On Purpose with Jay Shetty - Eva Longoria: ON How To Do More With Your Time & Change Futures Along The Way

Episode Date: November 4, 2019

On this episode of On Purpose, I sat down with Eva Longoria. Eva is an award-winning actress, producer, director, entrepreneur, philanthropist and known for her work on Desperate Housewives. Eva believes the biggest myth about philanthropy is that you have to be rich and famous to make a difference. She adds, “When we don’t have a seat at the table, innovation doesn’t service our community”. In this episode you’ll learn what giving back truly means, and how to start today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm Munga Shatekler and it turns out astrology is way more widespread than any of us want to believe. You can find it in major league baseball, international banks, kpop groups, even the White House. But just when I thought I had a handle on this subject, something completely unbelievable happened to me and my whole view on astrology changed. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, give me a few minutes because I think your ideas are about to change too. Listen to Skyline Drive on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your

podcasts. Our 20s are often seen as this golden decade. Our time to be carefree, make mistakes and figure out our lives. But what can psychology teach us about this time? I'm Jermis Beg, the host of the Psychology of Your 20s. Each week, we take a deep dive into a unique aspect of our 20s. From career anxiety, mental health, heartbreak, money, and much more to explore the science behind our experiences.

The Psychology of Your 20s, hosted by me, Gemma Speg. Listen now on the iHeot Radio app Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Danny Shapiro, host of Family Secrets. It's hard to believe we're entering our eighth season, and yet we're constantly discovering new secrets. The variety of them continues to be astonishing. I can't wait to share ten incredible stories with you, stories of tenacity, resilience, and the profoundly necessary excavation of long-held family secrets. Listen to season eight of Family Secrets on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get

your podcasts. What we don't realize is we waste more time in the day than you realize. Yes. My entire day is mapped out because I'm just an efficient person. If I'm in the car, I'm doing a conference call or I'm listening to a podcast. Hey everyone, welcome back to on purpose. The number one health podcast in the world, thanks to each and every single one of you who come back every single week to listen and learn. And I know that you're dedicated to expanding your mind to being a change maker in your life

and the lives of others. And I know that you want to get behind causes, missions and values that can help you find your purpose. And you know that it's my promise to you to try and find guests that I can learn from every single week, ask questions that I'm burning to ask and I know you're thinking about and guests that really represent all of these things that we so need in the world. Today's guest is not going to disappoint at all. She's absolutely phenomenal. She's been using her platform for years as an activist to stand up for things she believes in to make people's

lives easier. And let me tell you exactly who she is. Give me a few moments. So here we go. She's a golden globe nominated and SAG award-winning actress, producer, director, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and known for her work on desperate health swipes. Eva Longoria is the producer of the highest rated summertime drama series to debut in four years grand hotel.

As an activist in philanthropist, Eva Longoria continuously uses her star power to shine her light on important causes close to her heart, creating opportunities for women and people of color through education and entrepreneurship, which I know is so important to so many of us. So here's something she said during an interview that I loved. She said, I don't speak for the Latino community. I speak with and speak from that community.

I absolutely love that, Eva. If it's a joy that we have, and we've just connected recently, was that okay? I was sweating as you were reading it, because it's so, I don't know. It's so funny to hear your life. It is when you're humble and beautiful and amazing and doing so much wonder with it. And it's all true. And I like doing those introductions for my audience because I think sometimes we see such a small snapshot of people. Oh, who do you think they are?

Oh, who do we think they are? The illusion. I call it the illusion. Ah, okay, right. Yeah, you see a three minute interview with someone. You see them on a billboard. Yeah, on a red carpet. On a red carpet.

And then you don't see the full picture. Yeah, I think this is what this is about. I always say that I'm like, they go, oh my god, so great to meet you. I'm like, well, this is the illusion of me. You're like, the no makeup and the no seven people behind the camera who took four hours to get me out the door. That's the. When you share that a lot on social media, I do. I do. I do. I pull the curtain back so people

know sometimes that's not attainable. Like because do you have eight people at home pulling what you're going to wear and deciding, you know, what you're going to do with your hair and makeup. I do, I do. No. I know. Just so you guys know, J has a whole team behind this camera of hair and makeup.

I don't. I definitely don't. I'm the worst. I've never put a makeup for any podcast or anything. I'm like, but anyway. We don't have to. Look how handsome you are. Well, you're very kind, but I could do it a bit of it.

But no, I'm so grateful to have you here. Honestly, I'm so grateful. I was so happy when we connected. I've been a huge fan, admirer, and I was completely blown away from it. I've been admiring you. I was telling someone. I was like, oh, yeah, I know Jay. And then I go, oh, my God, no, I don't. Until we met. I was like, I feel like I know you. Yeah.

Well, you were just telling me. And I want to ask you a ton of questions today because I feel like the beautiful thing about you is, you know, you're the only one who can be the only you a ton of questions today because I feel like the beautiful thing about you is You can speak about talent and art. You can speak about Parenting used to be about life. You can speak about activism like you've really are living such a whole life And I know but it's it's beautiful for me to observe and I want to learn from you today And my first question is just about you were just telling me now that you've been listening to a lot of podcasts and a lot of them have been around parenting, especially.

I wanted to ask you, what have you learned about yourself through Santiago? Oh gosh. I'm saying his name right. Santiago. Yeah, it's Santiago. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

You do learn a lot about yourself when you have a child. Well, he's just starting to get to the responsive age. So like what people don't realize, sometimes you see parents disciplining their kids so early and you're like, no, they don't have reason yet. They don't have judgment yet. So like that's all going to waste. And you want them to explore.

You want them to fall down. You want them to touch things that they're not supposed to. You want them to learn. I didn them to fall down, you want them to touch things that they're not supposed to, you want them to learn. I didn't realize, I think what I learned, two things I learned was what a disciplinary, and I am just in the sense of like, okay, you're gonna go to bed at this time, and this is what he's gonna eat,

and this is like, my husband's like the fun time guy, and I always thought like, I'd be the fun time person. I just like, you know, I'm having structure, and then him having freedom within that structure. But like bed times and nap times, I'm really like on top of it. And the other thing that surprised me was kind of like what you were talking about,

which was my activism, my political activism or my philanthropy got so much more intense. And that like, things hurt me in a deeper way now, like I just go, oh my god, I got to leave the world a better place, even to do my tiny, tiny, tiny part. The anxiety that I have about that and the stakes for me are so much higher now. If that's really like, I was like, oh, there's nothing surprising about motherhood. Like if you read all the books and information that's out there, it's out there. But like when it comes to like, oh gosh, wow, that surprised me of just how intense my work is getting now. That's beautiful. I love that though.

Just the fact that you recognize we all become so much more mindful and aware, and that our actions matter, and the world the way we leave it is going to matter for so many other generations. That's a beautiful lesson. You know, the biggest lesson, I think I've learned so far from many podcasts, mostly from how to raise a good human,

and I forget her name, but she always says, you got it, which can be applied to everybody in your life, but she was talking about how to raise a child, was meet them where they're at. Right? Like people, well, kids are at this point. So you got to meet them where they are. You can't expect them to know more, be more, say more, if they're not ready, they're not ready. They gotta learn that, they gotta evolve, they're a little not only kinesthetically, but like mentally, emotionally, you know,

physically all of that. And I realized, oh my gosh, that's what people, like if you meet an asshole, you're like, oh, okay, he's not where I'm at right now. So I'm gonna have to figure out where he's at so we can communicate. Or if you meet a wonderful person, you can elevate yourself to meet them where they're at.

And I was like, oh my gosh, it was like, that was a mind-blowing thing I learned with the parenting, the parenting podcast. The therapy for Black Girls podcast is the destination for all things mental health, personal development, and all of the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Here, we have the conversations that help Black women dig a little deeper into the most impactful relationships in our lives, those with our parents, our partners, our children, our friends, and most importantly, ourselves. We chat about things like what to do with a friendship ends, how to know when it's

time to break up with your therapist, and how to end the cycle of perfectionism. I'm your host, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. And I can't wait for you to join the conversation every Wednesday. Listen to the Therapy for Black Girls Podcasts on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Take good care. This is what it sounds like inside the box card. I'm journalist and I'm Morton in my podcast City of the Rails.

