December 3, 2024 • 54 mins
The guys share how to sneak into the Super Bowl, why Lance has the most invested in an *NSYNC Reunion and what it would take for him to head to space. Plus, Doug’s got some laws he’d like to pass.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
He did say, he goes, if if in a perfect
world there is an instinct tour coming, then we can
have another kid.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Well, Jesus, I said, that's pressure, brother, man, what's hand him?
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Man?
Speaker 3 (00:12):
You got more Shawn be Small Lynch, Doug Hendrickson and
Gavin Newsome.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
And you're listening to politics, you're knowing to.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Be you known to be, Doug.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
Doug, here's a civil question I have for if you
were governor. Delaurius wants to know if you were governor
for a day. I want what's once? You got twenty
four hours, not just you know, nine to five, none
of that nonsense. You got one day, Doug, change the world.
And by the way, you're a governor and your legislatures
out so they can't get your way. Just remember it's
it's multiple branches of government, and the and the courts
(00:53):
have already already given you green light. So the three branches,
so you're you're the soul. Decide on whatever it is
that you think needs to change or we need less
of or more of, give it to us.
Speaker 5 (01:07):
Doug. Well, it's a two part question, Gavin. But one
I'm gonna say, obviously, less state taxes. Let's keep it
no state tax. But no, you know what I would do, honestly,
I would. I This sounds corny and stupid, but I've
told you this before.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
I would.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
I would go to every single mayor and I would
say this is not optional, this is mandatory. I want
every one of you guys, one day a month to
do a cleanup of the neighborhoods in the city. Uh
and and and retrofit plants, flowers, clean up trash, old
deal and do a monthly community event where it brings
(01:42):
all the community together Alameda, whether it be Sacramento, whether
it be Davis, Marin, you name it, and do a
monthly event and revolving kind of a event to kind
of bring everybody together. And what that sounds stupid, corny,
but I'm all about clean up and hug it out
a little bit.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
And from that I appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
I just if this governor I read about, seemed to
read about periodically hadn't done that called clean California and
actually funded it with one point one billion dollars and
created quote unquote designated communities, meaning community partners that we
partner with with volunteer opportunities and job opportunities, including for
(02:23):
people that are previously incarcerated part of a re entry program,
and those that were previously unhoused meaning homeless, then I
would say that's a novel and extraordinarily and.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
So see here's the difference. You're right, and I took
that from you.
Speaker 5 (02:35):
But however, I would tell them they if they don't
do it, they're fire.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
That's the difference.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
That's the difference. You did it. You did it, And
that's why I got incide.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
You're doing mandatory volunteering, which is which is kind of
a different version of the word volunteer.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
This isn't the buffet where you can decide what you
want to do. This is like you need to do
this or Doug.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
You're outug.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
The reason this is more resonant to me than you
even think. It's one of the great frustrations with being
governor of California is and I'm not the mayor of California.
And I've said this before on the pod Man. You've
got four and seventy six cities, fifty eight counties. You've
got city councils, you got school boards, you have all
these independent electeds. You've got city administrators, you've got rules
and regulations that govern a lot of things at the
(03:17):
local level. So even putting up an unprecedented amount of
money creating an initiative, launching that initiative, we did it
down in La galvanizing the community, getting thousands and thousands
not just the volunteers, but we hired hot thousands and
thousands of people as part of this program. You're one
hundred percent right there communities that just said no, we're
not interested and instead just like to point the finger
(03:39):
and say, see how dirty everything is, see how terrible
everything is.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Why?
Speaker 4 (03:43):
And it's there's a lot of this sort of victimization
out there as opposed to people, to your point, stepping
up and taking some responsibility and building community, which is
what you're calling for, and getting people engaged.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
I love you.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
When I when I bought my first house and prefer
a hill back in like two thousand, I'll never forget.
I'm on this street and weeds would go in the
cracks the street right the whole street up like ten
blocks weeds, and it drove me crazy. I hate weeds,
and so I would get up on Saturdays or whatever
day and I would pull all the weeds and people
up up the street. Looked at me like, dude, what
(04:17):
is this guy doing? I said, Now, I live down
the street. I don't like the weeds. So nobody helped out.
For the first probably two months, people looked at me
like I was nuts. No bs. Every Saturday there on,
I was one of thirty people cleaning not only our
street but the surrounding blocks around Patroyal Hill and it
was the coolest thing in the world. But people initially said,
(04:37):
what's this guy doing? And then they said, you know what, Yeah,
we feel better. It's a better street, better curb appeal,
and it was pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
But I did that back in two thousand.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Doug, I love that.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
And by the way, we picked up not just on
Clean California, which, by the way, we're going to be
expanding and we're going to create some more accountability in
the spirit of what you're calling for, but we also
created we have I've said it before, but the largest
volunteer corps in America. It's bigger than the Peace Corps
and a big part of one of the group's A
big part of the group is called climate Core, which
(05:10):
is exactly along the lines of what you're saying. It's
not just planning things it's cleaning things as well, and
it's infectious. And here's a proof point. You'll appreciate this
two story, Doug. We were out there in a little
hike with the family and I was with my little one, Dutch,
and he sees me pick up some garbage and it
was kind of awkwardly sized, and I was like, oh god,
I'll just carry his back. And he looked at me, like,
(05:31):
why are you picking that up? It was just it
was there on the trail. True story. About an hour later,
I see him pick up a piece of garbage. He
literally mirrored that behavior, which was just like amazing and
point of pride. That's exactly what happened to you with
your neighbors.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
I love it. No, we need more of that.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
And that's, by the way, that's how we get out
of this rut and mess of everybody's so damn negative,
all the cynicism and everybody's attacking each other as shared
experiences and getting neighbors to meet neighbors, not through political ends,
but just through you know, sense of community and making
things better. So I love the spirit of what you're saying.
And Hey, Dolores, thank you for the question.
Speaker 5 (06:22):
Hey, Gavin. We got some great news in the waiting room.
We have a Mississippi kid. Yeah, and I've been to
Mississippi many times. We got a Mississippi kid.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
He's still trying to figure out how to spell.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
My SSI S S I P P I.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Yes, it's not it's it's I. Someone said, why.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I did say?
Speaker 5 (06:41):
You said we have a Mississippi kid that made it big,
and that is really cool.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
There's a couple of guys from Mississippi.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
I made it big and that might be him Lance
Bass along with his former partner Justin Timberlake from Mississippi.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
They both made it big. Lance. How are you, my man?
Speaker 2 (06:55):
What's going on?
Speaker 1 (06:56):
How are you guys?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Where are you your fancy place? Where the hell are you? Lance?
Speaker 1 (07:01):
I'm here at home in Los Angeles. You can see
my Harry Potter candles up in the sky for Christmas. Halloween.
Just laughed and now Christmas is coming in ayat.
Speaker 5 (07:11):
Don't let Lance flo. You sold seventy million albums. He's
made a lot of money.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Oh so you were just you just why with little Royalty?
Were with us today? Am I supposed to bow or something?
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Louke Perlman took most of it.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
So you know, that's a that's you're already five questions
in already.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
We'll talk about that, buddy.
Speaker 5 (07:28):
Hey Lance, Before we begin, I want to tell you
a little story. And back in the day I met you.
Back in the day, one of my clients was Jamal Anderson,
the Dirty Bird, and so back in two thousand, when
you guys were the height of your fame and whatnot,
doing the Super Bowl in Tampa, one of my first
clients gave me tickets to the game. And before the game, uh,
(07:49):
he said, Hey, can't wait to see you, And I
said great. Well, I'm at the hotel and someone said,
I'll give you twenty thousand dollars for these two tickets.
So I'm like, great, I'm going to sell them for
twenty thousand dollars. I'm with my fiance and my wife,
and I'm gonna buy a couple of tickets for five
make fifteen grand.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Life is good, and report it to the irs, I hope, Doug.
But that's another conversation.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
So the prices kept going high on these tickets, so
I could not buy two more tickets. So I got
but I got twenty grand in my pocket. I'm feeling good,
and I'm like, I have to go to this game.
I got my client, one of my first clients with
Jamal back in ninety five ninety six.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
I got to be at the game.
Speaker 5 (08:24):
So I go to the stadium and I'm walking kind
of around the perimeter or whatnot, and you guys, you,
Britney Spears and Aerosmith were in like a holding area
attached the stadium. Remember there was like a there was
like an area to walk through. And all of a sudden,
I get to the gate and I see you guys
and Aerosmith and Britney Spears walking into the stadium and
(08:47):
I yelled your name in Justin's name, and I wanted
to be honest. I think you turned around, and at
that time the security guy said, like you know them.
I said, yes, I do, and the guy let me
and my fiance in the statum. So now we're in
the holding area as you guys are walking in, I
jump right behind you guys, my wife and I a fiance,
(09:07):
and we go right in the stadium behind you guys
in Aerosmith and go right in the stadium and it's
snuck into.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Super Bowl in two thousand. It was a fantastic month
dollars richer.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
I think that is amazing. That's what I used to
do at Disney or Universal. If you act like you're
supposed to be there, they just kind of let you
do what you want to do one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
By the way, Lance, you don't even know who you're
dealing with. That guy with that politic and shirt on
right now literally doesn't even need I'm surprised, Doug you
even needed a ticket. Bro, I've seen this guy open up.
I mean, if there was an Ocean's fourteen or something,
he should be the lead character. This guy doesn't need
a ticket. He BSEs his place everywhere. We went to
(09:46):
the we went to the Super the impenetrable Super Bowl.
After nine to eleven, they said no one could ever
get anywhere. I think you brought in six or seven
people without tickets. But Lance, I imagine.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
You get bored.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
All these people taking advantage of you that don't even
know you, act like they've known you all your life.
How the hell do you even process listening to that
nonsense from Doug.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
I mean, it's fine, Look I'm used to it, and uh,
you know, I uh, I don't know. I I enjoyed
the effort that people make. I think it's it's paining
to me. I think it's so so I'm like, look,
if you can, uh, if you can do your thing,
go far. It kudos to you, because I would do
the same thing if I was in your shoes.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Well at last, I mean you've cause it's just you know,
your life's sort of been marked by you know, the
I mean, there's nothing normal about your damn life. And
and it happened when you're so young, I mean relatively
speaking a kid, and uh and so I mean you
know it's I mean erradically. Do you reflect back seriously
and just go I can't take this anymore. I need
(10:47):
some normals. I need to underst you know, I wish
this never happened. This journey's a little overwhelming. The attention,
sort of the adoration people like Doug Stocking you uh,
you know, take and what what I'm seriously, have you
gone through that sort of those sort of pity party
moments where you're like, I can't take it.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Well, you go up and down for sure. You know,
I started at such a young age. You know, I
started within sync when I was sixteen years old. So
I really I don't really know the difference anymore. And
I was always great with you know, fame and being
a public figure like I just I was. I was
one of those people that could just really deal with
it in a in a very positive way. I know
tons of people that just they're just not that type
(11:25):
of person. But it really wasn't until I had kids,
you know, recently in the last three years, that you know,
I do second guess. I'm like, God, it would just
be really nice to be anonymous, you know, going out
with my kids, just really being able to do things
with them without people coming up and confusing them. I love,
you know, meeting people. I love the fans out there,
(11:47):
but there are there are some days where you know,
it would just be nice just to be just you
and and actually just remember who you were before all
this happen.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Did you have any of that during COVID.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
I mean, it's a bunch of folks that I know
that you know, well, recognizable folks. They said they missed
the COVID days just for the masking. Everyone's mask and
it could be anonymous.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
They can show up, go to grocery store and just
feel alive.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
It was great, It really is. That's why I've always
gone Halloween every year. Halloween, I you know, that is
my favorite day of the year because you can go
around and no one knows who the hell you are.
It is amazing. And yes, I did thrive during the
COVID years because of the mask flying. That's the big thing,
because you know, when you go to the airports and
then there's just cameras in your face all that, it's
(12:32):
just annoying, especially when you've been flying for twelve hours.
You just want to get home. That mass really helped
a lot. You could just disappear. And I still to
this day. You know, even if I'm not sick or anything,
I will wear a mask at the airport. Guy.
Speaker 5 (12:46):
Well, and so let me ask you a question taking
you back to those Mississippi days and your humble beginnings
and then you get into what you get into and
sync and by the way, the Lou Permo thing I'm
to get to because obviously that documentary I saw recently
him was was Fountain and as a sports stagent, which
I am now, you know, watching you during that time
as a sixteen sevente nation year kid in those heydays.
(13:09):
Number one like with with lou you guys were probably
just like, oh my god, we became you know, started
out and all of a sudden, next you know, we're
like selling that arenas in saying stuff with Lou Pearlman
in terms of what he did. Did your family or
your parents or did anybody kind of have any idea
what was going on as far as the contracts you
(13:30):
guys signed and all that.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Where was it?
Speaker 5 (13:31):
Pretty much like we don't care where we made it.
We're good and then all of a sudden, oh my god,
what did we sign?
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Yeah? I mean, look, you don't know what you don't know.
