The Snixxmas Special

Jenna and Kevin are coming to you LIVE from the iHeart Theater for this very special Snixxmas episode in loving memory of Naya Rivera to benefit the Alexandria House.

Don’t miss this holiday episode filled with special guests, games, fireside chats with the cast and crew of “Glee,” performances and more as they keep the Snixxmas spirit alive!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
And that's what you really missed with Jenna and Kevin
and I Heart Radio podcast Mary Snick Snicks. Everybody listen.
I am so excited to be here once again celebrating
Snick Smiths. Continuing on Ny Rivera's legacy of giving. Today
we're raising money for the Alexandria House and I hope

(00:22):
all of you guys have your hearts open and you're
all it's open to it. But right now I'm here
to sing a little song for you. Let me know
if you guys recognize it. God a eschieve, Mary Gentleman,
nothing you dismay. Remember Christ, our Savior was born on

(00:42):
Christmas Day to save us all from Say that's power
when we have gone astray. Old tidings of confort, joy,
comfort and joy. Oh Tidy Angel, Conford Angel. Hello, Hello,

(01:12):
Thanks John Lot got our friends. Hello. Welcome to you,
and That's what you really missed the podcast The Nicks
miss Special. Oh, it's so good to see you all
in person. I am Jenna, I am Kevin, and we
are coming to you live from the I Heart Theater

(01:33):
in Bourbank, California. Oh. We are beyond excited to share
some of our most favorite holiday traditions, in particular the
Nick Smiths charity Drive benefiting Alexandria House of Los Angeles.
All in the name of our dear friend Naira Vera.
A special welcome to our listeners and welcome to everyone

(01:55):
joining us at home on the live stream. Hello plus
a big Giganta, Welcome to our first ever in person
live audience for Snick Smiths. By buying a ticket tonight
to join us here, you have contributed to an incredible cause.
We have a great night in store. We have special guests,
we have games, we have fireside chats and performances and more.

(02:20):
But before we get going, we want to bring out
our partner and Snicks Crime, who also works side by
side with us on on the Glee set from the
very beginning. Give it up for the cousman himself. Tell
me who's This is our third Snicks miss together and
you know, and I really loved the holidays and she

(02:41):
was an extraordinary host, and you know, she had some
of the best events ever and the crowning jewel of
that was her Christmas Party, Snick sms uh and two
years ago with niagone and the world shut down, we
were in grief in so many ways, and we knew
that giving back to an organization that i I had
a personal connection with would help keep her spirit alive

(03:03):
in a truly meaningful way. I'd like to take a
moment to thank Nia's family for joining us here tonight.
Thank you for coming. We're up here right, UM. We
are so blessed to have you as part of our
family and to share in the joy that she has
brought to us all. Thank you. So. The charity that
we are benefiting this evening is Alexandria House. It's a

(03:26):
transitional woman's home for children, women and children here in
Los Angeles. UM. Alexandria House works tirelessly to provide housing
for those in need, and we will be sharing more
about the organization later in the show. But we are
so proud to welcome some of the staff and the
community members from Alexandria House tonight. So welcome everyone. Let's

(03:47):
give everybody around on a plot. So happy to have
you guys here. Now, let's remember we are here to
raise some money for Alexandria House, and we have so
many ways used to do it. And there are still
time to enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win
a zoom with some of the Glee cast an appearance
on our podcast where you can ask us whatever you

(04:09):
want and more. So, head over to fan dam dot
com slash Headliners slash Glee to donate an enter to
win one of those experiences. Additionally, you can also head
directly to Alexandria House dot org slash donate to donate
directly and be sure to you know, to tag a
little snicks miswo and the donor designation section. Okay, so

(04:32):
we got some exciting news before the show that if
we raise five thousand dollars tonight, um, we have a
donation that will be matched by an anonymous donor. We're
so grateful. So that means if we raise five thousand dollars,
we actually raise ten thous dollars, which is double good.
Thank you all for Alexandria House. So if you are

(04:56):
joining us, yay. So if you're joining us on the
live stream and you have like a little bit more
to give, head over to Alexandria House dot org slash
donate or our friends in the audience here. No donation
is too small. From what we've learned in past years,
every little bit counts, all right, So let's get this

(05:16):
show started. We have a couple of video greetings from
some special friends. I will see you all later. Enjoy
the show. Thanks who's here? Mary Snick Smith is Christian
Channel with a k April Rhodes, the hot Mess. Not
a lot to change except my face. I want to
say happy Holidays to everybody, no matter what you celebrate,

(05:37):
celebrate it with vigor. I want to wish all of
my fellow Glee cast members. I know I was just
a guest star, but I love y'all and I miss
y'all um. And also I'm proud of you. I remember
when we all first met and I chold you guys,
don't change, and you didn't. I was so proud. Anyway,
I'm sending love um in the air to Naya and

(06:00):
to our Corey and to Mark and just you know,
it's been it's been a long journey, but those of
us are here. We we celebrate, We we send love
to everybody. Um. Anyway, that's all I have to say.
I won't be heading off to have any drinks, but um,

(06:21):
I might be shopping, okay, I ho ho ho Mary
Snicks miss everyone. Thank you so much for buying tickets,
donating to Alexandria House. It meant so much to Naya.
I wish I was there in person celebrating with all
of you, but I know you're having a blast and
enjoying the sweet serenades and dance moves of the most

(06:44):
talented humans across the lands. I love you all so
much and in the spirit of Maya, let's all have
a good being time. Thank you, christ and jed With
and Becca Tobn. You know, Kristen was our very first
guest star on the show. Chris and I were very excited. Um,

(07:07):
she remains a dear friend to all of us. We
love you, Kristen and of course Becca, who we wish
could be here. Um, but let's get to some people
who are here. It's time for a fireside chat. Why
do you say, Kevin? So I think you should bring
some friends, Like, what do you guys say? All right,
our first special guests have all formed wonderful relations relationships

(07:27):
and friendships on an off screen and our dear friends
to us. Let's bring out Chris Cole for Ashley Fank
and romy rose Ma. That chair works for you, yep,
I'm literally I want my own because they're sharing one chair. Okay,

(07:48):
because I'm old, Romy so short. It's all m I though.
That's why I'm sitting like this. That's very brave. We
are very very thankful to have Chris, Ashley and Rome here.
A thank you gus so much for being here. I

(08:11):
mean so much to us. Thank you you guys, Thank
you for being here. Sparkly you are Wow, I am sparkly.
I don't think I realized how sparkly this stress was.
You know, you're going to be on a stage in
front of lights. You knew exactly what you were doing.
I like to sparkle from the inside out, Kevin, but
now sparkling from the outside out. Okay, anyway, to our guests,

(08:32):
you guys, thanks for being here. I literally realized that
here here no closer to your mouth. Yeah, let's turn
Romy's micaup. It's very low, it is, right. Yeah, it's
because they know they don't want to hear too much
from I got um. So we're here celebrating snicks. Miss.

