Transcript: Keke Palmer on Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Hello everyone. Welcome to another

episode of Good Hang. Very, very excited

about our guest today. It is the great

Kiki Palmer. Kiki can do anything and is

in everything. She's currently in the

movie I Love Boosters and in the TV show

The BBS. She has her podcast Baby This

is Kiki Palmer and she is she's going to

be in Space Balls. She hosts Password.

She's incredible.

We talk about so many fun things today.

We talk about being viros and the no

bless 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 uh her season of restraint and

what that looks like. We we have such a

good time and she 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. Um, 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, a writer, actress, queen, Paula

Pel, who is zooming in, who loves Kiki

and wants to tell us all about it. And

I'm hoping right now is is um is zooming

in from her, you know, her new Only Fans

account. One can only hope. So Paula,

are you Paula? Paula, can you hear me,

darling?

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All I ever wanted was a really good.

Hi.

>> Hi.

>> What if we just do that for 10 minutes?

Hi. [screaming]

>> Oh, why? Oh, did I? [ __ ]

>> No, you're on.

>> I am. Why? Oh, boy.

Why is Why am I off now?

>> [laughter]

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

>> All 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 I had such a I know we've

talked about this. I had I have 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 that it

>> Oh my god. There's got to be a word

that's going to 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 going

to be on Coler and I'm like I'm sorry

Col? I mean one of the real ones is Blue

Jeans. Nothing against blue jeans but

like I was like blue jeans I'm sorry

blue jeans. They're like all you need to

do is download this app and go to a

portal.

>> Now, we're going to be on Worther's

original. So, if you want, [laughter]

but you are going to have to do uh a

breathalyzer under your computer. You do

have OS 78, right? And I'm like,

>> yeah, it's like it's like, yeah, Old

Navy, I'm cool with you remembering my

password.

>> I'm like, [ __ ] I got a I got a Apple

clamshell. [laughter]

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 can

remember. Do you think I could remember

it if I don't use it for every device?

>> I want a plug and an outlet. [laughter]

>> I want to plug it in.

>> I tried to buy an oldfashioned alarm

clock. I couldn't find one. Couldn't

find a freaking alarm clock.

>> I tried to take my blood pressure in a

new blood pressure cuff I bought 63. And

um I was feeling a little off because I

had a couple drinks. got real dizzy and

I was like, "Something's wrong." I drank

two 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. I 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 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 like an

eraser off your windshield. And I got

them and they were like this big and

they BLEW LIKE THIS.

>> [laughter]

>> AND I GOT like four of them and was

going to gift them to people and we were

laughing so hard because it was like

this is the biggest [ __ ] ripoff.

>> Oh my god. The weakest fan.

>> The weakest fan is a good uh reality.

[laughter]

>> The

weakest fan now on Fox and they're just

really [laughter]

>> weak.

Um Paula Pel is here. Paula, it's so

good to see you. It's so good to see

you.

>> We're talking about Kiki today. We have

got Kiki Palmer in and I was saying this

and I know you would agree.

>> Love her.

>> She's so good at so many things.

>> Her hyphenets have hyphenets.

>> I know. I like we're looking at her body

of work. It's like Broadway and you know

and 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 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 BBS 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 Burps? H it

it it it was and is I mean the whole

we're getting ready in October to to

shoot the second season of it. But um it

it 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 she's wants to

talk about it she wants to hear what you

have to say about it. She'll hold your

hand. She'll, you know, we've gotten

tearful together in the makeup trailer

talking about our lives and find, you

know, and and and what we won't tolerate

anymore and love and and, you know, just

there's so many good things that I've

derived from just being in her presence

truly. I was getting my uh hair blown

out at at a dry bar and I sat down.

>> By the way, congrats on your hair. I

just want to point out again, most

beautiful hair in the biz next to Tina.

I'd love to see you guys fight it out.

Okay sorry.

>> Half of it is blonde right now and half

of it this is this is God's colorist

right here. [laughter]

But um who is this gorgeous woman, God's

colorist, she's kind of almost

transparent and she's just very weird.

[laughter] Um, I'm in DRY BAR WHILE

WE'RE doing while we're doing the BBS

and I sit down and Achila and the bee is

on and I look up and I see baby Kiki

with like braces and glasses and just

like having this incredible

touching scene with an adult Oscarinning

actor just like the two of them having

this quiet scene together and I'm just

like she she was born fully cooked. She

was just she was born Kiki Palmer that I

know.

