J.R.: [00:00:00] Hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of One Thousand Gurus, where we share the stories and lessons from people of all walks of life. And I'm your host, J.R. Yonocruz. Today's guest is Deyo Forteza

Deyo is an actor and stubborn filmmaker. Crew-wise, came from PA-ing to camera department to G&E and even dabbled in some art PA and finally landed in the sound department as a sound mixer and boom operator.

This was another fantastic episode and one of the longer ones at just around two and a half hours, but for good reason, because Deyo and I have not really caught up since our Kaba Modern days, which was just about 15 years ago.

And as usual with these long overdue catch-up type episodes, we do a lot of reminiscing, which is always a lot of fun about our Kaba Modern days and how formative it was for me and some of the best pieces of dance advice that I was ever given was actually from Deyo. We chat about reconnecting with our own artistry and love of music and dance.

We then get into fitness and health, particularly his journey to learning a ring muscle up over the course of several months. We then get into his origin story, his [00:01:00] family's musical and creative roots, how he got into acting, some of the challenges and lessons he's learned along the way, authenticity in creative careers, a very solid rapid fire section. And then we end with some of Deyo's favorite media recs, like his top books, movies, plays, shows, et cetera. It was such a great episode and hopefully you guys get something out of it as well.

So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Deyo Forteza.

All right. Deyo, welcome to the show. 

Deyo: Thank you. Thank you, thank you. Thank you. So happy to be here. 

J.R.: Yeah. Yeah, thanks for being here, man. I- we, we just caught up a little bit off-camera, and I feel like I kept having to stop myself from asking a lot of good questions that I'm like, "Well, we need to save it for the recording."

So fi- I was so excited to just press start, you know?

Deyo: Me too. 

J.R.: So yeah. So how are you, man? It's been... So like we said, I think it's been at least 10 years. I know we probably saw each other at one of the r- the KM reunions, but how have you been, man? 

Deyo: I have been very, very... Let's see. Let's a- let's [00:02:00] answer honestly.

Let's not give a blanket answer. Oh, 

yeah. Of course, 

we love it. Th- actually, that's so funny 'cause I'm actually f- I feel like I'm in a place where I could say, like, "I'm good." Nice. When before it would just be you just blurt it out. But no, I've, I've actually been, like, in a very, very nice place in terms of, like, art.

Family is huge. I got two lovely nephews and a beautiful, beautiful niece. So it's like, just very grateful for, for life, good community, good friends. And lots of, lots of fun learning, and learning that we'll always be learning. So, so I'm in a good place. How about you? 

J.R.: I'm good, man. I feel like I've entered a new chapter in my life where my...

Well, dance has been a huge part of my life for a long time, and then I've shifted from, I've been a part of the same team for the last seven and a half years. And so when you close a chapter that long, it [00:03:00] feels like a new era. Oh. Not only that, but, you know, yeah, I got a new job, just finding new activities, new communities.

So I'm, like, in this not rebirth I don't wanna make it sound dramatic, but it feels like that 'cause a new chapter, you know? 

Deyo: Mm-hmm. It really is. I feel like, I was, I was talking about this with, with Shawn and Lawrence, old, old Kaba, old Kaba vets. But, like, 'cause I was, I was driving by Irvine to get Le Dip when my brother was in town.

Nice. I'm glad they're still around. But I was, I was driving through there and I'm like, wow, there's so many memories just going through these different streets and freeways and walking in Irvine Town Center, and that was just four years. And it's crazy, like, high school and college, how it, it's so compact with tons of memories and all these things.

And then there's a weird thing that happens when you're, like, a, a working adult that, like, man, the last 10 years kinda went by pretty quick. Like, my last four year [00:04:00] kind of, like, intense period, 2019 to 2023, was, like, mainly dealing with the pandemic, and that just flew by. So it's like, it's very important I feel like when you have these chapter markers and milestones and communities that you build with and move from and it, it kinda- fills in that, that 'cause in, I mean, when you're in school you're constantly around like new friends, new opportunities, and so you kinda have to create that for yourself and it's fun.

J.R.: Mm-hmm. 

Deyo: Shawn living life like that. 

J.R.: Yeah. Yeah, no, I like that. All right. So I wanna go back to... Well, we'll eventually go back to the beginning of Dayo and who Dayo is- ... but I do wanna go back to reminiscing, my favorite part of these episodes, which is, so how I know you. So obviously we know each other through Kaba Modern, as a lot of my more recent guests.

And so that was back in 2010 when I joined the team, and you were my super oldie, so like three years my senior. [00:05:00] And so it was like you, Shawn, and Julie I believe who were from that class. One of my first impressions was that, you know, we do run-throughs, and we always, we segregate by class. And it was always-

apparent to me in Kaba Modern, because I always felt like I'm a newbie, but I'm also, I feel like I'm the least, I'm, like, the least skilled dancer in my class, which I think a lot of people- Right ... feel the same- Oh, yeah ... because we're all surrounded by talent, right? Yeah. Mm-hmm. And so, just percept- like, perception-wise, I'm like, "Oh, my God," like, the other 11 members of my class, like, they're so amazing.

And I told Alex Crystal, I'm like, "Except you. You are number one." But everyone else, we all felt like we're at the bottom. But but then when we do run-throughs, I feel like I could tell, you could tell who was, like, a newbie, returner, oldie, and super oldie based on how good they were in those run-throughs.

And I know it's a function of experience, skill level, how long you've been on the team, how long you danced with each other, but to me, like, when I saw the run-throughs, it just kept getting better and better until we got to the super oldies. And I'm like, "Man, Shawn, [00:06:00] Deyo, and Juli are, like, the mast- like, the sanin, the, of our, like, of our class, of our, of our of, like, our team at that point."

And um, I remember- It took time ... uh... and yeah, no, I mean, that's just how I see you guys. And I was telling Ramy this, too. I'm like, "Even though it's been years and years since then however you, however you guys were in my first year if you were my return or my oldie, my super oldie, I still see you guys as that, as, like, the big brothers or the parents of us, even though we're all, you know, in our 30s and whatnot."

But I'm like- ... "Yeah, I still see you guys as, like, my, my big brothers, even though a lot of time has passed." What was... Okay, so one story I have- Yeah ... from you. No, two things, actually, before I let you talk and I just monopolize this. But- One, one piece of advice you gave me that stood out for me and really shaped my whole experience of not only Kaba Modern but dance is, you know, during what do they call it?

Like, piece submissions or we did those, like, where we choreographed, and then we submitted, and we show what we did, right? Or collabed and whatnot. I remember you [00:07:00] told me specifically, you're like... I, I, I was asking you something to the extent of, how do I get better at dancing, you know, you guys are so amazing.

And you said, "Never missed a, a choreo day or a piece submission day," whatever it's called, meaning, like, always choreograph and then always submit. It's obviously scary to showcase what you're doing and to choreograph and to create, but that's so important. And so because of that, I don't think I missed a single, like, submission day.

Mm-hmm. And I would collab with people, and I would s- and I would do that. And I think at the end of the, whatever three years I was on the team- I significantly improved as a dancer because of that one piece of advice, because I was like- Oh ... "Well, Deyo told me to do it, so I have to do it." And then I did it.

And I'm like, "Okay, well, it worked." You know, by volume and by just committing to the craft, even if you don't feel like it, even if you're not inspired, and even if you feel insecure, you just do it anyway. And I always attribute that to you. Oh, man. And another thing is um, like you guys of, of the classes above me were so amazing that there was this one, there was this, like, one Japanese team that we competed against, Body Rock, where there were [00:08:00] like four Japanese dudes and they were crazy.

I forgot what their names were or the group name. And I was like- Shit 

Deyo: Kings, possibly. 

J.R.: Shit Kings, yeah. Okay. Yeah. So I remember this specifically. I was like, as they were doing their run through, like their tech, and we were kind of watching this dance, I was like, "Like, you and Shawn could probably take them."

And you're like- ... "Dude, don't say that out loud." And I'm like, "No, I think you could." And I was confident. I'm like, "No, Deyo and Shawn can definitely take those guys. Like, you guys are way better, either better or as good as." And obviously you guys didn't feel that way. You're like, "Yo, we're just, we're just dancers, man."

... But that's how I saw you guys. I thought you guys were, like, the elite compared to these other people. Oh, man. And so just, that's the other thing I remember about you two. 

Deyo: That means a lot, a lot to hear. That's, that's- Yeah ... freaking awesome, 'cause I- 

J.R.: Yeah, I don't know- 

Deyo: I, I- I don't know if 

J.R.: you remember that, but that 

Deyo: was, I remember that

I remember the choreography bit for, like, Peace submissions. I don't remember the Shit Kings bit, 'cause I probably dismissed it so much at the time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But yeah, like, oh man, that's so, that's so kind of you, and I love that- ... 

you have that, [00:09:00] like, that com- 'Cause me and Shawn still talk about it where we're like, "Dude, right now we sometimes just miss competing."

Like, I don't know if we'll put up with a hell week but the competition and having that, like, we-have-each-other's-backs mentality, and like, now we could take them. I love that, that you had that early and that you're believing in your, in your comrades team members. 

J.R.: I don't know if you- 

Deyo: Yeah, 

J.R.: yeah.

And, and now that I think about it, I think it was reminiscent of, because I, I had, I danced with AOV when I was in high school, and so I was very competitive. And then, you know, you guys are my team and, like, my super oldies, so I'm like, "You guys can take them. Like, they're, they're nothing, man." "You c- you do it."

So that, I think that's where that came from. 

Deyo: Oh, that's awesome. And I- Yeah ... I have to I have to give credit to the Peace audition thing, so that's cool that you for the Peace auditions and you mentioning how, like, it felt like tiers of when you watch, like, the, the classes doing run-throughs is...

There, there's like a, [00:10:00] something like valuable to, like, as you get older or more experienced in something, you're, like, realizing you have to lead by example. So there's definitely a part of that where it's like- It wasn't just like, "Oh, we're good. We have all this experience." There's 

also like, "Damn, these guys are good that we just inducted, and so we have to be in our A game.

We're gonna like go full out, full out, show them a full out, one side show them what full out really looks like." But also being 

like, we gotta keep up, and we have to make sure we're putting in our work because the, the talent and the resources of the younger generations is just always gonna be propelling.

So rather than like get buried and swept under, you got, use that as motivation for both sides to be like, "Dude, okay, let's, let's be out of breath. Let's go, and let's like focus, really zone in on technique and execution." And I gotta give credit to my [00:11:00] oldie, Brian Mirador. He's the one who imparted that that you, you gotta like just put a piece up.

And there, there's a fine line to like, of course, wanting to, you don't wanna put up half-assed work at the same time for anything you do. But there's also the other side of like, if it's something like a piece audition where you're just choreographing being artistic you don't always have to be focused on the outcome of like, "Oh, I'm, I'm doing this so that it gets into a competitive set."

Sometimes it's just like, I really like this song- 

Mm. 

And the, it, the vibe is hitting right now, and if I wait on it or if I don't choreograph, it's probably ne- not gonna happen. And so it also just lends a little bit to staying artistic and, and learning or like being comfortable with your community and your support system.

And then also, yeah, just, just kind of, working that muscle a little bit of like sometimes when it [00:12:00] doesn't feel good, just see, see what you can push through. And then again, with that community and support system, sometimes people are like, "I really like that piece." You know, even if it never got put up with the team or if it was just for those piece auditions, there's like some people who are like, "I vibed with that.

Let's collaborate on the next one." And you build other connections and other things. Mm. And you, you kind of like, you scratch that itch of like, man, I really wanted to dance to that song, so I'm glad I got to do something. So that's awesome that you, that you continued that, and you did, you did improve a lot.

And you're- Thank you ... you're crazy. We were, we were freaking, the, the things that we asked you to do in terms of like, "Hey, can you try this flip over this person?" 

J.R.: Oh, yeah, yeah. Oh my God, jumping over Shawn for whatever that competition was. I'm like, "Sure, yeah, why not?" You know? 

Deyo: That was, 

J.R.: Might, might die, 

Deyo: but, encore. Collusive Encore. Encore. It was, yeah, yeah. You did an [00:13:00] exile over Shawn. 

J.R.: I did, yeah. 

Deyo: And I remember Shawn just being like- Just both of you committing, and I know that, like, we've talked about where he's just like, "I hope so. I hope he lands it, and I hope I-" Yeah. "... slide enough underneath him to give him space."

But you, I feel like you never dropped that X out. I never saw you, like, bail out of that thing. You're crazy. But yeah, I hope not. Yeah. You're crazy with your tumbling- 

J.R.: Thank you ... 

Deyo: and your dedication to it. 

J.R.: No, thank you. Yeah, I mean, I think I, I had put enough work in that, like, at least the moves that we were doing I was comfortable with, and then, yeah, we did the movie set.

And it was funny because, you know, I did a, a out of a jitterbug and I, I did that butterfly twist. Yeah. And then land, pose, and then we kinda just keep dancing. Because we did so many run-throughs, my butterfly twist actually got better, like, through that. And it got easier, and you would think it would be the opposite.

You're like, "Oh, I'm exhausted." But I'm like, "Wait, my, my B twist actually is kind of floaty now. Like, it's nice."

Deyo: Yeah, you're like thinking about it less- ... and I just need to run it again ... and you're just like, "Oh, snap." Mm-hmm. Like, that [00:14:00] landing feels really nice and tight. 

J.R.: Yeah. I was, I think it was 'cause I was giving it my all and I was really, like, leaning into it and trying to make it, like f- I was full outing more often than just half...

I mean, you can't really half-ass a flip because- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm ... if you half-ass a flip, you, you eat ground. But,

Deyo: Yeah. 

J.R.: But I don't know what about that, like it was like, oh, by the end of it my B twist was a lot better. But the overall set was fun, and, That was a fun one ... yeah, it was such... Yeah, that's, that whole set was insane.

But I'm curious, okay, so do you have any, any distinct memories from our time together on Kaba Modern that you wanna throw out there? 

Deyo: Dude, just, just like your, like for you as a person specifically, it was like your like calm collectiveness from like, and your... You, you always stayed true to yourself, which I loved.

Like you, you didn't, like... Your personality and your, your work ethic, everything was just like you stayed yourself and then you also put in the work, [00:15:00] and you weren't like this, uh You, you were not, you're immovable in like, not in a bad way, but like, it was like, "Oh, cool, J.R. knows who he is." And, and so it was just fun, 'cause there's a lot of, me included, a lot of people who like, when you're newbies, and I was just trying to impress and like, "Oh, is this what it takes?"

And, and you, you kind of fold under the pressure at times. And I feel like, I don't, I don't know how it felt for you, but to us it just felt like, "Oh, tight. J.R.'s just gonna he's gonna be J.R., and he knows where he's at. He knows what his values are." And I feel like you just carried... And you're, you're always like a dependable dancer to have, whether it was working on stuff.

You kind of knew early that like, "Okay, this stuff is gonna take some time. It's gonna take some effort." That, that took me and Shawn a long time. We used to, when we were newbies, we'd like hide in the corner and be [00:16:00] chatting while like pretending to go over, like we'd be run- going through the motions, but the most, most of the time we'd chat so much that our oldies and our directors had to come around the corner and be like, "Hey, are you guys, what are you guys working on?"

And I feel like we never had to do that with you, which was, which is pretty awesome to see, 'cause that takes like a, a, a different level of like maturity and, and yeah, like I said, the work ethic to like know that early on that like, "Okay, we're here to, to put in effort." And I think that's why we had such like, with your guys' class, we had a lot of fun and great sets, and I feel like it was because the directors both in 2010 with like, was that Shawn, Dana, Darren?

J.R.: Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Deyo: And then going into 2011, I know that- we were told a lot to, like, "Don't, don't create so many different sets [00:17:00] because, like, if you wanna compete, you wanna work on what you're really good at." Mm-hmm. Like, maximize that. But we had so much fun with you guys, the, like the artistry and the, the authenticity of what we were growing, that it was like, "Let's make another set.

Let's make something different. Make something different." Yeah. 'Cause I feel like you guys were dependable, but also bringing very much of yourselves to it, that we were like, "Let's try, let's try something new." And so we might not have always, like, placed. I think the only placing we did while you were there might've been Prelude NorCal.

Mm-hmm. Yeah. I think that was second or third place, I forgot. But- 

J.R.: No, that's... I 

Deyo: think we 

J.R.: got first for that one. 

Deyo: Oh, did we get first? 

J.R.: I think 

Deyo: so. Yeah. Shit. Yeah. 

J.R.: Yeah. We, we won money, which went back to U-Haul. Oh, 

Deyo: yeah. 

J.R.: Yeah. 

Deyo: Right? And then we won, like, like, Best Mix or something too. Yeah. We were, like, really proud.

Something like 

J.R.: that. 

Deyo: Yeah. And that- Yeah ... that, that was a cool crowning moment, but it also [00:18:00] wasn't all about that, 'cause we were like, "Dude, let's, let's just be artists." Sorry. 

J.R.: Mm-hmm. 

Deyo: Cut you off. What were you gonna say? 

