And I've gone through things in my life where it's like randomly, she'll be like, "Call me if you need me." I'll call her and she'll give me some real deal. And it's like— it's just like she's a real girl's girl. You know what I mean? She's a real mentor. And she's like, "I want you to win." You know what I mean? "I want you to win." And also, it's— "I want you to win" in this way where it's also like, "You're already winning." Which is a really cool way to empower somebody.

You know what I mean? Where it's like, It's like Whoopi Goldberg is like that. Whoopi Goldberg is very, very like— Whoopi Goldberg is like, "I'm in chapter 100. You are currently at chapter 30, and I see it." She's very like a sage.

I don't think that ever— at least for me, that's never ended, which is the women that are ahead of me, like, I'm just watching them. Like, how are you doing it? How are you operating? What can I learn from you? Like, and then the women younger than me constantly and, like, thankfully, keep challenging the things that I'm very certain about. Like every time I get certain, I'm like, right, right, right. There's a young person being like, just before you like carve that in stone, you wanna give that another thought? And I'm like, fuck, you're so right. Like, that's, that's like, it feels like that's the—

I really love that because Queen actually said something. Dana said something like that to me before that made me feel so good because people give you so much, you wanna be able to give them something. And she had said— has said something around those, those lines where it's like, you know, it becomes recursive because there is something that you can hopefully show because of the groundwork that they laid. Well, hey, when you ground— when you laid that groundwork, I decided to go left and I found something new. So maybe we can go left together too. Yeah. And that's very cool.

Yeah, very cool. I gotta— I gotta say one guy. I gotta put one guy in this. It was Jordan Peele. Oh my gosh, Jordan.

I mean, I really wish that we worked together again.

Your relationship and that film, Nope, you were so incredible in that movie. Beautiful. Like, such charismatic, interesting work. He is so talented, of course. To be directed by him, what's that like? How does it— How do you like how he works? How do you like his system?

He was the first director the director that made me realize— and this is no shade to any other director, but made me realize that my opinion was a part of being an actor. That not just taking the orders of, or just doing exactly what— You know, and every director's different. I'm open to that. I really think that's also why I've been working in the industry as I have, because I'm very moldable. I'm very malleable, I guess I'll say. It's the mutable qualities of Virgo. Where I can go where you go. Once I've signed on, and if I respect you, that's why— I mean, I've only signed on if I respect you. I respect you. And so, I'm open to where you wanna take me. But his— my experience with him was, "I respect you. Where do you think I should take this?" And that was like a really enriching and empowering experience that now I actually take to my projects, even where the director's not as open. I say, well, I hold their feet to the fire on, "Well, on day one, you told me the character's this way." So, I can go where you want me to go.

But I want you to know that this is contradictory. And so what does that mean to her at this point in time? What does that actually— You know, so having that experience with him really empowered that side of me that felt like I could be open and vocal about how to keep consistencies in a character, what felt most true to the role. And then it was fun.

Because you didn't come from an ensemble. Like, you never had that ensemble feeling, like, of collaborating in that way. Like—

It's such a good point what did you say, because that's probably That's Jordan.

Yeah. Sketch, improv, like, that idea that, like, we're all gonna try to figure that out together, and it's just a little less lonely. Like, it can really— at least for me anyway, it was like, acting is hard and lonely, and can be, you know, because everybody has their own special thing. Okay. Now, as the therapist would say, I'm aware of the time. But I just— there's a few other things I want to talk about. I want to talk to you about the burbs. Oh my gosh. Hold on, Jenna. Let me look at what is the burbs. Okay. How'd you go to the bathroom?

Can I give you that second?

This is the first time this has ever happened where I talked to the guest for so long that they have to go to the bathroom. Okay, Keke Palmer is back. How was the bathroom?

Oh my gosh. Amazing. That was amazing. Okay, great. It's good to be hydrated, but sheesh.

Yeah, okay. So you're in Spaceballs, which is hilarious, coming out. You're in I Love Boosters, huge film, incredible cast.

Shoutouts to Boots Riley. I love him so much.

And like, that movie just looks so fun and original. Congrats on that. And then The Burbs, another season of that, which is starting to shoot in the fall. And so, we have a question for you from Ms. Paula Pell. So, we spoke to Paula. Yeah, let's talk about Paula.

She's one of the most incredible humans ever. She really, really is. First of all, she's really talented, Talented, skillful writer, very, very funny. But she's the kind of person where you can know you can call her up and drive down to the mountains and just be on the couch and have fun with her and her wife and just have the best weekend. Like, she's just really— She reminds me of home, but she's also a Midwestern gal.