You know, we were all very young and ignorant to
the business. I didn't know anything about the music business. Uh.
You know, when you're a teenager, you're just thinking, Wow,
I just want to be an artist, and I you know,
this would be so much fun to do. You're not
thinking of, you know, the business part of it, and
(13:57):
especially your parents didn't know anything like that. I mean,
my mom's right here helping me prep for my Thanksgiving dinner.
You know, it's just a school teacher from Mississippi. What
does she know about the music industry. You you just
have to trust people, and you know, you when you're young,
you trust a lot of people, and people like Lou Pelman,
who was the president of my label and our manager
(14:17):
and the sixth member of n Singing and the I
mean he was taking about six different cuts. You just
really you thought he was family. So you always just
believed everything he said and that he was going to
take care of you. So, you know, we ignorantly just
believed in someone. It taught us a lot of lessons.
I'm in a weird way glad we went through that
(14:39):
at an early age, because no one's ever going to
take advantage of me like that again. And I became
a great businessman after that. So you know, as much
as he took from us, he gave me a lot,
and I think I was able to you know, create
something and a great career, you know, despite what he
was trying to take from us.
Speaker 5 (14:58):
And when was reflection moment did one of you guys
who particularly say, hey guys, we're getting screwed or when
was the what was the reflection moment where you said,
oh my god, this sum's not right.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Yeah, you know, I was always the one that kind
of was the business minded one, so I knew something
was weird. After a few years of having sold out tours,
selling merch like no other, and we still hadn't gotten paid.
You know, we were just living on per diem, which
as a kid, I'm like, wow, you know, forty dollars
a day. That's incredible, Like I'm getting this is more
(15:29):
money than I've ever made. But then after, you know,
making the label millions and millions and millions and millions
of dollars, You're like, okay, so at what point have
we paid our dues? Like what is that? And it
was a specific moment where we were getting our first
check presentation because a lot of people don't realize we're
a German band over signed with me, and so the
(15:50):
president of our label in Germany came over to Los
Angeles to present us a check. I think it was
at Lowry's, you know, in Los Sienega, and we had
my parents there, all the families, and lou Parlan was
so excited to present us this check. And I didn't know,
you know, after four years of being one of the
biggest bands in the world, I didn't know what that
(16:11):
was gonna be. But I had in my mind, like,
you know, is it half a million dollars? I mean,
I'd be happy with a quarter million dollars like I'm
just like what, I'm like, I'm not actually gonna be
able to buy a car, like I'll actually have to
have I'll be able to have transportation. And he presented
as a check and it was ten thousand dollars each.
(16:32):
And you know, I, you know, I grew up very humble,
and that is a lot of money for a lot
of people. But when you work for free every day
twenty four to seven, you know you deserve more than that,
you know. And I just knew at that moment, like,
uh oh, something's really wrong that he is proud of that,
(16:52):
Like he is so proud to give us that little
bitty check. And I could look at the president of
the label and his face was kind of like, hey lord,
he knew he wasn't the wrong. And eventually he would
tell me, he's like, look, you don't understand how much
I have to pay Loop Prolman in order to give
y'all pennies. And that's when I started learning how the
business worked, how contracts worked. And even then I didn't
(17:14):
even want to tear up our contract. I just wanted
to renegotiate, and he wasn't having it. There was no
renegotiation and that's when we you know, we left him
and he sued us and all that went down, but
you know it all it all ended up great.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
Well, it's funny, Gavin, it's almost on the like we
did Demie Levado, that bill you passed. I mean again,
these guys getting taken advantage up back then is is
you know, sort of similar to the Levada bill you
passed recently.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Yeah, last we did that bill.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
Just I mean, you got a lot of folks under
you know, younger than eighteen and in some cases and
I obviously your mom's right there, so this wasn't the
case in your household. But a lot of parents are
taking the money even if they're receiving the money, and
they never get that money back. So the idea of
setting side those resources now is mandated. And it's not
(18:04):
just for folks in your industry, but for folks in
the creative industry as well. With YouTube and everywhere else where,
a lot of that exploitation is occurring.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
It's so necessary and you know, thank you for you know,
doing that, but it's so sad how taken advantage of
these kids still are. Even it doesn't matter what we
pass and how many lessons we give everyone documentary as
we put out there, people are still going to sign
that Marble contract because it's either that or nothing. And
(18:33):
everyone thinks, Okay, it might be a horrible contract now
and I might be taking advantage of but I can
fix that. And it's just so sad that we even
have to, you know, to do that.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Well.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
Lance with social media, now, you guys didn't have it
back then, but do you kind of cringe now when
you see these young guys and all the content and
the social media if you had it, imagine social media
in sync. I mean you need to believe that. I mean,
do you do you kind of like, God, I need
to have seminars and educate some of these younger kids
because it's getting crazy right now. Correct, But can you
(19:03):
think about your childhood? What advice you'd give these young kids?
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Now?
Speaker 1 (19:07):
Yeah, I mean, look, find an incredible entertainment lawyer and
that is an entertainment layer. And you know that that
helps right there? You know, always you know, it's good
to trust people, but always keep that one eye out
and always have just a great group of people around
you if it's family. And again, family can take advantage
(19:29):
of you. If it's you know, close friends, but someone
you have to trust someone and let them kind of,
you know, guide you through this. But you know, everyone's
been through everything, so there's a lot of great examples,
you know, any kind of social media person out there,
like look at someone that's been doing what you're trying
to do and and go see what they did. See
the people that they've surrounded themselves with, who are they
(19:51):
working with, and you know, start there.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
But lance for you was that was that a path
you paved yourself?
Speaker 4 (19:56):
I mean because you made your point, I mean that
your career, what you've been able to to do with
that experience, and how you use that to actually empower
you and how you've not just survived, but you continue
to thrive. Did you have those mentors along the lines
or was this iteration for you you figure it.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Out along the way.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Yeah. I kind of had to figure it out on
my own. I didn't really have many mentors, especially in business,
so it was a lot of trial and error. You know.
I put my hands on a lot of things after
in sync. You know, I had a lot of interests.
I mean, I'm from restaurants to you know, music, television film,
I mean just all over the place, and you know
a majority of them completely failures. But every time that
(20:35):
I would fail, I would learn more things. And so
I enjoy, you know, failing, because it does it just
makes you a better person, and then you start to
figure out exactly what you're meant to do. And I
feel like, finally, at forty five, I know exactly what
I want to do and what I'm supposed to do
right now.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
By the way, right there's a great Winston Churchill quote
said the secret of all success Churchill, So you kind
of attention it. Secret of all success is moving from
failure to failure with enthusiasm. Yeah, and you know mistakes
are a portal discovery.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Yeah, kind of I dig that. But so all right,
so begs the damn question.
Speaker 4 (21:12):
Man, you're an old man now and you just figured
out what you really want to be when you grow up.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
So what is it?
Speaker 2 (21:18):
What is it?
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Well, you know, my kids kind of changed that for me.
You know, my my whole life has just been entertainment.
It's like, this is what I'm supposed to do. This
is what you know, everyone wants me to do. And
I do enjoy it. But I figured out. I like
other things even better. I'm a creative person, so I
don't have to be in front of the camera. I
love being able to write and produce behind the scenes.
(21:40):
But I also love real estate, like I really love,
you know, real estate, which I'm really getting heavily into
right now. And with that, I like things that I
can control. I don't like being a part of anything
that people can tell you no. And that is entertainment.
You know, you get to know ninety nine percent of
the time people in this industry that get to decide.
(22:01):
And you work on a project for four years and
you work so hard on it and spend so much money,
and then they're kind of like, yeah, man, not right now,
that won't work, and you're like, okay, I just wasted
all that time. I don't want to do that anymore.
I want to be the boss. I want to tell
myself yes and be you know, be my own boss.
And that's the path that I'm taking. And especially with
(22:21):
my kids, it's more in the family friendly atmosphere right now.
You know, I'm doing you know, children's books and children's
film and television, so you know, and that just makes
me just happier because I get to create what I
want to do. I get to release it when I
want to. And that's what I love about the social
media world too. No one can tell me no. If
I want to make, you know, a fun little skit,
(22:42):
I'm going to put it up and it's up into
twenty four hours and there you go, and then millions
of people get to see it, more people than would
watch a TV show that I spent three years developing,
and then half a million people see it, like I can.
I can get those many people to see my one
little video in twenty four hours, and I feel just
as fulfilled.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
On the flip side of it, was there one indelible
note that you think is shaped most. I mean, when
you look back, you still it's it's a burning inside
you that it sort of is driven most of your
you know, just sort of shift of consciousness. Was there
some truly devastating teed up, some rejection It just stings
(23:30):
even to this day.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
I mean, there's there's been a lot of, you know,
great rejections. Great but you know, I won't specifically say
the show, but you know, I was up for a
really great hosting gig that would have really changed my
life and I was so excited for the opportunity and
I really thought that this could be, you know, my future,
and I ended up not getting it, and it really
(23:54):
it just it really derailed me for a while. I'm like, Okay,
if I didn't get that, like, now what is next?
I got a It's it's like starting over all over again.
And I was just so tired. I'm like, I don't
want to start over again and start paying my dues again.
And that's that was really when I started looking at
why am I even trying so hard in this entertainment
(24:15):
industry to please everyone? Let's just start doing things that
I want to do and that I feel creative with
and again that no one can say no to. I
gave it.
Speaker 5 (24:25):
Well, let's ask question in the Heyday vistinct, when Justin
decided to pull the way, when you guys are there,
did you have any did you sit back? Were you
too young to realize like like thinking maybe he's going
to go do some solo stuff and then come back.
And then how was your mentals when he pulled away?
And then kind of instant kind of it like it
went away initially after the next couple of years, we're like, oh,
(24:47):
my god, like we just were killing it. We're on
the top of the world. Now it's gone, or what
was your mindset back then? Uh?
Speaker 1 (24:53):
You know, I was confused for sure. I mean again,
I was such a young person and all I knew
was in Sync. That was my life. There was no
there was no lance bass. There was just lance of
and Sync, and so that was my world. And I
was happy that was my world. I thought that was
gonna be my world the rest of my life. I
didn't think that there'd be anything different, you know, ignorantly.
(25:13):
So yeah, so when you know, we decided that the
group was no longer, it was very confusing for me
because I didn't know where I belonged and I wasn't
really I wasn't really setting myself up for success because
I was just waiting, you know, because I was I
was told by the label and everyone's like, oh no,
we just need three more months. Oh we just need
you know, five more months. I'm like, okay, you know,
(25:33):
and I was turning down sitcoms and like work that
I could have like really done to establish me as
a solo person. But I didn't, you know, I just
I was just waiting because I was waiting for my group.
So when it didn't happen, yeah, I was very disappointed.
I was disappointed more in myself because I stupidly just
kind of sat back and just thought, Oh, this is
(25:54):
just going to be waiting for me and let me
just go have fun. And well also I was in
the closet at the time, so I was kind of
finding myself. So it was a good timing to have
a little downtime. But by the time that I got
back up and you know, out and the group was over,
I was left with nothing and not knowing exactly where
I was supposed to be. So yeah, it took a
(26:16):
while to figure out who I was and uh and
where I needed to go. But you know, it was
a big life lesson and again I learned at an
early age. So I'm glad I got to do that.
Speaker 5 (26:27):
Well, Lance that that begs the question for our listeners
out there that by the way, I just went to
the sphere and I saw the Eagles, and I remember
when they had the press conference when hell.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Freezes over, We're coming back.
Speaker 5 (26:38):
Everybody wants to know when is in Sick coming back
for this reunion because the.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
First this question, no one has ever asked me, So
I just got to you can tell us the truth.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
You can tell us the truth of what's the first date.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
It's been great. The last two years have been great
for the group because we haven't done anything in two decades.
But you know, we got together to do the Trolls
movie together and then all of a sudden, Deadpool uses
Bye Bye Bye, and it's just something's in the air
right now with our group, and our fans have kind
of going a little nuts, and the younger generation, this
gen Z is now like figured out who we are,
(27:14):
although they think we're the Deadpool group, but I'm totally
and you know, so there's definitely something in the air
that we're trying to figure out. You know, Justin's on
tour for the next six months. He's been you know,
extending his tour, so obviously there's nothing we could do
until that's done. But we're definitely, you know, discussing what
the future could hold and what we could do. But
(27:35):
you know, fingers crossed, you know, we give the fans
a little something, something I would enjoy that. I would
just like my kids to be able to see me
do something like you're in a band, sure, like I'm.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Sure, Dad, Yeah, sure dad.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
By the way, Doug, that sounds like they're going to
make a surprise appearance at the super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
That's what I just turned and then release an album
right after that. They've been quietly work.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
You're only going to be able to sneak in.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Exactly, You're not invited, by the way. Just you know,
it's interesting.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
You know, it's funny sort of generations to rediscover and
it takes sort of.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
A good tebor.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
I love the Deadpool frame, right that all of a sudden,
now you kind of people that may not have they
may have heard your music, but never really identified all
the energy around that music. That's got to be I mean,
in so many ways to sort of see sort of
you know, these these points of your career that get
you just reintroduced and re energized.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
Over and over and over again.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
It is great, you know, and it's just nice to
see that, you know, some of our songs, you know,
stand the test of time. I mean, even those dance moves.