>> So excited to talk to her because she is

exactly what you just said. She 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 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 going to 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 they're doing at the moment.

and you just want to slap him hard

across the face [laughter]

or you hope that in the script you get

to so you can privately have

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 and I because I know she

loves you right back. Thanks, Pete. Love

you.

>> Give Give Kiki a big kiss for me.

>> I will.

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>> First of all, you look incredible, Kiki.

>> It's so good to see you.

>> Virgo to Virgo.

>> I know. We were talking about it

earlier. Kiki and I are both Virgos. And

I mean, you've you've you've named an

album. I mean,

>> Virgo tendencies, you know, most of

them.

>> We have the Virgo tendencies.

>> What are Virgo tendencies? Let's go

through them.

>> We're we can we can kind of be

know-it-alls. It's fine. It's fine. It's

fine. We just see things just so right

away. And we want you to know, but we

got to hold [snorts] it in. Um, we are

great organizers in our own way. It

doesn't always talk to me about how you

like to organize. I know you love to or

I saw your beautiful house.

>> Oh my gosh. I said, "Tell me what your

new favorite way to organize is." Like,

like, is there a system?

>> Labeling everything.

>> Okay, talk to me.

>> I'm big on that labeling. Like,

everything has a particular place and

spot. Contacts, skin masks, one's for

hydration, ones for exfoliation.

>> We're talking the bathroom.

>> Yeah, we're in the bathroom. Everything

is organiz even by my 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. [laughter] And it's so

weird to imagine that that's so specific

to a personality type. to me seems like

the only human way to function, but

>> I guess uh we're one of one or a group

of one.

>> Well, I uh there are some very important

Virgos in the world. You are one of

them. Beyonce is one of them. Um

>> can we talk about Kobe Bryant? Can we

talk Kobe Bryant? Mother Teresa. We even

have him 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,

[laughter]

>> you know. And look, I'm not going to 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.

[laughter]

>> Capricorns like to claim them,

>> but we really have them. We know the

real we know that Jesus kept his eye

masks very separate from his from his

disciples and not organized [laughter]

them. You can't have a crew like that.

You can't be, you know what I mean? You

can have that set up.

>> 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. [laughter] I'LL TURN THIS

to this.

>> 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 [laughter]

>> girl.

>> I love a good system. I'm like pattern

recognition.

>> I'm like, "Tell me how you do it." I

just found something on Tik Tok that I'm

obsessed with, which is it's the steel

container that you keep next to your

stove when you're cooking, you know,

that you put like your utensils in.

There's a whole thing about like what

are the six utensils that you need next

to your stove that like you use every

day. And when I tell you that I have

spent hours [laughter]

shopping for what is the best and only

spatula like what are the six cooking

tools I want

>> 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 by 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 want to talk to you about today is

this idea of exactly that like

maximizing, optimizing [laughter]

for most Burger Burger sessions

>> and rest and ease.

>> Yeah, those two things cuz they they are

a

>> you need them both

>> double-sided. They're a black and white

cookie. You got to have both. And I got

to tell you, Kiki, I texted you on the

way over here. Um, whatever. I have your

phone number. No big deal. [laughter]

>> And um, you look crazy.

>> And I cuz I had such a peaceful feeling.

I had such a peaceful feeling coming to

talk to [clears throat] you. I was like,

I know that whatever we talk about is

going to be funny and real. And you're

so easy to be around and I 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 [ __ ] funny. You are like an

oldfashioned

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

oldfashioned because that's how I I grew

up. 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,

>> GIRL,

>> BUT I THINK YOU DO too many things.

Okay,

>> right. I do. This is also true. Black

and white cookie. Black and [laughter]

white cookie.

>> You are a mogul. You're a visionary.

[clears throat]

You're a mogul.

>> By the way, I was with Rashidita the

other night and she told me that she's

at your house. She's staying with you.

>> Yeah, she told me that and she was like,

Amy told me you guys are going to be

talking soon. I said, no, I can't wait

to see my girl. It was so good to see

her. My wife is staying with me for a

while.

>> It's so nice. Okay, we're going to talk

about the future. We're going to talk

about the past. We're going to talk. But

I want to 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 and morning. 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 really,

really happy. Totally. Last night, I got

to bed at 11 PM. That's still a pretty

good one for me, you know. So, I went to

sleep. I had my alarm clock set at 7:15

and then 7:30 because, you know,

>> alarm clock are we talking.

