02: What I hate about talk shows: Howard Stern and Becoming Bulletproof

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Welcome to the Becoming Bulletproof podcast. I am your host, Tracy o'. Malley. I'm a mom to millennials, an author, Enneagram expert and multi million dollar entrepreneur, and master performance and business coach. I've gone from rock bottom to building a bulletproof business and life. If you're looking for the unfiltered transparent truth and ethos, an extra kick in the ass, you will discover that here. Each week I'll be bringing you success stories of high level entrepreneurs as we discover how they became bulletproof and created their empire. You'll learn the story behind the glory along with Enneagram inspired truths so you can ignite your own purpose, profits and build your legacy. It's time for you to become bulletproof. Buckle up. Let's go.

Hello and welcome to the Becoming Bulletproof podcast. I am your host, Tracy o' Malley and I just want to personally thank you for being here. I value your time and I want you to know that I don't ever take it lightly that you have chosen to invest time listening to me. You know, podcasts have been around for a while and for the last, gosh, seven or so years, I've been more heavily into social media as far as, like, more than just sharing pictures of the kids or, you know, checking in for a workout, whatever that looks like. And over the last seven years, you know, I think seven years ago, I had like less than 400 friends on Facebook.

You know, I was starting to overhaul my life and I started speaking my truth on social media. And I very quickly recognized the power in that. Not for vanity or ego, but how just sharing our own truth and.

Vulnerabilities.

Not only helped me heal, but I was also able to see how much of an impact it made on others. And it was quite humbling, to be honest with you, because let's just be real. For about 40 years, that was my biggest fear, was being vulnerable. And so, you know, when I began to share those parts of me, I did it honestly to keep myself accountable. In the very beginning, I was new to sobriety and recovery and a whole new way of living. I had wiped out my network, changing my playmates, so to speak, and even putting a lot of distance with some family that maybe weren't healthy for me at the time. You know, nothing personal on them, it's just I was headed in a different direction. And, you know, a few years ago, the podcast thing started to make its way to the mainstream and Instagram stories and all this other stuff I was doing Facebook lives and all sorts of stuff but this whole podcast thing, I've been told for the longest time, please do a podcast, please do a podcast. And although my ego did like that, I'm not going to lie, I'm human.

I was super resistant to it. And it wasn't that I was afraid, to be honest with you. I just wanted to do it in a way that I knew I could do it for the long haul. You know, I'm not one to half ass anything, and if I was going to do something that was sustainable and felt really good and something I could be excited about waking up to every day, I had to do it in a way that was genuine to me and bring to you what I felt was congruent with who I was, that was in integrity with who I am. I've always, as far as most of you have known me, walked my talk.

Done things out of integrity all the time. And so to do a podcast, not that there's people out there not doing integrity, but they're doing it in integrity for them. And something I've realized about myself is I am different in a lot of ways and not better, not worse. None of those things. I think a lot of it is because of what's out. There is a younger crowd. I've pretty much got 10 to 20 years on most of the people out there doing the things. And with that comes different perspective, different wisdom, a different stage in my life. I'm raising children that are a lot of their ages. And so, you know, I've listened to thousands and thousands of podcasts, and I've learned so much and gained so much from a lot of those interviews. But there's. There's something that I don't like about podcasts, and I'm not throwing shade or judging anyone, because lord know, Lord knows, if I had tried to do some of this stuff 20 years ago, it looks really different. You know, we evolve, and that's the beautiful part of life, is we're continuously evolving and growing. And if. If by any means me or any of these people are doing the same thing, even in five years, you know, Lord knows we're not really growing. So the thing I hate about podcasts and talk shows, and I know that's a strong word and why it took me so long to do one, and. And quite honestly, Howard Stern has a lot to do with this, beyond, to be honest with you, is I got tired of hearing, you know, the same questions asked of the same circuit of people over and over and over again. And I really was like, geez, I just Wasted a lot of time on hearing an interview I thought might be different, and it isn't. And, you know, the fact is, is what's out there is only really what that person wants you to know and hear and not saying they're not being truthful, because they are. It's honestly, it's on the interviewer. And there's very few interviewers today that I'll really listen to because I know they're going to get the. Get the juicy stuff. And I don't mean, like, controversial. I mean the real story about, you know, the real story behind the glory. And so, you know, it was about 30 years ago, believe it or not. I was just graduating high school. So, yes, I'm dating myself. I'm pushing 50 years old, y'. All. 50 years old. And it was in 1990 that I was introduced to Howard Stern. And back then, you know, he was coined the shock jock, and he was. He was. That he would. Shit would come out of his mouth that you're like, oh, my God, is this person insane? And although, like, the content itself really wasn't intriguing to me, I was fascinated by the human aspect of Howard Stern, because I knew behind that shock jock, there was a broken person, there was a person that was hurting, and he was acting out for whatever reason. And I know from what I know and through the work I do that people just want to be seen, heard, and understood. And I recognized in Howard Stern that a lot of what he was doing was a cry to be understood, to be heard, to be seen, and whatever that looked like. And, you know, I was the opposite of him. Growing up, I pretty much flew under the radar. I recognized that I didn't want attention because usually with the attention came.