You know, kids come. I mean there's little kids now,
you know, eight nine years old that come up to
me in public and they just they just love it.
They love the songs. They especially love the dance, of
course because it's now in minecraft. So you know, I've
(28:53):
actually I think we're cooler now than we were. Back
back then it was kind of embarrassing to like a
boy band. But now I don't know, this younger generation
just they accept it, they love it. So I'm very appreciative.
Speaker 5 (29:05):
List let me ask you a question, and I applaud
you know, Gavin, I've been been brothers and family for
thirty years. And our unfortunate co host more Shawn is
not here right now. He's actually flying back from I
believe in movie is doing but an event Like I
applauded Gavin the other day on the show, and he
talked about a story about his dad when he when
he you know, he was the first mayor that implemented
(29:25):
gay marriage.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
When was that, Gavin? Was that two thousand and.
Speaker 4 (29:30):
Four we were kids, black and white movie days two
thousand and four, that we do the Winner of Love
Lance four thousand and thirty six couples from forty six states,
and you know, but it is, you know, it's interesting.
I know where Doug's going with this man. It's you know,
here you are talking about a boy band and sort
of iconic, and you guys are peeking and everything else,
(29:50):
and you're struggling with your own identity and then I
imagine struggling more over with how you expressed that. And
then how does that impact not just you, mom, dad,
your family relationships, but how does that impact your reputation,
your career, as impact your your colleagues. And I mean
all that going through your head. But you eventually did
(30:11):
it in a pretty profound and consequential way. You know,
you did it. You went big and bold. But what
I mean was that a multi year process of just
trying to figure that out, man, or just it was
a moment you said I've had it.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
I mean it was Look, it was definitely a whole
life process of you know, trying to figure out who
I was. I mean, I knew I was gay since
I was, you know, five years old, So like I knew,
I knew that, you know, that was a part of me,
but also knew at a young age that was something
I was going to have to hide my whole entire
life because I thought that it was you know, it
was dangerous, especially growing up in a state like Mississippi
(30:49):
where there's not one gay person, not one out person
at all, because it again was dangerous. You just always
heard of people being murdered because of that, and you know,
growing up in the churches, you know it was caused
by the devil, You're going to hell. As a very
religious person growing up, you know, I wanted to do
everything I could not to go burn in hell, and
(31:11):
so that I repressed and I was so scared of
and I would cry all like every night to pray.
You know, I would pray, please wake up not being gay,
please wake up being attractive girls, which is like I said,
put on a little kid, and so yeah, you know,
and then being God's little joke of putting me in
a boy band where ninety nine percent of your fans
(31:33):
are females. You're like, you're living this life and like, okay,
this is gonna be fun. And it's right when you're
you know, coming of age and you're first dating for
the first time and then your best friends in the
group are having girlfriends. I'm like, oh lord, I'm gonna
have to deal with this. I'm really gonna have to
deal with this. And I'm in like the most public
person in the world right now, Like, how am I
(31:54):
supposed to deal with this, and you know, you would
date girls, and you'd have girlfriends, and you would trick
yourself into thinking this is what love is, right, this
is this is what feels like. And I thought I
loved these girls that I you know, dated, and then
you just wake up one day You're like, no, uh uh,
this is this, this is not it. And it was
(32:15):
at a time, you know, that was two thousand and six,
so it was getting a little easier to be more
vocal about who you are. We were fighting for marriage equality,
so you had a lot of people. You just saw
people fighting for you, and you're like, okay, I don't
feel as a loan. And then you started seeing people
come out that you knew, you know, and in the business,
(32:35):
there weren't many people, you know, even Ellen hadn't even
come out at that point. So, you know, the decision
to come out on the cover of People magazine was
it was a scary one. I didn't I didn't really
have a choice. That was kind of a band aid
being ripped off because I was outed by the press.
So they gave me basically twenty four hours. Look, wow,
(32:56):
we know the story, we know you're gay. We're gonna
write it. But would you like to do it with
us so we get the story right, or just let
us make it up?
Speaker 2 (33:06):
And I'm like, but that wasn't People Magazine themselves.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
That was not people never did there exactly. I just
I trusted that they would be better at telling the story.
And so yeah, So I had twenty four hours to
tell my story and then it was on the stands,
you know, the next day, and it was. It was
a crazy scary situation because all the examples I've ever
had of anyone coming out, especially in entertainment, was that
(33:32):
it's a career killer. Your dead, everything, your your career
is over. People are going to hate you, your church
has now kicked you out, your family hates you. Just
every negative thing you could think about is going to happen.
And it went opposite. It was the first time I
ever saw and I remember I went to Catalina Island
and I was like, you know what, I'm going to disappear.
I don't even want to see what's happening. I don't
(33:53):
want to see the sound bites on the shows. I
don't want to see Jay Leno, I don't want to
see any of them people making fun of me because
one I was embarrassed for the gay community. I didn't
want them to be like, oh God, like now we're embarrassed,
Like now they're gonna be making fun of this guy,
and we've come so far and now go back further,
just because now they have someone as a punching bag
(34:14):
and so but it didn't happen that way. You know.
Once I came up for air and I saw how
people were taking it, it was such a positive take
on everything. And the main thing I took away was
everyone like who cares? Like why do people care? Now?
I'm like, oh my gosh, that's amazing. This is wow,
so incredible. You know, the career definitely changed, and they
(34:36):
were right about that, like it was definitely a career killer.
But you know, not too long after that, I just
saw a lot of success stories in entertainment and I
love that. I mean, I love being able to turn
on the radio and hear so many LGBTQIA artists, incredible actors.
I mean, it is it's actually a good thing to
(34:59):
be yourself these days. I think if you're kind of
hiding yourself and you're closeted, that it's harder to have
a career in this business.
Speaker 4 (35:06):
Lance, you said it was a career kill. I mean you,
I mean, what happened if people, I mean they weren't
returning calls or just saying, oh that's true, straight people.
I mean what I mean, you got hit between the
eyes on that. Huh.
Speaker 1 (35:17):
Yeah, because I was you know, I would definitely have
pivoted into television at that point, and I was going
into talk show, but I was also doing acting. You know,
I had a sitcom you know, with the CW at
the time, and we were about to shoot the pilot
and this came out and they were like, we can't
do the show anymore, like they believe that you're straight
(35:38):
to play a straight character. And I'm like okay. So
like in every casting director, I knew, they're like, Lance,
we can't past you because they can't look past You're
you're too famous for being gay now that they can't
look at you as anything other than that. So I
lost everything, you know, agents, everything just everyone just kind
(35:59):
of like kind of fell off, like I don't know
what we can do with you now, and so yeah,
I had to completely just restart and rebrand at that moment.
Speaker 5 (36:07):
Did you rekindle any relationships you have with the people
like you said, agents left you and this and that
did you did you rekindle any of that or like
have any conversations since then?
Speaker 3 (36:16):
The guys like, dude, I'm sorry, fucked up? Like I
mean any of that or was it?
Speaker 1 (36:20):
How was that a lot of the cashing directors, for sure,
they're all kind of like, yeah, that was really dumb,
and you know, and they've actually cast me a lot
of things since, which is really funny and ironic. But
you know, I never hold grudges at all, Like I'm
very understanding, Like I get it. Business is business is business.
It sucks, but I never can hold grudges. So even
if you piss me off and do something horrible to me,
(36:42):
I'm always gonna like be friends again. That's kind of
like a downfall of mine.
Speaker 5 (36:46):
So Lann says, as I have three kids, Gavin has
four and you said you knew it five.
Speaker 3 (36:52):
So take me through your like it.
Speaker 5 (36:55):
Had to be and seeing my kids struggle with anything
just whatever it may be. But like, how did you
get through those years where you're like, you know what,
this is what I am whatever, and with no one
knowing and living in a state like Mississippi said, where
people get killed for this stuff. How did you function
and get through? Did you just keep yourself busy and
keep active and whatnot? Or how did you make it
through those ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen your years?
Speaker 1 (37:18):
Yeah, I mean you just you basically ignore it. Yeah,
and you keep yourself like very busy. You turn into
like a character. You know, you're always trying to you know,
you hear little things, you know, like there's I remember
hearing when I was a kid, Oh if someone says
so a lot when they're you know, talking, is like,
oh it's so sunny outside that that's gay. So I
would catch myself using the words. So I'm like, oh,
(37:41):
so you would change how you spoke at a young age,
or you would kind of think about like I can't
I can't be seen, you know, even like drinking a glass.
You know, if your finger goes up up, you're gay.
If you if your eyeballs go up and not into
the cup, you're gay, like those like and even in school,
we would do the gay test, Like there was all
(38:01):
these little tests you would do and it was just
so it was so scary. I'm like, I'm they're gonna
figure me out, which is so ridiculous. But yeah, I
mean you just, yeah, you just kind of kind of
put it out of mind, although it was almost impossible
when those things would come up, like the gay test,
But yeah, you just like really hyper focused on like
(38:22):
keeping yourself busy, you know, Like I was always like
trying to entertain I was always the comedian, uh, you know, always,
And I feel like that's a lot of the case
with entertainers. You always go to comedy when you're closeted,
and I definitely went the you know, the comedy route
with all my friends.
Speaker 2 (38:49):
Lance, how do you feel today?
Speaker 4 (38:50):
I mean, with all the progress and I appreciate sort
of that that promoted progress in the two thousands, and
obviously with the big Supreme Court decision and and feeling
like we're on the other side of a lot of
that bigotry and a lot of that misunderstanding and hate.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
Uh do you are.
Speaker 4 (39:08):
You feeling like the last few years there's sort of
that that that pendulum sort of swung back, particularly against
the trans community, but even more broadly with all of
these book bands that are going on that don't quote
quote unquote say gay Bill in Florida, h and everything
with criminalizing speech in the boardroom, not just in the classroom,
(39:28):
threatening firing teachers and librarians if they check out the
wrong book that often has lgbtqth themes.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
I mean, what's what's your sense of where the hell
we are right now?
Speaker 1 (39:38):
You're right, the pendulum swings, you know, and it went
this way and it's gone like so we always know
we're going to deal with that. But yes, I feel
like we are going a little backwards right now. You know,
we're definitely entering an era where people are in bolden
to hate, and you know, the lsbt QUI community has
always been the scapegoat. It's just the easy one because
(39:59):
people don't you know, if you don't know a gay person,
if you're not gay, you just don't. You don't under
you don't get it. So it's easy to hate someone
like that, especially when you have, you know, a book
like the Bible that they pretend says that you're supposed
to not like, you know, gay people, which it doesn't say.
I've read it many times, so you know, and it's
just you know, ignorance. Ignorance you know, prevails in this
(40:21):
country unfortunately, and you know, even things like trying to
take IVF away. That isn't they're only trying to take
IVF away just because of the gay community, not because
straight people are actually using this and use it way
more than the gay community. But they're trying to give
it to us, you know, they're trying to give voters
a reason to vote a certain way, and they always
(40:41):
use our community for it, you know, and they always like,
you know, one pedophiles, don't make me a pedophile just
because I'm gay, Immediately I'm a pedophile. I'm like, how, okay,
how does that relate? Well, don't you why don't you
go to the churches and see what the pedophiles exist? So,
you know, but it's something that we're used to. We're
always going to have to fight, but I think, you know,
(41:02):
the next few years is going to be, you know,
a struggle, but we've been here before. The good thing
is things don't change overnight. It just doesn't. And that's
what gives me a little peace. I you know, I'm
old enough to be like it's pretty much everything is
just bullshit, Like everything is so bs and everyone's just
like doing this to make their agenda happen. But like
(41:24):
nothing really changes overnight, so that you know, that makes
me be able to sleep at night, that we can,
you know, keep I'm aware of what's going on, but
I'm not going to hyper focus on the craziness that
has happened. I'm going to live my life. I'm going
to enjoy my family. I'm going to do the right
thing and support the right people. But I'm not gonna
(41:45):
wake up every morning and just worry about the you know,
doom and gloom of the world, because you know, ultimately
we're going to survive and we're going to be good,
and things are better and things are only gonna get better,
and I and I and I find peace in that.
Speaker 3 (42:00):
Well.
Speaker 5 (42:00):
By the way, Lance, I appreciate you saying that because
that's so true and and everybody lives that way. Like
me and Gavianell's talk about were in a better spot,
And it seems Lance, you're in the height of where
you were back in the day. But right now you
seem like you're an incredible spot with your mentals. You've
got a great husband, you've got great kids, you got
great things going on. Do we have more kids coming
for you guys soon? Do we have a bigger family
(42:22):
than the two? What do we got going.
Speaker 1 (42:24):
Who do you ask? Yeah, it's uh, yeah, I would
love a couple more like I just I've always dreamt
of a big family. My husband's kind of like, I
think we're good. We're good. But he did say he goes,
if if in a perfect world there is an Instinct
tour coming, then we can have another kid.
