Rosé + Thorns
Join Dr. P. Ryan and friends in unpacking the highs and lows of life, culture, and relationships—open conversations with no off-limits topics.
Rosé + Thorns
Character Development (feat. Uncle Devron)
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LOVEBIUGS!!! Rosé + Thorns was on winter holiday, but we’re back to give you the rest of season one!! If you know me, you KNOW I love to receive nuggets of wisdom from the older generations. I’m immensely grateful for the chance to talk entertainment, vulnerability, and relationship with my Uncle. Get ready for a good time! 🖤
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and tell your uncles about the show.
You can continue conversing with Uncle Devron on Instagram and Twitter.
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You better come on in here before. I'm a survivor. I'm not survivor. Uh-huh. I'll know the rest. You know, that's uh that's how much to get out of me on this Sunday one.
SPEAKER_02Hey there, love bugs, and welcome to another episode of the Roseanne Thorns podcast. I am P. Ryan and listen, everybody needs an uncle figure in their life. Look, mine just jumped right on in. I am blessed to say that I have quite a few, and I'm happy to have one on the show today. So everybody, please give a warm welcome to actor, singer, producer, and again, Uncle Mr. Devron Young.
SPEAKER_00You forgotten the child of God.
SPEAKER_01That's number one, thank you for God.
SPEAKER_00Amen. Amen to Sunday. That's how we're gonna go into this. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Ryan. We're so proud of you watching your journey. Oh, thank you. Underground life.
SPEAKER_02Now we'll talk about it. Isn't it a change? A wonderful change has come over me.
SPEAKER_00It was a change. And you know, to see how you have evolved. You have the podcast. Come on now.
SPEAKER_02Thank you. I appreciate you. But enough about me. Let's start the show off by you telling the people a little bit about yourself.
SPEAKER_00Sure. Well, my name is Devron, and I was born in uh Baltimore, Maryland, and um uh found the acting bug at a very, very young, young age. And I've just been blessed with many opportunities that let me to be on stage and and and b behind stage and a director seed and producer and a teacher and and and uh you know just somebody you can come to to to ask for advice, you know. I'm a mentor, because I've been mentored uh for all my life. So that's that's that's me in a nutshell. But also I'm one of those performers, actors it's very hard for me to talk about myself. Once the curtain goes down, I'm gonna do the back door.
SPEAKER_02I've brought a couple people on here and they said that it's hard to talk about themselves. But you know, this is the space for it. So we're gonna pull you out of that shell and give you a little exposure.
SPEAKER_00Okay, okay, okay.
SPEAKER_02And it's so funny that you've, you know, already touched on the actor um piece because the way that we met was through acting. So I'm gonna just take the people back to was it 2012?
SPEAKER_00It's 2012.
SPEAKER_022012, the University of Maryland College Park. Um the university always puts on like a huge production. I think it's every two years, two to four years.
SPEAKER_00Well, then, yes. Now they do a little bit more. But yeah.
SPEAKER_02Oh, so the budget increased. Okay.
SPEAKER_00The budget increased, yeah. And so for growth. Yeah. Intuition.
SPEAKER_02Always rising. And so they were putting on the production of Rent, and I had the opportunity to be casted as Tom Collins. You were my director, and so that's how we started building relationships. But you know, one thing that I will always take away from that was that rent was such a bomb at the time. Because when we I I always think back to especially to that one time when you and I were just kind of like running through lines together and really trying to understand the character of Tom and how you know losing a loved one. And at the time that had a loved one who, you know, was ill. And it just brought out such a deep emotion. And so I just want to thank you. I think since that moment, you and I again have had conversations about just different things, not just with loved ones. Um, but you have just been, you know, such a source of wisdom, a source of support. And I really thank you. And I think that that rent experience was, you know, something that really was life-changing. So you talk about this evolution, but it would not be here without you.