(08:53):
We wanted to start with asking you guys because those
sixest parties that I would throw very thin, we're incredible,
you guys up top. You remember they were wild times
where she would spend months planning. Um, probably too much money. Um.
There was always a I was like, who, what contract
did you negotiate? I thought we were making the same Um.

(09:19):
I never thought that. But that's how much she cared
about making sure we all had a great time, because
she was like, this is she hadnt quate it anyway.
I won't to say those details, but she wanted to
make sure everyone in the cast and crew could come
and make sure everyone, um had a great time. Do
you guys have any fond memories, favorite memories that we

(09:43):
can share, you know, in a way that I can't share.
Spill it? Yeah, Chris definitely does. Oh my god, please UM. Okay,
So my favorite six miss memory was um. Someone in
the cast who shall remain nameless told me that it
was a costume Christmas party, and I love a costume party.

(10:07):
So I showed up to this party the first one
as elf on a shelf. You sure did, and I
looked adorable and everyone thought I worked there and I
earned about forty bucks and tips that night. I tried
to get a drink from you, Christian for a drink,
I thought you were a Bart's under John. By the way,

(10:30):
John Locke, who was our Glee band, drummer from the
Pilot on also DJ all the Six Most Parties. Naya
put me in a tree one time. I think I
was suspended. You're in a treehouse above everyone in a
tower right into Is that nice though? To look down

(10:51):
on everyone? No comment? What was your favorite? My favorite?
There's so many and I'm trying to think of one
I could tell um. I do remember the uh the
year that I I showed up by myself and everyone's like,
where's Chris, where's Cole for what's going on? And I
was like, oh, he's coming with somebody different and everyone
was like, what's going on? And then he showed up

(11:13):
with his um boyfriend Will and everyone was gag was
coming with my parole office. Obviously everyone's gag gooped. And
that was And now you've been together with ten years,
so that was ten years ago. I'll never forget where
where's the Landa? Where's you Orlanda? Did you land up there?
I'll never forget when you Orlanda and Nini Leaks were
on the dance floor Togain my dad, that was my

(11:38):
god Neveret and they had she would always have that
weird shot like the holiday cheer shot, which was like fine,
no remember that, Yeah, but we were young. That was
ten years ago. I mean fall with a little cinnamon.
It was like fireball and peppers, like schnops and like
a topper of egg nog. Like I over, don't drink, kids,

(12:01):
don't do it. Drinking is terrible. You should never do it.
And we never drank at a Snicks even once. But
she is amazing, amazing, like Christmas chere cocktails and we
would all were little shots and we'd all do shots
and dance the night away and it was so special. Yeah,
my favorite was the ice drink you just walked into.
Literally she covered the pool over as a dance floor

(12:23):
and made it an ice drink and it was just extravagant.
I mean truly, there's how I clearly wish that I
had gone. Yeah, you made a mistake. Everybody was always booked,
busy and blessed. But I'm just saying these sounds amazing.
They were. The problem was a maze always would have
a Christmas party on the same night, and so I

(12:45):
felt very story. I had to plan out my night
to make sure I could do both. And the one
where the ice drink happened people were texting me like
where are you because I would do James and on
the dance plot and I'm like, oh my god, there's
an ice drink. And there I was playing trivia with
Natasha Beddingfield, who I was obsessed with, and I'm like,

(13:08):
I'm sorry you dropped it, Natasha, thank you. I don't
want to just keep her on the floor like that.
For my friends know how obsessed I was with her.
And I looked at her and go, I have to go,
and she's like, but our team's winning, and I'm like,
but I have to go because you can't tempt me

(13:30):
with a dance floor because the year prior, I ripped
my pants on the dance floor and there are pictures
online and I found it. I saw the picture yesterday
where I'm on the floor like this, but I had
my jacket from my suit tied around me because the
entirety of the back of my pants well tied through

(13:52):
and around. I needed. I needed full coverage. It was
all of it, and everyone I just like Nick, not
his sister, who was like, I don't know how old
you were at the time, but she was back there
just like embarrassed for me because I had no shame,
and I should have You also had no underwear, right,
don't talk about that, John. What if I didn't make

(14:13):
it on the internet. That's for another hope. That was underwear.
Jack came off of my back so fast and I
wrapped it around dancing. He never nothing gonna show that night.
I can't believe I missed that video. Rip your pants
night later. Yeah, okay, it's not like Kevin's pants haven't
split more than once on a dance floor. We can

(14:36):
make it happen again. I h Kevin. We went to
a wedding, one of our member's wedding wedding, and we
were all staying in the same hotel as the actual wedding.
So Kevin's dancing. Then all of a sudden he disappears,
and I'm like, where the after Kevin go? And he
comes back in stretchy pants. I'm not kidding. We are maturing,
we are growing, we are learning. We've learned, we have learned.

