The Boys
Welcome to "The Boys" podcast, where business partners Jeremy, Stuart, and Dwayne come together after two decades of collaboration to share their expertise and passion for all things decor, home design, business, and floral design. Join this dynamic trio as they delve into the world of aesthetics, offering valuable insights, practical tips to elevate your living spaces, and a few laughs along the way.
But it's not just about design; it's about spreading joy and making the process enjoyable for everyone. The podcast is infused with the camaraderie and humor that comes from years of friendship and collaboration. Expect lively discussions, entertaining anecdotes, and a genuine passion for creating spaces that bring happiness and comfort.
The Boys
S1:E26 Meet Jo, Floral Designer Extraordinaire
This episode is dedicated to The World's Sweetest Kitty, Gracie, who for 18 years brought JOY, love, purrs, snuggles, and head butts to Jeremy and his husband. The truest form of unconditional love we've ever experienced. Click here to see pictures of her.
In this episode, The Boys sit down with a chat with Jo Keiser, our head floral designers in our brick and mortar location.
Call or Text our Hotline and leave a message : 18594121572
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Hey listeners, Jeremy here. Uh, this podcast was recorded, several weeks ago, and I'm just now getting a chance to, edit it before it comes out tonight at midnight. And if you've been. Any form of listener over any of the episodes or you've been in the store or if you've been in any capacity of my life over the last 18 years, chances are you've heard me talk about our sweet cat, Gracie. this weekend she crossed the rainbow bridge, um, surrounded by my husband and me. So it was exactly where she would have wanted to be. And I gotta tell you, after 18 years of purrs and headbutts and snuggles and treats uh, it, this is a hard one, a lot harder than I ever thought it would be. Um, and all of this is to let you know, I'm not trying to bring it down. I'm just letting you know that I'm not in the right headspace to edit this podcast. Like probably it really should be. Um, I won't say make the podcast perfect cause it's never been perfect. It's usually a hot mess, but there may be parts where we talk over each other or. There's things that aren't clicked or edited like it should be. Um, I'm just not there. And so I'm not trying to bring it down. I know that this podcast brings a lot of people joy, including the three of us. and so my. attempt to try to honor her is to try to get this out and Let the world know that she was the world's best kitty and To ask you if you have a pet or fur baby That you do exactly what we did which was never take a pet a purr a snuggle head, but, um, don't take them for granted and squeeze yours a little tighter tonight. So, I'm sorry if this brought it down. Um, but this episode is dedicated to her for being the best cat in the world. And we will miss her greatly. I'll put a picture of her down in the notes if you would like to see her. And, uh, without further ado, we'll get to this podcast that hopefully brings us all some joy today. Much needed joy. Thanks.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:Well, this morning we are joined by floral designer extraordinaire, master floral fluffer, Jo,
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:Okay.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:who, if you've never been into our retail store or you, uh, live far away is, uh, our floral designer who helps make all these beautiful arrangements and things that we have in the store. And she's been, how long have you been with us, Jo? Um,
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:Oh Lord. Mercy.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:you believe that,
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:I know, right?
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:um, 12
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:I was just, I was just trying to think about that this morning and I thought, wow, I was only 52 and now I'm a whole lot older.
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:So are we, Jo. So are we.
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:Yeah. Ooh, but it's okay.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:she has been with us for a long time. And, um, she, aside from working in our business also has her own business where she does fresh flowers and weddings and events and, uh, other decor things for clients as well called natural endeavors. And, um, we are. Because we see her five days a week for the most part. And I think we thought, you know, this is someone who we have in our lives that we care about. And this continues the whole conversation of, um, celebrating people that we love and sharing people that we love with other people that we know that they're also going to love. So it just keeps exploding and multiplying the joy out there. Right. Um, cause we love talking to people and learning things that we didn't know and seeing insight into people that we never had before. Um, cause I think it's all just, it's like a lesson in humanity. Right. Is that enough bullshit? I mean, I've pulled, I've pulled, poured on the bullshit, but I think it's the
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:yeah.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:I
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:for having me, Jeremy.
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:It is a truth. it. is a truth.
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:I've
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:So here's my truth. So like, uh, 12 years ago, this brown person walks into me. There's like a red pen. There's a reason it's like, because those who don't know, Joanna, uh, is a little more, uh, Latina. Lat mama. She is,
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:Puerto Rican.