SPEAKER_00Sure. Well, I appreciate that. But you know, for me, for rent, you know, uh those who don't know. So with that particular show at the University of Maryland, um, they hired uh alum to come back to direct. So instead of having a professor, which is the norm director, or you know, the outside director were alum, so my good friend and somebody who mentors me is the actor uh Alan Mingo Jr., who graduated from uh University of Maryland College Spark and's gone on to star in uh uh Kinky Boots on Broadway. Yes. You know, along with an a lot of stuff. So then he said, Won't you come on and do this with me? Because he was on tour with uh Shrek, the musical playing Donkey at that point. So so yeah, so it was um and for me was a stage play, you know, and then came the movie. So it was interesting to have you guys who had both the stage and the movie version, and then we went on and did our own. But I will say, Patrick, you came in and you were vulnerable enough um as an actor and as a person to have those tough conversations about you know the challenges and the and and the themes of of rent. Um so it's not only me, you you would have to be the type of person or actor to be open to to um accept what I was giving you and to let me pull out of you, you know, what many people can't do. You know, they have this shell. But when it comes to performing arts, that shell needs to be, you know, gone.
SPEAKER_02Oh, we're gonna get to that shell, and I appreciate you. I receive everything that you're saying. Now I know you said you don't like talking about yourself, but do you mind if I just be your hype man for a little bit?
SPEAKER_00You would have to be. I was taught to humble thyself, Devron, humble thyself.
SPEAKER_02Well, I'm gonna hype you up a little bit. So you went to the Baltimore School of Performing uh for the arts. Also went to the University of Maryland.
SPEAKER_00Let me just say something about performing arts high school. At that point, when I was younger, I had done a show with Jada Finkett Smith. Yes, you did. And she was at the Baltimore School for the Arts, and that's all she talked about. Jada Finkett, she wasn't Smith yet, but that's all she talked about was the school, and all we had as a reference was the movie in the TV show Fame, where they had actors and singers just dancing on the streets and dancing on the tables and all that stuff. So the fear with performing arts high schools is that that's all you're gonna get. You're not gonna get like the standard a high school experience, but that's not so. Um, so your days are structured and you have half day arts and half day academics, so you have a regular high school experience as well as a arts experience as well. So it was, I mean, it was like the best time of my life being in a school like that. There's no bullying. There's everybody's accepted no matter what you are, what you believe in, how you got there, how much your parents make, what you look like, what you believe. Because everybody wanted to be there, you know.
SPEAKER_02It sounds like a space for community.
SPEAKER_00Exactly. Exactly. Yeah, no b no matter what. I mean, to have that as a a teenager, you know, was just just uh a blessing for me.
SPEAKER_02Yes. But your story doesn't stop with the performing arts uh high school and Jada Pinkett Smith. You've gone on to be in plays like Once on This Island, the color purple. You will always be my personal countess Luann because you directed and started in your own cabaret.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_00Money can't buy your class, money can't buy your class. Okay, elegance is learned. Okay. Always taught if you are a performer, right? No matter what, music or whatever, is that you have to be able to have your own show. You have to be able to be able to have enough monologue, enough song if you sing, to do your own show. Yeah. And so this this very young fresh devron went to see his favorite Wayne Brady. You know, he's gotta make his way into this conversation, right?
SPEAKER_01Sure, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00Always. And uh Wayne Brady, Wayne Brady Hive right here, WayneBradyHive.com. But anyway, I went to see his show, and man, I was just floored, floored with excitement, and and that's really where my inspiration came from. I was like, you know what, I think I can do this. And I had enough people, including you, yeah, to invite into that journey, that new journey of of my life. And I'm I will always be appreciative of you because you tore it down with your vocals, T. Ryan. Thank you. Thank you. Uh huh.
SPEAKER_02And I always appreciate you for giving me that opportunity. Who knew that you know a cabaret would be anything that I would say I was in, you know? Um I appreciate that. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Your work doesn't stop at the cabaret, though, because right before COVID hit, um, you know, the people don't know, we were supposed to tape this a little earlier in the year, but you were like, girl, I'm in LA.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_00Well, I for for contractual purposes, I can't say for what. Let's just say for a new endeavor, a new journey.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, a new journey.
SPEAKER_00You know, and you know, COVID, COVID just put a little intermission in it.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_00Right? So now we have to figure out how we can make that happen still.
SPEAKER_02What lesson did you learn with with or what lessons has this whole COVID and quarantine and going from LA to the East Coast? What has all of that taught you in this season?