Some drama or consequences that I didn't want. And, you know, and then in our household, my sister, she was more like the Howard Stern. Like, she would stir the pot and. And wanted to be seen in at whatever cost, right? And so I was fascinated by Howard Stern. And, you know, after 30 years of listening to him, I've listened to him evolve and been his biggest fan, cheering him on. I've always been fascinated, especially the last 20 years or so with his interviews, and.

I'll get more into what that looked like. But I knew that I had to do a podcast. I knew I was expected to, and I didn't have to, but I did know that this is a medium that I can't help people if they're not hearing me. And I know that what I can bring to you, not just in my solo episodes, but from the interviews that I choose to do and the conversations I choose to bring to you, that it will serve a beautiful good in your life and it won't be the same questions that you hear of the same people. My goal is to bring to you people that maybe you have no idea who they are. And that was one of the funny things about Howard Stern that I love is, you know, especially the last 20 years. And whoever he brought on the radio, I would listen to the interview because I knew it's almost like going to a movie and you know nothing about it. And then how many times do you walk into that movie and you know nothing about it, or it's even been hyped up for you and you get in and you take two, two and a half hours of your life and it sucks ass. Like, that's the worst. And I knew whoever Howard brought to the radio to interview in the last 20 years, whether I believed in this person, liked this person, he's interviewed a lot of people that I had prejudged. And because I respect the way Howard interviewed and I knew that he did extensive research and he, he, he did his due diligence to find the things about this person more than he saw, you know, in the seven minute spot on the Today show or the Jimmy Kimmel show or anything like that, that were restricted to time restraints and things like that, that he would just at least bring me new insight on this person, whether I walked away liking them or not, who knows, or gaining anything. But I knew I'd be entertained. I would learn something about myself by not being so close minded about a human being. And so, you know, I want to do the same for you. I want you to know that I'm not going to be on some set schedule of, you know, this day of the week. I'm going to have an interview this day of the week. It's going to be a solo episode. I'm only going to bring interviews to you if I think they're going to value your time, honestly. And I'm not about doing the whole circuit of the same people, the same influencers, the same bullshit that's out there. I'm just not. They're all really amazing people bringing certain things to the world, and I respect it. However, I know that if you're following me and listening to me, there's something that you are craving that's different. And I honor that. And so I, you know, it was a couple weeks ago, one of my best friends I interviewed, and she was My very first episode, before I even recorded my solo episode. And I was all nervous, and she knows my love of Howard, and she's like, why are you so damn nervous? Just what would Howard do right now? And I was like, you know what? You're right. Fuck it. And I just hit record, and I just went for it. And because I knew so much about her, it was like we were having a conversation on my couch, and you all are just the fly on the wall to listen to it. And that is what I'm going to bring to you, is those kind of conversations. And I was dragging my feet. I really wanted to know how to do this right, what would excite me.

