Everybody with Angela Williamson is made possible by Fire Heart Entertainment and viewers like you.

Thank you.

According to Pretty Girls Rock, a woman, being a role model for other women is an incredible way to support and encourage them to reach their full potential.

This is one of the many reasons our show dedicates an episode to women trailblazers every season.

Tonight we bring back a guest from season two and a Zumba instructor who uplift and inspire women every day.

I'm so happy you're joining us.

From Los Angeles.

This is Kelsey's PBS.

Welcome to everybody with Angela Williamson and innovation, Arts, education and public affairs program.

Everybody with Angela Williamson is made possible by viewers like you.

Thank you.

And now your host, doctor Angela Williamson.

Ellen Harper is back.

And she brought a friend.

Ellen.

Welcome back.

Thank you so much for having me back.

It's a pleasure.

And you brought a friend today?

Yes, I did.

I brought my friend Marguerite Mallard, who's more than a friend.

She's a coworker, and she's my band.

Wonderful.

Well, and also two, we are going to talk about that band when we end our talk today.

But you two have been busy doing something, and I think it's really interesting.

That's why I wanted you back on the show.

Tell us a little bit about what you've been doing.

Thank you for asking me.

The first time I visited Angela, we talked about a book that I wrote.

It was a memoir called Always a Song.

And, we had a wonderful conversation, and, we talked about the music store, that it plays a large part in that.

And then I wrote to, something that was really a lot of fun.

I would say it's stories about a family and, I guess the take away, I would think we we talked about this on the way in is sometimes dogs have more sense than humans.

And we see this because you introduce us to this dog here.

Right.

And the dog's name is Elton and Elton has a quite a few adventures in this book.

Right.

Yes he does.

So how did you come up with those stories.

Well they're all based in fact.

But it's multiple dogs, multiple people that have become a family and a dog.

And with that, you asked your friend to help you out.

So tell our audience how Marguerite helps out.

Okay, well, I have always loved Marguerite's art.

She is an artist.

And I said I.

You know, I want you to illustrate my book.

You know, I'll show you some stories.

And she said, oh, you know, maybe find somebody who could, you know, has done more book illustration of.

And I said, nope, you're the person I want.

And, she gave so much life to these pictures in this dog that it was a perfect the perfect thing, I thought.

It's interesting that you asked Marguerite to do this for you because she's rather shy.

And in fact, both of you and I worked together to get her here today.

So, Marguerite, we're putting you on the spot and Ellen will help you out, so don't worry.

You're not alone.

What inspired you to draw Elton the way that you did?

Oh, well, it was the story, of course.

And I started out kind of over drawing and Ellen said, you know, I really just want simple drawings.

And that made it a lot easier because otherwise it wouldn't be done properly.

I'd still be working on it.

So and that's because you spent so many years doing what.

Well, drawing.

Yes.

Teaching to write, drawing and teaching.

And I did use drawing.

And in my teaching for sure.

I love this.

And so when you are really great friends, I mean, we're talking years of friendship here.

I mean, you've grown up together.

You've seen each other through every phase of life because that's what friends do.

How is it working together?

I mean, I know you sing together, but this is different.

This is writing and illustrating.

How does that work for both of you?

Well, work well, work well for me, because she was patient for my my time frames.

So.

Well, that worked very well for me, because Marguerite understood what I wanted without me having to say more than.

Well, you know, maybe think about this part of the story or something.

But really, she just had a feel for it.

Well, and I love it because every time I'm with the both of you, I can.

And there's a third person.

She's not here, but she's been on the show.

But every time I see all of you together there's just such just this affection for each other.

It's almost as if you are in sync.

I mean this is a women's trailblazer episode.

So if you could give any advice to women out there because you've been able to make it work through so many years and you even do projects today.

So how do you make that work?

Well, one thing, although we've known each other for a really long time because I actually took some guitar lessons from Ellen when I was 14 ish.

But we have I mean, we really have just gotten really close, and maybe the last 12 years since I started working at the Folk Music Center.

So.

Well, how do we do it?

I mean, first of all, I don't know that we could not do the things we do in addition to her, to Marguerite's drawing ability.

She's an incredible singer, and I often call her not.

I don't know how she actually feels about it.

The songbird of Clermont.

She's a beautiful voice.

She does.

And, And one time, in fact, we did a song for you.

If you miss me from the back of the bus.

