Tracee Ellis Ross (Live)
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
One year ago, Congress eliminated over a billion dollars in funding for public media. Yet we, the people, haven't backed down. When you donate to the independent nonprofits that make up the NPR network, we hold the powerful to account together. It's the kind of journalism democracy requires that we, the public, must protect. Join the community of people who power this work at plus.npr.org. Hey, folks, just a heads up. This episode was taped in front of a live audience in Pasadena, California. You can watch this episode on our YouTube channel.
And I really think you should. You need to see Tracy laugh to really appreciate her essence. Just search for NPR Wildcard on YouTube. And while you're there, subscribe to the channel so you can be sure not to miss an episode.
What did you reject as a teenager? I didn't drink at all. I didn't smoke a cigarette. And I've never tried a drug. You're not one of these public figures in L.A.
who goes on ayahuasca trips.
Oh, I can think of nothing worse. Like, nothing worse. Benadryl makes me uncomfortable. I'm like, why do I feel like this?
I'm Rachel Martin, and this is Wildcard, the show where cards control the conversation. Each week, my guest answers questions about their life, questions pulled from a deck of cards.
They're allowed to skip one question and to flip one question back on me. My guest this week is Tracy Ellis Ross.
My life is mine, which as a woman is not easy to own. And not only is my life mine, my body is mine. My ideas can be mine. Tracee Ellis Ross is a supremely talented actor.
You've seen her on the hit show Black-ish and Before That Girlfriends. She's also a style icon, the CEO of her own beauty line, a newly minted Broadway star, and host of the TV show Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross, which returns for a new season this month. But most importantly, Tracy Ellis Ross is a supremely good time. I know this because I got to spend time with her at a live taping of our show in Pasadena with our friends from LAist. Tracy is a deep thinker, an excellent storyteller, and she is just game for life in a way that's contagious. We're going to play a game.
I'm so excited.
Okay, here we go. Okay. First three cards, Tracy, in the memories round. One, two, or three. Two. Two.
When you were bored as a kid, where would your imagination take you? Ha-ha, to the closet.
Really?
Didn't even hesitate. Absolutely. This was a very young preoccupation.
Oh, my God.
I always loved pretty things. Oh, really? Yeah. Well, let's see. Your mom had some pretty stuff to play with.
Aye. Aww.
Um... Yeah, my imagination, well, it's funny. I mean, three things pop into my mind. Clothes, playing dress-up, which sometimes turned into different characters. And when you say young, you mean like 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13? Well, I mean 53, anything younger than now. So I would play dress-up, which I loved. And I think it was one of the ways that I... kind of became myself. It was like sort of adorning who I was wanting to become, you know? I also loved to dream of my wedding. Did you? Or my funeral. Oh, fascinating. It was either everyone was celebrating that I was being loved the way I should be, or everyone was crying that they hadn't loved me the way they should have. Listen, I'm an actress. I'm a performer and an artist at heart.
I'm dramatic. I mean, at the same time, I would also, I remember laying on my floor in my closet. The mirror, you know, was on the inside of the closet. And I would lay on the floor and cry and watch my face cry. And I would see him. And the tears would drop down. I mean, did you really? Absolutely. And what happens? Do your parents come in? I'm like, oh, God, Tracy. No, I mean, you know, my sister, I remember one thing. I was constantly trying on clothes. And my sister, she was trying to come in. I was like, I'm naked. And Chudney said, what are you doing? I said, I'm trying on an outfit. And she goes, my God, you're always trying on an outfit. I said, Chudney. You never know when you're going to get hit with something good.
You got to just play. I mean, like, it was always... I was dramatic, obviously.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–7:51
2
How did Tracee Ellis Ross describe her childhood imagination and dressing-up habits?
7:51–18:33
3
When did Tracee choose a different career path instead of staying in fashion?
18:33–28:33
4
What did Tracee reject as a teenager and why does she avoid altered states?
28:33–49:06
5
How does Tracee define solo travel and being responsible for your own happiness?
49:06–55:06
6
What practical tips does Tracee give for learning to travel or dine alone?
55:06–59:31