(14:59):
I'm ready to get down and buggy. Um, I have
so I have. It's the holidays. Do you guys have
favorite holiday traditions? Things that you do, things that you
love to do, are looking forward to doing, or eat
bourbon bourbon. No that what's what's my note? I'm so

(15:23):
thankful for Amazon Prime, um shop small obviously. Uh oops,
um no, uh go I bake, I mean I bakes
delicious and delicious delicious. I would bring it when I worked,

(15:43):
when I wasn't locked in the basement. Uglee. Um and
uh but you and I were down there to change
a lot. I think bert just was like a marriage
it now get in the basement. Um and so you
don't need to be you don't need to know. Um so.
But what was weird was so many people were like,
are those regular brownies? I'm like, are you kidding? Yes,

(16:06):
they're regular brownies. Ask you that. I would ask me
why I'm the mom. Why would anyone ask why if
they were regular brownies? That's wild? That is crazy. That
is crazy crazy nowhere when it's supposed to gluten free
right exactly Realmy No, Romie really does make wonderful pastries.
And she would always bring them to the makeup trailer
and we'd always sigh because we'd all be like, I

(16:30):
was gonna eat good today. Here we are. It was
I mean, I have to say it was a little
bit sabotaging. I mean, they're just they're so young and beautiful.
Did you ever ever young and beautiful? Grandma romy walked

(16:59):
out here like she was lady and Titanic like any
day now, I'm gonna go any day. What's what's your
Christmas traditions? Y'all? Um? I stole my boyfriend's sour cream
coffeecake recipe and it's very good. And I can't you
know me, I can't cook or baked to save my life. No,
I gave him. I've also given him food poisoning and

(17:23):
from undercooking pre cooked sausages. How is that even possible? Anyway?
Why were you doing that in the first place? I
thought they were pretty cook and I tricked my family
and I made it, and now they think I'm a
baker and they asked me for it every Christmas, and
I obviously I'm not. So I thank you, Austin for that.
Thank you until they watch this, Austin, you're finally getting

(17:45):
your credit. Finally I lied. It's like I made this
up myself. You're getting better. You're you bake and you
do Christmas? You did that like Brazilian chocolate thing? Yes,
well it's in a blender. It's a blender cake. You
know that resilient. We've gotten far off the point now. Yeah,
it just it just looked gorgeous. There was like melted
chocolate just coming. It was. Yeah, it was a sexy cake.

(18:10):
This a sexy cake. It was a sexy cake. And
you had a great the website you were doing during
the pandemic, and it was during the pandemic. It was wonderful. Yeah,
to raise money. Yeah, we got people to um, we
got fancy people to uh to donate um recipes and
so when with that, we we shared the money with

(18:30):
them various charities, which was really nice and it gave
us something to do because you're a good person. I
like to watch Um, can we say Christmas movies on
this Yeah, we can do whatever we want to. Okay, great,
Um National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation And I like to watch
a Christmas Story. I'm very excited for the Christmas Story
Reunion Revival movie. UM. And I eat a lot of

(18:54):
chicken parm my Christmas. During the pandemic. We got to
spend Christmas together actually and was great. Austin and I
made a beautiful charcouterie board. They talked about board at
least David didn't even look at They just ate it.
And I was like, look at this beautiful board. I'm like,
what lactose intolerance? Whatever we did, we watched a terrible

(19:15):
movie and yeah, that was That was our Christmas together.
It was exactly what's you don't want to say? I
mean it was a superhero movie came out on Christmas?
On Christmas? Any friends, No, who do you think we are?

(19:39):
I mean, yeah, that's that's that's the same girl. We
don't think I'm just picturing and Avengers rated X. I
mean say iron Man. Iron Man just has a whole
different meanings. This is why we can never get together
in public. You guys, too many secrets to bear the
risk we run. We also have to like faction off

(20:01):
into smaller groups because you get all of us together,
it spirals out very quickly. Too many secrets, too much teeth.
Hince why we collectively, If we get together, we can
piece together. Maybe fifty of the Snakes was party because
everyone only remembers fragments because it was so much fun.
There was one year that we were dancing and I
was dancing against a hot tub and the hot tubs

(20:23):
spilled over onto my dress. And then I found myself
upstairs and I his bathroom blow drying my dress. I
was like, how did I get here? And how did
you get here? I was like, I don't know. Seven
in the morning, just in your your bathroom. I was
just gonna brush my teeth, and here's Jenna blow drying
her dress. You get too, little boy? Hiro gets nothing?

(21:07):
You everyone any look like Michael Hitchcock. Oh I brought
something for everyone everyone. Yes, only some of the audience
got candy canes, but you all get something real. Go

(21:28):
inside and just pick something. Do I hate this? G No, No,
you just pick it. Don't look pick pick, pick there
you go. Oh, you've got some Niagara spray starch. Every
actor needs that. How about you, Jenna? What do you get?
What you get? A sun? Do you need it because

(21:49):
of freckles? Whatever you want? There's there's all sorts of things.
Oh you get a slow cooker cookbook. Actors, they're busy.
You've just said it and forget it. What did you get?
I'm a little afraid. Oh this is really fun. Now

(22:12):
watch this? What is it? Well? You pull on it
and it's a fan with the American flat Because Christmas
is absolutely the most patriotic of all the holiday. Does
anybody want to trade? Oh, I've got some Star Henderson's
creamy soups flippy with bacon. Well, I know how much

(22:34):
you like The Exorcist. Christmas whenever you want. Now, I'm
here not so much to hand out gifts, since I'm
here to ask you, what is your Christmas guilty pleasure?
So Niagara spray start plus um, this is empty? What

(22:55):
where's the rest? I used it? Getting? This was just
curious mind? Probably I listened to the Glee Christmas albums.
That's that's that's real. You would think if you listen
to the album, you'd be better at that game. You're
just I wasn't playing. I was host because that was

(23:17):
the first album I ever sang on to that, the
Glee Christmas album. And I don't know anything. As we
all saw alight, it was more than seventy four years ago.
Who else has got a guilty pleasure? Whiskey? Why do
you to be guilty about that? Get back? I gotta

(23:40):
say I kind of hate Christmas because I'm powowing it
all the way. But I love snick Smiths, That's true.
I like to get a little tipsy and like, um,
go look at Christmas lights, not drive. Don't worry. UM,
I have someone drive. I have a driver. It's called

(24:04):
my mom. She's great. UM. I have like yeah, I
have some cocktails and we drive around like you know
when like the Christmas lights are a little blurry and
it's a little sad. I love it. And we're going
to alert the Burbank police. And I remember like when
I was loved and stuff like that. At Candy Kay

(24:24):
Lane in Wood the Hills is incredible. And if you're
a little tipsy walking around, it's it's even just kiss
it's even better your guilty fresh I think, I mean,
it's really it's um, it's it's really. I love to
as a Jewish person. It's a Jewish person I love.
But I was a terrible jew. We didn't let we
we opened things on Christmas Eve so that we were

(24:46):
cheating and it really didn't make any sense. But the
the actual Um, I love giving gifts. I love shopping
for him, and I love getting them on sale. See
how I blended. I blended the two to go, but
I'll see you. I'm sure to get out. Good Bye

(25:09):
John Lock and give it up one my time for
Chris Ashley and Robin. Merry Christmas. Yes, God, Merry Christmas
any day now. I'll see horrible. Thanks Chris. We may

(25:37):
see Chris later, we may ask he'll be back, nor Kevin,
someone else wants to say a lot. I have no idea.
Let's see who Bye, it's me and fill me a

(26:04):
Christmas movie. So I can't be there. I wish I
could be there celebrating Snake Smith with everyone. Um. And
I'm just over here celebrating all the money we're going
to raise for Alexandria House. I'm so okay. Bye, hey everyone.

