Episode Transcript
[00:00:17] Speaker A: Welcome to the it's all for Love podcast. I'm Cheryl Maza, the Healing Dancer, your host. This podcast is all about Michael Jackson and how he continues to spread love in the world and inspires us to be our best selves. In this episode I am talking with Angela from Fort Worth, Texas. Some of the highlights from this episode are turning a negative situation into a positive, keeping MJ's music and energy alive by being the Care Bears that continue to spread love and his energy in the world and how he inspires Angela to be the change she wants to see in the world. I hope that you enjoy this episode with Angela. I also want to mention that I will not be posting any more episodes in December of 2024. I'm taking a short break in order to gather more guests and record more episodes for you. I do plan to be back in January of 2025 with more it's all for Love. If you're watching this podcast on YouTube, please make sure to subscribe to the channel and leave us a comment and let us know how much you love the episode. If you are listening on any other podcast platform, please make sure to subscribe there. And I would also love it if you left me a positive review. If you are interested in being a guest on this podcast, I would absolutely love to chat with you. Please see in the show notes a link that you can click on to schedule a coffee chat with me so that we can talk about the podcast and get you scheduled for your episode. Thank you so much for listening and or watching. It's All For Love. Hey everyone. Welcome to the it's all for Love podcast.
[00:01:50] Speaker B: I'm Cheryl the Healing Dancer, your host and today we have Angela from Fort.
[00:01:56] Speaker A: Worth, Texas here with us.
[00:01:58] Speaker B: Angela is a New Orleans native with a serious love of music and love for Michael. So welcome Angela. Thank you so much for being on the podcast today.
[00:02:12] Speaker C: Thank you for having me.
[00:02:14] Speaker B: It's great to have you. I'm excited to hear your story. When did you first discover Michael Jackson?
[00:02:21] Speaker C: Is birth Too early.
My. My mom was a big music person so she would play music, you know, for me just growing up, but I didn't really click, I guess you could say into my own fandom until I believe I was six and we went to Disney Disney World for the first time and I saw Captain Eo and then I was locked in.
My first album that I bought for myself or the first album I ever received was the Wiz on album on vinyl. First album I bought myself was the Bad Album. So we were We've pretty much been locked in ever since. And of course, my favorite movie was Moonwalker, so I had to get a big poster as soon as I could.
[00:03:16] Speaker B: Nice. Nice. Were there any moments from childhood that you remember the most, or seeing Michael or.
[00:03:26] Speaker C: Unfortunately, I never really got a chance to see him in person, but I do still remember. And it's kind of part of the reason why I tell my friends who are now older and they have kids. I'm like, listen, bringing kids to Disney when they're babies, like, that's fine, but you gotta bring them when they're like, five, six. Because I remember sitting in the seats and having the. I had glasses when I was a child, so I had to kind of hold the 3D glasses to my face and going through the whole Captain EO story. And, you know, they had smoke and, like, they would sprinkle water on us and the. The chairs would shake. I still remember every bit of that.
And being terrified of the woman, the evil woman in the movie. I was horrified and didn't know until years later it was the same actress from the Addams Family. I was just like.
But it was, you know, it was such a defining moment, I guess you could say, in my life. And that really just kind of looked in.
Locked me into him as a musician and as a person, because he has been such a big person of positivity, you know?
[00:04:48] Speaker A: Right.
[00:04:49] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:04:50] Speaker C: His music has always been positive. Even if he's singing about something that is a sad subject or a harder subject, it's always woven in love and positivity. And I think that that was something I really gravitated towards.
[00:05:05] Speaker B: Yeah, I love that how you said it was woven in love and positivity. Even if it was like, you know, earth song. We're talking about, you know, all of the.
[00:05:14] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:05:15] Speaker B: Chaos in the world.
[00:05:18] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:05:19] Speaker B: I love that story.
So how has Michael inspired you throughout your life?
[00:05:29] Speaker C: Michael has kept me safe. And I don't know if you put, like, you know, a warning beforehand, and I do apologize to listeners who will hear this, but.
Or apologize or trigger warning, I guess you could say, for the people who listen to this. But Michael kept me safe, unfortunately, as we all know.
Allegations.
I was about 9 or 10 when this happened, and, you know, fully going through my mother's vinyls and kind of taking them over and, you know, just being so absorbed in his music and music videos and all this kind of stuff.