>> I used to be

then I said, "Girl, that's too much. You

[laughter] need to be nicer to

yourself." So, now I was like,

"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 my

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 a.m. Felt so good about MY LIFE AND

MYSELF CUZ, YOU KNOW, I feel good when I

get a little bit of a workout in. And

Pilates is perfect because it's not too

intense. Like, I'm not like trying to

lose my life.

>> I want to talk. You're becoming a

Pilates instructor.

>> YES, GIRL.

KIKI,

>> WHAT? I FELT LIKE that one clip

[laughter]

where somebody's impersonating over her

and they're like

>> I think I did a sketch about that where

my head blew off. [laughter]

>> Where my head blew off. Kiki, you are a

P body 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 I want to be a

part of giving other people this feeling

because it's really really helped me.

It's helped me.

>> Me, too. I do Pilates and it is one of

those things that makes me feel

connected to my actual body cuz 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 a like a heavy thing

on you like Okay.

>> Yes.

[laughter] I could use more.

>> Okay. Do you like stem a little bit?

Like do you put your feet under Do you

put your feet under cushions?

>> Yes, I put my feet under cushions. I

like to be smooshed up against things in

that regard. I bite my jaw a lot.

>> Yeah. Just to feel a little

>> Oh my gosh. It's so

>> 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 this is something

about why we like comedy? Do you think

that that's connected?

>> Great 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 are inside their

bodies. And I think you're right,

comedy, a lot of it is like [laughter]

like you're that's what's we're up in

that air with it. And 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

[clears throat] I've got to have some

more balance with this. Cuz it's fun to

be we cuz sometimes you need to be we

>> but then it's like you need to also

really have the practices that remind

you that it's safe inside too.

>> Totally.

>> Let's do the hundreds really fast.

[laughter]

>> By the way, it's time to work out. You

didn't know. [laughter]

>> Okay. You're hosting an amazing podcast

and have for many years. I got had the

pleasure of doing it and you're so good

at it. Oh my gosh. And um 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 what have

you learned about yourself from talking

to all these people?

>> Well, you know, I felt like I always

>> knew that I like 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 and

delightfully surprised that people would

want to hear conversations because

that's what I love to have. So I feel

like the podcast 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.

>> Well not everyone not everyone does

that.

>> 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.

>> Yeah.

>> And it's fascinating to sit in the

tolerate

>> Yeah.

>> 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. So,

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 and that's okay. I'm

going to meet them where they are and

still we're going to 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 my like

codependency, it's hard for me to not

fill in a silence [laughter]

>> and then you're like in your head you're

like, "Shh, quiet now. Quiet, quiet."

And 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 down beat, we

like, "Oh [ __ ] it turned into McBTH

real fast."

>> [laughter]

>> like where are we now?

>> Can you say McBth on a podcast? Is that

bad luck? [laughter]

>> Like it gets, you know, so it's the but

but but sometimes it's like that's

[snorts] what it needs to be. I'm also

in a season of practicing restraint.

>> I'm trying to p when I tell you I'm

raining my [ __ ] in like my name is

Rudolph. [laughter]

>> I'm raining it in.

>> Season of restraint.

>> Season of restraint.

>> What does that look like? How? What? I 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. Um,

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 that that I should pull

back. You know what I mean? Then it's

and I and I'm really happy that I'm in

this season and I 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 got to 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 al 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

I was like, what?

>> Why am I so adverse?

>> 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.

>> What are you gonna do for me? [laughter]

>> You're not gonna do it right.

>> I gotta You got to 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 secondly,

speaking of Rashidita Kadata, her sister

taught me this. She was like, "You cut

the cords when you get home, right?" And

I was like,

>> I was, [laughter] "Girl, when you

started talking about visualizations,

give this Melissa Joart, Sabrina,

TEENAGE WITCH, MY SHOW. MY GIRL, these

are good rituals."

>> Do you know girl? I've been cutting

somebody cool for the last month. Let's

say it's a relationship, even a family

member, 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 uh pulled from it

constantly. So,

>> she walked me through visualizing a cord

and it and it was like the cord was

thick. It was like the weight of a ton.

It was like thick, like almost leathery.