(26:28):
Oh God, that's that's a mirror of me. I'm so sorry. UM,
thank you so much for everyone who has joined the
live stream. I'm so sorry cannot be there. I filmed
this yesterday, which is today for for y'all, because I
won't be able to make it. As you can see,
I am shooting today. Um and uh. I just want

(26:50):
to say thank you to all the people that have
donated to have joined the live stream UM, and to
Jenna and Kevin and the rest of the cast and
friends that have um ate this such a beautiful, wonderful
night to celebrate our girl Nia. She threw the most
epic snakes Miss parties as you've heard or seen videos of. Um,

(27:10):
and it's going to a wonderful cause, Alexandria House. So
thank you so much for for donating. And I just
wanted to pop in and say hi and wishing everyone
happy holidays in a happy happy y years. Who that
was so nice. Thank you Vanessa and Harry for popping
in to stay hello. And if you're just joining us,

(27:30):
we are here with me. And that's what you really
miss podcast for a very special Snakes Miss special, very
snacks special. Okay, never mind, I take it back. Um,
it's benefiting the amazing Alexandria House to remember the brilliant
right Nia Era And while everyone is still donating and
entering the steep stakes, right, that's what we're doing. It's

(27:52):
important to us that you know exactly where your donations
are going. Alexandra House has helped hundreds of women and
children reach safe in supportive housing, and every dollar that
is donated goes directly to help fund programs like housing, food, childcare, counseling,
financial literacy, job readiness, and other activities to help families
transition from homelessness to permanent housing. So go enter the

(28:17):
and went away. So go enter the sweep stakes. Your
donations will go directly to Alexandria House. I think we
covered that beautifully. Professionals get together. That was really funny. Okay.

(28:38):
We have a wonderful group representing Alexandria House here as
we know this evening, and we are so grateful for
them coming tonight. And you may recognize Alexandria House in
a music video by an artist that we have no
idea who is just kidding, Justin Bieber. Justin films his
single Intentions at Alexandria House, so make sure you go

(28:59):
check it out after the show. Um, you can see
some of the amazing facilities and services that Alexandria House provides.
And we wanted to learn a little bit more about
Alexandria House from someone who has actually benefited from their
giving services and support. So tonight we are joined by
Marissa Espinosa, executive director of Alexandria How and Ashley Nwfio massoul,

(29:26):
a former resident at Alexandria House who has come to
share their experience with us tonight, and we couldn't be
more appreciative that they are here to speak with all
of us. So let's bring out Marissa and Assay today

(29:52):
the season Zoo, Ben, Rissa, Ashley, thank you so much
for being here, really so for having us here to
it looks so festive and beautiful. We tried to accord
it a little more than we did. We called each
other okay, So UM, thank you for being here. Please.
Versus is going to interview Ashley and just kind of

(30:13):
talk about UM Alexander House and the amazing things that
they do. So take it away. Well, if I could
first start off just thanking you all. Thank you, Jenna,
thank you Kevin. I don't tell at least in the
back somewhere. Thank you Tanya Rivera's family who's here today,
for just hosting this event and for supporting our organization.
Alexander House has been around for twenty six years and
we have been as transitional healthing program as you all said,

(30:35):
UM house of hospitality and a neighborhood center, and we
provided narrative services for folks, for women and women with
children UM to find their way, to find their stability,
to find their independence. And so Ashley here UM lived
with us UM. She arrived at Alexander House when she
was twenty one years old um in UM. I'm very

(30:57):
excited to say Ashley graduated her program and she has
been stably housed in Torrents with her three children UM Elias,
Remedy and Delilah and so UM she is also participating
in one of our programs, which is our Startup Sisterhood
Program l A And what that is is an enterprise
Entrepreneurship program UM where the women really during the pandemic

(31:19):
came to us and asked us UM to help them
start their own businesses as a means of being able
to provide for their children when many of them lost
their jobs as a result of the pandemic. And so
Ashley and her sister Zoe UM are working on their
own juicing line UM that we hope will soon beyond
shelves everywhere. So yes, so Ashley, maybe you could share

(31:44):
with everyone here what brought to to Alexandria House. Oh,
long story. So I was actually homeless for six years
and UM I was in a really dark place. Uh yeah, definitely, sorry,
I was in a really dark place. I found myself

(32:04):
living with my kids UM at a house that had
no gas and no electricity. Who I was running UM
from a lady who I didn't know, was bringing in
and out like drugs, meth, crack, and it was just
a very dark place and it was the only place
that I had at the moment, and I stayed there

(32:26):
for three months and trying to dig myself out of
this hole. I was searching online and I ran through
YouTube and finally came up with the idea like maybe
it is time to go into a shelter. But like
everyone thinks of a shelter, they think of something that's unsafe.
You don't really want to bring your kids to live

(32:46):
with strangers and in an environment you don't know, you know,
there's a lot of just a lot of things that
can happen. And so I found the Alexandria House and
I was familiar with the street name, and I called
them for a year until I got in. And when
I got in, it really changed my life. I was,

(33:08):
you know, I would never imagine myself being here today,
dressed this way, this confident, this lively. I it was
six years was very hard, and I was on my
own and I was just not the person I am today.
And I'm so grateful for the alexander Your House and
all that they've done for me. And my family. And

(33:32):
when you reflect back on your time at a house
as we call it, ya, what was the most helpful
thing about it for you and the kids. I think
there's a lot to be grateful for when coming to
the Alexander House. I can talk all day, but I
think the most important part was the sense of community. Um.
When I was homeless, I really didn't know anything. I

(33:54):
was homeless fifteen and sixteen years old till one, and
I saw a lot of things that I didn't know
was real in the world. I saw a lot of
you know, people that were completely lost, you know, a
lot of theft, a lot of abuse, and when I
had lost the light in life, I had lost, you know,

