Life Beyond Labels with Amir Yass

Britt East [00:00:02] Welcome to Not Going Quietly, the podcast where we inspire growth, beat down biases and get into all sorts of good trouble with your host, Britt East. No topic is off limits as we explore ways to help everyone leap into life with a greater sense of clarity, passion, purpose, and joy. So get ready to join us for some courageous conversation, because not going quietly starts right now. Hey everyone, welcome to Not Going Quietly. The podcast for outraged optimists and heartbroken healers all over the world, where we surface life's searing truths in the name of radical togetherness. I'm your host, Britt East, and I have a wonderful guest host for you or a guest featured guest for you today. You could call my host. I'll probably talk as much as the host. In fact, he's so great. This is the second time he's been on the show. He's the first repeat guest we've ever had. So I'm so excited to reintroduce you to him. But let me give you a little background in cases in case you missed the first episode or if you're if you're not familiar with Amir Yass is an LGBTQ activist battling against racism, transphobia, and body shaming in the queer community. Creating safe spaces is very important to Amir, and he does that on his Instagram and TikTok. Amir Yass is a queer Muslim unicorn who won't shy away from any conversation. Comedy is at the center of everything he does. Chatting with Amir is like chatting with an old friend with a lot more sass. From TikTok to Instagram, Amir is always trying to educate folks through comedy. Amir, how the hell are you today?

Amir Yass [00:01:41] I'm actually really good. I mean, I feel like I was in a lower mood, but you know, I'm going to I'm in a definite upswing.

Britt East [00:01:48] So it's wonderful to hear. Wonderful to hear. You know, the last time you were on the podcast was just over a year ago in an episode called Queer Comedy and Social Justice. And on that episode, we talk about all sorts of things like white savior racism, religious bias and bigotry, building queer confidence. And the good news is, we solved all of that. And so single handedly, so much has changed in the world since. Oops, no it hasn't. We didn't solve anything. We just had a great conversation. We're all stuck in Groundhog's Day, living the same day over and over again. Career. Racism is still here. Islamophobia, all that's still here. Oh, so. But please go check out that episode if you haven't already. Because as I'm, alluding to, that conversation is still really relevant today. We're still dealing with all of those issues. So it's, you know, I really encourage you to check that out. Check that out if you have the chance. But I mean, I'm curious, like what in what in your life and your career has changed in the past year. Get us caught up.

Amir Yass [00:02:49] So, you know, it's interesting because like, in some ways, without the racism and the Islamophobia in the world and the kind of homophobia, I wouldn't really have a platform. Right. And so it's like this double edged sword where I'm like, I wish the world didn't have any of those things, but I feel like it also gave me a voice, and it gave me an opportunity to kind of like, step forward. And I think it's kind of like the way if there was, you know, no hate in the world, then kindness wouldn't really have any impact. It's kind of the same, in a way, because I think for me to step out in front of all that homophobia, Islamophobia and still be true to who I am, I think that says volumes. Not because I'm somehow like superhuman, that really queer people are just like, superhuman. I feel like God along the way was like, okay, I'm going to make your life quite harder, but I'm also going to make you more resilient. I'm going to make you more fabulous. I mean, there's nothing like a gay man walking down the street. I mean, straight people can't even touch that. So I think it's beautiful. I don't know, I feel like it's good, it's good. And sometimes I'm like, like, I'll be in a meeting or I'll be like, with executives. And I'm like, why am I not, like, nervous? Or why am I not? Why am I not getting imposter syndrome? And I think a lot of that comes from queer joy, from like having to kind of, especially when you're first coming out to really love yourself more than anyone else in your life does, because a lot of people are gonna see it as a disappointment. So I think that has been a really a big shift for me, especially in the last year.

Britt East [00:04:21] That's so beautiful. I completely agree. You know, I get I go into some spaces that are annoying, we'll call it, and people are really happy to ask me like, well, there or tell me, like, there wouldn't even be a queer culture if they're, you know, if it weren't for straight culture and all this stuff just like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And yeah, sure. Yeah. You know, maybe some of our culture is a response to homophobia, queer phobia, transphobia, whatever, but we're doing just fine without, the hate and the bigotry. So, you know.

