Host Dascha Polanco sits down with some of Netflix’s rising stars to talk about the duality of being a “third-culture kid” - too Latino for their gringo friends yet not Latino enough for their family. Jason Genao (On My Block) hails from New Jersey, just outside of NYC; Karrie Martin (Gentefied) was born and raised in New Orleans. Together, they talk all about being raised Latino *and* American, their LA culture shock and what happens when they head back to the motherland.
Host Dascha Polanco sits down with some of Netflix’s rising stars to talk all about that “third-culture kid” life. Jason Genao (On My Block) hails from New Jersey, just outside of NYC; Karrie Martin (Gentefied) was born and raised in New Orleans. Together, they talk all about being raised Latino *and* American, their LA culture shock and what happens when they head back to the motherland.
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Clips from “On My Block” and “Gentefied” courtesy of Netflix.
In collaboration with @ConTodoNetflix, a social community for Latino creators and fans alike to come together and celebrate their #LatinXcellence.
“Brown Love” is produced for Netflix by Futuro Studios.
[Music]
Dascha: Welcome to Brown Love, the show where we get real about all the things Latinx communities are talking about on your timeline.Brought to you by Netflix and Con Todo.I'm your host Dascha Polanco.
[Music]
Dasha: Children and grandchildren of immigrants have a really unique perspective on what it means to be "American". This week, we're talking all about the third culture kid.Latinx up to [Spanish language] [00:00:30], American enough to code switch with ease. What's it like when you're too Latinx for gringos and too gringo for your family back in the motherland? For today's conversation, I sat down with some next generation Latinx actors who are killing on Netflix right now, Karrie Martin, who stars as Ana in Gentified, and Jason Genao, aka Ruby from On My Block. We came in hot venting about name mispronunciations before diving into how Karrie and Jason identify within the Latinx community.
[Music]
Dascha: Gentified.
Karrie: Gentified.
Dascha: Gentified. It took me a minute at the beginning. I was like Gentified.
Karrie: Yeah, yeah.
Dascha: Because, you know, that's the code switching.
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: Or even pronunciation, you have to work that.
Karrie: Exactly.
Dascha: And, Jason Genao, right?
Jason: Hm-hmm [affirmative].
Dascha: Genao. That was an issue with you growing up, right, the pronunciation of your name?
Jason: That was.
Dascha Me too.
Jason: It was such a thing. Like, even on spell check, I'd be like, "This ain't my last name.Like, I put G-E-N-O-A." I'm like, "Who is this?"
Dascha: It's okay. I ask myself every day who it is. Okay.Well, hello, Karrie. Hello, Jason.
Karrie: Hello.
Dascha: Thank you for being here today. First, I wanted to ask you how do you identify, and we'll start with you, Jason. Where are you from, and how do you identify?
Jason: I am Dominican. I'm from, born and raised in New Jersey, but I have both parents of Dominican descent. And then, I grew up there. Every year, we'd go back and live on the farm when I wasn't in school and stuff like that.
Dascha: In, to the Dominican Republic?
Jason: Hm-hmm [affirmative], yeah.
Dascha: Wow.
Jason: Yeah. So, I, like, grew up on a farm, like, yeah, a little farm boy. But—
Dascha: An el campo.
Jason: An el campo.
Dascha: Which is like the finca in—
Jason: Well, I say the campo.
Dascha: Yeah. We say the campo.
Jason: El Campeche.
Dascha: But, in parts of Latin America and Mexico because I know in the—
Karrie: Yeah. I say finca.
Dascha: Finca, because in novellas—
Karrie: They say finca.
Dascha: …they say finca.
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: And, I would be like, "Ooh, a finca. I want a finca one day."
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: I had a campo already.
Karrie: Yeah, yeah.
Dascha: You know, right? So, you were born here, but how do you identify?
Jason: I think I don't really look for an identification.It's more so whatever is going on around me. I adapt.So, if I'm with my Hispanic family, I can be completely Dominican, and then, when I'm with, like, my friends from school or whatever, I'm whatever I need to be in the moment.
Dascha: Okay.
Jason: Yeah. So, I'm like—
Dascha: So, you're like, "I'll be Latinx today, and I'll be—"
Jason: Right. I'm Hispanic today, and then, I'm American tomorrow.
Dascha: So, you go with the flow?
Jason: Hm-hmm [affirmative].
Dascha: Okay.
Jason: There was never really no necessity in needing an identification for me.
Dascha: So, Karrie, what about you? How do you identify? Where are you from?
Karrie: So, I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Dascha: Ooh, I like how you say that.
Karrie: Southern girl.
Dascha: Say it again.
Karrie: New Orleans.
Dascha: Okay. How do you say beignet?
Karrie: Beignet. Beignet, girl. I know.No, you know. It's like—
Dascha: I can never say it.
Karrie: …everything in New Orleans is very, like, Cajun-French.So, we have the weirdest names. I mean, it's crazy. That's for another time, but yeah. I was born in New Orleans, so southern girl born and raised. I lived there all my life until I moved to L.A., and I would say the same thing. I definitely though—I don't know if Jersey has more of that, like, Latino culture, but the South, at least Louisiana, as I was growing up, did not at all. So, and, my sister is also an actress, and we definitely had a culture shock when we went to L.A. because it was so immerse in that Spanish culture that, unfortunately, we are not used to, being from the South where, you know, we have all our [Spanish language] [00:04:03] around us. So, but, it's been a beautiful thing and definitely something that makes me even more proud to be on this show to really embody that more. And, I guess, like, I was just different, but nobody ever—
Dascha: So, what did your friends refer to you as growing up?
Karrie: You know, it's—I wouldn't say they're like, "Oh, that's the Spanish girl." I think I was just Karrie. You know what I mean? It never—Yeah. It was never, like, an issue, and my sister actually, one time, when she was, like, doing, like, an SAT form or something like that, she was just like, "My friend next to me was like put Caucasian. Why are you putting Hispanic?" Like, they didn't even, like, it didn't even put two and two just because, you know, she's—
Dascha: And what did you say?
Karrie: And, I was like, "Oh, my God." I was like, "I've never gotten that."I knew I could speak two languages, but it never created an issue or what not.
Dascha: Wow. Okay. Well, I want to take the time to speak about the acting, right—
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: …and our industry and your upbringing and how that affects the roles you play and so on, and I know that you play a character, Anna, in Gentified.
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: And, she grew up in a Latino community.
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: And, you didn't really.
Karrie: Hm-hmm [affirmative].
Dascha: So, can you tell me a little bit more about the hometown, your character on Gentified versus you and your hometown?
Karrie: Yes. So, it's so funny because I feel like, if I were to pick a character on Gentified that I'm like, "Oh, this is who Karrie, myself, like could be if you just look at me, you know what I mean, now," it would probably be the character that Carlos plays, which is Chris. He comes from that outside, you know, that, like, small town, Midwestern boy.You know, I wasn't from the Midwest, very different from the South, but it, you know what I mean, like, it's from, it's like I'm seeing life from the outside in. And, that's, kind of, when I booked this role, it was so incredibly eye-opening to me because, in every culture and every niche, everybody, kind of, like, bubbles into, like, what they're comfortable in. Right?
Dascha: Yeah.
Karrie: And so, it wasn't something that was brought to my attention growing up of, like, the, you know, like the dysmorphia, like the disconnect that a lot of people in our culture have, depending on whether they're from. So, playing the role of Ana really, it's like I grew with her.
Dascha: So, it, kind of, educated you in a sense.
Karrie: It educated 100 percent.
Dascha: It was like an eye-opener.
Karrie: One hundred percent.
Dascha: I can relate to that. Coming from, like, a show that it was of incarcerated women and not knowing what they've experienced in there.
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: Right? Because, it's a different perspective.
Karrie: Exactly.
Dascha: And, it's always a beautiful thing as an actor to be able to learn from the role you play. Right?It's a give and take. Right?
Karrie: I think it was the greatest gift because Ana and I are two completely different individuals in every sense of the word, both in family, in life, but, as we, like, grew together, like, I became Ana and Ana became Karrie.You know what I mean? And, I think, like, as an actor, that's what you want.You know what I mean? Like, that chance to grow.
Dascha: Yeah. You definitely want to be one with it.
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: Yes. And what about for you, Jason?
Jason: As in the whole Ruby aspect?
Dascha: Yeah, with Ruby. Like, what are the similarities? What are the contrasts you saw with your experience?
Jason: So, I think, like, just listening to what you were saying, I think the whole interesting part about the Hispanic side of Ruby is that that just is, or that just was, like, it's the same with, like, we're sitting here and, like, the cups are these cups, as opposed to, like, a glass cup.That's just the way Ruby is. It's not—Like, he's emerging himself or something's, like, directly Hispanic about him. It's just that he is. So, like, his grandma just, you know, she sews and she speaks Spanish, and he eats, like, tamales and tacos and stuff for dinner. But, Ruby, as a person, is just this kid in high school who is going through the regular things that everyone goes through.
[Clip from On my Block]
Jason: So, I think my relation to Ruby was just that I was just, you know, was more so how I was as a teenager, as opposed to how I was as a Dominican teenager or Hispanic teenager. I just, you just add the things, or you're just taking the things that Ruby is. It's just, like—
Dascha: Exactly.
Jason: …I'm just going to sit here and, like, you know, you play with something in a scene to make the scene more, you know—
Dascha: Relatable.
Jason: Yeah. Or, make it more interesting—
Dascha: And be more present. Yes.
Jason: …or present or, like, all these—
Dascha: Exactly.