I plunged into the dark world of America's railroads, searching for my daughter Ruby, who ran off to hop train. I'm just like stuck on this train, not now where I'm going to end up, and I jump. Following my daughter, I found a secret city of unforgettable characters living outside society off the grid and on the edge. I was in love with a lifestyle and the freedom this community. No one understands who we truly are. The rails made me question everything I knew about motherhood, history, and the thing we call the American Dream. It's the last vestige of American freedom. Everything about it is extreme. You're either going to die, or you can have this incredible rebirth and really understand who you are.

Come with me to find out what waits for us in the city of the rails. Listen to city of the rails on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or cityoftherails.com. Hi, I'm David Eagleman. I have a new podcast called Inner Cosmos on iHeart. I'm a neuroscientist and an author at Stanford University, and I've spent my career exploring the three-pound universe in our heads.

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on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yeah, that's beautiful. And I just want to point out how amazing it is right now because she's been talking a lot. And she's had to do voiceovers. She had an amazing movie out. Press. Don't get I know that's why I have this sexy voice, everybody.

Not that you didn't already, but she's doing this even when she's got a strange voice so we have to love her even more for that. Tell us about this you know you you've said before that you literally were the black sheep of your family yeah and now you look at what your life is tell us about like a did you ever see it happening be like what it felt like to start that way? Because I think so many listeners today may feel like they're actually both their family. Right, right. No, I really was.

I've asked my parents many a times if I was adopted. Because I look like no one. I sound like no one. I don't even have the same illnesses that they, like they all have this. I don't or I have this and they don't. I was like, mom, you can tell me now. I'm an adult but no, turns out I am my parents' child

but no, I was raised, you know as the black sheep literally the black sheep because my sisters were blonde and very light skinned when they were born and like hazel eyes they all have very very very light eyes and when I was, I was born with a full head of black hair. My eyes are nearly black and dark skin. I mean, they call me la prieta feya, which means ugly, dark one in Spanish. Yeah. And as people are like, who called you that?

I go, my mom, my family. Oh, wow. La prieta feya. And that was, I mean, that was my entire life. People would walk up to my mom and go, your daughters are so beautiful. And who's this? And I'd be like, I'm the baby. And, you know, my mom, I mean, I was spoiled with love. I mean, they loved me amazingly. So it's not like I, I did without, but it was amazing how people defined, I guess, beauty was, you know, this like, especially in any people of color community, the colorism, right?

Like the lighter you are, the more opportunity you have for white passing, white privilege situations. And so I feel like because I wasn't quote unquote pretty like my sisters, I developed a sense of humor. And so I dealt with everything with like a sense of humor. Since I was six, you know, and kind of carried that with me throughout life, because I didn't blossom until college. It wasn't until college that I actually like, oh, people are noticing me. Oh, it was literally like a summer and I had my face changed, my hair changed, it was funny. I mean, yeah.

And do you think humor was a healing or a defense mechanism? Both. Okay. I think originally it started out as a defense mechanism, like I'm going to criticize myself before you do. And then laughter was so healing. And to hear people laugh was healing to my heart. And I was like, oh, okay, I'm going to be

I'm going to be the clown then And I made a career of it Yeah, no, no, but I love that because I think it's so important to Transition our defense mechanisms into healing Because sometimes as you know the defense mechanism can just become this Yeah way of processing it in the moment But then you walk home with all of that baggage. And it feels really heavy.

Whereas when you're healing, it's almost like, oh, actually, I realized that there are multiple ways that people can appreciate you and recognize you and you can serve and you can be significant. Yeah, and I think once, like, once I became famous, I guess, is I became famous late. Like, I was 30 years old when I became a household name. And I already knew who I was by then.

Yes. So I had a really strong center of who I was. And I didn't let anybody dictate it, whether it was a tabloids or people, or, you know, today it would be comments, but back then they didn't have, we didn't have Instagram. That's how old I am.

But, and so, that helped me. today would be comments, but back then they didn't have, we didn't have Instagram. That's how old I am. But, and so that helped me and I never defined my life by beauty up into that point. It was up, not up into that point until I got people's most beautiful and most beautiful list this and sexy that. And I was like, oh, that's cool. I just thought it was cool. I didn't go, oh, that's who I am now. And, you know, I think that made a big difference.

Was that I was a little older when all those things started happening or when people actually tried to identify you only as beautiful. So now they go, well, you're obviously not smart or hardworking or anything else because you're beautiful. And you're like, no, no, you can, you can be many things. And then like, you can be only one thing. And I think that's amazing because what you're saying is because you'd beautiful. And you're like, no, no, you can be many things. And they're like, you can be only one thing. And I think that's amazing because what you're saying is, because you'd had time to construct your identity

as to who you truly were. And when people started to make your identity singular, you were able to actually look at them and be like, no, actually, I already know who I am. And this is a part of it. But this isn't all of it. Yeah, you said it's so much more eloquent than I did. No, no, no, no. You made it so much more eloquent than I did. No, not at all, no.

You made a beautiful point. I think it's amazing. I think that there's so much to be said for that because it's almost like we know that until we decide how we feel about ourselves, everyone else's feelings are just going to take over. How did you, yeah, go on, you're going to say something beautiful.

No, I wasn't. My really wasn't nothing, nothing that beautiful. But I was going to say I'm kind of going through that again How did you, yeah, gone? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, even conveying that to my teams, whether it's my agent or my purposes or my manager, or the people that actually have to make my dreams come true or who helped me facilitate my dream, like I've found myself lately being inarticulate about it. And so that's one thing I meditate on is clarity. I'm like, I go, okay, I need clarity

because usually my whole life I've been, this is what I'm gonna do, this is the path I'm longing, I go, okay, I need clarity because usually my whole life I've been this way. I am. This is what I'm going to do. This is the path I'm walking. Here we go. And now I'm like, oh, okay. I'm being a mom changes that too. Like it totally, you have a different compass.

Like you're handed in whole new compass. And it's like, here's North. This is North now. And you're like, okay, it's not me. God, yeah, amazing. But I'm so glad you said that. Thank you for sharing that with us, because I think it's so important for all of us to realize that that evolution doesn't stop and that we have to go through it again.

But the fact that you've been through it before, so you have the familiarity to bring in. And like you said, there's going to be new challenges. But the first one you ever went to, I feel, and this is more one that I've seen is, you know, at one point you were going to become a physical therapist. Yeah. Or and then and then where did acting on them? So tell us about like, almost that first kind of, this is another funny story because I was in college, I was in my last year of college and I didn't have enough money to finish my senior year so I was going to have

to drop out. And my girlfriend was like, you should join the scholarship pageant. It wasn't a beauty pageant. It was a scholarship pageant. And I was like, okay, what is that? And what is that? And it's basically beauty pageant. But you win a scholarship. And like, first place was like scholarship, books, tuition, boarding, meal.

It was like the whole shebang. Second place was like a little, let third place, a little, fifth place was books and something else. And I said, oh my God, if I could just get fifth place, I think I can figure out how to pay for the rest. And so I entered the pageant. I remember calling my mom and I said,

mom, I need a dress. Someone being this pageant, she goes, oh honey, is that a good idea? Because she didn't think I was pretty enough. Oh my God. She really was like, you're gonna set yourself up for disappointment. You're gonna be hurt. And I was like, no think I was pretty enough. Oh my god. She really was like, you're going to set yourself up for disappointment. You're going to be hurt.

And I was like, no, I'm not doing it because of that. And because I was not doing it for that, I didn't really take it personally. I wasn't going to take it personally. And I was like, mom, I'm just hoping to get fifth place, hopefully fourth, right? And I was doing the statistics. Like, if I could just, there's 20 of us here.