I could feel it right around my my like

my my sacerel area. You know what I

mean? Like it was it's it's deep. It's

deep rooted to my power source.

>> And I just sat there and say, "You know

what? I need a I need a I need a knife.

No, I I need a [ __ ] axe to cut

this shit."

>> So I just started visualizing where this

cord is right here in this miss. And

every day I was axing it and it would

try to come back. It would try to

rejuvenate itself. And I kept asking it,

asking it, asking it, and now it's gone.

>> It's no longer there. But these visualis

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 got to get rid of other

people's cobwebs. And it can be like

person that you walked past to 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 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,

>> 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 thing is just

feels so empowering. It's so good for

the soul. You know what I mean?

>> Okay. Um, you g 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. What is What's the most

Midwest thing about you?

>> Well, I love the mundane.

[laughter]

>> Like I love simplicity.

>> Yes.

>> And that's why when people 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. That doesn't mean that everyday

Joe's not special. It just means that

he's not flashy. He's not flamboyant.

He's not taking up all, 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

>> uh Chicago is very blue collar. It's

very like people are amazing and

awesome, but they're kind of like no big

deal.

>> Totally.

>> So, I love that kind of energy when

people don't have to um 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. I love like, you know,

picnics,

>> 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 very are

very salt of the earth.

>> Who is a Chicago star that you saw when

you were there? Like

>> Bernie Mack.

>> Oh my god. Can we talk about Bernie M?

>> Bernie Mack. Bernie Mack, baby. Bernie

Mack, Chicago legend.

>> Love Bernie Mack. Bernie M. Rest in

peace.

>> Rest in peace. We love Bernie.

>> He was He hosted SN. He was so nice.

>> I miss Bernie so much.

>> Tell me how why he was important to you

and how you met him.

>> Because he was so I actually never met

Bernie Mack. 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 have loved you.

And I feel like we would like,

[laughter]

>> you know, like would just but love her

daughter, Bobby Christina.

>> Yeah.

>> Me and Bobby Christina met on MySpace

and we would always be like, "Hey girl,

hey girl." Love Bobby Christina. Rest in

peace to Bobby Christina, too. But um

yeah, I always loved Bernie because

>> 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 um is to be able to bring

up difficult topics and make and

metabolize them, help the public

metabolize them through entertainment.

Um and I think he was great with that.

Totally.

>> Um and he just was Yeah, he just he also

seemed like a really sweet person.

Everybody loved Bernie too, you know

what I mean? And so he just had it

seemed to have a genuine spirit and

obviously a great inspiration. So I love

whenever I think about uh you know

anybody Chicago greats, you know, Bernie

Mack 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 have been God that would have

been incredible. Okay. Okay. Sorry.

Well, um but so you're in Chicago and

both of your parents were actors.

>> Yeah. Not professional, but they

>> did it like that way. They met that way.

They did speech and turp. They met

actually at a a speech competition in

New Orleans. That's where they had papas

for the first time. [laughter] They

always bring that up cuz I guess like

back then Popeyes was like raising Canes

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.

[laughter]

>> Also Popeyes is branded this. No, I'm

kidding. But they loved they they always

talked about that. They talked about

their story of falling in love through

the arts when they got back to Chicago.

My mom went to uh New York and she was

going to be a you know actress and

performer and my dad stayed in Chicago

and they would be like pin 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 like

she had tap shoes at her door like the

following week and that was so touching

to her and he was so supportive of her

and then one day he she doesn't hear

from him and she's like where this

[ __ ] she's like 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 like angry. She's

like, "What? What do you mean, Larry?"

And Larry got into a car. He got into a

big accident.

>> Oh my gosh.

>> And his mouth has BEEN LIKE CLOSED 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 uh

musical called The Other Cinderella

>> and they just Right. Right. Right. Which

is crazy. Right.

>> Kiki was in Cinderella.

>> That's it's so weird to me these little

like 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. They moved from Chicago to

LA. Your siblings came too, right? Did

they come? They came. They all They all

picked up and moved.

>> They all picked up. So, we drove four

days and three nights and then when we

got there was like, "Oh my gosh, we're

so broke." You know what I mean? How are

we going to 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 before on a one trip

that I went with my parents. So, we knew

who I was going to be working with and I

got me an agent and 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 go. 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.

Anyhow, 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. Cuz 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 going to

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.