(34:17):
hope in anything that was better. But when I went
to the Alexandria House, it's a whole sense of community.
It's a very big community that feels like a family
that I didn't have at the moment. And I think
that my kids benefit that and so much because they've
grown up with some of the kids that lived there
and still come back to visit. We see each other

(34:37):
for the holidays. They've grown bonds with these kids and
these adults around them that show them, you know, a
respectful person, somebody who wants to change other people's life.
The light at the end of the tunnel, and it's
just on giving. They don't stop giving. I appreciate it
so much and my kids do too. She's got beautiful children. Um,

(35:00):
you're part of our current cohort of startup sisterhood l A.
Can we share with the team with our audience today? UM,
why you joined in, how it's been helpful to you.
I joined because I wanted some to learn something. I
love learning things, especially at the lex Indrea House they
have a lot of life skill lessons. Um. But I

(35:24):
had sat on this idea of making a juice, creating
a juice blend of vegetables and fruits, and I have
sat on the idea for almost five years and I
never really went forward with it. When they said that
they were doing an entrepreneurship class, I said, hey, you
know what, what do I got then to try to
learn something new and put my best foot forward in

(35:47):
something that I have no business diving into because I
have no experience in owning my own business or having
the confidence and you know the information that you need
the details. You know. They helped me build a business plan. Um,
so I just hope great things to comfort me and
my sister who are joining the class to do our juice. Yeah,

(36:11):
can you share with our audience today, um, to affirm
with them why they should support Alexandria House. Why not?
It is amazing the things that they do. They're like
I said, I would have never imagined that there was
a community out there in the world, especially being in
such a dark place. You kind of just see the ugly,

(36:31):
You forget about what's outside and you hide yourself. Um.
I think it's just really really great if you guys
would support us, because they do change lives and they
don't stop there. You don't just graduate the program and
they leave you like there. It's just there's numerous of
life stale classes that I've gone through, parenting classes, money

(36:54):
saving classes, I've gone through college, through scholarship for Business
Office Association, which I graduated, and they it's just it's
the place that keeps giving and it doesn't stop there.
It's it's safety, it's everything. I encourage you guys to
donate today because it does change lives, and it changed

(37:17):
my lives and my kids lives forever, and it will
continue to change and I'll support you guys forever. Do
you see Ashley here today with us, and you see
what's possible when when women have the support they need
to be able to do the things they want for them.
And there's children m for Ashley story, there's three d

(37:40):
other stories of women that have gone through our program
and find the same support and the resources and more importantly,
the relationships that help them find their light again. Ashley
said she lost her light and regain hope that they
have the tools, they have the power, they know that
they know what they need for themselves and their children.
It's just someone to believe in them, um and support
them and getting back on their feet. So thank you

(38:02):
all for being here today and for supporting our organization.
Thank you so cool. Thank you actually, thank you Marissa,
Thank you guys so much for being here. It is
truly an honor to be in your guys' presence and
the hope that you bring to these women's lives like Ashley.
This is what we do this for. This is what
it's all about, and this is what Naya you know,
saw in you guys, So thank you so much, give

(38:26):
thank you so much. All right, you guys saw it
for yourself that I mean some so amazing. It is
really the reason that we are here tonight. There is
everything else kind of goes away right that's you know,
it's just for me. It's so powerful. Put things in perspective,
so you can actually see where the money is going.
And we got to tour Alexandria House um A couple
weeks ago with Nya's mom and sister. Thank you so

(38:49):
much to the team for showing us around. It's absolutely incredible.
And they showed us the new apartment building they have
actually behind the Alexandria House, the two houses that they
have re done. It's unbelievable the work they have done
and the people that are going to be able to
help through that. So that that's thanks to all of
you who have donated previously and thanks to spreading awareness

(39:10):
about Alexandria House. So thank you again for all the
work that you do and thank you for showing us
in person. And remember that if you can donate, no
dollar amount is too small, as we've seen for past years,
So ahead to fandi him site now to donate and
win a chance for some great prizes. And just a reminder,
if we are able to raise five thousand tonight, five

(39:31):
dollars to night. It will be match for a total
donation of Ready for the Math. So please, if you
are able, head over to Alexandria House dot org slash
donate to donate now, and please tab me and Kevin
so we can see that you guys have donated. We
will repost, we will thank you over and over again,

(39:52):
and also tag and that's what you really miss pot
on Instagram. So, Kevin, my voices so dry now from
all the talking. Well, do you want to sing a song? Whiskey? Jenna?
Do you need whiskey? Is that for your throat? Yeah?

(40:13):
I need some whiskey. Oh. I don't know why I
want to sing a song, but I guess we will.
And um, I encourage all of you to sing along
with us in the holiday spirit. Please sing along if
you will, right, yeah? Can we bring a zack out?
Come on, give it up for zack? Everyone? Sit down?

(40:35):
Do you want to sit down? Yeah, let's sit down.
It's gonna be relaxed. Sing loudly, cover our voices. I'll
sit here. This feels good, all right, Sure, let's see
what happens. Oh no, are the lyrics on here? Sorry?
I just need some lyrics. Oh they're not. Oh no,

(40:57):
all right right and if we go quiet, somebody help us. Okay,
we got it. You're ready? Sure? Yeah? Do you think
we know lyrics at this point? M you ready? Dashing
through the snow? Write song right on one horse, open

(41:20):
slay or the fierce We go laughing all the way,
bells tells, read, make spirits bright, got it? What fun
it is to ride and sings so great? Oh jingle

(41:42):
jingle sing gingle all the way. Yes, oh fun it
is too right into one horso ba say gingle be
gen gingle. Oh fine, it is to ride one horse stag.

(42:04):
The good news is we just do that first over again,
Thank you, Kevin. It's like my math, but we can
make it more exciting and like do it key change,
wait when we're gonna do it there? But okay, let's
try it. Dashing through the snow. We got it on
a one horse coping slay all the piece you go
left in all the way there we go, make spirits brown, spirits,

(42:32):
friend too gay jingle bells gingle change again, Yes, oh
fun it is to ride it stay jingle bells jingle

(42:53):
bath jingle all the way. Oh what funnest. All right,
so I got thrown scared. Goodness says, no one came

(43:18):
here to see us thing, But we did it, and
are we going to get through this next time? We're not.
We can't do it. We're going to try it, but
we don't know the words. Give it up for Zach. Everyone, Yeah,
thank you Zach. Thanks for putting up with us. You're
a sweet man, You're talented. Thank you. Well. I heard

(43:41):
Austin laughing in the back because I went down. I
chose to option down and instead of the option up
as one you know what, I spared you all? Okay,
let me just say that. All right, let's keep this moving.
Let's go. Who do we have surprising us next? I
don't know, Kevin? Is it? You know it's not? Is
this thing on? Hello? Hello? Hello? How everyone? Matthew Morrison here.

