Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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Chapter 2: What is the main theme of 2 Chainz's book, The Voice In My Head Is God?
So when you're reading a book that sounds like it could be a skit, why not have the... Anyway, so I know y'all are going to take that. You can have it. This is what I do. I come in the game, I leave something behind, and y'all try to act like I ain't do it, but... Right. We heard it here first. Yeah, I've never heard of that. But I do.
I read books and listen to audio because sometimes I don't want to put this on, but I may have a little ADD.
Yeah, I hear that a lot.
What they do to us. Like, why does everybody say that? I hear this. I hear this every day. I hear I got AD. I hear this every day more than I hear somebody saying, excuse me and thank you. I hear I hear like, man, I got a little bit of. Yeah, somebody just can't lock in sometimes. So you do the same thing? You do audio? I do that with my Bible, like when I'm reading the Bible.
Yeah, I listen to it on the Bible app where it's reading and I'm reading along with it. But it helps me stay locked in. I can see it there too because I think sometimes, even recently, sometimes I might just take the Bible. I'm sure I'm not the only one who do this. Open it up and be like, God, read something from here, right? But if it's like...
heart, like some words that's like, the language is what I'm saying. Sometimes. I feel you. So I think that way. And I do know they have other literature that breaks down stuff in layman terms a lot, too. Right, yeah, and that's what I need. But, no, I love that. So I understand why she does that. And I think that's dope that she listens and reads it. Like, she's really getting it.
I got to listen to that because I love how you added the elements of production into it. It's so hard. It's so hard. Wow. I'm about to take this to another level, man. I just feel like this is a real New York Times bestseller. It will be. The voice in my head is God. It's something that.
I actually struggle with really even talking about because I'm not, I mean, I'm sure when I, when I, when I trace it back to it, it gotta be intuition before then I'm thinking, I just got a voice in my, I really just think, cause I'm really hearing something that's telling me to go this way or put that on or, Walk over there and like, it's been navigating me a lot.
And when I follow that voice, it leads me, ultimately leads me to success. So I started talking to people about like, it's voice and then it's like, it's subconscious. Then it started going back to like, it's really something that we all have, which is intuition. It's about when you like...
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Chapter 3: How does 2 Chainz define success versus peace in his life?
But we have that voice too. Like sometimes, and when we do something out of the voice, it don't mean that it's always going to be a bad outcome. Right. Yeah. Cause some things could be just like, cause we do it off of like, just impulse. Like I want to do this. I'm gonna do it. Just go for it. The voice deal was like the, the very, the human part of you, the part that, So I say God is love.
God equals love. So if you want to differentiate the voices, if it got something to do with love in it, this may be him whispering to you. But if it got to do with you crashing out, going to his house, busting his windows out, and all that stuff, and you're like, I read your book change. Something told me to go over there. I done went over there. I done caught this. Whatever. I done...
You're like, I didn't tell you that. I don't think he told you to do that one. Yeah. But we all got that voice and we all got to live off experience too. This book is very much experience based. It's not like a religious book. It's me talking about God through my life.
my experience my journey yeah no and you talk about um your mother your grandmother your wife being superheroes um what was it something that you may have not understood as a child but now as a adult man you understand about your grandmother your mother when you're growing up man you know your mama always gonna tell you who she feel like is right um
the right crowds and right places and stuff for you to, you know, be around. Then, you know, we always got to find out on our own. I mean, we all, you know. Mama tell you, when they hit the, you sure? And they just like, and you like, yeah, I got it. You know, thank you. You know so much. It comes back. But I wouldn't change. I wouldn't change a lot of the mistakes I made because it,
They got to happen too. The book ain't about living a perfect life. It's just about taking the time and connecting with that divine guidance, that internal navigation. You know what I mean? It's not about never making mistakes. Right, for sure. Listen, I always say that every mistake I made is has made me the woman I am today. You know, because you learn from it's a lesson. Yeah. Yeah.