I don't know if the Simpsons episode was before or after, but, like, I was locked in, you know, and the Allegations came out, and it was very confusing. I didn't understand what was going on, specifically what they were accusing him of.
So, thankfully, I have a close family member who is an attorney, still an attorney. And at the time, he was always the person that I would go to, to kind of figure out, like, what does this mean? Especially because I was such a sheltered child. My mother did everything to just, you know, she really kind of kept a tight grip on me, New Orleans being what it is. So if I didn't read it in books, I would go to family members, trust families to find out, okay, what is this? And my cousin Clarence, thankfully, just. We're still close to this day, he sat me down. He explained to me exactly what a pedophile was, what they were exactly accusing him of, and his thoughts on it, because I immediately was like, you know, like, this blew my mind. Like, what is this? What are you talking about? He wouldn't do that. Like, that's just insanity. And thankfully, Clarence sat me down and explained it in a way that I could understand and also explains how that comes to be. I know younger people at that age, you know, it's just kind of a blanket statement of stranger danger.
But they don't really get too in depth.
That whole world just did not exist for me at that time.
But having a conversation with my cousin and have, you know, watching on tv, I was definitely a child of tv, at least as far as Michael was concerned. Seeing all of that and kind of connecting those dots, being like, I don't feel that this is not correct, you know, about him, but I'm feeling that vibe about these adults.
And I am, even though it's an atrocious thing that happened to him, I am thankful that I was able to see those warning signs and see, like, okay, this is not what Michael is, but this does exist.
And that's actually happened three separate times.
I stayed very far away from these adults, all of which that were in my school and elementary school, and then in middle school and high school, and then later on coming back around after graduating, after leaving the school and realizing that they got in trouble, they got arrested, thankfully, you know, all in jail or like, on the list, you know. So for that, I am truly thankful because that's. That's something that you. That. That changes people irreparably, you know, who have had to go through that. And that I am forever grateful to him for.
Because I would not. I did not know that. That there was a whole other world of people who would do that, you know. Yeah, I'M sure it's not in the way that he wanted. It's not a way any of us would want. But, you know, I really feel that that first warning definitely kept me safe.
[00:09:58] Speaker B: Yeah, No, I think that.
Yes. Yeah, that's definitely, like, a positive way to flip, like, a horrible thing that happened to him. I mean, we all go through trials and tribulations in our lives, and we're like, you know, well, how can a positive come out of. Out of this mess? You know, So I. I really think that that that's a. You know, you learned how to be cautious of people that were actually pedophiles, you know, and. And you learned what is not a pedophile to know enough that listening to the trial and all that stuff and how, like, no, he definitely could not have been one of those people, you know?
[00:10:42] Speaker C: Yeah. Yeah. And we can also kind of slide in. Also. A little bit of. It developed a little bit of militantness because watching the court cases, being like, what is this?
Being very angry and just be like, how is this going to fly? And fortunately, slash, unfortunately, that has not gone away. So you'll still see me ranting online from time to time.
[00:11:07] Speaker B: Well, I think we all do. We all still very much fight for our Michael.
[00:11:14] Speaker C: Yes. But I'm glad I'm in good companies.
[00:11:16] Speaker B: Yes. Do you ever have any Michael Jackson synchronicities?
[00:11:25] Speaker C: So when this. The question was initially asked of me, I was like, you know what? No, unfortunately. But strangely enough, I did have one situation.
I'll definitely say, I guess to go back. One of the synchronic synchronicities is that I'm constantly volunteering, I'm constantly giving back. That is something that he has drilled in me. And I'm working in a nonprofit now and just hoping to continue on Music wise.
Up until this point in my life, I had a very dear friend of mine who's like brother to me. He passed away, unfortunately, in 2016, and our music was Smashing Pumpkins. So this point, Smashing Pumpkins is the thing that follows me throughout the day.
But last week, last Monday, was the absolute definition of the worst day ever at work. And we had, like, electricity went out, and I couldn't get into this house, into my house. So it was just like the very. Just definition of horrible day. And it has never happened before, and I would love for it to happen again.
Keep the faith.
[00:12:51] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:12:52] Speaker C: Kept popping up. And I was just like, okay, Mike, I'm gonna do my best.
Even though I can't get into my house, I will do my best. So I just thought that was really funny. I was like, I have to write this down. Yes. For. For the podcast. Because that has never happened before. Like, never, never, never. And it came up on the radio, and then I have a big phone purse. A phone person, big music person. I have, like, 10,000 songs on this phone.
