Gia Peppers celebrates her show "More Than That" becoming a video series while discussing the journey she has taken throughout her career to get to the point in her career that she's at right now.
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00:00Welcome back to 2190 Live everyone, Zayna Allen here and I'm here with the amazing,
00:05the beautiful, the talented Gia Peppers.
00:09Welcome, welcome.
00:10How are you feeling, girl?
00:12I'm first of all happy to see you in this blonde.
00:14It is making my morning, well, afternoon.
00:17And I am good.
00:18I'm happy to be here and honored to talk with you again, Zayna.
00:23Of course, Gia.
00:24So listen, more than that is really becoming more than that, okay?
00:29Amen.
00:29So yes, yeah.
00:31Amen.
00:31So let's just talk about it.
00:33We see that more than that is now on Revolt as a video series now.
00:37Like what was that transition like for you from a show that was an audio show for
00:42several seasons to now being on video?
00:45I'm sure like we already know you're a video girl, we know that.
00:47But like the transition of the show itself, like what was that like for you?
00:51Yeah, so I mean what's awesome is that like I'm one of three executive producers
00:56and Dentsu, when they brought this show to life,
00:59they always wanted it to be a multi-platform.
01:03But the radio is what started the journey.
01:06And so we'll still be on radio from what I understand.
01:09We'll see, but I'm pretty sure we're still gonna be on radio.
01:12But this opportunity came because when we started,
01:15we were in the middle of the pandemic.
01:17So there was no going outside, was no being on set.
01:19And there wasn't any like going to people's actual workspaces and
01:24seeing how they are doing the actual action of trying to make their community
01:29a better place.
01:30And so this opportunity came about, they pitched it to several places and
01:35Revolt ended up picking it up and being our distribution partners.
01:40G Factor Films, they produced the video side of it.
01:45They came in, worked with Dentsu and then I came in on the story.
01:48We got it together.
01:50And so it has been awesome.
01:52It's been a fight for sure.
01:54Nothing creative is ever easy.
01:56But what's awesome is that seeing the responses and
02:00seeing the actual show brought to life has been so beautiful.
02:05And so I'm just honored.
02:06The first episode had my mom in it in DC at Howard,
02:10the campus that I grew up on quite literally.
02:13So it was a beautiful homecoming experience and
02:16then getting to go to the other cities was just awesome.
02:19I love that.
02:20And I think that sometimes when people turn audio things into like more video,
02:26they have to adjust themselves, right?
02:28Because you're not like just having a, well, you are still having a conversation,
02:32but it's like, okay, you might have to cut because there's a police car driving by or
02:36like whatever the case may be.
02:38What was that adjustment like?
02:41What's awesome, so my last 10 years in this business has been a lot of on camera.
02:48So it wasn't too much of an adjustment to me.
02:50It was actually more of an adjustment to like do things from home during
02:54the pandemic.
02:55So I felt so elated to get back in front of the camera because it had been forever
03:00that I had done that with that show in particular.
03:03And so with the reality of playing the not only a co-EP, but talent and
03:10helping with booking, helping with writing, helping with wardrobe, all the things.
03:15You just try your best to be present in whatever moment you're needed to be,
03:18but the element's going to be the element.
03:20So on the LA episode, we were at the Baldwin Hills Overlook and
03:26there's a thing, like I was like a NASCAR driver.
03:29I drove like the Buick up the hill and I was so good at my driving.
03:36But the dope part was like there was a camera following us in a different car.
03:41So I was really like getting my commercial on.
03:43But when a person, a hiker was there or a bike was there,
03:46we had to move to the side.
03:47We just have to be very willing to be in surrender to what's happening around you
03:55and just pick up where you're going.
03:56So if you are hoping to be a TV talent, make sure you get outside and
04:00do some man on the street.
04:01Make sure you do whatever you need to do to realize that like you can't control
04:05what's going to happen on set, even on a quiet set.
04:09Somebody's phone might go off and then you got to redo your question.
04:12So just be ready to always be prepared and be in the moment and
04:15know that mistakes will happen.
04:17And it's on you to bring back the moment as if nothing ever changed.
04:22For sure, for sure.
04:23And talking about being prepared, Gia, this has been, like you said,
04:26this has been your career path for years now.
04:30And I think that we all go through everything and there's lessons to learn
04:34with everything that we go through, with every situation,
04:36every circumstance that we've been in.
04:38And I want to know, within this time that you've had more than that,
04:42from when it was, when it's first season to now,
04:45what have you learned about yourself through this?
04:48Come on, Zayda, with the questions.
04:52I have learned that I'm not just going to say anything.
04:57I have to be a producer.
04:59Because if I'm not, people would think that you just put a script in front of me
05:04and I can say it.
05:05And as a talent, one of the first things that I knew was watching other people
05:10make mistakes on camera and them blaming it on the producers, you learn like,
05:14producer's not going to get dragged if you say the wrong thing.
05:18You're going to get dragged even if a producer is the person that told you to
05:21say it.
05:22So one of the biggest things I learned is that I have autonomy over what I'm
05:26going to say.
05:26If you hire a Gia and you want to work with Gia and partner with Gia,
05:30Gia is going to be a part of it in many different forms.
05:34And so I learned that I am not shy about being like, no, and I'm going to do it
05:39nicely.
05:39I'm like, hey, is there a way that we can say this?
05:41Or, ooh, that doesn't really sound like me.
05:43Or actually, that fact, let's double check it.
05:47Do your research, stay on your toes, and do that.
05:50Also, I learned in the TV process that there is nothing better than seeing
05:55something come to life that you've been a part of since its idea stages.