J.R.: No, no, no. It's all good. No, 'cause I, now I'm thinking about the movie set and, like, was it, was your piece the Scream piece?

Deyo: It was. 

J.R.: Yeah. And so that was a lot of fun. I mean, 'cause you were, you were crazy creepy. And then I was one- ... of the masked people. And I was telling Alex- Yeah, you were 

Deyo: very de- Oh, go ahead. Go ahead. 

J.R.: No, no, no. Yeah. I was telling Alex Kristal, we reminisced about this. I'm like, "You do know that before Prelude, every single run-through, I never got my whole costume on?"

Like, the change was crazy. Like, from whatever we were until Scream. That was, that was 

Deyo: pushing you guys. 

J.R.: Yeah. And so I was like, I, I always make it on stage and then put my mask on or my glo- or whatever. And then on Prelude, that was the only time I put everything on on time. And I was like, "Wow, I guess this was meant to be."

'Cause that was like, there was like six costume changes. And I was like, that was the hard, that was the hardest one because we went from clothing, stripping down is obviously easier, until 300, and then we're pretty much naked, and with- Yeah ... a skirt on. Yeah. And then going- Yeah. Gloves ... taking [00:19:00] off your boots.

Yeah, to put, taking off our boots to put on all this black clothing to be Scream was the hardest one, I feel like, then taking off. Yeah. And then we went to Matrix. And so yeah, that was, Did 

Deyo: I have you with a knife prop too? I 

J.R.: don't remember, but you did have me jump on stage after some- But I- you had the 

Deyo: jump.

J.R.: Yeah, someone jumped off, I jumped on as a teleport. Yeah. And then we kind of blah. And we used a, Yeah ... 

Deyo: we used the, a gymnastic springboard 

J.R.: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Deyo: Yeah. 

J.R.: That was, oh my 

Deyo: gosh, that was so much fun. Oh, that's so- wait, that- I'm gonna link- You were- I'm 

J.R.: gonna link the video so people can watch it, 

Deyo: but- You're, you're one of my favorites, like whenever I had a piece, you're like the dependable.

There was not, not, 

not to say maybe favorites is, is a mean- Yeah, yeah ... or not mean, but like shouldn't say that. I can be saying. But like you were always dependable when it came to iso too, so which is very much the, the style I choreograph to. And you, I feel like you also [00:20:00] You're, you're a weirdo like me where you relished in, like, the puzzle mind games part of it- Yeah

of, like- Mm-hmm ... independent limbs and trying to hit things sharp and clean. So it was always fun that, like, once we had you, I was like, "Oh, I know when I do my piece, most of the time I'm probably gonna have J.R. in there, even if he's- Yeah. ... 

a newbie or whatever," because it was just like, no, he could... Like, it's like you and Saia, Alex Crystal at times I'm like, "Nope, these guys could kill it.

I gotta have them." 

J.R.: Yeah. 

Deyo: And so that was fun. That was a lot of fun. Yeah, 

J.R.: yeah, yeah. I like that too 'cause it's, it's when you're, when you're a director or when you're, like, building a team and you have, like, these pieces of n- like, it's kinda like a roster of, like, a sports team where you're like, "Okay, these people are strong in these areas.

We can use them for these pieces, and these choreographers, et cetera." Or obviously you're gonna have to train more people to do those pieces, or you have the s- people who can specialize, or they're people who can also- Yeah ... be general and do a lot of different things. And so that [00:21:00] was one of the things where...

Okay, another side tangent, but you know, like, right after the, like, the Mike Song and Tony Tran era and all the, like, the popping iso, and then we have, like, you guys with Shawn and DJ. DJ. And and but then also we had, like, Jonah and Darina's era where they're like- Yes ... their, their, their- I was about to say Darina

their color was also added to that. Exactly. And so I was like, "Man, I joined Kaba Modern to do, like, freaking Mike Song stuff, but I'm here in Jonah's piece or Darina's piece, like, trying to do- ... swag and trying to do, like, fem." So by the end of my Kaba Modern experience, I'm like, "Why is my style very iso fem now?"

Because I'm always trying to learn how to do... I'm so- So I feel like- Yeah ... it took me in a different direction, but we obviously did, I did iso obviously. Sure. But it was just so funny. Mm-hmm. Just wanted to throw that 

Deyo: out there. I'm so grateful for them too, 'cause like, like, fem, I was very... Like, I love that I could, I could dance like that now, and I was so stiff and robotic before, and Jonah kept believing in me and putting me in his pieces until at some [00:22:00] point it just kind of, your body unlocks into like, "Oh, I can move like this."

And look at them now. Like, 

Jonah and Darina specifically. Of course. Darina's freaking dancing for Shakira- Amazing ... and so many other things, but she's like- And every, 

J.R.: all the, everyone else, yeah. 

Deyo: Yeah, everyone else. But she's like her right, right-hand woman. She sings. She got a mic and everything. Uh-huh. She's with that, and then Jonah repping 1MIL in Korea and, and going as far as they did with the comeback in IDL.

Like, I'm just, just so proud of them and, like, grateful that we all got to, like... We came at a fun time, 'cause yeah, like you said, if, if it was around the '07 times that I... A big part of Kaba to me was also, like, I got to dance with Mike Song and Tony. But all of us being able to be there at a time where it was this This cumulative, like a bunch of new really good dope dancers bringing new styles [00:23:00] mixed with like...

And then you have like Jonah loved learning like iso stuff too, and Darina could pop. Like she could tap. Mm-hmm. She, she could really do anything. She's just amazing. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. But I remember when she would do her hits, even if she was just playing around and having fun, I was like, "Holy. She- ... she can pop."

And then her footwork with like her tap dancing training and all those years of- Mm ... you know, like hip hop dancing, she, she just brought like this new level. Man, oh, this reminiscing's fun. I miss those days. Yeah, 

J.R.: exactly. This is the fun part.

Deyo: My quads, I 

don't know can stand that- 

J.R.: No. Yeah, same ... 

Deyo: like a run through that long, but I'd love to.

You'd 

J.R.: be... It was during the, the wedding run throughs, right? And then, you know, all of us are, half of us are super gassed, and then the other half who like obviously work out, you're like, they keep going, and everyone is like, "Dang, how do you keep going, man? We're, we're old." "Slow down." Like, 

Deyo: Yeah, I feel like everybody who's doing who's still doing Culture Shock [00:24:00] LA and things like that- Yeah

who's like, oh, dude, they can move, they can dance. 

Easy. But everyone else, I- speaking of like that class Josh Espinoza, who's amazing chef with Sampa, who holds these Wednesday no reservations which is like a, a fun like Filipino street eats while also being able to listen to fun music and stuff. He had the Beat Junkies from Cerritos come and spin, and then he put out linoleum floor, and he put in like two really good b-boy sets.

Like he went in, did his thing. Dang. Yeah. And then there was like a moment where I was just like, "You, you, you going in again?" 'Cause I forgot what song came on, but it was like a good song. And he's just like, "

My legs." My legs. He just needed to sit and have water.

He's like, "My legs." And it's just one of those things where your mind and your body can execute it- 

Mm-hmm ... 

but it's ha- it, it comes with a shock. Same thing happened to me [00:25:00] and Shawn in, I think, 2019. We went to Evo fighting game competition in Vegas like video game fighting 

game competition, and they happened to have a like just a DJ, and then people started busting out, and it was really cool.

Dancers and non-dancers alike were like, they're, speaking of community, they're very open to just like, "We're gonna dance a little bit." Me and Shawn went in for a couple rounds Same thing. We wanted to go in more, but we literally, like, we were sitting down for a bit and then we were like, "Oh my God, I can't stand 

up."

Like, we had to use our arms and kind of drag ourselves- 

J.R.: Yeah. ... 

Deyo: out of the circle. Just crawl. We were like- 

J.R.: Just, just soldier crawling out. Like, "Oh." Yeah. "Someone help me. Man down." 

Deyo: So it never, never leaves, like, the mind. And, like, what we could do, our body can kind of execute, but it's when you don't do it consistently, it, it definitely is a different kind of shock to the system.

J.R.: [00:26:00] Yeah. Yeah. I like that. Another thing I wanted to bring up was, so obviously work ethic was a big thing that I got from you guys, my oldies and super oldies. And, you know, Darren, obviously very talented in his, in b-boying, but then he was also the guy who, like, my class, we would all be... We'd go off stage, everyone's tired, and then Darren is still on the floor practicing something.

And we're like, "Well, okay, well we can't not. Our oldie and our director is, like, you know, is practicing still, so we have to." And another thing I remember, as we're talking about Jonah, is, like, I remember there were certain pieces where it's like Jonah would be, i- in his piece it'd be, like, mostly all girls, and then the other guys who were gay, and then Deyo.

We're like, "Okay, well of course Deyo's in this piece. He's been practicing." "He's so good at this style." So it's a testament to your hard work. Oh, thank you. It was always the girls, the gays, and Deyo. We're like, "Okay, well, we're not making it in that piece." 

Deyo: Well, I try, I tried real hard to learn how to move.

[00:27:00] That, oh man, once once, once Jonah, I remember we did a wedding once, and then Jonah couldn't make it, but we were doing, I forgot what the song was, but it had this, like, beauty or, like, this Maleficent vibe to it. Okay. Like, "You want me. You hate me." Mm. "I don't care."

J.R.: Yeah. 

Deyo: And then I was the only person in doing that wedding who was in that piece.

Oh. And so I felt so honored. So it was your solo? Yeah, it was a solo, and I was like, "I have to own it the way Jonah does." There's probably- I think I remember this ... footage of that. Yeah. It was the, the wedding was, was dubbed DKLA 'cause, 'cause of their initials. Nice. But that, I was very, very proud of that.

But it did, man, that first year when Jonah started believing in me to put me in pieces, I was so bad, but just kept working at it. And so, like, you were talking about the work ethic with Darren and how he led the way, and he's like doing b-boy stuff after doing a full run through. Mm-hmm. And practicing his hand hops and stuff like that.

Mm-hmm. But all [00:28:00] that reminded me of your guys' work ethic. You, so for, when we did Movie Set, Alex Crystal choreographed 300. And of course, everyone was gonna be in their costumes of like pretty much a 

bahag. Yeah, 

yeah. Like loinclothy or like you have the little like the, the skirt, but with the slits in it because like you had to be able to move.

Everyone's shirtless with a cape and then boots. And everyone just locked in. I wasn't in that piece, and I remember it even made me lock it. That was the most fit I was up until currently right now. Like right now, a lot of my motivation the last year to get this fit again was like remembering like, oh, during that 300 time and all of us were like doing P90X Ab Ripper and- Yeah.

Yeah ... but you guys like locked in work ethic where [00:29:00] I remember You would hear murmurings after Prelude and I forgot the other competition, might have been Vibe, the, the half a year after or a few months after where we did that, where, like, the, the murmurings between other dancers during tech or, like, in the crowd were like, "Whoa, were, are, were they really that buff?

Was, was that, like, drawn on? Was that..." And it's like, no, everybody, like, committed to dieting, working out, and this was all, like, on their own time aside from us doing anywhere from, like, 5 to 12-hour practices- Mm-hmm ... of, like, dance practices. And so, like, you guys brought that work ethic to a, a new level where I was like, "I can't, I'm not showing my abs in this piece, but I can't be left in the dust."

Everybody's getting buff right now. 

J.R.: Yeah. No, that was a lot of fun because I... So a couple of people I specifically [00:30:00] remember, Ramy was, he was working out as well, and he's like, he was asking somebody, and I overheard, he's like, "Hey, like, I've been working out, and I used to be sore after my workouts, but I'm not getting sore anymore.

Am I doing something wrong?" And then someone's like, "No, no, no, that's, that's what you're supposed- you're not supposed to keep getting sore. Like, your body adapts to it." Yeah. And I, and then I remember, like, Marco doing pushups in the corner between run-throughs- ... and obviously Alex as well. Then, and then Alex just stayed buff since then.

So there's- Yeah, 

Deyo: yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, 

J.R.: like he never stopped. 

Deyo: That was part of, like, the, I feel like the last maybe three or four months I super locked into, like, a diet regimen too, aside from just working out. And part of that catalyst, aside from, like, a work opportunity where I was like, "I gotta do it now or never," but I s- I happened to run into Alex at at 24 Hour.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. I was visiting my, my sister, the nieces, and I mean, the niece and nephews and I was like, "Oh, I could get a workout in near their area," and he happened to be there, and I was like, "He looks so good." And then I did my whole workout. I s- [00:31:00] he was already there when I got there. I did my whole workout, which was already long.

I was, like, practicing for the ring that was practicing ring muscle-up technique, which, like, you need to give your body lots of time to rest. And I'm there for probably an hour, hour 15. And then when I'm leaving, I'm like, he finished his workout. Like he said bye to me and 

stuff in case we were gonna go.

I look back and he's still on a treadmill Mm. Like getting his cardio in now. And I'm like, he has had to have been here for hour 45 to two hours. 

J.R.: Yeah. 

Deyo: And, and that's why he looks so good. He's on it. 

J.R.: Yeah. And if you guys have anyone who knows Alex in person if you wanna feel bad about yourself, give Alex a hug, and then you feel just the muscles underneath his clothing, and you're like, "Damn, I feel so soft right now."

Deyo: And he's very... Like, he looks so good. He's the type that, 

like, wear not modest clothing, but, like- Right. Right ... it's not super form-fitting. 

J.R.: Mm-hmm. 

Deyo: But you [00:32:00] could tell, like, his forearms or whatever is, like, kind of showing. You're like, "Oh, he looks fit." Yeah. And like you said- Yeah ... when you give him a hug, like damn.

J.R.: Yeah, exactly, 'cause you have to sleeper bell. You're like, "Okay, bye." Like, what am I hugging, like a geodude or something? Like, what is this? This onyx under the shirt, like what's going on? He was a... Him and... I saw him and Andy Ho at the wedding. You know Andy Ho's been big- Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm ... into power lifting.

And- Yeah. 

Deyo: He's a 

J.R.: beast ... Alex was like, "Oh, yeah." Yeah. No. Yeah. So they're both crazy. Obviously, they had no problems with run-throughs. And so they were, they were like, "Oh yeah," like, you know, "Keep posting the stories about..." Like I've been posting stories about running and, like, you know, doing 5Ks and working out in the morning.

And Alex is like, "Yeah. Keep doing that. It's really inspiring." And I'm like, "Coming from you two guys, I feel... it feels patronizing, man." Like y'all freaking- ... all your s- you, you guys are like the buffest people I know, and you're telling me, "Oh, good job. Good job." I'm like- ... "Come on, guys." 

Deyo: No, that- We were just laughing about it

that's still... That's funny. But that- Yeah ... that is a beast in itself, [00:33:00] like the... Like I feel like there's so many people who are like different parts of fitness are like everyone into fitness just knows how, how difficult doing other things is. Right. Of course. Yeah. Like running, I would be like, "Oh man, I'm...

I'm probably gassed," and be filled with carbon dioxide in like 10 minutes- Oh, of course ... where I'm like, "I need to breathe." 

J.R.: Yeah. 

Deyo: So that's, that's- Like I like 

J.R.: oxygen, so I'm gonna not 

Deyo: run. That, that endurance is, is beastly on its own. That's g- just the same way I probably wouldn't try, like, power lifting unless I like really- Yeah

learned the technique. 

J.R.: No, same. I'm like, I like s- relative safety and not breaking my bones and pulling all my muscles, so I'm just gonna do my... I'm gonna do my little dumbbells, you know, and just be safe.

Deyo: There's a lot, lot to be done with, with 

dumbbells. Ev- every single kind of fitness. Of course. I feel like it's good that we're, It's, it's actually, now that you mention that, it makes me think, like it's really cool [00:34:00] seeing- All of us dancers be like, "I, I just wanna keep moving." We all find our different ways and our like our addiction to dance kinda shifts to like how else can we move our body or discover- Mm

our body and, and the capabilities of it and pushing it. That's a lot. Yeah. Like right now it's been calisthenics, and the last few months I've gotten back into climbing, indoor climbing, and I'm like, "This is so fulfilling. It's so fun." 

J.R.: Yeah. I wanna go back to, I wanna go back to that really quick, so 'cause you mentioned Muscle Up, and we'll, I guess we'll jump around.

But I was talking, my last guest was Simbol- Yeah ... and we were talking about, like, reconnecting with dance and our love of dance and whatnot because I've, I've discovered that he and I are like the same creature in which we'll go to a, like a music event completely sober and just dance. If by ourselves, we don't really...

You know, we can go with people, but sometimes we're like, "Fuck it, we just wanna go." [00:35:00] Yeah, yeah. So we're the guys just at the bar just dancing, not drunk, and I- I'm drinking a diet soda. And so we're like, "You know, we should probably just dance together since we're both doing this anyways." So we're trying to find a- I wanna roll deep with you 

Deyo: guys.

J.R.: Yeah, okay, yeah. Well, I'll hit you up. Well, we're just, he- ... and so he sent us like me and my other friend who we'll, I'll invite, too, like these house events or house music events and then s- just to vibe and stuff like that. Yeah. And so we're trying to find one to meet up at. But I was like, yeah, I think it's this sort of our generation who were competing and, you know, they do like Reclaim & Rise and stuff, and then now coming back to it- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm

and re-discovering our joy of dance. Like for me it's going back to my freestyle roots and self-expression rather than trying to look like someone else. 