Speaker 2 (42:43):
So jeezus, I said, that's pressure. Brother.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
Wow, I'm trying to make this happen. So I'm like, okay,
Like I would love an Instinct tour, but it means
I get to have another kid, so I want it
more than the fans.
Speaker 3 (42:54):
Okay, we'll never forget. I have three, and I never forget.
Speaker 5 (42:58):
I'm taking a nap and my wife comes down and
and she and I look at her, and I'm like,
I go pregnant, and I never forget it. And then
and then Gavin wanted to one up me and have four. Uh,
and I thought he was nuts, but I was set
up the.
Speaker 2 (43:11):
Best thing that ever happened to me. Of course.
Speaker 4 (43:13):
It's you know, little Dutch is like the you can't
make the stuff up, right, I mean, nothing's by accident.
Speaker 1 (43:18):
It was what a gift?
Speaker 4 (43:20):
So you gotta last, man, I'm telling you. But it
two is you don't even know you're not even a
parent of too, lance, You're not right. You gotta have
at least three or four. You don't even know what
it's like. Yeah, your parents still come home, they want
to take care of the kids. You get to three, four,
they're like, sorry, honey, mom and dad were unavailable.
Speaker 2 (43:38):
Can't get babysitters.
Speaker 4 (43:39):
You got to change the car. You can't get reservations
because all of a sudden it's a five top six
your whole life. Brother, you got to prepare.
Speaker 1 (43:46):
That's what I always said too. I mean, I like
even right, so if I have one, that would you
know when you go to Disney, you gotta be in pairs,
so i'd have to have two more in order to
like everything be equal. So yeah, so.
Speaker 4 (43:58):
Yeah, but two plus two is sixteen. Trust me, I
got four. So it's uh. I'm just saying this, This
tour better be a lucrative one for you, buddy.
Speaker 1 (44:07):
I've always loved the idea. You know, we do have,
you know, some embryos left, so like, of course we
if we had, I would use those. But I always
love the idea of adopting. I think you know, adoption
has been something that I've always dreamt of doing. There's
so many kids out there that need loving homes. And
maybe in the future, when my kids are older, i'd
be able to, you know, adopt you know, a ten
(44:28):
year older, you know, someone like a little older that's
a little you know, harder, and that will be at
least they're out of diapers, right, That's that's the problem. Diapers.
We're almost out of diapers and I can't even imagine
going back through that again. But that's the only thing
deter me from having one.
Speaker 4 (44:42):
Right now, Doug doesn't remember the diaper days. He's worried
about his tomorrow's different kind of diapers.
Speaker 5 (44:48):
I remember the diper your age, brother, I'm not, by
the way, GAVI list for the record, you're a year
older and me partner.
Speaker 3 (44:53):
I'm looking at her.
Speaker 5 (44:55):
Hey, But Lance Samel's questions as a parent now, uh?
In what you've gone on through?
Speaker 1 (45:00):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (45:01):
In terms of your career? Do you want them in
to show business? Do you want them into entertainment or
what's your thoughts?
Speaker 1 (45:06):
I mean in a perfect world no, I mean in
front of the camera, I would say no. I mean
beer writer produced great, Yeah, But I think especially this,
you know, being being a public figure back in my
day compared to now, it's just so much more pressure.
It's just it can be very vile because everyone has
(45:27):
a microphone, you know, to give their own opinion, and
not only do people give opinions, but bots give opinions
and troll farms, which creates a culture of you know,
you know, the pitchfork mentality of like yeah that's right, bandwagon.
It's just scary, you know. I mean I've had I
mean I've had to change all my social stuff to
(45:47):
only people that follow me are able to comment because
just the vile things that I just can't not see.
And even about my kids, you know, that's where it
really hurts. You're like, how could you say that about
a three year role just because you hate Amen and
I'm gay, or just who I voted for, Like just
that shit crazy. So I would not want that. I
(46:09):
would not wish that upon my kids to have to
deal with that, because even if you have a thick, thick,
thick skin, it's still gonna penetrate. It's still you're still
gonna hear some of those things. So you know, I
keep trying to you're not supposed to push your kids
in certain areas. But I'm like, wouldn't you like to
be a vet like an animal doctor? Sounds great? Her
(46:31):
like twin vets. You can have your own little wind vets.
How great would that be?
Speaker 2 (46:36):
But of course my immediate thing is I got a
TV show for that. Let's do twin Vets. I gotta go.
Speaker 1 (46:42):
But then my daughter, you know, she's been seeing me
on TV lately, and now you know she gets it.
She's like, oh, you know you're on TV. You have
your friends, You're you're instinct friends. But she told me
the other day, She's like, I want to be on TV.
And I was like, brother, make no chance.
Speaker 3 (46:57):
Land somebody pivot to your your space stuff. Right now.
I'm curious because Gavin is the astronaut.
Speaker 2 (47:02):
You said everything but not astronaut.
Speaker 3 (47:04):
I'm getting my question Gavin.
Speaker 5 (47:06):
But you know Gavin is as the governor, as the
fifth largest economon of the world.
Speaker 3 (47:09):
I was Tea's Gavin.
Speaker 5 (47:11):
Why has there not been another guy in the moonlands
is nineteen sixty eight?
Speaker 2 (47:14):
Well, God doesn't believe it ever happened. He's one of
those guys. They did it. It does make some studio.
Speaker 1 (47:20):
In La Trust me, when I when I went to
Russian and I trained, I asked all the questions because
every single person I trained with over there, they're the
ones who put you know, Yuriga Garan in space. It's
the same exact people. So they had been there, they've
seen it, they've done it. So of course I asked
every question I could, and I am very confident we've
definitely got there. And my you know, uh, you know,
(47:42):
we haven't been to the Moon in many, many, many
years because there's no reason to go to the Moon,
but I do feel that recently we are going to
you know, at least build a base there. You know,
the ISS is very finite, it's going to be coming
down soon. Uh so we do need a place to
go and uh, you know, have a base, do our experiments.
A lot of people don't understand why we even go
(48:03):
up there, but I mean the things that we have created,
and you know, inspired by being able to go there
is just help this planet. And of course this planet
is finite, so we have to start figuring out, okay,
how do we live off of this Earth? And it's
going to take us many many, you know, hundreds of
years to figure this out, but you know, we have
to start now, and I'll always support the space program.
(48:25):
I'm still heavily you know, involved with it, and I'm
happy to see that it has gotten you know, privatized,
because I think you know, as you know Gavin, when
the government gets involved, it's almost impossible to get things
done very quickly. So I'm glad that we are, you know,
going light years faster than we were before. And if
my kids want to become astronauts, I would definitely be
(48:47):
a yes for that.
Speaker 2 (48:48):
And are you a yes? Are you going to do
Blue Origin, You're going to do Virgin Galactic? You're going
to do one of those?
Speaker 1 (48:53):
I I would. I think it would be fun. It's
like a roller coaster for sure. You know. I my
my goal to you know, I was going up there,
living on the ISS for ten days. I had my
I was doing environmental studies, I was doing blood work studies.
So I wasn't going up there just for fun. I
was going up there to inspire a younger generation to
go into math and science and you know, and look
(49:16):
up instead of down on your phone. And I'm glad
that you know, people are excited, you know, about it.
But if I go, I want to go on a
real mission. You know, I really want to. You know,
I'm certified, I'm ready to go. I still have my
my my flight suit still fits me. Let's do this.
But you know, if they wanted me to just jump
on a rocket and go to space and take great pictures,
(49:37):
I'd do that too. But I'm not going to pay
for it. You know, I would never pay. I went
through so much. There's no way I would pay a
dime to go to space. Yeah, so if anyone wants
to throw me on there, sure I'll take a free ticket.
Speaker 2 (49:50):
Hey, Doug, years ago, I did one of those that
that what is it?
Speaker 4 (49:53):
Was it zero gravity or something? The parabolic next level unbelieved?
That was unbelieved. You've obviously part of training, right, You
do that a lot.
Speaker 1 (50:02):
I mean we train on that a lot, you know,
and it's it's such an incredible feeling just that alone.
You're like, oh my gosh. But yeah, I mean I
remember my first parabolic flight because you know, Russia likes
to really test you and see if you freak out
in moments. And I remember Mark Shuttleworth, the first African
in space. He was the one right before me, and
he was giving me the load o. He was like, look,
(50:23):
they're gonna wake you up at three in the morning,
yelling fire in Russian and like just seeing how you
freak out. So the whole time I'm thinking, okay, they're
testing me, they're testing me. So of course my first
parabolic flight, the plane starts going down and like we
have to put our parachutes on, which is static. I've
never jumped out of a plane before. The plane, you know,
goes up like this. They're pushing tourists out because you know,
(50:43):
Russia doesn't have enough money, so they have to have
tourists on their flights. They're pushing these tourists out, and
I realized this is real, and I get right to
the edge and like okay, we got it. We're good.
And then we continue the lesson and I'm like, oh man,
I think that was just a total just to see
if I freaked out, and they didn't here that. They
just threw tourists out over Siberia.
Speaker 2 (51:04):
They had parachutes on obviously.
Speaker 1 (51:06):
Oh yeah, the static line, yeah Jesus, yeah.
Speaker 4 (51:11):
Yeah, No, that that hain't gonna work for me. Nothing
about nothing about that works for me.
Speaker 5 (51:15):
Well, Lance Gavin would gow up. I'm afraid of heights
man like I can't. We climbed the Bay Bridge one
time and almost almost out of panic attack, in an
anxiety attack.
Speaker 3 (51:22):
But Gavin would definitely go up.
Speaker 1 (51:24):
But that's way scarier than going up to space or
even doing skydiving. Like you you're so far up that
there is no height, you know, you don't feel that,
you know, scared, Doug.
Speaker 4 (51:34):
These parabolic flights are next level. We my wife because
she was the smallest one of the group. We got
her in a little ball and we would throw her
from one side of the airplane to the.
Speaker 2 (51:43):
Other and just you know, drinking the water and the
M and m's up in the air.
Speaker 4 (51:48):
Doing push ups where you just do one push up
and you you're, you're, you're, you're sort of flung to
the ceiling.
Speaker 2 (51:53):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (51:54):
It was an experience of a lifetime. But yeah, it's
going to space.
Speaker 2 (51:58):
But it's interesting.
Speaker 4 (51:59):
I appreciate, you know, it proves here like the real
deal that you're not into sort of that terzy space thing.
Speaker 2 (52:04):
You're not And I fad.
Speaker 1 (52:06):
People are doing it. It pays for what we're trying
to do with the real experiments. But and it would
be so fun just to be able to see Earth
from that view. My friend ed Lou, who was going
to be on the station with me. You know, a
lot my experiments got to the ISS a week before
I did, and my clothes were up there. So he
found my flight suit on the ISS and he ripped
the name tag off and floated it in front of
(52:27):
Earth and took it down, which he's not supposed to do,
but snuck down the patch. So I still have it
framed to my office And it's just just that alone,
seeing my name floating in front of Earth is just
like I feel like I was there, you know. It's
just so beautiful.
Speaker 3 (52:42):
That's very cool, last legs.
Speaker 5 (52:43):
You've lived a blessed life, man, you really have, man,
And look, I really admire where you came from and
where you've been, and you've lived an incredible journey and
you've got a long way to go, man, But it's
very cool to see what you've done and success you've had,
and you've got so many things you're.
Speaker 3 (52:57):
Cooking on and whatnot. And this lemmer for you.
Speaker 2 (53:00):
Bro.
Speaker 3 (53:01):
I've always been a huge fan of yours.
Speaker 5 (53:02):
Loved what you're all about, Love the story you told
us day, the honesty about everything, you've done, and it's
really cool to see, uh your journey and where you
go man and I And by the way, when you're
on s when you're on tour, within sink, I'm going
to send you on these politic and hoodies you're gonna
wear on stage and we're gonna get that thing going.
Speaker 1 (53:18):
As long as you can sneak in and find me
Jesus too easy, I will sneak in now. But serious,
I mean y'all, I mean y'all obviously are great inspirations
and uh, you know, I really look up to you
guys too, so you know, thank you for all you've
done just to inspire people like me.
Speaker 4 (53:33):
Appreciate Lance, Thank you, brother, Thanks for being with us,
Thanks for everything you're doing, and thanks for being out
there on so many damn causes.
Speaker 2 (53:40):
Brother, It's always always great to see on the road.
Speaker 1 (53:43):
Give the dinner for my love.
Speaker 2 (53:44):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (53:45):
Thank you, Bace.
Speaker 1 (53:45):
Lance, all right, Dodge letter.
Speaker 2 (53:48):
Hey, Doug, tell us where people can email us. Folks
that are listening and want to ask us any questions.
How do they email us?
Speaker 5 (53:55):
Well, by the way, Kevin, we've had some incredible questions.
We've had too many to even read. But if you
do want to send us questions, it's politicken at iHeartRadio
dot com. That's politicken at iHeartRadio dot com.