SPEAKER_00It's taught me that um I'm stronger. You know what I mean? I'm stronger than I guess I I thought I would without with the without the travel, without the arts in my life. Because, you know, for me and for a lot of people, the arts, whether it's in LA or New York or Maryland or wherever you are, it's it's sort of like our therapy. You know, even if we're not particularly doing it, directing it or writing it or performing it, sitting in a theater to be able to witness it, it's a form of therapy for us, you know? So all of that is gone. All of that is gone. You know, but I found a way to reconnect with friends I hadn't talked to in a while, to be supportive of my friends who are doing fantastic things during this pandemic, you know. So what I've learned is that I am a great supporter of, that I I there's a joy in being able to support.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_00You know, because in the arts everybody's coming to clap for us. Everybody's coming to hear to see us, or to be entertained by us, or to be taught by us. But this has taught me, I I get a joy and I'm fulfilled by giving of my time and of myself to support my friends who are starting plays on Zoom or acting classes on Zoom or his own podcast, you know.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, now it's your time to clap for others.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's my time, and it it is my time in life to to to be the biggest audience member or the biggest clapper for other people.
SPEAKER_02You know what that highlights for me, and this is really taking us back to what you were saying earlier, it's this aspect of vulnerability and emotional availability. Uh-huh. Because you for you to get to a place to, you know, not really be able to tap into the arts as much as you want to, and to try to figure out a way to to still stay connected to the arts, and now you find yourself as like a support system for others. You really have to be emotionally in tuned. And so I'm just curious, what are some experiences that you've had to endure to kind of get yourself to this point of emotional openness and vulnerability?
SPEAKER_00Okay. I'm gonna try to not take you over the river and through the woods, but it's gonna make sense when I'm okay. So for me, it's something as simple as journaling. Okay. What I wrote two weeks ago, right? Let's say I'm gonna give you just a situation that I that had uh most uh recently. The friend who is a performer, uh, but one of those performers who likes the applause, who likes the attention on and off stage, right? Yeah. So with her being disconnected from having people physically, you know, say, saying, You're so pretty, you're so talented, you're doing so well, you're acting as you're on point, or going to a theater where they're clashing and waiting for her after the fact. You know? I had to be brave enough. And these are the what COVID has done for me, it has pushed me to have really honest, in-depth, unafraid, um, unfiltered uh conversations with people who I say I love. But because of that, I in turn had to take off some walls and do that, if that makes any sense to you. I I can click in and do that on stage, be vulnerable enough, but that's through a character. But now only we don't have that facade, we have to do it ourselves. We have to put in the work, especially with those that we we love, and just not be afraid, it's okay. It's not gonna kill us.
SPEAKER_02This season is bringing out the biggest character development in ourselves rather than in the world.
SPEAKER_00It has to be. It has to be. There's not there's there's there's no, and I'm speaking specifically for actors. There's no music sheet, there's no script, there's no place that we can hide at eight o'clock at night and come out of it. Well, it's just it's just us having these very honest conversations.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yes. And then when you I know you're speaking towards actors, but I'm eat I feel like anyone can take this lesson away that this season is really giving us the moment to sit with ourselves and and do the work on ourselves. Yet when I think about men, black men, you know, that's a lot of the work that I do. Um we're given this message that you know um there's no room for emotions.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_02And so I'm just curious what has digging into yourself, what has understanding yourself, working on yourself as a character, what has that done for you personally to this date? It it's freedom.
SPEAKER_00You know what I mean? It's it's it's it's freedom. It's it's it's living without any sort of fear. I mean, you always want to be cautious of what you say and how you live your life. But you know, we only have one life to live, and I'm the one responsible for this life called Devron. So being um, I've always been very empathetic, but really focusing on that and and learning how to be a good listener and being my true authentic self, you know, with no character to be hind by behind, has forced me, and it's a journey now, to be a more authentic devon than I've ever been in my life. And part of that is age and experience as well. You know, but when you have nothing to hide behind, you're just forced. You're just forced, you know. If you're willing, you have to be willing, number one. You have to be willing. But but that's it's it's really put me in a place of of just being, you know, just comfortable with me all around as a performer, as a man, you know, as a brother. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yes. In the theme of vulnerability, could I ask you a vulnerable question? Uh-huh. Because as we get to do the work on ourselves, we start to identify some of the parts of ourselves that don't really feel that comfortable. Right. And when I think about that, and I also think about this identity of being, you know, an actor, even an accomplished person, one of the things that may not feel as comfortable is uh our tendency to compare our accomplishments to others.
unknownRight.