Jason: …little techniques. So, it's like, instead of me playing with the pen, here I am, like, playing with, like, a [Spanish language] [00:09:02] or something like that, and that is how you get the essence that Ruby is Hispanic. It's not someone telling you or—
Dascha: Or, like, saying, "I'm Hispanic. I'm Ruby on the show."
Jason: Yeah.
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: You know, which is where we would love to see the idea of whether you're raised here in America or whether you're raised in the South, whether you have the group where you surround yourself with, we adapt.
Jason: Yeah.
Karrie: We adapt.
Dascha: And, we also, we fuse. Right? And, we take in, and we give out. And, that's the beauty of this. Right?That's the true melting pot when we're able to do that. Karrie, tell me a little bit about your character Ana on Gentified.
Karrie: Okay.
Dascha: Now, to my understanding, she is queer.
Karrie: She is.
Dascha: You're not.
Karrie: I'm not.
Dascha: And, that's another thing we have to work on, fitting in in our communities and within the Latinx community. So, tell me a little bit about that and the difference.
Karrie: You know, just first off, I think Ana is unapologetically herself, and I found that so incredibly breathtaking, like, as an actor, just to be able to play just this, like, strong female role without any question.Like, I don't have to answer to anything in that, you know, in that sense.
Dascha: Exactly.
Karrie: I don't have to give you an excuse for why I'm this or why I'm not this. So, I felt like that was the first big thing of I love this character. I want to be her. You know? She's a queer artist.
[Clip from Gentified].
Karrie: She—I think her biggest thing, I find that her mom wants to pretend that she doesn’t know, but she knows. You know? It's one of those—Like—
Dascha: Which it's something that they always know.
Jason: They always know.
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: And, it is something you just don't speak about.
Karrie: It's like in my own home. You know what I mean? It's just, like, you know, when we were growing up, my sisters are like, "They don't know I have a boyfriend." I was like, "They know you have a boyfriend, girl. Like, you know, they just don't want to really know."
Dascha: Oh, we thought they didn't know. I always thought that, and I was like, "Oh, damn. I didn't know my mom was a witch."
Karrie: I know.
Dascha: How does she know?
Karrie: Exactly. And, that's how I feel like Ana's mom is. She's, like, it's kind of like she doesn't want to talk about it, but she knows.You know, she always calls her [Spanish language] [00:11:22]. You know what I mean? I'm like, "Yeah. You know, Mom, who this is and who she is to me." But, you know, she's just unapologetically herself, and I find that so beautiful.
[Clip from Gentified]
Karrie: I feel like, in that sense, in regards to just being who she is without, I don't want to say without regard, but without, you know, having to always question is definitely something that my parents allowed me, in that sense, because I think that Ana and her mom have such, like, a combative relationship. But, it has nothing to do with her being queer. It has to do with her being an artist and her using her creativity in a way that her mom—
Dascha: And have we not all had that from our family extended or immediate where it's, like, nonexistent?
Karrie: They start to question, like, are you really going to make a living from this? How are you going to make money, girl?
Dascha: Of course.
Karrie: Yeah. So, in that sense, I was like, "Oh, no. Like, I can't." I don't know how to really—You know, my parents were so incredibly supportive.Like, I went to college. You know what I mean? And then, I'm like, "Dad, I think I want to move to L.A. and be an actor." And, he's like, "Okay." You know, like, very, like, supportive. I think, like, it was, like, baby steps. Like, you know—
Jason: Yeah, same.
Karrie: …like walking through a little mud for a little while.
Dascha: Well, how was that experience with you, Jason?
Jason: My parents were just, like—Like, I love them to death, but they were just, like, if you look up the definitely of, like, a mom and a dad, that's all they were. It wasn't like I'd sit down and talk to my mom, like, "Oh, this is—" It's like, "You have a doctor's appointment, this, that, and the third. I'll take you here, that, there, and then, yeah. [Spanish language] [00:13:26] Like, it was just that. So, I'd be like, "I want to do this." They'd be like, "Okay. Bye." Like, it was no, there was no relationship because my dad worked from, like, 5:00 in the morning until, like, 10:00 at night. So, he'd come home and then, like, stay up until 11:00, like, eat, and then, we'd talk a little something. I'd be like, "Pa, I want to do this. Can I have money to—" Like, that was the extent of our relationship, or, like, I'd go visit him.
Dascha: So, you mean, like, there was, there was never like a real, like, you guys really didn't communicate about what you wanted to do.It was kind of, like, whatever you said, you got because—
Jason: It's whatever—Yeah. It's whatever they saw. Like, for a long time, I wanted to be a chef, and they knew that because I cooked so much.
Dascha: Really?
Jason: Yeah.
Dascha: You like to cook?
Jason: I can cook.
Dascha: Okay.
Karrie: Every guy I know can cook.
Dascha: Can you cook?
Karrie: And, I'm, like, not that great.
Dascha: Me either. You can't cook.
Karrie: Like, I, kind of, pretend from recipes, y'all, but, like—
Jason: Recipes? You're Spanish.
Dascha: Y'all, I love that. Y'all.
Karrie: I know.
Jason: You just take it and—
Karrie: I know.
Jason: …throw it in the pot.
Dascha: Everything.
Jason: And, it comes out good.
Karrie: You know, it's like a control with me. I'm like, "Okay." You know what I mean? It's almost like that fear of, like, just trying it.
Dascha: Well, she grew up—Well, you grew up around the white friends, right?
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: And, I think that the food is different in New Orleans.
Karrie: It's very—First of all—
Jason: It's the best food I ever had.
Karrie: …the New Orleans food is very different from everybody else.
Jason: It was—
Dascha: Oh, yeah. It's so good.
Jason: That was, like, my favorite city I ever—
Karrie: It's so good.
Jason: …went to, and I wasn't even 21 yet.
Karrie: And, you don't have to be.
Jason: Exactly.
Dascha: What?
Karrie: Nobody in New Orleans heard that. You don't have to be. You don't have to be 21. You can just walk in a bar, and you're fine.
Jason: I just had so much fun.
Dascha: Well, the food is good.
Karrie: It's so good.
Jason: The food is so good.
Dascha: I mean, and, that's a good thing. Like, we all have, like, different upbringings, but we're able to, like, either—Whether you had the communication with your parents, whether you had supportive parents, we're able to do this, but we're able to say that—
Jason: Yeah.
Dascha: …our parents supported us.
Jason: No, but my parents are a thousand percent supportive.
Dascha: You know that we can't talk bad about our parents.
Jason: No. They understand.
Dascha: They're looking at me like—
Jason: Like, my dad is the one who gave me the money. I was like, "Pa, I really want to go to acting school. Like, it costs this much money. Please, please, please." And, I think all he heard, as, like, an immigrant parent, was school, and he's like, "I want my kids to go to school, so yeah." So, he's like [Spanish language] [00:15:25], right? And, I was like, "Yeah." And so, he gave it to me, and it, kind of, worked out. But, if it wouldn't have, I mean, he would have been chilling. I'd probably be a chef somewhere.
Dascha: You could still do it. You could still be a chef.
Jason: I mean, I still do. I still cook.
Dascha: Exactly. Oh, you could fuse just like—
Jason: I had to go save Thanksgiving.
Dascha: Just like that. Just like that, we could fuse what we like to do and what we love to do—
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: …where we're from, and then, magic happens. Right? I want to ask you a little about growing up Latinx. What were your favorite or your non-favorite things about your experiences? And, we'll start with you, Jason.
Jason: My favorite thing? There was, there is nothing about being Hispanic that I disliked, like nothing.But then, I also, like, don't understand really any other type of ethnicity, I guess. So, just what I know, it's not that I don't understand it.
Dascha: Like in what sense?
Jason: I think that, in the sense—Well, I grew up in Jersey City, which was, like, voted as, like, the most diverse city in America. Like, so, I grew up with, like, every other person was something else, but then, we were all just the same. So, I'm like, so, the only thing that's going to differentiate me and you is, what, like, the food or, like, what you do. I'm like, I like my food, and I like what we're doing here.I mean, the only thing that really got me upset is, like, where there's a baby shower or, like, dinner or something.It's the same damn menu. You go and see, like, what they need and all the papas, like the same bull shit. So, I'm like—But, there was nothing about being Latino that I was like, "I don't want to do this anymore." Like, there was nothing about it. Nothing, except, like—
Dascha: Like, I just don't want to be Spanish. I don't want to be Hispanic. I just want to be me.
Jason: That never crossed my mind. I'm like, "Why would I—" Like, if I'm going to be crazy honest, it was like walking around with, like, church CDs. Like, [Spanish language] [00:17:00]. I was like, dude, relax. I know my white friends ain't acting like this. But, that's—
Dascha: CD.
Jason: She'd have it in the car, and we'd be playing, like, some, like, something, and she's be like, "Oh, my God. Listen to this song. [Spanish language] [00:17:14]." And, like, you'd switch from Beyoncé to, like, some gospel thing. So, like, aye, aye. I'm like, "I'm not about to do some car ride with some preacher preaching for two hours. Take that shit out."
Dascha: What about for you, Karrie?
Karrie: I would say same. I was very proud, and I think that has a lot to do with my dad, how just what he instilled in our house. You know, he always had this saying. He was like, "You're not black. You're not white. You're just right." And, it just stuck with us forever.
Dascha: You're not black. You're not white. You're just right.
Karrie: You're just right. And, I just, I remember anytime, like, if we were picked on for some reason, I never thought of it as, "Oh, it's because I'm Spanish." I was just like, "Oh, it's because they're jealous of something." You know, like, or, "It's their insecurity, not mine."
Dascha: Because I was like, "Damn. It's my fat ass."