You know? And for those of you that give a rat's ass about what I say, I want you to know that whatever I put in front of you, I'm passionate about it, even if it's a person I'm interviewing. So you know, some of the things about Howard Stern, and I know some of you listening may have already have a prejudgment about him. You know, maybe you are around my age, and you grew up with the shack jock. And, you know, he definitely lived up to that reputation for the longest time. And, you know, he grew up in Roosevelt, New York. Or is it New Jersey? I don't even know where it. What state Roosevelt is in. But, you know, if you've listened to him, you know the stories of Roosevelt and getting his ass kicked, and it was a predominantly black neighborhood, and his parents refused to move out because they're like, you know what? We're all just humans. And, you know, he has OCD tendencies his whole life, like, perfectionism. He puts himself in that perfectionism prison and, you know, overthinks himself. And if I were a betting girl on the Enneagram, he's either a four or a six on the Enneagram. I think he's probably a four, to be honest with you. Just knowing what I know about him and how he acts out when he's under stress and how he is in growth, it's beautiful.

But anyway, you know, he went to Boston College. He got a communication. He was a communications major with a minor in journalism. And he started on the radios. I think it was making, like, chump change. He talks about. I think it's $17 an hour or $17 a week. I think when he first started something like that, $200 a month I remember him talking about was his income. And he got married pretty early to Allison. They had three daughters. All the things but this. This need to be seen, heard, and understood. You know, he grew up with parents that are now in their 90s, both still alive. And, you know, his mom was raised without a mom, you know, so she didn't know how to necessarily be a mom. And dad was super old school. And, you know, just that kind of talk to children as though they were adults already with an adult mind. And so, you know, he never felt like he could just be a little boy sometimes. And, you know, that played out in his adult life. And.

You know, he's taught. He shared so much about growing up, and he even has the fun voices for his parents, Ray and Ben Stern. And, you know, he shared openly when he was going through a divorce. I'll never forget that episode. And, you know, it was in the late 90s that he knew what he was doing wasn't working for his life. You know, like I said, he was a father of three daughters. And, you know, they were getting older, and I think they're in their 30s today, so I'm about 10 years older than them. So if they. If it was in the late 90s, they were at that high school age when he decided to enter psychotherapy. And it was also the same time, around that same time that his movie Private Parts came out. And, you know, shortly after that movie came out, he and Alison got divorced. And, you know, he started psychotherapy. And his, you know, he tried to walk into his therapist's office, kind of doing the same shtick that he does on the air. And his therapist said very clearly, like, this is not a joke. This is not a game. This is your life. And it was then that he started to take it a little seriously. And, you know, just this last year, Howard's released his third book. He jokingly tells you, just burn these, his other two, because he's not very proud of them because those are in the shock jock ages. But this book he's super proud of. And he got kind of.

Tricked into putting this book out because he didn't want to do it, because he knows he's a perfectionist and just the turmoil that he puts himself through, you know, when he's doing anything, you know, whether it's an interview that he spends hours and hours and hours interviewing or researching the person, or even a book. So one of the heads at Simon and Schuster walked into his apartment because he wasn't going to go anywhere to have this. This meeting, and they handed him a finished copy of his book. And so Howard was like, great. I can, you know, put this out there and make money, and the work's already done for me.

And Howard had interviewed the guy that he was talking with and found out that this guy had his own way of doing things with the company he was with before. He only put out 12 books a year, like, one a month, and only the things that he was passionate about. So he liked that style that was speaking Howard's language. And honestly, it speaks mine, too. Like, I'm only gonna put out stuff I'm super passionate about, and so does Howard.