And I feel like it makes some of the best people, you know, because we can also help other people before they have to fall down the same path. Sure. Yeah. Now you talk about your dad being incarcerated and always telling you a woman can't raise a man. You touch on that in the book. Yeah. Let's talk about that. Just raised by
old school um kind of man's man you know was in the army used to do airborne jump out of planes oh wow yeah that was his thing and did a little prayers in time so he was like a man's man so like i tell people i'm kind of from the boys don't cry era like you got to be like Whatever it is, it's just like, you just can't cry about it.
But the part is, when he passed, I literally needed windshield wipers on my eye. I cried so much. I was bawling. Yeah, I saw where you said the reservoir had dried up, but then when your father passed. Yeah, I used to be like, man. I used to tell my own boy, man, I'm dehydrated. Boy, I can't cry. Boy, I used to like, well, you know what I mean? And what it is, you become numb.
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Chapter 4: What role does intuition play in 2 Chainz's decision-making?
Okay. Yeah, for sure. I hope so. No, for sure. I hope so. I love that. Let's talk about that intuition. And can you share with us a time where you heard that voice and it completely changed the trajectory because you listened. It changed the trajectory of your life just from taking heed to it.
And then share a time where you look back and you're like, I should have listened and what happened in that moment. A time where I listened to my voice is when I got out. Like my first record deal. I just, you know, I didn't know I was going to. make I'm Different or Birthday. I didn't have these songs recorded. I didn't have anything. I just knew I wanted to be an independent.
I wanted to be on my own. It wasn't so much I was leaving the situation to get back in another situation. But I thought I had built enough relationships and learned enough information to try to do it on my own. And just woke up one day and it wasn't like a like it was gradual. Like I kept like threatening to like, ah, you keep, you know, it was none of that.
I just woke up one day and I said, you know, I just, I didn't say it like this, but basically like a voice told me like, I need to be out here doing this, you know? And then a time where the time I didn't listen, man, I've been, I done got smacked for it a couple of times for not listening to that voice. Been in the wrong places at the wrong time when I, obviously, but you know it.
You know, you know, you know, you know, you know. You just don't, it's hard to, when you can't see things, it's hard to believe something you can't see anyway. So it's hard to believe that
run the red light could cause an accident until you can run a bunch of them until you know you cause but you can't see that before it happens you know so that might be a poor example but that's basically what I mean about like you gotta like navigate off trusting yourself first like this is how I navigate I do have like somebody I talk to a manager and all of that. But I start with me first.
Exactly. No, for sure. The fourth annual Black Effect Podcast Festival is going down Saturday, April 25th at Pullman Yards right here in Atlanta, Georgia. And baby, when I tell y'all the lineup is stacked. Featuring shows from Club 520, Grits and Eggs, Don't Call Me White Girl Show, Reality with the King, Drink Champs, and of course, Keep It Positive, Sweetie.
There will also be Black Marketplace with amazing vendors and even a chance for you to pitch your podcast. Guys, I had so much fun last year on the panel. So you guys already know how we do with Kips Live. We bring in the energy and real conversations. You don't want to miss this. So grab your tickets right now at blackeffect.com forward slash podcast festival. Can't wait to see you guys there.
Go get your tickets now.
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Chapter 5: How has 2 Chainz's upbringing influenced his current perspective?
This was on my first deal. I just had a deal that you only can really do when you have leverage you just can't go right now if i had to do a deal i'm independent right now but if i went back and got a deal with a major i'm i'm positive they'll be like we this is how it goes yeah we need that yeah I mean, if I was signed to you, I'd be like, yeah, I want a little bit. I'm going to need a three.
Because you know I'm going to go get a bag somewhere else.
You're looking at it.
You know I'm going to. You know I'm going to. You're going to be like, no. Boy, you finna do something. I know you, but. Exactly. I still might use the leverage, but I'm already this. I might still go back, though. Yeah, yeah. I might pick and choose. I might have to figure it out if I had to really negotiate that.