Karrie: No.
Jason: I was like damn.
Karrie: I really have to, like, give my dad a pat on the back on that because he just instilled a very, like, a strength in us that—
Dascha: Your parents grew up in New Orleans as well?
Karrie: Okay. So, my mom—So, my parents are Honduran.
Dascha: Okay.
Karrie: My mom's father was a cook on American Navy ships.So, he brought his family from Honduras to New Orleans. His two favorite ports were New Orleans and New York, so I could have been a New Yorker for a second. And, I love New York, like love it.
Dascha: Good for you. We love you too, girl.
Jason: Dominicans don't know nothing but New York.
Karrie: Yeah.
Jason: We all landed there.
Karrie: I know, right? So, yeah. So, he brought us to New Orleans because of the climate, the vibe. He was like, "It feels like home." Well, because we live basically on the water. So, my mom was like, I think, 15, 16 when she moved.My parents were, like, pen pals, like love notes back and forth for years.
Dascha: That's a beautiful thing.
Karrie: Yeah. And, they, that's, kind of, like, their whole thing, but yeah. I would give my parents that, like, high five of they just, kind of, instilled a strength to not feel different ever.
Dascha: Would you agree or disagree that the third culture idea of being the product of immigrants coming here and then the result of a fusion being what you represent, what—Is it something that you feel like, "Oh, I'm what a third culture is, where we really are proud of what we are. We embrace our roots?"
Karrie: I think I would agree.
Dascha: You would agree?
Karrie: Yeah.
Jason: I think I'm, kind of, like, the—You're kind of the ideal of, like, I'm going to go over here so that this can happen.
Dascha: Like the product of?
Jason: We, like, kind of are. Like—
Karrie: Yeah.
Jason: …we are going to come here so our kids can do better, but then, like, your parents' kids turned out to, like, have Dascha, who, like, became, you know, a superstar in Orange is the New Black, or like blah, blah, blah.
Dascha: Nice plug, nice plug. Nice way to show a little respect.
Jason: Or Jason on On My Block.
Karrie: Or Ana on Gentified.
Dascha: But this is my thing, right? Not to interrupt you really quickly. When you think about that, we come here and we are, kind of, like, the product of.
Jason: Yeah.
Dascha: Right? I mean, I know we've gone through times where it's like, "Oh, we come here, and it's like oh." And, you face those moments.
Jason: I think, not only I face those moments, but, like, you just, like, everybody has a different, you know, story or whatever.So, it's like you sitting next to your cousin, who, like, didn't, you know exactly become the idealization of, like, I want to do this so that you can, you know, better your life. I have some cousins who are, like—So, like, my dad got them a job. So, it's like, I mean, you kind of didn't live up to what they—Not live up to—
Karrie: Those expectations of something.
Jason: Yeah, but you, kind of, didn't push to become the third generation of, like, you take what we give you, but what America gives you and you, like, combine it.
Karrie: And be better.
Dascha: Yeah. They, like, settle. They become complacent.
Karrie: Yes.
Jason: Yeah.
Dascha: Because, it's instilled in us not to, like, look beyond what's secure, what's safe. Right?But, when you go back home, do you ever go to Honduras?
Karrie: So, I've been a few times. I had, like, a passport at, like, three months. The last time I went was, like, 12 years ago.
Dascha: And what about you, Jason? Do you go often to the Dominican Republic?
Jason: Yeah, but it's been a minute. I think it's been two years since I went.
Dascha: So, when you go back home, is there, like, resistance from home, like, from your family there, the people there? Are you considered [Spanish language] [00:21:41]? Are you considered Dominican, Jason?
Karrie: I don't think they consider me [Spanish language] [00:21:46] because I have cousins. Like, my, he's, like, one of my best friends. He's Honduran, but came here at, like, eight years old. And, I'm like, "[Spanish language] [00:21:56]." You know what I mean? Like, because, like, he's so—
Dascha: You do it to him?
Karrie: Yes. And, he's like—He lives in Florida, and you know Florida has, like, that very Hispanic culture.
Dascha: Yeah.
Karrie: And then, he's like, "You white, girl." Because, I'm, like, born in the South. You know? I'm like—Every friend I have is white, you know, but, our family, we still have family. We have a lot of family in Honduras, and I think, for them, it's just, like, it's always just a support system. But, I think, like, he and I have more of that little, like, banter towards each other.
Dascha: But, there's always love.
Karrie: But, exactly, 100 percent.
Dascha: What about for you, Jason, going back to the Dominican Republic?
Jason: My family is so violently Dominican. Like, I cannot go over there and not—
Dascha: They wait for you with a chocolate?
Jason: Yeah. I cannot go over there and not be Dominican. It's like the American leaves, except, like, if I'm with my cousins, then we're talking English. But, like, everybody else don't even know English over there. So, I'm just like—
Dascha: [Spanish language] [00:22:45]
Jason: I mean, I miss it. Like, I'll be talking a little bit different than them, and they'll be like, "[Spanish language] [00:22:52]." I'm like, "First of all, none of us Dominicans know Spanish. So, chill out." But, yeah, essentially, it's all support. It's all like—
Dascha: It's all support.
Jason: I don't even think—It's so crazy, these questions you're asking me, because none of that ever crosses my head. It's like, "Are you not as Dominican as your counterpart?"
Dascha: Damn. I'm sorry.I'm sorry.
Jason: No.
Dascha: Am I creating a new—
[Cross talk]
Jason: No, but these are questions. And, the only reasons they're questions is because someone is getting asked it.
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: Or experiencing it.
Jason: Or experiencing it, and I'm not. So, it's just, it's very interesting, like, the two very different dynamics.
Dascha: Yes, yes.
Karrie: And, I think it's interesting that we can relate in some way because I think I had more of a culture shock in my life coming to L.A. where everything was Spanish.
Jason: Really?
Dascha: You think so?
Karrie: Y'all, I did. I did, but it was—
Dascha: Because, for us, there's only one Spanish. You know what I mean? Like, for us, you know, when you come to L.A., it's only one Spanish.
Karrie: Yes.
Jason: Hm-hmm [affirmative].
Dascha; So, it's like you don't really see the diversity from Latin America for us.
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: You know what I mean?
Karrie: Right.
Dascha: When we come from the East Coast in New York where there's a huge diversity.
Karrie: Hm-hmm [affirmative], yes.
Dascha: You could get Argentina. You could get Peru. You could get Chile. You could get Uruguago, Paraguago, Boliviano, you know, Guyana.
Karrie: And, that's so beautiful.
Dascha: You can get Brazil, everything.
Karrie: That's so beautiful.
Jason: Everything. When I came out here, I was like—Like, I remember Googling. I was, like, feeling homesick. I was like, "I want Dominican food." So, I Googled it, and it said one place—
Dascha: Yep.
Jason: …27 miles away.
Dascha: And, I bet you I know where it is. I bet you I know where it is.
Jason: It was closed. I was like, "Diablo."
[Music]
Dascha: It's time for some brown love.
[Music]
Dascha: Our next segment is about brown love.
Karrie: Oh.
Dascha: And, we're going to talk a little bit about that. And, Karrie, you might recognize brown love from your show Gentified—
Karrie: Hm-hmm [affirmative].
Dascha: …which is a podcast that one of the characters listens to, and it's two Chicanas from the L.A. area talking about life and love in the Latinx community. So, we thought we'd ask a little bit about your love lives. Are you guys down?
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: I mean, it's just a little, a little bit. You don't have to go all in. You can be generous. It'll be fun. As long as you're comfortable, with consent. I'm asking for consent. So, what is your relationship status, Karrie?
Karrie: I'm in a relationship.
Dascha: In a relationship?
Karrie: Hm-hmm [affirmative].
Dascha: Okay. And what's your relationship status, Jason?
Jason: I'm single.
Dascha: You are single and mingle—Not mingling, mingling?
Jason: Always mingling.
Dascha: Single and mingle. Well, let me ask you about—I want to make it a little juicy. Any crazy DM slide stories? Anything?
Karrie: No. I have such a boring social media life. Hopefully, it'll get exciting—
Dascha: It's going to get exciting.
Karrie: …at some point.
Dascha: You're getting a lot of DM slides. What about for you, Jason?
Jason: There's been a couple.
Dascha: Like, well, can you speak about one, a little something?
Jason: Can I speak about one? I can't speak about, like, no celebrity DM slides, but I will say there's, like, a lot of—
Dascha: You get celebrity DM slides?
Jason: Do you?
Karrie: Oh. I want to know because—
Dascha: Because you guys were willing to play, are willing to play, I get them all. I get them all. I've gotten athletes, celebrities, rappers, hip hop, whatever it is.
Jason: All of it, right?
Dascha: Yeah. I get all of it. I can't go through all of them now.
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: But you know?
Jason: Yeah.
Dascha: Literally, like, I'm not going to go through all of them.
Jason: No.
Dascha: Can you imagine? Literally, like, I have tons. No, no, no, no. You get a whole bunch of responses. Some of the DM slides is just appreciation. You get a lot of that, a lot of love from people.
Jason: A lot of love. I get a lot of love—
Dascha: Yeah.
Jason: …which I appreciate so much.
Dascha: And, it's a great thing. When you're able to transcend your aura and people connect to you, that's love too.
Jason: Yeah.
Dascha: That's brown love too. Right?
Jason: Yeah, it is.
Karrie: Yes.
Jason: That's—
Karrie: That's what we're here for as actors—
Jason: …the best kind of love.
Karrie: …I feel too.
Dascha: Yeah.
Karrie: Just to have somebody feel something.
Jason: It's crazy.