So. And he also respected the fact that someone went above and well beyond to bring his message to the world. Howard's message to the world, so. And his ego liked it, you know, and it addressed his concerns of, like, the work. But his wife, his current wife Beth, was kind of onto it. She's like, oh, shit. Oh, shit. So Howard's like, I could put in a few hours and get paid, you know, something he always dreamed of. He always joked about it when all those people were trying to get him banned from the radio. He always joked, like, if he just paid me, I'd go away. But as he sat down to check out this finished project that the execs at Simon Schuster handed him, he realized that this wasn't who he is. This wasn't his best work. And so Howard's OCD kicked in. He had already signed the contract, and so he threw that finished book that they handed him, saying, it's all ready to go. You just have to, like, approve it. And he tossed it away, and he started from scratch. And that was a little over two and a half years ago. And so, you know, that's just how Howard rolls. And, you know, he knew he couldn't put something out there that didn't authentically represent him or his journey. And like I said, two years later, the book was released, and perfection. That's his problem. It's been mine, you know, and he created his own prison for him in a lot of ways. And that's, you know, really what put him into therapy. But, you know, as Howard has always said, especially, you know, since therapy, four times a week almost for 20.

A little over 20 years. There is an art to interviewing, and nothing is casual. It requires work, research, and thought. And he takes it very seriously, and so do I. I'm such an instinctual person. I'm kind of like a go with my gut person. But I realized that in bringing. And that's probably why I've resisted podcasting, because you can't always be just go with the flow or go with my gut, you have to have some structure. And especially if I'm going to ask somebody to be on my show, and I'm going to take time from them to be. To have them be interviewed by me, and you are going to take your time to listen to what I bring to you. Like, holy shit. My own perfectionism started to kick in, and I know that's why I've waited to do this. You know, I've always prided myself on putting time and energy into everything I do, and this is no different.

There's also another reason why I decided to move forward with doing this podcast right now, and it's the timing of it. I've had the most challenging year of my life in 2019. There have been some beautiful, growing moments, and I'm one of those that has come so far to say that I know that every challenging thing that happens in my life is an opportunity for growth, and knowing that it doesn't mean that it is without pain or a lot of heartbreak or hurt. But this year, I've lost people to death that I loved very, very deeply that were some of the most important people in my life.

I was sexually assaulted by a stranger in June, which I haven't talked publicly about yet.

And what that taught me about speaking up and having a voice, and I am, you know, I'll do another podcast when I can talk more in depth about that. But what that entails, as far as speaking up and having a voice and the injustices and bullshit that comes along with that, there's no wonder why it's a problem and why women don't speak out. And men, I mean, this isn't just men aren't immune to this kind of assault or abuse on them, but it's something I haven't spoken of. And that's pretty unusual, because if you've followed me for any time over the last decade or so, you know that I put it all out there on the table because I know that it helps me heal, and I also know that it helps you. But this was different. You know, this was something that I knew I wanted to talk about it, and I knew that I wanted to bring it to you. And I also knew that I was rushing it because I wanted to bypass some of my own work I needed to do around it. And a lot of that work needed to come in silence, and it needed to come in honoring my own process through it. And so, you know, over the last, gosh, six months now since that happened, I've done extensive work in my own silence, yet still showing up every single day for my family, still showing up every day for my business and my clients, and really allowing God to work through me to bring exactly what I'm bringing to you now to you. So, you know, some of my best teachings or inspiration for others to take massive action has come when I force myself to go past my desire to be very, very private. And that's my biggest coping mechanism, to be honest. And if you ask those that are closest to me, they will tell you I'm the most fucking private person in the world. But the second this happened, I wanted to scream it from the rooftops. And I knew right now that was me trying to avoid feeling my way through it, because it's been a painful process to say the least. But I resisted that. And I examined why. And a very small, tiny few I could count on one hand know about it.

And, you know, really pausing and.

Allowing myself.

To take the time that I needed and not try to bypass it for the greatest good. You know, I knew by talking about it, it would help a lot of to see how we are not what happens to us. We are how we choose to respond to it. And although I was responding to it by having a voice in the proper channels that I needed to, to make sure there was justice and that it wouldn't happen again and all of that, I also knew that me wanting to bring it to all of you before it was time was me trying to avoid really feeling all of it. So I have remained quiet about it. And I'm sure down the road, we've got years and years to spend together, and I'll go into depth about what that looks like in the whole process of actually speaking up and the bullshit that comes with that, believe it or not. But I still showed up every day for myself, but differently. And I've shown up through a new set of lenses. And, you know, it really made me examine what am I going to leave behind and what will I be most proud of. And that's doing things I'm passionate about and doing things that, you know, are good examples for my children and maybe you, and maybe your children. So back to Howard Stern. So, like I mentioned, he wasn't proud of his first few decades of interviews. And this is a man that's been doing this 40 something years, you know.