Speaker 3 (54:10):
Keep them coming.
He did say, he goes, if if in a perfect
world there is an instinct tour coming, then we can
have another kid.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Well, Jesus, I said, that's pressure, brother, man, what's hand him?
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Man?
Speaker 3 (00:12):
You got more Shawn be Small Lynch, Doug Hendrickson and
Gavin Newsome.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
And you're listening to politics, you're knowing to.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Be you known to be, Doug.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
Doug, here's a civil question I have for if you
were governor. Delaurius wants to know if you were governor
for a day. I want what's once? You got twenty
four hours, not just you know, nine to five, none
of that nonsense. You got one day, Doug, change the world.
And by the way, you're a governor and your legislatures
out so they can't get your way. Just remember it's
it's multiple branches of government, and the and the courts
(00:53):
have already already given you green light. So the three branches,
so you're you're the soul. Decide on whatever it is
that you think needs to change or we need less
of or more of, give it to us.
Speaker 5 (01:07):
Doug. Well, it's a two part question, Gavin. But one
I'm gonna say, obviously, less state taxes. Let's keep it
no state tax. But no, you know what I would do, honestly,
I would. I This sounds corny and stupid, but I've
told you this before.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
I would.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
I would go to every single mayor and I would
say this is not optional, this is mandatory. I want
every one of you guys, one day a month to
do a cleanup of the neighborhoods in the city. Uh
and and and retrofit plants, flowers, clean up trash, old
deal and do a monthly community event where it brings
(01:42):
all the community together Alameda, whether it be Sacramento, whether
it be Davis, Marin, you name it, and do a
monthly event and revolving kind of a event to kind
of bring everybody together. And what that sounds stupid, corny,
but I'm all about clean up and hug it out
a little bit.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
And from that I appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
I just if this governor I read about, seemed to
read about periodically hadn't done that called clean California and
actually funded it with one point one billion dollars and
created quote unquote designated communities, meaning community partners that we
partner with with volunteer opportunities and job opportunities, including for
(02:23):
people that are previously incarcerated part of a re entry program,
and those that were previously unhoused meaning homeless, then I
would say that's a novel and extraordinarily and.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
So see here's the difference. You're right, and I took
that from you.
Speaker 5 (02:35):
But however, I would tell them they if they don't
do it, they're fire.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
That's the difference.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
That's the difference. You did it. You did it, And
that's why I got incide.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
You're doing mandatory volunteering, which is which is kind of
a different version of the word volunteer.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
This isn't the buffet where you can decide what you
want to do. This is like you need to do
this or Doug.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
You're outug.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
The reason this is more resonant to me than you
even think. It's one of the great frustrations with being
governor of California is and I'm not the mayor of California.
And I've said this before on the pod Man. You've
got four and seventy six cities, fifty eight counties. You've
got city councils, you got school boards, you have all
these independent electeds. You've got city administrators, you've got rules
and regulations that govern a lot of things at the
(03:17):
local level. So even putting up an unprecedented amount of
money creating an initiative, launching that initiative, we did it
down in La galvanizing the community, getting thousands and thousands
not just the volunteers, but we hired hot thousands and
thousands of people as part of this program. You're one
hundred percent right there communities that just said no, we're
not interested and instead just like to point the finger
(03:39):
and say, see how dirty everything is, see how terrible
everything is.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Why?
Speaker 4 (03:43):
And it's there's a lot of this sort of victimization
out there as opposed to people, to your point, stepping
up and taking some responsibility and building community, which is
what you're calling for, and getting people engaged.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
I love you.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
When I when I bought my first house and prefer
a hill back in like two thousand, I'll never forget.
I'm on this street and weeds would go in the
cracks the street right the whole street up like ten
blocks weeds, and it drove me crazy. I hate weeds,
and so I would get up on Saturdays or whatever
day and I would pull all the weeds and people
up up the street. Looked at me like, dude, what
(04:17):
is this guy doing? I said, Now, I live down
the street. I don't like the weeds. So nobody helped out.
For the first probably two months, people looked at me
like I was nuts. No bs. Every Saturday there on,
I was one of thirty people cleaning not only our
street but the surrounding blocks around Patroyal Hill and it
was the coolest thing in the world. But people initially said,
(04:37):
what's this guy doing? And then they said, you know what, Yeah,
we feel better. It's a better street, better curb appeal,
and it was pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
But I did that back in two thousand.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Doug, I love that.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
And by the way, we picked up not just on
Clean California, which, by the way, we're going to be
expanding and we're going to create some more accountability in
the spirit of what you're calling for, but we also
created we have I've said it before, but the largest
volunteer corps in America. It's bigger than the Peace Corps
and a big part of one of the group's A
big part of the group is called climate Core, which
(05:10):
is exactly along the lines of what you're saying. It's
not just planning things it's cleaning things as well, and
it's infectious. And here's a proof point. You'll appreciate this
two story, Doug. We were out there in a little
hike with the family and I was with my little one, Dutch,
and he sees me pick up some garbage and it
was kind of awkwardly sized, and I was like, oh god,
I'll just carry his back. And he looked at me, like,
(05:31):
why are you picking that up? It was just it
was there on the trail. True story. About an hour later,
I see him pick up a piece of garbage. He
literally mirrored that behavior, which was just like amazing and
point of pride. That's exactly what happened to you with
your neighbors.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
I love it. No, we need more of that.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
And that's, by the way, that's how we get out
of this rut and mess of everybody's so damn negative,
all the cynicism and everybody's attacking each other as shared
experiences and getting neighbors to meet neighbors, not through political ends,
but just through you know, sense of community and making
things better. So I love the spirit of what you're saying.
And Hey, Dolores, thank you for the question.
Speaker 5 (06:22):
Hey, Gavin. We got some great news in the waiting room.
We have a Mississippi kid. Yeah, and I've been to
Mississippi many times. We got a Mississippi kid.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
He's still trying to figure out how to spell.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
My SSI S S I P P I.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Yes, it's not it's it's I. Someone said, why.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I did say?
Speaker 5 (06:41):
You said we have a Mississippi kid that made it big,
and that is really cool.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
There's a couple of guys from Mississippi.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
I made it big and that might be him Lance
Bass along with his former partner Justin Timberlake from Mississippi.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
They both made it big. Lance. How are you, my man?
Speaker 2 (06:55):
What's going on?
Speaker 1 (06:56):
How are you guys?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Where are you your fancy place? Where the hell are you? Lance?
Speaker 1 (07:01):
I'm here at home in Los Angeles. You can see
my Harry Potter candles up in the sky for Christmas. Halloween.
Just laughed and now Christmas is coming in ayat.
Speaker 5 (07:11):
Don't let Lance flo. You sold seventy million albums. He's
made a lot of money.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Oh so you were just you just why with little Royalty?
Were with us today? Am I supposed to bow or something?
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Louke Perlman took most of it.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
So you know, that's a that's you're already five questions
in already.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
We'll talk about that, buddy.
Speaker 5 (07:28):
Hey Lance, Before we begin, I want to tell you
a little story. And back in the day I met you.
Back in the day, one of my clients was Jamal Anderson,
the Dirty Bird, and so back in two thousand, when
you guys were the height of your fame and whatnot,
doing the Super Bowl in Tampa, one of my first
clients gave me tickets to the game. And before the game, uh,
(07:49):
he said, Hey, can't wait to see you, And I
said great. Well, I'm at the hotel and someone said,
I'll give you twenty thousand dollars for these two tickets.
So I'm like, great, I'm going to sell them for
twenty thousand dollars. I'm with my fiance and my wife,
and I'm gonna buy a couple of tickets for five
make fifteen grand.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Life is good, and report it to the irs, I hope, Doug.
But that's another conversation.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
So the prices kept going high on these tickets, so
I could not buy two more tickets. So I got
but I got twenty grand in my pocket. I'm feeling good,
and I'm like, I have to go to this game.
I got my client, one of my first clients with
Jamal back in ninety five ninety six.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
I got to be at the game.
Speaker 5 (08:24):
So I go to the stadium and I'm walking kind
of around the perimeter or whatnot, and you guys, you,
Britney Spears and Aerosmith were in like a holding area
attached the stadium. Remember there was like a there was
like an area to walk through. And all of a sudden,
I get to the gate and I see you guys
and Aerosmith and Britney Spears walking into the stadium and
(08:47):
I yelled your name in Justin's name, and I wanted
to be honest. I think you turned around, and at
that time the security guy said, like you know them.
I said, yes, I do, and the guy let me
and my fiance in the statum. So now we're in
the holding area as you guys are walking in, I
jump right behind you guys, my wife and I a fiance,
(09:07):
and we go right in the stadium behind you guys
in Aerosmith and go right in the stadium and it's
snuck into.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Super Bowl in two thousand. It was a fantastic month
dollars richer.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
I think that is amazing. That's what I used to
do at Disney or Universal. If you act like you're
supposed to be there, they just kind of let you
do what you want to do one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
By the way, Lance, you don't even know who you're
dealing with. That guy with that politic and shirt on
right now literally doesn't even need I'm surprised, Doug you
even needed a ticket. Bro, I've seen this guy open up.
I mean, if there was an Ocean's fourteen or something,
he should be the lead character. This guy doesn't need
a ticket. He BSEs his place everywhere. We went to
(09:46):
the we went to the Super the impenetrable Super Bowl.
After nine to eleven, they said no one could ever
get anywhere. I think you brought in six or seven
people without tickets. But Lance, I imagine.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
You get bored.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
All these people taking advantage of you that don't even
know you, act like they've known you all your life.
How the hell do you even process listening to that
nonsense from Doug.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
I mean, it's fine, Look I'm used to it, and uh,
you know, I uh, I don't know. I I enjoyed
the effort that people make. I think it's it's paining
to me. I think it's so so I'm like, look,
if you can, uh, if you can do your thing,
go far. It kudos to you, because I would do
the same thing if I was in your shoes.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Well at last, I mean you've cause it's just you know,
your life's sort of been marked by you know, the
I mean, there's nothing normal about your damn life. And
and it happened when you're so young, I mean relatively
speaking a kid, and uh and so I mean you
know it's I mean erradically. Do you reflect back seriously
and just go I can't take this anymore. I need
(10:47):
some normals. I need to underst you know, I wish
this never happened. This journey's a little overwhelming. The attention,
sort of the adoration people like Doug Stocking you uh,
you know, take and what what I'm seriously, have you
gone through that sort of those sort of pity party
moments where you're like, I can't take it.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Well, you go up and down for sure. You know,
I started at such a young age. You know, I
started within sync when I was sixteen years old. So
I really I don't really know the difference anymore. And
I was always great with you know, fame and being
a public figure like I just I was. I was
one of those people that could just really deal with
it in a in a very positive way. I know
tons of people that just they're just not that type
(11:25):
of person. But it really wasn't until I had kids,
you know, recently in the last three years, that you know,
I do second guess. I'm like, God, it would just
be really nice to be anonymous, you know, going out
with my kids, just really being able to do things
with them without people coming up and confusing them. I love,
you know, meeting people. I love the fans out there,
(11:47):
but there are there are some days where you know,
it would just be nice just to be just you
and and actually just remember who you were before all
this happen.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Did you have any of that during COVID.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
I mean, it's a bunch of folks that I know
that you know, well, recognizable folks. They said they missed
the COVID days just for the masking. Everyone's mask and
it could be anonymous.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
They can show up, go to grocery store and just
feel alive.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
It was great, It really is. That's why I've always
gone Halloween every year. Halloween, I you know, that is
my favorite day of the year because you can go
around and no one knows who the hell you are.
It is amazing. And yes, I did thrive during the
COVID years because of the mask flying. That's the big thing,
because you know, when you go to the airports and
then there's just cameras in your face all that, it's
(12:32):
just annoying, especially when you've been flying for twelve hours.
You just want to get home. That mass really helped
a lot. You could just disappear. And I still to
this day. You know, even if I'm not sick or anything,
I will wear a mask at the airport. Guy.
Speaker 5 (12:46):
Well, and so let me ask you a question taking
you back to those Mississippi days and your humble beginnings
and then you get into what you get into and
sync and by the way, the Lou Permo thing I'm
to get to because obviously that documentary I saw recently
him was was Fountain and as a sports stagent, which
I am now, you know, watching you during that time
as a sixteen sevente nation year kid in those heydays.
(13:09):
Number one like with with lou you guys were probably
just like, oh my god, we became you know, started
out and all of a sudden, next you know, we're
like selling that arenas in saying stuff with Lou Pearlman
in terms of what he did. Did your family or
your parents or did anybody kind of have any idea
what was going on as far as the contracts you
(13:30):
guys signed and all that.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Where was it?
Speaker 5 (13:31):
Pretty much like we don't care where we made it.
We're good and then all of a sudden, oh my god,
what did we sign?
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Yeah? I mean, look, you don't know what you don't know.
You know, we were all very young and ignorant to
the business. I didn't know anything about the music business. Uh.