>> So my dad was in LA making sure we had a

good place to stay. My sisters and my uh

my sister and my uh younger brother and

sister went back with my grandma for a

little bit.

>> Yeah. 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 it 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.

>> And then as time went on it was just

like if I talk about this anymore I'm

going to 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 changed tremendously.

>> Yeah. And once you when you're when 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 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

KSwiss at Pay Less. You know, I had

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, I felt

that they deserve so much more. I felt

we deserve 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. That's adultified, parentified

stuff pretty early. And you've talked

about I love how you talk about 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 because

you certainly don't have to be an actor

to have that happen to you. You can have

it can be any of the child is actually

quite common.

>> Exactly.

>> Especially under capitalism.

>> 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 judge

my parents so badly. They really, really

judge them. Um, and that was a hurt that

I didn't know because I was 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 um 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 going to get the same

opportunities that I was getting? 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 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 Akila and the Bee Kiki.

>> I mean, it must be wild to have your

inner child in a movie.

>> It's so [laughter] crazy. You know it is

like you can go you're like I'm going to

go check out my inner child and you turn

it on. I mean that performance you in it

and that 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 has

shown that he doesn't think I'm that

dope. [laughter]

>> He has Yeah,

>> it has starting it started to appear.

>> Yeah.

>> That uh I'm not really cool to him. I

remember I was playing some [laughter]

I was playing some Drake, you know.

>> Uhhuh.

>> And I was like, "Hey, hey, hey." I was

like, "A G ag."

>> Oh, yeah. Don't

>> stop. Stop it. Stop it. No. You need to

stop being silly.

>> You're like,

>> "Everybody loves when I get silly.

[laughter]

>> Silly pays the bills, honey.

Everybody loves when I do the silly

thing. You hate it somehow."

>> Oh, yeah.

>> He's like, "Cut that [ __ ] out." It's

crazy how brutal they can be.

>> It's I mean his his his face for my

silliness is this much. He'll go he'll

gag with me for a minute and then he's

like stop. He's like please cut the

clown sh. [laughter]

[laughter]

>> It's so true. But that's healthy. That's

healthy. That is

>> Oh my gosh. Cuz 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 got to make sure

that mom feels funny today."

>> Oh my gosh, that

>> dangerous like if your kid

>> 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

He's like, "Well, cuz you were like,"

[laughter] and I was like, "What?" And

he was like, "You know when you go and I

was like," [laughter]

and I go, "Stop paying attention to me."

I know.

>> It's so incredible.

>> They're really They're always watching.

>> Okay. Um, can I talk to you about a

couple people that you worked with? cuz

there are some people that you work with

that I I love and I know you've worked

with some very very special people and

they've meant a lot to you and you've

you have worked with so many wonderful

women

>> and I I do want to ask and specifically

focus on the women that you've worked

with Angela Basset.

>> Okay, talk about Angela.

>> Angela Basset hands down incredible. uh

working with her on a key 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

>> because I think for many years cuz 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

>> 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

so she I 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, like, "Who

takes you 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." And I immediately started

crying.

>> And that was like something that I now

understand. And I do it all the time,

but for many years from that moment in

in between, I struggled with doing the

wrong thing, which could be really

hurtful to you as an actor cuz your

emotions don't know that you're kidding.

>> That's right. They 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. Dana. [snorts]

>> Dana Owen.

>> Dana is she's

>> so remarkable.

>> She's really something. She taught me

what it means to be a CEO, to be a

businesswoman.

>> If you're listening, please come on.

>> Oh, yo,

>> have you had her on your podcast?

>> She's never Yeah, she's doesn't do I

ain't saying that.

>> She doesn't do pods. Come do me and

Kiki's pods. We'll do it together.

>> That would be sickening.

>> Yeah, she's something.

>> She doesn't really talk too much. So, if

you hear her, you'll be like,

>> "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

is titties up, ass back. Incredible. I

know.

>> I love the way she walks. It's such a

hot walk. Her back is straight. Yeah.

The chest is hot.

>> Regal, smart, funny, great sense of

humor about herself, which like doesn't

take herself too seriously. Like you

learn so much about somebody when they

come and host SNL like immediately. You

learn immediately cuz they're nervous.

>> You you learn what people get what are

like when they're nervous or stressed.

She was so fun and funny and I've told

the 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 [clears throat] 9 8 and then the

stage manager is like there's no music.

