EP 28: Surviving to Thriving ft. Charlamagne Tha God

Kier Gaines (0:06)

Welcome to Learned the Hard Way with my name is Kier Gaines. We talk about purpose, we talk about pressure, we talk about what it actually takes to become a full comprehensive man.

Charlamagne Tha God (0:17)

You don't got to get the clear coat.

Kier Gaines (0:18)

I don't want my shit shiny though, I want my joint matte.

Charlamagne Tha God (0:20)

But if you wouldn't get in the clear coat, that's shiny.

Kier Gaines (0:22)

No. Maybe I'm saying it wrong. The joint I get is like, it looks just like-

Charlamagne Tha God (0:27)

Polished.

Kier Gaines (0:27)

No, it's not polished. It's not polished.

Charlamagne Tha God (0:29)

It's definitely polished.

Kier Gaines (0:30)

It's not polished. They put my little fingers in the oven and shit. Like, it's not polished.

Charlamagne Tha God (0:34)

That is polished.

Kier Gaines (0:35)

They say jail.

Charlamagne Tha God (0:36)

Jail polished.

Kier Gaines (0:37)

Okay.

Charlamagne Tha God (0:38)

All right.

Kier Gaines (0:38)

Man, everybody, everybody goddamn expert now. All right. I'm about to intro this podcast. Matter of fact, editor, keep that. What's up, y'all? Welcome to It's Not Polished.

Charlamagne Tha God (0:46)

It's definitely polished. It's not polished. It is 100% polished. There's nothing wrong with it. I know people that are getting full designs now. I know men that get full designs now.

Kier Gaines (0:53)

And that's fine that that's what they want to do. That's just-

Charlamagne Tha God (0:55)

Yeah, that ain't bad. That's not my thing either.

Kier Gaines (0:57)

So, we're gonna break this a little bit differently. Today, my guest is Charlamagne. He's already, my guest is Charlamagne Tha God.

And we already, my producer said that we was parting before we were parting. But let me recollect and start this thing for y'all. What's up, y'all? Welcome back to the Learn the Hard Way podcast. I am your host, Kier Gaines. I am a husband. I am a father. I am, I'm an author. I am-

Charlamagne Tha God (1:23)

New York Times bestselling author. Come on now.

Kier Gaines (1:25)

I love it when they don't let me forget that. I am a New York Times bestselling author.

And I am a person who is very visible now.

I lived a life where I worked in education for a long time and I worked in the community and I was visible only to the people that I work with. But last month, about 89 million people viewed all of my social media channels. Wow. There's more people in the world that know me than I know. But today, because I want to talk about thriving and I want to talk about surviving and I see the way my career is going and I really need to speak to somebody who's already dead and also drop some Jews of wisdom about what it takes because this person does a lot. Can I introduce you and all your stuff real quick?

Charlamagne Tha God (2:07)

Please.

Kier Gaines (2:08)

All right. So listen, y'all. Charlamagne Tha God has built an empire being unbothered.

Charlamagne Tha God (2:13)

Oh, don't do all that. Don't read that. They sent you that? To read?

Kier Gaines (2:16)

Yeah.

Charlamagne Tha God (2:16)

Let me get it.

Kier Gaines (2:17)

Let me get it.

Charlamagne Tha God (2:17)

Oh, God. I hate that.

Kier Gaines (2:18)

Let me get it. Yo, it's so uncomfortable when people do this. I hate it every time. They be doing it before I hop on stage. I'm like, please, God. All right. No, I'm doing this. Leave me alone. All right. So, he built an empire on being unbothered. The Breakfast Club, the Black Effect Podcast Network, a New York Times bestseller, a Radio Hall of Fame plaque. You got the Radio Hall of Fame?

Charlamagne Tha God (2:39)

Radio Hall of Fame, yeah.

Kier Gaines (2:39)

Yeah, that was a couple years ago, right?

Charlamagne Tha God (2:41)

That was 2020 Yep. Yeah, 2020

Kier Gaines (2:44)

Congratulations, buddy.

Charlamagne Tha God (2:45)

Thank you.

Kier Gaines (2:46)

Ooh, they adding more stuff as I talk. A Hollywood star.

Charlamagne Tha God (2:51)

Yes, I got, I haven't received the chip. I guess I have. I'm getting, the ceremony's not till next year, though. Next September.

Kier Gaines (2:57)

Congratulations.

Charlamagne Tha God (2:58)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Kier Gaines (2:59)

Real talk, I just, can you feel all the accomplishments, man? Like, it's a lot. Do they still feel like, oh, this is special? Is it like another thing?

Charlamagne Tha God (3:07)

You know what it is when other people feel special about it. Cause I think I'm too nonchalant about everything because at the end of the day, all of that stuff is great and I am appreciative of it. But, you know, I'm just, I don't know, man. My mind is just always someplace else. Like I said, I'm appreciative of it and I'm grateful for it. But I feel validated already. Once I got to that place of worthy in my life, you know what I mean? Like where God makes me feel like I'm worthy. Well, I can look in the mirror and say, man, you know what? I'm doing what God wants me to do.