Amir Yass [00:05:00] But but we would rather.

Britt East [00:05:01] Yeah. Yeah, yeah, we would rather. But, like, enduring that gives us access to this resiliency and super power. Like you're alluding to that. It's almost like a tonic for society. And you might even say is exactly the tonic society needs right now. The exact flavors of joy that we bring happen to be exactly what this toxic masculine. Society. White supremacist, misogynist bullcrap society needs right now. They could use a little more of this queer, colorful joy that you're alluding to. So I love that.

Amir Yass [00:05:39] I mean, right, like, that's what I'm saying. And it's funny to me because even in the most masculine spaces, right, you have the NFL draft, the most masculine, you would say if you asked and you asked ten straight dudes right now, what's the most masculine thing? They would say the NFL draft, right. And so you have the NFL draft. And the interview was asking the mother of the number one pick, which means like that person's probably going to be like the wet dream for every straight guy, right? Like that's an opportunity for them to really fully be like, oh my God, I would sleep with Tom Brady. I've heard many straight people say that because they become so obsessed with this like masculine figurehead. They're asking the mother, not, how did you get here? What happened? They're asking her, did you paint his nails? That's what you're focused on. Like he's the most masculine man. He's like, not gay. He's straight, but he's painting his nails. That's the. That's what you're focused on. Like, this is like ESPN asking that. And the mother was like, I didn't paint the nails. He did. Like she was so uninterested because it's so not interesting.

Britt East [00:06:39] It's like the performance of masculinity is table stakes in certain segments of our society. If you're not performing it quite right, oh, well, then you must know that you must be questionable if you're not. It's like there's a checklist they go through in order to to paint people into certain box and put constraints somewhere in their lives. And, you know, you have to stop and ask them, why are they doing it? I wonder if it's capitalism. I wonder if it's to accumulate wealth and power, to sell us things, to make us feel inferior, lonely and afraid. And so then when we, as you alluded to at the beginning, reclaim that sense of empowerment, it's.

Amir Yass [00:07:15] Probably.

Britt East [00:07:16] Really scary for them. It's probably really threatening. And so when you say they can't touch us walking down the street, you're probably literally right. They can't touch.

Amir Yass [00:07:24] Us. I love it. I mean, I mean, listen, these like tropes and a lot of it is money based, like war. People always see it as like, oh, it's a land thing. You know, it's a money thing. At the end of the day, it's natural resources, it's money, it's land, whatever it is like. And I think it's the same when it comes to capitalism and queer culture. Like, you know, in a month it's going to be pride. And all of these companies want a piece of that pie, but they don't want to really uplift queer people. They just want a piece of the money. So I think it's just, again, I'm not saying don't go and enjoy pride and dance and have fun. I'm just saying I think self-awareness goes a long way. And also even under a statement, going back to like toxic masculinity, a lot of people don't understand. A lot of that is tied to toxic femininity. It's a women say, I want a strong man. I want someone who's that kind of like a Neanderthal to put me over their shoulder. And I, you know, gather and they hunt, but then they don't like what actually comes forward, because a lot of times with a toxically, masculine Neanderthal, guess what? He cheat. He might be emotionally abusive. So it's not really what you want. It's just your program to kind of want. I want my man to fight for me. But when you really have a man who fights, you're he's going to jail. Like you're having issues in your life. It's actually not stability. So I think a lot of the toxic masculine trope, a lot of it comes from femininity, like toxic femininity, where women want that in a man, and then that comes up because a lot of men like, want to be vulnerable. They want to share their feelings, but their girlfriends or their wives or whatever will say, I don't want to hear that. I want a real man. Right? Like if you look at the comments with anyone with nails or TikTok videos or paying their nails or or even dressing ever so slightly like feminine, all of the nasty comments are generally from what? What happened to real men? What's going on with the world? I'm looking for a real man. So I think it's important to also like hold them accountable for that.