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:hot
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:Puerto Rican. Is Puerto Rican and Latina the same?
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:No,
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:no, not really. No, Puerto Rican is just Puerto Rican, Right. Puerto Rican to Puerto Rican. Puerto Rican is a Puerto Rican. I love it. Okay, so with that said,
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:Oh, guys. Thanks for having
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:12 years ago, and she's like, I'd like to have a job with you and do your floral arrangements. That's how Jo talked. And I was like, I don't need you. I got it done. I'm good. And then Jeremy disappeared and he didn't make flower arrangements and I had to do everything and Stuart disappeared and he didn't do anything. And I had to do everything. That's how it works in this store. Cause I have to do everything. and yeah, that's my version
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:and Dwayne is always the only one here all by himself.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:Yeah, we never do anything.
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:whole two days a week, he's by himself.
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:it's it's my version of the story right now. So it kind of slowly morphed into it. So I couldn't remember her name cause she told me. And so I put her telephone number in my contacts under Florals because she makes flower arrangements. So one
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:I didn't know this. That's
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:Lord. Yeah. Oh, it's sad. No, it's more sad on anything. The, um, uh, my part is more sad than anything
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:half of my phone
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:because you don't have no.
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:my phone is, is a relation like Lisa, Billy's girlfriend or lawnmower guy, or because I can't remember anybody's name.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:the last names are hard. I will say I'll do, like, Bill Handyman. Right? Like, something like that. But I just kept her as Floral. I like this better.
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:well, so Joe has been with us for many, many years and she worked for many years and worked into her as working for us and she's saved us and loved us and taken care of us. But probably about the eighth year, you know, she's calling me or texting me under florals. I went, you know, it might be time to actually give her a name in my phone.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:Oh my god, you should Up until four years ago, you hadn't changed it? Ah! Oh lord,
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:think it still says florals if I'm
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:my
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:Yeah. Hahahahaha
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:my name on your phone to god. So that when you call you're like, oh shit, it's here.
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:Oh, it's God's calling. Yes. So that's, that's the cuteness of how Joe got into my telephone. But the other story that I love that just gives me joy for all of us and for Joe is, you know, we have this beautiful, loyal following and they love us boys. Right. And we had established herself for many, many thousands of years of doing flower arrangements, and I'd done it even prior to us working together. And so people knew our style and our look, and it's like, I need you to make me a flower arrangement for my dining room table, or I need you to make something for my kitchen island or whatever. And so, And so they're very comfortable with our style and personalities. And then I say, well, we've got a new person coming on board and she's going to help us and we're going to segue into her doing a lot more of the flower arrangements and we boys are going to do other different venues. We've got to do other different paths. And invariably that person, that lady would say, no, no, no. I only want you to do the flower arrangement. And I said, I hear you and I thank you, but we really do. We have to kind of segue. And so if you'll give, um, Joe, um, a chance, if you don't like it, you know, if she makes something you don't like, or there's an issue, you'd let me know and I'll make it. But. Trust me, you'll be fine. She, she's better than I am. She's more talented than I am. She's got better taste than I do. So, it's not going to be a problem. So, all those things have worked out and that all came to fruition, right Joe? That people love you and that you've, you, you do the florals, you, you're kind of our, our, our go to person. So the best compliment was a number of years ago, Joe and I were standing at the front door at our shop and one of my very long time client walks in and she wants a new flower arrangement made. Well, she basically takes her arms and pushes me out of the way to get to it. It's Paige, uh, Paige pushes me out of the way to get to Joe to talk about her flower arrangement. And, uh, my fragile ego didn't get hurt. What it did to me was we got the right person doing the right thing at the right job and, um, she's always shown up and shined and made us look good. And people have fallen in love with my little Puerto Rican friend. And that's the best story ever.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:Ha
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:I still, I like one even better than that. Oh, and listen, by the way, thank you for all the kind words and everything. It's so sweet. Um, but listen, I also remember when we first started, uh, I remember the introduction we, you gave to me, to your, One of your little groups, your first groups we did at the other store and you happen to mention, oh, we have somebody new in the silk department and, um, I come out and you said, and excuse me, I hope this is okay. I remember you saying our silk department has grown boobs. Do you remember that?
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:No, Lord, no.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:ha!
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:Yes, you did. That
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:That's hysterical!