(44:05):
I just wanted to wish you all beautiful, happy, healthy
holiday season. Can we just talk about real fast that
Jenna Ushkowitz and Darren Chris, our parents. Wow. Um. I
wish them all the best. I wish you all the best,
and thank you for your donations and for contributing to

(44:26):
this beautiful night to celebrate Alexandria House and our beloved
Ny Rivera. Oh thank you, Matt, so great to see you.
Wish you could be here with us, but he's moved
off to some place prettier and it's probably smart. I
don't know. Okay, let's get to our next fireside panel.

(44:52):
We have some people you might want to see. We'll
bring back Chris Cole for Yeah, let's bring Heather Morris. Hello, everybody,
thank you for being here. Heather. Hi, Hi, Michael, Hi,

(45:13):
Chris Cock. I'm glad you could be out here and stay.
Now now that you're in a chair, you're allowed to
stay and look at the end of the people up here.
It's like Queen Elizabeth that she rest in peace. I'm sorry, Chris,
I'm sorry. We know how much you love the Queen.
I think I got more texts when Queen Elizabeth died
than Prince Charles did. I almost texted you. I almost

(45:36):
texted you, and I was going to tell you, ask
you if you were okay. I'm surprising. Well, yeah, I
did think of you. I don't think I texted you,
but I thought of you. Thank you. How are you guys?
Hi good? We're so happy to be here. We're I
was just thinking, like, wow, we really botched that song,
but they know what to expect from us, Heather, we

(46:00):
you guys today. Earlier, we got to meet some fans
virtually on the meet and greet, and we were just
so moved by the people and how much they loved
the show, obviously, and especially how much they loved Santana
and Brittany. There is a lot a lot um. I
was wondering if you had a favorite heye, like Santana

(46:24):
Brittany story or some of your like your favorite memory
of the two of you working together, some of my
favorite memories. I mean I don't have like a specific moment,
but I did really enjoy the scenes where it was
just Santana and I because I mean we all knew
as actors, like being on on camera with Nia was

(46:44):
just a gift that kept on giving, Like she was
always there and always in the moment, and I just
felt so blessed that I got to act next to her,
and she was always my biggest champion to like in
a scene, she would give me anything I needed. Um.
I think Landslide was very very special and it always

(47:05):
will be. It just was such an iconic moment a
beautiful song. Um. It was one of the first moments
that we had on the show. Yeah, that's a really
good one. Um. I also fun fact about now I
could show up and be like, what scene are we
doing today? And she would have one of those crazy
page long monologues, you know, Jen and I would be

(47:25):
going over our two lines we had in the episode
and sweating, sweating over the I have the two seconds
to get the line out, and then I would be
like going to the hair and makeup tailers, like Okay,
let me look at this, and then she wouldn't miss
a word, spit. It wouldn't miss a single word. It
was the wildest thing to actually witness. She would never
jumble her words, she had never It was just it

(47:47):
was really like infuriating and also incredible to watch because
it wasn't like, oh I can just memorize it and
then I'm just reading it out. She was so good,
like just so so good. And I think I only
got to be in one scene with her by myself
because we couldn't just not laugh the entire time and
we had to actually like shoot it where we had

(48:10):
to not look at each other. And luckily she was
standing and I was sitting And when I watched it,
she's like looking over my head because even the thought
of like yeah, I was like I can't we did.
It wasn't a funny scene, but it was just I'm like,
I can't look at her face and she can't look
at my face because we're going to lose it. Because

(48:31):
it's one of those things where you're so in awe
like watching her and also like how are you doing this?
Like you're crazy? Like what it was a gift that
we got to be around every single day. Hitchcock, What
was it like in the writer's room writing for characters
like Naya Santana like that you knew would just like

(48:53):
if we're keeping on on her. She's one of those
people that could do comedy obviously, but then can switch
to rama at the drop of a hat. And if
you watch any scene she was in, there's always something
behind behind, There's there's something in the heart. She had,
like just all this pathos behind almost everything she said
and in the best way possible, um amazing scenes to watch.

(49:17):
I remember I was on the writers most of the
time we were writing. We didn't get to go to
set that much. But when we did go. It was
always such a treat and a lot of times we
got to go when you did your musical numbers and
the one when they were doing um, her big thing
where she was dancing and it was I think it
was a rumor has it and and then she had

(49:37):
to go. She had to go hit Corey, she had
to slap him, and she went from doing that entire
dance and they didn't want to take for many of them,
and then she just went out there and boom and
it was just whoa. And they had to do it
several times and always in character and had to go
from that performance and then into that and it was
fascinating to watch and devast eating at the same time,

(50:01):
always so good. It also helped like that you knew
whatever she got was going to be like lifted and
made even better. Yeah, off the page, absolutely, Um, Hitgecock.
Did you come to Snextest parties? What did you come
to any Snextest parties? You don't remember, I don't, we
don't remember anything from that two of them. The thing

(50:23):
and I know we've talked about this in your podcast before,
but like picture a home in Los Angeles with real
snow in the front yard she brought in it does
not snow here, and then a disco floor that looked
like an ice skating rink in the backyard. Every type
of food you could think of, elves that she hired. Um,

(50:45):
she didn't hire, right, that's right, Um. And you have
to remember this isn't just it wasn't just for the crew,
I mean for the cast. All the crew got to
go to they were all invited, and there was one crew. Remember.
I remember in particular she got quite tip. See she
had the strangest Christmas hat on. I mean it looked
like a Christmas tree, and then she lost her Christmas

(51:07):
tree and then she found it later. It's a fascinating
story and I'm glad I spent the time that story
very deeply. But she was very happy the whole time.
Whether she lost her she didn't. Yes. I will say
we have a special guest in the audience. We talked
about a lot we will have on the podcast at