Deyo: Yeah. 

J.R.: And, you know, he's discovering his love of artistry in himself as well, and so I'm like, yeah, that's, I think there's a piece to that as well that I really like.

Deyo: Yeah. I've, I've been on, on like a, a sober journey myself, so I, I have... Like it's, it's cool once like, like, not, not having [00:36:00] the vice of drinking or smoking, I didn't think how much energy. It's like that addictive energy that I used to have as like a, you know, a, a high school kid being like coming home from school and being like, "I just wanna learn to dance.

I'm gonna throw on some NSYNC and try and learn the choreography," or like- 

Yeah ... 

watch Michael Jackson and try and mimic him or Usher and all that. Mm-hmm ... it's cool. There's a ton of that energy coming back in my late 30s of just like, "Oh, nothing else to do," and I'm not- There's, there's like a goodness that comes with like being a little bored that you like reinvigorate your ambitions.

And yeah, a lot of times lately that's been coming up where it's like, kinda just wanna dance. Like I just wanna go somewhere with good music and a space where like I could actually move a bit. And I notice that a lot when I go to like events or or even weddings. This was still when I was like, even if I was drinking or something.[00:37:00] 

But a lot of times I'd just find a corner and just be freestyling and dancing and Kind of like enjoying being a little antisocial because- Yeah ... it could just be you and the music. 

J.R.: Yeah, yeah. I'm 100% the same, where it's like wedding receptions or, like, clubs where I can just find a corner or a space, or when I was in Japan last year and I would just kinda like, like barhop and club hop.

I know nobody there. I'm just in the corner just dancing. Yeah. And then some, some dude comes up to me, he's Japanese, doesn't speak English. He's like, "Oh, cool, cool, yeah." And then we're like da- and I meet some guy from another country, and then we ta- chat a little bit, and then I'm just dancing again, and then just like- 

Deyo: Yeah.

J.R.: It's really just to go and dance, and I think, again- It's- ... Cymbal, I think he's the same thing too, you know? 

Deyo: That's like a beautiful, organic connection too, that you'll find like-minded people like that, and yeah, that's, that's really... And it's funny because I feel like, I don't know if you're the same, probab- prob- you probably have, like, similar [00:38:00] things where it's like a lot of dancing for us growing up was like we, we started learning, or part of it was learning how to show off, go into a circle and- Yeah, yeah

like bust, even if it wasn't a battle. It was like a cypher, and it's like, "Now my turn. See if I could kill it." And that, there, there is, like, positives to that in terms of, like, learning how to be a little competitive and also learning how to, like, just express yourself in a group of people watching. But that started building, like, I started resenting that a lot, where I noticed that I wouldn't dance as much, like, after Kaba because I didn't wanna be perceived as like, oh, it's just, you know, like this showoff trying to freestyle.

Or it's like, "Nobody's dancing like that. What is he doing? Why isn't he just grooving?" And so it's kind of nice to remove those I guess, those neural connections to that and just be like, "I'm gonna dance for myself. Whether [00:39:00] people see me or not, I don't really care, but I, like, I'm feeling 

this music right now."

And there's something lovely about reconnecting with that kind of dance. 

J.R.: Yeah, 100%. Yeah. On, on that note too, because I tell my girlfriend this as well, but we'll go to a wedding reception, and it's like, you know, the dance floor and everything. I will, you know, I'll just groove a little bit, and then she's like, "Oh, why don't you, like, dance dance?

Like, actually, like, dance how you want to?" I'm like, "Because I have this superpower where once I start dancing, people leave the dance floor, and I don't want to kill the vibe." Yeah. And so I'm like- Yeah ... "So I'll, I'll dance by myself in the corner or away from the dance floor, but I'll, I'll let the dance floor breathe and let people get their space.

And then once it starts- Mm-hmm ... to die off, then I'll go in and actually dance the way I want to," which can be perceived as, "Oh my God, like, he's a real dancer. He's dancing." But I'm like, I just, this is just how I wanna dance. Like, I'm not trying to show off. Like, this isn't to- Yeah ... impress anybody. But I do realize that people will feel a certain way when they see me dance, and I'm like That's just how it is.

Deyo: [00:40:00] Yeah. Sometimes you're just, like, so into the music that you're like, you wanna hit things, and you're like- Mm ... "Oh, I wanna, I wanna see if I can catch this beat," or like- Yeah ... "I love this song. I know the lyrics. I wanna..." Yeah, you get it. Yeah. And you're letting your... It's like, just doodling. Like, you're let- allowing yourself to doodle larger, like, using the whole page compared to, like, sometimes you're just gonna...

Like, you have... You're, you're in class and you're, you're jotting down notes with other people, but you're like, "Oh, I'm just gonna draw this little random thing in the corner." Yeah. And I feel like that's, like, when you're grooving into yourself, but, like, let me not get in everyone's space. But sometimes you just need the canvas and you're like, "Okay, I'm gonna use this whole thing now."

J.R.: Yeah. 100... I like... Yeah, I really like that, 'cause that's exactly how it feels. It's like, all right, yeah, you kind of pick your space and how much you wanna paint or doodle and whatnot, and sometimes the audience... But the, the thing is, that's also why I like clubs, like clubbing or going to a music event, is because sometimes with the mood, it's darker, and [00:41:00] so not everyone will- Mm-hmm

see you dance, but you still get to be around the people and the live music or the louder music. Yes. And that's why it's a little... For me, it's special, where it's most people go to a club for a certain reason or, like, they like certain vibes. But for me, I just like the energy there, but also the not an- anonymity, but just that space, you know?

I think you can probably relate. 

Deyo: I, I get that a lot, yeah. 'Cause there are, like, other places where it's like, oh, this is, like, really good music and they're spinning well, but there's not really a spot for dancing. Or, like, people are just, like, eating more than they They're eating and conversing and it's like- Yeah

even though the music is good, it's like I, I don't wanna just, like, try and bust out some moves right now. But yeah, doing, like, a club where- People may or may not notice there's the darkness. And a lot of times, like especially if you're going like sober, then like other people are like, "Oh, they're drinking and having their own time.

They, they're, they're not really thinking about the guy [00:42:00] hitting these dope moves in the corner." 

J.R.: Yeah, yeah. They, they don't see the magic happening 10 feet away from them. They don't see the artistry and the genius that is behind them right now. No. There's this one club or this bar that Alyssa, Elizabeth, Yeah

spins at or she, like, plays at. Mm. And yeah, in in Fullerton. And so I love that place because their- Mm ... vibe is very hip-hop as an umbrella, 'cause they go from old hip-hop funk groove to, like, newer, to whatnot. And but it's a small bar, but they play the best music there typically. And so i- it's, there is a dance floor, and when there isn't, when there's dancing and people are just kind of vibing and they'll go back to their drinks.

But I'm full on seshing by myself. And I'm like, because the music- I would love that ... is too good, man. I'm like, "I love this music." And so I'll take my friend Herbie there, and that's where we kind of talked, and he's like, "Yeah. Oh, you know, Simbol does the same thing in South OC." I'm like, "Oh, damn. I guess, well, we [00:43:00] gotta do it together."

And so it got to the point where, like, the bouncers would b- would like, they check my ID, and he's like, "Oh, you're back here to dance?" I'm like, "Oh, you know, it is. Like, every, every weekend"- ... "come here to dance by myself, get my Diet Coke from the, from the bar." Yeah. And then some of the, the bartenders are nice.

They're like, I'm like trying to pay, and they're like, "No, it's fine." I'm like, "Yes, free Diet Coke." Oh, that's 

Deyo: really s- I'm 

J.R.: the, I'm the cutest guy here. That's why. Maybe I just give them free entertainment. That's why. It's like, get 

Deyo: it. Oh, hell yeah. No, no, the cute's the one. That's the one. 

J.R.: Yeah, no. Okay, another weird tangent.

Sometimes my girlfriend will come with me, and then she tries to do the same thing, and they charge her like three bucks, and I'm like- ... "Well, I guess we know who's the cute one in the relationship." I don't know why, but she gets charged and I do not. 

Deyo: It's so funny. That's so funny. They're like, "Oh, we, we need to fuel this man with his Diet Coke so he can dance."

J.R.: Yeah. 

Deyo: No, exactly. And I, it's like, "Let's put the extra on ours." He's like, "The entertainment showed 

J.R.: up." Yeah, 

Deyo: exactly. Oh, man. It's so much fun. That is a nice thing too. Like, I [00:44:00] haven't drank in two months, and I'm, like, getting soda waters and things like that, I'm like, "Oh my goodness, my, I'm saving so much money."

100%, yeah. I didn't realize how much I was spending for just, like, a drink or two, especially if it's a cocktail. Yeah. In LA prices, that's like 10 to 15 bucks per- So I'm like, "Whoa, you're giving me this soda water for free? Or just, just 'cause I asked?" Like that with a spritz of lime, and I'm like, "Cool."

J.R.: That's so funny. 

Deyo: Spend less on food. 

J.R.: Yeah, no, exactly. No, actually, yeah. Because where was I at? I was at a concert or something, and I was, I was, So they had alcoholic drinks, and let's say they're around 20-ish dollars. Mm-hmm. And then I was, I was texting my girlfriend. I was like, "Okay, well, instead of a drink, what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna get, like, two food items."

And I got, like, I don't know, a hot dog and, like, cookies or something. And I'm like, "This was still cheaper than the alcoholic drink." Oh, no. And then I went back and I got popcorn, and I'm like, "I still saved money by getting- ... three concession items that were [00:45:00] ridiculously priced." I think that the total was just 20-ish dollars, but I'm like, "It's still about the same price as one drink."

So I think- Yeah ... I think I- That's great ... I won out. Yeah. Yeah. It was crazy. 

Deyo: I still, like... 'Cause I do enjoy a beer. Like the, the alcohol thing, I don't know how long I'ma be doing that, but s- I still enjoy, like, a non-alcoholic beer at times when I just wanna sip- Mm ... on something. Either that- Yeah ... or a soda water.

Yeah ... alcoholic, non-alcoholic beers should not cost as much as these non-alcoholic beers. Do they? Oh, that's crazy. They do. They're maybe, like, $1 cheaper sometimes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it's like, you're still spending seven to eight bucks, and I'm like, "I'll just do the soda water." This- Mm ... this shouldn't be this expensive.

J.R.: Yeah. It's probably 'cause it's not as, like, mass-produced or as mainstream. Probably. So, so that their- I think 'cause- ... their costs are higher, right? Mm-hmm. But that's interesting. I usually opt for, like, the lesser of two poisons, of instead of alcohol I'll do, like, a Red Bull or something, because it is cheaper.

Deyo: Mm. 

J.R.: And I'm like, "All right. Well, if I'm gonna poison my body at least it's a [00:46:00] zero sh- it's a zero sugar Red Bull." 

Deyo: Yeah. True, yeah. It 

J.R.: costs a little bit less. 

Deyo: Oh. 

J.R.: I 

Deyo: might be wired, but- I do love me a Celsius. Yeah. 

J.R.: Yeah, 

Deyo: exactly. A Celsius. That's the... I feel like my addiction is I wish you could have caffeine, like, late.

Yeah. Mm-hmm. 'Cause I, I feel like I would be completely fine going to clubs and being like, "Yeah, I'll take a Celsius or whatever energy drink," but I just don't wanna be up till like 4:00 AM because I did that at 8:00 PM. 

J.R.: Yeah, yeah. It's a... I agree. It's a hit or miss. But I'm like, "Look, if I'm gonna, if I'm gonna mess up my sleep, let me save a little bit of money and calories."

Yeah. 

Deyo: If you're gonna be, like, dancing at a club till, like, midnight and later, at that point it's like, yeah, just a little bit of calorie. You could take some magnesium before going to bed. You'll be fine for one day. Yeah. Yeah. And you get to enjoy the night and have something to sip on. 

J.R.: Yeah, exactly. All right, so I wanted to ask there's two things from here.

I wanted to ask about, like, the fitness side, 'cause you mentioned a [00:47:00] muscle-up, and so, you know, I, I'm into fitness as well. I've never gotten a muscle-up, and I mentioned to you that that's always been one of my- Mm-hmm ... like, a handstand push-up and a muscle-up are two things that- Mm ... I'm like, have not put energy towards, but I'm still working out a lot.

So- Yeah ... that, that's on the to-do list. But also, I don't know if you want to get into this, but, like, like, the first time I smoked weed was on Kaba Modern, and it was directly because of your class and you guys. And it was a fun experience, 'cause I, I remember when Alex Kristal and I were reminiscing about it.

We were both, like, straight edge up until that point, and we were back and forth. We were like, "Okay, I'll do it if you do it." "No, I'll do it if you do it." So we never did it. And then at one party, he's like, "Oh, yeah, I smoked last..." I'm like, "You smoked without me? Like, what's going on here?" This is, like, half a year already.

And it took me, like, seven or eight tries to finally feel something. But I remember the first time, I think it was maybe you and/or John Aldenese where I was... Like, I was smoking, and it, like, just hurt my throat. Or no, maybe it was DJ. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And then I was 

Deyo: like, "I 

J.R.: don't feel-" 'Cause he had those mouth 

Deyo: pipes.

J.R.: Like- Yeah, [00:48:00] yeah ... he would smoke out of. Yeah, yeah. So it hurt, and I was like "It just hurts my throat, but I don't feel anything." And then DJ's like, "That's what it is. That's what being high is. You just- ... it's just pain in your throat." I'm like, "What?"

Deyo: DJ just trolling. 

J.R.: Yeah, he's just trolling. And then when I finally did, when I finally did get high the, for the first time, I think it was maybe, like, Yung or Theo.

We're eating Takis at someone's apartment, and I pull it out, and, you know, Takis are rolled. And I was like, "Oh my gosh," like, "these are rolled." And he's like... I think, I think it was Yung. He's like, "No, they're actually s- they're actually straight and flat, but when you pull it out, they roll up." And I'm like, "Really?"

I'm like, "What?" But obviously I was high out of my mind, so 

Deyo: Oh, Yung be another good troll. 

J.R.: Exactly, yeah. The guy- We had a lot of 

Deyo: trolls 

J.R.: We had a lot of good trolls on the team. And 

Deyo: Young would like... He would, he would push people to, to like- Oh, oh, 100% ... if you're gonna smoke, you're gonna smoke. If you- Yeah

if you decide to. 

J.R.: He's still like that in the, the Korean side of him. Even at the wedding, he's like, he's like, "Yo, you wanna take a shot?" I'm like, "No." But he was like- Oh, I miss that Young ... "Okay, if you [00:49:00] don't want to, it's fine." But, but he still had that energy, you know? I was like- 

Deyo: Yeah, yeah ... ugh, 

J.R.: my flashbacks of when I was 18 and Young just telling me to smoke and drink at the same time.

I'm like- ... "Sir, I've not done any of these things before." 

Deyo: Like, let me not get crossed the first time. So yeah- 

J.R.: It's so funny ... the first time I did get crossed was because of him actually. So he brought his bong, and then we did like a, what steam- s- he call it steamrolling or something like that, where like you- Steamrolling

so you take a hit and then a shot, and then you exhale. Oh. And we were watching Death Note with my class. Ooh, I was gone after that. It was, it was bad.

Fucking Death Note. We were watching Death Note. Oh, that's so funny. We just... Yeah, it was so funny. I'm sorry. But yeah- 

Deyo: We had- ... so 

J.R.: I don't know. 

Deyo: I had... I was the sa- Like, I, I was pretty straight edge, so very similar. And it wasn't until Oweight that I smoked, and then it became like, man, I lo- It was a fun thing while it was a fun thing.

I'm glad that we got to experience that. [00:50:00] And yeah, just the, the bringing, bringing people into that experience was always fun because the same- Mm ... thing happened with us, But I was-- That's, that's kind of the funny thing is like I loved it during that time, and then there was a certain point in the last five years where it became everything that I used to do it for.

Like, I used to just like smoke, go outside. You know, I loved like going on walks, looking at trees and stuff- Mm-hmm ... listening to music, all these things. It started doing the reverse of everything. Mm-hmm. Probably-- This is probably coming out of the pandemic because especially during the pandemic, I was just doing it more.

It was like, "What else is there to do? Let's get high and chill." Yeah. "Play some games. There's like no care in the world." And so the, the habit became like really strong. And then it [00:51:00] actually started like doing the opposite, do- like building anxieties. Mm-hmm. I would stay inside. People would wanna go out, you know, coming out of the pandemic.

Like, "You trying to do this? You trying to do..." Like so many plans I either said no to, I canceled, or flaked out on was because that I would feel this like energy of like, "Yeah, let's do it." And then once I like smoked, it was like, "I think actually I'ma just stay home," which is I used to like wanna like go out and stuff like that.