Two decades of his work he is not proud of. And, you know, he was living in a strong, narcissistic.

Spirit. He had zero empathy for people. If you have followed him and listened to him for any length of time. You absolutely know that to be true. And, you know, he's the first to admit it, but like I said, it was about 20 years ago. He got help and he started to make. He started to try to make amends to people and, you know, some of those celebrities that he had interviewed and, you know, some really high profile people that, you know, trusted him enough to go on air with him, and then he would hammer them with the very things that, you know, he was told not to ask, you know, harp on things that really nobody gives a shit about, but would pre. Would provoke people or create that shock value and put Howard Stern on the map. So when he really was doing his own work in therapy, he, you know, worked hard to make amends. And some people were gracious when he called and profusely apologized. Some were really angry and said, I appreciate the call, but I don't know if I can ever forgive you. There are some guests, some amazing guests that, you know, he speaks of that, God, he would love to have on, but he knows they'll never come on, you know, and it took him 20 years. Like, his biggest regret was an interview he did with Robin Williams, you know, about 20 something years ago. And, you know, there's some stuff about Robin Williams past, you know, that was pretty public and I'm sure he wasn't really proud of. And, you know, there's so many things about Robin Williams you could have asked that would be intriguing and fascinating and. And Howard wouldn't let go of this. This tabloid drama shit. And of course, Robin, real Robin Williams was furious with him. And, you know, this was one of the things that Howard regretted so much. And so he was tracking down his contact info to try and make it the amends to Robin Williams. And the next day found out he died. You know, of what he did, and, you know, he. Howard has come to realize that what he was doing as the shock jock, it wasn't good radio. It was meaningless. It was an ego pump. It was monologues instead of conversations. It was, you know, pumping his chest and, and putting up more walls so he could be his own version of bulletproof. And, you know, since this podcast is called Becoming Bulletproof, a lot of this bravado that somebody like Howard Sterner, even myself, before you all knew me, that bravado was just a wall. And that's what I considered being bulletproof back then, but it actually wasn't. It was keeping me, you know, this little space as it was. Howard. And.

Something that he really acknowledged also in therapy was that this was the first person that he felt actually took the time to really listen to him. And, you know, he's talked extensively about growing up with his parents. And, you know, he was. In that generation, you just. You don't have a voice as a child. You do as I say, not as I do. You're better seen than heard. Which that carried into the generation I was raised in as well. But it was. He realized that the therapist was the first person to actually take him seriously. And when he started going four times a week, you know, he realized the power in feeling like you were heard, seen, and understood.

And he knew how important.

That was. And so he was able to bring that into his interviews. And when he got to serious, I think it was like 2005 or 2006. So he had about six or seven years of therapy under his belt. And the thing that frustrated him the most about being on the old radio streams is, you know, ratings. And, you know, he still was early in his own therapy and recovery. So he still, you know, was conditioned for, you know, he's got. He's 65 years old now, so if you think about it, he was in his late 30s or late 40s trying to overhaul how he's done things for most of his life. So, you know, he's the first to say, I was driven by ego and ratings and being the very best. And, you know, once you've been the best, there's only one way to go, and that's down. So he was always trying to outdo himself. But with this new, resolved spirit, it was getting harder to do that. And so, thankfully, around, you know, a little over five years into therapy, the offer from Sirius Satellite Radio came on. And he had been, you know, predicting that satellite radio would be the wave of the future. And people laughed at him. They're like, whatever. People aren't going to pay to listen to you, Howard. And, you know, but he knew that going to Sirius, he wouldn't have the restraints. Like, if he was in the middle of an interview, he could go as long as he wanted without a commercial break or executives saying, you can't say this. You can't say that. There were no rules anymore. And people were worried. They're like, oh, my God, he's just gonna have strippers and orgies in his studio. And the funny thing is, when there's no rules, it isn't for shock anymore. And so you can really evolve. There's something so beautiful about that. And, you know, so when he got to Sirius, when he wasn't Restricted. He could take these interviews to places that, you know, he always dreamed about. And then, you know, but there were still people who weren't willing to come on the show. And the beautiful thing about him going to satellite radio, and I absolutely was one of the very first people to get satellite radio. I used to have this boombox with the little transmitter, because the only reason I bought satellite radio was to listen to Howard Stern, believe it or not. Gosh, was that 15 years ago now on satellite radio. That's so crazy to think how fast time goes. But then once he got the contract with agt, America's Got Talent, people that probably had really written off Howard Stern got to see a different, grown up, more vulnerable, and compassionate version of Howard Stern. And he was part of an ensemble. So it wasn't just him with a mic going rogue and going crazy and like, oh, shit, what's he gonna say? You know, he had been matured enough to follow the rules of a nationally televised TV show with a whole different avatar of audience that were listening. And, you know, he talked about going to restaurants with his wife and families, coming up to him with the kids, wanting to take pictures with him. And he went from being the world's.