(51:28):
some point if he'll come on. But m Andrew Mitchell
is here. And Andrew Mitchell is by far the best
steady cam operator in America for sure, maybe the world.
So every ever, all those sweeping shots you see, he
did it. He danced at this. So basically what we

(51:49):
would do is we would rehearse the number and Zach
would record it or Andrew would record it on his iPad.
And then when we got on the stage and we
were doing the number, the steadicam became another like blee
member and they were dancing with us. And for those
of you who don't know a city cam, how how
how much is the way that he's wearing on himself

(52:10):
and dancing around us like this in and out of
all of us, and graceful like he walking like that
you skateboard? Is that what you do is like a
Greek god? Like his calves are incredible. Yeah, it's just phenomenal.
And he just you know, he's a big part of
the glee. Those sweeping shots of the hands going up
in the camera going off with that everyone's basically and

(52:36):
you've ruined it for the rest of us anytime we
do anything else. Every time I see somebody who was
sitting him like, there's like a sweat and a panic.
And Andrew's was a cucumber. Should I tell the story
about the lady with the Christmas hat again? You should?
Maybe later we'll bring you back out later. It's so fun. Yeah,

(52:57):
I bet it is. Anyway, I did find so. I
we were trying to find some pictures of snake smiths.
Luckily there's not many that exist. Um, but I did
find it. I'm not going to post it because I
didn't ask permission, but I found a picture of I
think it was Diana. Remember there's like some old like

(53:18):
me folder, like Apple folder from a decade ago, and
it's like Diana and two other people I hardly recognized,
but they were also in full costume. The same person
told her it was a costome Christmas party too. I
need to know who this week. Tell you later if
it wasn't me, right, it wasn't you. Honestly, don't really remember.

(53:44):
I think I just wanted to dress up. Yeah, but
that's how hard everybody went. Like Dana coordinated with two
other people and they came as He's like snowflake, snow queen.
It was things. What do you guys do? It's really
none of your business. Okay, he's right, he has a point,
turning our Christmas tree hats. I'll just leave. It's fine.

(54:09):
What are you guys doing for the holidays? Early? What
am I doing? Not getting sick. I hope, Oh my gosh,
lucky for all of our health and our good things
that are happening right now. Yeah. No, I'm going to
Arizona as well, Arizona for Christmas. Nic excited. My kids
are in the audience, My husband, my wonderful husband, cutest kids,

(54:32):
and the biz. Um. Well, should we another game? We
love games? We love games, he says, should we? Um?
Did we bring out some other friends? Okay, yeah, let's
bring out some more friends. If you're back there, Let's
have everybody come out for this one, because this is
going to be messy. Come on out, everybody that's This

(55:03):
game is one that we would always play on Nice's
birthday trips. Um. Yolanda might remember this one because we
taught her how to play. Um. This is never have
I ever Holiday edition? Yeah, alright, do they know our
new guests? By the way, what do they know our
new guests? Well, yes, we'll do it again. Matt Howson

(55:23):
over here was a writer on legs. She was are
literally our babysitter's secret daughter everything, and now she's a powerhouse.
She's a hot shot working for Brad Fault, Chuck and
six Planner. Um. Okay, thanks guys for being here. Um, Kelly,

(55:48):
are you gonna take this one away and do this?
I'm going to moderate this. Okay, thank you, guys. Have
a seat. Okay, all right, well, okay, so we don't
have drinks, so everyone's gonna put up five fingers, and
if you've done the thing that I've said, you're gonna
put down a finger. Last finger standing wins. We're not
going to judge. So you win a little if you

(56:11):
have done less things, fewer things, if you were the same,
they're synonyms. No, that's a little. You have not done it.
You put your finger down. If you've done it, and
get rid of it. Okay, you've done it. You put
a finger down, and whoever has a finger left, right,

(56:35):
we got we gotta go ahead, go ahead, ones, Okay, So,
never have I ever drank too much eggnog and passed
out on the couch a little early specifically egg no, yeah,
like you know, just had a little to much to drink,
fell asleep a little early on. So never have we

(56:56):
ever drank too much that we fell asleep too early
on Christmas, on Christmas holiday or your favorite holiday. So
if we put on the figure, if we have done that, Okay,
I'm just a ride around stupid. I guess I lied
when I said we always played they always play it.
We're and we're always play it. Okay. Never have I
ever shared a kiss under the kiss under the mistletoe?

(57:21):
Have you done it? I've never gotten black out on Christmas.
I've never done that. Okay, we're past that one. Okay.
Never have I ever set a Christmas tree on fire?
You and the audience can also play. You can put
your hands up because I want to see what we're working.
Put the finger out, Matt, put a figured out. We
got two figures now that Mike to Matt, what's what's what?

(57:44):
You burn down? Babe? Just a close call. You know
the candles are dangerous. I would department. No, no, no,
it was a lesson learned. Alright, This one a little
like a Christmas story theme. Never I've ever got my
tongue stuck to a frozen metal pole? What about what?

(58:07):
Matt Hodgson Negan, No, he didn't do Megan, she grew
up in west She's from Chicago, Wisconsin. Yeah, okay, we're
not here, we're not touching, we're notching. Never have I
ever been home on Christmas break and hooked up with

(58:30):
someone from high school. Never have I ever been home
on Christmas break and hooked up from someone from high school? Again,
she from Chicago. If you put her on count, were

(58:58):
going to be her time? Have I accounts? Sorry, been
snowed in in a blizzard. We were snowed in at
Becca's wedding. That's right. We woke up after morning after
the wedding. We're like, oh, I guess we have to stay.
Some people did, oh, some people did. Okay, this is
a fun one. It's not that was not that um okay,

(59:21):
this is a two parter. Never have ever dumped someone
right before the holidays so that I didn't have to
give them a gift? She started. It's an evil laugh.
I wish the audience was playing one. We're down to
two over here, Oh yeah, alright, alright, and here at

(59:45):
part two. Never ever stayed with someone until the holidays
were over, just so that could have a date. She
did it. Some laughter. We're gonna start fights tonight. Okay,
down to the Okay, here's one that ended up on
the list. I don't know how I never I've ever
hit a deer with my car again, that's it. I

(01:00:13):
think I've hit two deer. Or like everyone, Megan Doyle
called Peter, she's a murderer. Hide the reindeer back here
there anything you want to set protect a deer on stage?
Would you like to make amends here tonight? There's plenty