So I'm like, it's, it's funny 'cause like anybody who still smokes and stuff, nothing against it. I say when it's working, that's awesome 'cause I miss it. I, I will say I miss it. It's just I know how much of a vice it is for me. Like drinking wasn't that much of a problem for me. I, I stopped it cold turkey two months ago mainly for like fitness stuff- Yeah

'cause I'm like, I wanna see how, how lean if I, if I'm very [00:52:00] dedicated. I have a, a short film that I'm actually shooting on Tuesday where I'm gonna be pretty much down to my underwear, so it's one of those things- Nice. ... where it's like I wanna- You have a goal. Yeah. Yeah. I have a goal, and it's one of those like can I do it by myself without a nutritionist, without a trainer?

What's the difference between this and booking like a Marvel role and the saying that you're gonna be shirtless? Like I gotta treat them the same. So I really pushed myself. And so like drinking is, is I've learned like isn't like a vice vice to me. It's like something I, I enjoy doing, but I'm like, oh, I'm fine without it.

Smoking, that one scares me as much as I miss it where I'm like, I would like to do it again, but I know how much I loved it where I, I have to... It's one of those where like I don't know if I'd ever do it again just because I know my addictive personality with that specifically. 

Mm. 

Yeah. And then [00:53:00] seeing all the like joy in In like going out and eating healthier and staying active has been...

So like if, if it works for people, man, lucky you guys. I miss, I miss- ... being able to like come home and just be like, "I'm just gonna take a few hits from the piece-" Yeah, yeah ... and then just... Or like even just like listening to music or zoning out on a movie when you have like a free day or rest day where you really don't wanna do much but relax on the couch.

Then that's, that's freaking awesome. 

J.R.: Yeah. I really resonate with that. I think yes, I don't, I haven't smoked really since college, but I do remember one piece of advice I think I got from Michelle which was like when it comes to substance use or anything like that where you have to know the reason why you're doing it.

And I think she, she said, or maybe I'm paraphrasing, was like, "You know, if you're doing it to escape something, that's a, that's obviously a sign. But if you're doing it just [00:54:00] to enjoy, you know, being in a social environment, then that's okay." And so I always thought about that, and the reason why- Mm-hmm ... I really enjoyed looking back on my experience with the team and being in those environments was it was very fun and social.

And I, I do look back on it fondly like, "Man, I remember this one time when we were in Vegas and we got high and all this other stuff, and it was funny." And I wrote down all my... I remember writing down all my symptoms, and then the next day I'm reading it I'm like, "What did I, what is this?" "I can't even relate to it," 'cause it's like you're in a different mode of recording when you're- Yeah

high or something. Yeah. And so, but I look back on it fondly and, you know, s- but I always remember that piece. I'm like, okay... So, and I don't think, and same with me, I don't think my body or whatever has a- an addictive type of personality to like those substances, so thankfully I, I can like kinda cold turkey.

Or if someone gives me a gummy or an edible I'm like, "Okay, sure. Why not?" And then I'll be fine. Oh, 

Deyo: yeah, yeah. That's good. 

J.R.: Yeah, yeah. 'Cause it's like I think everyone's body is different, how they respond to like caffeine or any sort of substances. So thankfully not, but also like, you know, like I said, I look very fondly upon, I, I [00:55:00] look back fondly on those memories, 'cause it, for me it was, it allowed me to connect and be a part of that community more than I think I would have if I didn't just sorta try.

Even when like you guys would take smoking breaks for like cigarettes, I'm like, "Man, I wish I could smoke so I can kinda hang out with you guys." That was- But then I, I don't smoke, so I, so I shouldn't. And I, it kinda smells and it, it makes me throw up 'cause I'm a, like low-key- Oh ... like allergic to cigarettes.

But I didn't want to, but then the s- the, the weed was the- I'm so glad you 

Deyo: didn't with that one. 

J.R.: Yeah. Yeah, but the weed I was like, "Okay, I can do this." Like Shawn Duong, my super old, he told me it's so, so healthy and h- and better than alcohol- ... so I should definitely do it. And 

Deyo: the things we've learned from, from then on, that's so funny.

J.R.: Exactly. Exactly. So that, that was a lot of fun for me. 

Deyo: But, And I'm very glad you didn't do cigarettes with us, 'cause that, that was a different beast to quit on its own. Of course, yeah. Yeah, so I can't believe... Me and Shawn sometimes talk about where we'd like- Like, we're, we're pretty much like student athletes at that time.[00:56:00] 

And then we like, we do some run-throughs. We, we go, you know, six minutes full out, and then a group of us just are like, "All right, let's chow down on the f- a few cookies and have a cigarette break." We're

J.R.: like, "This is so bad." No. Yeah, that was... I mean, our I think our bodies could h- in our, in our 20s, in our early 20s, we could handle it, but obviously now we're like- 

Deyo: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm ... 

J.R.: how? What? Cookies and cigarettes? Like, what the... 'Cause that was, that was actually exactly it, is like we would stay up all night. We would eat like Jack in the Box and- Junk food, yeah

smoke and drink junk food and everything. And you're like, I don't know how we could ever do that again, but I think it's just 'cause our bodies could handle it. 

Deyo: Yeah. And yeah, so, so glad you didn't get caught up in the- ... in the s- cigarettes and... But the 

J.R.: weed, 

Deyo: that's- 

J.R.: I think I'm just... Yeah. Hmm. No, I think it's, like, because I think my body is, like, slightly allergic to cigarettes 'cause, like, it would make...

give me headaches and would cough. So I think I was more- Mm ... just [00:57:00] lucky- Mm-hmm ... if anything because again, the peer pressure- That you had adverse 

Deyo: reactions 

J.R.: immediately ... exactly. Yeah. So I couldn't. Like, you know, when I was in KASA Dance Off around the Koreans, and they would constantly smoke through every practice, and so I'm like, "Okay, yeah, I'm like throwing up every practice, so I think-" Oh, wow

"this isn't for me."

Deyo: You learned 

J.R.: early. Yeah, exactly. So I'm, I'm grateful that my body does not resonate with cigarettes, but but it was the whole FOMO thing of like, maybe I... maybe people would like me more if I smoked with them, that sort of- Mm ... you know, you can't escape that. 

Deyo: That's the hard social 

J.R.: pressure 

Deyo: thing too.

Yeah, of course. And I, I'm very... It's good that we have, like, the fond memories with those things too. Like weed, I... even though I don't and feel like I, I shouldn't smoke now, I'm like, I'm glad that we were able to get all those, like, just silly times or even just, like, even the creative times- Mm ... where we'd, like, just smoke, and it would be a late night, and we're just sessioning.

And it's just people going round for round and just experiencing new music [00:58:00] and sharing new music. Times like that, it's cool to be able to have that and have those fond memories and be giggly and laugh-y and silly- Yeah ... but also, like, coming out of it on the other side realizing, like, oh, I can still do that without it too.

Yeah, of course. And it's, like, nice that it kinda just helped with our, like, our social-ness just to open up with this, with, like, people that we're, we're just getting to know and we're younger of course or more awkward and then just being able to be like, "Oh, cool. Now we've, like, we've bonded over this, like, silly anime and session night."

Yeah. 100%. But it do- like, like you were talking about The fitness thing, that's a big part too. With like smoking, I could like eat. I could eat so much junk food, it was crazy. I had like whole bag of hot Cheetos, like the big ones just watching- Yeah ... something and snacking on that. So that- Or like a whole carne asada fries by yourself.

[00:59:00] Yeah. Like that was my thing. And that's what I'm fi- what I found with like, drinking too, is like say I go to a bar. I'm, I'm finding out now, like if I go to a bar with my friends, I still will on the way home have that thought of like, "Oh, there's like a Shake Shack on the way," or like In-N-Out- Mm-hmm ... or, you know, pizza, whatever it is, the, the craving.

And I'll be like, "No, just go home, cook. I already defrosted things," or I have something like I could easily steam. A piece of salmon doesn't even have to be fully defrosted or whatnot. But when I like, if that was after like a bar session where I would actually drink a little bit, then I'd be like, "Yeah, I'm gonna get that. I'm gonna indulge in that right now." 

J.R.: Sometimes the craving just hits and you're like, "You know what? I think I need to make this decision, or I don't have enough willpower to resist, so- 

Deyo: Yeah ... 

J.R.: this is what we're doing." 

Deyo: And I'm lucky with calisthenics 'cause like [01:00:00] if I was just doing or when, like even when I did used to just do kind of more weightlifting training stuff, I would allow myself of like, oh, then I'll just make it a bulk day.

I'll eat a lot of protein, blah, blah, blah. And I, I'd find these like ways to cut around it. But with calisthenics you like learn like, oh, that extra weight is what you're pulling or pushing against. Oh. And so it's a little bit of- Instant karma. Yeah. There's a little bit more motivation to be like, oh, if I actually do allow myself to not fall for this immediate craving or give it a second thought, then it's actually gonna help make the workout better, and so much of that calisthenic stuff is just these, these tiny, tiny adjustments and working on the, the smallest things until you progress into like being able to whether your muscles actually can [01:01:00] carry more load or you literally remove some poundage off, so it's like, whoa, I can do this move now.

J.R.: Mm. 

Deyo: Like with a little bit more ease. 

J.R.: That's a good point I never thought about, that with calisthenics as opposed to just regular weightlifting, where it's like you have to now deal with the weight that you have on yourself. So whatever your choices are, it's like, okay, you gained some weight, now the calisthenics are harder.

If you lose some weight- Mm-hmm ... oh, you feel better, you can do more, you feel like energy-wise and- 

Deyo: Your 

J.R.: joints too ... weight-wise. Your joints, yeah, exactly. So I, I never thought about it like that. But I do wanna ask about the muscle-up thing because I mentioned that that's also one of my goals. About, you said about eight months, and I think you said specifically because you got some, like, coaching on the right movements to get there.

I wanna get- Yeah ... a little bit technical 'cause I'm curious what you learned. But so how did you progress to finally getting that ring muscle-up? 

Deyo: Yeah. So it's-- I'll, I will also first off say like I don't know how to [01:02:00] bar muscle-up. It's a completely different technique. So it's crazy- Okay ... how much technique- Yeah

and strength in different areas will be able to attribute to that. Like my bar high pulls, I, I don't know the technique and I don't know if my lat strength can do that. But it, it all started with like this is now-- This was last November. I've, I've always-- I think since like 2021 I bought a pair of rings because I was thinking about getting a dip bar while we were still in like pandemic mode.

And then I saw like, oh, rings. I have one of those like Iron Gym pull-up things. I could just- Mm ... strap my rings, like rings around there, and they were going for about 50 bucks at the time. Like that's way more cost-effective than getting like a, some sort of dip machine or whatever. Or like bars that might take up a lot of space.

So I was like let me just get that. And I spent three to f- no, four [01:03:00] years-ish of like thinking I could look up stuff on my own. There's still a lot I, I learned on my own of like videos and tutorials and things like that. But I wanted, and last November I just wanted to invest in my health. I was like I- pay for acting class and I see how much like help it gives me when I have like a place to actually workshop things and, and the ideas and, and be with a community that's like-minded that I could do these human interactions with because that's a lot of acting.

That's mainly acting. So I was like, let me just bite the bullet and like if I need to work more, then work more. Like just figure out a way to, to justify because there are times where you just-- I spend on other things like big ticket, not huge tickets, but like I'll, I'll spend on things and I'm like all these little [01:04:00] things of like, you know, delivery food or all that.

If I just didn't do that, it's- Mm. ... this was actually like I could invest in myself. So I just gave it a shot. I had this great coach. His name's Michael Fernandez, Fernandez Calisthenics, and he just had like really good vibes. He's based in Australia, so it was all online. Oh, cool. So it's amazing what he was able to do online.

Yeah. But we like started with just an assessment of, of like doing different, you know, shirt off poses and at this time I was probably about 20 pounds heavier. Mm. And just like showing, you know, different poses and different exercises so that he can kind of assess what he thought he could see. And then from that point, just starting a plan with him where it started with a ton of just really basic but focused movements.

So a lot of like [01:05:00] ring rows and, and working on false grip, getting the fal- or we didn't even start with false grip. It was just a lot about Strengthening the scapula and the shoulders 

Mm. 

Because a rig muscle-up is a lot of, like, technique and scapula and then shoulder mobility and strength. 

Mm-hmm. 

And so just being diligent of, I think it was three to four days a week, and then any time It was a new workout that he'd show me.

I would film it, or if there's any time that I felt like I was doing progress or had a question, would film it, and he would like literally be, you know, drawing diagrams of like, "Look at your shoulder height here or your scap height there, and like how deep you wanna go on that." Or learning how to, you know, utilize my chest to engage the scapula on rows, and almost think of like blasting your chest forward while your shoulders and back try to-- and your elbows [01:06:00] try to pull back.

So it was a, it was a lot of working on like the tiny things that I thought I was already doing. Wow. And then he taught me a lot of cool like fun workouts that I just didn't know were things. That like like there's like, you know, kind of like ring holds where you just squeeze back and, and this-- the, there's a whole like, of course, I knew about progressions for calisthenics- Yeah ... of like where you put your feet and how much body weight. But especially on the rings, there's like progressions that I didn't think about where you're literally on the balls of your feet if you can't hold the weight, and then you start progressing from that to like getting your toes up like a Michael Jackson toes, and then you start like floating.

Just like seeing if you could float your feet off for a little bit, and then like tapping the toes. And at some point you'll be able to like control your whole body weight in that pose. But doing like a [01:07:00] lot of things like that, like scap holds. And then in the... Once I progressed, this was probably like six months into that like eight to nine-month period, I started learning meerkats, where you're in like a false grip and you're like literally looking like a - Mm

like a little meerkat peeking over something. So you're like depressing all this, learning how to press down while your scap is engaged. And then like that, of course, it's a hard, hard move to put on your body. But then, yeah, just like floating the toes on that and just these tiny little progressions until it was like, okay, now you could hold your body weight or you could be on your toes a little bit like that.

Now you could drop down into a ring and do it kind of like dynamic into that and see. Mm. And at the same time working on a deep dip. And after the deep dips, it was working on just the transition of going from low dip to [01:08:00] that. And then you're just connecting all the parts until one day it was just like...

I remember it, it was such a, a nice proud moment 'cause these- It takes so long. And the years before I was like, "Oh, I want to learn a planche while I learn a ring muscle up, while, and I've always heard calisthenics people being like, "Just focus on one thing. One thing- Yeah ... at a time. You can still do the other stuff that works on it, but one thing at a time.

And I always used to think like, "No, no, no. But, but I could, I could, I could split up my, my time doing both." But there, there was like being able to hone in for eight months And I remember there were, there was like times where I was doing negatives, and then I was also practicing like false grip ring high pulls.

And he- I sent some videos over to him and he was like, "Next time you [01:09:00] attempt, start filming. Like all of these, start filming." Mm. 'Cause he started, he could see like you have all the pieces. So he's like, "Don't, don't miss out on it and just start filming all of it." And that was like a little boost of confidence.

Having somebody who's not only a great coach and good support system, but is like a, a champion for it and has been through that process where it's like- Mm ... oh, these dots are almost all connected. Like, don't... You're, you're gonna be proud that you just have like your, your f- camera phone, your phone camera rolling at the one time you get it.

Mm. And it's funny, when I did get it, it was it was not like a, "Yeah!" It was like getting down and being like, "Oh. Oh my God." 'Cause it, it's cool dedicating to, to something like that so much and alm- almost like, it's a lot like dance where we used to spend hours and hours and [01:10:00] hours and hours just practicing and honing in and working on it, and then when you finally get to like put it on stage, a lot of times it was like a cathartic kind of thing.

Sometimes it was like, "Yeah, we killed it." And some reps are like that of like, "Ooh, I feel explosive." But other times it's just like, "Oh, we did it, guys. We finally did it." 

J.R.: Yeah. That release. I like that. Yeah. It was like I always metaphorically attribute it to like we put in all these hours and days and weeks of practice for that set, and it's basically the end result is like a four-minute video on YouTube.

And you're like, "That was what it was all for." Like no money, no fame. Yeah. Like- Yeah ... no money, no fame, no nothing, and it was just, it's just a four-minute video on YouTube. That's what we did it for.

Deyo: Mm-hmm. 

J.R.: Mm-hmm ... but obviously there was a lot more to it than that, but just to conceptualize it is that the cathartic release of, "Oh, it's done.

That set is complete," but it's, this is, this is the outcome. Yeah.

Deyo: I like that. And it's a [01:11:00] little bit what's fun is that like with that, even when dance and calisthenics, it's like, all right, what's next? And the cool thing that I noticed with calisthenics is like, and the reason why they say just focus on one thing aside from- calisthenics stuff is just really hard.

So just stick to one thing and let your body adjust, 'cause it's grueling on the body doing, you know, things like that. But I, I like randomly had a friend who goes to the climbing gym that I go to, and he, he found out that I could do ring muscle ups and he could too, and he was like, "Have you tried like a front lever tuck on a bar?"