Most hated man to, like, Santa Claus overnight. But it wasn't a fake version of Howard Stern. It was this beautiful, evolved version that people got to see. And once he was on America's Got Talent, a lot of these celebrities that had maybe just said, hell, no, will I ever be on that show? Really opened up their eyes and saw that, wow, he's come a long way. He's come a long way. And now to this day, you know, there are hundreds of people that always want to be on his show. Really high level celebrities and musicians that they're booked months, months and months out now.

So back to me and resisting this damn thing. You know, I am a lot like Howard in that perfectionism prison I have. You know, I'm very easygoing with certain things, but then there are other things, like, I am so obsessive about, which is crazy, because I am super easygoing. But comparisonitis. I am not immune to that competitiveness. I'm as feisty as you'll get. I see what's working for others, and. And I know it works for them, and I know that that's not who I am. I love what they do, and it works for them. But, like, if I'm gonna do it my way, how do I know it's gonna work? And the what ifs and all the shit things and ratings and marketing and self promotion, which I hate. Or will any of you even show up? Like, is anybody even listening? I have no idea. But whenever I have done anything really great and anything I'm really proud of, it's led with my heart. I've led by the calling of on my life by God and a power much greater than me.

And so I knew that it was time to do this. And what if. What if I could actually interview people and you could listen to them in ways that they rarely are? Those are the kind of conversations I want to have with people. And so I believe that if I bring you the best of me and I show up the best for these people that I choose to bring on in a way that isn't out doing the circuit, you know, people that are really doing, like. And I'm really doing the work to know these people more than the highlight reel that you've maybe seen on social media and maybe stuff about them that you don't know, that would be amazing. And I could do that forever. I am a person that really, I don't know about you, but I am one of those that, like, loathes small talk. And a lot of these podcasts feels like, oh, hi, we're best friends. And then we see each other and it's like, never again. Like, no, no, no, I don't want to do that. I want these kind of conversations that's like, holy shit. Like how I used to do when I was listening to Howard Stern and I was sitting into an hour and a half commute. Like, I remember how many times I sat in the fucking parking lot of my. My jobs and walked in late because I couldn't, you know, and this was before satellite even.

And I couldn't break away from the interview. And those are the kind of conversations I want to bring to you. That is. And that's what you're going to get.