Like, I am not like a newbie that if you put me on MTV Awards, then, you know, my phone been ringing for.
a couple decades it has let's talk about those two like how you stay so relevant people don't last decades in this industry and you have found a way to stay relevant time after time people are still calling you i've seen you you do so many different things yeah what is the secret sauce to doing that listening to the voice of my head That was good. That was good. You set it up.
You didn't even know. You know what I'm saying? Let's set up. That's so good. I love that. So you did a 50 city tour or 50 state tour independently in a wheelchair. Oh, yeah. That was crazy. Let's talk about that, because most people that you said that voice in your head, people were telling you, cancel it. Don't do it.
It was there.
There's another moment where you listen to the voice in your head. And I want to know that that point in time, you were turning down deals. You're like, no, I'm gonna do this on my own. It was really like it was either the voice in my head or the morphine they give you in a hospital. You might have been crazy. They give you that little button. You press that button. Right.
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Chapter 6: What insights does 2 Chainz share about the importance of family?
I really do. So many people chase the success or hope, you know what I'm saying, just wish they can get to where you are now.
If there's somebody out there that's watching this right now and what you just explained is discipline, it's fortitude, it's just doing it no matter what the circumstances, what would you tell them, any type of advice to get to, try to get to where you are if they want to succeed in this industry? You have to do it though. Yeah. You got to do it. That's good. You got to do it. Yeah. Yeah.
The only way it can't happen is if you don't try. So you just. I always say that. You got to. And you know, it's easier said than done. I know it's like so cliche to be like, but really you have to try. Yeah. You have to try. And some people that do have ideas, it's important that you align yourself with people that can help you bring those ideas to fruition.
Because most people that have ideas don't know what to do with it. I get that too. But like, I found like people around me that I can actually funnel some of this stuff to and kind of bring them to light, the pink light. But sometimes that would be somebody's idea and they just don't know how to even, who to contact. And I'm just, I'm fortunate enough to have, you know, a team that's like,
I don't like right now, if I need a dancers tonight, I don't even know who to much less. Some just going to customize some nurse outfits and be on point when these songs drop like this is so it's bigger than it's bigger than just you. Absolutely. Yeah. That team is everything. I'm with you on that. That's good. Now you have been very open about your struggles with lean abuse.
Talked about how you still can't do eat any citruses like lemons, oranges. all the things. How did you get to that? Was it something that you were dealing with? You know, sometimes we, as artists, a lot of times, even successful people, we lean on certain things to suppress whatever we may be feeling. Was it something that you were trying to suppress at first?
So you become numb to something or did it, was it just like society, you know, cause sometimes it's like everybody doing it when it's a part of the culture. You know? No, I think my stomach was, when I'm thinking about it now, I think my stomach was messed up before I started drinking it. You probably made it worse. The drinking stuff, I ain't gonna lie, used to make it feel better. Really?
Yes, bro. I got a, I got a endo, whatever they call it when they put a camera in your stomach. Yeah. And, um, Man, I would just go days where I would just be feeling nauseous. And I'll never forget, they had this drug. It was called like Nexium. It was like a sample drug. I've heard about that, yeah. Yeah, it was like a delay. And they keep giving me these little sample drugs. I never took them.
And they do the, they do the, until one day I took one. I said, I felt good the whole day, you know what I mean? And so then the doctor puts this, I'll never forget, he looked like Obama, bro. The doctor did? The doctor did, bro. And the last thing I remember when he put this thing in my stomach is me saying, bro, you look like Obama.
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Chapter 7: How does 2 Chainz view the relationship between faith and personal growth?
That's good.
I tell somebody, look, man, how long the stage is? All right, let me get that. You know what I'm saying? Because I ain't going to sit in one spot. Yes. You know what I mean? And I ain't going to tell them what I might do once I get up there. That's where I get the Holy Ghost. So you want to be like. You got it ready, ain't it? I'm going to be ready, man. You're so silly. I love that.
The fourth annual Black Effect Podcast Festival is going down Saturday, April 25th at Pullman Yards right here in Atlanta, Georgia. And baby, when I tell y'all, the lineup is stacked. Featuring shows from Club 520, Grits and Eggs, Don't Call Me White Girl Show, Reality with the King, Drink Champs, and of course, Keep It Positive, Sweetie.