Five four and we're like what? Three and

she's like just sing without music. Two

one and we're like

and after she was like she just like had

such a good time with that

>> the chaos

>> the chaos. What did you get under

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 on the 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 we

asked who 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 for believing in me and

she said well Kiki I've actually been

you know it's not just me believing you.

I've actually been seeing watching you.

>> Yeah.

>> And I'm like, "Dan, you was" And she was

like, "You are professional. You show up

to everything that you do."

>> Um, and so keep cuz you don't know. I

just remember thinking in that moment

like, "Wow." Like

>> my work ethic precedes me. You know, the

the way that I continue to move into the

game, it's going to 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. Like uh my the 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?

>> And it sounds like she was like she did

things. She made things happen for you

>> continuously over time.

>> 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 an easy crier. I

think I'm that person that's like time

to cry.

>> But do you do you cry by yourself or

>> I cry actually alone quite a lot.

>> I love crying alone.

>> Some people can say I have a depression

issue.

>> No, I love crying alone.

>> But I love to cry alone and I and I and

I save space and hold space for it where

I'll just pick up

>> sometimes I'm like I'm going to cry

tonight. But

>> it is it's like I'm going to get I'm

going to get I'm going to get on a TV

show. I'm going to get under my I'm

going to get on my biomat. I'm going to

get into my I'm going to cry. I'm going

to cry. Like my life depends on it. I

will literally cry, cry, cry. And it it

it's a because it's actually like a

release.

>> Yes.

>> It's a release of this sadness that you

need brought out that you buried. Maybe

it was from last yesterday. Maybe it was

from 10 years ago, but you you caught it

in the in the ether of your mind. You're

like, I never cried about that.

>> I think I also have a lot of anger. Mhm.

A lot of anger because, you know, it's

been it's such a thing as a black woman

where it's like

>> can't [snorts] be angry.

>> Oh yeah.

>> But then it's like it goes to the point

where it's like, [ __ ] you should be

angry for that. Yeah.

>> 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.

>> Yeah. you know, so I think I 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 [screaming]

[laughter]

>> I STARTED GETTING into rock music a

little bit more.

>> [ __ ] yeah.

>> I got a couple right rock songs that I

wrote.

>> Whoa.

>> Oh my gosh. And I'm like [laughter]

because I'm letting that rage out. You

know what I mean? Where I'm NEED TO BE

LIKE, "YEAH." Cuz it's like I'm I'm

actually angry.

>> Yeah.

>> You know, and you know, I didn't let it

out, you know? [ __ ] yeah. No [ __ ]

>> Crazy.

>> God, I love that for you, Kiki.

[clears throat] I love that. I love that

anger. Um, I love that era for you. I do

like that very much.

>> And And

I hate you so much right now.

[screaming]

[laughter]

>> Wait, what are some good angry angry

songs? That was a good one.

>> Oh my gosh, I love that. I also love

Fifi Doson. I grew up loving Fifi

Dobson. She's like OG classic, you know?

That's my girl. Um other songs that are

like really good for screaming.

>> Good screaming song. I mean um

>> I mean you can go to that G4 like

Rihanna back in that one. That one right

after Good Girl going bad. She was

pissed.

>> Yeah. And and [ __ ] Better Have My Money

is not screamy but it's angry.

>> You know what I'm saying? Also 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 going bad and then

the second album was like yo I'm in a

dark place angry. It was really I mean

>> those albums uh were just so curated in

a way that told us the story of a woman

becoming I felt that way with Mary J.

Mary Mary is that too.

>> Mary had like a way of expressing that

like um a mature anger.

>> Oh my gosh, Mary. And then I'm just

fine.

She was [laughter]

>> like she showed us

>> Yeah. She showed us the work. I know.

>> Let's get it up on [laughter]

Mary. I'm so obsessed.

>> I'm obsessed with Mary.

>> And now she's on stage like can't wait

to get off. Also, did you ever HEAR

[laughter]

>> I love her down?

>> That's success.

>> You know, it's a minute you're on,

you're waiting to go.

>> TRUE CAPRICORN ENERGY.

>> She's She's so right. We don't hear

enough. Mary, please. If you and

>> Oh my gosh, Mary and Queen are listening

to this together. Please. Come on.

Please. Um, okay. JLo.

>> Oh, love JLo.

>> Okay. I feel like you guys have a

>> You get me up off her, [laughter]

>> my girl.