You know, when you're a teenager, you're just thinking, Wow,
I just want to be an artist, and I you know,
this would be so much fun to do. You're not
thinking of, you know, the business part of it, and
(13:57):
especially your parents didn't know anything like that. I mean,
my mom's right here helping me prep for my Thanksgiving dinner.
You know, it's just a school teacher from Mississippi. What
does she know about the music industry. You you just
have to trust people, and you know, you when you're young,
you trust a lot of people, and people like Lou Pelman,
who was the president of my label and our manager
(14:17):
and the sixth member of n Singing and the I
mean he was taking about six different cuts. You just
really you thought he was family. So you always just
believed everything he said and that he was going to
take care of you. So, you know, we ignorantly just
believed in someone. It taught us a lot of lessons.
I'm in a weird way glad we went through that
(14:39):
at an early age, because no one's ever going to
take advantage of me like that again. And I became
a great businessman after that. So you know, as much
as he took from us, he gave me a lot,
and I think I was able to you know, create
something and a great career, you know, despite what he
was trying to take from us.
Speaker 5 (14:58):
And when was reflection moment did one of you guys
who particularly say, hey guys, we're getting screwed or when
was the what was the reflection moment where you said,
oh my god, this sum's not right.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Yeah, you know, I was always the one that kind
of was the business minded one, so I knew something
was weird. After a few years of having sold out tours,
selling merch like no other, and we still hadn't gotten paid.
You know, we were just living on per diem, which
as a kid, I'm like, wow, you know, forty dollars
a day. That's incredible, Like I'm getting this is more
(15:29):
money than I've ever made. But then after, you know,
making the label millions and millions and millions and millions
of dollars, You're like, okay, so at what point have
we paid our dues? Like what is that? And it
was a specific moment where we were getting our first
check presentation because a lot of people don't realize we're
a German band over signed with me, and so the
(15:50):
president of our label in Germany came over to Los
Angeles to present us a check. I think it was
at Lowry's, you know, in Los Sienega, and we had
my parents there, all the families, and lou Parlan was
so excited to present us this check. And I didn't know,
you know, after four years of being one of the
biggest bands in the world, I didn't know what that
(16:11):
was gonna be. But I had in my mind, like,
you know, is it half a million dollars? I mean,
I'd be happy with a quarter million dollars like I'm
just like what, I'm like, I'm not actually gonna be
able to buy a car, like I'll actually have to
have I'll be able to have transportation. And he presented
as a check and it was ten thousand dollars each.
(16:32):
And you know, I, you know, I grew up very humble,
and that is a lot of money for a lot
of people. But when you work for free every day
twenty four to seven, you know you deserve more than that,
you know. And I just knew at that moment, like,
uh oh, something's really wrong that he is proud of that,
(16:52):
Like he is so proud to give us that little
bitty check. And I could look at the president of
the label and his face was kind of like, hey lord,
he knew he wasn't the wrong. And eventually he would
tell me, he's like, look, you don't understand how much
I have to pay Loop Prolman in order to give
y'all pennies. And that's when I started learning how the
business worked, how contracts worked. And even then I didn't
(17:14):
even want to tear up our contract. I just wanted
to renegotiate, and he wasn't having it. There was no
renegotiation and that's when we you know, we left him
and he sued us and all that went down, but
you know it all it all ended up great.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
Well, it's funny, Gavin, it's almost on the like we
did Demie Levado, that bill you passed. I mean again,
these guys getting taken advantage up back then is is
you know, sort of similar to the Levada bill you
passed recently.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Yeah, last we did that bill.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
Just I mean, you got a lot of folks under
you know, younger than eighteen and in some cases and
I obviously your mom's right there, so this wasn't the
case in your household. But a lot of parents are
taking the money even if they're receiving the money, and
they never get that money back. So the idea of
setting side those resources now is mandated. And it's not
(18:04):
just for folks in your industry, but for folks in
the creative industry as well. With YouTube and everywhere else where,
a lot of that exploitation is occurring.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
It's so necessary and you know, thank you for you know,
doing that, but it's so sad how taken advantage of
these kids still are. Even it doesn't matter what we
pass and how many lessons we give everyone documentary as
we put out there, people are still going to sign
that Marble contract because it's either that or nothing. And
(18:33):
everyone thinks, Okay, it might be a horrible contract now
and I might be taking advantage of but I can
fix that. And it's just so sad that we even
have to, you know, to do that.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Well.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
Lance with social media, now, you guys didn't have it
back then, but do you kind of cringe now when
you see these young guys and all the content and
the social media if you had it, imagine social media
in sync. I mean you need to believe that. I mean,
do you do you kind of like, God, I need
to have seminars and educate some of these younger kids
because it's getting crazy right now. Correct, But can you
(19:03):
think about your childhood? What advice you'd give these young kids?
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Now?
Speaker 1 (19:07):
Yeah, I mean, look, find an incredible entertainment lawyer and
that is an entertainment layer. And you know that that
helps right there? You know, always you know, it's good
to trust people, but always keep that one eye out
and always have just a great group of people around
you if it's family. And again, family can take advantage
(19:29):
of you. If it's you know, close friends, but someone
you have to trust someone and let them kind of,
you know, guide you through this. But you know, everyone's
been through everything, so there's a lot of great examples,
you know, any kind of social media person out there,
like look at someone that's been doing what you're trying
to do and and go see what they did. See
the people that they've surrounded themselves with, who are they
(19:51):
working with, and you know, start there.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
But lance for you was that was that a path
you paved yourself?
Speaker 4 (19:56):
I mean because you made your point, I mean that
your career, what you've been able to to do with
that experience, and how you use that to actually empower
you and how you've not just survived, but you continue
to thrive. Did you have those mentors along the lines
or was this iteration for you you figure it.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Out along the way.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Yeah. I kind of had to figure it out on
my own. I didn't really have many mentors, especially in business,
so it was a lot of trial and error. You know.
I put my hands on a lot of things after
in sync. You know, I had a lot of interests.
I mean, I'm from restaurants to you know, music, television film,
I mean just all over the place, and you know
a majority of them completely failures. But every time that
(20:35):
I would fail, I would learn more things. And so
I enjoy, you know, failing, because it does it just
makes you a better person, and then you start to
figure out exactly what you're meant to do. And I
feel like, finally, at forty five, I know exactly what
I want to do and what I'm supposed to do
right now.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
By the way, right there's a great Winston Churchill quote
said the secret of all success Churchill, So you kind
of attention it. Secret of all success is moving from
failure to failure with enthusiasm. Yeah, and you know mistakes
are a portal discovery.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Yeah, kind of I dig that. But so all right,
so begs the damn question.
Speaker 4 (21:12):
Man, you're an old man now and you just figured
out what you really want to be when you grow up.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
So what is it?
Speaker 2 (21:18):
What is it?
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Well, you know, my kids kind of changed that for me.
You know, my my whole life has just been entertainment.
It's like, this is what I'm supposed to do. This
is what you know, everyone wants me to do. And
I do enjoy it. But I figured out. I like
other things even better. I'm a creative person, so I
don't have to be in front of the camera. I
love being able to write and produce behind the scenes.
(21:40):
But I also love real estate, like I really love,
you know, real estate, which I'm really getting heavily into
right now. And with that, I like things that I
can control. I don't like being a part of anything
that people can tell you no. And that is entertainment.
You know, you get to know ninety nine percent of
the time people in this industry that get to decide.
(22:01):
And you work on a project for four years and
you work so hard on it and spend so much money,
and then they're kind of like, yeah, man, not right now,
that won't work, and you're like, okay, I just wasted
all that time. I don't want to do that anymore.
I want to be the boss. I want to tell
myself yes and be you know, be my own boss.
And that's the path that I'm taking. And especially with
(22:21):
my kids, it's more in the family friendly atmosphere right now.
You know, I'm doing you know, children's books and children's
film and television, so you know, and that just makes
me just happier because I get to create what I
want to do. I get to release it when I
want to. And that's what I love about the social
media world too. No one can tell me no. If
I want to make, you know, a fun little skit,
(22:42):
I'm going to put it up and it's up into
twenty four hours and there you go, and then millions
of people get to see it, more people than would
watch a TV show that I spent three years developing,
and then half a million people see it, like I can.
I can get those many people to see my one
little video in twenty four hours, and I feel just
as fulfilled.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
On the flip side of it, was there one indelible
note that you think is shaped most. I mean, when
you look back, you still it's it's a burning inside
you that it sort of is driven most of your
you know, just sort of shift of consciousness. Was there
some truly devastating teed up, some rejection It just stings
(23:30):
even to this day.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
I mean, there's there's been a lot of, you know,
great rejections. Great but you know, I won't specifically say
the show, but you know, I was up for a
really great hosting gig that would have really changed my
life and I was so excited for the opportunity and
I really thought that this could be, you know, my future,
and I ended up not getting it, and it really
(23:54):
it just it really derailed me for a while. I'm like, Okay,
if I didn't get that, like, now what is next?
I got a It's it's like starting over all over again.
And I was just so tired. I'm like, I don't
want to start over again and start paying my dues again.
And that's that was really when I started looking at
why am I even trying so hard in this entertainment
(24:15):
industry to please everyone? Let's just start doing things that
I want to do and that I feel creative with
and again that no one can say no to. I
gave it.
Speaker 5 (24:25):
Well, let's ask question in the Heyday vistinct, when Justin
decided to pull the way, when you guys are there,
did you have any did you sit back? Were you
too young to realize like like thinking maybe he's going
to go do some solo stuff and then come back.
And then how was your mentals when he pulled away?
And then kind of instant kind of it like it
went away initially after the next couple of years, we're like, oh,
(24:47):
my god, like we just were killing it. We're on
the top of the world. Now it's gone, or what
was your mindset back then? Uh?
Speaker 1 (24:53):
You know, I was confused for sure. I mean again,
I was such a young person and all I knew
was in Sync. That was my life. There was no
there was no lance bass. There was just lance of
and Sync, and so that was my world. And I
was happy that was my world. I thought that was
gonna be my world the rest of my life. I
didn't think that there'd be anything different, you know, ignorantly.
(25:13):
So yeah, so when you know, we decided that the
group was no longer, it was very confusing for me
because I didn't know where I belonged and I wasn't
really I wasn't really setting myself up for success because
I was just waiting, you know, because I was I
was told by the label and everyone's like, oh no,
we just need three more months. Oh we just need
you know, five more months. I'm like, okay, you know,
(25:33):
and I was turning down sitcoms and like work that
I could have like really done to establish me as
a solo person. But I didn't, you know, I just
I was just waiting because I was waiting for my group.
So when it didn't happen, yeah, I was very disappointed.
I was disappointed more in myself because I stupidly just
kind of sat back and just thought, Oh, this is
(25:54):
just going to be waiting for me and let me
just go have fun. And well also I was in
the closet at the time, so I was kind of
finding myself. So it was a good timing to have
a little downtime. But by the time that I got
back up and you know, out and the group was over,
I was left with nothing and not knowing exactly where
I was supposed to be. So yeah, it took a
(26:16):
while to figure out who I was and uh and
where I needed to go. But you know, it was
a big life lesson and again I learned at an
early age. So I'm glad I got to do that.
Speaker 5 (26:27):
Well, Lance that that begs the question for our listeners
out there that by the way, I just went to
the sphere and I saw the Eagles, and I remember
when they had the press conference when hell.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Freezes over, We're coming back.
Speaker 5 (26:38):
Everybody wants to know when is in Sick coming back
for this reunion because the.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
First this question, no one has ever asked me, So
I just got to you can tell us the truth.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
You can tell us the truth of what's the first date.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
It's been great. The last two years have been great
for the group because we haven't done anything in two decades.
But you know, we got together to do the Trolls
movie together and then all of a sudden, Deadpool uses
Bye Bye Bye, and it's just something's in the air
right now with our group, and our fans have kind
of going a little nuts, and the younger generation, this
gen Z is now like figured out who we are,
(27:14):
although they think we're the Deadpool group, but I'm totally
and you know, so there's definitely something in the air
that we're trying to figure out. You know, Justin's on
tour for the next six months. He's been you know,
extending his tour, so obviously there's nothing we could do
until that's done. But we're definitely, you know, discussing what
the future could hold and what we could do. But
(27:35):
you know, fingers crossed, you know, we give the fans
a little something, something I would enjoy that. I would
just like my kids to be able to see me
do something like you're in a band, sure, like I'm.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Sure, Dad, Yeah, sure dad.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
By the way, Doug, that sounds like they're going to
make a surprise appearance at the super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
That's what I just turned and then release an album
right after that. They've been quietly work.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
You're only going to be able to sneak in.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Exactly, You're not invited, by the way. Just you know,
it's interesting.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
You know, it's funny sort of generations to rediscover and
it takes sort of.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
A good tebor.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
I love the Deadpool frame, right that all of a sudden,
now you kind of people that may not have they
may have heard your music, but never really identified all
the energy around that music. That's got to be I mean,
in so many ways to sort of see sort of
you know, these these points of your career that get
you just reintroduced and re energized.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
Over and over and over again.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
It is great, you know, and it's just nice to
see that, you know, some of our songs, you know,
stand the test of time. I mean, even those dance moves.