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:That's so funny. Hahahaha
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:the moob, the moob contingent, I always had that, but I guess we actually got the boobs.
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:Oh god, why did you not call HR on me? Yeah,
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:Well, Jeremy's
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:I
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:well then Jeremy is HR so it doesn't go very
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:It doesn't, it doesn't really
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:Oh, that's that's hysterical. That's hysterical. But I remember that. Thank you.
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:so boys and girls we want Joe. We want we we're done with the love fest We want to know Joe as a person So Joe start telling your story of what you think is important what you. want the world to know about Joe
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:Well, um, that's really interesting actually, but, um, I'm rather actually I've been in, in, in flowers all of my life. I remember my mother, um, when I was a child early on having a little garden and the worst thing about the garden was that I always had to weed it. I never got to do much other than weed the garden. So I really didn't like the garden that much. Um, but I remember my mother having, um, such beautiful plants in the house and, uh, had a little garden and it wasn't very big, but it was, looking back now, it was so pretty and having to dig up, um, all of those, all of those plants. Annual said, well, bulbs that I had to dig up and she'd refrigerate until next year, and then we'd have to replant them. But, but honestly, I've been in the flower business all my life. I feel like, to some extent, um, I'm also, uh, going back. My actual background is actually, I have a business degree and also architecture, and it was going to be more landscape architecture.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:not know this! did. y'all know that?
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:did.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:you didn't?
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:I did. Hahahahaha
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:going to build any buildings, but maybe I could get into the landscape architecture. And the reason I did the architecture was because when I was in high school, I had a little book, a little notebook. And after I moved and I already had three kids and they were little, my third one was only months old and I was unpacking a box and in the box I found this. Notebook. And I had said that I wanted to always be an architect and I still had that feeling. So I said, I still, there was a reason I found this notebook, I thought, and I thought I really wanted to, uh, follow this because I still had a desire to do it only at the time. It just wasn't the right time for me. Um, I grew up in a very somewhat strict Hispanic family, so, uh, I didn't get to do a lot and get to go away to college. So that was probably one of the reasons that I didn't, uh, Follow in the architecture early on, but I still wanted to do it. So I got into architecture when I had three little kids, um, babies actually, well, my youngest one was two and, uh, it was the most difficult thing I've ever done in my life. Um, I thought if I can do this, I can do anything. And, um, so I followed, you know, my path and, uh, got there and once completed, I enjoyed building things and all that sort of stuff, but really, I got to thinking that really plants and the landscape and all that sort of stuff was really my calling. And, um, I joined, uh, a couple of garden clubs and different things with people, worked with a few people on some designs, but really I enjoyed the floral end of it. And I finally told my husband when they, when they got big, well, I was a stay at home mom also, raising three kids till, you know, Well, they graduated and went on to college, but I enjoyed that process. And in the meantime, I, I got to create this love that I had for flowers. So I started to, um, plant things, um, make things, talk to people, people would come by. And, uh, one of the funniest things that I have to tell you about my business was when I moved to Birmingham, Alabama, I started a brand new neighborhood, family oriented, very community oriented, and very new. And I made, um, there was a lot in the Right. across the street for me, there was a dead end, but there was a big gazebo in the middle of the street, and it was supposed to be taken care of by the community. Uh, uh, but they had not done a very good job at it was a new community and that was Raleigh wide. Well, I started to plant and take care of it. I took it. I had to look at it every day out my window and I thought, well, at least it could be pretty. So I started to plant flowers and do things over there. And pretty soon. There was a knock at my door and they said, do you know who's been. Um, planting and taking care of this and I thought, Oh, no, I said, I have and they said, well, would you be willing to come down and do our plants over at our sales office? So, um, I said, sure, I went down and I did the plants over at the sales office and quite lovely, big, huge commercial containers. And then we had a lovely golf course and, uh, lovely Birmingham where we were of, uh, Uh, country club, a lot of golfers carved in between the cold. It actually used to be an old coal mine and where they