(01:00:33):
of deer you're on stage, Megan, I would like to eat.
These are actually the deer from both accidents. Uh, these
are replica. Okay, Okay, we're down to our last few.
Never have I ever returned a gift and not told
the gift giver about it? Obviously? Um okay. Never have

(01:00:55):
ever made up an excuse to not go home for
the holidays, made up an excuse We're all suckers, story family, Okay,
and who's the last last question? Fingers? Never have I
ever fallen asleep before midnight on New Year's Eve? That

(01:01:18):
was a real Oh yeah, we got some chews over
yere r. We like to see people still in the game.
Chris Cole for Ashley, Think you too? Ashley? Hi? What No,
I've never fallen asleep before midnight on New Year's Eve.
I would be wonderful. At least you're better people than

(01:01:40):
we are. Um, well, we did it. That's never have
I ever what we got? Alright, everybody, everybody here. I
think there's somebody. Somebody came to visit more video. We
have another little I think, Hi, everybody, it's Javier Bays.

(01:02:07):
I'm so sorry that I could be there today. I
really wanted to be there. But as you could probably tell,
I've a little bit sick. It's dock COVID, but it's
something pretty bad. So I've quarantined myself and I've sealed
off the house so nobody is getting in her out
of here. Oh my god, oh god, Hi, how did

(01:02:28):
you get in here? I have a key, You're a key.
I've a had keith. I'm here all the time. I'm
gonna like it. Thank thank you. You've done a great
job with the place. How do you were a little
bit thick? I am a little bit sick, a little
bit thicky. Actually, you do what I'm I'm feeling so

(01:02:49):
much better. I feel so good now. I know you
feel warm. I have a solution, which is a little
mental rub to take a shut. I'll take my shirt off.
Took half the holidays. Holidays. It's hard to tell if

(01:03:21):
their inner out of character. It's a real special dynamic. Yes, well,
We hope Jama feels better soon. But thank you Jama
and Justlyn for the hilarious video. UM. So thank you
everyone out there for being with us tonight. And don't forget.

(01:03:41):
You can donate through the fandium site and enter to
win prizes or donate to the wonderful Alexandria House directly
at Alexandria House dot org slash donate and don't forget
to select a Nick Smith twenty two for the donor designation.
We have some very special people that would we would
like to invite on stage now to share some thanks

(01:04:01):
with all of you. Uh, let's please give a warm
round of applause for Nya's mother and sister, Yolanda and Nikaela.
Hi everyone this year, you guys, this is awesome just
to be here and here all the stories and my

(01:04:24):
baby's work ethic. Hear her her singing. UM, It's it's
a little bit overwhelming, but it's love. It's love that
we all have for the Glee family and for Nia.
And right now, I'm happy, I feel good. I do

(01:04:45):
UM because this is what Naya lived for when she
was on this earth with us. UM. She enjoyed family, friends,
she enjoyed food, drank, she enjoyed just the company of people.

(01:05:08):
And I look around and UM, and that's what we're doing.
This is what I see, you know, this is this
is what she lived for. And I just want to
thank you for your contributions to Alexandria House. UH, because
this was one of her last calls to us all.

(01:05:34):
She she put it on the Instagram and came out
of nowhere. UM. And that call was to give, to
give to others, to lift each other up in a
positive way, and to give to um make make people's

(01:05:57):
lives better. And she found that in Alexandria House. And
that's part of her legacy. That is part of her legacy.
And here we are, we're living what she desired. So UM,
thank you to the Glee family for your unwavering support.

(01:06:21):
You guys are forever in our hearts. Forever forever in
our hearts. Thank you to Alexandria House for all the
work that you do. And thank you, thank you, thank you,
thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. God bless

(01:06:41):
you all. I would just like to express, um, not
only mine, but my mom and my dad and my
brother and my nephews, our sincere deepest, deepest gratitude to

(01:07:03):
you all for sitting here. I would like to express
my gratitude to everyone a part of the Glee family.
Everyone a part of my sister's family, her friends, her colleagues,
the people that she supported, and I think that it's

(01:07:23):
absolutely beautiful to see her legacy to this day, that
she has brought us all together for a reason and
that purpose is still continuing. So thank you so so much,
Thank you both so much, Thank you so much for
coming out here and speaking. Yes, thank you, give another

(01:07:46):
warm out than thank you, guys, thank you, thank you. Uh.

(01:08:07):
We couldn't be more grateful that um, you guys have
all joined us for the third annu All Snake Smith event. Obviously,
thank you too, Nya's family, Yolanda, Nikola um and even
more that you guys have all contributed to a cause
that was so important to Naya um and now it
is important to us as well. So before we go,

(01:08:28):
we just want to remind you that we have a
goal to raise tonight for five thousand dollars that if
we raise it this evening, it will be matched by
a generous donor giving us a total of ten dollars
for Alexander House, so please consider donating if you can,
um if you've donated in previous years, we thank you
for continued support. And if this is your first year
celebrating snakes with with us, we welcome you with open

(01:08:51):
arms and open hearts. Thank you so much for joining us.
The fandom sweepstakes will be open until December thirty one
of this year, so you can continue to or you
can you can enter for that until the thirty one,
and if you'd like, please continue to donate directly to
Alexandria House again at their website Alexandria House dot org

(01:09:11):
slash donate. We are so grateful to I Heart Radio
in the I Heeart Theater and our incredible producers of
and that's what you really missed for helping us put
this in person fundraiser together. They get us all here
in this room, so let's give it up for them.
Thank you to our listeners, our viewers, and thank you
again for all of your donations. And don't forget those

(01:09:33):
sweepstake prizes can also be a great holiday gift for
the obsessed cleek in your life. And we have a
gigantic thank you to John Locke are amazing DJ don donate.
Um everyone at Alexandria House, especially A Marissa and Ashley
for coming pay I'm Michelle, Lena, Judy, anybody. Thank you guys,

(01:09:57):
Thank you everyone so much for joining us Merry Snacks Mess.
Thank you guys for tuning in that that is our show. Everybody,
thank you for supporting this amazing cause. And thank you
to all of our guests. Mary snicks Man, thanks for

(01:10:23):
listening and follow us on Instagram at and That's what
you Really miss pod. Make sure to write us a
review and leave us five stars. See you next time,