Thirsty for Knowledge with Jerald and Jacory: Recent Episodes
Jerald and Jacory
Two dads, two races, one mission: to explore everything we can about the human experience, not just to be better fathers but to be better humans. Our quest for knowledge has led us to seek guests from all walks of life. Join us each week as we have candid conversations with interesting people who have fascinating stories to share. Our guests have included Emmy winners, Grammy winners, NY Times best selling authors, Professional athletes and even the International Drag Queen herself Ms. Kay Sedia. Cheers to being thirsty!
Advocate, artist and a humanitarian, Brian Peterson is an inspiration. His approach to taking ideas seriously will inspire you as well. We were first introduced to Brian through his immensely powerful depiction of Kobe at the Dolby theatre complex in Los Angeles. He was inspired by an image of him receiving the Oscar in 2018, for the Best Animated Short Film “Dear Basketball”. Little did we know, there was so much more to Brian than being a muralist. During our conversation we learn how Brian gained the courage to leave his dream job designing cars for Kia, how he later became a paster, and then about the moment that changed his life forever. “When my motives changed from trying to help the homeless to trying to help the homeless, to simply loving the homeless, everything changed". BP He now tells the stories of our “houseless neighbors” through his organization Faces of Santa Ana.
Matt Ogens new Netflix Original documentary AUDIBLE is an immersive coming-of-age story told from the perspective of Deaf high school students and communicated through sign language. Shaken by a friend's suicide, a Deaf high school football player copes with family and relationships while anticipating his final homecoming game. During our conversation Matt shares a terrifying experience that changed his life. While being held up at gunpoint, instead of his life flashing before his eyes, it was the life that led the gunman to this point. His curiosity about the human experience has led him to capture powerfully authentic human interest stories with an incredibly honest perspective.
In addition to documentaries, Ogens directs branded content and commercials, and about 10 years ago directed a campaign about high school football teams around the country, and the Maryland School for the Deaf was one of them.
Anita Moorjani is an international speaker and author of the New York Times best seller Dying to Be Me and her more recent book Sensitive Is the New Strong: The Power of Empaths in an Increasingly Harsh World. After a 4-year battle with cancer, Anita fell into a coma and was given days to live. As her doctors gathered to revive her, she journeyed into a near death experience (NDE) where she was given the choice to return to her physical form or to continue into this new realm. She chose the former, and was free of countless tumors and cancer indicators within weeks. Anita was a protégé of the late Dr. Wayne Dyer, who brought her onto the world stage in 2011. Coincidentally this is where she first met Liat Gerszt. In this episode we chat with Anita, Liat and Colet Abeti. We discuss a purpose driven life, Ayahuasca and how they plan to bring this powerful story to the big screen. This episode changed me.
Ruben Rojas is a father, husband, muralist, investor and activist. We discuss his journey from making money in the corporate world to filing bankruptcy. Which led him to his passion. Ruben is known throughout L.A. as an artist who inspires others to live through love. We talk about love, parenting, pursuing your passion and how we actually lead from a place of love and make the world a better place. We love this man!
In part 2 of our interview with the fabulous Kay Sedia we meet the man behind the makeup Mr. Oscar Quintero. We discuss love, luck, dating apps and parenting. You don't want to miss this one. Also, visit Kay Sedia's website and book her for your next Tupperware party!
(Part 1 of 2) Ms. Kay Sedia shares her God given talents of comedy and "sexiness" straight through the computer screen, making this conversation an unforgettable experience. In this episode we learn how Kay went from working at the grocery store to becoming an International Tupperware Superstar. This incredible drag persona sprang from the inventive mind of Kay Sedia's alter ego Oscar Quintero. Ever have sex in drag? "Fuckerware" parties? How to roll your R's? Parenting during a pandemic? This episode was a fun one! Next week we meet the man behind the makeup Mr. Oscar Quintero.
“Your past, although it’s important, doesn’t determine your future,” he said. "You can make mistakes and good things can still happen in your life." Darrion Cockrell was raised as a young child by both his grandmother and a series of rotating foster parents after his father, a drug dealer, was murdered and his mother battled drug addiction. Nearly two years after graduating from college, Cockrell -- now married and the father of a 3-year-old son -- landed his first full-time teaching job at Crestwood Elementary. Darrion also received a 2020 National Box Tops for Education Twilight Award, presented by Chance the Rapper, as recognition for the impact he's made on students.
Nurturing Healing Love: A Mother’s Journey Of Hope and Forgiveness, a memoir by Scarlett Lewis, inspired by the loss of Lewis’ son in the Sandy Hook massacre, for development as a television movie. Law & Order alumna Elisabeth Röhm is attached to star, direct and executive produce along side Liat Gerszt and Colet Abedi.
Nurturing Healing Love is inspired by the horrific loss of Lewis’ son, Jesse following an act of unimaginable violence at the Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. Lewis experienced something that no parent should ever have to endure on a day that started just like any other. When a gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Scarlett’s life changed forever. However, this isn’t a story about a massacre. It’s a story about love and survival. It’s about how to face the impossible, how to find courage when you think you have none, and how to choose love, instead of anger, fear, or hatred.
Röhm will executive produce with Matt Luber, Liat Gerszt of Silvergale Productions and Colet Abedi, Jasmine Abedi and Brian Zargorski of 04 Entertainment.