Dascha: Well, what about online dating? Have you tried any online dating apps?
Jason: No.
Karrie: No.
Jason: I would never.
Dascha: You would never?
Jason: I don't know. It's just weird. I don't like the thought of, like, not just meeting someone and then being like, "Oh, do you want to—" Like, you have to, like—
Dascha: Because, I feel like now, when you go out, you don't really meet people and, like, vibe with them. Everybody is either doing a hookah on their phone. [Spanish language] [00:27:04]—
Jason: [Spanish language] [00:27:06]
Dascha: …and they're just helping themselves. Nobody dances.
Jason: I've never met anyone through, like, a dating app, but, like, some relationships have happened through, like, Instagram, but not, like, sliding a DM. It'd be, like, a friend be like, "Yo, this is, like, my friend, blah, blah, blah."
Karrie: Oh, that's nice.
Jason: Yeah.
Dascha: Well, can we do something with you, Karrie? Since you're in a serious relationship, can you give us your love story in a 30-second? Really quick, 30 seconds.
Karrie: All right. So, met him in the sixth grade, started dating in high school, dated throughout college, broke up when I came to L.A. because he didn't want a long-distance relationship, and we were at that point in our lives where our paths were just changing courses—
Dascha: Fifteen seconds.
Karrie: …and we knew we could do anything by ourselves. And, we weren't talking for about six years and got back together last year.
Dascha: What?
Jason: What?
Dascha: Back in it. Okay.Congrats to that.
Jason: That's the hope. That's the hope—
Dascha: Longevity, love and longevity.
Jason: …people need. All you got to do is wait six years. They'll be back.
Karrie: Yeah, we got that.
Jason: They'll be back.
[Music]
Dascha: It's time to play a little game.
[Music]
Dascha: And now, we're going to play a game, guys. We're calling it Hot Take, and it's more of a lightening round. I'm going to say a meme or a pop culture moment, and you've got to tell me your hot take as fast as possible, first thing that comes to mind. You can say hate it, love it, trash, iconic, or whatever else.It's just your hot take. All right?
Jason: I say I'm good under pressure, but I'm really not.
Dascha: What you mean?
Jason: I'll be telling be people. They'd be like are you, you are gold under pressure.
Karrie: Okay.
Dascha: Ready?
Jason: Always.
Dascha: Are you ready?
Karrie: Oh, okay.
Dascha: Okay. Five, six.I'm going to start with Jason.
Karrie: Okay.
Jason: I'm sweating.
Dascha: Don't be sweating.
Karrie: I know. I was like—
Dascha: You're sweating because I'm making you sweat. Okay. All right.Ready? Baby Yoda.
Jason: Oh, my God, the memes. Yes, love Baby Yoda.
Dascha: Yes. I love it.I love him. He's so damn cute. Tik Tok.
Jason: I don't—No. It's too many people acting crazy.
Karrie: What?
Dascha: Exactly. Proud Family reboot.
Jason: Yeah. I'm—
Dascha: Yeah.
Jason: …here. I'm here.
Dascha: Okay. Kiki Palmer's sorry to this man.
Jason: Iconic.
Dascha: Yeah. Pitbull.
Karrie: Yes.
Jason: Like the artist or the dog?
Dascha: That's what I thought. That's what I thought.
Karrie: I thought the artist, and I was like yes sir.
Jason: They're both over my head.
Dascha: Okay. The Bachelorette.
Jason: No.
Karrie: No.
Jason: People need to bust that show.
Karrie: I'm done with that.
Dascha: Okay. Area 51 raid.
Jason: I say we all go in there and do it. I know they got shit hiding back there.
Karrie: Yes, yes.
Jason: They shot down.
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: Y'all can go in there, and y'all send me pictures.
Karrie: Okay.
Jason: All right.
Dascha: Bird Box.
Jason: Yes.
Karrie: I worked at a casting office who cast it before I booked my show.
Jason: Fire.
Dascha: Damn. You know, I haven't watched it.
[Gasps]
Jason: What?
Dascha: What the A?
Jason: Why haven't you watched it?
[Cross talk]
Dascha: Because, I have a lot of shit to do, y'all.
Jason: No, you don't.
Dascha: I have a lot of shows to catch up. And you know what? I'm the type of person I resist when there's too, when everybody is on shit.
Jason: I knew it. I knew you were going to say I'm one of those that resist.
Dascha: Like, I don't watch it when the shit flies. Like Game of Thrones, I came on later. You know what I'm saying?
Karrie: I appreciate that too. I do too.
Dascha: The Office, later. Like, I was later. Like—
Jason: What is that doing for you?
Dascha: I don't know. It's just natural for me. Like, I can't. I don't know.
Jason: You just don't want to be part of the hype?
Dascha: It's not like I'm purposefully doing. It's that's I hear it too much.
Karrie; You have to take your time.
Dascha: Yeah. Marie Kondo-ing your life.
Karrie: Yes. I do it with my luggage now.
Dascha: Honey.
Karrie: That's the only way I was able to pack.
Dascha: Marie Kondo-ing your life.
Jason: Yeah. No.
Karrie: I love spark your joy.
Jason: It, like, I saw it, but I'm, sometimes, I'm just too lazy to, like, act on it. But, that's, like, part of, like, I'd rather act on it.
Dascha: I read the book. And then, when it came out, I was obsessed because she's so cute.
Karrie: She's so cute.
Dascha: I'm all hot. Okay. AOC.
Jason: Oh, I love her, love her.
Dascha: Oh, my God. I love her.
Jason: Yeah. Come on.
Dascha: I love Alexandria Ocasio.
Jason: Exactly.
Karrie: That's so funny.
Jason: We need some New York change.
Dascha: Big Little Lies.
Jason: Love it. Yo, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman.
Karrie: Okay.
Jason: I can't.
Karrie: I haven't watched it.
Dascha: It's okay. You're not going to get the backlash that I got for Bird Box.
Karrie: You're right. You're right. You're right.
Jason: I mean, it's okay to—
Dascha: Okay. Elite.
Jason: I haven't seen it.
Karrie: The one on Netflix?
Dascha: Yeah.
Karrie: I saw, like, a snippet.
Dascha: Stop lying, Karrie.
Karrie: Y'all, I swear.
Dascha: Stop lying, Karrie.
Karrie: I swear. It's dark.
Jason: Have you seen it?
Dascha: I haven't seen it.
Karrie: It's dark.
Dascha: It's dark?
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: I love dark shit. I'm going to watch it. La Chokolata.
Karrie: Of course. Yeah. It's more like la faja [phonetic] [00:31:24] at my house. I was like—
Jason: Wait. What's la faja to you?
Karrie: A belt.
Jason: Oh, because ours is, like, a waist trainer. I'm like they're hitting you with the damn waist trainer.
Dascha: I thought your mom was throwing her Spanx at you, a waist trainer at you.
Karrie: No, girl. It was, like, it was like—
Dascha: No. I'm scared of that Chokolata. I'm scared of that Chokolata.
Jason: My mom was rough.
[Spanish language] [00:31:42]
Dascha: I'm scared of the faja too because that's—You know, I used to have to wear one in junior high to get the waist. They used to tell me, "Oh, you [Spanish language] [00:31:50]."
Karrie: Oh, no.
Jason: Right?
Dascha: Yes. Yes.It was important.
Jason: My cousin is wearing one right now.
Dascha: I was, I was—That's why I'm like, yo, I don't want to wear Spanx now. Like, let me live. I've been wearing fucking waist trainers since I was like—
Karrie: I just bought my first pair.
Dascha: What, Spanx?
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: Really?
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: You don't need it.
Karrie: I wanted to, like, be a part of it. I don't know. Continue.
Dascha: It's okay. We've been a part of it.
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: If you're talking about the faja that we think, you've been thrown fajas at you.
Jason: Right.
Karrie: Exactly.
[Music]
Dascha: I want to thank you both for being here today—
Karrie: Thank you for having us.
Dascha: …and having some fun and willing to just give us your love, share your intimate moments with us. And with all respect, I wish you the best continued success.
Jason: Same to you.
Karrie: Thank you.
Dascha: And so, I wanted to end the show by doing a little [Spanish language] [00:32:45], sending an affirmation to our Latin community or a wish for the next decade for us. And, we'll start with you, Jason, and then, Karrie, you can take the mic.
Jason: Okay. So, I'm going to just wish onto the people what I wish on for myself, which is just happiness.That's, like, the only thing that you should strive on, and more so is that, when you do find yourself in this moment of happiness, to enjoy it. I find myself not enjoying a lot because I was in search of the next form of happiness, and I just wish people, especially myself—But, if I'm doing it, I know people are doing it too.
Dascha: Especially myself, but for all of y'all.
Jason: Yeah, but for all of y'all. But, I'm like—It, like, affected me so much that I just, I hope it doesn't affect these other people. So, just, whatever moment you're in right now, just take the happiness in that moment.
Dascha: Happiness and living in the moment.
Jason: Yeah.
Dascha: And you, Karrie?
Karrie: Man, that was good because living in the moment is so important. I would say—I don't know. Maybe just bringing it back to my dad saying that has stuck with me all these years and helped me stay strong. It doesn't matter our color, our race. We are just right. We're enough, and I feel like people forget that the person that they are was created for a reason and they are enough in that space.
Dascha: And that being said—
Jason: That's beautiful.
Dascha: …we're going to cheer to happiness, to living in the moment, and to accepting that we are enough.
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: And, for the next decade in the Latinx community, let's rise.Let's rise and shine.
Karrie: Cheers.
Jason: Latinos rise.
Dascha: Cheers, guys.