planted. So a lot of rock and all that kind of thing. But one day I had the, um, manager of the, the manager from the country club called the sales offices. Hey, who's, who's done your pots down there. I'd really like those. We need to get some of those up at the club. So, um, They called me and they said, listen, would you come up and do the plants up at the club? And I said, I'd be happy to. So I went up there and get the plants up at the club. And before, you know, it, I had another call from that gentleman. And he said, would you be willing? We're supposed to have a ladies group luncheon. And they said, would you be willing to, um, be our speaker, the program speaker for, and I'm thinking, I don't know anything about that, but I just thought, oh, sure. And I said, you have to, I had to make something. And so they said that that was going to be part of the luncheon and the women were going to partake. And, um, I went home and I didn't know what I was going to make. And actually my best friend who did a lot of this planting with me lived two houses away. So I call her, I say, listen, we have a job. I don't know what we're going to do. I don't know how we're going to make it, but we are now the program for this ladies group luncheon over at the club. Well, we tore the kitchen up. We were going around cutting magnolia. We're going to, so we decided to make lemon topiaries and, uh, I made the lemon topiaries and set them on the table. And after I got done, uh, we, we, women, uh, were able to raffle each one of the centerpieces or something off. And then whoever didn't get a centerpiece came up to me and said, can I order one? And I said, well, sure. I'd never taken an order for anything I'd ever done really for the most part. And, uh, honestly, that's how I started my business and, um, it evolved from there. So going forward from there, we named the business natural endeavors and, uh, went from there. And, um, I've never looked back since. Um, it's just been, uh, a great experience, a great adventure with my friend. And, uh, I would kind of. Got divided once I moved up north to Pennsylvania, but my husband and I, we have got married in New Jersey, moved to a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio called Hudson, Ohio, which is lovely. And from there, we went to Birmingham, Alabama to what some people call the armpit of America, Johnstown, PA, and there was not much
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:Sorry, Pennsylvania.
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:I know. Yes. I'm so sorry, but, but I, but we loved it. I had a beautiful home and we loved it. Oh, steel mill town. And, um, and then here. Um, so really all throughout after Birmingham into Pennsylvania and into here, it was pretty much just doing things for people that knew me and, and called me or knew of me sort of thing. And never in a million years what I dreamt dreamt of where we would be. Today, like having a small shop on, uh, behind my house, actually works real nice. You can just go out one door and go to the other when I'm not here, I'm there. So it's, it's been a really, really good experience for me. I've met a lot of great people, great people in the business. And, um, from that little container guarding business, they'd evolved into just custom things for people as well as weddings and special events. But it's been a long time coming. So I've enjoyed, I've enjoyed the journey.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:what I find really interesting, not interesting, but what I love about like the story that Joe has told us is there's two parts of it that we've talked about before, which is the, the, the, the absolute truth and things that we stand by because I wrote them down because I thought I'm going to remember these because I thought these were important. The first one was, you know, she was a mother of three. And a housewife and had all these responsibilities and she still, it was, she was not too old to dream and to change her life, right? Like she was a took, took the initiative to take the opportunities that were there for her at that time to do what she loved, what was calling her. So to do what, what she loved. And the other one was when they, when they called you to do it was, well, you're just going to fake it till you make it. Like, we're just gonna, you're just gonna step in. Sure, I can do that. I can do that. All of us have those stories about we had no clue what we were doing and we were just getting into it.
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:Exactly. And I, I just love it. It was just like, Oh yes. Writing notes, taking notes. And I walk out of there with my friend and say to her, what has just happened? I said, I don't know what we're going to do, but we're going to do it. And really went from there. And, um, it was, it's just been so much fun just to be able to do something that you love. And, uh, doesn't, doesn't at all feel like it's worked for me ever. Um, I just enjoy it that much, um, and enjoy the people too. It's been kind of fun. I, you know, I love the relationship with people that, um, I've developed and we've developed with clients and, um, it's been great. I can almost, sometimes they'll come in and they'll say, well, remember that piece that you made? I said, actually, I do remember that. And, uh, um, it's been, it's been lovely for people to invite me. I somewhat feel to a certain extent into their homes and, um, that's been lovely. I've enjoyed that.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:Yeah, I don't think any of the three of us take that for granted.