And I believe, that you played congos on that at one.

At.

Yes.

The book reading, the signing I did, but I was watching all of you to make sure I kept the rhythm.

Yes, yes.

You're good.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you so much.

Yay!

But, I mean, it's so important.

I mean, you you're so in sync.

I mean, along with Elizabeth, who's not here, but you're so in sync.

And so you make it look easy.

Well, you know, we've all been doing it since we were very young.

And in my case, in Elizabeth's case, we basically learned music at our parents knee.

I mean, my mother was a musician.

Elizabeth's dad was a musician.

In fact, I played in a band with him for several years, and, and I learned it from your mother's knee, and she learned it from my mother's knee.

And so.

Right.

You know, so that part, you know, I, I took it for granted as a young person, but I've come to learn that it was a very special way of growing up.

You know, my parents believed in the power of music.

They believed in the power of folk music and that it was really the, you know, the foundation or as we now say, roots of American music.

And in this country, you know, all of the immigrants coming in from all over for the last 200 years, folk music has drawn together all types of music and, and come up with its own American music, which now the whole world loves.

Marguerite was very young and took up the the mantle, shall we say, and she played guitar and she created bands from a very young age.

And, and so I think in that, you know, that in common with you, you do you have such wonderful chemistry together, too, and I and we still believe in it.

You know, I'm not going to say, well, music will change the world, but I sure think it'll make it a better place to exist in, as does writing books about things we love.

And I also just, if I may say, Claremont has the best kept secret.

There's a publishing company called Pelican, Acis, and they publish a book.

In public, some very, you know, well known people.

And they have a subsidiary called Bamboo Dart Press that does these little chat books that is what this is.

And, they were a wonderful company to work with.

I, I mean, they were so much fun and they listened so well, and they helped so much that I just wanted to give them a little flag.

Oh, that's great.

You will give them a plug as well to put their website up as well.

So our audience can see that.

So my question is, before we end our time together by so quickly this wasn't hard was it?

Not too bad, not too bad.

See, you just had to get here.

So my question for both of you regarding this story, if you had to choose one of your favorite stories to write and illustrate, which one would they be?

And then, Ellen, before we go to our break, can you just read us a little bit from your story?

I would be happy to thank you for that.

Yeah.

So tell us which one well, you to write and which one for Marguerite.

You tell us which one to illustrate.

Now you're an illustrator?

Yes.

The one I would maybe read from is called Elton Meets His Doppelganger.

And can I show?

Where do I hold this?

To show it.

Show it to our audience.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And, Marguerite, you agree with this is.

What would you.

What would you your.

Why would you like joy?

Well, I did like this one.

Where the.

Oh.

Oh, the baby doll.

Yes.

I read the whole thing.

Yes, yes.

A lot of a lot of laughing and chuckling.

Was that part of what I was do?

That's exactly what you're supposed to do.

Thank you.

Yeah.

It's, It's written from the point of view of a child.

Yes, but it's written for adults.

Yes.

So why I.

This is not a children's book for children.

It's a children's book for us.

Thank you.

Yes.

Sorry.

Yes, please.

Elton meets his doppelganger.

Daddy goes to work at his office every day.

And every day he comes home for lunch.

He likes his routine.

He likes coming home to a home cooked meal that the housekeeper sets out for him at exactly 130.

After lunch, he takes a power nap for 20 minutes.

Exactly.

Not a minute more today, after he wakes up from his nap and is on his way back to work, he spots Elton running around in the front yard.

Get in here, he bellows in a very commanding voice.

He sets Elton up in the backyard, make sure he can't get out of the gate again, and heads back to his office.

When mommy and I arrive home after she picks me up from theater practice at my school, she goes to the backyard to call Elton in for his dinner.

Mommy rubs her eyes and says, I'm seeing double.

There are two yellow Labrador retrievers at the patio door waiting for dinner.

One has a name tag on his collar that says Milo, with the phone number on the back that she calls immediately.

The thankful owners, practically next door neighbors, come to collect their Milo and are rewarded with great slobbering kisses from the dog.

We let them out front to pee and he disappeared.

They said.

After they leave, mommy scolds daddy about not paying attention and basically stealing the neighbor's dog.

Daddy just shrugs and says, couldn't you have switched dogs?

At least their dog came when I called.

I love his little adventures.

How can our audience find this book?

It's it's on Amazon.