That's right. You guys are Midwestern gals. So, she spoke so highly of you and so lovingly of you, and we talked well behind your back. And she— And she is on The Burbs with you, co-stars in that show. And she had a question that I love and wanted to ask you about because it ties into the idea of rest. And she— her question was, what does it look like for Keke Palmer to rest?

You know, I've learned that for me, rest still is active. I need to be act— I think that's why I like Pilates more than yoga. Yes. Does that make sense? I can't—

Yoga is so slow. I wanna die.

It's to, you know what I mean? There has to be some activity in rest. Yes. Yes. So rest looks It looks like, for me, a day with my son in the yard playing. It looks like getting my nails done or my hair done or both.

It looks like— Your nails look incredible. Thank you.

I got 'em done. For me, rest is like a recharge. Mm-hmm. And then, another thing that I've been doing that's kind of more typical, on the nose, but I've realized that it's really good for me is I've been taking naps. Really? I started taking naps. Naps. Fantastic. In the car, you know, in the bathroom just now. That's what I just did. I've literally been, cuz you know, sometimes you'll be going in between these jobs. It'll be 30 minutes. Oh yeah. Could even be a 45-minute ride in LA depending on where you're going. Mm-hmm. I started napping.

There's a really cool woman I want you to check out. Uh, you should maybe have on your show, uh, Dr. Sandra, um, Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith, and she did a TED Talk about rest and also spec— like she talks a lot about Black women and, and the need.

She's Black.

Yes. And the need for that specifically, to your point, a very specific kind of rest.

Genetically, it's like rest is not an option. Rest also, it is like you could have died trying to rest. That's right. You know what I mean?

That's right.

And so, you know, and I feel like any of the— when you think about Black lineage, if your family is here today, y'all definitely didn't rest.

That's right. That's why you're here. That's right.

So it's like, it's a lot of undoing with that.

She talks about spiritual rest and creative rest and all this stuff. And it's cool. And I just like— to hear. Like, I, I, I thank you for saying that, cuz I also feel like my rest, um, needs to be a little active, and I don't always, um, know where to put it. And, you know, like, puttering is a big one for me. Just like— what's puttering? Well, I call it puttering, but it's just like walking around the house, like— and it's not housekeeping, which is different, right? Like, it's not cleaning. It's just kind of like, like, organ— it's a little bit of organizing, like organizing a pile, or just like with no goal, just like going from room to room and just kind of I'm thinking about, like, maybe taking a note. Like, "I gotta remember to—" I actually love puttering too. Puttering. "I gotta remember to change— I wanna change the COVID on that chair. I should do that." No expectation to do it. Just, like, observing in slow motion, you know, and just touching things. That's the mundane. That's the mundane. That's right.

It's the mundane. There's so— that moment in between the scene. Walking down the hallway. Walking down the puzzles.

You know, okay, I'm here to tell you, I'm here to tell you. I know.

What do you think?

It's good.

I think that's gonna be the next thing for you, because here's why the Virgo in you is gonna love a puzzle. 'Cause I'm not particularly good at them, by the way. It's not like I— I can't, like, I don't really, like, have a great puzzle brain. You take the puzzle, you sort the pieces, which feels really nice. You sort them, you walk away. Like, puzzles take forever. There's no, like, deadline for a puzzle. You get a nice puzzle board or table. You're like, "This is where I do my puzzle." Then you come back, you have your coffee, and you're like, you know, you're like, this is never, you know, it's gonna take me forever to do this puzzle. And then you find one piece and you put it in, you're like, fucking hot dog. You get an instant, an instant boost. You did one thing and then you go, maybe I'll try to get one more. And you're like, nope, I gotta go to work. The puzzle is this like long meditation. I, I like puzzles for you.

You know, when I was a little girl at my grandma's house, we would do puzzles. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So there's something that was in there that they could've unlocked. Okay.

Final, final minutes. Speed round. Ooh. Anything you have about any of this, shout it out. Favorite old sitcom?

Oh, well, this was the one that came into mind immediately, so I'm gonna say this one. Family Matters. Yes. But, but I—

there's many more, but that's just what came to me. Comfort. Comfort watch. Okay. Manicures. You love them. Yeah. How, like, what, how long do your manicures take? How long does yours take? And what do you like?

Hopefully no more than an hour and 30 minutes. Okay, great. I like to keep it pretty simple. A color with maybe like a glaze or a chrome or— You know what I mean? Right now I've got the French chip with a little glaze. Like, I try to keep it like where it goes with everything. I don't wanna— I'm not the girl that's like, "I was there for 3 hours." Like, no, no, no. Okay. Stand-up comedy.