I was like, "No, I, I don't know how to do that with my shoulders." And, and then he just walked me through it, and I was like, "Oh my God, I could do this." And same with dance. When you're focused and honed in on like one project, even though our mind wants to sometimes be like, "I wanna learn these other things and I wanna learn that," but it's [01:12:00] like, no, if you could dedicate and focus, you actually are learning those other things without knowing it.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And I-- There were like other moves that he showed me that I was like, I had no idea I unlocked because I was working so diligently on perfecting being able to do a ring muscle up. Still not the cleanest. Sometimes I have a little kick. I'm really fighting for straight legs doing it. So there's still a lot of work to do, but it, it's like being able to be a little bit more form-focused on one thing has actually made it, I think, the journey moving on to the next thing, it's gonna be easier learning other techniques now because I've built- Mm-hmm

that other stuff. And same with dance. It's like, "Oh, I wanna go to this class." Sometimes you have to sacrifice not being able to learn from one of your favorite choreographers, but then when you go to their class later, you're like, "Oh, I got a lot of this technique down and I could like kill it when I'm doing [01:13:00] this stuff."

J.R.: Yeah. I like that. It's like foundational work that, you know, you focus on one thing, you build that skill tree, like in video games- Mm-hmm. Yeah ... where it's, you're trying to get this one thing, but as you, as you unlock the skill tree and you're like, "Wait, now I've unlocked other things that I can do just by focusing in," and it's to counterbalance- Yeah

that desire for immediate results, gratification. Like, no, I just wanna do the muscle up tomorrow. But as you're diligent, like you said, the focus and building that routine and the habits, it does unlock things for other things to keep going, and then the next, the next achievement is like you're on, you're well on your way.

So I like that a lot. 

Deyo: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. 

J.R.: Yeah, I'm inspired, man. Now I, like I said- You're gonna get it ... muscle up. 

Deyo: You don't get it. 

J.R.: Yeah, no. It's like I have to balance 'cause I don't wanna spend all day in the gym, but I do know that, like, a handstand pushup and a muscle up are two of my, "Okay, if I can do this, then I can die happy."

Like, that is... I will have peaked, and then I can just quit. But [01:14:00] Not really. But but I know that those are, like, my... Those are my, my mountain goals, and I'm sure there will be more after that. But- Mm-hmm ... I'm inspired now because I've always seen online where it's, "Here are the progressions" in a TikTok video, 60-second progression to muscle up or, like, 60-second progression towards, like, a, like, a handstand pushup.

And I'm like, okay, that looks straightforward. But I'm not putting in the reps, and I'm not dedicating that time. But I think hearing your journey of like, "Look, yo, it took me, like, eight months, but then I did it," but it was also, like, working on the little pieces that I think if anyone's ever achieved anything, that is kind of like how it works, is you kind of do the little pieces and then the whole picture goes together and it's unlocking- Yeah

that skill tree. And that's kinda how it works, right? 

Deyo: Yeah. It feels daunting to be like... I know my aversion to it before was like, "A year feels too long." Like, I don't wanna... Like, can't I do it quicker? But if you just kind of set it, you give yourself a little less pressure of like, you know, 30 minutes to an hour, [01:15:00] whatever you have.

If you just work on those little pieces three to four days a week, like, you'll get there. Yeah. At some point, something's gonna give and it's gonna be like, "Oh, snap." 

J.R.: Yeah, yeah. "I 

Deyo: built it all." Yeah. 

J.R.: Exactly. Okay. All right. So I wanna pivot now. We're gonna do reverse order but we have a lot of good context and a lot of good reminiscing.

I wanna go back to who Deyo is as a person, meaning- Mm-hmm ... usually I ask, you know, where did you grow up? What are your main influences? And then kind of what is your either career arc or life trajectory, how that has panned out. One question that I learned that might be good to ask is what was a major turning point for you in your journey of whatever arc you're going through?

Mm. But I guess I just wanna ask, like, Deyo as a person growing up, what, what were your kind of main influences that shaped who you are today foundationally? 

Deyo: Shit. It was- Big question ... so I, I [01:16:00] grew up in a very musical family. My mom and dad were in a band. My dad still plays guitar, piano, still gigs like that.

Really? Phil- Filipino family, they're musical? That's crazy. And they're like, even though they had, like, their day jobs to take care of us since they were first gen, or you know, they immigrated here, They still have that. Like, so I was always surrounded by culture and music of like, especially them kind of like assimilating to culture and music here and like what they would be playing for the gigs here.

They had to learn the songs here. So at least musically, there was a ton of Beatles, Earth, Wind & Fire, Whitney Houston, Gloria Estefan, Toni Braxton, like all Boys to Men. Okay ... and then my brother who's seven- The greats. The greats. Amazing. And then my, my brother who's seven years older than me, I have two siblings, my sister is about a year and a half [01:17:00] older than me.

My brother who's seven years older than me, he was the one who kind of like introduced me into hip-hop. He was like just, just into watching... Like around that time, there was a lot of LA, LA hip-hop, so like Coolio, NWA Dog Pound, stuff like that, Snoop Dogg. So we, we ha- always had this like, even though like my brother now is in tech, amazing, smart guy.

My sister, a graphic designer, or I, I think she's like, that's probably not the right term, but like designs a lot of stuff for K18, like a, on their like, you know, building booths and things like that. She's amazing. Everybody, no matter what they were doing in their jobs, I noticed that like my family were all creatives.

Like even if- Right ... you know, they're punching numbers somewhere else. And that might be just true for everyone. That's probably, like everyone really is just artistic creative. And so [01:18:00] me being the youngest, they kind of like set that beautiful stage for me to just like explore and wanna be like silly and funny, and I remember some of my very first like...

I loved making them laugh doing stupid stuff, and It's a little, little bit of a problematic movie now, but I, I do remember one of my first, like, movies that I really connected with was Ace Ventura. Ah. And- It's another classic ... like, mimicking. Yeah. A lot. Like, Jim Carrey is one of the biggest reasons why I wanted to pursue acting 'cause I just loved making people laugh.

I would copy his, like, talking with his butt when I was a little kid, and, like, make it, like, run up to them at the kitchen table with, like, you know, immigrant family, so sometimes it would be, like, my parents, our cousins, our, my, my ninongs and ninangs, like, [01:19:00] the, the aunts and uncles. You know, for parts of my life, we had 10 to 15 people in our house because, you know, everybody else is trying to find a place of their own.

But very much like a Filipino household, and being in the Philippines, it's like, "No, you stay here. Stay here, and figure it out." We slept on the floor in the living room. Other people had, like, the two bedrooms. And so it was just like, I was able to be expressive and silly with not just my parents, but, like, a lot of other people, my siblings, my cousins whoever was, like, cycling in and out as they were assimilating to getting their own place in America and stuff.

And then once, like, it was just the five of us being at home, we were, like, a big late-night TV family. So I watched a ton of In Living Color- Mm-hmm ... and Martin, and Fresh Prince, and and Living Single. [01:20:00] It was just a lot of, like, hilarity. And then even on the kids side, like All That. Eh, what, what other...

I guess that, that was sort of, like, as we were getting older, like Sister, Sister, and, and then- Mm ... you know, at some point Friends and stuff got in there. But it was like sitcom and comedy was always something that we'd always kinda, like, watch together. The Simpsons Whose Line Is It Anyway? came out later, where it was just, like, all of us just laughing in the living room.

And so I knew probably by like- Five to seven that I wanted to be in entertainment, and then I knew, like, act... At first I thought it w- it would be stand-up, but I think it was just 'cause of laughing. I re- realized later I actually wanna, like, act. That, that human connection and experiencing that was a, a beautiful pursuit to me.

And then, yeah, it wasn't till I think [01:21:00] I was in sixth grade that I, like, did something at my school and the seventh grade homeroom teacher, Mrs. B, I forgot what her full name was. Shit. I feel 

so bad, but- That was her full name. First name Mrs.- No. Last name B.

But she, she was very sweet. There was, like, one, one play where I played Jesus. Nice. I love it. And then she was, like, the first person to be like, "You're- you could actually be an actor. You're really good at that." 

And that, like, I still remember that to this day 'cause it... I, I did, aside from my family, nobody knew that I- that's what I wanted to do.

So for somebody to say that without knowing that was, like, my inner pursuit- Yeah ... was like, wow. That, that meant a lot. And so, yeah, I, I I didn't really have much of a work ethic still. It was just the artistry. And then [01:22:00] my sister, who always like... My sister Sarah was always leading by example. She got a job earlier.

She started working at like coffee shops and stuff like that while she was still in high school. She learned like the value of money and what it takes to work, while I'm just like mooching off my siblings and whatever. But she was in drama in high school. We went to Troy High in Fullerton. And she was actually kind of like the reason that she was going for it too, because she's an art- artist herself.

And she kind of like let me know like, "Oh, you can, you can audition for Drama 2." Like, if Drama 1 was a lot of like improv and, you know, kids just hanging out doing fun games. But she was like, "If you wanna be in plays", she let me know that like Drama 2 was the way. Mm-hmm. And so I set up an audition did my first ever monologue from All My Sons.

I think Arthur Miller wrote that play. And then I got into Drama 2, and that was like the, the first iteration [01:23:00] of like, "Ooh, I can act. This is what it takes." Played Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees in our, in our high school. And then I remember it was really fun being like a lead good guy, that our next play going into, I think my, my fourth year was Peter Pan.

And my drama teacher Mr. Hufford, Joe Hufford, amazing guy, he was thinking I was gonna audition for Pan, and I was like, "I wanna play Hook." Oh. Like, "I wanna audition for Hook." Like that, that part looks 

fun to me. 

And he was like, "I don't know. You're just like more of a nice guy." But I was like, "Just let me audition for Hook."

And then got Hook and had so much fun like being, being able... That, that just, it gave me confidence to be like, cool, I can, I can dig in to like different sides of myself and, and being a bad guy. But also Hook was [01:24:00] also really funny. There's a lot of comedy. Mm. He played Mis- Mr. Darling too. It's like that, that's how it is in the play, that it's this, the, the dad is also who plays Hook.

And so that instilled just a ton of like, yeah, this is what I wanna do, and I feel confident that I can do it And it wasn't until post-college where I joined Studio Stuart Rogers Studios that Lawrence Kao put me on, and that's where I really started learning the process that I connect with. So, and, and that process is just all about being honest and authentic and being present to what's happening in the moment now and, and letting...

Just kinda following that in and hoping you did enough of the homework to make these problems in the page feel real to myself. And if all goes well, then it's like it's a living human being who just happens to be on camera or happens to be on a stage. [01:25:00] Yeah, that's kinda- Mm ... where I'm at now. 

J.R.: I like that.

There's a few things I wanna, I wanna tug at. The identifying yourself as an artist that you mentioned and the authenticity piece, but really quick. So I've heard this from maybe an actor, like on social media, where they say the difference- Mm-hmm ... between playing, the difference between playing a good guy and a bad guy, and I'm curious as an actor, like, how do you, how do you conceptualize that?

Because I was told that maybe playing a bad guy is a little bit more... I don't know the right words. I'm gonna assume it's more fun, or there's more depth, or there's more less boundaries. But then a good guy is kind of fitting within a construct. I don't know if that's correct, but what is your conception of, like, playing a good guy versus a bad guy?

Deyo: There's definitely... It kinda, like, depends on the script, but, I guess I used to think that like bad guys were more fun, but [01:26:00] what I've learned through like, you know, working as an actor, like, oh my God, it's been, I say, I guess 12 years as like actually going for it as a career. 

Yeah ... they're, they're just kind of one and the same. The only reason why sometimes in a script it might be perceived as like a little bit less fun as the good guy is just because the The hero's journey, I guess, might just be a little more predictable, or, or you might know that, you know, oftentimes it's written as, like, they're, they, they have this thing happen to them, and now they're striving for this redemption or whatever the arc is.

And a villain, to me, is like... Now in my process, it's all kind of the sa- Like, a villain never, rarely sees that what they're doing is the wrong thing, or if it is wrong, or if they know it's wrong, it's justified in some way. Even if they know it's bad, it's like they, they have some sort of [01:27:00] reasoning as to why that's their human experience.

And I guess that's why sometimes it could be perceived as more fun, is that you have to stretch your imagination a little bit more, I feel like- Mm ... with villains. Like, you, you might have to put yourself in a place where it's like, "Okay, if I think about, you know, like being okay with death or killing," then it's like, "Nah, I'm not, I'm not okay with that.

Like me as Deyo, I'm not okay with that, so how do I build that paradigm? How do I bridge that gap to where these circumstances and events in the life on the page that I'm reading about are now like, 'Okay, but, you know, if this thing happened to me, could I ever see myself justifying that, or...'" And, and yeah, it's just bridging those gaps, when a lot of times with, like, a hero, it's a little bit of like, "Yeah, I do agree with this."

And like, it, it [01:28:00] still takes imagination, but it's a little bit more you- sometimes you, you don't have to stretch as wildly, depending on the script. 

J.R.: I see. Yeah. That makes sense, 'cause it's, let's say a villain, they're both human, the, the good guy and the bad guy, but with the villain, it might be that you need to shift or stretch your value system or what, or whatnot, and put yourself in their situation so that you can justify the motivation behind the character.

Whereas- Mm ... a hero, it's pretty societally accepted that it's the right thing to be good and to help people and be kind. Whereas it's like, oh, but as a villain, now you, it's like, well, your value system's changed because you were, you know, you were treated this way and in these circumstances, and now you're a little bit corrupted.

But you still think you're doing the right thing. You don't think you're wrong. But as an actor, it's now putting yourself more in that, a different value system. Yeah. I think that's very interesting. 

Deyo: And it's like, what, what would lead me to this point, [01:29:00] even if- Mm ... in my bones I don't agree with it? And that's the fun thing with the process that I learned from Stuart Rogers, is like- Like that could even be living in yourself as well.

Like some people think it has to be cut and dry like, "I'm a villain, I'm bad." Like this is how I justify it and that's it. Like they still could be dealing with like, "Fuck, this is wrong. I can't- Yeah. I shouldn't." There, there- that could still be part of it, and then the fact that they still do it makes it more interesting.

It's like a I have to or I don't see my way out, or it's like no, sh- shut that part of humanity down and like these people deserve what I'm about to give them kind of thing. So yeah, I guess, yeah, that, that helps play into the fun of it because it is challenging. It's challenging getting to like the, the short film I'm shooting on Tuesday without giving too much away is like my, my [01:30:00] guy starts off as like a, a very loyal like...

It's, it's almost like a flash sideways, but it's like like ice. Like, And so doing a lot of work into that of Like these things that I definitely don't agree with, but having to explore, like what would get somebody just 100% loyal to this and thinking that they're... Like, "No, this is, this is how I protect America. This is how I help the people I love." And flipping that so that I could bring humanity into this character so that when he does decide to go against the... Like, so in the, in the script, he, he does, like, help go against those values. He learns that he's on the wrong side of history. But, like, you can't just automatically be like, "Oh, I'm, I'm good now."

I have to like make all the other stuff live [01:31:00] so that I could go against it with like more like authentic connection to it. Yeah. Yeah. And that stuff is, is kinda hard to explore, to try and to try and work into that. 

J.R.: Yeah, definitely. As you're talking, it, it reminds me of, I don't know if you're familiar with the video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, where- Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm. Yeah, and so, for the audi- It's like you are playing Star Killer or something, and as you're playing, you can choose the light side or the dark side based on your actions, and there's like a bar, if I'm not mistaken, this game. But there's a, like there's a bar, and as you do good things, your, your light meter goes up, or bad things, your dark meter goes up, and then the story should change based on your decisions.

But the humanity's still the same, it's just your choice is now justifying your shifting value system or the consequences of that. And it's cool because it's like, well, you could, there are two alternate [01:32:00] realities, but it just depends on your decisions, even if your value systems are the same. Yeah. And I think I, I like that how, where it's like when you're playing a villain, it's like, yeah, it's like kinda like playing Star Killer where it's just the choices you made and the values you tend to prioritize that will lead you to be a bad guy- Yeah

but it's still the same humanity in the character. 

Deyo: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Right? And it's very, like, it's subtle, and sometimes there's a lot of overlap. 

J.R.: Mm-hmm. 

Deyo: And, and yeah, that's, that's what I love about acting, is like there's so much. It's exploring humanity, and I feel like it honestly has made me... I, like it's, it's almost impossible for a good actor to be a bad person.

That's why it's surprising when certain people, maybe it's just like celebrity gets to certain people, and then they for... But it's like, that's why I, I don't get celebrities who treat other people badly, because we're just studying humanity. Right. And there's a lot of times that we [01:33:00] act- Like empathy. Yeah, and a lot of empathy.

And there's a- I, I even find myself in conversations where it's like with friends where I'm like, "Oh man, I'm, I'm almost like devil's advocate at times." 'Cause I'm like, "Well, maybe- ... this person who made this bad decision, like they weren't always like that." Yeah. Or like they, this thing happened to them, so you kinda get it.

Yeah. So sometimes we, we, we just love exploring in the gray area of things. So I feel like for myself, it made me a, a better human being, at least in terms of what I stra- strive to be in ter- Yeah, and but I mean, I'm sure that comes with faults of its own where certain things are just like, "Oh, this" I don't know.

Some people just do bad things. 