Jason: I don't even know bad luck from here.
[Music]
Dascha: This show was produced by Netflix and Con Todo, in partnership with Futuro Studios. If you like what you heard, be sure to rate and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And, don't forget to follow @ConTodoNetflix on Instagram and Twitter for all things Latinxcellence on Netflix. Next week, we have the fab Diane Guerrero in the house. Stay tuned. I've been your host, Dascha Polanco. [Spanish language] [00:34:59] Brown love, brown love, brown love.
[Music]
Dascha: Welcome to Brown Love, the show where we get real about all the things Latinx communities are talking about on your timeline.Brought to you by Netflix and Con Todo.I'm your host Dascha Polanco.
[Music]
Dasha: Children and grandchildren of immigrants have a really unique perspective on what it means to be "American". This week, we're talking all about the third culture kid.Latinx up to [Spanish language] [00:00:30], American enough to code switch with ease. What's it like when you're too Latinx for gringos and too gringo for your family back in the motherland? For today's conversation, I sat down with some next generation Latinx actors who are killing on Netflix right now, Karrie Martin, who stars as Ana in Gentified, and Jason Genao, aka Ruby from On My Block. We came in hot venting about name mispronunciations before diving into how Karrie and Jason identify within the Latinx community.
[Music]
Dascha: Gentified.
Karrie: Gentified.
Dascha: Gentified. It took me a minute at the beginning. I was like Gentified.
Karrie: Yeah, yeah.
Dascha: Because, you know, that's the code switching.
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: Or even pronunciation, you have to work that.
Karrie: Exactly.
Dascha: And, Jason Genao, right?
Jason: Hm-hmm [affirmative].
Dascha: Genao. That was an issue with you growing up, right, the pronunciation of your name?
Jason: That was.
Dascha Me too.
Jason: It was such a thing. Like, even on spell check, I'd be like, "This ain't my last name.Like, I put G-E-N-O-A." I'm like, "Who is this?"
Dascha: It's okay. I ask myself every day who it is. Okay.Well, hello, Karrie. Hello, Jason.
Karrie: Hello.
Dascha: Thank you for being here today. First, I wanted to ask you how do you identify, and we'll start with you, Jason. Where are you from, and how do you identify?
Jason: I am Dominican. I'm from, born and raised in New Jersey, but I have both parents of Dominican descent. And then, I grew up there. Every year, we'd go back and live on the farm when I wasn't in school and stuff like that.
Dascha: In, to the Dominican Republic?
Jason: Hm-hmm [affirmative], yeah.
Dascha: Wow.
Jason: Yeah. So, I, like, grew up on a farm, like, yeah, a little farm boy. But—
Dascha: An el campo.
Jason: An el campo.
Dascha: Which is like the finca in—
Jason: Well, I say the campo.
Dascha: Yeah. We say the campo.
Jason: El Campeche.
Dascha: But, in parts of Latin America and Mexico because I know in the—
Karrie: Yeah. I say finca.
Dascha: Finca, because in novellas—
Karrie: They say finca.
Dascha: …they say finca.
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: And, I would be like, "Ooh, a finca. I want a finca one day."
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: I had a campo already.
Karrie: Yeah, yeah.
Dascha: You know, right? So, you were born here, but how do you identify?
Jason: I think I don't really look for an identification.It's more so whatever is going on around me. I adapt.So, if I'm with my Hispanic family, I can be completely Dominican, and then, when I'm with, like, my friends from school or whatever, I'm whatever I need to be in the moment.
Dascha: Okay.
Jason: Yeah. So, I'm like—
Dascha: So, you're like, "I'll be Latinx today, and I'll be—"
Jason: Right. I'm Hispanic today, and then, I'm American tomorrow.
Dascha: So, you go with the flow?
Jason: Hm-hmm [affirmative].
Dascha: Okay.
Jason: There was never really no necessity in needing an identification for me.
Dascha: So, Karrie, what about you? How do you identify? Where are you from?
Karrie: So, I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Dascha: Ooh, I like how you say that.
Karrie: Southern girl.
Dascha: Say it again.
Karrie: New Orleans.
Dascha: Okay. How do you say beignet?
Karrie: Beignet. Beignet, girl. I know.No, you know. It's like—
Dascha: I can never say it.
Karrie: …everything in New Orleans is very, like, Cajun-French.So, we have the weirdest names. I mean, it's crazy. That's for another time, but yeah. I was born in New Orleans, so southern girl born and raised. I lived there all my life until I moved to L.A., and I would say the same thing. I definitely though—I don't know if Jersey has more of that, like, Latino culture, but the South, at least Louisiana, as I was growing up, did not at all. So, and, my sister is also an actress, and we definitely had a culture shock when we went to L.A. because it was so immerse in that Spanish culture that, unfortunately, we are not used to, being from the South where, you know, we have all our [Spanish language] [00:04:03] around us. So, but, it's been a beautiful thing and definitely something that makes me even more proud to be on this show to really embody that more. And, I guess, like, I was just different, but nobody ever—
Dascha: So, what did your friends refer to you as growing up?
Karrie: You know, it's—I wouldn't say they're like, "Oh, that's the Spanish girl." I think I was just Karrie. You know what I mean? It never—Yeah. It was never, like, an issue, and my sister actually, one time, when she was, like, doing, like, an SAT form or something like that, she was just like, "My friend next to me was like put Caucasian. Why are you putting Hispanic?" Like, they didn't even, like, it didn't even put two and two just because, you know, she's—
Dascha: And what did you say?
Karrie: And, I was like, "Oh, my God." I was like, "I've never gotten that."I knew I could speak two languages, but it never created an issue or what not.
Dascha: Wow. Okay. Well, I want to take the time to speak about the acting, right—
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: …and our industry and your upbringing and how that affects the roles you play and so on, and I know that you play a character, Anna, in Gentified.
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: And, she grew up in a Latino community.
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: And, you didn't really.
Karrie: Hm-hmm [affirmative].
Dascha: So, can you tell me a little bit more about the hometown, your character on Gentified versus you and your hometown?
Karrie: Yes. So, it's so funny because I feel like, if I were to pick a character on Gentified that I'm like, "Oh, this is who Karrie, myself, like could be if you just look at me, you know what I mean, now," it would probably be the character that Carlos plays, which is Chris. He comes from that outside, you know, that, like, small town, Midwestern boy.You know, I wasn't from the Midwest, very different from the South, but it, you know what I mean, like, it's from, it's like I'm seeing life from the outside in. And, that's, kind of, when I booked this role, it was so incredibly eye-opening to me because, in every culture and every niche, everybody, kind of, like, bubbles into, like, what they're comfortable in. Right?
Dascha: Yeah.
Karrie: And so, it wasn't something that was brought to my attention growing up of, like, the, you know, like the dysmorphia, like the disconnect that a lot of people in our culture have, depending on whether they're from. So, playing the role of Ana really, it's like I grew with her.
Dascha: So, it, kind of, educated you in a sense.
Karrie: It educated 100 percent.
Dascha: It was like an eye-opener.
Karrie: One hundred percent.
Dascha: I can relate to that. Coming from, like, a show that it was of incarcerated women and not knowing what they've experienced in there.
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: Right? Because, it's a different perspective.
Karrie: Exactly.
Dascha: And, it's always a beautiful thing as an actor to be able to learn from the role you play. Right?It's a give and take. Right?
Karrie: I think it was the greatest gift because Ana and I are two completely different individuals in every sense of the word, both in family, in life, but, as we, like, grew together, like, I became Ana and Ana became Karrie.You know what I mean? And, I think, like, as an actor, that's what you want.You know what I mean? Like, that chance to grow.
Dascha: Yeah. You definitely want to be one with it.
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: Yes. And what about for you, Jason?
Jason: As in the whole Ruby aspect?
Dascha: Yeah, with Ruby. Like, what are the similarities? What are the contrasts you saw with your experience?
Jason: So, I think, like, just listening to what you were saying, I think the whole interesting part about the Hispanic side of Ruby is that that just is, or that just was, like, it's the same with, like, we're sitting here and, like, the cups are these cups, as opposed to, like, a glass cup.That's just the way Ruby is. It's not—Like, he's emerging himself or something's, like, directly Hispanic about him. It's just that he is. So, like, his grandma just, you know, she sews and she speaks Spanish, and he eats, like, tamales and tacos and stuff for dinner. But, Ruby, as a person, is just this kid in high school who is going through the regular things that everyone goes through.
[Clip from On my Block]
Jason: So, I think my relation to Ruby was just that I was just, you know, was more so how I was as a teenager, as opposed to how I was as a Dominican teenager or Hispanic teenager. I just, you just add the things, or you're just taking the things that Ruby is. It's just, like—
Dascha: Exactly.
Jason: …I'm just going to sit here and, like, you know, you play with something in a scene to make the scene more, you know—
Dascha: Relatable.
Jason: Yeah. Or, make it more interesting—
Dascha: And be more present. Yes.
Jason: …or present or, like, all these—
Dascha: Exactly.
Jason: …little techniques. So, it's like, instead of me playing with the pen, here I am, like, playing with, like, a [Spanish language] [00:09:02] or something like that, and that is how you get the essence that Ruby is Hispanic. It's not someone telling you or—
Dascha: Or, like, saying, "I'm Hispanic. I'm Ruby on the show."
Jason: Yeah.
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: You know, which is where we would love to see the idea of whether you're raised here in America or whether you're raised in the South, whether you have the group where you surround yourself with, we adapt.
Jason: Yeah.
Karrie: We adapt.