SPEAKER_02And I know that can happen even in the happen maybe even more in like the artist. So I'm just curious, being surrounded by people like and having having interacted with people like Jada Pinkett Smith, Tracy Towns, you mentioned Alan Mingo Jr. Sometimes we can get distracted by other people's success, right? And measure our worth based on theirs. What have been the things that have kept you grounded? Because I don't hear any of that in you.
SPEAKER_00I don't you know what I never have. Even as a child in the arts, I never had that part of me that felt, oh, he is there. Shot his name is in headlights on Broadway, or she's an Annie and then rent the musical, but I'm not in Rent the Musical Annie or in Kinky Boots on Leader. I've never done that because I have managed to r surround myself in my artistic life, my artistic friends who are not arrogant and they're just supportive of me if I went out here and did a show in the middle of the street by myself than if I was on Broadway right now. You know what I mean? So even though they are in these higher in the w artistic world of places of the movies and on the Broadway stage, they don't treat me like you know what I mean, like it'd be different. They treated me differently, or they or they somehow have changed. So it speaks a lot to their characters as well. Like we're still the same I'm s we're still our friendship remains the same no matter what. You know, and I've also had par it boils down to my parents too. Yeah. You know, to to be appreciative of what you have, even if it's a penny. But I have a penny, right? Somebody else does it.
unknownYeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00You know, I'm involved in the arts when somebody didn't have the opportunities that I've had, and the mentors that I've had, and the teachers and friendships that I've had that giving me the resume that I have. There's a there's a guy in Baltimore, a little boy, who won't have those opportunities that I've had. You know what I mean? So I don't and I'm I'm proud of my accomplishments. I've never had that moment of, you know, gee, I'm not there. It's not meant for me to be. It's meant for me to be called back to the University of Maryland to meet you, to bring us to where we are right now. You know, I I've never actually ever had that feeling.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. You know what's really jacking me up there, a lot of the times when we talk about, you know, comparing yourself to others, the conversation always centers around just like knowing your worth and knowing, you know, as you said, what is for you is for you. But you introduce another where it's just like not only is it knowing that what's for you is for you, but it's also having community and being surrounded by people who aren't engaging in that comparison, who aren't saying, you know, I'm here and you're here, who really are kind of like the people you met from day one despite the success. So it kind of creates an environment where you can all celebrate like a win for one is a win for everyone.
SPEAKER_00It's a win for everyone. So every time they get something or I do something, it's not just about me, it's about you know what got me to that point. And they're part of my crew, you know. I mean, that's what we call each other. We're part of each other's crew, each other's support system. So you're I mean, you're speaking truth. Um, it's it's a win for everyone. It's a win for everyone. Now, no mind you're gonna be honest. I've had, you know, people in my life who are in situations where they are like, oh, you're not here, or why why am I where you are? I've I started the same place, but you still kind of lead those people out of your life. Wow. Wow as you as you age and and you get more experiences, and it's nothing mean or evil, no ill intent, but it's just you know, you want to surround yourself with with the people you deserve. I deserve the right to be surrounded by the support that I give.
SPEAKER_02Mercy. Mercy. What are the ways that people have been weaved out? Has it been kind of like a a forceful situation, or have you allowed time and opportunity to weave them out?
SPEAKER_00You you it's it comes by time. It's never been not answering the phone or returning a text, so it's nothing like that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00It's just, you know, the calls are less. Or, you know, because I'm the one, I'm a fixer. So if I haven't heard from you in like two or three weeks, I'm calling you or emailing you or whatever like that. But do you realize sometimes it's okay? That's that's you don't have to read the one that's always rushing at. There's a reason why you're disconnected. And and in my case, it's it's proven to be right, you know? I don't need that person. That person was in my life for a time or a season.