Britt East [00:09:16] Yeah. I mean, you know, who are the folks doing the gender reveal parties? Who are the folks organizing that, you know, who are the folks saying, wow, look at my little child and his little girlfriend, you know, and their little boy, you know, all these kind of, classic, classic tropes. But you got me so triggered about pride because we're recording this and in May of 2024, pride is just around the corner, as you mentioned. And I have a day job in corporate America. So I just get my hackles raised so fast about rainbow washing and, you know, pumping money into the queer community for a day to kind of buy our allegiance. And of course, there's a certain part of my, you know, quarreling self that delights in seeing recognition, you know, and pride flags in the mall and corporate recognition. But, you know, that doesn't help trans people get health care, that doesn't help queer people of color get basic civil rights. So it's like, we've got to get real clear on, who are the corporations running protection rackets to prevent PR incidents and lawsuits by putting a rainbow flag on something and continue with the normal daily business? And who's actually investing in the. Community when nobody's looking. Building relationships. Real relationships with real queer people.

Amir Yass [00:10:33] Are you uplifting the queer creators? Are you uplifting the influencers you work with? Right, Lululemon. They had this tiny training. I mean, it was honestly microscopic rainbow flag on their door. I'm like, what is the point of that? Like, I don't really understand the point of that where, like, I liked what Alo Yoga did. They promoted their queer influencers, right? They were like kind of shining a light on them that that's going to get them followers, that's going to get them recognition or brand yield. Great. But a tiny little minuscule rainbow flag ain't going to do shit. So again, it feels good. Like I remember world pride in New York in 2019. Chase Bank had this giant flow and wonderful. But like ten years ago, you were denying loans to same sex couples. So it's like in ten years you've made kind of listen, I believe in progress. I believe anyone can change. But I also don't believe in like. Such speed. Like you in ten years, you went from not approving loans to moral. You're like the head of like, the pride flow. It's like it just feels very. I don't know, it just feels icky. Yeah, for lack of a better word.

Britt East [00:11:38] It's like, let's be honest about it. Like, you know, it's fine to be patient and wait and evaluate incremental progress. But like, let's be honest in where we are and where we're not. You know, there's a there's an old joke that I'm not that old, but, about, DEI work, diversity, equity, inclusion work in corporate America. And that's, you know, you can tell a really great, and DEI corporate officer by the short and shortness of their tenure because anybody is really doing change is going to get fired really quickly.

Amir Yass [00:12:08] That's really funny, I love that. I mean, it's the same in Hollywood. I mean, David Mamet was a really famous director, just that Dei initiatives are BS. And you walking around say, but again, I think sometimes, especially in Hollywood, a lot of these white, straight male executives have so much privilege that they don't really understand that when you take over a mac studio, you take over HBO Max, and all of a sudden you're getting rid of every queer show. We're aware of that you're getting rid of legendary saying you didn't have the numbers, which is BS. You got rid of other queer shows, and you're just basically like, oh, whatever, people are watching it. That's not true. Because if the if nobody was watching it, the internet response wouldn't be so, you know, so elevated. So I just it's like Hollywood is very demoralizing. I mean, as someone who pitches content all the time, I mean, it's very much like, oh, do we really? I mean, we have Romney, like, do we need a purge? Well, I'm not Egyptian. Romney is not gay. I'm a comedian. He is. But the shows aren't really about being a committee. So it's like it's not the same. But then let's do King of Queens and 16 different iterations, right? Oh, it's like but you know, but that's the thing like those people like. And when I say those people, I mean straight white men, they don't. They are coming from a place of sorry. I mean, I'm trying to offend anyone, but a lot of it is they're doing half the work and getting twice the pay, and they also show up because they don't feel embarrassed, like they're like, they don't. They're like, oh no, I deserve a shake up space. And a lot of I see it with a lot of, especially when I kind of talk to like, POC creators. I'm always like, hiccups. It's like, your idea is good. It's just a matter of like making it. Because before he's away with Issa Rae or before Romy was Romy, the everyone was like, no, it's not interesting. You're not funny. We don't need another. We don't need Egyptian comedian, we don't need some black girl talking about being awkward like we don't need it, but like one, once you make money, they can't quite shut you down anymore. So I think it's just about putting one foot in front of the other. And especially Hollywood. It's a lot of empty promises. So being able to push past that is I mean, it's any industry, honestly, pushing past that. That's right. Yeah.