You know, and here's the other thing. Like, really doing the work to show you these people more than the highlight reel. And I also know that these people. And if you have ever done any kind of interview of any kind of style, whether it's podcasts or TV or radio or any of the things, I've been interviewed hundreds of times. And honestly, I get tired of the same bullshit questions. And so I know maybe not right away, people won't know who Tracy is or give a shit about this becoming bulletproof podcast. Word will spread. I'm here to tell you. And if you love what I do, please share it. Please share it because I can't help and bring more of what I believe you really would like and need to hear if nobody knows we're out here doing it. So I'm excited. And if it's going well with an interview, I love the fact that I can just keep freaking going. There is no time restraints. I was listening on the way home from Sedona on Thanksgiving. My kids grew up on Howard Stern, and there were times I was like, oh, my God, I'm a shitty parent. Because it was always on as long as they've been born. Howard Stern has been on the radio, in my car, you know, and pre therapy, and even some of the shenanigans he does today, like Coctoberfest. And I mean, some of the shit he does is still so freaking funny. He's just so great. But my kids grew up in Howard Stern, and as they're in their 20s now, they really enjoy the interviews that he does, too. Like, they just love good conversation. And so they knew because they listened to Billie Eilish. I haven't listened to Billie Eilish, just through what my kids play. They're like, mom, I heard he interviewed Billie Eilish. I bet it's fucking great. And I'm like, you know what? That's what we're going to listen to. And when I looked at. Because I have the app now, and, you know, I can on demand, it's so great. I can pull up old interviews. And I saw the Billie Eilish interview and saw they went two hours long. I love that. I said, oh, this is gonna be good. So the entire drive down from Sedona, we listened to the beautiful interview. And if you have Sirius xm, you must listen to that interview he did with Billie Eilish and her brother. She's only 17 years old, and just how articulate. And he was genuinely curious about it, about her, about what she does, her brother. And towards the end, you know, the parents were in the green room, and so he wanted to, you know, bring that. And. And I love that. And I want to do the same thing. Like, if an interview is going well, I'll go for hours. If we, you know, we split it in two, maybe just keep it going. My goal is to have you not want to get out of your freaking car or stop exercising because the interview is so good. And if the interview isn't going well, you can guarantee that I will keep plugging away at it until it is. I understand that there's people out there that maybe just want the easy Cookie cutter questions. And I believe that the human spirit does want to be seen, heard and understood. And sometimes it's really hard to crack that. But once they are, who knows what can come out of that. So my goal is by the end of each conversation, you will see a deeper side to each person that I bring to you. Honestly.

They'Re amazing. There probably won't be people that you know of sometimes, but those are the ones that probably won't, will be the best interviews to listen to. You know, there's nothing that brings me more joy in this world than really watching people do what they were called to do and what they're really, really grateful to be doing.

You know, somebody as simple as serving my food at a restaurant when I have a server that is so just doing the very best and they are enjoying themselves, even though that's probably not the calling for their life, but in the end game. But there is nothing that lights me up more than watching people doing what they're called to do. And not necessarily those that you see on the gram 50 times a week or, you know, with book deals or fucking sponsorships or doing the pop and lock with their ass on Instagram. No, no, no, no. I am talking about the people that are so in their own zone of genius. Those are the people. I don't give a shit if it's, you know, making ornaments if they are. I have a. I have a great friend who is a baker and I could sit and watch her decorate cookies all day long. I can see. I can sit and watch her mix up cake batter all day long and hear about the stories about where she learned how to do this. And the gener like that lights me up. And I will have her on and none of you even frickin know who she is. And I love that because hearing how people have come to do the things that they're doing, like, I love that. These conversations will be inspiring, I promise you. There is so much to learn from people and their climb to success, even if it's baking freaking cookies. Because anybody, anybody that you admire, look up to whatever that has done, anything that you even idolize. It's all about the climb. It's everything. And hearing how people, even me, even little old me, have overcome insane odds and adversity to make it that never fucking gets old. So these conversations and interviews will give you the extra kick in the ass that you probably need. As you move your own needle. Needle. As you move your own needle forward. I know that it's the real talk. Are the Things that light me up. I don't compare myself. I'm not a cookie cutter of anybody. But, you know, just when we think we can't do it, we hear somebody that has overcome something. And you know what? If I can do things, you can do them, too. And here's the other thing that I know to be true, is that in these conversations and hearing people willing to be vulnerable with me, I know that I'm going to grow right along with you in these conversations. So these are going to be as much for me as they are for you. And you know how much I have grown in being interviewed by really good interviewers. One of my good friends, Rob Murgatroyd, who's going to be one of my very first guests on this podcast. Next to Howard, he is the best interviewer. And one of my best friends, Tiffany Carter, who is my very first interview. She is one of the greatest interviewers. Being interviewed by them. I have learned about myself being interviewed by good people that are good interviewers. They bring out the parts of you in such a way that, like you, you can look at your life in new perspective. And those are the moments that I know have helped inspire others in those interviews. Empathy, emotional openness, and a genuine curiosity about the beauty in the world and the lives of people doing incredible things is what I will strive to bring you every single time you tune in. So just know that if there's a new podcast episode dropping, it's going to be my very, very best. That I promise you. And if there is somebody sitting on the other end of my microphone, know that I'm going to do my very best to bring out the very best in them. It's something that I strive for every day, is that every time you spend a moment with me, whether it's listening to this podcast or watching a live video of me or even being interviewed by me, I want you to know that it's going to be a conversation that will leave an imprint on your heart. And that hard ass me that I carried for decades, you know that tough as nails, raw and real chick, trust me, I'm still that. But I don't have to express it the same way that I did. That hard ass me that I carried for decades is long gone. And even through this hardest year of my life, I handled everything with this beautiful.