>> Okay. What did you love about working

with her? Well, first of all, I love

that she's a real boss [ __ ] and she

don't play.

>> 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 do

what I got to do and I'm make I'm

focusing on my thing. And she was kind

of like well let how can I help you with

that?

>> Like how can we like she really liked

that I was in my own bag. and we became

really close 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

>> mentor,

>> 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 it's I want you to win in

this way where it's also like

>> you're already winning.

>> Yeah.

>> Which is a really cool way to empower

somebody. You know what I mean? Where

it's like

>> Whoopi Goldberg is like that. Wie

Goldberg is very very like Woopy

Goldberg is like

>> I'm in chapter 100. [laughter]

>> You are currently at chapter 30 and I

see it.

>> Yeah. Like a sage and that 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 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 want to 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 want to be able to give

them something

>> and she had said has said something

around those those lines where it's like

>> you know it 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.

>> And that's very cool.

>> Yeah, very cool. I got to I got to say

one guy I got to put one guy on this

list,

>> Jordan Peele.

>> Oh my gosh, Jordan.

>> I mean, I really wish that we worked

together again. your relationship and

and that film and nope you were so

incredible in that movie beautiful like

like such

>> charismatic interesting work he is so

talented of course

>> to be directed by him what's that like

how does it what how do you like how he

works how do you like his system

>> he was the first 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 is different. I'm open to

that. I'm I'm really

>> think that's also why I've been working

in the industry as I have because I'm

very moldable. I'm very malable. 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 I if I if I respect

you that's why I mean I've only signed

on if I respect you and so I'm open to

where you want to take me. Totally. 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.

Yeah,

>> 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 um and

then he was fun

>> because you didn't come from an ensemble

like you never had that ensemble feeling

like of collaborating in that way like

>> that's such a good point what you say

because that's probably that's Jordan

[clears throat]

>> yeah sketch improv like that idea that

like like We're all going to try to

figure that out together. And it's just

a little less lonely. Like it it's a it

it can really at least for me anyway, it

was like acting is hard and lonely. Um

and can be is, you know, cuz everybody

has their own special thing. Okay. Now,

um as the therapist would say, I'm aware

of the time, [laughter] but um I just

there's a few other things I want to

talk to you about. The BBS go. Hold on,

Jenna. Let me look at what is BBS. Okay.

Can I give you that second?

>> This is the first time this has ever

happened where I talked talked to the

guests for so long that they have to go

to the bathroom.

>> Okay, Kiki Palmer is back. How was the

bathroom?

>> Oh my gosh, that was amazing.

>> Okay, great. [laughter] It's good to be

hydrated, but sheesh.

>> Yeah. Okay, so we you're in Space Balls,

which is hilarious coming out. You're in

uh I Love Boosters. Huge film,

incredible cast, you guys.

>> Shout outs to Boot Boo Riley. I love him

so much. you and and like that movie

just looks so fun and original. Congrats

on that. And then um the BBS, another

season of that which is

>> starting to shoot in the fall.

>> Yeah.

>> And so we have a question uh for you

from um Miss Paula Pel.

>> So Paul, we spoke to Paula. Yeah. Let's

talk about Paula.

>> She's the one of the most incredible

humans ever. [laughter]

>> I know

>> she really really is. First of all,

she's really 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 behind

your back and she and she um and she you

know is on the BBS 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 Kiki Palmer to rest? You know, I've

learned that for me rest still is

active. I need to be active. And I think

that's why I I like Pilates more than

yoga.

>> Yes.

>> Does it make sense?

>> I can't because

>> so slow I want to die.

>> It's you know what I mean? There has to

be some activity in rest. So rest looks

like for me

>> um 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

>> look incredible.

>> Thank you. I got them done.

>> For me, rest is like

a recharge. Mhm.

>> 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.

Fantastic. In the car, [laughter] 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 45minute ride in LA

depending on where you're going.

>> I started napping.

>> There's a really cool woman I want you

to check out. you should maybe have on

your show uh Dr. Sandre um Dr. Sandre

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

Yes. and the need for that specifically

to your point a very specific kind

>> genetically it's like rest is not an

option rest also it uh it is like you

could have died trying to rest you know

what I mean and so um you know and I

feel like any of the any of the when you

think about black lineage if your family

is here today y'all definitely didn't

rest

>> right

>> it's why you're here

>> that's right

>> so it's like uh 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 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

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 organi 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

thinking about like, you know, like

maybe taking a note like I I got to

remember to

>> I actually love puttering too.