Britt East [00:14:15] My main wish for people in the queer community is to take up space. That's like, if you could just do that. I think that would address so many of the issues, that we face. So I was just going nuts when you're talking. I absolutely love it. And, you know, it's it's the idea that, like you're saying, some folks are doing half the work and getting twice the pay or twice the credit is is absolutely true. And we have to start to learn how to be honest with each other and actually require more from each other. So, for instance, what in hell is it going to take for a straight person to engage with queer art? Now, obviously some do, but oh my gosh, the percentages, the amount of straight art that queer people engage with, you know, the roles are not give me a break. We need more straight allies out there. And that's why I also it's like, let's stop wasting our time trying to convert the unconverted, but let's activate our allies, get our allies to engage with our art in our in our protests, and join us hand in hand. So let's require more of our allies. You say you're an ally. Let's. Let's make you an accomplice. Like, get in the trenches with me and go see a show. I'm going to grab you. I'll pay. I'll buy the tickets for this one. And then the next one you're going to go take me to a piece of queer art, you know, and because we we, we're all in this.

Amir Yass [00:15:47] Together, I love that. I think it's I like that idea of, like. I'm going to pay for it. There's no there's no excuse. Like I'm going to take you on then bring you into my culture. Because how often are people bringing us into their cultures? And I don't think I don't know about you, but when I watch your show, I never thought, oh, God, two straight people kissing again. This is not what I signed up for. It's like, that's what we're used to, right? So. And time and time again, you see it like, you know, I just watch all of us strangers. And it would strangers. All of us. All of us trying to, you know, like it was such a beautiful piece. Not queer cinema. Everyone's like, oh, my God, it's the best queer film. No, no, no, it was a film about two men in love. That was all it was. It was a skill. Right? So. And and the fact that like, 20 years after, what was that movie? Oh, my God, when they're in the woods and they're.

Britt East [00:16:35] Called Brokeback Mountain, what was.

Amir Yass [00:16:37] Look like mountain 20 years after Brokeback Mountain? No one in the Academy voted for that movie, right? That movie got no nominations when they got a bunch of BAFTA nominations. I doesn't it doesn't add up in a film that was so eloquent, had such twists and turns. I mean, I won't ruin it for anyone, but really, you don't see a lot of the twists and turns come, and it's just a beautiful piece of cinema. So you see how little progress even the Academy has made. So I think that also it's another litmus test for the rest of society. So a lot of people still are going, oh bro's is a gay movie. That's a gay movie that stop saying it's a movie. It's a comedy, romantic comedy movie. So we need to stop, like calling things like, even like, I like when you say queer art, but even not like it categorizes it in a certain thing. Because a lot of people, when you say queer art or queer film, they go right to sex. And I think that was the biggest thing, even when I was coming out, which was very frustrating to me, is that I was coming out as a virgin. I never had sex. It was not about sex. And everyone kept saying, okay, do you have condoms or did you get an STD? Or when are you going to have sex with each other? It was so sex forward, and I felt like that is also very frustrating in the queer community where people, especially gay people like straight people, always put us in that box, like, oh, how many partners you have? Oh, are you just like a slut? Are you more. It's like, even if I own, like, I don't want to talk to you.

Britt East [00:17:55] Yeah, I.

Amir Yass [00:17:56] Like it doesn't.

Britt East [00:17:57] I love the way that you're framing. You're framing that because used in that way, those labels can inadvertently, if not unintentionally, become disclaimers. It's queer art meaning rated X or whatever in C, whatever. It's like that, better watch.

Amir Yass [00:18:13] Out and you drop.