I just have to do better than 50 people. Anyway, turns out I win the whole thing. I did I won the whole thing. My mom, my sisters didn't believe me. They were like, was anybody else in the pageant? And I was like, guys, I'm pretty now. I know. But he was, and so what happened was I was graduating with my kinesiology degree and I'm still obsessed with exercise science and physiology and the body and fitness and so I wanted to be a sports trainer. I wanted to work for like the Dallas Cowboys, I wanted to work for like a really major team. And in the prize package was a trip to LA to go and compete in this talent competition. And I was like, oh, that'd be fun just to go to LA. I'd never been really outside of Texas. And so I graduate college, I come to LA and I just go, I did this

little competition and I got all these callbacks and people were interested. And they were like, oh, my God, you're great, you're amazing. And I was like, I don't even, what is this? Where am I? What is this? I also fell in love with LA. I remember arriving in LA and probably taking the best breath of my life.

Like I went, like my world opened up outside of Texas. And not only outside of Texas, but outside of corpus Christi, Texas. And I just remember going, whoa, there's other things in the world, other people. It was the first time I'd seen a Jewish person on the street. I was like, there's a person with a hat and the, oh my gosh. And it was the first time I saw an Indian person. And I was like, that's another Mexican like me.

And they're like, no, that's an Indian person. And I was like, oh my God, there's other people of color. I mean, it was so eye-opening just to be in LA. and they're like, no, that's an Indian person. And I was like, oh my God, there's other people of color. You know, I mean, it was so eye-opening just to be in LA. And I said, I think I'm going to do this. I'm going to stay here. In the 1680s, a feisty opera singer burned down a nunnery and stole away with her secret lover.

In 1810, a pirate queen negotiated her cruise way to total freedom, with all their loot. During World War II, a flirtatious gambling double agent helped keep D-Day a secret from the Germans. What are these stories having common? They're all about real women who were left out of your history books. If you're tired of missing out, check out the Womanica podcast, a daily women's history podcast highlighting women you may not have heard of, but definitely should know about. I'm your host, Jenny Kaplan, and for me, diving into these stories is the best part of my

day. I learned something new about women from around the world and leave feeling amazed, inspired, and sometimes shocked. Listen on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I am Mi'amla, and on my podcast, the R-Spot, we're having inspirational, educational, and sometimes difficult and challenging conversations about relationships. They may not have the capacity to give you what you need. And insisting means that you are abusing yourself now. You human!

That means that you're crazy as hell, just like the rest of us. When a relationship breaks down, I take copious notes and I want to share them with you. Anybody with two eyes and a brain knows that too much Alfredo sauce is just no good for you, but if you're going to eat it, they're not going to stop you. So he's going to continue to give you the Alfredo sauce and put it even on your grits if you don't stop him. Listen to the R-Spot on the iHeart Radio app Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to podcasts. A good way to learn about a place is to talk to the people that live there. There's just this sexy vibe and Montreal, this pulse, this energy.

What has been seen is a very snotty city. People call it Bose-Angulous. There's just this sexy vibe in Montreal, this pulse, this energy. Boisman is seen as a very snotty city. People call it Bois Angeles. New Orleans is a town that never forgets its pay. A great way to get to know a place is to get invited to a dinner party. Hi, I'm Brendan Francis Newdum and not lost as my new travel podcast where a friend and I go places, see the sights, and try to finagle our way into a dinner party. We're kind of trying to get invited to a dinner party. It doesn't always work out.

I would love that, but I have like a Cholala who is aggressive towards strangers. I love the dogs. We learn about the places we're visiting, yes, but we also learn about ourselves. I don't spend as much time thinking about how I'm gonna die alone when I'm traveling, but I get to travel with someone I love.

Oh, see, I love you too. And also, we get to eat as much... I love you too. Mike's a lot of therapy goes behind that. You're so white, I love it. Listen to not lost on the iHeart radio app or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm going to be an actor and I remember calling him. I didn't even go home.

I didn't even pack enough clothes. I just said, mom, I'm going to stay an actor and I remember calling him, I didn't even go home. I didn't even pack enough clothes. I just said, my mom, I'm going to stay. And she goes, okay, like my mom, my parents were totally happy because I got my degree. They were like, you know what, as long as you have your degree, of course, you can get a job anywhere. And I was like, yeah, I'll get a job.

And it literally was a left turn. And it was some guiding force. I really think about it now. I wouldn't do that today. I wouldn't get up and move my life. I didn't know anybody. I had no money, no car, no, I knew nothing about an industry. I wanted to be a part of it. And I felt supported and guided by some sort of energy and presence. And I just thought, oh, yeah, this is where I'm supposed to be. It just felt completely right. And I just thought, oh yeah, this is where I'm supposed to be. It just felt completely right.

And I was never one of those people who to said, now I'll give myself three years. And if it doesn't work out, I'm going home. I never, I was like, no, this is it. So we had, it's gonna take as long as it's gonna take. Wow. That's amazing. How were you able to, what I'm listening to you?

One thing that's really coming out from me is, how were you able to separate the comments or judgment that you are receiving from your family, accept the love that you've received from them which you said beautifully. You said they always loved me and I felt that. And how were you able to see that common and judgment as separate from that love?

Because I find like so many people today, one of the biggest questions I get asked is just like, Jay, my parents don't believe in me or like my friends don't believe me or they don't think it's possible for me Yeah, and and sometimes what that does is it blocks the love to oh, right? You know what I mean like we also don't see the love so how will you a I'm just intrigued I don't know yeah, and I'd love for you to think about it because I think it's fascinating is when I hear you talk about it. There's no bitterness There's no resentment. There's no like I think I was I have blinders on when it comes to, because when I hear you talk about it, there's no bitterness, there's no resentment, there's no, like, there's none of that.

I also think I have blinders on when it comes to my goals and my, like, there's nothing you could say that deterred me from my goal. And by the way, that's like the six-year-old Eva, that's 20-year-old Eva, that's 44-year-old Eva. Like, you can tell me, this is a really bad idea. Like, here are the risks, here's the pros, here's the cons, And I would still do

what I want to do. So I don't know if you're born with that. So and I didn't see their judgment as negative. I thought they were being silly and funny and making fun of me. And that comes from love. Right? Like, oh, you know, there's so much. You only mess with the people you love the most. Like, that's who you can really joke with. And that's how I read it for my family was they're like, eh, you really? You're gonna be in a pageant? Really, you won.

Okay. Okay. And I was like, I have a picture. I have a picture to prove it. And I didn't invite any of my family to the pageant. So they kind of didn't believe that it happened because I didn't invite anybody. Yeah.

You're like, okay, I think that happened and he was head. So they don't know till this day whether it actually happened. Well, no, you paid for college. I was in college and I had pictures that you remember. You had to develop them back then. You had to develop the pictures. How much fun are you having with Grand Hotel right now? It's fun.

It's so fun. You know, we wrapped so long ago. So I'm a little removed for it. But what I was doing was when I was directing Grand Hotel, I had, well, first we shot the pilot Grand Hotel and I was eight months pregnant and we shot Miami and I was running around and I was like, okay, we're going to do this, we're going to do this. And that was so much fun because I felt like I had two babies. I had, you know, Santee and my stomach and this pilot that we were hoping would get picked up by ABC. And then had, you know, Santee and my stomach and this pilot

that we were hoping would get picked up by ABC. And then we get picked up and Santee's born and I'm directing the first one. And I'm breastfeeding Santee's seven weeks old. I'm getting three hours of sleep and I was like, how am I gonna do this? I don't know how I'm gonna do this. And I was just breastfeeding them on set.

I have a thousand videos of me saying, and action, and he is breastfeeding so many pictures. And he's just, I'm like, here we go. I mean, we're gonna do it. So I view Grand Hotel as, you know, a parallel universe with Sunti. Because they just happened at the same time. And they were, they were to get off the ground.

Sunti and Grand Hotel. On the same time and they were, they were to get off the ground. Sunti and Grand Odell. At the same time. And so, yeah, I think Grand Odell is one of the most special projects. That one in Dora because the same thing Dora, I was shooting Dora when Sunti was tiny. And so those two projects will always be so special to me because they're, they're in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in compost in sunny. Yeah, but this, this seems like a theme in your life. Like you, you easy route. No, I know.