06:02It gives you so much confidence as a creative to see it come to life and to
06:06see it really have its moment.
06:10And so I've gained more confidence in me and who I am.
06:13I feel more ready than ever.
06:14And it's bringing to light me and my make it happen bag.
06:20So other things will be coming soon.
06:22But I'm really excited that this was a start to finish.
06:27Because so many times as creatives, we get a million ideas.
06:31And then we're like, oh, it's been three years.
06:34And I'm meant to finish that.
06:35But I have not.
06:37And now I'm just like, oh, OK.
06:39It's possible.
06:40And you can do great things.
06:41And this has been proof of that.
06:43For sure, for sure.
06:44And you've been doing great things, girl.
06:47My neck, can you please take your foot off of it?
06:50Please take your foot off of it.
06:52Because I just need to breathe.
06:54I'm just saying.
06:56So I just need to know.
07:00As I said, you've been consistently leveling up
07:03throughout your career.
07:04And we have gotten to see your entire growth.
07:08And I just want to know what it feels like on your end
07:11to know that you are continuously growing.
07:14I don't know if you've had moments where you've had to be
07:19in a neutral space or in what you
07:21may consider like a purgatory or anything like that.
07:23But on our end, we see is Gia got a new gig.
07:26OK.
07:27Oh, Gia, she doing?
07:28OK.
07:29So what is that like?
07:30I guess it's like the dichotomy.
07:31What is that like on your end in comparison to ours?
07:34Yeah, it's weird.
07:35It's always weird.
07:36Because I think we as creators get really in our heads
07:41and we're hard on ourselves.
07:43I have learned to radically trust God and his timing.
07:47Because I will be freaking out over it.
07:49You all see the yeses.
07:51There have been triple the no's.
07:53The no's sometimes take you out in a place
07:56where you forget about your dreams.
07:59You forget about your confidence in yourself.
08:02But they will come back eventually.
08:04For years, I had no self-confidence
08:07in what I could do, even though I was doing things.
08:10And it was just because the amount of no's
08:13that you get in this business can be really hard for you
08:15as a person.
08:16It's different when you are a person behind the scenes
08:19and it's still as hurtful.
08:22But when people say no to you as a talent,
08:25you have to realize that it's not you as a person.
08:27It's you as whatever you bring.
08:29But it's hard because it's still all you.
08:31So one of the biggest things that I tell people
08:34is that, yeah, nothing, no story that you admire
08:38comes without its scars.
08:39And all of us have been in places
08:42where they felt like giving up.
08:43In those moments, have great friends.
08:45Have a notebook where you started with all your passion
08:49and all your things of why you want to do what you do.
08:52And be able to revisit that.
08:53Because there will be times where you want to give up.
08:56And I have had many times that I have given up, Zaina.
08:59I have thrown in the towel.
09:01But then God gives me an opportunity.
09:03And it's like, oh, OK.
09:05Well, I guess, all right.
09:06Let me put my big girl pants back on and my lipstick
09:10and go be cute on these cameras.
09:12Because you also realize that you've worked way too hard
09:16to come just this far.
09:18Yeah, and you can't give up.
09:20Because I'm like, what am I supposed to do?
09:22You know what I'm saying?
09:23OK.
09:24Thanks, Zaina.
09:25You know what I'm saying?
09:26Well, then you can't give up either.
09:27Thanks.
09:28OK.
09:29Deal.
09:30Didn't expect that.
09:31Deal.
09:32I'll make a deal with you.
09:35Fine.
09:36Twisted my arm.
09:37Deal.
09:38But before we wrap up, Gia, I just
09:41want to know, is there anything?
09:42What can we expect next from more than that?
09:44If you can tell us.
09:45If you can't, that's fine.
09:46So I mean, from, again, we'll probably be back on radio again.
09:50The great thing is all four episodes
09:52will be streaming probably by the time this comes out.
09:55So on YouTube, so you can just bin them all.
09:57They're only 20 minutes, which is amazing.
09:59But you get real insight into different issues
10:02that are happening right now in our community,
10:04like funding HBCUs.
10:07We're still severely underfunded,
10:09even though we produce the greatest.
10:11They produce the greatest people.
10:14I'm just playing, but not really.
10:16And then also, everything from food scarcity and insecurity.
10:22And then also, we literally just finished the episode in Miami,
10:27and it was about protecting your legacy in a space and time
10:30where people are literally trying to erase it
10:33through food and culture.
10:34And so we touch on really big topics,
10:36and it's a great way to at least have
10:38an understanding of these things that are going on.
10:40The world is very noisy and very loud,
10:42but if you can get 20 minutes aside for these episodes,
10:45I think you'll really enjoy them.
10:46So that's that.
10:47Stay tuned to me and my brand.
10:50We are launching things that I am owning fully and investing.
10:55So pray for my pockets.
10:57But I'm really excited because I get to do stuff
11:03that no one gets to edit down.
11:06And sometimes, as a producer and a talent,
11:08you're like, dang, that was the best part of the interview,
11:11but we don't have enough time.
11:12Now I'm like, oh, no, I'm taking up all my time.
11:15I'm taking up all my space, so it is what it is.
11:17But I'm really excited because more than that
11:19is in a different space, but we're still on radio.
11:24So you can also stream every single episode
11:26of More Than That on the audio side
11:28as well and everywhere you get your podcast.
11:30If you just want to have a deep dive
11:32into the school of the latest conversations in our community,
11:36I think it's a great way to go.
11:38For sure, for sure.
11:39Well, thank you so much, Gia, for your time.
11:41I really appreciate it.
11:43I love being here.
11:44You're amazing, per usual.