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:Uh, an opportunity that. was given and you said yes to it. So many people will close the door, Right. It's like, Oh, I, can't do that. Or I should know, no. And I, think that's one of the things we always jokingly say about us and building our empire. I still, feel like we're hungry and, not hungry in a greedy way. Right? Hungry in that, let's see what happens. Let's explore this. Let's say yes. and, let's go have some fun with it. Let's get some joy out of it. Because, truly, I believe if you don't have success, if you don't say yes, More, right? If you're always going to say no, it shuts the door. It shuts the door. Just keep saying yes. Keep saying yes. And, uh, don't take, don't take no for an answer, Kim Kardashian. She believes that, right? Take
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:I still, I,
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:I'm not joking. I learned from it. You know, when I, say, uh, I learned from President Trump, I learned from Judge Judy, Kardashian. Those are little nuggets of people who are successful. They're successful. They're successful. Agree or not agree with her approaches, but they're successful for a reason, right? Kim Kardashian's not willing to take no. Trump, um, is not going to sell a dirty, uh, uh, what is it? A limo. Which means, what that meant was, it was something on uh, the Apprentice. You always put your best foot forward. Don't do anything halfway. That's really what he was getting to. And then Judge, Judge Judy, Lord, she's just the queen. She knows the truth right there.
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:and, and you know, I, I want to, I want to tell you another little story. yes. yes, I, I want to tell you another little story real quick 1 on how I started the net that just the actual container gardening and all once I got this feedback from the country club and the development where I had live, which now is just huge. There used to be a gentleman, and it was actually an outdoor garden center somewhat. And he had lovely containers. And when I go in there and shop and pick things, well, and he was real friendly, older gentlemen, uh, doesn't get any more Southern than that suspended. Like he'd come out and he have his bibs on just a real easy low key gentlemen. And, um, I thought, well, gee, now that I'm maybe. Going to do this a little bit more serious. I said, what do I do? Where do I get things or whatever? So I remembered, well, and I, and I knew, cause I visited this gentleman all the time and I said to him, I called him and I asked him if he was there and he said, yeah, I said, I'd like to come down and talk to you. And he was always just so cute and funny. And the moment he saw me at that point, it was all business. He was like, And, um, I walked in and I told him what I was thinking about doing with flowers and the container gardening and all that, and he just, no response. He let me talk and I said, the reason I I, I, I wanna speak to you about this is because I was wondering if you would let me take containers that were here and just take a few things my way and then, you know, kind of pay you after I get paid and da, da da. Well, he said to me. I met someone just like you. I think it was like 20 years before that. And he said, she came in here just like you did. And, um, I remember that she asked for my support and I gave it to her. And then he leans back and he points to this big magazine article, Southern Living Magazine, he had on his billboard on like a cardboard bulletin board. He says, this is her. She's big And, uh, it made me laugh because he said, Here's just this person that came in just like you and look at her now. And he said, I, and it was so cute. Cause at the way he said, I think, I think that could be you too. And, um, just kind of made me feel good, but real serious until the conversation was over. So it's, it's great when you have people that can support you. And believe in you. And he definitely believed in me and I will never forget that.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:You took, you took all that from him. Except you didn't start wearing bib overalls.
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:right. Yes. Yeah. Isn't it crazy? It's just, it's crazy. It's crazy. Um, but, uh, but like I said, you can't do, you can't, Oh, you cannot always do what you want to do without somewhat help from others. Or some type of communication with others or whatever. So it really takes, like they say, I didn't do this by myself. Um, I had help and it's been wonderful. You give, give somebody a little, give them something or like they say in the, in the Bible, you know, show them how to fish and they'll fish forever. You know, they'll have food forever. And that's kind of how I felt. He really supported me and helped me, um, through this journey, at least to get started. So I'll never forget him.
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:beautiful story.
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:I wanted to share that little note because yeah, yeah, it was, it's really special. I will never forget him. And the one thing he did tell me though, that he was going to be moving to cost to Costa Rica. And if I wanted to buy his place someday, it would be at a good price.
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:by this
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:He said he could live in Costa Rica a lot cheaper. Yes.
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:Well, Stuart hasn't said much this morning. He's soaking you in. Stuart, what's, what, what do you, what do you want to know about our lovely Joanna?
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:I'm sorry,
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:I didn't hear any of that because it cut out.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:Yeah, it, Dwayne, when you use the, the, not your normal voice, it doesn't pick it up.
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:Well, we've gotta do it that way though. I'm Michael Jackson.
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:Oh my god.
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:Okay. Stewart, you haven't said you've listened. Yeah. what do you want to know about Joe or what, what thing stands out about Joe to you that you? wanna learn about a little bit more?
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:I didn't even know she worked here till today.
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:Oh.