Dascha: And, we also, we fuse. Right? And, we take in, and we give out. And, that's the beauty of this. Right?That's the true melting pot when we're able to do that. Karrie, tell me a little bit about your character Ana on Gentified.
Karrie: Okay.
Dascha: Now, to my understanding, she is queer.
Karrie: She is.
Dascha: You're not.
Karrie: I'm not.
Dascha: And, that's another thing we have to work on, fitting in in our communities and within the Latinx community. So, tell me a little bit about that and the difference.
Karrie: You know, just first off, I think Ana is unapologetically herself, and I found that so incredibly breathtaking, like, as an actor, just to be able to play just this, like, strong female role without any question.Like, I don't have to answer to anything in that, you know, in that sense.
Dascha: Exactly.
Karrie: I don't have to give you an excuse for why I'm this or why I'm not this. So, I felt like that was the first big thing of I love this character. I want to be her. You know? She's a queer artist.
[Clip from Gentified].
Karrie: She—I think her biggest thing, I find that her mom wants to pretend that she doesn’t know, but she knows. You know? It's one of those—Like—
Dascha: Which it's something that they always know.
Jason: They always know.
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: And, it is something you just don't speak about.
Karrie: It's like in my own home. You know what I mean? It's just, like, you know, when we were growing up, my sisters are like, "They don't know I have a boyfriend." I was like, "They know you have a boyfriend, girl. Like, you know, they just don't want to really know."
Dascha: Oh, we thought they didn't know. I always thought that, and I was like, "Oh, damn. I didn't know my mom was a witch."
Karrie: I know.
Dascha: How does she know?
Karrie: Exactly. And, that's how I feel like Ana's mom is. She's, like, it's kind of like she doesn't want to talk about it, but she knows.You know, she always calls her [Spanish language] [00:11:22]. You know what I mean? I'm like, "Yeah. You know, Mom, who this is and who she is to me." But, you know, she's just unapologetically herself, and I find that so beautiful.
[Clip from Gentified]
Karrie: I feel like, in that sense, in regards to just being who she is without, I don't want to say without regard, but without, you know, having to always question is definitely something that my parents allowed me, in that sense, because I think that Ana and her mom have such, like, a combative relationship. But, it has nothing to do with her being queer. It has to do with her being an artist and her using her creativity in a way that her mom—
Dascha: And have we not all had that from our family extended or immediate where it's, like, nonexistent?
Karrie: They start to question, like, are you really going to make a living from this? How are you going to make money, girl?
Dascha: Of course.
Karrie: Yeah. So, in that sense, I was like, "Oh, no. Like, I can't." I don't know how to really—You know, my parents were so incredibly supportive.Like, I went to college. You know what I mean? And then, I'm like, "Dad, I think I want to move to L.A. and be an actor." And, he's like, "Okay." You know, like, very, like, supportive. I think, like, it was, like, baby steps. Like, you know—
Jason: Yeah, same.
Karrie: …like walking through a little mud for a little while.
Dascha: Well, how was that experience with you, Jason?
Jason: My parents were just, like—Like, I love them to death, but they were just, like, if you look up the definitely of, like, a mom and a dad, that's all they were. It wasn't like I'd sit down and talk to my mom, like, "Oh, this is—" It's like, "You have a doctor's appointment, this, that, and the third. I'll take you here, that, there, and then, yeah. [Spanish language] [00:13:26] Like, it was just that. So, I'd be like, "I want to do this." They'd be like, "Okay. Bye." Like, it was no, there was no relationship because my dad worked from, like, 5:00 in the morning until, like, 10:00 at night. So, he'd come home and then, like, stay up until 11:00, like, eat, and then, we'd talk a little something. I'd be like, "Pa, I want to do this. Can I have money to—" Like, that was the extent of our relationship, or, like, I'd go visit him.
Dascha: So, you mean, like, there was, there was never like a real, like, you guys really didn't communicate about what you wanted to do.It was kind of, like, whatever you said, you got because—
Jason: It's whatever—Yeah. It's whatever they saw. Like, for a long time, I wanted to be a chef, and they knew that because I cooked so much.
Dascha: Really?
Jason: Yeah.
Dascha: You like to cook?
Jason: I can cook.
Dascha: Okay.
Karrie: Every guy I know can cook.
Dascha: Can you cook?
Karrie: And, I'm, like, not that great.
Dascha: Me either. You can't cook.
Karrie: Like, I, kind of, pretend from recipes, y'all, but, like—
Jason: Recipes? You're Spanish.
Dascha: Y'all, I love that. Y'all.
Karrie: I know.
Jason: You just take it and—
Karrie: I know.
Jason: …throw it in the pot.
Dascha: Everything.
Jason: And, it comes out good.
Karrie: You know, it's like a control with me. I'm like, "Okay." You know what I mean? It's almost like that fear of, like, just trying it.
Dascha: Well, she grew up—Well, you grew up around the white friends, right?
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: And, I think that the food is different in New Orleans.
Karrie: It's very—First of all—
Jason: It's the best food I ever had.
Karrie: …the New Orleans food is very different from everybody else.
Jason: It was—
Dascha: Oh, yeah. It's so good.
Jason: That was, like, my favorite city I ever—
Karrie: It's so good.
Jason: …went to, and I wasn't even 21 yet.
Karrie: And, you don't have to be.
Jason: Exactly.
Dascha: What?
Karrie: Nobody in New Orleans heard that. You don't have to be. You don't have to be 21. You can just walk in a bar, and you're fine.
Jason: I just had so much fun.
Dascha: Well, the food is good.
Karrie: It's so good.
Jason: The food is so good.
Dascha: I mean, and, that's a good thing. Like, we all have, like, different upbringings, but we're able to, like, either—Whether you had the communication with your parents, whether you had supportive parents, we're able to do this, but we're able to say that—
Jason: Yeah.
Dascha: …our parents supported us.
Jason: No, but my parents are a thousand percent supportive.
Dascha: You know that we can't talk bad about our parents.
Jason: No. They understand.
Dascha: They're looking at me like—
Jason: Like, my dad is the one who gave me the money. I was like, "Pa, I really want to go to acting school. Like, it costs this much money. Please, please, please." And, I think all he heard, as, like, an immigrant parent, was school, and he's like, "I want my kids to go to school, so yeah." So, he's like [Spanish language] [00:15:25], right? And, I was like, "Yeah." And so, he gave it to me, and it, kind of, worked out. But, if it wouldn't have, I mean, he would have been chilling. I'd probably be a chef somewhere.
Dascha: You could still do it. You could still be a chef.
Jason: I mean, I still do. I still cook.
Dascha: Exactly. Oh, you could fuse just like—
Jason: I had to go save Thanksgiving.
Dascha: Just like that. Just like that, we could fuse what we like to do and what we love to do—
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: …where we're from, and then, magic happens. Right? I want to ask you a little about growing up Latinx. What were your favorite or your non-favorite things about your experiences? And, we'll start with you, Jason.
Jason: My favorite thing? There was, there is nothing about being Hispanic that I disliked, like nothing.But then, I also, like, don't understand really any other type of ethnicity, I guess. So, just what I know, it's not that I don't understand it.
Dascha: Like in what sense?
Jason: I think that, in the sense—Well, I grew up in Jersey City, which was, like, voted as, like, the most diverse city in America. Like, so, I grew up with, like, every other person was something else, but then, we were all just the same. So, I'm like, so, the only thing that's going to differentiate me and you is, what, like, the food or, like, what you do. I'm like, I like my food, and I like what we're doing here.I mean, the only thing that really got me upset is, like, where there's a baby shower or, like, dinner or something.It's the same damn menu. You go and see, like, what they need and all the papas, like the same bull shit. So, I'm like—But, there was nothing about being Latino that I was like, "I don't want to do this anymore." Like, there was nothing about it. Nothing, except, like—
Dascha: Like, I just don't want to be Spanish. I don't want to be Hispanic. I just want to be me.
Jason: That never crossed my mind. I'm like, "Why would I—" Like, if I'm going to be crazy honest, it was like walking around with, like, church CDs. Like, [Spanish language] [00:17:00]. I was like, dude, relax. I know my white friends ain't acting like this. But, that's—
Dascha: CD.
Jason: She'd have it in the car, and we'd be playing, like, some, like, something, and she's be like, "Oh, my God. Listen to this song. [Spanish language] [00:17:14]." And, like, you'd switch from Beyoncé to, like, some gospel thing. So, like, aye, aye. I'm like, "I'm not about to do some car ride with some preacher preaching for two hours. Take that shit out."
Dascha: What about for you, Karrie?
Karrie: I would say same. I was very proud, and I think that has a lot to do with my dad, how just what he instilled in our house. You know, he always had this saying. He was like, "You're not black. You're not white. You're just right." And, it just stuck with us forever.
Dascha: You're not black. You're not white. You're just right.
Karrie: You're just right. And, I just, I remember anytime, like, if we were picked on for some reason, I never thought of it as, "Oh, it's because I'm Spanish." I was just like, "Oh, it's because they're jealous of something." You know, like, or, "It's their insecurity, not mine."
Dascha: Because I was like, "Damn. It's my fat ass."
Karrie: No.
Jason: I was like damn.
Karrie: I really have to, like, give my dad a pat on the back on that because he just instilled a very, like, a strength in us that—
Dascha: Your parents grew up in New Orleans as well?
Karrie: Okay. So, my mom—So, my parents are Honduran.
Dascha: Okay.
Karrie: My mom's father was a cook on American Navy ships.So, he brought his family from Honduras to New Orleans. His two favorite ports were New Orleans and New York, so I could have been a New Yorker for a second. And, I love New York, like love it.