Yeah, you never do like the one thing. Like most people are like, if you're going to have a kid, one year, like just have a kid, right? I hear that. We don't have kids yet, but we hear that all the time. But you were, you know, you said, doora, yeah, doora, of course. Congratulations.

Thank you. It's been amazing seeing everyone. So doora, you've got a grand hotel, and you're having sunny, right? At the same time. Yeah. And then when you were trying've got a granddaughter and you're having Sunday at the same time. And then when you were trying to become an actress, you also had hunting at the time. Oh my gosh.

Well, like you're doing that and you're struggling at the same time. Let me tell you where all of that comes from. And I'll tell you the head and story. But like my mom raised four girls. One was special needs. My oldest sister is mentally disabled. Worked a full time job.

She became a special education teacher. Took care of our family. Took care of her sister, who was also, both the versitors were older. And so she was just a caretaker for the whole family. And had dinner on the table every day at 6 o'clock that she made from scratch. So I always look at my mom as like, how did she do?

That we went to four different schools. She was a human tax. She dropped one off, picked one up, I was in cheerleading, my sister was in band, my other sister was in flag core, Lisa's getting her therapies. And then she never, I don't remember a day my mom was sick. I don't remember her getting a cold, a flu, a cough, a sneeze, she just did it. She endured and she didn't only survive, she thrive. She was like, did it. So I look at my life and I go, oh my God, I'm not doing enough, like my mom did. My mom did way more and did it happily and with a smile. So yeah, that's where I think the work ethic comes from. But when I moved to Hollywood, I was like, I have my degree,

and I was like, I'm not going to wait tables, not that anything's wrong with that, but I was just like, I have a degree. So I went to a temp agency to get a temp job, because I was like, I'm an actor. I'm an actor, I can't really work too much. And they hired me. And they were like, oh, you should work here.

And I was like, oh, what's here? And they said, oh, you should work here. And I was like, oh, what's what's here? And they said, oh, it's, you know, matchmaking. And there's jobs and people and you put them together and I was like, oh, okay. So not people and people matchmaking. And you know, not people, jobs and people. And I was good at it. I mean, I was, I was just like, this is like my calling.

And I was doing so well that I paid off my college debt, my student debt, my, I mean, am I credit just like, this is like my calling. And I was doing so well that I paid off my college debt, my student debt, my credit card debt, my student debt. I got a car, I had an apartment, I got my head shots, I took acting classes, like it really, it was like a dream job for me because it still allowed me to pursue acting and financially support that dream. And I remember the first big break I got was on Young and the Restless. And I was like, oh my gosh, I got this part.

And it was paying a tenth of what I was making as a headhunter. I was like, oh, I can't live on that. Like that. I have now all of these things I have to pay for. So I continued to be a headhunter while I was young in the rest of, for three years, by the way. Wow. The whole time I was in young in the rest of, I had to keep my other job because they didn't

pay me enough. And I did it out of my dressing room. So I'd be on the phone and I'd be like, yes, I'm negotiating this salary. And then they're like, ready on set? I'm like, okay, I have to run. I have another meeting. And you're learning lines too at the same time. Learning lines, getting hair and makeup, doing publicity, it was fun.

When you're young like that, you have all the energy in the world. I'm a student. Yeah. You're still here. But now I get eight hours of sleep though. I actually budget it. Back then I could roll out of bed from the club

and be like, here we go, let's go. Now that can't I find drink today. I'm not already. Yeah, it's like four days later, I'll recover from drinking. I love already. Yeah, it's like four days later. I'll recover from drinking Love that so true so true and you've reminded me of my mom too like when you were speaking about your mother I I feel exactly the same way, you know my mother was always there But running our own business growing up when I was growing up taking care of me and my sister every

Sporting activity or art activity or whatever it was, always supportive, helping with homework. Yes, my mom too, homework. Yeah, homework, like helping with school, like just, and yeah, she did it so like effortlessly, almost it felt that way. Well, felt like that to us. Yes, it wasn't, it wasn't, but she made it feel like that. She never made it feel like a burden

or never made it feel like it was our fault or whatever it was. Right. I can relate to that. But you have this real ability and it's your superpower. You're able to, continuously, we just talked about head hunting and acting, like making both happen at the same time. You're talking about even then with desperate housewives and doing a like a master's degree.

Yeah, my master's during Disad looking back and like not so much a good idea. Because getting your masters is all encompassing in mentally. Like you have to really dive deep into the purpose of that. Like why are you doing this? And I was, I come from a family of educators. So like all my sisters went to college, my mom, my, my answer teachers.

Like, so I was the last person in my family to get a master's degree. That's crazy. What how many families can say that? And I knew I was very blessed with the idea that education was important, and also hearing the word university, university, university in my household. So many kids today don't even hear that word in their household. So I was really lucky. So it was something harping at me

because I was supposed to always get my masters and then I took a left turn and went to Hollywood. And then as I was on set, desperate, I was the number one show in the world and my mom was like, right, but when are you gonna get your masters? Like, she was like, even then. Even then.

Yeah, like mom, mom, we was like, even then. Even then. Mom, mom, we're number one in China right now. OK, do you know what that means? She's like, yeah, doesn't mean anything. And also what was happening, which was ironic, because it's still happening, was this border issue, this immigration issue. And it was such a hot topic in that moment

and continues to be that I wanted to dive deeper into the history of immigration of our country because I hate misinformation. I don't like misinformation. It's one thing my grandma taught me. You never hate something. She's like, don't say that word. I would be like, I hate orange juice.

She goes, you cannot hate orange juice. You cannot like orange juice, but you do not hate anything. I know I'm always that's why when I hear it, I'm like, oh, that's the one word. Like no curse word. You can curse all you want, but when somebody goes, I hate milk or would I hate anything? I'm like, don't say that word. Sorry. I don't like the amount of misinformation in the world. So I was like, I don't even know this information. Let me go get it. So I took one class about Chicano 101, which was, you know, Chicano's a politicized word

in the civil rights movement, the Chicano civil rights movement, that really is about the Mexican-American, specifically, Mexican-American journey in the United States. And so the history, because many of us didn't cross the border, the border crossed us. And so we are rooted in this country, in this, in this tierra, in this world, in this earth, in this whatever, you know, border that is put up, we're still part of this land. And so understanding that history and I took one class and then I took another class and then

I took a third class and finally that university was like, you know you have to enroll eventually. And I was like, okay. So then I enrolled, but like I didn't think about it other than I just want to take more classes. I want to learn and I was devouring it. Once you enroll, there is a timeline. You have to finish and you have to take these certain classes by a certain time and then

you have to do your thesis. And then your thesis has to be argued and then I was like What did I do and I never told anybody I was doing it by the way and it got out that I was doing it And that put more pressure on me to finish because I was like even if I don't finish at least I took more classes and once it got out to the press and People kept talking about like that's so great. That's so great. We are my Our community needs you. I was like, oh, now I have to finish. And so that's why I got my masters and then ended up writing my thesis, which was, is the basis of my foundation, which is my life's work.

And so I remember I had a great mentor at the time, Henry C. Snettles, and there's 20 people like in your cohort, in your class, and 19 of them were doing immigration thesis. Like from different points of view, to different entry points, you know, everything, anything you can think of. And I was like, yeah, I want to do my thesis on immigration, and my mentor goes, but is that going to be your life's work? Like, what is going to be your life's work? Your thesis in your masters is diving deep into one thing. And things can branch off of that.

Like, oh, because social issues are all connected. But he's like, but what are you going to be an expert at? And I said, oh, I don't. Well, I really am interested in education because my family comes from educators. And I want to help more Latinos attain higher education if I'm finished high school, right? Like finished high school and then be able to go further.

And so he's like, that's what your thesis needs to be on. So if it's education, what about education? Who do you want to help? And I said, well, I want to help women. I know that young girls. He goes, great. And what do you want to help? Like he made me drill down specifically. What? But how are you going to great. And where do you want to help? Like he made me drill down specifically,

but how are you going to help and why are you going to help? And so I said, well, I feel like there's not enough Latinas and STEM fields, you know, science, technology, engineering, and math. And when we don't have a seat at the table with these industries, innovation doesn't service our communities. Correct. So I was like, okay, let me help facilitate that.