I don't know the right word, this beautiful, quiet, soulful strength that isn't hidden behind a hard ass. That hard ass part of me kept me from needing anything and anyone. And you know what? I've realized we all need is just humanity and humility. And you can't feel that hidden behind the weapons or walls that you put up. I was safe there. Absolutely. You know, nobody could really hurt me there. But I also couldn't experience the beautiful fucking joy that life has to offer and that the life has, that this life has to offer you. I know that you're safe there, but I know that it's not serving you because it's lonely. And honestly, if you hear me say anything and you take it to heart, know that that will become your own self sentence, your own self sentenced prison. And my goal is to tear down walls. Together we will stand on the front line of my life and your life. Feeling it all is the only way to have that life that you say you want. You know, you're listening to all these podcasts trying to find that, that secret sauce. And I'm here to tell you that secret sauce is you. And it's the you that's standing behind the walls protecting yourself and showing all the highlight stuff. And I get it. And the filtered pictures and I get that too. I've done that too. And the perfectly scripted posts and all that. But that life that you say you want, the life that is keeping you awake at night, is all on the other side of that. And it will come to you when you tear down the walls with me. We will stand on that front line life together and become bulletproof. I am forever grateful for Howard Stern coming into my life 30 years ago. I, you know, he talks about retiring and I'm like, no, my prayer. And if he does, I know that he will know when that the time is the most self honoring time for him. And I respect that. But you know, secretly and selfishly, I pray that he comes to my radio waves until his time on earth is done. But I know that Howard will squeeze every last bit out of life and will bring his very best to you as long as he knows that he is still bringing his best. And I'm here to know that I will do the same for you. This will be a podcast about conversation. One one that millions may listen to. But I want you to walk away feeling like you are a fly on the wall with only two human beings sharing their deepest parts of their soul. So with that, thank you so much for tuning in. I'm excited for this journey. I'm scared of it, to be honest with you. So that means I should be doing it because nothing good came. Being comfortable.

I know that to be true in my close to 50 years. But if you at all love what I do, if you at appreciate what I bring to the table, if it's the first time you're listening to me, or the hundredth or the thousandth time you've listened, please share what we're doing here on the podcast. It will mean a lot to me. Please drop a review. Even though we're a couple episodes in here, it's going to help me bring exactly what I want to bring to you. And with that, I will look forward to hearing you on the next episode of Becoming Bulletproof. Have a great day y'. All. Thank you for tuning in to the Becoming Bulletproof podcast. If you learned a thing or two from our show today, it would mean a lot to me if you shared it and tagged me so I can hear exactly what landed on your heart. This will help me to bring you even more episodes with the topics and guests you want. Please head over to itunes and leave an honest and loving five star review. If this made an impact on you, you can find me on Instagram tracyomalley and I have tons of free resources for you@traceeomalley.com as always, if you are wanting to ignite your purpose, profits and build your legacy, it's time to stand on the front line of your life and do the work. Let's Become Bulletproof. Sat.