SPEAKER_02Do you ever miss any people? Do you ever who? Miss those people?
SPEAKER_00Um not really. Okay. Yeah. Not really. And that's that's the I mean that's the honest truth. No, not not at all. I mean, because in some cases, some people, you know, we're there for for for not the better of, you know, for the better of, for the encouragement, or to push me to go forward. So so no, like I'm really happy with my crew, with my surroundings, uh, with my friends that I have, my troop.
SPEAKER_02Devron, I'm not well right now. I just kind of want to.
SPEAKER_00You're not well. Yes, I loved everything. Physically, emotionally, how how are you not well?
SPEAKER_02Oh, no, by your words, it just shook me.
SPEAKER_00Here I am swooping in. I'm like, how can I fix it? Seriously, emotionally, physically.
SPEAKER_02Come on, fix her. Now, do you mind if we switch gears a little bit?
SPEAKER_01Sure.
SPEAKER_02Okay. For season one of this podcast, Roseanne Thorns, the understanding. Official title is called The Essential Work of Life in Relationships. And so we talked a little bit about life and we talked a little bit about relationships, but we're gonna delve a little bit deeper into relationships. I love getting into people's business, okay? So to start things off, I'm going to ask you to complete two sentences. You ready? All right. The first sentence, complete this.
SPEAKER_00Love is love is kind and it's patient. It's warm if there's a sensation I can give it. It's love, it's arms just wrapped around it. Love is love is worth it.
SPEAKER_02Yes. If those arms are out there that want to rap, here I am.
SPEAKER_00Right. Love is worth the journey to find it. Put it that way. It's worth it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00It's worth it. It may not come tomorrow or the next few years, but just be open. It's worth it.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02Complete the second sentence. Men are.
SPEAKER_00Oh, you trapped me because I sure am. Men are. Oh, gee. You really something at them. There's so much I can say. Yeah. So, you know, I'm not one of those, you know, who would say you men are dogs and all that kind of stuff. No. Men are a um diverse diverse uh species who are just um taught not to be, I'm going into what you said before, not to be vulnerable caring beings. But that's that's that's that's how society has put us in a situation where we're we're deemed as weak or punk for sissies if we're open to be uh vulnerable. But um I know then quickly answered your question because there's a lot I can go into. That's another podcast.
SPEAKER_02Season two, ready.
SPEAKER_00But men are also beautiful species. You know what I mean? There's beauty. There's beauty in a lot of us, physically, emotionally, spiritually.
SPEAKER_02I appreciate you for completing these two sentences, and I really wanted those to kind of set the foundation for some of the stuff that we we talk about. So uh because right now I feel like I just want to, you know, suck in all of your sage wisdom because right now I'm approaching an age where it seems like a lot of my peers talk about comparatives, uh a lot of my peers are cobbling up. And are you are you familiar with girlfriends?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, okay. Yeah, everything's the same problem. Yes.
SPEAKER_02I'm kind of feeling like Joan, right? But instead of being where I'm super thirsty for a partner, you know, I'm really always sitting with myself wondering if, you know, long-term partnership, marriage, if well, long-term partnership, yes, but if marriage specifically is something that, you know, I actually want. So I'm wondering if, you know, you could just take a moment to share what your experiences with romantic relationships have been over the years. And maybe what are some lessons that you took took away from those experiences that you could impart to some of us less seasoned folk?
SPEAKER_00Well, I'm gonna I'm gonna say, I'm gonna speak for me, and I'm gonna speak, which I think a lot of people relate to. It's a journey when it comes to relationships and and love, um, and not even love, like, let's let's start somewhere, whatever, right? Because the thing 20s brought, you know, that's when you're all wrapped up into the shell of the shell of what looks good, the shell of what sounds good. You know what I mean? Then it kind of morphs once you get to your 30s or something like that, to you're looking more toward the inside of a person, of your partner, whoever easy or whatever is, you know? Like who are they spiritually? Are they good people, no matter what they look like, or the muscles and and the perfect face and the perfect haircut and everything like that. For me, the transition of where I am right now in my life is beyond the shelf of it all. I mean, you want to be attracted. You know, but what does what attracts you is the smile, the fact that you can have a conversation where it's give and take, the fact that you can take care of each other, the fact that that other person knows how to love and to be vulnerable enough for you, the fact that you can trust this person. You know? So it's a journey. You go from looking at the shell of it all to knowing that the shell of it all is gonna crack one day.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_00And can you deal with what's left?