Britt East [00:18:15] That or not take your kids because it's queer art. So I don't like yeah, it's I don't know, it's kind of can, even under the best of circumstances, inadvertently become a disclaimer. I want to pivot off of what you just brought up, though, and I'm going to give kind of a long wind up. You and I were chatting before episode, and going to talk about the queer community and how we value ourselves in relationships. You know, the English language is so oriented towards marriage that it's tough to even find an authentic, generative word for someone who is genuinely thriving without a partner or a group of partners. I mean, words like single and solitude don't quite cut it because it's like, just because you're unmarried doesn't mean your own partner, and just because you're on partner doesn't mean you are. Without loving, romantic, or even platonic relationships. In the US, our media is so saturated with messages about why we, quote unquote, should be relentlessly seeking potential spouses, mainly because folks know it's a great way to sell us something. And in queer culture, we often get the best of both worlds, because somehow society is both designed to keep us lonely, afraid, and yet also shames us for our solitude. See, there's that word again. It's like we don't even have a word. So my question to you is how can queer people learn to find happiness, contentment, fulfillment, even during extended periods where we're not partners, we're just, you know, living our lives and maybe having all sorts of sex or maybe not having sex, or how can we learn to stand tall and take up that space?

Amir Yass [00:19:51] I mean, that is a great question. I wish I had a better answer for you. I mean, I'm still kind of struggling. I mean, I'm invited to weddings and it's always like, are you going to bring a plus one? And it's like, am I not enough? There's an episode of sex in the city where she talks about, like, if you're not getting married and you're not having a child and you're not buying a home and you're not meeting these milestones, then you don't get celebrated. And I remember she says, well, like, the only time is really your birthday or graduation. If you're a single person, that's the only times you're really going to get celebrated by anyone. And it was funny because, I guess it was like Carrie was telling Charlotte, and then Charlotte was like, well, everyone gets a birthday. Yeah, exactly. So it's not it's just basically it's graduation. So if you don't do your education, then, like, you're really never going to be celebrated unless you get married. So and especially in like Persian culture, like I have friends who are like Indian. It's like if there's such a premium, like even when I was India, like every corner was a wedding banquet. There is this idea that if you don't get married, like, not only are you not. Not going to have a good life here. You're not going to salvation like you're going to come. You're going to be reincarnated as like a donkey. So it's even like it's not even your life's going to be bad here. Like you're going to be a beetle later and nobody cares about you. So I think that that process is like, that's a lot of pressure. Like, you know, you don't want to be reincarnated as a beetle. So I think for me, it's like sometimes I'm like, I'm totally fine and I'm capable and independent and I'm fine, but like, I was like doing an eye exam, and the eye exam is asking if I'm single and I'm like. Does that matter? Like, are my eyes going to dilate differently like that? I was like, I was like, sitting there. And I ask them and they're like, guys just like, you know, it's just our form. We'll change it. Okay. I was annoyed, I, like said, prefer not to answer. Not because I don't because I don't know that I'm single or I'm embarrassed about it. It's just I was like, I don't want to talk about that one. I'm fucking getting an eye exam like. So I think that it just, you know, it comes up so often. And I think a lot of women talk about how annoying it is. But, you know, as a gay man, it's like sometimes it is annoying when I feel like my friends are getting married and I'm, you know, I'm 37, they're having kids or buying a home. They're in such a like, what is the word like planting such deep roots. And I'm not really like I'm trying to go to Turkey next month. I'm trying to like, not have roots like. And I thought that was so bad that I didn't want those things. But I'm also realizing, like, I get to have a life that a lot of people don't get to have. And I and I, I'm seeing the beauty in that instead of seeing the like, oh my God, I don't have any assets. I don't have a home. I have no, like backups, like, okay, whatever. Like a lot of people have backups and they want more freedom. So I try to look at it from that perspective. But again, it's not a very easy answer and you have to figure it out. And I think the first step is to really be okay with solitude. And I don't mean like being lonely, because I think there's a difference between being lonely and being alone. I remember the first time I went to dinner alone, I was like, oh my God. Like, you know. And of course, like a group of friends sit next to you, someone celebrating a birthday. And when you sit down, they're like, for one, for one, I'm like, why do you just take the fucking, like, take the fucking place thing? Like, why do you need to do that? And it's like, I don't know, restaurants if they want to shame you. I don't know if it's any burden, but they're like, oh, for one, I'm like, how is there a girl like it's me? You know. So it's very frustrating. So I think the first step is to really not only eat alone, but to travel alone and to really realize, like even if you are with a I've been in relationships where they're like right next to me in bed and they feel like a mile away, that's much worse. I would rather be alone without some, like Ding Dong that I don't have a connection with. So I don't know, I guess for me, like, but, you know, again, I'm human, so I have moments where I'm like, well, I'm so sick.