The former "Mr. Irrelevant" -- drafted by the Rams with the 252nd and final pick of the 2008 NFL draft -- was a rookie starter at linebacker in St. Louis before eventually landing in Seattle. To cope with a series of devastating shoulder injuries and head trauma, he turned to painkillers. until he had a chance encounter with U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills, one of five surviving quadruple amputees from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. This dude is inspiring.
For Genesee County Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson, 2020 has been a year filled with defining moments, milestones and virtual world travel. Most of all, Swanson was reaching out to help others during the COVID-19 shutdown.
As the first Costa-Rican female artist to be nominated in the Best Latin Pop or Urban album category at the Grammys, she knows this recognition will certainly inspire others—but this is just the beginning. Her album 3:33 was released last May. The Costa Rican singer/songwriter chose this name because for her the number 3 is a sign that she is at the right time and place, both at work and personal level. And she is! Listen as we discuss her full circle moment with Ricky Martin, performs an acoustical version of her smash hit Quedate and discusses her friendship with the legendary Cockroach Whisperer.
Scarlett Lewis founded Choose Love Movement after her son, Jesse, was murdered during the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in December 2012. It is one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history. At six years old, Jesse, alongside 19 of his first-grade classmates and six educators, died. Yet law enforcement says Jesse used his final moments to heroically save nine of his friends. This was an incredibly powerful and inspiring conversation about love and forgiveness.
Courage + Gratitude + Forgiveness + Compassion in Action = Choosing Love
"Being a CODA is my Superpower" Listen and watch Sound of Metal star Paul Raci discuss what it’s like growing up with deaf parents, his experience coming home from Vietnam, his battles with addiction and addressing the controversy surrounding his breakout role as "Joe" in the Sound of Metal that was 40 years in the making.
As the first Costa-Rican female artist to be nominated in the Best Latin Pop or Urban album category at the Grammys, she knows this recognition will certainly inspire others—but this is just the beginning. We talk about her full circle moment with Ricky Martin at this years Grammys, surfing and the Cockroach Whisperer.
Chris Swanson is a 4 time Ironman finisher, an author, college instructor, Sheriff in Flint Michigan, and a motivational speaker. He has a passion for changing lives and he has dedicated his life's work to doing so through passionate teaching and personal motivation. We talk faith, fatherhood, police reform and showing up when called upon.
"Being a CODA is my Superpower" (Child Of Deaf Adults). Both Jerry and Paul tell stories about what it's like to be raised by deaf parents. And the how ‘Sound of Metal’ Star went from day jobs to Oscar Nominee. After decades of struggle, the 72-year-old actor finally found his breakthrough playing a deaf Vietnam vet with addiction issues — a role with parallels to his own life.
Two dads, two races, one mission: To explore everything we can about the human experience, not just to be better fathers, but to be better human beings.
Our quest for knowledge has led us to seek leaders and game changers from all walks of life- people from diverse backgrounds, be it culturally, socially, economically or professionally while having fun along the way.
Jerald
I’m a proud CODA. For those of you who don’t know, that means that I’m a Child of Deaf Adults. That’s right, both of my parents are deaf. This taught me to listen first and speak second. Even as a little kid, I was the voice for my parents when they needed interpreting and the cultural bridge between the hearing and deaf worlds. I found myself in the middle of fascinating conversations ranging from interpreting my own parent teacher conferences, to mistakenly telling my mom the doctor suggested she needed an exorcism instead of more exercise (I was 10). Clearly my communication skills were sharp from an early age. Throughout my life I have had a thirst for knowledge. My genuine curiosity has led me to a variety of unique experiences ranging from selling high end jewelry to royalty, fine art to celebrities, to leasing real estate to tech giants. I even tried finding love by collecting roses on National TV. This quest for knowledge has drawn me to people who have lived and loved in ways that I wasn’t able to experience. These conversations helped me gain valuable insights, making me a better person and most importantly a better father. Thirsty For Knowledge is a way for me to share my quest with you.
Jacory
I am an actor and writer. I developed these passions because I liked portraying other people and being able to escape to another world, to realities other than my own. Writing and creating fantasies, comedies and heart-felt scripts gave me peace. Growing up in a small town thirty minutes north of San Francisco, it was very limited on the “sweet life” possibilities. So, after booking my first commercial I yearned for more and I made the move to Los Angeles in 2000 and signed with a commercial/theatrical agency. No friends, no family, just me. Luckily with a very outgoing personality I made friends and acquaintances quickly. Even after booking over 30 television jobs one would think that I had it all figured out. But, I still needed some time to learn myself, diving in and out of different ideas, plans and goals. I had to narrow it down to what makes me happy. I love acting, I love writing, but what makes me happy is meeting new people from all walks of life. I love learning, learning helps me grow as a man! And now as a proud father and husband, I am extremely thirsty to gain as much knowledge as possible. Not only to be a better dad and husband, but also to be a better person. And, of course, meeting new, talented, bright, funny, excitingly brilliant people along the way is just the icing on the cake!
Nick DP
I am a director, writer and content creator. Even as a kid I was told that I could tell a vivid and entertaining story. I was destined to be a storyteller.I took my talents to Cal State Fullerton on a track scholarship and chose to enroll in the Theater Program for my major. I am proud to say that I am part of the first graduating Film Program class at Cal State Fullerton. After graduating I went on to direct, write and produce short films, commercials, music videos and viral social media content. I’ve always had this passion and thirst to tell unknown stories. It really gives me great joy that my super power is to bring a story to life that anyone can relate to.