J.R.: Yeah, yeah, of course. I like, I, there... I think it was a, I think I saw like an awards show speech, or maybe it was like some Meryl Streep thing where she said that same thing where it's like actors, you would think based on the profession, we're in the business of empathy and putting ourselves in other people's shoes, [01:34:00] 'cause that's literally the job.

So how could you justify seeing someone, treating someone inhumanely or as other when you're kind of, you're, you're getting paid to try to relate to other people, right? Yeah. So I thought that was an interesting point, and I totally agree. I'm like, yeah, that makes a lot of sense, you know? But I guess- ... you know, you help people to do whatever they want.

It's like, no, this is just a job. I'm pretending to empathize- 

Deyo: Yeah, yeah ... 

J.R.: but in reality I don't want to. 

Deyo: There, there are some people who I think like, yeah, they know how to treat it as a job. They know how to like you know- Compartmentalize ... 

J.R.: convey 

Deyo: the, yeah, compartmentalize and convey emotions that, that are just like, that gets the job done, and it'll get somebody feeling something.

But it's like almost akin to, you know, being with somebody that you've just met, and they're actually going through something compared to another person you just met who knows how to tug at your heartstrings. And like, you'll still feel emotions both ways, [01:35:00] but one just might be more genuine to the core of somebody else, and the other might not be.

J.R.: Right. That's a good segue 'cause I wanted to ask, one of the points we have is authenticity and honesty through work, art, and living life. If that does connect, could you dig deeper on what you meant by that? 

Deyo: Yeah, it's, it's it kinda-- It's, it's very cool 'cause I-- I'm very grateful for this conversation and the timing came with that, like, I-- This is one...

I've, I've been blessed for the past, you know, the 12 years that I've been doing this to, to have some, like, really fun milestones in terms of like, you know, getting on a show or whatever booking and things like that where... And but with that, the past, I don't know, year, year to year and a half, no, probably [01:36:00] about a year, I haven't actually like booked or worked on anything for that.

It's just like the constant struggle. But this is the first time that I've comfortably and honestly been able to say, like if somebody asks, I'm like, "Yeah, I'm an actor." Mm-hmm. I used to, you know, mix it up, be like, "Oh, I'm in film and I act," or, "I'm a, a sound mix," or, you know, whatever the job was in crew that I was doing at the time.

I would almost feel this, like, guilt. And even though, like, I've had the advice before of like, "Hey, you're in this profession, you have to be proud of identifying yourself as an actor," for some reason I just couldn't do it for a long time. There was something that felt inauthentic. And what I learned recently in the past, I don't know, half a year, it's kinda nice that it coincides with like also getting your body right or focusing on that stuff and dedicating.

But I've, I've built up [01:37:00] like habits where I'm, I'm working on something acting, whether it be texting and reading scripts or exploring different things or, or getting myself prepared for, yeah, like this for example, like, you know, this thing that I'm about to shoot next week. Like being able to just dedicate no matter what parts of my week to acting has made me be able to be like, "I'm an actor."

'Cause without-- Like this, this booking, this, this thing I'm gonna shoot next week, that, yeah, that's probably the first thing I'm gonna be shooting in about a year. And so it's, it was great to build habits to like actually be like whether I have something booked or not, this is what I do. And now I can authentically say it.

Like now I'm putting in the work instead-- when [01:38:00] I was blessed before, it'd be like, okay, book something, now time to really dig in and get my habits right and like work on this stuff. And then on the day, you know, feel like prepared enough enough to get it done. But now I feel like, like I'm just really trying to sharpen iron, and I'm like, no matter what, we're gonna be hitting something, putting scenes up in class, learning something new.

Like there's go- the week, there is always days and hours and time dedicated to the art of acting. And so I feel like that has helped me like authentically say it and in that like freedom and joy, now I'm able to like actually just carry that throughout my life too, where it's like, oh yeah, it could be me.

And, and I, I feel like, Now more than ever, I feel like I, I know I'm, I'm much more in [01:39:00] tune with who I am and who I think I am are like congruent. Yeah. Instead of like trying to pur- be this, this perception of someone or like, you know, when the bookings come or when somebody asks the right-- When the right person asks, then I'm like trying to portray this version of myself that I'm not.

But now it's like, "Nah, this is what I do," so I can, I can actually like say it confidently, and I feel like that, that plays a, a big part. And I had-- It was a big lesson that had to be learned. I, I missed out on an opportunity a year ago where I just, That was kind of like the big catalyst to a lot of things.

Luckily, it went to a very amazing actor and friend and that, that movie's gonna be coming out soon. But it, it's like it hit me in two ways. One of them was not booking it and realizing like at that time I was still [01:40:00] smoking. I was trying to get ready instead of staying ready when the opportunity came.

Mm-hmm. So there's a difference between like, "Oh, here it is. Let me put my best effort," compared to like, "Here it is. Oh, snap, these people are involved. Oh, no, I gotta do all this work," and like everything feeling-- like the, the rush of work feeling a little foreign compared to now where it's like if an opportunity like that comes, I know how to break that down and I'm gonna kill it.

I'm gonna give it my all. And it wasn't even like... It's not the fact of not booking it. It's the fact that I know now that that wasn't 100%. Like I was, I was- Mm ... trying to catch up to something where I ended up like in a sense half-assing when I, when I wasn't trying to. And then the second hit I took from that experience was I was blaming the other wonderful actors first, and they're like good people.

And it was like, "Oh," it-- my, my [01:41:00] mindset to start was like, "Damn, you got this from me." It's like they took it. When in reality it was like, no, that, they were putting in the work. That's the perfect role for them right now. And I had to learn that that was actually me being upset at myself for like not being ready.

And so that... But there also, with us being like in the dance community, there was a nice part to that of like it lit a fire under me. Like it got me competitive with myself again to be like, "Yeah, wait a minute." When I reflect and look inward, I'm not like, why would I cast myself in that? Like I did decent, but it's like, nah, if you need somebody to work for six months and do like the shit, and a, a month after that audition, like I don't know if I saw myself, if I would cast myself.

And then that, going through that journey and that catalyst lighting that fire under me, [01:42:00] it allowed me to get to a point where it's like, dude, I should not be like, some good people got this job and it's better than like somebody I know. Not that it's better, but it's like, it's awesome to enjoy in that fruitfulness rather than like, oh, like some, some, you know, A-list celebrity or like some unknown actor that I have no connection with.

It'd still be great for them, but I was seeing it in a completely wrong way, and now it's like, no, now we get to like enjoy this and it's like some... It's, it's just, it's, it's way more awesome and positive and it's, it's a good thing that it's like, cool, they're helping cast this net a little wider for people like me, for peers like me who, who even...

I, I think part of it was, like, 'cause I was in the game longer and I was studying it longer. Mm. But I probably efficient-wise [01:43:00] wasn't putting in as much work as these beautiful gentlemen who are, who are gonna kill it in this role. I'm excited. But now it's like they're gonna allow other people in other casting offices to, like, see what Filipino representation can be in movies and, and yeah, I'm just kinda like, just keep putting one foot in front of the other, trust it, and who knows if, like, the, the right just the right opportunity comes.

'Cause it's not always about, like, not always just killing it and you'll get it. It's like, dude, they got-- you got other skills and things like that that I don't have that might be needed for that or, you know, somebody who, who wears this life a different way that both could be really good. But it's just it fits more to what the-- 'Cause it's so collaborative.

There's so much community and so many people involved that [01:44:00] it's like Yeah, the, the lesson of getting to like, "Nope, this is what I do, and I'm just gonna work on myself and work hard, and when it lines up, it lines up, and when it doesn't, then it's just, it just wasn't meant for me." But I just wanna know that I'm 100% when I give the effort now, rather than like, "Ah, I missed out on giving my best effort."

Mm. Yeah. 

J.R.: I like that. There's a few things I wanted to highlight, which was I love the idea of, of staying ready so you don't have to get ready. I think that's a big takeaway for anyone in anything, because you can't control the timing, but if you are... You can control your preparedness for that thing, and then taking ownership and responsibility of that.

And the other thing was the, like, the transience or the temp- the temporal, temporary nature of, of, I guess the, of your industry of being an actor, because it's within bookings. Like, you know, you're, you're booked and you're filming or, a role, or you're shooting something. And [01:45:00] unlike a typical nine-to-five job where it's like, "Yeah, I do this thing every day, and so therefore I am a accountant," right?

Whereas an actor- Mm ... it's, yeah, you might be an actor, quote-unquote, for six months or whatever, but then in between then, am I not an actor anymore? Because you're not- Yeah ... doing the thing. And so I get that, but then I like what you're saying about, well, I'm building the habits of regardless of if I'm shooting something or not, I'm still doing the habits and the routines of an actor, which is staying ready, being healthy whether it's studying your craft in some sort of way or producing something.

You're now doing the habit, and so going back to the identity and authenticity question, it's you can now confidently, confidently portray or lean into that identity of being an actor because you're like, "Okay, I'm not booked for anything right now or shooting anything, but I'm doing the things that an actor would do."

And so it's kind of realigning with that sort of definition, which I really love. 

Deyo: Yeah. The, the,getting ready, staying ready. I feel like that's, [01:46:00] that's just, What, what was your question about that again? 

J.R.: No, I mean, I was just kind of pulling out my favorite parts of what you're saying about- Mm

you know, your journey of identifying and being authentic and honest, and how, you know, you, you've built, you've kind of shifted to this direction of, of staying ready instead of trying to get ready and being reactive 

Deyo: once something comes up. Yeah. Yeah, 'cause it, that was just a, a bad habit to build, and, and it's like, I think I was-- But the weird thing, it's kinda like magical and I was-- it makes me think of Tony Tran, was like, w- like I said, I was to, to the other-- compared to the one of the other actors who booked this Filipino role, like I've been in the game longer, but I almost lost a little bit of that edge by booking other things, which wa- is kinda counterintuitive, that [01:47:00] I'm, I'm sure, you know, other people work differently where it's like they book and they, they double down more.

Mine was just like, "Oh, cool." I'm like, "I'm getting some things, so like whatever I'm doing must be right." And so I, I lost a little of that edge, so I'm very grateful that like their, their success has helped me be able to look inward and be like, "No, no, no, I, I gotta, I gotta bring more of that fire back."

And it reminds me of Tony Tran, that Tony is one of the most unique, beautiful dancers when it comes to just movement and quality of movement and hi- like musicality, and he started in high school. Mm-hmm. And I remember there were so many of us who like started way before our high school or things like that or and we just picked up habits that My-- Like we, we did some good things, but it, it also like we learn habits that are sometimes like a little bit on the more jaded side or we get like, "Ah, I've [01:48:00] done that plenty of times," so you're just not pushing as much compared to like someone who comes in a little later who's like, "Oh no, I, I'm here later because I want this and I'm choosing to do this," and so they put their all into it.

And, and so yeah, that's a, that's a big thing of like op- you never know. I, I did not know that that audition would just fall on my lap. I was like, "Holy crap." And this was, like, a director and writer that if this were high school me, if they, they told high school me, like, "You're gonna get an opportunity in about..."

How many years is that? Probably 20 years since I've loved this director. If I had known that from then, it's like, okay, I'm working on that. I'm going. So to, the fact that I wasn't ready and then something like that came, I was like, I, I couldn't have even dreamed or have imagined this. And that's part of it.

You gotta, [01:49:00] you gotta dream and imagine that stuff, that life, that opportunity for yourself, because if not you, then who? And then so when things like that come and you're not believing in yourself by the time it's there, it's, it's, you, you gotta be like your number one champion. You gotta work hard for it and like, yeah, just, just put it out.

'Cause then what else, what else are we doing? Yeah. Why are we dilly-dallying and wasting time? Like- Yeah ... and it, it, it's fun living, like, a purpose-driven life like that. And like I said, being able to, like, confidently call yourself and identify yourself as, like, the thing that you want to align with most, whether it's career or whatnot, is, it's just so fulfilling.

It's a beautiful thing. 

J.R.: Mm-hmm. I wanted to ask about that, 'cause another thing was identifying yourself as an artist. Did, did we cover that in what you're saying, or is there something else to identifying as an artist? [01:50:00] 

Deyo: I feel like it was, it was kinda like that, like just putting in the work, whether something's calling or not, whether you have a job or not.

It's like, no, you're an artist and be proud of it. And I feel like the way to do, be proud of it authentically is to, like, actually know you're dedicating, like you said, like the time and, and work or, or even just thoughts. Like, there's so many times, like I might not have something booked or, like, maybe I'm just working on a scene for class.

There have been times where I've caught it in myself where I'm at the climbing gym, and then my mind is just spinning, 'cause a lot of the acting process I do is, like, daydreaming. Mm-hmm. And sometimes they're just spinning on things until it feels like they're your real problems and it's really hitting.

And I'm like I've clocked myself at the climbing gym of like, if somebody saw me right now, I would- They're probably like, "Why is he so sad?" Or, "Why is he [01:51:00] in these feel-" Or, "Why is he, like, just 

happy and smiling at nothing?" Yeah. And I'll just be there, and it'll, it'll like, will tick me out sometimes a little bit where I'll be like, "Oh."

And then go back to like, "No, this is, this is fun spinning on this. I'm just gonna not care what other people think." But I've definitely clocked it where it's like, that's part of the work 

too. When you're an artist, it's not always the, the, like, I'm at a desk now, I'm at a computer, I'm doing this. It's like that stuff is hitting you, and you're either gonna indulge it and see where it takes you, or, you know, you have that random idea that you wanna produce or a funny thing you just thought of, and you just write it down in your notes.

Like, I've done it so many times where I'm like, "Oh, that's funny. I'll remember that." And then it just never comes back. And so it's like that is part of the identity of being an artist, and that's honestly part of your [01:52:00] work too, is just being diligent with like, I'll allow myself a few moments to be in this space, or, you know, who cares?

People see me laughing to myself or something, or I'm gonna make sure I take the 30 seconds to pull out a notebook or your phone and just jot down this idea, even if it becomes nothing. Mm-hmm. I feel like that's, that's our job because those things oftentimes are just like stepping stones to leading into something a lot deeper in humanity.

And that's an artist's job is like human connection. 

J.R.: Mm-hmm. I like that. One, one of the last thing I wanted to ask on this is you mentioned specifically the importance of community and like-minded artists or supporters. Could we dig deeper on that? What did you mean by that? 

Deyo: Mm. I realized kinda like in, in many ways there...

In, in dancing and stuff too, [01:53:00] I-- this was a, a lesson I guess that started with dancing was I always loved like solo stuff. I could do it my own, or let me not bother somebody, and let me just figure it out. And then dancing of course, like there's work ethic and artistry and things like that that we never would've learned if we didn't dance with the other people and see how they were doing it and literally asking questions.

And, and so- For some reason, I fell back into that solo habit after dance and going into acting. It was just like, oh, when I do a job or when I have an audition, I'll ask someone to help me with the self-tape off in Lawrence. Mm. Or I'll, you know, I'll read now with them and... Or if I'm gonna put up a scene in class, I'm just working with my scene partner, and in between scenes I'm like reading or on my phone doing something else.

And I've learned that like building the actual community [01:54:00] and being there for each other makes, makes your art so much greater because you stop being so for yourself or like heady about yourself. Like, you are able to still do the things that benefit you, but you're also caring for somebody else's art or you're learning through symbiosis of like working with somebody else or being down to support them and get inspired by their scene or their play and, and watching that.

And even like Kind of going with what I was saying about the catalyst about missing out on that big opportunity audition, Being able to, to, to reconnect with that actor has been like, just like this beautiful moment of like, this is so much better than me being on that purely competitive, I need to do better comparison thing, 'cause that, that was coming from a dark [01:55:00] place.

It was very much like I have to beat my, my peers now. I have to be able to win against them. And I learned this-- I heard this like recently, I forgot from where, but it was somebody saying like the, the industry of art and acting like does that so much already. Like their, their... A lot of their jobs is comparing and contrasting.

So as artists being on this side, we should be the ones building the community and rooting each other on, and being glad that somebody in our community gets opportunities and, and it's... Yeah. It-- I feel like Learning that a lot of these things are community-based just kinda pulls you out of yourself and any kinda ego, and it becomes much more positive.

And that's a big thing with film too, is [01:56:00] everything's collaborative. Like, some people might assume it's, like, the director and the director of photography, and that's most of it. But everyone from, like, art department, props, crafty, catering, casting you know, sound especially, I gotta shout out my sound peeps but, like, camera, G&E, lighting gripping, everybody is helping tell a story, and I feel like there's a lot of crew members who don't get the recognition that they're also artists.

Like, the way the light hits with, you know, a scene that was written by a beautiful writer, and the director who's pushing that, and an artist or a, or a art director saying, like, "This color palette against this lighting with this behind the actor is gonna add to that, you know, feeling and that emotion," and the prop artist being like, "This is what you're gonna [01:57:00] work with.

You could hold it. You could feel it." There's so much. You know, sound getting as intimate as they can and close, and, and capturing that audio quality and helping tell a story. Everybody's just a artist doing things that involve technique, and it's really collaborative. And, like, the... For anybody who's, like, aspiring to be in film or do any of this entertainment stuff is, like, the faster you learn that lesson, the easier it is 'cause I used to wanna just be like, "It's solo me.