Britt East [00:23:44] Like, yeah, well, I mean, first of all, that eye exam for needs to chill the fuck out. I mean.

Amir Yass [00:23:52] What the employer, I'm telling you, I was like, oh, this is the last thing I need.

Britt East [00:23:57] My favorite thing to do because I'm kind of a brat. My favorite thing to do is fill out this form, lie everywhere. It's so, you know, like, think of the most risque line to the lens of straight society, you know? So, you know, I, you know, I have ten husbands or, you know, whatever they have.

Amir Yass [00:24:13] I'm like, I feel like they're like going, I got so.

Britt East [00:24:15] Right.

Amir Yass [00:24:16] Yeah. So it takes me like that. And it's funny because when I went to, there's a doctor in LA that like when I lived in Atlanta, it was like the entire office was gay. The doctors, the nurses, everyone. Nobody ever asked me if I was single. Nobody ever care. Nobody ever cared. So what they cared about was what hurts? Why are you here? Like a fucking doctor should, like, what's going on with you? Like. And again, it's like, maybe because gay guys just don't care. Like, I never heard my gay friends say. Any of my friends say, are you single? They don't care. Like, it's just, I don't know, it's just maybe it's just not something we care about and maybe I don't have. I mean, my friends are starting to get married, my gay friends, and I'm going to a gay wedding in September, so maybe they'll change their perspective. But I don't know. I just feel like we don't put such a premium because even if you are married, you might be open, you might like you might have a nontraditional marriage like. So, I don't know, I feel like gay people are really kind of again, setting the culture like what we were talking about. Straight culture is a lot of times influenced by. Our culture. So what they do and the way they dress and the things that they do. Even paying their nails. Tick tock. Boys didn't figure. They didn't come up right. Gay men have been paying their nails for hundreds of years. And like in Egypt time some queen and in like Babylonia was painting her nails like you didn't invent it like. So let's pretend that's what you did. So I think it kind of goes to say, even for our ideas around being single, our ideas around openness, our ideas around whatever, like straight people are now pegging, like a lot of that stuff is because I think we make things, we push past the norm and we make it okay, and then we get like pummeled for it. And then when straight people do it, at that point, it's kind of like it's been stigmatized. So like even when the TikTok boys started painting their nails, it was like people would give them shit. But it was already at that point, somewhat destigmatize. Right? So I think that that says a lot. But even now, like the nails are such a thing for people, it's like, I'm like, you're still like, I still get messages like, I hate the nails. Okay, you. You don't really.

Britt East [00:26:25] Care. Well, it's just so interesting. I'm always curious about the self-talk for people, especially online, like what is happening in that moment that you or what are you expecting to happen? Like a mirror is going like, oh crap, you're right, I guess I shouldn't be painting my nails.

Amir Yass [00:26:41] Whoa whoa whoa whoa. If I don't like and I don't, I think sarcasm again is locked on the keyboard. Warriors. They're not really the smartest of the. So I do sometimes put them because my therapist said it's a good outlet for me. So I'm taking not to the to oh yeah, I'll take any opportunity to do that. So I was like, there was one, I think during Ramadan who was like, you're going to hell and you're not a good Muslim. And you know, God hates gay people. I was like, oh my God, I'm going to stop being gay. And then they wrote like, oh my God, I'm so happy to hear that. I'm so happy. And I was like.

Britt East [00:27:13] Girl, you.

Amir Yass [00:27:15] Sarcasm. The sarcasm was lost on you. I sucked enough dicks where there's no there's no textboxes on this.

Britt East [00:27:22] Well, so it's it's also, you know, what? Do what do these folks want from us? Do they want us to marry their daughters?