There will also be Black Marketplace with amazing vendors and even a chance for you to pitch your podcast. Guys, I had so much fun last year on the panel. So you guys already know how we do with Kips Live. We bring in the energy and real conversations. You don't want to miss this. So grab your tickets right now at blackeffect.com forward slash podcast festival. Can't wait to see you guys there.
Go get your tickets now.
I'm John Green. You may know me as the author of The Fault in Our Stars, and now I guess also as the co-host of The Away End, a brand new world soccer podcast. I'm Daniel AlarcĆ³n, a writer and journalist, and John and I have known each other since we were kids. My first World Cup was Mexico 86. I was nine years old. I watched every game and I fell in love.
On our new podcast, The Away End, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup. For us, soccer, football, is a story we've shared for over 30 years since Daniel was the star player on our high school soccer team. Very debatable. And I was their most loyal and sometimes only fan. I love this game.
I love its history, its hope, its heartbreak, and above all, its beauty. Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer, is the most important. Listen to The Away End with Daniel Alarcon and John Green on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's the new me. And it's the old them. Everybody's on their journey.
And your journey's different to theirs. This Woman's History Month, the podcast, If You Knew Better with Amber Grimes, spotlights women who turn missteps into momentum and lessons into power. I think coming out of where I came from, I'm from the Bronx, I think... I grew up really poor. I didn't know that then because I very much used my creativity to romanticize life.
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Chapter 8: What lessons does 2 Chainz learn from his experiences with success and failure?
Yeah.
I was at a different place mentally and everything. I'm way more mature. And even looking at his letters and seeing God is love on the back of the envelope, I used to just rip them and get to the letter. I wasn't even paying attention to the God is love that's written on the outside. But then I thought about what that meant. And it was just right in my face the whole time.
It was just saying, like, God is like love. It was like, what is God? It's like love. Like, oh. And then I'm like, oh. Yeah, yeah, God, because he ain't going to mess with no hate stuff. But, yeah, so that's my personal opinion. So that's what I thought it meant. And it took me this long and some old letters to find to put that together, to really hit it.
Because other than that, it just sounded like a phrase, God is love. God is dope. Shout out my homeboy. He's like, God is this. But, like, oh, no. So that's what I took from it. I love that. So another thing I wanted to ask you about is you saying like you going through these letters, you're finding all these things. It's been there the whole time.
You also talk about at the end, people say I might need, he might need therapy. After writing the book, you said it was therapeutic for you. Yes, my first therapist, man. This book is. Yes. Now, are you open to therapy? No, it can't be that because music is very therapeutic. And then I did a short film called Red Clay. So this might be my third therapist. Okay, got you. Let me reframe.
This is my... Let me rephrase it. This is my third therapist. Music was my first. And then I did a short film called Red Clay that just took a lot. And then this book is my third therapist. And they all different people. They are. It's not like my third time going to therapy. This is my third therapist. Right. That's fire. I love that. Are you open to therapy or do you feel like you're good?
I've been going back and forth. I don't know. I'm still like old fashioned. Don't want nobody to take my little edge off. I want to be the crazy old man still. You know everybody got them in the family. You know what I'm saying? You need that energy, bro. Somebody got to do it. In my mind, and I know this probably sounds crazy. I hope a therapist really helps me.
DM me and be like, it's not like that. But in my mind, I feel like I'm going to come out of therapy and I'm going to be like, it's okay. You got it. It's okay. You know what? Life is beautiful. God is good. God is love. Y'all just keep... No, no, brother, sister. But I don't want to... I be wanting a little edge on me, just a little bit. Just a little bit.
Yeah, and I just don't want them to be like, well, we're going to fix this. The reason you have this, and I do have a psychology degree, right? Okay. I do. or I have identified some of my triggers personally through self evaluation. That's good. I could tell when something like, you know what I mean?
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