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_00You know? And like I said, as far as comparing yourself to other people or your peers in just relationships, you are working hard for a goal right now. You don't need any distractions.
SPEAKER_02Even though I would like to.
SPEAKER_00But that's all right. I'm telling you, and my fingers pointing at you right now, and you are working hard for a goal. Okay? Yeah, and you don't need any distractions that's gonna, you know, get your focus away from that.
SPEAKER_02So I hear you loud and crazy.
SPEAKER_00And it's hard it's hard to believe, but Billy Porter, uh uh old Billy Porter, right? You know who he is, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so we we know him from the Broadway stage, but he has this song that I'll turn you on to called Love is on the way. Right? Google it, YouTube or whatever. He goes, Love is on the way on wings of angels. I know it's true, it's coming to you, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00You feel loveless or likeless or whatever, just listen to the power and the words of this song. Love is on the way. It may not be today or tomorrow, but it's coming. It may not be in the package that you imagined that it would be. You know? He got waves. He likes it.
SPEAKER_02Actually, I like them dark, but thank you.
SPEAKER_00I'm just saying, you know what I mean? And it may come in that package, I'm just saying. But you know, it's not gonna cause. You may it may not come the way that you imagine it would be. But you just have to be open, open to it. He's like, you know what, this since it's sparking something in me, I didn't expect. Yeah.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_00You know? But it's gonna come, but right now you sir have a goal and you're working hard for it. Uh-huh. You don't need any distractions. But if it was distract a distraction that's come, you know, you know how to handle it.
SPEAKER_01Uh sure do.
SPEAKER_02I receive it. Now, I love how you you talk about the switching of focus from kind of just like looks in the outer shell to what's inside. And something that was coming up for me while I was listening to you was this idea that you can't get to that point with another person if you don't get to that point with yourself. And the reason why I was thinking about that is because, you know, I recently wrapped my dissertation and I was talking specifically to same gender-loving black men, and many of them were going through this process of having a lot of things that they had to unpack and realizing that those things that they had to unpack were impacting the ways that they related and um engaged in relationship. And so you're at this point where you're looking on the inside when it comes to a partner, you're assessing all of these things that that have quality and substance rather than kind of the outer shell. Was there anything in your journey that you had to unpack with yourself first or address first before you could get to that point?
SPEAKER_00Yeah. I had to realize myself worth when it comes to like I I have compartments. I know myself worth in the arts, I know myself worth here, but I had to I had to stop searching, if that makes any sense. You get so involved with, and I'm not talking about apps or anything like that, but all the way, always, you know, wanting or needing a partner, or always, you know, you know how some people just uh say that you know they're not right, quote unquote right without having a spouse or someone there, right? But I had to just stop and say, you know what, I'm worthy of. You know, anytime I've got my heart broken or something like that, it's really not about just me. You know what I mean? Sometimes it's that other person or your connection, or sometimes it's just not meant to be. And sometimes that comes with just experience and life fabric. Something I can't, I can say it, but it isn't until you go through it that you realize, you know what, you know what, that makes sense. I am worthy of someone who's worthy of me.
SPEAKER_02Yes.
SPEAKER_00And so when you recognize that worthiness, it then puts you in a position to be just like it was just like it was a process of, and mind you, I'm going to going to say one good thing that actors have, a lot of us have, is a good therapist. So I'm not one of those guys that won't one of those black guys that won't say that I have a therapist. Yeah. I've had several, I still to today. So therapy is very a very good tool. And a necessity in my life, too. So all of that I said, and a great therapist who could say last year this time, you said, How do you feel right now? Three years ago you said this is what you were looking for, but this is what you got now. How did you come to that? So being forced to discuss my journey, you know? So therapy is also a great help.