Amir Yass [00:27:30] Sometimes I had this guy that was messaging me every day saying, I have a daughter for you, I have a daughter for you. And I was like, honey, like, I'm probably cuter. Or like, I probably dress better than your daughter. Honey, she can't hear this.

Britt East [00:27:46] Well, like you're saying, you know, one of the the the wonderful benefits of coming out is you gain this liberation from all the life scripts that are, you know, considering the lives of so many straight people, they're on this like path of milestones they have to achieve by certain ages. And, you know, we get the freedom from that, the freedom to paint with more colors. But like you also said, we're human and we're on this relentless assault, the saturation of messages that say we're not worthy unless we're in relationship. And oh, but if you're queer, you're not worthy of a relationship either, so you're just fundamentally unworthy. It's a catch 22. And so it's really easy, especially in our more tender moments, to, internalize those messages and kind of cling to them messages of our unworthiness, because we're just around them all day long, you know, people trying to sell us stuff again. I keep coming back to it. People trying to sell stuff all day long by trying to make us feel lonely, miserable and afraid. And part of resisting that is lying on the forms, part of resisting that. Is it's screwing around with people online when it's fun, when it's, when it's not.

Amir Yass [00:29:02] But I never put anyone down. I never, I never, you know, I, I should never, no, never say. Yeah. I mean, I have been a quote unquote ugly sweater, like, look what he did. But, you know, I think one threatens, like, physical violence. Like, I will come at them really hard. And a lot of times I'm also a defense of other people, like, any kind of transphobic comment. I will come out and if you are continuing with that narrative, you will be blocked. You will be removed. Like I'm very quick to like block and remove, but because it's my safe space that I've created and I believe I know that a lot of, you know, people say there's no safe spaces anymore. I understand that, but I've traded as best as I could, as safe space online. And so if you're going to bring your negativity into it, I'm just going to have you removed. But what I've realized is if you are happy with who you are, whoever you date, whatever their gender or whatever their sexuality, it will just be additive. And I think for a long time my life was very complete. Me kind of pick me energy and I never really worked because you attract someone who's kind of half as well, and it ends up being two halves, and that never makes a whole, there's, there's a joke somewhere in this, so. And like, I just don't have the energy to find the joke, but the joke here. So but anyways, I think it's like you have to kind of move as if you're in a couple, and I don't mean like, oh, you know, don't be like crazy and be like, I need a table for two. And it's just you. I mean, energetically move like a couple, right? Like taking up space for two people. Like when I travel, like, I move like a couple, right? If I want to do something, I'ma do it because a lot of people are like, oh my God, it's so embarrassing. Like, you went to this restaurant alone. I'm like, well, I wanted to go to this restaurant. I was alone, traveling. What am I going to do, not eat? Like I'm going to do room service at the time? Or if I see a movie like my friends are like, oh my God, you should have told us we come with you. I'm like, I didn't want you to come because I like going to movies alone. Like, I don't want you there, like I don't, I don't want you there. And number one thing for me with movies is that I like to zone out in the that I also like to just like I know people are going to hate me for that. But I said all the way in the back and I like to be on my phone. I like, like not only make calls, but I like to text in during the movie. I like to eat my popcorn. I like to just be alone. And so and then I also like to leave. If I see a movie in an hour and a half in, it's. Not getting my attention, I just walk out. So I can't do that if someone else is there. So, you know, I sit there the whole movie and I'm like, oh my God, we're sitting all the way through magic Mike. The movie is awful. I know, like that's the thing. Like I don't want that pressure. So again, like being a couple, I think a lot of people in their mind is like, it's going to solve problems. I have a friend who's like, I'm going to move to Paris and all my problems are going to be solved. No, they're just going to follow you and you're just going to be eating better food. That's it. That's the only difference. So being in a couple, like, yeah, you'll get regular sex. Maybe. Maybe not. But that's about it. Like, everything else is going to be the same. You're still going to have your struggles. You're just going to have another person. That's it. Like, I don't know why there's such a premium put on. And then of course, what you're saying makes a lot of sense. It's a financial thing. They can sell insurance to a married couple. They can sell like this and not. And health insurance and the fear. And then the you need this and you need that in life insurance. So it all starts to like feel like a capitalistic snowball. So it kind of makes sense because I think they realize like, oh my God, the gays can get married like a bunch of executives. Oh my God, the gays can get married now we can start to take money from them. And a lot of them are less likely to have children, so they have more of a disposable income. They're going to spend more. They're also more likely to like, spend on frivolous things, quote unquote. So let's just sell it to them, because who cares if we think they're going to hell? Let's make money off, right?