You know, kids come. I mean there's little kids now,
you know, eight nine years old that come up to
me in public and they just they just love it.
They love the songs. They especially love the dance, of
course because it's now in minecraft. So you know, I've
(28:53):
actually I think we're cooler now than we were. Back
back then it was kind of embarrassing to like a
boy band. But now I don't know, this younger generation
just they accept it, they love it. So I'm very appreciative.
Speaker 5 (29:05):
List let me ask you a question, and I applaud
you know, Gavin, I've been been brothers and family for
thirty years. And our unfortunate co host more Shawn is
not here right now. He's actually flying back from I
believe in movie is doing but an event Like I
applauded Gavin the other day on the show, and he
talked about a story about his dad when he when
he you know, he was the first mayor that implemented
(29:25):
gay marriage.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
When was that, Gavin? Was that two thousand and.
Speaker 4 (29:30):
Four we were kids, black and white movie days two
thousand and four, that we do the Winner of Love
Lance four thousand and thirty six couples from forty six states,
and you know, but it is, you know, it's interesting.
I know where Doug's going with this man. It's you know,
here you are talking about a boy band and sort
of iconic, and you guys are peeking and everything else,
(29:50):
and you're struggling with your own identity and then I
imagine struggling more over with how you expressed that. And
then how does that impact not just you, mom, dad,
your family relationships, but how does that impact your reputation,
your career, as impact your your colleagues. And I mean
all that going through your head. But you eventually did
(30:11):
it in a pretty profound and consequential way. You know,
you did it. You went big and bold. But what
I mean was that a multi year process of just
trying to figure that out, man, or just it was
a moment you said I've had it.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
I mean it was Look, it was definitely a whole
life process of you know, trying to figure out who
I was. I mean, I knew I was gay since
I was, you know, five years old, So like I knew,
I knew that, you know, that was a part of me,
but also knew at a young age that was something
I was going to have to hide my whole entire
life because I thought that it was you know, it
was dangerous, especially growing up in a state like Mississippi
(30:49):
where there's not one gay person, not one out person
at all, because it again was dangerous. You just always
heard of people being murdered because of that, and you know,
growing up in the churches, you know it was caused
by the devil, You're going to hell. As a very
religious person growing up, you know, I wanted to do
everything I could not to go burn in hell, and
(31:11):
so that I repressed and I was so scared of
and I would cry all like every night to pray.
You know, I would pray, please wake up not being gay,
please wake up being attractive girls, which is like I said,
put on a little kid, and so yeah, you know,
and then being God's little joke of putting me in
a boy band where ninety nine percent of your fans
(31:33):
are females. You're like, you're living this life and like, okay,
this is gonna be fun. And it's right when you're
you know, coming of age and you're first dating for
the first time and then your best friends in the
group are having girlfriends. I'm like, oh lord, I'm gonna
have to deal with this. I'm really gonna have to
deal with this. And I'm in like the most public
person in the world right now, Like, how am I
(31:54):
supposed to deal with this, and you know, you would
date girls, and you'd have girlfriends, and you would trick
yourself into thinking this is what love is, right, this
is this is what feels like. And I thought I
loved these girls that I you know, dated, and then
you just wake up one day You're like, no, uh uh,
this is this, this is not it. And it was
(32:15):
at a time, you know, that was two thousand and six,
so it was getting a little easier to be more
vocal about who you are. We were fighting for marriage equality,
so you had a lot of people. You just saw
people fighting for you, and you're like, okay, I don't
feel as a loan. And then you started seeing people
come out that you knew, you know, and in the business,
(32:35):
there weren't many people, you know, even Ellen hadn't even
come out at that point. So, you know, the decision
to come out on the cover of People magazine was
it was a scary one. I didn't I didn't really
have a choice. That was kind of a band aid
being ripped off because I was outed by the press.
So they gave me basically twenty four hours. Look, wow,
(32:56):
we know the story, we know you're gay. We're gonna
write it. But would you like to do it with
us so we get the story right, or just let
us make it up?
Speaker 2 (33:06):
And I'm like, but that wasn't People Magazine themselves.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
That was not people never did there exactly. I just
I trusted that they would be better at telling the story.
And so yeah, So I had twenty four hours to
tell my story and then it was on the stands,
you know, the next day, and it was. It was
a crazy scary situation because all the examples I've ever
had of anyone coming out, especially in entertainment, was that
(33:32):
it's a career killer. Your dead, everything, your your career
is over. People are going to hate you, your church
has now kicked you out, your family hates you. Just
every negative thing you could think about is going to happen.
And it went opposite. It was the first time I
ever saw and I remember I went to Catalina Island
and I was like, you know what, I'm going to disappear.
I don't even want to see what's happening. I don't
(33:53):
want to see the sound bites on the shows. I
don't want to see Jay Leno, I don't want to
see any of them people making fun of me because
one I was embarrassed for the gay community. I didn't
want them to be like, oh God, like now we're embarrassed,
Like now they're gonna be making fun of this guy,
and we've come so far and now go back further,
just because now they have someone as a punching bag
(34:14):
and so but it didn't happen that way. You know.
Once I came up for air and I saw how
people were taking it, it was such a positive take
on everything. And the main thing I took away was
everyone like who cares? Like why do people care? Now?
I'm like, oh my gosh, that's amazing. This is wow,
so incredible. You know, the career definitely changed, and they
(34:36):
were right about that, like it was definitely a career killer.
But you know, not too long after that, I just
saw a lot of success stories in entertainment and I
love that. I mean, I love being able to turn
on the radio and hear so many LGBTQIA artists, incredible actors.
I mean, it is it's actually a good thing to
(34:59):
be yourself these days. I think if you're kind of
hiding yourself and you're closeted, that it's harder to have
a career in this business.
Speaker 4 (35:06):
Lance, you said it was a career kill. I mean you,
I mean, what happened if people, I mean they weren't
returning calls or just saying, oh that's true, straight people.
I mean what I mean, you got hit between the
eyes on that. Huh.
Speaker 1 (35:17):
Yeah, because I was you know, I would definitely have
pivoted into television at that point, and I was going
into talk show, but I was also doing acting. You know,
I had a sitcom you know, with the CW at
the time, and we were about to shoot the pilot
and this came out and they were like, we can't
do the show anymore, like they believe that you're straight
(35:38):
to play a straight character. And I'm like okay. So
like in every casting director, I knew, they're like, Lance,
we can't past you because they can't look past You're
you're too famous for being gay now that they can't
look at you as anything other than that. So I
lost everything, you know, agents, everything just everyone just kind
(35:59):
of like kind of fell off, like I don't know
what we can do with you now, and so yeah,
I had to completely just restart and rebrand at that moment.
Speaker 5 (36:07):
Did you rekindle any relationships you have with the people
like you said, agents left you and this and that
did you did you rekindle any of that or like
have any conversations since then?
Speaker 3 (36:16):
The guys like, dude, I'm sorry, fucked up? Like I
mean any of that or was it?
Speaker 1 (36:20):
How was that a lot of the cashing directors, for sure,
they're all kind of like, yeah, that was really dumb,
and you know, and they've actually cast me a lot
of things since, which is really funny and ironic. But
you know, I never hold grudges at all, Like I'm
very understanding, Like I get it. Business is business is business.
It sucks, but I never can hold grudges. So even
if you piss me off and do something horrible to me,
(36:42):
I'm always gonna like be friends again. That's kind of
like a downfall of mine.
Speaker 5 (36:46):
So Lann says, as I have three kids, Gavin has
four and you said you knew it five.
Speaker 3 (36:52):
So take me through your like it.
Speaker 5 (36:55):
Had to be and seeing my kids struggle with anything
just whatever it may be. But like, how did you
get through those years where you're like, you know what,
this is what I am whatever, and with no one
knowing and living in a state like Mississippi said, where
people get killed for this stuff. How did you function
and get through? Did you just keep yourself busy and
keep active and whatnot? Or how did you make it
through those ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen your years?
Speaker 1 (37:18):
Yeah, I mean you just you basically ignore it. Yeah,
and you keep yourself like very busy. You turn into
like a character. You know, you're always trying to you know,
you hear little things, you know, like there's I remember
hearing when I was a kid, Oh if someone says
so a lot when they're you know, talking, is like,
oh it's so sunny outside that that's gay. So I
would catch myself using the words. So I'm like, oh,
(37:41):
so you would change how you spoke at a young age,
or you would kind of think about like I can't
I can't be seen, you know, even like drinking a glass.
You know, if your finger goes up up, you're gay.
If you if your eyeballs go up and not into
the cup, you're gay, like those like and even in school,
we would do the gay test, Like there was all
(38:01):
these little tests you would do and it was just
so it was so scary. I'm like, I'm they're gonna
figure me out, which is so ridiculous. But yeah, I
mean you just, yeah, you just kind of kind of
put it out of mind, although it was almost impossible
when those things would come up, like the gay test,
But yeah, you just like really hyper focused on like
(38:22):
keeping yourself busy, you know, Like I was always like
trying to entertain I was always the comedian, uh, you know, always,
And I feel like that's a lot of the case
with entertainers. You always go to comedy when you're closeted,
and I definitely went the you know, the comedy route
with all my friends.
Speaker 2 (38:49):
Lance, how do you feel today?
Speaker 4 (38:50):
I mean, with all the progress and I appreciate sort
of that that promoted progress in the two thousands, and
obviously with the big Supreme Court decision and and feeling
like we're on the other side of a lot of
that bigotry and a lot of that misunderstanding and hate.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
Uh do you are.
Speaker 4 (39:08):
You feeling like the last few years there's sort of
that that that pendulum sort of swung back, particularly against
the trans community, but even more broadly with all of
these book bands that are going on that don't quote
quote unquote say gay Bill in Florida, h and everything
with criminalizing speech in the boardroom, not just in the classroom,
(39:28):
threatening firing teachers and librarians if they check out the
wrong book that often has lgbtqth themes.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
I mean, what's what's your sense of where the hell
we are right now?
Speaker 1 (39:38):
You're right, the pendulum swings, you know, and it went
this way and it's gone like so we always know
we're going to deal with that. But yes, I feel
like we are going a little backwards right now. You know,
we're definitely entering an era where people are in bolden
to hate, and you know, the lsbt QUI community has
always been the scapegoat. It's just the easy one because
(39:59):
people don't you know, if you don't know a gay person,
if you're not gay, you just don't. You don't under
you don't get it. So it's easy to hate someone
like that, especially when you have, you know, a book
like the Bible that they pretend says that you're supposed
to not like, you know, gay people, which it doesn't say.
I've read it many times, so you know, and it's
just you know, ignorance. Ignorance you know, prevails in this
(40:21):
country unfortunately, and you know, even things like trying to
take IVF away. That isn't they're only trying to take
IVF away just because of the gay community, not because
straight people are actually using this and use it way
more than the gay community. But they're trying to give
it to us, you know, they're trying to give voters
a reason to vote a certain way, and they always
(40:41):
use our community for it, you know, and they always like,
you know, one pedophiles, don't make me a pedophile just
because I'm gay, Immediately I'm a pedophile. I'm like, how, okay,
how does that relate? Well, don't you why don't you
go to the churches and see what the pedophiles exist? So,
you know, but it's something that we're used to. We're
always going to have to fight, but I think, you know,
(41:02):
the next few years is going to be, you know,
a struggle, but we've been here before. The good thing
is things don't change overnight. It just doesn't. And that's
what gives me a little peace. I you know, I'm
old enough to be like it's pretty much everything is
just bullshit, Like everything is so bs and everyone's just
like doing this to make their agenda happen. But like
(41:24):
nothing really changes overnight, so that you know, that makes
me be able to sleep at night, that we can,
you know, keep I'm aware of what's going on, but
I'm not going to hyper focus on the craziness that
has happened. I'm going to live my life. I'm going
to enjoy my family. I'm going to do the right
thing and support the right people. But I'm not gonna
(41:45):
wake up every morning and just worry about the you know,
doom and gloom of the world, because you know, ultimately
we're going to survive and we're going to be good,
and things are better and things are only gonna get better,
and I and I and I find peace in that.
Speaker 3 (42:00):
Well.
Speaker 5 (42:00):
By the way, Lance, I appreciate you saying that because
that's so true and and everybody lives that way. Like
me and Gavianell's talk about were in a better spot,
And it seems Lance, you're in the height of where
you were back in the day. But right now you
seem like you're an incredible spot with your mentals. You've
got a great husband, you've got great kids, you got
great things going on. Do we have more kids coming
for you guys soon? Do we have a bigger family
(42:22):
than the two? What do we got going.
Speaker 1 (42:24):
Who do you ask? Yeah, it's uh, yeah, I would
love a couple more like I just I've always dreamt
of a big family. My husband's kind of like, I
think we're good. We're good. But he did say he goes,
if if in a perfect world there is an Instinct
tour coming, then we can have another kid.