Would you ever do it? Yes.

You do it every day? No, but I would totally love to do— I need to find a writing partner. I would love to do a stand-up show.

You've got an hour already of material. You go on The Hollywood Reporter, you do that thing, you talk about two girls and one guy. And Quinta goes, "Kiki." And I'm like, "That is it.

You're so fucking natural and funny." I really wanna do one one day.

Okay. All right. We're gonna do that. You're gonna do that. If you wanna do it, you're gonna do it. Album you're listening to right now.

Oh, album I'm listening to right now.

Who are you listening to right now?

You know, I'm not, I haven't totally digested the Drake album. I've listened to a few songs.

Lot of songs.

I haven't completely digested Don Toliver's last project, but I like listening to him a lot.

You know, I'll be honest with you, there's not many artists that I'm like, if there's a song old or new right now, like if you were like, let's start dancing, like I want to get the party going, what would you play?

My love, do you ever think of Candy Cold and Raindrops? Everybody will be dancing.

Okay. Have you ever seen a ghost?

I think I felt one.

Can't you tell that I never want you to leave? Okay, you felt one. You felt one. Okay, great. I think I felt one. Okay, perfect. The spirit of a ghost. Do you have a go-to baby present? Money. Money.

Just money. Y'all need it. Come on. We all could use it. You know what I mean? Money is like my life.

I hand it to the baby.

And I do the old school. I put something in a card.

Yeah, like the Godfather.

Make sure you open the card before you give For it to them. the baby. Put something in the car, you know what I mean? And they're like, yeah, yeah, love. Oh my God.

Um, okay. And then lastly, what's making you laugh these days? Like, what do you— a video, a show, um, a— like, is it a friend? Are you reading something? When you're like— when you're— when you need a laugh, what do you watch, read, do? Where do you go? What do you—

where do you get it? Honestly, with my friends. Like, we— I'm always having something to talk about. There's something going on, there's something. So I'm a A real, like, one of my good friends, Ian, we be laughing on the phone like nobody's business.

Now, see, you like to talk on the phone with Ian.

Yeah, he's good though. OK. And honestly, it'll be like a 10-minute, you know, it's like— Oh, that's perfect. You know, it's not hours because we just be like, oh my gosh, I got to go. And I'm like, I got to go, Ian.

You know, I can't be on the phone too long.

Boom. And it's like done. But we are like, nene nene nene.

How did you guys meet?

We met through my other really good friend, Courtney. And so Courtney introduced me to Ian. Ian is just so funny.

He is like— Shout out to Ian.

He line dances. Like, he line dances at the party. He gets us all together.

Fun. He's a party pumper.

He is. He's so much fun. So we be cackling, feet kicked back. My sisters also make me laugh. Like, I'm so community. Like, my people, like, we be laughing, cutting up, you know?

Yeah. Kiki, it makes perfect sense because you do that for us. Like, I cannot tell you how many years, like, you know, I have the pleasure to know you now, but just before I knew you, you. Like, you made me— you gave me such joy, and you continue to do that for me all the time. You're so yourself. You're so real. You're so funny. You're so talented. I just love you.

Like, I literally have to— I'm like so like overstimulated. I'm like hugging, holding myself because I'm like, oh, let's do the 100. You are so awesome.

I love you. Like, legit. Same, right back at I mean, you're Kiki Palmer.

You're the best.

Lauren, Kiki Palmer, the talent of all talents here today. Thanks for being here. Thanks for having me. Love having you. Yay! Oh my gosh. Thank you so much, Kiki. You are— oh God, I could have talked to you all day. You're so funny and fun to be around and positive and interesting and the real deal. Kiki Palmer, thanks for joining us. And you know, we talked about work and we talked about rest. And for this polar plunge, I just wanna— point everyone's attention to a very cool woman who speaks about rest, the 7 types of rest. We mentioned her in the podcast, and she has an interesting TED Talk and books about just that. Her name is Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith, and her 7 types of rest. And it just makes me think about how important it is to find ways to do that, whatever it may be. Like, for example, me, I don't know, going in my bedroom and sticking my feet under the mattress and putting a sweatshirt over my eyes. But let's not get specific, but you know what I mean. But I hope that this episode and Good Hang episodes are a way for you to rest.

And so rest away, and we will catch you next time. Thanks so much.

Bye!

You've been listening to Good Hang, the executive producers from For this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss-Berman, and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by The Ringer and Paperkite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spillane, Kaya McMullen, and Alea Xanaris. For Paperkite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss-Berman. Original music by Amy Miles.

I like other women, but some really good, hey.