Dascha: Good for you. We love you too, girl.
Jason: Dominicans don't know nothing but New York.
Karrie: Yeah.
Jason: We all landed there.
Karrie: I know, right? So, yeah. So, he brought us to New Orleans because of the climate, the vibe. He was like, "It feels like home." Well, because we live basically on the water. So, my mom was like, I think, 15, 16 when she moved.My parents were, like, pen pals, like love notes back and forth for years.
Dascha: That's a beautiful thing.
Karrie: Yeah. And, they, that's, kind of, like, their whole thing, but yeah. I would give my parents that, like, high five of they just, kind of, instilled a strength to not feel different ever.
Dascha: Would you agree or disagree that the third culture idea of being the product of immigrants coming here and then the result of a fusion being what you represent, what—Is it something that you feel like, "Oh, I'm what a third culture is, where we really are proud of what we are. We embrace our roots?"
Karrie: I think I would agree.
Dascha: You would agree?
Karrie: Yeah.
Jason: I think I'm, kind of, like, the—You're kind of the ideal of, like, I'm going to go over here so that this can happen.
Dascha: Like the product of?
Jason: We, like, kind of are. Like—
Karrie: Yeah.
Jason: …we are going to come here so our kids can do better, but then, like, your parents' kids turned out to, like, have Dascha, who, like, became, you know, a superstar in Orange is the New Black, or like blah, blah, blah.
Dascha: Nice plug, nice plug. Nice way to show a little respect.
Jason: Or Jason on On My Block.
Karrie: Or Ana on Gentified.
Dascha: But this is my thing, right? Not to interrupt you really quickly. When you think about that, we come here and we are, kind of, like, the product of.
Jason: Yeah.
Dascha: Right? I mean, I know we've gone through times where it's like, "Oh, we come here, and it's like oh." And, you face those moments.
Jason: I think, not only I face those moments, but, like, you just, like, everybody has a different, you know, story or whatever.So, it's like you sitting next to your cousin, who, like, didn't, you know exactly become the idealization of, like, I want to do this so that you can, you know, better your life. I have some cousins who are, like—So, like, my dad got them a job. So, it's like, I mean, you kind of didn't live up to what they—Not live up to—
Karrie: Those expectations of something.
Jason: Yeah, but you, kind of, didn't push to become the third generation of, like, you take what we give you, but what America gives you and you, like, combine it.
Karrie: And be better.
Dascha: Yeah. They, like, settle. They become complacent.
Karrie: Yes.
Jason: Yeah.
Dascha: Because, it's instilled in us not to, like, look beyond what's secure, what's safe. Right?But, when you go back home, do you ever go to Honduras?
Karrie: So, I've been a few times. I had, like, a passport at, like, three months. The last time I went was, like, 12 years ago.
Dascha: And what about you, Jason? Do you go often to the Dominican Republic?
Jason: Yeah, but it's been a minute. I think it's been two years since I went.
Dascha: So, when you go back home, is there, like, resistance from home, like, from your family there, the people there? Are you considered [Spanish language] [00:21:41]? Are you considered Dominican, Jason?
Karrie: I don't think they consider me [Spanish language] [00:21:46] because I have cousins. Like, my, he's, like, one of my best friends. He's Honduran, but came here at, like, eight years old. And, I'm like, "[Spanish language] [00:21:56]." You know what I mean? Like, because, like, he's so—
Dascha: You do it to him?
Karrie: Yes. And, he's like—He lives in Florida, and you know Florida has, like, that very Hispanic culture.
Dascha: Yeah.
Karrie: And then, he's like, "You white, girl." Because, I'm, like, born in the South. You know? I'm like—Every friend I have is white, you know, but, our family, we still have family. We have a lot of family in Honduras, and I think, for them, it's just, like, it's always just a support system. But, I think, like, he and I have more of that little, like, banter towards each other.
Dascha: But, there's always love.
Karrie: But, exactly, 100 percent.
Dascha: What about for you, Jason, going back to the Dominican Republic?
Jason: My family is so violently Dominican. Like, I cannot go over there and not—
Dascha: They wait for you with a chocolate?
Jason: Yeah. I cannot go over there and not be Dominican. It's like the American leaves, except, like, if I'm with my cousins, then we're talking English. But, like, everybody else don't even know English over there. So, I'm just like—
Dascha: [Spanish language] [00:22:45]
Jason: I mean, I miss it. Like, I'll be talking a little bit different than them, and they'll be like, "[Spanish language] [00:22:52]." I'm like, "First of all, none of us Dominicans know Spanish. So, chill out." But, yeah, essentially, it's all support. It's all like—
Dascha: It's all support.
Jason: I don't even think—It's so crazy, these questions you're asking me, because none of that ever crosses my head. It's like, "Are you not as Dominican as your counterpart?"
Dascha: Damn. I'm sorry.I'm sorry.
Jason: No.
Dascha: Am I creating a new—
[Cross talk]
Jason: No, but these are questions. And, the only reasons they're questions is because someone is getting asked it.
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: Or experiencing it.
Jason: Or experiencing it, and I'm not. So, it's just, it's very interesting, like, the two very different dynamics.
Dascha: Yes, yes.
Karrie: And, I think it's interesting that we can relate in some way because I think I had more of a culture shock in my life coming to L.A. where everything was Spanish.
Jason: Really?
Dascha: You think so?
Karrie: Y'all, I did. I did, but it was—
Dascha: Because, for us, there's only one Spanish. You know what I mean? Like, for us, you know, when you come to L.A., it's only one Spanish.
Karrie: Yes.
Jason: Hm-hmm [affirmative].
Dascha; So, it's like you don't really see the diversity from Latin America for us.
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: You know what I mean?
Karrie: Right.
Dascha: When we come from the East Coast in New York where there's a huge diversity.
Karrie: Hm-hmm [affirmative], yes.
Dascha: You could get Argentina. You could get Peru. You could get Chile. You could get Uruguago, Paraguago, Boliviano, you know, Guyana.
Karrie: And, that's so beautiful.
Dascha: You can get Brazil, everything.
Karrie: That's so beautiful.
Jason: Everything. When I came out here, I was like—Like, I remember Googling. I was, like, feeling homesick. I was like, "I want Dominican food." So, I Googled it, and it said one place—
Dascha: Yep.
Jason: …27 miles away.
Dascha: And, I bet you I know where it is. I bet you I know where it is.
Jason: It was closed. I was like, "Diablo."
[Music]
Dascha: It's time for some brown love.
[Music]
Dascha: Our next segment is about brown love.
Karrie: Oh.
Dascha: And, we're going to talk a little bit about that. And, Karrie, you might recognize brown love from your show Gentified—
Karrie: Hm-hmm [affirmative].
Dascha: …which is a podcast that one of the characters listens to, and it's two Chicanas from the L.A. area talking about life and love in the Latinx community. So, we thought we'd ask a little bit about your love lives. Are you guys down?
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: I mean, it's just a little, a little bit. You don't have to go all in. You can be generous. It'll be fun. As long as you're comfortable, with consent. I'm asking for consent. So, what is your relationship status, Karrie?
Karrie: I'm in a relationship.
Dascha: In a relationship?
Karrie: Hm-hmm [affirmative].
Dascha: Okay. And what's your relationship status, Jason?
Jason: I'm single.
Dascha: You are single and mingle—Not mingling, mingling?
Jason: Always mingling.
Dascha: Single and mingle. Well, let me ask you about—I want to make it a little juicy. Any crazy DM slide stories? Anything?
Karrie: No. I have such a boring social media life. Hopefully, it'll get exciting—
Dascha: It's going to get exciting.
Karrie: …at some point.
Dascha: You're getting a lot of DM slides. What about for you, Jason?
Jason: There's been a couple.
Dascha: Like, well, can you speak about one, a little something?
Jason: Can I speak about one? I can't speak about, like, no celebrity DM slides, but I will say there's, like, a lot of—
Dascha: You get celebrity DM slides?
Jason: Do you?
Karrie: Oh. I want to know because—
Dascha: Because you guys were willing to play, are willing to play, I get them all. I get them all. I've gotten athletes, celebrities, rappers, hip hop, whatever it is.
Jason: All of it, right?
Dascha: Yeah. I get all of it. I can't go through all of them now.
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: But you know?
Jason: Yeah.
Dascha: Literally, like, I'm not going to go through all of them.
Jason: No.
Dascha: Can you imagine? Literally, like, I have tons. No, no, no, no. You get a whole bunch of responses. Some of the DM slides is just appreciation. You get a lot of that, a lot of love from people.
Jason: A lot of love. I get a lot of love—
Dascha: Yeah.
Jason: …which I appreciate so much.
Dascha: And, it's a great thing. When you're able to transcend your aura and people connect to you, that's love too.
Jason: Yeah.
Dascha: That's brown love too. Right?
Jason: Yeah, it is.
Karrie: Yes.
Jason: That's—
Karrie: That's what we're here for as actors—
Jason: …the best kind of love.
Karrie: …I feel too.
Dascha: Yeah.
Karrie: Just to have somebody feel something.
Jason: It's crazy.
Dascha: Well, what about online dating? Have you tried any online dating apps?
Jason: No.
Karrie: No.
Jason: I would never.
Dascha: You would never?
Jason: I don't know. It's just weird. I don't like the thought of, like, not just meeting someone and then being like, "Oh, do you want to—" Like, you have to, like—
Dascha: Because, I feel like now, when you go out, you don't really meet people and, like, vibe with them. Everybody is either doing a hookah on their phone. [Spanish language] [00:27:04]—
Jason: [Spanish language] [00:27:06]
Dascha: …and they're just helping themselves. Nobody dances.