It's on every site you can think of.

And, they can come to the folk music Center and come to the music and we'll sign it.

That's what I wanted to get at.

Thank you, lady, so much for being here.

And I just love your energy.

You're perfect for our women's trailblazers episode, so I love to see what you do next and come back and meet Brenda Llandovery and learn to Zumba with us.

When it comes to making plans.

You are the best.

The same way you plan each detail for those moments.

Start planning to protect you and your loved ones from a natural disaster.

Protecting your family is the best plan you can make.

Where's Tom?

I thought he was with you.

No, Jack.

Tommy.

Oh!

Don't stop.

Keep playing.

Here we go.

Here's the fun part.

Encouragement.

Passed it on from the Foundation for a Better Life.

Welcome back.

We have another inspiring woman with us.

Brenda, thank you so much for being here.

Thank you for having me.

You know, you are a Zumba instructor.

You're also a mom.

And many other things as well.

So before we actually show our audience some Zumba, why did you get involved with Zumba?

Oh well, I always loved dancing since I was little and and after having my four kids.

Then I decided it was time to get that baby weight off.

And, I was asking around, you know, some moms, and they say like, oh, there's a studio.

And and we started going there, and I like it naturally, you know.

And and then after six months, they said, you know, there's an opening for a class if you want to start doing it.

And I already loved it.

So I said, sure.

Why not?

I'll try it.

And, I went and get my certificate for my instructor, and I been teaching for about 14 years.

I'll say maybe a little bit more.

And, I love it.

It's it's like my happy hour.

So Zumba, because when you are an instructor, you're helping a lot of people out there that are taking your class, you know?

Yeah.

Me included.

But you've you've seen it for you as well.

Yeah.

How does that inspire you?

Well, I like the feeling of, you know, having that time for us.

And I see a lot of people have told me, you know what?

This is my happy hour, too.

Thinking about episodes of about, you know, life that happens, including myself and that have, helped them as well as myself to overcome those situations, you know, like personal stuff like the awards and stuff like that.

And I have a lot.

And also it's beautiful because you get to meet a lot of people, not only with your students and people that like your class and they click with you.

Because obviously if they click with the instructor, it's because they, they like the way you dance and who you are in reality because, what I like, it's like you guys feel a click with it, you know, and so that type of music, because there's a lot of instructors, we have different ways of teaching.

We have our method that we have to follow, or we have a kind of an instruction how we have to do it.

But at the end of the day, it's very personal.

It's how you feel, what makes you move.

Like when I do a choreography, I, I like to do something that it makes me move that excites me, that I'll think, oh, the girls will like this, you know?

And and that's very important for me.

They they like it.

They tell me.

Oh, I really enjoy your class.

We can follow you.

And that to me, it's it's a lot I like it.

Makes me feel good that they like it.

And they're all, able to follow me.

Like, I tell them I could go crazy in there, you know?

But that's not what I want.

I want you guys to, be able to follow me and to enjoy it as well, you know, because it's not fun if I'm just bouncing in front by myself, you know, it's it's as I see back when I.

When I see the mirror and and I love it.

And sometimes I stop and you guys already know that choreography and it's like, wow, I love it, I really do.

And the smile of you guys faces and you know, how we going?

And then we ended up when we get all happy, you know when we get out we did our workout.

We feeling good sexy beautiful.

You talked about how you choreograph these numbers with your students in mind.

And then you turn around and you see the energy in the classroom.

How does that make you feel as an instructor?

Wonderful.

To me, my goal is that, you guys are able to follow me, and you enjoy it.

I can see the smiles and the movements.

And when I'm creating a song, obviously, is because I like it, but because you guys like my, I guess, personality or the way I teach.

I'm always thinking, oh, they gonna like this?

And, sometimes I stop and you guys follow and it's just beautiful.

And you talked about.

And this is one of the reasons why it's so important.

We talk about women being role models, you know, to other women.

But my question to you is, is there someone who is out there thinking about becoming a Zumba instructor?

You started off as a student, decided to be an instructor.

What advice would you give to them?

Well, try the class, see if you like it.

If you have the passion for it and know that you're going to meet a lot of people, and then going to like your class if you really put, love into it, guess when we make choreographies, we really, really have to put ourselves in there and yes, it is, a lot of work because we not only do samba, we are moms, we work full time jobs and stuff.