So my thesis was specifically on Latinas in STEM fields and how diversity creates innovation for anything, whether you're a researcher or a teacher, whatever, you know, or a scientist or an engineer, I mean, solutions come from people's experiences. And so we need more experiences to innovate world problems, you know, to solve world problems. What an amazing mentor.

I know. He's really pushed you there. Yeah, that's great. And we're what he's doing. Immigration. Yeah. Well, and good. And good.

That's why I did that. I know I never do things easy. I know. It's beautiful. We need you. Do we need this strength and the toughness? I think what it shows me is just what it shows me and shows so many people today.

I think so many of us get lost in the excuse of like, well, I can't chase my passion if I'm doing this. Or I can't do this if it's meaningful to me because I have a day job. Well, I can't, you know, and I'm not saying that everyone should do everything, but what I am saying is that you're showing us through your own behavior and action and choices, that if you put your mind to it,

you can do multiple things that are actually very different. Yeah, I think also what we don't realize is we waste more time in the day than you realize. Yes. And so, like I'm sometimes on Instagram, but I really look at the screen time, and I give myself, like, this is the time you can look at Instagram.

I'm like, my entire day is mapped out because I'm just an efficient person. If I'm in the car, I'm doing a conference call, or I'm listening to a podcast. If I'm on a plane, I'm reading a script, I'm reading a book, I'm watching a TV show that I have to watch for a reason. Like, if I'm, you know, bathing Santi, I am FaceTiming with Grandma because Grandma's gonna, this is your time, Grandma, with Santi.

It's just like, what can I do? And I remember also when I was on Disprud House I learned French. And it was... Come on, I did learn French and Spanish because I didn't grow up speaking Spanish, but French was my first, my second language, and then my third language was Spanish. But through these tapes, and so if I was working out, I was listening to the tapes. If I was driving, I was listening to these tapes, and then I would go to class and I would buy the books for French. And I remember my castmate going, I can't believe, you know, when we finished housewife,

she goes, you've learned two languages and got a master's degree. She goes, and I just endured. But because there was so much downtime on set, there was so much, I was in my trailer for an hour, and I felt like I wasn't reaching my full potential as a human being. Like, I was having fun on the show, don't get me wrong, and I was really I wasn't reaching my full potential as a human being. Like I was having fun on the show, don't get me wrong,

and I was really grateful for like, I'm on this amazing show and I'm having, and I took acting very seriously, but like there's so much downtime and off days that I was like, I gotta fill this with something else. That is amazing. Yeah. That is awesome.

I love that. Now all of us, everyone listening and watching me included them, like no excuses. There's more, there's more time than you think. And like I said, I also scheduled. Now, all of us, everyone listening and watching me included them, like, no excuses. There's more. You waste more time than you think. And like I said, I also scheduled my sleep. So like, I go to the gym at 6 a.m. So I have to be in bed by 10.

If I'm in bed by 10, that means dinner's at 7. If I have a dinner, like, and I just, like, schedule things like that. And by the way, there's monkey wrenches, like, all right, this dinner went late. I'm going to be tired tomorrow. But it's not my lifestyle. You know what I mean? It's the exception of the rules. It's the exception of the rule.

When people go out on time to work out, I was like, yeah, you actually do. You probably do. And I think that's part of it. We need rules to have exceptions from. Otherwise, everything's the exception. Like, otherwise, everything's over the place and there's no rules.

I can agree with you more. Tell me about how you've seen the Latino experience in Hollywood. Like, somebody's not familiar with that. What is that? If you want to go there. No, no, it's a big topic. There was a study that just came out yesterday from USC, Stacey Smith at USC, talking about not only we severely underrepresented in Hollywood, but the erasure of Latinos in film is creating the problems we're having in society. Interesting. It definitely is correlated.

If you only see gang bangers, drug dealers, criminals in TV and film, then that educates a community about who we are. It educates people who don't have a Latino in their town to go, oh, that's what they are. And I think more important than that is it educates our community on who we are. And so if I'm a young Latino and only see those portrayals, it's damaging. And so you can't be what you can't see. And I think that there has to be conscious change to happen. So I feel like sometimes people go, well, this is an unconscious bias. Like people just go to the to the well, they always go to, you know, a white male talent.

And so who's left out of that is women, people of color, LGBTQA, I mean, all of this. And so you have to understand there's different talent polls awaiting usage. And so hopefully, I think we're facing the right direction now. I don't know if we've taken a step. Right.

But you at least feel that this is. We're like this. And now we're like, know if we've taken a step. Right. But you at least feel that we're like this. And now we're like, okay, there it is. Let's go. Yes. And then you know, same thing happened, you know, going back to Gran Hotel, when I was finally in a position of power to hire as a producer, as executive producer and a director, it was our job to staff up the director's slots. So we had 13 open slots. And what we did was primarily hire women for women first.

Let's fill the slots with women. And once we ran out of that talent pool, we said, great. Now the rest of the slots, people of color, great. And then once those filled up, then the remaining slots were your usual white male directors. And we did that purposely. And so the same thing with director photography, I took these traditional jobs. I took these jobs. I looked at these jobs that were traditionally held by men and I asked for women. I was just like, you know, director of photography, cinematographers mostly male. And I said, are there any women?

And they go, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then they sent me some female names. I ended up hiring a female director of photography, Alison Kelly. And she ends up hiring women in her department, right? So then it like trickles down. Then we hired two female assistant directors and they end up hiring female PAs.

And it just, there's a great trickle down effect. We needed a stunt coordinator because we had a big stunt to do. And they're like, here's Tom Dickenherry. And I was like, right, are there any female stunt coordinators? Like there must be female stunt coordinators. They go, oh yeah, there are. And of course, they send me the names and I go, great, her, Helena. So we had a female stunt, we really filled these non-traditional roles,

jobs that are held by men with women and, oh, it works. I'm like, oh, and they're just a talented and they're just as creative. So it's the same with Latinos and Hollywood, so instead of unconsciously ignoring us, you should consciously hire us in front of and behind the camera. Yeah, absolutely. And I think that's amazing. I think it's so amazing to see how intentional and focused and strategic you've been about representation, maturing. Yeah. Because it's almost like it feels like if you don't do that, then it kind of just doesn't happen. It won't. Yeah, because it's like, if I'm not doing it, if you don't take it in,

why would John Smith do it? Yeah, absolutely. It's like, this is my community, I should do it. And like you said, I don't do it to be a hero. I do it because I don't, like you said, when you open the podcast, you have to be very careful about speaking for people. I speak for women.

I speak for, you know, I say, no, no, no. I don't speak for Latinos. What I do is teach and inspire them to speak up for themselves. And the way we can do that in Hollywood is by hiring them, whether you're a storyteller or a grip or a lighting person or an actor or writer, you tell that story, you tell your story. So I'm not, you know, trying to go,

listen to me, this is what we gotta do. It's, you know, trying to go, listen to me, this is what we're going to do. It's, you know, go do what you want to do, and you can do it. I give you permission. Right? Like sometimes people just want permission to be great. Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah, that's amazing. Was it hard for you to transfer over from being an actor to then production and direction. Or have you enjoyed that? No, because I'm very bossy. I like telling people what to do. I can tell when this is for no one's to it. But before this podcast started,

I thought I was about to get scored. I was getting all sorts of directives. Yeah, I'm like, I'm going to sit there. You sit there. I'm going to have the better light. No. I love it. I love it.

Literally. No, it was. I feel like, you know, people go, she's an actor, turn director. I feel like I was always a director, producer, turn actor, because I've been fascinated by the business side and the assembly of a project. And also, again, I remember being on set in Desperel Swaves and going to my mark and saying my lines, and then you go home. You don't get to pick your co-star. You don't get to say, get to write the things that are coming out of your mouth.

You don't get to pick the music that's going to lay over this. You don't get to pick what you're wearing. You don't get, like, there's actors have the least amount of control in the whole process of filmmaking and moviemaking and TV making. And so I just go, I want to have more control of my destiny, of my career, and of the final product that is being put out there. And that's why I chose to get behind the camera.