Jason: I've never met anyone through, like, a dating app, but, like, some relationships have happened through, like, Instagram, but not, like, sliding a DM. It'd be, like, a friend be like, "Yo, this is, like, my friend, blah, blah, blah."
Karrie: Oh, that's nice.
Jason: Yeah.
Dascha: Well, can we do something with you, Karrie? Since you're in a serious relationship, can you give us your love story in a 30-second? Really quick, 30 seconds.
Karrie: All right. So, met him in the sixth grade, started dating in high school, dated throughout college, broke up when I came to L.A. because he didn't want a long-distance relationship, and we were at that point in our lives where our paths were just changing courses—
Dascha: Fifteen seconds.
Karrie: …and we knew we could do anything by ourselves. And, we weren't talking for about six years and got back together last year.
Dascha: What?
Jason: What?
Dascha: Back in it. Okay.Congrats to that.
Jason: That's the hope. That's the hope—
Dascha: Longevity, love and longevity.
Jason: …people need. All you got to do is wait six years. They'll be back.
Karrie: Yeah, we got that.
Jason: They'll be back.
[Music]
Dascha: It's time to play a little game.
[Music]
Dascha: And now, we're going to play a game, guys. We're calling it Hot Take, and it's more of a lightening round. I'm going to say a meme or a pop culture moment, and you've got to tell me your hot take as fast as possible, first thing that comes to mind. You can say hate it, love it, trash, iconic, or whatever else.It's just your hot take. All right?
Jason: I say I'm good under pressure, but I'm really not.
Dascha: What you mean?
Jason: I'll be telling be people. They'd be like are you, you are gold under pressure.
Karrie: Okay.
Dascha: Ready?
Jason: Always.
Dascha: Are you ready?
Karrie: Oh, okay.
Dascha: Okay. Five, six.I'm going to start with Jason.
Karrie: Okay.
Jason: I'm sweating.
Dascha: Don't be sweating.
Karrie: I know. I was like—
Dascha: You're sweating because I'm making you sweat. Okay. All right.Ready? Baby Yoda.
Jason: Oh, my God, the memes. Yes, love Baby Yoda.
Dascha: Yes. I love it.I love him. He's so damn cute. Tik Tok.
Jason: I don't—No. It's too many people acting crazy.
Karrie: What?
Dascha: Exactly. Proud Family reboot.
Jason: Yeah. I'm—
Dascha: Yeah.
Jason: …here. I'm here.
Dascha: Okay. Kiki Palmer's sorry to this man.
Jason: Iconic.
Dascha: Yeah. Pitbull.
Karrie: Yes.
Jason: Like the artist or the dog?
Dascha: That's what I thought. That's what I thought.
Karrie: I thought the artist, and I was like yes sir.
Jason: They're both over my head.
Dascha: Okay. The Bachelorette.
Jason: No.
Karrie: No.
Jason: People need to bust that show.
Karrie: I'm done with that.
Dascha: Okay. Area 51 raid.
Jason: I say we all go in there and do it. I know they got shit hiding back there.
Karrie: Yes, yes.
Jason: They shot down.
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: Y'all can go in there, and y'all send me pictures.
Karrie: Okay.
Jason: All right.
Dascha: Bird Box.
Jason: Yes.
Karrie: I worked at a casting office who cast it before I booked my show.
Jason: Fire.
Dascha: Damn. You know, I haven't watched it.
[Gasps]
Jason: What?
Dascha: What the A?
Jason: Why haven't you watched it?
[Cross talk]
Dascha: Because, I have a lot of shit to do, y'all.
Jason: No, you don't.
Dascha: I have a lot of shows to catch up. And you know what? I'm the type of person I resist when there's too, when everybody is on shit.
Jason: I knew it. I knew you were going to say I'm one of those that resist.
Dascha: Like, I don't watch it when the shit flies. Like Game of Thrones, I came on later. You know what I'm saying?
Karrie: I appreciate that too. I do too.
Dascha: The Office, later. Like, I was later. Like—
Jason: What is that doing for you?
Dascha: I don't know. It's just natural for me. Like, I can't. I don't know.
Jason: You just don't want to be part of the hype?
Dascha: It's not like I'm purposefully doing. It's that's I hear it too much.
Karrie; You have to take your time.
Dascha: Yeah. Marie Kondo-ing your life.
Karrie: Yes. I do it with my luggage now.
Dascha: Honey.
Karrie: That's the only way I was able to pack.
Dascha: Marie Kondo-ing your life.
Jason: Yeah. No.
Karrie: I love spark your joy.
Jason: It, like, I saw it, but I'm, sometimes, I'm just too lazy to, like, act on it. But, that's, like, part of, like, I'd rather act on it.
Dascha: I read the book. And then, when it came out, I was obsessed because she's so cute.
Karrie: She's so cute.
Dascha: I'm all hot. Okay. AOC.
Jason: Oh, I love her, love her.
Dascha: Oh, my God. I love her.
Jason: Yeah. Come on.
Dascha: I love Alexandria Ocasio.
Jason: Exactly.
Karrie: That's so funny.
Jason: We need some New York change.
Dascha: Big Little Lies.
Jason: Love it. Yo, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman.
Karrie: Okay.
Jason: I can't.
Karrie: I haven't watched it.
Dascha: It's okay. You're not going to get the backlash that I got for Bird Box.
Karrie: You're right. You're right. You're right.
Jason: I mean, it's okay to—
Dascha: Okay. Elite.
Jason: I haven't seen it.
Karrie: The one on Netflix?
Dascha: Yeah.
Karrie: I saw, like, a snippet.
Dascha: Stop lying, Karrie.
Karrie: Y'all, I swear.
Dascha: Stop lying, Karrie.
Karrie: I swear. It's dark.
Jason: Have you seen it?
Dascha: I haven't seen it.
Karrie: It's dark.
Dascha: It's dark?
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: I love dark shit. I'm going to watch it. La Chokolata.
Karrie: Of course. Yeah. It's more like la faja [phonetic] [00:31:24] at my house. I was like—
Jason: Wait. What's la faja to you?
Karrie: A belt.
Jason: Oh, because ours is, like, a waist trainer. I'm like they're hitting you with the damn waist trainer.
Dascha: I thought your mom was throwing her Spanx at you, a waist trainer at you.
Karrie: No, girl. It was, like, it was like—
Dascha: No. I'm scared of that Chokolata. I'm scared of that Chokolata.
Jason: My mom was rough.
[Spanish language] [00:31:42]
Dascha: I'm scared of the faja too because that's—You know, I used to have to wear one in junior high to get the waist. They used to tell me, "Oh, you [Spanish language] [00:31:50]."
Karrie: Oh, no.
Jason: Right?
Dascha: Yes. Yes.It was important.
Jason: My cousin is wearing one right now.
Dascha: I was, I was—That's why I'm like, yo, I don't want to wear Spanx now. Like, let me live. I've been wearing fucking waist trainers since I was like—
Karrie: I just bought my first pair.
Dascha: What, Spanx?
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: Really?
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: You don't need it.
Karrie: I wanted to, like, be a part of it. I don't know. Continue.
Dascha: It's okay. We've been a part of it.
Karrie: Yeah.
Dascha: If you're talking about the faja that we think, you've been thrown fajas at you.
Jason: Right.
Karrie: Exactly.
[Music]
Dascha: I want to thank you both for being here today—
Karrie: Thank you for having us.
Dascha: …and having some fun and willing to just give us your love, share your intimate moments with us. And with all respect, I wish you the best continued success.
Jason: Same to you.
Karrie: Thank you.
Dascha: And so, I wanted to end the show by doing a little [Spanish language] [00:32:45], sending an affirmation to our Latin community or a wish for the next decade for us. And, we'll start with you, Jason, and then, Karrie, you can take the mic.
Jason: Okay. So, I'm going to just wish onto the people what I wish on for myself, which is just happiness.That's, like, the only thing that you should strive on, and more so is that, when you do find yourself in this moment of happiness, to enjoy it. I find myself not enjoying a lot because I was in search of the next form of happiness, and I just wish people, especially myself—But, if I'm doing it, I know people are doing it too.
Dascha: Especially myself, but for all of y'all.
Jason: Yeah, but for all of y'all. But, I'm like—It, like, affected me so much that I just, I hope it doesn't affect these other people. So, just, whatever moment you're in right now, just take the happiness in that moment.
Dascha: Happiness and living in the moment.
Jason: Yeah.
Dascha: And you, Karrie?
Karrie: Man, that was good because living in the moment is so important. I would say—I don't know. Maybe just bringing it back to my dad saying that has stuck with me all these years and helped me stay strong. It doesn't matter our color, our race. We are just right. We're enough, and I feel like people forget that the person that they are was created for a reason and they are enough in that space.
Dascha: And that being said—
Jason: That's beautiful.
Dascha: …we're going to cheer to happiness, to living in the moment, and to accepting that we are enough.
Karrie: Yes.
Dascha: And, for the next decade in the Latinx community, let's rise.Let's rise and shine.
Karrie: Cheers.
Jason: Latinos rise.
Dascha: Cheers, guys.
Jason: I don't even know bad luck from here.
[Music]
Dascha: This show was produced by Netflix and Con Todo, in partnership with Futuro Studios. If you like what you heard, be sure to rate and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And, don't forget to follow @ConTodoNetflix on Instagram and Twitter for all things Latinxcellence on Netflix. Next week, we have the fab Diane Guerrero in the house. Stay tuned. I've been your host, Dascha Polanco. [Spanish language] [00:34:59] Brown love, brown love, brown love.