>> Puttering. I got to remember to change I

I want to change the the cover on that

chair. I should do that. No expectation

to do it. Just like observing in slow

motion, you know, and and just touching

things.

>> That's the mundane. That's the mundane.

That's right.

>> It's the mundane. It's so that moment in

between the scene. and do 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 going to be the next

thing for you because here's why the

Virgo in you is going to love a puzzle

cuz 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 a 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 going to 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, "No,

I got to 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.

>> Mhm. So, there's something that was that

could unlock.

>> 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 going to

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?

>> 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 want I'm not

the girl that's like I was there for

three hours. No. No.

>> Okay. Standup 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

have to do a stand up.

>> You got an hour already of material. You

go on the Hollywood Reporter. You do

that thing. You talk about [laughter]

two girls in one cup. And Quinta goes,

"Kiki." And I'm like, "That is it.

You're so

>> I really want to do." Okay. You all

right? We're going to do that. You're

going to do that. If you want to do it,

you're going to do it. Album you're

listening to right now.

>> Oh, album I'm listening to right now.

>> What 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 Toiver's last project, but

I like listening to him a lot. Um,

>> you know, I'll be honest with you,

there's not many artists that I'm like,

>> if there's old or new right now, like if

you were like, let's start dancing, like

I want to get a party going. What would

you

>> love?

>> Do you ever think of candy [singing]

and rain?

EVERYBODY WILL BE DANCING. [screaming]

OKAY. Have you ever seen a ghost?

[laughter]

>> I think I felt one.

>> Can't you tell that I never want you to

leave? [laughter]

>> Okay. You felt one. Okay, great.

>> I think I felt

>> Okay, perfect. The spirit of a ghost.

>> Do you Do you have a go-to baby present?

>> Money.

>> Money.

>> Just money. Y'all need it. [laughter]

>> Come on. We all could use it. You know

what I mean? Money is like my like

>> hand it to the baby. [laughter]

And I do the old school. I put something

in a cot like the c before the baby.

[laughter]

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? What 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 real like

[sighs and gasps]

>> one of my good friends, Ian. We be

laughing on the phone like nobody's

business.

>> No. See, you like to talk on the phone

with Ian.

>> Yeah. He's good, though.

>> Okay. [laughter]

>> And honestly, it'll be like a 10-minute,

you know, it's like, you know, it's not

we, you know, it's not hours because we

just be like, "Oh my gosh." Like, 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. [laughter] And it's like

done. But we are like,

>> how did you guys meet?

>> We met through my other really good

friend Courtney. And so Courtney

introduced me to Ian. And Ian is just so

funny. He is like shout out to 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 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 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.

[laughter]

>> I just love you. Like I literally have

TO I'M LIKE SO LIKE OVER STIMULATED. I'M

LIKE HUGGING holding myself cuz I'm like

[laughter] let's do the hund

>> [laughter]

[gasps]

>> You were so

>> Thank you so much for doing this.

>> You look legit.

>> Same. Right back. I mean, you're Kiki

Palmer,

>> Lauren. Kiki Palmer, the talent of all

talents here today. Thanks for being

here. Love having you.

[crying and screaming]

>> Oh my gosh. [applause]

>> 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 I just want to um point

everyone's attention to a very um a cool

woman who speaks about rest, the seven

types of rest. We mentioned her in the

podcast and she has uh an interesting

TED talk and and books about just that.

Um her name is Dr. Sandre Dalton Smith.

um and her seven types of breast. And it

just makes me think about um about how

important it is to find ways to do that,

whatever it may be. Like for example, me

um I don't know, going um in my bedroom

and sticking my feet under the mattress

and putting a sweatshirt over my eyes.

[snorts] But um let's not get specific,

but you know what I mean. Um, but uh uh

we I hope that this 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

[laughter]

bye. [applause]

You've been listening to Good Hang. The

executive producers for this show are

Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss [music]

Berman, and me, Amy Polar. The show is

produced by The Ringer and Paperkite.

For [music] the Ringer, production by

Jack Wilson, Cat Spalain, Kaia McMullen,

and Alia Xanerys. For Paperkite,

production by Sam Green, Joel Levelvel,

and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original music

by Amy Miles.

[music]