[00:13:24] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:13:25] Speaker C: It kept popping up, and I was like, come on, algorithm. I'm seeing the signs. I gotcha.
[00:13:31] Speaker B: I love that.
[00:13:32] Speaker A: That is so.
[00:13:35] Speaker B: And that's, like, not like a typical song.
[00:13:39] Speaker C: No, it was very serendipitous.
[00:13:43] Speaker B: Yes. Yeah.
[00:13:44] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:13:45] Speaker B: Well, that's like.
[00:13:46] Speaker C: Okay, message received.
[00:13:49] Speaker B: Yes. Thanks, Mike. Well, if you had to pick a favorite Michael Jackson song, what would it be?
[00:13:56] Speaker C: Just Good Friends on Bad one.
It's been my answer since I was six.
I don't know why, but it is just absolutely my favorite song. I just. I smile every time it comes on.
[00:14:14] Speaker B: It's a good one to sing.
How about a favorite music video?
I knew it.
[00:14:27] Speaker C: I wish my mom was here so you could speak with her.
And we have to give her. I have to give her so much grace, because I know that I drove her up the wall for some reason. She said she tried to find it on vhs, but she couldn't find it. Granite Pre Internet, Pre Internet, pre Amazon. So we would always rent movies.
Sometimes from Blockbuster, sometimes from, like, this little small mom and pop shop that was closer. At home, I always get two movies.
One of them was always.
My mother could not stop me. Even one time, she tried to say, like, okay, you can only rent one movie if it was, like, Sophie's Choice in that aisle. I could not just. I was like, no, this is just gonna be Moonwalker. I have to. I have to watch it again.
[00:15:27] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:15:28] Speaker C: So, unfortunately, I never got my own copy until I was older.
But my mom, to this day, thinks that is the funniest story.
That and family friends, they just not to pivot. And you can cut this out if you want to.
I have family friends who live in Encino.
They live, like, down the street from the nc. What is that? Havenhurst. The Encino house. There's so many people who know this story. I'm not embarrassed about it anymore. But our good friend Steve decides Little Angela. That's what they call me, she would just find a hoot. Let me go take a picture of the gate. Don't ask me why he thought that was a good idea.
He goes down, he takes a picture of the gate, which, of course, you know, security is like, excuse me, good sir, what are you doing?
Cut to Steve. Who's the friendliest man you will ever like? A stranger's just a friend he hasn't met yet.
Chats up with this security guard, he takes a picture of the driveway, shakes hands with the man, goes on about his business, goes home and writes me a letter.
I'm sure no one was home, but he writes this letter, he develops these pictures, he sends them to me and on the back he outlined his hands, both his hands, and he writes at the top that like I shook the hand of a security guard who shook the hand of a man who probably shook the hand of Michael Jackson.
Sends it to me in New Orleans.
My mother said she, she sent me to go check the mail. I'm reading this letter in the kitchen. She's cooking dinner. All she hears is this blood curling scream behind her. And I take off throughout the house, losing my mind. I wouldn't let her read it, I wouldn't let her touch it. And I just had a conniption on the floor until dinner.
And to this day every. I'm. I'm 40 years old now. I am like an adult whenever I go visit them people I have never met. Little Angela, are you still, are you still Michael Jackson fan? Do you still have that letter?
I'm not embarrassed about. I'm very proud.
[00:18:01] Speaker B: Do you still have the letter?
[00:18:05] Speaker C: I actually, I'm not sure. I'm really not sure. I probably do. Katrina did kind of destroy all of my stuff and all my albums, which is why everything is digital now.
I still have the pictures. I haven't found the letter yet, but I'm confident that I have it somewhere. If not, I'm gonna make Steve draw his hands again just, just from memory when I go and visit them in April.
[00:18:31] Speaker B: So have you heard about like Thriller nights that goes on there?
[00:18:36] Speaker C: I heard about that and I was interested because I am planning like this big like sabbatical vacation that I'm having on my birthday. For my birthday in April, go 4:20. And I was considering going if they have one, if they have one of the nights while I'm out there, I wouldn't mind going. I mean, it'll be interesting.
I don't know, I've never, I've seen his like handprints and stuff, Chinese theater and like his star from like the last time I went out there. But I've never gone to.
[00:19:18] Speaker B: Like.