Because I was like, no, no, I want to make the decision. I think that's on for it. No, I think it's great. I think we should celebrate that. It's awesome. And I couldn't agree with you more. Like, I think for so much talent to continue saying the words that they haven't written and to be like what you're saying defining an experience. Yeah. I want to define my own experience.

Yeah. Absolutely. And experience of the viewers too. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. No, I can relate a lot to that. I've been unplanting my tour at the moment for me to go and visit all the cities in which I have a wonderful community and go meet everyone. And for me to go and visit all the cities in which I have a wonderful community and go meet everyone. And for me, it's very much about defining an experience. I was like, I don't just want to stand on a stage and I speak on any stage. It's like I want to design an experience so that people know that they've come to a place that embodies everything that I believe in and value. Well, and speaking of this podcast, like on purpose, so I remember one of the things I learned from Oprah. I'm not name-dropping because I remember one of the things I learned from Oprah, and I'm not name droppings, I didn't meet her. I just saying from her show.

There she is. There she is. Was when she used to do her daily show, I was like, how do they fill up 360 days a year of like, you know, booking people, and booking, you know, talk, just psychologists, and whatever, picking the themes and picking the topic of the show and she said, I produce with purpose.

So every show has to deliver something. Why am I producing this particular episode? And I have carried that with me in everything that I do. Like, what is the point? And so I'll get pitched things of like, oh, it's like a like empire, but Latino. I go, right, okay, but and then what? Great. Like, I've turned down so many things that I go, that's going to be people are going to watch that. I just don't know what the point is. Like, what's the purpose? For you, yeah. For me, exactly. It might serve as something in your life, but it's not servicing my goals of whatever

that is. And so producing with purpose has been the mantra of my production company. And that's probably why I produce so many documentaries. It's because humanizing social issues is the best way to educate somebody about it. And so my agents to my agents of Grin, because they're just like documentaries, don't make movies. I don't make money either. Stop making documentaries. They make no money. And I'm like, but that's not my purpose.

Yeah. If that was my purpose, I wouldn't do them. But my purpose for the documentaries is a different. Yeah. Different point. I love that. And I think that's so important. That applies to everything, like not just movies or shows.

It's like, you get to apply that to everything in our lives, like why are we sitting down with anyone or every meeting or friend we allow into our space or just really reflecting on what is the purpose of this interaction conversation, be ill, whatever it may be. Yeah, totally. And being able to do that, and yeah, anyone is listening

and watching our highly encourage you to do that with your work, with your relationships, with every area. And if you can't answer the question, then you can look for an answer, and if you can't answer the question, then you can look for an answer. And if you can't find the answer, then that is the answer. And I think, like I'm doing now in my life is taking an emotional inventory and going, okay, what's this servicing? Nothing.

Out. Okay. What is it like just doing the spring cleaning of your emotions? And so I always love that idea of like, oh, let's take an emotional inventory. My husband and I will do it together. Where are we at? What are we doing?

Okay, here we go. All right, this is wasting our time and not really fulfilling us in any way. So out, not doing that anymore. Even with like silly things like not only projects and people, whether it's property, like we, you know, we had this house in Miami, we're like, we don't go, why do we have that? Like, you don't realize it because sometimes there's a different part of your life that is about attainment.

I'm going to attain as much as I can, whether it's money, whether it's houses, whether it's cars, whether it's little, and lately, my husband, I've just looked at our life and go, whoa, what is the purpose of this many things? Okay, we don't need that, we don't need that, we don't need that. And I think that's important to do from time to time. Yeah, I agree. Before I became a monk, I did that in a tiny way. Because I gave away a lot of my best clothes to my friends.

One of them, so I gave away all these football jerseys or soccer jerseys that I had that I'd collected. I love soccer, so I had all these jerseys and I was giving them away. And then when I came back from being a monk, I was like, yeah, I might take that back. I did that recently with, I'd never thought I'd lose the pregnancy weight,

because I got so big that I just resigned myself to like, well, this is the new normal. And I gave away so many clothes. I was like, jeans out, tight, anything tight out, out, out. And now I did lose the weight. And I'm like, can I, can I have that dress back? And you can't, no, I don't have your friend to give my friend in my style.

No, my friend, no. And I'll see my friend wearing it. And I go, I love that dress. And she goes, you gave it to me. And I go, oh, okay. Yeah, I loved that. Yeah, I auctioned off the soccer ball that was signed by all the players of Manchester United

and I auctioned it off a charity before they gave a monk to give it away. Is that your team? Yeah, that's my team, yeah. Is that what David played? Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, like, yeah. What's the opposite of Manchester City?

Okay. Yeah, we don't mind. Yeah. So, no, because did you see the prank that Gordon James courted on him? I did. And the guy's like, hey, we don't like it. So no, because did you see the prank that Gordon James courted on him? And the guy's like, Hey, you and Manchester City man. And it was like, no, you got the team wrong. That's when the mid that statue of it. Yeah. Oh my God. That statue was hilarious. But the funniest thing was like, you gotta keep confusing the teams. Yeah, that was so bad. Yeah,

Manchester City is like Manchester United's arch enemy and now they're really good. Yeah, that was so bad. Yeah, Manchester City is like Manchester United's eye championing and now they're really good. Oh, are they good? Yeah, they're good now. So, so. Where did Terry on replay Arsenal? Yeah, Terry was at Arsenal in the Barcelona. Where does it end play? He played, well now he's the manager of Real Madrid and he's played Real Madrid. He also played at Juventus. I believe he also played at Barcelona. He played at Juventus. Yeah. Oh, interesting. It's funny, sorry, this is, you can edit this out, but I got this invitation to host the FIFA Awards in Zurich. No way.

So I'm reading, I'm in bed and I'm reading this and I go, F-I-F-A, honey, they want me to host some FIFA thing. And he goes, what? And I go to the awards, I don't know, I don't know all these people. And he goes, you have to do it because my husband's a huge soccer player. He's like, you have to do, we have to do,

we have to go, it'll be so amazing. I was like, all right, so I said yes. And I had to interview all these players. I had interview Maradona, I had interview Ronaldo, I had interview all these players. And I didn't know who any of them were. Thanks, thanks Eva, thanks right now. Yeah, I'm really in love with you right now. Yeah, yeah. And then last minute. I didn't know who I'd even more. Messy. Thanks, Eva, thanks, right? Yeah, Messy.

I'm really in love with you right now, the kid. Yeah, yeah. And then last minute. I can't believe it. Last minute, my husband couldn't go. And I had to go by myself. I go, well, I don't want to go. Like, I didn't want to go to the thing in the first place.

You're the one that made me say, yes. And now you're not coming. Last minute, he could not go. Oh, my God. So I'm there going, honey, okay. So Messy play is from Spain. And he goes, no, he is not from Spain. And if you say that, they're going to throw a rock at you. And I was like, but

I tell you, he said he played in Spain. He goes, no, he plays in Spain. But he's not from Spain. They're very serious. But I was like, all right. So Maradona's from Spain. No, they said, no, no, he's not from Spain. He was kidding. So he made me a PowerPoint presentation. Oh, my, oh, that's good. So I could, it's amazing. I was like, so, and then I was like, oh, Ronaldo Cristiano, what's his name? Yeah, Cristiano. Because isn't there two of them?

Ronaldo, yeah, the Brazilian Ronaldo. Okay. And there's Ronaldo Daniel. So I was like, oh gosh. So I was like, Cristiano's from Brazil, right? And he goes, no, and I go, he speaks Portuguese. And he goes, hey, it's from Portugal. Oh my god.

It's a thick, I mean, it's a thick, I mean, anyway, yeah, I ended up doing it, but not. Cool. Not happy about it. Very cool. Yeah, very cool. Not jealous at all. Yeah, you would have loved it. No, I loved that.

Yes. Do you want us to keep that in? No. I love that. It was great. But, no, but, uh, where were we at? No one cares. Yeah, no. I love it. It was great. It was great. But, but no, but where were we at? No one cares. Yeah, no, that's, no, I think, I think the awesome thing is that, no, there's no

lesson in that. There's no lesson in that. There's no lesson in that. There is no lesson in that. That was me just being very excited to that. I know. And so far as you call it soccer. I do when I'm here.