Let me work on my thing. I show up to set." And I mean- Yeah ... you could, but it's like, it's gonna be collaborative no matter what, so it actually, it becomes more jarring if you try to just bring yourself and like, "That's it." Like, "I'm, I'm solo," and, and then you're like... It's a little bit shell-shocked. But if you know that everyone's gonna be working together, and it kind of...[01:58:00] 

The community brings, like, the fun and the, like, the, the feeling of like, "Dude, we're just friends making some art that other like-minded people like us are gonna hopefully watch or share and enjoy." And it's just a way of, like, connecting humanely in this fast-moving AI world we're about to enter. 

J.R.: Yeah. 

Deyo: I 

J.R.: like that.

It's like approaching it as like a solo artist as opposed to leaning into the community collaborative aspect of that does definitely change the experience to be more positive, and I really like that, that highlighting that point because I, I feel the same. With any sort of artistry, dance especially, is that y- yeah, your experience will be completely different whether or not you lean into the community aspect of it, and I think that's a, a really big point for anyone.

Deyo: Mm-hmm. 

J.R.: Artists, aspiring artists, or people [01:59:00] who are aspiring to be in a creative field that's a, that's such a really good takeaway and insight. 

Deyo: Yeah. Me and Shawn would talk about dance stuff. A lot of times we're just like, "Damn, we were such haters 

back then"

'cause that... There, there was a little bit of fun to like just wanting to like really be competitive and be the best. Mm-hmm. There is positives in that too. Of course. But when we look back- Yeah ... we were like, damn, we, we kinda closed off to a lot of things. 

And then once we like started opening those doors, we were like, these are actually great people.

They're just like us. 

J.R.: Yeah. Exactly. No, yeah, I like that. I still think you guys can take on Shit Kings, but, you know, whatever.

Deyo: Oh. 

J.R.: Uh-huh. 

Deyo: That's so sweet. 

J.R.: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, just let me live in my own, my own ignorance. It's fine. My bias, my bias. Okay. Thank, yeah, [02:00:00] thank you for all of that. I... We're coming at two hours now. I think maybe for part- I'm sorry for yapping 

Deyo: so much. 

J.R.: No, no, it's cool. I, I love it. I love long episodes like these and going in deep.

Maybe we'll talk about, I, I'm really curious about the, the acting side of, like the ins and outs of being an actor for so long and being in the industry. So maybe we will save that for a part two if it's in the cards and we can schedule it and whatnot. I would love to have you back on the show. But I would like to move on to rapid fire questions if you're okay with that.

Deyo: Let's do it. 

J.R.: Nice. Okay. It's always nice to save a little bit in the tank for next time, 'cause it's something to look forward to, right? Oh, 

Deyo: that's, that... I'm honored. I'm honored. 

J.R.: Yeah. All right. Rapid fire questions. Again, the name of the game is rapid fire questions, but feel free to take as long as you want.

First question is always billboard question. If you could put up a sign for millions of people to see, what would it say? Metaphorical, non-commercial, et cetera. 

Deyo: Mm. Mm. Mm. A billboard

Ha

Okay. [02:01:00] It's time to bring out the silly side. Do it

So stupid. Have a two shoes kinda day. 

J.R.: A two shoes kinda-- What does that mean? 

Deyo: Two shoes. It's two shoes. It's goody. It's a goody two-shoe day. 

J.R.: Oh, two shoes. Like a goody two-shoe.

Okay. I'm vibing with it. 

Deyo: Goody. It's goodies. Everything's goodies. All goodies. So whatever whenever you're feeling good, it's two shoes, man. It's all two shoes. 

J.R.: As opposed to one shoe. 

Deyo: You have 

J.R.: one shoe on, you're not, probably not having a good day. 

Deyo: Mm-mm. Mm-mm, something's wrong. 

J.R.: Something's wrong. I like it.

All right.

Deyo: I was thinking like, Maybe this is-- Oh, 

J.R.: yeah. 

Deyo: Oh, that was just stupid, 'cause when it was billboard, I was like advertising, so in my head, I was like, if I did have a shoe company, it would be Goodies. Put on your Goodies. 

J.R.: Goodies. '

Deyo: Cause they're two [02:02:00] shoes. 

I 

J.R.: like it. 

Deyo: That's funny, 

J.R.: actually.

Underrated thoughts. Underrated creative advertising and marketing 

Deyo: branding. 

J.R.: All right next question. This might be different or might be the same, but self-inflicted wound. Do you have a story about something that's gone wrong in your life that's your own fault and you can't blame anyone else?

Deyo: I think that, that, that would, that kind of like going in line with that audition, that big audition that I had was like wanna quickly blame other things and be upset, and then just realizing like, no, that's that's all me. I think and going with that kind of like just letting time go by especially with, since we're talking about habits and how I had to learn that like weed smoking became an unhealthy habit.

There's just a lot of ambition I wasted because it made me very chill. Like the-- There's parts of it that I loved in terms of like, oh, it helped me like not take everything so [02:03:00] seriously, and I think I still carry that to this day. Like there's good parts of that like, oh, don't panic, it's all good. But it got to a point where it was like, no, it was killing time and ambition.

And that, that part hurts because there's just like so much time gone by where it's like, ooh, if I was doing this... Who knows? But maybe that's all part of it. It's just part of life is like maybe this lesson had to come now, and this is just the journey I have to take. So yeah, it, it is like, it hurts, and I had to learn that about myself, but also probably wouldn't have it any other way 'cause then it wouldn't be the same way.

Mm. 

J.R.: I like that. All right. If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be? Or advice or words of wisdom that has impacted you the most? 

Deyo: Hmm. I think that, [02:04:00] that friendship takes time and effort. That building connections, community, going along with that again, is like it actually, even if you're an introvert, you, you have to make the space and time for it because being in the school system kind of fools you that that's just how life's gonna be.

Mm. Like, it's just gonna be a part of living. It's like, nah, you actually have to, like, put in the work and effort for the people around you, too. And that might even be more important than putting in the work and effort for ourselves and career. Like, it- building those connections is, is something kind of noteworthy and beautiful in itself, so I'm still learning that lesson.

I'm, like, trying to re- like, I love this with you 'cause I'm like, it's great to reconne- 

J.R.: Yeah, definitely. I totally resonate with that. It's sometimes, if not, like, unequivocally, the relationships and [02:05:00] the connections we make along the way is the point, right? We can try- Mm-hmm ... to achieve and do all this other stuff, but at the end of your life, it's like, did I make good connections?

Were, was I there for people? Did I have good memories and enjoy life with people? And if yes- Yeah ... then what do you have to regret, right? 

Deyo: Mm-hmm. So 

J.R.: I like that. 

Deyo: And if you did those, you're probably leaving something nice behind for the people after to look forward to. Of course. What's that quote? You never see a U-Haul before, behind a hearse.

J.R.: I like 

Deyo: that. Or a hearse, a hearse, behind a hearse. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You, you can't 

J.R.: take it with you. All right. What, in the last few years- 

Deyo: Damn, you're looking 300 buff. Sorry. Oh, I'm 

J.R.: sorry. No, I'm just trying to- Your 

Deyo: arms. Ooh. 

J.R.: I'm just trying to catch up with Alex Cristall. Shout out Alex Cristall. You have lit a fire under me because you are too buff.

He's, "Oh, it's nice with your little stories that you post about going to the gym." I'm like, "Thanks, Alex. [02:06:00] Sure." Okay. Oh, sorry. In the last few years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has improved your life? 

Deyo: A that is a good question. Rediscovering discipline. I feel like that's been huge for the last year. Like ambition and discipline kind of going together and building. There's like one half of it where it's like getting your mind right and wanting something and actually like dedicating time and effort into that.

And then the other is like just getting used to doing, 'cause sometimes the mind doesn't catch up yet, but if you just start doing it, at some point it just becomes like, oh, now the-- this doesn't feel like as much effort. It might take some time to get to that point, but I think there's, there's like a, a lot of value in just like, kinda like with the piece auditions, going back to that.

Like, eh, it might not be the best day, but I'm just gonna go do [02:07:00] what I said I was gonna do, and it just builds that discipline and that habit to, to progressing your life. And then that just comes back to purpose. Just, just having a purpose-driven life. I think that's huge 

J.R.: Mm, I like that. This might be the same or, or actually, do you have a different significant event in your life that shifted the way you see things beyond what you've already mentioned?

Deyo: My nephews and niece. That-- My, I'm so grateful for my sister and brother-in-law. Shout out Tin and Sarah. And then my nephews, Evan, Liam, and my niece, Ava. They brought... Like, even though... So w- with, with kids, like I always wanted kids. With where I'm at right now and like my pursuit of this career, things like that, it's just, I don't know.

I don't know if it's in the cards. So I'm very grateful for Tin and Sarah for having their, their sweet, sweet kiddos, [02:08:00] 'cause they, they brought like this new amount of love, this unconditional love that I didn't know. It was never unlocked before, even if I thought it was. Like, I used to, you know, always tell past girlfriends things like that.

Like, "No, unc- I love you." And I, I did. At the time it was, it was love- Right ... but it's a different love. I 

J.R.: did. Yeah, yeah, 

Deyo: yeah. But like this love is like, oh, now I get what someone means when they say they'll jump in front of a, you know, a car to like save somebody or things like that. It's like, whoa, this is a new amount of care and joy in seeing them grow into like different people and, and just...

Ava, she's just a little over one. She's so cute. But just like, they brought so much into my life, and I like look forward to seeing them grow and like visiting them and, and all that, where it's, it's really cool. Really, that, that brought [02:09:00] out like a different aspect of my life that was definitely unlocked b- or not l- not un- that was definitely locked before.

J.R.: Yeah. I love that a lot. I think I really resonate with that. There's a different type of love that you ex- you know, there's so many different types of love, but one that you experience with, like, a child, like your own child, or someone that you see as in that way of the unconditional love that you can only really have for someone when you relate to them in that way.

I had a similar experience when in, like, my old dance team. We had families as well, and then when I first got my, my first batch of littles, so like, you know, like l- little sisters- Yeah ... or we call them, like, daughters because, or sons or daughters if, like, they're someone that you're adopting.

There was this weird shift in me where I was like, "Okay, these are just, you know, college students. But they're like first years, 18 year old, and they've always wanted to be on our team." They joined it, and then I became their big. And I was like, yeah, they're now my littles or my [02:10:00] daughters, but I'm like, there's this feeling in me that I'm like, why does it feel like I would do anything for these people?

Like these- ... like this batch, these batch of like girls who I- ... no attachment to, right? Like, we're not actually family, but- You, you just 

Deyo: wanna- I do- ... make sure 

J.R.: they're 

Deyo: okay and they're 

J.R.: cared for. Yeah, 

Deyo: exactly. 

J.R.: Like, it's like my brain adopted them, and I became their father, and I'm like, like, what? I don't... Like, there's a huge motivation for me now, and after that, I joined leadership, and I stayed for four years, and I stayed on the team for seven and a half years because I'm like so this feeling of unconditional love that I wanted to make the team a better place for them, that- Yeah

I stayed, I s- I stayed longer than I should have, and I kinda didn't, you know, I didn't dance anymore for enjoyment, but I danced out of like I really wanted to make this place good for them and then my future granddaughters, great-granddaughters, great-great-great-granddaughters that would join the team as well.

I'm like, oh, it's, it's so crazy how much I would do anything for you, but also like I need to have that space, but also like I wanna do [02:11:00] everything I can to make sure you have an amazing experience here in- Yeah ... your college years that I wish that I would've had. But also like I don't know how to expl- convey that to someone who's like, "Oh, yeah, it's just my big."

But to me I'm like, "No, but I would die for you." Like, there's a difference. Yeah. 

Deyo: You 

J.R.: wanna make it a- and I don't know why ... 

Deyo: safe space, and yeah. Yeah. There's so- Yeah ... it's, it's, it's lovely to feel that way about- 

J.R.: Yeah, it is It's lovely. It's a blessing and a curse 'cause it also hurts the most. I think any real parents would know that, like, like you love your kids so much, but it also, it hurts a lot to love them because that's the other side of the coin of unconditional love, is knowing that they will never really love you as much as you love them, and that's the name of the game.

That's just the biology of it. Like, you can't escape it. And but I've learned that once I've accepted the fact that they will never feel the same about me, it was easier to kind of move forward and be like, "This is what it is." And that's the whole point of loving someone, is that you don't need them to kinda give back to you.

And so I totally resonate- That- ... with like having- That's 

Deyo: unconditional. 

J.R.: [02:12:00] Yeah, exactly. That whole feeling of h- finding and experiencing that unconditional love is such a magical thing that is like A, B, B, C. Like be- your life before experiencing unconditional love and then after. And I also related to my mom- Yeah

and my parents a lot more after having my own kids. And I'm like, "Oh, now I can see why my mom does the things she does and how she feels about me." Because I feel the same way about, like, these girls, you know? 

Deyo: That's awesome. Yeah, it i- it's such a blessing, but it i- yeah, there's a ton of worry with that, too.

J.R.: Mm-hmm. Yeah, it's a... Definitely there's a lot to it. 

Deyo: Double-edged 

J.R.: sword. Like, I think for s- It's definitely double-edged sword. I'm like, "Oh, I wish I could not feel this way," but at the same time it's, like, the most beautiful thing.

Okay. Next question: I know success is different for each person, but how do you define success? 

Deyo: I think being with people or a situation where you can honestly be [02:13:00] happy being yourself. That's, that's hard to find. I love 

that. 

That's like when you're authentically you and either people or whatever around you supports that or just gets it, whether it's like... That, that's so... That's a good life. Mm-hmm. It's like- It's an unparalleled feeling, right?

Yeah. It's quite, quite fortunate having something like that. And then all the other accolades, career, things like that, they fall into place. But like, if, if you don't... Like, that core feels like, well, you did something right, and you found your tribe, and that's, that's successful, I think, in this universe and world 

J.R.: Like that.

Is there something that separates the younger version of you from the current version of you, AKA, like, what's one significant way you've changed? 

Deyo: Hmm. [02:14:00] That young guy, that stupid ass. Oh, that, that naive little chain-smoking guy. I needed to learn how to care for for-- I think that, that goes along with, like, nephews and niece too, but it was, it was constantly a, a lesson that had to be learned throughout.

But, I cared for myself a lot when I was younger, and that's all I knew how to care for. Of course, you love your siblings, parents, and friends, family around you, but, like, there was a lot of looking out for myself. And once you learn how to care for something, someone, some pet- Mm-hmm

I think that just created the difference. There's like so many things I can look back on now, whether pertaining to friendships or relationships and things like that of like, "Damn, wish I could take that back," or like how I handled that situation, how I treated that [02:15:00] person, how, how I didn't give them time of day how I brushed them off or something like that.

How... There's so, so many of those of like, ah, sorry. Like young, young me was, was just thinking about myself and what was best for myself, and there's a l- a lot to love about learning how to be more selfless, and there's, there's gonna be still plenty to learn. But yeah, that being able to like work with somebody and their emotions rather than constant, "This is where I'm at. How come we're not seeing eye to eye?" and things like that. Yeah. And, and creating those kinds of problems without just being like, "Oh, with them as a human, how are they taking this thing?" Or, "What are they-- What might they be going through?" So yeah, and a lot of that came from experience, 

life, and acting and, and learning a lot of characters and roles [02:16:00] and lives of like, "Oh, shit, this is how it is on that side."

And it takes me back to like somebody else dealing with something. I'm like, "Ah, I wasn't there for them the best I could've been." So yeah, I think that's, that's a big part 

J.R.: I love that. Totally resonate with that. Okay, not that you don't do a lot of thinking and pondering and being in your head, but what is something you've been pondering recently or something you think about often deeply?

Deyo: Oh. Oh

It kind of goes with like the discipline and stuff, but I'm like just excited for opportunity. Now it feels like I've like locked and loaded, and I'm just like, "Oh, give me a chance." Like, "Let me at them." That, that's been kind of like-- That's b- been on my mind in like a good way, where it's just like, oh, I just wanna, I wanna see where all of this [02:17:00] dedication and, and yeah, just all, all the time spent on, on my skills and, and career-based things and arts, like where, where can this go now?

I just wanna, if I'm given the opportunity, big or small, I wanna see where I could take this. And then the other side's just like, think a lot about like just calisthenics and climbing. It's just fun. Yeah. Just like, oh, how am I gonna figure out that route? I'm trying to get- 

J.R.: Yeah. Man, you're such a jock, dude.

You're- ... Dayo the meathead, you know? Just thinking about working out all the time.

I love it. 

Deyo: I wanna lift. I wanna lift, bro. 

J.R.: Yeah. Li- I need some protein and climb that wall. 

Deyo: Protein. This is Sparta. 

J.R.: Yeah, Sparta. Just hang, hang a, hang a turkey leg at the top of the wall, and I'll climb it.

Do you have a favorite hot take or something you think [02:18:00] most people would disagree with? 