[00:19:19] Speaker C: I think for some reason in my mind that's like completely separate from say like his outfits at the Grammy museum. For some reason that's completely separate movies because it's Their house, I don't know. But I'm open to go. And if they have one. If they have a thriller night or down at the movie theater.
[00:19:37] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, yeah. Because the Palace Theater is now open, since they just did that. I went to California a couple years ago and it was all like, shut down, so I was like. But at least I got to see it. So.
[00:19:49] Speaker C: Yeah. And it's. It's really. I guess I have to go back out because I haven't been out there since before he passed. And things are so very, I guess, low key.
Like you just don't. You. You'll drive past like moose stars, houses or events or what have you, and you. Unless, you know, like you don't know. So I never really paid attention to anything like that.
[00:20:12] Speaker B: But.
[00:20:15] Speaker C: You know, we're taking a trip out there. Might as well do it, you know.
[00:20:18] Speaker B: Do all the mic things. Yeah. It's not even. It's like. I mean, it's kind of a drive from there, but to go see Neverland, like, at least outside the gate.
[00:20:30] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:20:30] Speaker B: Yeah. It's very, very peaceful there.
[00:20:35] Speaker C: Yeah. I was tempted. Well, I have. I have a lot of people who are no longer with us that I was not able to go to their funerals.
I'm gonna go and visit them. I was like, I'm probably gonna put.
Probably go and visit him as well.
[00:20:50] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:20:50] Speaker C: You know.
[00:20:51] Speaker B: Yeah. At Forest Lawn.
[00:20:52] Speaker C: Leave some flowers, say a prayer.
[00:20:54] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. It's nice. You'll be able to feel his energy there very much.
Yeah. What do you want the world to know about Michael Jackson?
[00:21:04] Speaker C: He was just such a good dude, honestly.
I know. Here's the best way I can say. There's a quote from Maya Angelou. I don't know if anybody's ever heard of it.
Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to the loneliness.
And music in general is like that for me, but especially his music.
It's just. It's a safe space. It's.
And I know that you're like a big person with like, energy and what have you.
This man sent out an incredible amount of good energy.
Energy of love, energy of peace, energy of, you know, helping your brother, you know, helping your fellow man. And energy doesn't go away, you know, So I truly feel like it's still here, it's still amongst us, and it's up to us to kind of keep pushing that energy out, sending that wave out, and to kind of continue not to call us Care Bears, but, you know, kind of continue to send that positivity out, especially in these days and times, you know.
[00:22:26] Speaker B: Yes, I agree. Yeah, you're not the first one to compare him to a Care Bear. So it's very fitting.
Absolutely, it is.
[00:22:40] Speaker C: But I know he's just a really good dude. Sent out really good energy and we just need to keep that going.
[00:22:50] Speaker B: I agree. How does Michael continue to spread love.
[00:22:53] Speaker C: In your world besides being a Care Bear? No, just honestly just the. Just the good energy, the music, amplifying that and just try just honestly just being a good example, you know, I.
While I grew up very sheltered and my mother helped kind of cultivate it in me. Just the desire to help people. I've been volunteering since I was little, you know, either through school programs, Girl Scouts, on my own even after Katrina happened. And my mother and I would cook food for people who were displaced and unhoused who had to live underneath the interstate because they want to keep their jobs but didn't have a place to live. You know, just to continue to, I guess, be the change you want to see in the world.
And that's just pretty much it. And just even now just being an adult and working in non profits and on my time off volunteering and things.
[00:24:05] Speaker B: Of that nature, that's all Michael. Was there anything else that you would like to share or say about Michael?
[00:24:12] Speaker C: Love them.
Will always be a very important person in my life. I'm appreciative of everything that he has done and everything that he has influenced.
Music wise, people wise. You know, and I just hope that it keeps going, you know, I hope that we don't lose the momentum and I hope it just. It just keeps going.
[00:24:39] Speaker B: Amen to that.
I hope so too.
We're going to keep it going as long as we can.
[00:24:47] Speaker C: Absolutely.
[00:24:48] Speaker B: Yes. Yes. That's what we're all here for. We're Michael warriors. That's what I say. Moonwalkers.
Thank you so much, Angela, for chatting with me about.
[00:24:59] Speaker C: Thank you for letting me tangent.
[00:25:03] Speaker B: Anytime, anytime. It's my favorite subject ever. So thank you so much everyone for listening. It's all for love. Bye.