But as long as you have love for it and you can do it, especially if you're looking for a workout that doesn't feel like you work it out.

You know, it is fun.

It's.

And you, you burning calories and I don't know, they they said you work your mind also as well.

You know and for us as a some instructors the learning choreography is also you exercise in your mind.

So when I tell them you not only exercise in your body by your mind as well, and you go through when you are choosing those songs and you talk about exercising your mind as well.

I mean, that all comes with how you choose the songs that you talked about that.

But what I love to hear is when you listen to the words and the lyrics of those songs, because you've been doing this long time, how do you choose?

Because there's a lot of movie songs out there.

How do you choose the one that you know will be perfect for your students?

A lot of my songs empower women, and all talk about self-love, how beautiful and how special yard, you know, and things like that.

I'm always empowering women to do a lot of things.

So I choose the songs you see me singing and, like, really feeling it because I think it's important you have to love the song for you to be able to transmit that passion.

You know?

And once you feel it and then you just want to move and dance and create those sexy moves, you know, I can.

Yeah.

And and that's why I think it's so important to have you here because every woman that walks into your class, we're all going through something different, but yet we're able to connect with you, and that's so important.

Don't you think?

Yes.

Very important, I love it.

That's one of my favorite things.

And along the years I have created, where I have met, people like, you know, from all, races and they're beautiful.

All we have a younger, older, and they all love it as well.

And and I love it.

I meet a lot of beautiful people, and I have become friends with a lot.

And I stayed friends with a lot of them, which is kind of nuts.

I think it's a love for music.

In reality, it's our love for music, but it's how we love each other while we're doing it.

Yeah, well, what we're going to do is we're actually going to show our audience why we love Zumba so much.

You have brought some friends with you, so we'll meet those friends and we'll do a few numbers.

And of course, I hijacked it and put my favorite number in there.

So thank you so much for doing that.

So we'll come back and we'll show our audience how December.

Hey, hey look, you know, my last crazy let's get this party started for.

We got it.

We got a party.

We got a dance party.

We?

I ain't to get him.

I ain't got no you get it?

I and I'm okay.

Y'all all right now that these are so powerful.

Okay.

These are so my my get my get vinyl on the house right now.

I know.

I.

If I, you if I every if I, if I yeah if I, if I jump on me time time I'm me time to get it on and I'm okay.

Y'all know how to get these five kids I show my, my I'm giving you I'm la la New York City give I give you.

This.

Let me baby bear this big with me baby.

This this woman babies this this this will be this this will be baby.

Okay, ladies and gentlemen, if you have a good time tonight, I need you to clap your hands.

What?

Everybody got your hands right now.

Come on now.

Hey.

Yeah, yeah.

Down.

Here we go.

We gonna dance party.

We're going to party.

We gonna.

We're gonna party.

Come to my means.

I'll go get em.

I'm gonna go get it.

I know y'all know, right?

I, I yeah, these are your papa.

These are some my my my my my la Nina.

I'm combining Nina.

I'm teasing you right now.

Nina.

I want it right now.

Give us that girl right now.

I'm here right.

Okay.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

And thank you.

We have the zoom.

The queens from the Inland Empire.

So thank you, ladies, and thank you for joining us on everybody with Angela Williamson.

Viewers like you make this show possible.

Join us on social media to continue this conversation.

Good night and stay well.

But we have another song for you, so stay tuned.

Those credits, they're there.

They're there.

They're they're.

They're.

Up on the stand up there.

I ain't saying I'll be Miss Baby boy.

Don't I tell you what I'm saying.

With no price.

Don't make me run to catch.

No.

Where was I?

Hope, don't I know, y'all know.

Say manana.

Afro house.

I'm not gonna be messing with the captain.

No cap.

I might spend my back.

And then you're back.

A song that I said I. Gotta da da da da da.

Duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh da.

Make a dumb baby drop it in my local deacon.

Gonna come up to me.

Mommy, circle up and play such a movie.

Siempre.

Play Miami battle even one late game.

I don't throw away game as well I know, I know, I'll see if I get up there I guess I don't, I don't know about, I know I see if I get up there, I guess I got to talk about that.

I da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da.

Da da da da da da da da da da.

Down to the ground.

To the earth.

Monkey.

Hi, I'm Angela Williamson, host of everybody with Angela Williamson.

Thank you for watching.

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Dawg.

Again, thank you for watching Kelsey's PBS.