You said everyone knows what I'm talking about. Because if I say, I can't call it real football, then everyone gets to say so. I know, I know here. You said everyone knows what I'm talking about. Because if I say I can't call it real football then everyone gets a I know I know. Have you been to the Los Angeles? I have. I've been to the LA Galaxy Stadium. What's the difference by the way? So there's LAFC and LA Galaxy. There's the two teams in LA. Oh they're both MLS. They're both MLS. Oh I didn't know that. Okay. Did not. that. Yeah, yeah. They're both there. I mean, why would I know that? Yeah, why would you know?

You don't know what Chris Chanoff and I are doing. I just love the food at the LAFC. Okay. Yeah. I was secretly hoping you were a football fan, but I guess. I'm a football fan. Oh, yeah. American football.

I'm a American football fan. I'm a huge NFL fan. Yeah, I love, I love the NFL. Do you not like it? I've been, I've been, I'm interested in people in the NFL, like players, fascinated by people. But I just didn't grow up on it. That's what it is.

I watch it, but I didn't grow. I think when you grow up on something. Oh yeah, and I'm from Texas. So Texas is a football state. I think that's what it's like. When you grow up on something, it has a huge. So I even watched a lot of basketball growing up. So I love basketball.

Yeah, absolutely love basketball. But football, soccer is my main sport. But anyway, I was gonna ask you, with Santi, what is there? I asked you earlier what you'd learned from him and since having him, what are you trying to teach and what would you like him to take on? When I... For the most important things. Yeah.

And how you're doing it? I read a book when I was pregnant. It's amazing how many... You should write a book about this because there's not a lot of books on it, because I was pregnant. It's amazing how many how how this you should write a book about this because there's not a lot of books on it because I was looking for it, but I I wanted to know when I was pregnant, I wanted to know what was spiritually happening. So there's so many books of like today, he has fingernails this week, he has brain is developing, eat a lot of salmon this month, this is happening. And I was like, what is spiritually happening in my belly and my friend Deepak gave me his book and he said, read this book and it was the spirituality and miracle of pregnancy

and it was basically that of like, even in the book he said, you know, don't watch anything that upsets you even if it's fake, like a scary movie. Yes. Or something because he's like, the baby doesn't know that feeling is manufactured. You just go, oh, you get scared or whatever. And, you know, same thing with like trying not to be stressed or anything. Just how everything channels into the baby and all of that stuff. But there was literally one, it was like his book and that was it. And I said, no, there has to be more. Like, does the heart create before the mind?

I mean, the brain, like physically. So that's why we do lead with our heart. Like I wanted to know so many other answers. Anyway, and so in the book, he said, you know, every night when you rub your cream on or whatever, do a mantra with what you wish for your child. And my wish for him was kindness and compassion. Please let him be. I mean, health, of course, like that was like a given. I was like,

okay, I hope he's healthy. But the thing I want to impart most on him is to be a hope he's a kind and compassionate human being, you know, and mindful. I think a lot of things hang off the tree of mindfulness. So, you know, sometimes you can have a gullible compassionate person. But if you're mindful, I feel like there's a level of compassion and intelligence to be deciphering good situations, bad situations, what takes your time, what shouldn't take your time. And so mindfulness was a big one. Yeah, that's beautiful. I love that. And it's so true. Yeah, the Vedic terms and I know Deepak well as well, he's a good friend. The some scars that children have are all the way from conception through to as they get older. And so the qualities and the values we want

them to embody and meditating on those and then the qualities when they come in. So I think that's beautiful. What a beautiful meditation to. And I love what you said there. It's not just about being kind and compassionate and gullible, but being focused, intentional, mindful, being able to process that. It's a very big difference. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Absolutely. It's amazing.

And one thing I read about you which I thought was unbelievable, which I have to say, and you're going to hate me for saying it, but I'm going to say it anyway. I have it. Is Hollywood report to name you the philanthropist of the year, which I thought was unbelievable, which I have to say and you're gonna hate me for saying you, but I'm gonna say it anyway. I have it. Is Hollywood Reporter named you the philanthropist of the year, which I thought was amazing. And that's beautiful. To have come here, to have paved your own path,

to have worked so hard. And for this space and community and world to recognize that, and I must have felt incredible. No, it was amazing. And at the same time, giving you an opportunity to use that platform to do more incredible work. Tell it was amazing. And at the same time, given you an opportunity to use that platform to do more incredible work, tell us about that. Yeah. So, so much, so much, that meant a lot to me because, you know, I grew up with a special need sister. So my oldest sister, Lisa, has a

mental disability. She was born at like seven months, so didn't get enough oxygen to her brain. So she has like about a third grade level for her life, like her reading, her comprehension. And so because of that, I was born into her world. And when we were young, we would use so many community services, whether it was Boys and Girls Club or Salvation Army. We would always go a special Olympics. There were so many organizations that helped my sister and our family that I never forgot.

Like I was like, who are these people helping us? They don't even know us. And my mom would always say, charity. And I thought charity was a person. Like I was like, you know, charity so like, and we used to have to volunteer. That was the greatest lesson. I think my mom taught us very early was volunteerism. And so she's like, we're going to go volunteer at the soup kitchen.

We're going to volunteer at the boys and girls cup. We're going to volunteer at Special Olympics. I thought it was a job. I was like, I want to be a volunteer when I grew up. How beautiful. Yeah, it was because at my earliest childhood memories, all revolve around special Olympics Because my sister was in it so we had to go and volunteer because my mom's like oh, I'll go and let's go get in the car You're volunteering leases competing and I remember my my first job was a hugger

Like they're that's a job at a special Olympics and you hug the athletes at the end of their race at the end of their competition and the healing of that gesture of a hug to a stranger was really something that had stuck with me. And I remember I must have been maybe five. Like the fact that I remember that and I always wanted to go back and be a hugger. So just that lesson of like giving back, volunteering, community was ingrained in the DNA of who me and all my sisters are. So regardless of being famous, I knew that was my destiny and my role and my responsibility.

And then the fact that I became famous and had this platform to talk about and shine a light and give a voice and all of that stuff was really just a natural evolution because I was doing it anyway. So I was really grateful for the microphone that I ended up receiving so I could do more of what I was already doing. What my family has always been doing. And so yeah, people at times want to go, no, like when what got you philanthropic, I'm like, oh, no, that's since I was a kid. Yeah. And the other thing that I do, I manifest a lot of things. And I remember moving here in 1998 and walking in Hollywood Boulevard, I wanted to live in

Hollywood because when I wrote home, I wanted the address on the envelope to say Hollywood, California Not knowing Hollywood was like really get away at that time. Now it's like chic But I was walking a Hollywood bar and I was looking at all the stars on the walk of fame And I said one day I'm gonna have a star here I'm gonna have a star and I picked the spot and it'm going to have a star here. I'm going to have a star. And I picked the spot. And I said, it's going to be right here. And this empty, this isn't empty one. I'm going to, it's going to be right here. And 20 years to the day, I got my star on the walk of fame,

probably five feet from where I said that to the... You don't get to pick. No, you don't get to pick. Yeah, you don't get to pick. You don't get to pick. They go... I know it was five feet away from that. I was five feet away.

From where I stood on the corner of La Brea and Holly Wilvard, and I was like, it's gonna be right here. And mine's like five feet from where I said. And so that's something I believe in. But it's also more than that. Like, you know, people go, I'm gonna be a star.

Okay, well, you gotta put the work in. Yeah, and we've, let's talk. Yeah, in the work-up. Yeah, you've done that. Yeah. But just first visualizing it, saying it is really the two biggest steps. And I think for women to, you know, there's not a lot of female directors. There's not a lot of female, um, females behind

the camera like there should be. Um, and a lot of that is because, you know, we don't want to even say it out loud because that might be, it might be full of myself, but I should be a writer. I should be a director. I should say it. Say it, do it, give yourself permission, because that's the first step. Then you, then you go into your plan of how to, how to accomplish it, but the first step is just, you know, verbalize it, visualize it, and then say it. Yeah, visualize, verbalize. And yeah, I always feel like you have to feel it and mean it when you say, if you're gonna believe it,

you have to feel it and mean it for sure, because that's what I think the difference is in what you're saying, it's gonna happen for me, and it's where it's like, no, this is it, and then following it up, and I think that's what I love about manifestation is that the visualization and verbalizing is then also backing it up with focused action.