Deyo: Hmm. Hmm, hmm, hmm

I still love Frank Ocean Oh, yeah? I think. Is that a hot take? I know. I g- I guess maybe it was just people who went to that Coachella where, like, he, he didn't perform much. Maybe, maybe it's not the biggest hot take. Okay, okay. But man, he's, he has such good music. What do, do, what do I have hot takes on this year? 

J.R.: How I frame this usually is like something that you think is absolutely true, but sometimes maybe mainstream people don't believe it's true or, or don't agree, I guess. So not necessarily controversial- Hmm ... but it could be 

Deyo: Let's see 

J.R.: If not, you get passed.

You just say, "I'm not a, I'm 

Deyo: not a commercial guy." Tobey Maguire is still my, my number one Spider-Man. Yeah? It's Tobey for me. You, you think that's 

J.R.: controversial? I think- 

Deyo: Or 

J.R.: like, why do you think that's controversial? 

Deyo: 'Cause I feel like as [02:19:00] Spider-Men objectively Tom Holland and, and Andrew Garfield probably more quintessential Spider-Men Ah, 

okay

in, in their ways. But, 

but Tobey Maguire, that's like, man, those first two. We could forget about the third one, at least for me- Yeah ... 'cause I feel like I love Sam Raimi as a director. I think he was- Mm ... sticking it to the studios for them forcing a bunch of things on him. So I think he was having fun with, like, being like, "Look at what I can do."

But those first two, it was like the storytelling and Tobey just being in it and all, all the, the feelings of him initially becoming that Spider-Man was like, "That's still my Spider-Man." 

J.R.: Mm. 

Deyo: That's a warm take as well. 

J.R.: Yeah. Oh, sure, sure. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 'Cause I, I feel like whenever I see like reels or things on Instagram where they talk about the Tom Holland or Andrew Garfield or Tobey Maguire, there, there are people who [02:20:00] are like, "No, hardcore Tobey," right?

And I'm like, "Okay, I get that." Oh, hell yeah. There's the... Yeah, there's like the nostalgia factor. There's like that- Mm-hmm ... when you watch Spider-Man, that was your sort of thing, and you resonate with that, or you just like how he portrayed him. Even if objectively- Mm-hmm ... like, the, the look of Spider-Man is better in one of the other two, or the personality, like one person's a better Spider, one Spider-Man, one person's a better Peter Parker, and you're like, "Sure."

Deyo: Yeah. 

J.R.: Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I, I totally relate with that. Yeah. 

Deyo: Hell yeah. 

J.R.: Next one. what is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you've ever made in either time, money, energy, et cetera?

Deyo: I think that calisthenics coach, shout out Michael Fernandez. That was one of the best things. I remember like even going into the first month, I was like, "Damn, am I really gonna spend money on this?" And like, I could probably figure this stuff out still with that head of I could do it myself. And then that-- I just kept convincing myself this is an investment in myself, so it's like, let's just do it for a bit, see [02:21:00] how it goes.

That one and s- along the same lines of like, I can do this by myself, but my acting class, being in, in that Stuart Rogers I... Even though I've been there, like I first joined the studio in 2016 under Mike Silver, who's another great teacher. Was there for like a year or two before I got into BuzzFeed.

Oh, no, so that was probably like 2015. And then did BuzzFeed, so I was away for a while. Went back into the studio in an online basis in 2020. And then f- up until about last year, I was very wishy-washy. I would like come in, take a leave of absence for a few months, come back, leave of abs- And I just wasn't...

It was almost like I was doing it because I was like, "Oh, I should." But my headspace wasn't in the right place of like, "No, this is how I get better. I'm here because I want to. I'm gonna stay up later. I'm gonna do the work." Rather than like, "Oh, [02:22:00] let me just show up to class," like very much like, old school, you know, college where you have like that late lecture and you're like, "I'll just go 'cause I gotta click in."

That's kinda how my mindset was before. And now for the past, I don't know, since maybe since January, maybe a little before that, but I'm like, "No, I'm just all in," and just I could, I could see the changes in my mindset and my work of like, nope, this... The, yeah, it just feels like the right investment. It feels like me.

It feels like I actually know how to navigate artistically if op- opportunities came. So yeah, those two things, investing in mind, art, and body are, are, are big 

J.R.: All right, very last question of rapid fire, but do you have any favorite books, movies, videos, articles, or any media that you share or recommend the most?

Deyo: Books, I would have to say [02:23:00] old school one that I still love is just, Hey, why can't I think of the name now? The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho. Oh. You 

J.R.: know- 

Deyo: ... I had a 

J.R.: feeling. I was like, "He's gonna say The Alchemist." 

Deyo: It's a good book. It's a good book. And then there's one Atomic Habits by- James Clear? Oh, I forgot what her name was.

J.R.: James- 

Deyo: Was it? But it was- James 

J.R.: Clear, Atomic Habits, right? 

Deyo: I think s- But it... Was it, was it by a woman? I might, it... Is it... Wait, actually, can you look it up? 

J.R.: Well, Google says Atomic Habits, James Clear is the first thing that comes up. 

Deyo: Okay. Maybe it is. 

J.R.: So, so unless it's, unless it's another book- 

Deyo: Unless I'm thinking of the raw...

It was- 

J.R.: What 

Deyo: was the book about? It's either atomic something or something habit. But it was, it was like combining- Yeah ... science, science with, with habit building. Okay. It was just a fun read.

it's James 

J.R.: Clear. Yeah, it might be that. Atomic Habits- Okay ... is one of the most, like, everyone [02:24:00] references it as one of the, one of the top personal development books, especially with habit development or habit change or whatnot. But 

Deyo: I think- That might be it then.

Yeah. But I'm wondering, I remember there was a book by a woman where it's like atomic something. I'll f- I'll figure it out if it is James Clear or if I'm thinking of someone else and out of my mind. 

J.R.: movies. Movies are things. They're media. I've been on a crazy play tip and one that I think is just a hoot to, like, watch.

Deyo: It's often on Broadway. It's in the Amenson I think from October to November. It's like a month run at e- I think the Mark Taper Forum. Oh, Mary! If you have a chance for just an hour- Mary ... and a half of a fun time, watch- Mm ... Oh, Mary! It's, it's, it's the premise is, like... It's about Mary Todd Lincoln, but, like, what if she was just, like, a raging alcoholic, and it's just comedic cra- but, like, tied [02:25:00] into history.

Mm. So that's more of, like, if you have time or you find yourself in Broadway to go watch that. D- In Broadway in January, I believe Bowen Yang is gonna be playing Mary Todd Lincoln. So that's freaking awesome. Yeah. It, it's fun. They, they always switch Marie with like a, a comedian or s- someone in entertainment who's just like- Mm. They bring their own flavor to it

And I, I saw it with Meg Stalter in, in New York. She's amazing. Dog Day Afternoon that John Bernthal was in as the play was really, he killed it. He was crazy. But those are, like, live, so they're probably, you probably would have to see, like, a different cast, but I recommend those two a lot. And then movie-wise, I feel like Go to amazing movies 

I don't have any like new nuggets, but I just still love Forrest Gump, still love The Matrix.

Mm. Dumb and Dumber. Yeah. [02:26:00] Watch, rewatch Dumb and Dumber and see how great they are. 

Jeff Daniels and, and Jim Carrey kill it. Oh Walk Hard: A Dewey Cox Story. If anybody hasn't seen that John C. Reilly is amazing. John C. Reilly, probably one of my favorite actors- Mm-hmm ... of our time, 'cause y- Mm-hmm ... I feel like he can be in drama, and he could be in comedy so well because he treats everything the same.

Everything is of importance to him, and he just knows just enough to ham it up if he needs to, but he still comes from a very honest place no matter what it is he's doing. Or he'll add that little bit of comedy to something really dramatic. He's, he just, he toes that line really well, I think because he treats everything with so much authenticity that, that he's...

Yeah, he, he's so magnetic on the screen. He's so good. 

J.R.: Mm. Yeah, it's funny because you mention that, [02:27:00] because some of my favorite actors are comedy drama actors, you know, the ones that started in comedy and maybe moved to drama and/or do both, like the Jim Carreys or the Will Smiths or- Mm-hmm ... you know, X, Y, and Z person.

You're like, they're so good, and you're like, maybe there's something in the sauce of, like, comedic actors or comedy people who, like, just really, they go all in on the drama, or maybe that's just survivorship bias. But, ... some of my favorite actors are, are those, like, sort of comedy people, right? 

Deyo: Yeah. 

J.R.: And the movies- 'Cause it's, 

Deyo: it's always so cool.

J.R.: Yeah. No, I agree. No, no I was gonna say, and the movies you recommended, like Forrest Gump and The Matrix and Dumb and Dumber are in my top 10, so I'm like, "Oh, you-" Oh, heck yeah. "... well, I resonate with you." Yeah, I'm like, wait, those are actually some of my favorite movies, so 

Deyo: I'm like, hmm. Yes. Let's watch, let's do movie 

night.

J.R.: Ooh, I'm down. Yeah, those- Yeah, those are, those are always worth the rewatch. 

Deyo: We should do, like, a, like Yumi Symbol, whoever wants to, like, session group somewhere, and then when we get tired just go chill, [02:28:00] watch a movie 

J.R.: when we get tired. You're tempting, you're tempting me with a good time, man. You are tempting me with a good time, 'cause that sounds like a perfect night or perfect day for me.

That sounds 

Deyo: so fun. 

J.R.: Yeah. With, 

Deyo: like, good food right before dancing. Oh, man. Mm-hmm. Or after. Gee. 

J.R.: Yeah, before or after, both, and then movie. Okay. Yeah, all right. I'm gonna write, put that on my to-do list. Okay, cool. I think, I think that's it for rapid fire. Let's go into ending questions, and we can sort of tie it up with a bow if you do have any last thoughts.

So ending questions, gratitude. Shout-out to my mom for teaching me gratitude. Dale, what are you grateful for? Hmm. 

Deyo: Aw, that's very sweet. Oh, shout-out Mom. Yeah ... grateful- She likes the shout-outs. Very much for family, number one, being able to be in such a supportive and loving family. Very lucky that a lot of my mom's side is from here.

Or, I mean, not from here, but they, they immigrated here, so we, we grew up with, [02:29:00] like, that big seeing relatives and cousins and all that. And then the opportunity, I'm, I'm actually going to the Philippines with my family next week. Oh. And so that- Nice ... visiting our dad's side of that. So it's, it's just lo- lovely family and, and rekindling friendships like this one, like being able to talk.

 and grateful for just, just life and living, all the lessons that come with it.

Very fortunate to, like... People going through so much, and I know for all of us, there's gonna be times where we're gonna have to be going through a new trial and tribulation, new journey. So grateful for the stuff that makes us stronger, but also, like, for the times where the, the, there's calm. Like, gotta, like, being able to take that in because life is always gonna throw shit at you.

So yeah, grateful for the times, like now, [02:30:00] where everything is calm and peaceful, but also grateful for the, the, the shit that kinda happens that helps us grow as people and, and still finding joy and artistry and connection and, you know, going into our, our 30s and me gonna be in my 40s in a few years, so- Nice

it's like, it's cool to still have that pursuit and stubbornness to, to be building connections and still be artists. 

J.R.: I like it. All right. Second to last question: Do you have any final ask from the audience or any final takeaways you'd like them to have from this conversation? 

Deyo: Oh. Oh Just be you. Be silly.

Don't try to compete for anybody's acceptance, and the right people will, you'll surround yourself with or they'll, they'll gravitate [02:31:00] to you. And, and And don't lose that sense of play and imagination. It can go so far 'cause that is just one side of the coin to a belief effect. And 

so we, we can't lose that part.

It's-- it can be strong. I see it in my nephews and stuff where I'm like, "Whoa." They see the things that they're imagining and playing with and like, I want-- Let me, let me join them. Let me try and get there and be in their world. And it's just cool that that is like something 

we're born with that we always, that we were doing as young kids.

And if we don't lose it, it, it honestly helps us with like the belief effect and actually like plotting things out for our future and working towards those goals and, and envisioning it and executing 

J.R.: I like that. Man, you must be such a good uncle. I feel like they're lucky to have you. 

Deyo: Oh, that means a lot.

Yeah. No, I, I 

J.R.: love them. You 

Deyo: [02:32:00] must 

J.R.: be a lot of fun to be around. Yeah. Uncle Dale's a lot of fun. He's a little, he's a little weird. Maybe we'll realize he's weirder than we thought, but he's a lot of fun.

Deyo: I like the, I, I need to make sure they're, they're grounded with weirdness so that- 

J.R.: There you go ... 

Deyo: so that they don't feel judgmental or that- Yes ... they are being judged. 

J.R.: No, 100%. There's actually a lot to that, so I appreciate that. Okay, so last final question. I know I'll s- I'll link everything that you sent me, but where can people find you if they wanna check out what you're up to or connect, et cetera?

Deyo: On In- on Instagram, I'm just Introducing Dayo, which I was thinking about changing at some point. I, I did that I built a whole website and tag like that when I got my 

first- 

Mm-hmm ... guest star. And now, now maybe introducing... For one thing, it, it, it's like I feel like 

I've, I've been in the game for a while and going for it.

And the other thing- You've been intro- you've been [02:33:00] introduced for- I've been introduced ... over a decade. And it, it just sounds a little like- Let's introduce this guy ... sounds like I'm trying to be a little too posh. Like, I, I'm a little full of myself a little bit. Uh-huh. So I'm like, I might change, it might change soon, but right now it's still Introducing Dayo.

Same with the website, it's just introducingdayo.com. 

Yeah.

But 

probably will go through a rebranding before the end of the year. Just to, I feel like me, I'm, I'm very proud Hufflepuff, so like, I feel like I need to match more of that energy with my brand. I love it. And then yeah, I just have like my IMDb and, and Actors Access stuff, but that, that's, that's about it.

I'm not on Facebook, not on Twitter, not on Threads, so it's just that, yeah. 

J.R.: Awesome. Yeah, I'll link everything. You have a couple links here. So as of September 26, 2006, it is Introducing Dayo. But if you find the, if you find a could [02:34:00] not be found page, just- ... follow his Instagram. Yeah, man. Or you'll find it eventually.

Deyo: I'll like do one of those like, I'll, I'll pay for the domain for a few more months that redirects you into- 

J.R.: Yeah ... 

Deyo: you know, it like sounds like the song Dayo or something like that or whatever the name's gonna be. Like the song or Hufflepuff Dayo. I don't know what- There you go ... what the new website will be.

J.R.: Yeah. We'll, we'll find out along the way. If anything, if you follow One Thousand Gurus, I'm following whatever Deyo's Instagram account is, so you'll- ... you can do some internet sleuthing and find him if he's so hard to find, so. 

Deyo: Yeah, people are good at that. People are good. 

J.R.: You'll find it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Cool.

Awesome. Dayo, it has been a lovely two hours and 42 minutes recording. Yeah, man. I genuinely appreciate the time. This is an example of like, the time just flies when you're having fun, and so it was really nice to- Yeah ... connect with you, man. 

Deyo: Dude, I appreciate you so much [02:35:00] for, for not only like bringing this up, but just the fact that we were able to reconnect And, and you're such a good listener, and you th- you say- Thank you

or you ask thoughtful questions and follow-ups, and I appreciate this conversation a lot. And, and the people watching, that's... You guys are awesome, too. Keep being artists. Keep striving for your, whatever pursuit and dream you have. You never have to be without it completely, even if you're working anything else.

It's all just you know, it could, it could be working in tandem, or it could be the thing that helps propel you to do the thing you really wanna do. So, so thanks for, for the platform, for, for people like yous and, and artists to, to be watching and, and sharing this stuff with. So appreciate you, man. 

J.R.: Nice.

Thank you, man. I appreciate that. And yeah, it's I, I, I like to see this also as a nice [02:36:00] memento. We get to memorialize the moment and the experience with each other. And so now we can always look back on this fun conversation. I always find myself re-listening to, again, my old friends and my Kaba Modern friends, re-listening to it, and I'm like, "Man, I'm so glad we recorded this," 'cause now I can just come back and just laugh.

'Cause we're always... It's always the fun stuff, right? You're like, "Ah, yeah, that was-" Yeah. "... I'm so glad we did that." So- Yeah ... that's why I'm glad this podcast is just memorializing it, so I wanted to end with that. 

Deyo: It's really 

J.R.: cool, 

Deyo: just like old times, like being able- Yeah ... to just talk again after, like, 10 years of not seeing each other, or whatever it is.

J.R.: Yeah, yeah. And it's like people, people don't really change, in a good way, and so I appreciate that. Mm-hmm. Like, you're, you're still the Deyo that I remember from 15-plus years ago. 

Deyo: Same with you, man. Solid. 

J.R.: Yeah, and it's... So it's nice. Okay. So let me, let me do my final sign-off before I stop the recording.

So thank you guys for being here. I really appreciate it. Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, all that good stuff. Be sure to leave Deyo, my friend, love in the comments below. And reminder to always be kind to other people, but [02:37:00] especially yourself, and remember that you can always learn something from someone if you take the time to listen.

So thank you guys for being here.