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:Stuart. I'll, I'll never forget my first, my first week with you guys. Stuart, you had said, why don't you come in and make a few things and we'll see how it goes from there. Well, anyway, I came, I came in the first day. It seemed like it was okay. And nobody said anything the second day. Nobody said anything. And I just kept making. And then the third day, I remember saying to you, Stuart. Stuart, do you guys like me? Am I going to get paid? I mean,
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:Yeah, I know. And I, was
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:I, am I going to, am I going to be a part of this thing or what? Do you remember
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:yeah, typical with anybody Duane wants to bring in. I don't really know that they're hired until they're there for about eight days and it becomes payroll time. I'm like, Oh, I need to give you paperwork. I guess you work here now. So yeah.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:I think the follow up to that question though, Joe, I think if I remember correctly, it was like, if we, if We wouldn't have liked what you made or we weren't happy with it, somebody would, somebody would have said
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:would have said, don't come back tomorrow.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:although it sounds like we did fail to compliment somebody. You need to compliment when somebody does something right, you need to, good, you compliment them. Uh,
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:was, it was after the third day. I was just curious. I don't know if I'm coming back here or not. My husband said, well, how'd it go? I said, I think it went okay. And so he said, well, with the, and I said, I don't know. I guess I'm going in tomorrow. but nobody has said anything yet, so, um, but anyway, It was, great. it was It was good.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:for three of us who I, I, I see the three of us boys as cheerleaders, right? I think that's always, I mean, the, the,
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:Oh,
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:we're all, we try to be other people's cheerleaders. We really messed that one up when she started
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:I'll never forget asking Stewart that. Stewart, can I come back? Do you guys like me? Are you gonna pay
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:I was like, Oh yeah, Yeah,
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:let's do a little deep delve into How did joanna we know this travel but? joe You'll tell me how much you wanted the world to know, but you didn't necessarily as a young child have the easiest of lives, right? Nobody gave you anything, right? It was a tough life. And I'll start with
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:abs. Absolutely.
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:reason I share that. Is no one, No one is going to outwork Joe. She's going to outwork everybody. And there's a work ethic like I have never seen and a drive I've never seen. And I, I believe now this is where you'll tell me, I believe it goes back to the childhood, the early life that you had, that you realize if I want something, I'm going to have to go get it.
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:Well, well, you know, that's funny that you say that, Dwayne, because there were a lot of things even that had happened in my childhood that I really didn't put in place till I got older. And I say I had those memories, but I didn't start to realize what it all meant till I got older. Um, my mom was, uh, uh, pretty much a single mother. I remember, uh, as a child with five little kids and, um, in New York, living in the Bronx. And I didn't know at the time, I remember going to these places and I remember their vivid memories. And I remember big pieces of cheese. Have you ever seen cheese in a block? Like you see it at the deli? And a big can of, uh, peanut butter and all that. And I, you know, I didn't know at the time that we were going, I remember, I was thinking it was maybe just a grocery. It wasn't the grocery. It was where you go and, um, pick up food like a food pantry, but it was actually probably on the roll kind of thing. And you pick up, and I remember going home with this. Big piece of cheese and a big can of peanut butter and taking a big lick of that spoon of that peanut butter. And that was my tree, you know, and we'd lick it and we'd run up and down through the building and I lived in a apartment building and we didn't have a yard or trees or anything like that. We played stick ball, uh, which we, my brothers would cut the end off of the broom, cut the broom off. And, uh, we would play stick ball in the courtyard kind of thing. Um, but my mom, um, looking back now, I, she didn't have it. I, I, I know, and she never said it, but it wasn't a good thing for her trying to raise, um, five little kids. By herself in a two bedroom apartment. And I remember this and, um, my, my father, unfortunate, my biological father, you know, he just, uh, was out of the picture, but my, uh, my mom then married my, um, stepfather who raised me, uh, from a very young age and we moved over to. New Jersey, uh, from New York to New Jersey. And, um, I remember even then at the time, um, but more memories of New York that, and saw a lot of things that most children shouldn't see or be exposed to. Subways to this day. I don't like the subway. Um, I don't know. I, there's just too many memories there and sometimes not very good that I, I just don't want to expose myself or my children to at the time. So we, uh, I remember my mom, my dad worked two jobs and my mom was a stay at home, of course, and she would make, you know, our meals and whatever. But I remember, and I think I told you this, Dwayne, if anybody knows about peace work, My mom used to do anything she could at home. She crocheted things for people, knit