Right. Focus action and I always say, like curate your day, right? So like does what I'm doing today lead to that goal? Yes. And there's so much you do in the day that is not leading to what you are trying to manifest. And so all of that energy is being burnt up towards something that you don't

even want. And that's why some people wake up in marriages that they never wanted and jobs they never wanted. They're like, what happened? Because you were putting so much energy into this thing. Instead of the other. That's why I think I intention such a strong compass as well, because if you're not doing it for a deep reason, you can get there and actually feel disappointed. Yeah. If you're doing it for a deep reason, you'll get then realize there's so much more to do and you keep going. But otherwise, most people, if you don't have a deep intention, you may never get there.

And so then you feel you still keep thinking, oh, there was something there. Or you get them, then you're disappointed. And we see that a lot where people get the name and the fame and the money and the star and everything, but then you still feel like, oh, well, it didn't add up. Yeah, because it wasn't what you're intentioned. It wasn't driven by anything else. But the other thing I learned about intention,

which was like another aha moment for me was, your actions have to match your intentions. So you know, people go, oh, I didn't intend to hurt you. That was my intention to hurt your feelings, but your actions did hurt me. So your actions have to match your intention. And I really use that as another mantra to go, well, my intention is to do this.

What action do I have to do towards that? Correct. Absolutely. I love that. Even you're amazing. You are awesome. Thank you for doing this with a sore throat. Having done so much press, you have to do Colbert tonight, USA. Conan. Conan, sorry, I'll take that. Conan, let's do it.

Conan. Okay, all right. You're doing Conan tonight as well, which is just insane. So thank you for being here. We end every interview with what I call the final five. This is the final five. This is the final five rapid five quick five rounds. You can only answer in one word or one sentence.

One word or one sentence. Yeah, okay. Okay, go. Ready? Okay, so here we go. Number one, one of your favorite moments on set. You can answer in a sentence. On set.

Yeah, one of your favorite moments of all time. I know it's a hard question. Oh gosh, I've had so many moments. Okay, hold on, let me think. Yeah. We're not gonna, let me think. Yeah. We're not gonna call the directors of the producer. I know, I think, wow, God, that's a story. It's the desperate housewives,

the day after our premiere in 2004. Amazing. Yeah. I remember watching it, I can't believe it, 2004. I'll never forget the day, because the producer called and they go, we're a hit. And I go, okay, I can't believe it 2004 well. I'll never forget the day Because it was the producer called and they go we're hit and I go okay. I didn't know what that meant Yeah, I love that that's I did not know what change was in store for my life great story Yeah, I love that okay second question. What do you love most about santi? This soul

This soul is a really pure soul. I love that question. Number three, the movie you've rewatched the most. Doesn't have to be one of yours. Oh, definitely not one of mine. Hahaha. There's a couple, Casino, still magnolias, soap dish. Oh, interesting.

Okay, all I haven't seen. What? I've never seen Casino. No, I haven't. All I haven't seen. What? I've never seen Casino. No, I haven't. You've given me a great list. You've seen it. No, I've never seen it.

I haven't seen it. I'm leaving this room right now and going to watch it. Okay. Great. And still my gnaw list. Hello. Okay. I have not.

Valley Parton. No, I've not seen it. Oh, Lord. Great. 9 to 5. Okay. I love it. Okay. It was number four. your favorite dish to cook. Anything Mexican. Okay, I love Mexican food. Yeah, I'm a big cook.

You have invited me over for dinner once. I know. Oh, I know. I'm now going to invite myself. Because Mexican food is literally my favorite. Great. We'll do, we'll do talk on it. Okay, great. And the fifth and final question, which I think,

I'm going to give you more than one sentence to answer because I think you'll answer it beautifully. One thing we can order you today to make the world a better place. Ah, the one thing, the one practice, the one mantra, the one habit that you think the world could adopt on a daily basis to make the world a better place. What I'm usually saying is look around you.

The biggest myth about philanthropy is that you have to be rich and famous to make a difference. That is not true. If you look at the biggest organizations in the world, it was started by an angry mom, a frustrated coworker, you know, a, a, an injustice that happened to somebody like those leaders were inspired to do something bigger because they experienced something. And so I always say, you know, look at your neighbor, see if they have needs,

look across the street, look in your community, you don't have to cure AIDS, you don't have to solve global warming, you don't have to, like, you know, sometimes the world's problems feel so big and you go, I'm not gonna make a dent, so I'm gonna drink out of this plastic bottle. It's like, no, why don't you just do that? Stop using plastic bottles.

Yeah, don't use plastic straws. There's so many tiny, tiny, tiny things that do make a difference. And I think that goes across everything. People feel that way about our democracy. Like my vote doesn't count. There's so many people. And it's like, no, it does.

Me recycling, one person recycling, doesn't count. It does. Me meditating for the world, praying, it does. Me recycling, one person recycling doesn't count. It does. Me meditating for the world, praying for the world. It's not going to matter. It does. Because when you have a collective movement of any sort, it's going to move mountains. And so we do need your individual energy and your individual intention and love towards anything, anything. You don't have to look for and you'll find somebody or something in need.

I love that. What a beautiful message to end on. Thank you so much. Thank you. That was so much to do with this. Yeah, that's it. Yeah, that's it. I hope you had a lot of fun doing it. It was so much fun. Everyone who's been watching or listening at home, whether you're walking your dog or you're cooking or you're at the gym or you're commuting, I want you to, from your heart, literally listen to this podcast again if you have to, but just find that message that stood with you. There are so many lessons that are hidden away beautifully and gracefully in Eva's life. And I really hope that today we've been able to unearth some of those gems and you're going to find the ones that mean something to you and you're just going to choose one practice or one

habit or one thought and just make one change in your life. That's all you have to do. Just pick one thing and let us know on Instagram which one you're going to pick too because I want to see what you're unearthing from all of these gems in Eva's life. And Eva, thank you. You're incredible. I'm so excited to continue our friendship. Me too.

And I'm just so grateful to you, honestly. Thank you so much. Oh, I'm so happy. This was so fun. Yeah, I hope you do it. This is the best way to take it to know somebody quickly. Me too. And I'm just so grateful to you. Honestly, thank you so much. Oh, I'm so happy. This was so fun. Yeah, this is the best way to take it to know somebody quickly. It is. It's awesome. Thank you so much. Thank you. And everyone go check out Eva across everywhere. Yeah. Only Instagram because she says lots of cute stuff. I do. I have good stories. Yeah, exactly.

Without check her out on Instagram. Go go follow her on Instagram. For sure. Thank you so much. Thank you. I'm Eva Longoria and I'm Maite Gomes R. Juan. We're so excited to introduce you to our new podcast hungry for history. On every episode we're exploring some of our favorite dishes, ingredients, beverages from our Mexican culture. We'll share personal memories and family stories, decode culinary customs, and even provide a recipe or two for you to try at home. Listen to Hungry for History on the I Heart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Conquer your New Year's resolution to be more productive with the Before Breakfast podcast in each bite-sized daily episode. Time management and productivity expert Laura Vandercam teaches you how to make the most of your time, both at work and at home. These are the practical suggestions you need to get more done with your day. Just as lifting weights keeps our bodies strong as we age, learning new skills is the mental equivalent of pumping iron. Listen to Before Breakfast on the I Heart Radio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

The one you feed explores how to build a fulfilling life amidst the challenges we face. We share manageable steps to living with more joy and less fear through guidance on emotional resilience, transformational habits, and personal growth. I'm your host, Eric Zimmer, and I speak with experts ranging from psychologists to spiritual teachers, offering powerful lessons to apply daily. Create the life you want now. Listen to the one you feed on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you

get your podcasts. or wherever you get your podcasts.