Speaker 2 (42:43):
So jeezus, I said, that's pressure. Brother.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
Wow, I'm trying to make this happen. So I'm like, okay,
Like I would love an Instinct tour, but it means
I get to have another kid, so I want it
more than the fans.
Speaker 3 (42:54):
Okay, we'll never forget. I have three, and I never forget.
Speaker 5 (42:58):
I'm taking a nap and my wife comes down and
and she and I look at her, and I'm like,
I go pregnant, and I never forget it. And then
and then Gavin wanted to one up me and have four. Uh,
and I thought he was nuts, but I was set
up the.
Speaker 2 (43:11):
Best thing that ever happened to me. Of course.
Speaker 4 (43:13):
It's you know, little Dutch is like the you can't
make the stuff up, right, I mean, nothing's by accident.
Speaker 1 (43:18):
It was what a gift?
Speaker 4 (43:20):
So you gotta last, man, I'm telling you. But it
two is you don't even know you're not even a
parent of too, lance, You're not right. You gotta have
at least three or four. You don't even know what
it's like. Yeah, your parents still come home, they want
to take care of the kids. You get to three, four,
they're like, sorry, honey, mom and dad were unavailable.
Speaker 2 (43:38):
Can't get babysitters.
Speaker 4 (43:39):
You got to change the car. You can't get reservations
because all of a sudden it's a five top six
your whole life. Brother, you got to prepare.
Speaker 1 (43:46):
That's what I always said too. I mean, I like
even right, so if I have one, that would you
know when you go to Disney, you gotta be in pairs,
so i'd have to have two more in order to
like everything be equal. So yeah, so.
Speaker 4 (43:58):
Yeah, but two plus two is sixteen. Trust me, I
got four. So it's uh. I'm just saying this, This
tour better be a lucrative one for you, buddy.
Speaker 1 (44:07):
I've always loved the idea. You know, we do have,
you know, some embryos left, so like, of course we
if we had, I would use those. But I always
love the idea of adopting. I think you know, adoption
has been something that I've always dreamt of doing. There's
so many kids out there that need loving homes. And
maybe in the future, when my kids are older, i'd
be able to, you know, adopt you know, a ten
(44:28):
year older, you know, someone like a little older that's
a little you know, harder, and that will be at
least they're out of diapers, right, That's that's the problem. Diapers.
We're almost out of diapers and I can't even imagine
going back through that again. But that's the only thing
deter me from having one.
Speaker 4 (44:42):
Right now, Doug doesn't remember the diaper days. He's worried
about his tomorrow's different kind of diapers.
Speaker 5 (44:48):
I remember the diper your age, brother, I'm not, by
the way, GAVI list for the record, you're a year
older and me partner.
Speaker 3 (44:53):
I'm looking at her.
Speaker 5 (44:55):
Hey, But Lance Samel's questions as a parent now, uh?
In what you've gone on through?
Speaker 1 (45:00):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (45:01):
In terms of your career? Do you want them in
to show business? Do you want them into entertainment or
what's your thoughts?
Speaker 1 (45:06):
I mean in a perfect world no, I mean in
front of the camera, I would say no. I mean
beer writer produced great, Yeah, But I think especially this,
you know, being being a public figure back in my
day compared to now, it's just so much more pressure.
It's just it can be very vile because everyone has
(45:27):
a microphone, you know, to give their own opinion, and
not only do people give opinions, but bots give opinions
and troll farms, which creates a culture of you know,
you know, the pitchfork mentality of like yeah that's right, bandwagon.
It's just scary, you know. I mean I've had I
mean I've had to change all my social stuff to
(45:47):
only people that follow me are able to comment because
just the vile things that I just can't not see.
And even about my kids, you know, that's where it
really hurts. You're like, how could you say that about
a three year role just because you hate Amen and
I'm gay, or just who I voted for, Like just
that shit crazy. So I would not want that. I
(46:09):
would not wish that upon my kids to have to
deal with that, because even if you have a thick, thick,
thick skin, it's still gonna penetrate. It's still you're still
gonna hear some of those things. So you know, I
keep trying to you're not supposed to push your kids
in certain areas. But I'm like, wouldn't you like to
be a vet like an animal doctor? Sounds great? Her
(46:31):
like twin vets. You can have your own little wind vets.
How great would that be?
Speaker 2 (46:36):
But of course my immediate thing is I got a
TV show for that. Let's do twin Vets. I gotta go.
Speaker 1 (46:42):
But then my daughter, you know, she's been seeing me
on TV lately, and now you know she gets it.
She's like, oh, you know you're on TV. You have
your friends, You're you're instinct friends. But she told me
the other day, She's like, I want to be on TV.
And I was like, brother, make no chance.
Speaker 3 (46:57):
Land somebody pivot to your your space stuff. Right now.
I'm curious because Gavin is the astronaut.
Speaker 2 (47:02):
You said everything but not astronaut.
Speaker 3 (47:04):
I'm getting my question Gavin.
Speaker 5 (47:06):
But you know Gavin is as the governor, as the
fifth largest economon of the world.
Speaker 3 (47:09):
I was Tea's Gavin.
Speaker 5 (47:11):
Why has there not been another guy in the moonlands
is nineteen sixty eight?
Speaker 2 (47:14):
Well, God doesn't believe it ever happened. He's one of
those guys. They did it. It does make some studio.
Speaker 1 (47:20):
In La Trust me, when I when I went to
Russian and I trained, I asked all the questions because
every single person I trained with over there, they're the
ones who put you know, Yuriga Garan in space. It's
the same exact people. So they had been there, they've
seen it, they've done it. So of course I asked
every question I could, and I am very confident we've
definitely got there. And my you know, uh, you know,
(47:42):
we haven't been to the Moon in many, many, many
years because there's no reason to go to the Moon,
but I do feel that recently we are going to
you know, at least build a base there. You know,
the ISS is very finite, it's going to be coming
down soon. Uh so we do need a place to
go and uh, you know, have a base, do our experiments.
A lot of people don't understand why we even go
(48:03):
up there, but I mean the things that we have created,
and you know, inspired by being able to go there
is just help this planet. And of course this planet
is finite, so we have to start figuring out, okay,
how do we live off of this Earth? And it's
going to take us many many, you know, hundreds of
years to figure this out, but you know, we have
to start now, and I'll always support the space program.
(48:25):
I'm still heavily you know, involved with it, and I'm
happy to see that it has gotten you know, privatized,
because I think you know, as you know Gavin, when
the government gets involved, it's almost impossible to get things
done very quickly. So I'm glad that we are, you know,
going light years faster than we were before. And if
my kids want to become astronauts, I would definitely be
(48:47):
a yes for that.
Speaker 2 (48:48):
And are you a yes? Are you going to do
Blue Origin, You're going to do Virgin Galactic? You're going
to do one of those?
Speaker 1 (48:53):
I I would. I think it would be fun. It's
like a roller coaster for sure. You know. I my
my goal to you know, I was going up there,
living on the ISS for ten days. I had my
I was doing environmental studies, I was doing blood work studies.
So I wasn't going up there just for fun. I
was going up there to inspire a younger generation to
go into math and science and you know, and look
(49:16):
up instead of down on your phone. And I'm glad
that you know, people are excited, you know, about it.
But if I go, I want to go on a
real mission. You know, I really want to. You know,
I'm certified, I'm ready to go. I still have my
my my flight suit still fits me. Let's do this.
But you know, if they wanted me to just jump
on a rocket and go to space and take great pictures,
(49:37):
I'd do that too. But I'm not going to pay
for it. You know, I would never pay. I went
through so much. There's no way I would pay a
dime to go to space. Yeah, so if anyone wants
to throw me on there, sure I'll take a free ticket.
Speaker 2 (49:50):
Hey, Doug, years ago, I did one of those that
that what is it?
Speaker 4 (49:53):
Was it zero gravity or something? The parabolic next level unbelieved?
That was unbelieved. You've obviously part of training, right, You
do that a lot.
Speaker 1 (50:02):
I mean we train on that a lot, you know,
and it's it's such an incredible feeling just that alone.
You're like, oh my gosh. But yeah, I mean I
remember my first parabolic flight because you know, Russia likes
to really test you and see if you freak out
in moments. And I remember Mark Shuttleworth, the first African
in space. He was the one right before me, and
he was giving me the load o. He was like, look,
(50:23):
they're gonna wake you up at three in the morning,
yelling fire in Russian and like just seeing how you
freak out. So the whole time I'm thinking, okay, they're
testing me, they're testing me. So of course my first
parabolic flight, the plane starts going down and like we
have to put our parachutes on, which is static. I've
never jumped out of a plane before. The plane, you know,
goes up like this. They're pushing tourists out because you know,
(50:43):
Russia doesn't have enough money, so they have to have
tourists on their flights. They're pushing these tourists out, and
I realized this is real, and I get right to
the edge and like okay, we got it. We're good.
And then we continue the lesson and I'm like, oh man,
I think that was just a total just to see
if I freaked out, and they didn't here that. They
just threw tourists out over Siberia.
Speaker 2 (51:04):
They had parachutes on obviously.
Speaker 1 (51:06):
Oh yeah, the static line, yeah Jesus, yeah.
Speaker 4 (51:11):
Yeah, No, that that hain't gonna work for me. Nothing
about nothing about that works for me.
Speaker 5 (51:15):
Well, Lance Gavin would gow up. I'm afraid of heights
man like I can't. We climbed the Bay Bridge one
time and almost almost out of panic attack, in an
anxiety attack.
Speaker 3 (51:22):
But Gavin would definitely go up.
Speaker 1 (51:24):
But that's way scarier than going up to space or
even doing skydiving. Like you you're so far up that
there is no height, you know, you don't feel that,
you know, scared, Doug.
Speaker 4 (51:34):
These parabolic flights are next level. We my wife because
she was the smallest one of the group. We got
her in a little ball and we would throw her
from one side of the airplane to the.
Speaker 2 (51:43):
Other and just you know, drinking the water and the
M and m's up in the air.
Speaker 4 (51:48):
Doing push ups where you just do one push up
and you you're, you're, you're, you're sort of flung to
the ceiling.
Speaker 2 (51:53):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (51:54):
It was an experience of a lifetime. But yeah, it's
going to space.
Speaker 2 (51:58):
But it's interesting.
Speaker 4 (51:59):
I appreciate, you know, it proves here like the real
deal that you're not into sort of that terzy space thing.
Speaker 2 (52:04):
You're not And I fad.
Speaker 1 (52:06):
People are doing it. It pays for what we're trying
to do with the real experiments. But and it would
be so fun just to be able to see Earth
from that view. My friend ed Lou, who was going
to be on the station with me. You know, a
lot my experiments got to the ISS a week before
I did, and my clothes were up there. So he
found my flight suit on the ISS and he ripped
the name tag off and floated it in front of
(52:27):
Earth and took it down, which he's not supposed to do,
but snuck down the patch. So I still have it
framed to my office And it's just just that alone,
seeing my name floating in front of Earth is just
like I feel like I was there, you know. It's
just so beautiful.
Speaker 3 (52:42):
That's very cool, last legs.
Speaker 5 (52:43):
You've lived a blessed life, man, you really have, man,
And look, I really admire where you came from and
where you've been, and you've lived an incredible journey and
you've got a long way to go, man, But it's
very cool to see what you've done and success you've had,
and you've got so many things you're.
Speaker 3 (52:57):
Cooking on and whatnot. And this lemmer for you.
Speaker 2 (53:00):
Bro.
Speaker 3 (53:01):
I've always been a huge fan of yours.
Speaker 5 (53:02):
Loved what you're all about, Love the story you told
us day, the honesty about everything, you've done, and it's
really cool to see, uh your journey and where you
go man and I And by the way, when you're
on s when you're on tour, within sink, I'm going
to send you on these politic and hoodies you're gonna
wear on stage and we're gonna get that thing going.
Speaker 1 (53:18):
As long as you can sneak in and find me
Jesus too easy, I will sneak in now. But serious,
I mean y'all, I mean y'all obviously are great inspirations
and uh, you know, I really look up to you
guys too, so you know, thank you for all you've
done just to inspire people like me.
Speaker 4 (53:33):
Appreciate Lance, Thank you, brother, Thanks for being with us,
Thanks for everything you're doing, and thanks for being out
there on so many damn causes.
Speaker 2 (53:40):
Brother, It's always always great to see on the road.
Speaker 1 (53:43):
Give the dinner for my love.
Speaker 2 (53:44):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (53:45):
Thank you, Bace.
Speaker 1 (53:45):
Lance, all right, Dodge letter.
Speaker 2 (53:48):
Hey, Doug, tell us where people can email us. Folks
that are listening and want to ask us any questions.
How do they email us?
Speaker 5 (53:55):
Well, by the way, Kevin, we've had some incredible questions.
We've had too many to even read. But if you
do want to send us questions, it's politicken at iHeartRadio
dot com. That's politicken at iHeartRadio dot com.
Speaker 3 (54:10):
Keep them coming.
Hosts And Creators
Lance Bass
Langston Kerman
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