things, anything that she could make to make a few dollars for somebody. But I remember her and the rest of us sitting around the TV because somebody would come at the beginning of the week and drop these boxes off and we would have to open the boxes up and there was always something with counting and little bags. Always you had to count and there would be thousands make believe there was buttons and you'd have to put these little buttons in, uh, you know, And this little bag and we would sit around like a family watching TV and we would have to help. And you didn't get a whole lot. I remember my mom saying for everyone she did, she'd get like a, like a quarter. It was, it was not a lot for everyone. So you know how many quarters we had to, how many of those you had to bag to, to, to make a few dollars to do anything with. But I didn't think anything of it because I thought, Hey, everybody does this. And really even thinking about living in New York and all, I always thought that, I didn't realize too much later that I had lived in a section eight housing and section eight housing and that. everybody around me was poor, but I didn't know we were poor because we were all poor. So, so you don't nobody sticks out, you know, everybody's kind of the same thing. And I, and really a lot of those kind of memories and all are never really were never really talked about once we left. But I figured it out, you know, and, and, and even years later, I think, and I think it was maybe somewhat of a, and not so much being embarrassed, my mom being embarrassed or whatever, it was more of, she always said, I may be poor, but I have a clean house. Um, you know, just because you're poor doesn't mean you don't have, uh,
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:Yeah, yeah, you take pride you take pride.
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:that's right. That's right. So exactly. And I and I just learned, and my dad was the same way. like, I said, he worked two jobs for years and the many nights he didn't get home and on Friday nights was the best night. I still remember we had a little corner store, um, just right down the street from us and my dad would come home and every Friday we got a quarter. And you know that those little full size candy bars that you get now that are 1. 69 at Walmart each or something like that, wherever, they were five cents. So we would each buy five pieces of candy or whatever. And we'd sit in a circle, my brothers and my sister and I, I have three brothers and a younger sister, I'm the middle one, and we would trade candy. So that was a big thing. And my dad would also bring home a cake every Friday, some type of a cake from the old school bakeries. You know, it brings it home in that string. If you remember when you go to the old bakery and they go like this and they tie the donuts up now and all that, and that string, we'd fight over that string because we do that, uh, that, that. Cradle that little, whatever you call that thing. And, uh, Oh, my God, we fought over that string. If you can believe that, uh, who got it last and who's going to get it now. But, but really it was, you know, when thinking back now, it was, uh, but that was just life and that was my life. And, uh, I just, I didn't know anything, any different. And when, and exactly right. I mean, I learned to do a lot of things early on in my life and most people might, you know, I have grandchildren now that I was. My granddaughter is nine years old. I'd never let her stand next to the iron, you know, let alone use it. Uh, because, but I remember ironing, starching, ironing, and doing all that stuff ever at a very young age. So, you know, I'm looking back now. I'm, I'm, I'm proud of where I come from. Um, it, it wasn't easy, but it's, it's all what you make of it. And I, I knew I'd do something better than my mom could have done for us or whatever, but I'm not ashamed of what she did for, or my parents did for us. We were, it actually worked out really great to our benefit really.
dwayne_1_08-08-2024_090451:Well, let's tell you how it worked out for Joe. Let's tell you. I'm gonna tell you one story and then we'll tell you how it worked out for Joe. So, the one thing that always stood out for me is I said something about you know, New York and going to the Statue of Liberty and you said if I butcher this you just like no No, we didn't we didn't We didn't have the opportunity to go to the Statue of Liberty. We didn't have the means to do that. And when you told me that story, it painted a picture of, you have all this idea of people living in, you know, you know, New York, and the shopping, and the, and the, the, the, the streets, and, and all the things to do, and it's like, well, if you're struggling, those are things that are not part of your, And when you told me that, I was like, Oh, you know, cause you always see it through a different lens of, um, a tourist in a way. Right. So that, that was one thing that stuck with me and I was like, it kind of helped me better understand you as a person. So now we've heard about Joe and we've heard about her struggles. We've heard about her work ethics. We've heard about her working really, really hard. So now this is where I dislike Joe. Okay, so Joe now and Larry have created a beautiful, you love this, don't you? And this is joy. This is joy. This is joy. So this is where Larry, her husband, and Joe have worked all their lives and worked hard and said yes to the gifts that they've been given and they've moved and they've went to different parts of the country. They've said yes to opportunities. So now they live out in the real world. The rural part of, uh, Bourbon County in the, uh, of Kentucky, and they live in a compound with the gate. And I say that not to malign or belittle that you had a dream and you had a goal and you have lived this beautiful life. But it's not through Anything other than tenacity and hard work and using the gifts that you give. And it goes back to this country is beautiful. If you get off your butt and go to work, right, right. And you are that, uh, and Larry, Larry.