SPEAKER_02That is wonderful. That is wonderful.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so I am a I am a proud black man who proudly says, you know, I have uh have had and have good therapists in his life. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02I think that's a perfect place to wrap this conversation, and so I'm gonna ask you to just complete this final sentence. Happiness is.
SPEAKER_00Happiness is being free to be who you are. Happiness is being free to be vulnerable enough to just accept the love that's given to you. That's just where I am right now in my life.
SPEAKER_02Amen. And we honor you. We love it. Yes. Yes. All right, so before we completely end the conversation, we are going to go into this segment of the show called Let's Spin the Rose Bottle. So I have spent all of this time asking you questions and engaging you in conversation. I like to give my guests the opportunity to ask me one question. It can be dry, okay. It can be juicy, it can be nothing at all, and then we can move on.
SPEAKER_00Okay. You ready? I am ready. I am. Oh, do you have to do we have to pretend you spend it in a bottle?
SPEAKER_02Oh, no, it's fine.
SPEAKER_00Okay, you ready?
SPEAKER_02I'm ready.
SPEAKER_00Oh, okay. Soon to be Doctor.
SPEAKER_02Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_00What has Atlanta been like for you?
SPEAKER_02So I came to Atlanta really excited.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_02Um, because I I really wanted to be stretched in different ways. I wanted to be stretched in uh dating life, I wanted to be stretched in the arts, I wanted to be stretched um socially. Um and that didn't happen. And I mean a month month in, but I think due to COVID, it just it hasn't happened. I've for the most part, I've gone to work and come home and gone to the grocery store. And so it's been a little challenging, but it's allowed me time to sit with myself and to understand what I really want. And so I think from the time that I left to come to Atlanta to the time that we are in right now, I've done a lot of journaling. Um, I've gained a lot of clarity around, you know, what I want with like friendship, what I want in with partnership, what I want uh, you know, with this podcast and our other artistic um endeavors. And so I think Atlanta has been eye-opening and grounding to date. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I know. It's been eye-opening and grounding.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, good. Good. Well, you know what? I will say uh I am extremely proud of you. Thank you in your journey.
unknownThank you.
SPEAKER_00And the fact that you said you would never let the arts part go. Never stop singing and stuff, right? Yeah.
SPEAKER_02So I will say, even now, I love how you talked about how we have to relearn our relationship with the arts. Because remember, I'm coming from home where I could sing down 24-7. Now I'm in this apartment with very thin walls. And so, you know, my ability to belt and do whatever is not there because you want to be respectful of neighbors. And so I'm in this space of just relearning my relationship to the arts. It's something that I don't want to let go. It is it's a life source, it is therapy. Um yeah, so uh-uh. It ain't going away anytime soon.
SPEAKER_00Well, good. So happiness is me knowing that the arts part of your life is not going. How about that?
SPEAKER_02Oh, yes. Yeah. Devron, I thank you so much for being on this show. Is there anything that you want to plug? Do you want to plug your social medias?
SPEAKER_00Do you want um if Wayne Brady here is Wayne Brady? My name is Devron. I was in the same room with you twice, right? You are my Beyonce. Just know. And I want to give you my social media, Mr. Brady, because you are my Beyonce. I am your Brady high forever. Okay. Do you think that's clear?
SPEAKER_01That's clear. That's clear.
SPEAKER_00So if you want to follow me on Instagram, it's my full name, Devron Young Together. D-E-V-R-O-N Young Y-O-U-N-G 0531, Devron Young 0531. I think my Twitter, I think I have a Twitter. Not you think. At Devron75. D isn't David, E V isn't Victor, R-O-N as in Nancy, Devron75, and my Facebook, which is attached to my direct messages, is Devron Troy Young. That's it, my full name, Devron Troy Young.
SPEAKER_02Yes. Y'all, this has been.
SPEAKER_00I'm proud of you.
SPEAKER_01Oh, thank you. Thank you.
SPEAKER_02This has been another episode of the Roseanne Thorns podcast, y'all. I am P. Ryan. See you next week. Bye. Thank you for listening to Roseanne Thorns. I'm Roseanne Thorns on Instagram and Twitter. At Roseanne Podcast. That's R-O-S-E-N. I can find P Ryan on Instagram and Twitter. That's I and P Ryan.