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:Well, the nice thing about that, Dwayne, is that we really had very similar upbringings as far as where we were in, like, class, more lower class kind of thing. But the one thing my husband always says, he grew up on a farm. So they ate good, a lot of meat and potatoes. There was no, they had a lot, they, they had a lot of food to eat because they grew a lot of their food and they also had livestock, so they probably ate a lot more meat and better than we did. But, um, but overall very, very similar upbringings. And the one thing I'm just going to say about the Statue of Liberty, I'll never forget when my daughter was less than a year old and she has, I have a picture of her. With the Statue of Li we went to the Statue of Liberty and the Twin Towers and everything were right behind her. And she was sitting on a blanket and my husband said, We're not leaving here unless I take you to see the Statue of Liberty. Cause I'd never seen I had never been there to see the I'd lived there all my life, but I'd never seen the Statue of Liberty. So, that was Really a lot of fun to, to, to get back there to see it. And I, and I still have that picture of my daughters, you know, with the twin towers, where we were up at, um, seeing the statue of Liberty. So, but anyway, yes. Thank you, Dwayne. Um, I appreciate that. I appreciate that. Thank you. That's right. That's right. And I hope I'm still here. My husband said. We were speaking the other day, this is a little bit off track of vaguely. Oh, no, no, no. But, um, now I forgot I, I lost my train of thought there. So,
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:You and your husband were speaking about something.
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:oh, um, oh, yes, my husband said the other day, we were looking and we were talking, uh, to our financial person and I happened to look up and notice that he's since he's recently retired a few months already and he's still, uh, you know, doing his thing or whatever on the side, but, um, I look up and it says, has both our names and it has Larry. He's retired. Then I look at you one and then says 68 retired. I said, who told you I was retiring when I was 68. I'm not retiring.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:I don't see you, I don't see you not being active very well.
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:I think there's always going to be something. to do and new things to try,
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:Yeah.
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:but I got, I got real tickled by that because for some reason, I don't know, he just thought, Oh, I thought maybe you might want to retire when you 68. I said, I'm going to retire when I'm dead. Then I'll get plenty of rest. Then I'll get plenty of rest. That's true. Thank you, really. I've appreciate, I've, I'm enjoying my experience here with y'all and all the people that I've met here and relationships that I've developed. And, um, it's a blessing. Really? It's a blessing. I consider it all a blessing for the opportunity that y'all have given me. And, um, you know, when somebody gives you something, you gotta make something out of it. You know what I mean? And, uh, and that's what I've tried to do. And I try to do that every day. And like I said, I never forget. All the blessings and opportunities that have been given to me. thank you.
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:Thank you.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:Well, uh, ladies And, gentlemen's listeners far and close and far. Thank you for listening to our podcast this week. Hopefully you've had a good time. We will be back next week with more, uh, content. Um, on our next podcast and I can't find the phone number for our hotline, but it's in the show notes down below. You can call us and text us. I can't get the window open. You can call us or text us at the number. It's actually already located in the, in the show notes. Yeah.
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:And, and if you don't mind, one of the things that I'd like to see is that I've enjoyed watching y'all grow.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:Oh,
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:I mean, it's amazing. I, when I sit back now and I look back and I think of where we were in that little spot that I had back over there on wall and, and, and all you had, and, and, and at then I thought that was. a big thing, but it's, it's
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:Well, It was. a big thing compared to the first
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:Yeah, it was a huge
joanna_1_08-08-2024_090445:Compared to the one before that. Right. So, so I have to say thank you guys again for the opportunity and I've really enjoyed watching you grow and what's to come yet. I know there's lots more to come from you guys. So hopefully I can be around to enjoy some of that too. And some of the experiences. So Thank
stuart-guest954_2_08-08-2024_090810:you.
jeremy_1_08-08-2024_090445:We'll see y'all next week. bye.