Britt East [00:32:46] I love this so much. I never thought of it like that. I love the way you describe unapologetically living like a couple just as a metaphor so people can understand that. It's like you're just taking up space. You're not. You're going to be unapologetic. You're going to do what you want. You're not going to ask for permission because you're single to go outside like I. I'm single in my life to go here. Is this restaurant open to you?

Amir Yass [00:33:11] Yes. Like my friends. Like, oh, my God, that's so embarrassing. You just went and you didn't. Unlike, like, I went to a comedy show alone on Wednesday and I made friends. I and it was funny, when I got there, I was like, I 100% bet you the guy in front skinnies because my friend was performing there unrehearsed. I'm going to say it's just you 100% did that. And then when we were walking was like, oh, and then I tried everywhere. I tried to say it. They were like, it's taken, it's taken, it's taken. And there was a moment where I was like, oh my God, should I go? Even then I was like, oh, you, me. So I went back to the guy and I was like, I'm alone. Help me find a seat. And lo and behold, he got me a seat. And I saw this like, lovely group of Persian girls. We totally hit it off like we were laughing. We were having a great time. And even if we didn't have that, it's okay to be uncomfortable. Like, I don't know why. And I don't mean this to be like elitist, but I and I'm American. I was born here, but I feel like a lot of Americans got really sheltered, and they're like, they don't want to be uncomfortable. They don't want to be put in a situation where they're not fully comfortable, but you're never going to grow. Like, I get it, it's awkward to go in a hot air balloon with three other couples. I did it, I wanted to do it. I'm not going to ever do that. I might never be married. And I was telling my friends, like, straight people hate when you say stuff like that. I was like, I'm not being self-deprecating. I might never get married. I might never, like, have a child. And that's fine. She's like, don't say that. Oh my God, how dare you? I'm like, this is my true. Like, I it might not happen for me, but I have very like like you said, I have love in my life. I have a really great friends. I have a great family. I have lovers like I don't need I don't need to be married like it's okay. Like, yeah, it's fun.

Britt East [00:34:47] Oh my God.

Amir Yass [00:34:49] It's. You can't receive that. First of all, I mean, I'm going to look stunning in a wedding dress. I mean, let's be honest, but that's not the point. It's like I'm if I do it, it's going to be for me. And it's not going to be for everyone. Now.

Britt East [00:34:59] Let me tell you a quick story. And from my life, because I am married, I was with my we live in Seattle. I was with my husband, before, marriage was legal in the US and we were, registered domestic partners at the time in the state of Washington, which is liberal in terms of I know, because of the folks in Seattle politically liberal, saw fit to send us a threatening letters that said, oh, I know, send us a threatening letter in the mail that said, we see that you're registered domestic partners. You have 30 days to get married, because this is right. When marriage became legal or your partnership is dissolved. What it's like when liberals and progressives attack. It's just like to your point is like we had never had this conversation. I had no emotional attunement to marriage because I grew up thinking it was it was beyond my wildest dreams. And so and he was he's even older than me and have the same, sort of a situation. So we looked at each other like, do we want to get married? I don't know, like we're supposed to get married now. Do we have to give? Are we in trouble or are we going to like. But it's just the relentless pressure. Yeah, it's just everywhere. It's like societies oriented. Like, are you married yet? Are you sure you want to me married? Are you? Do you want to get. Are you getting married? When do you want to get married? And then, you know, when we talk about the queer rights movement, this we, like, inadvertently co-opted this with respect to respectability politics. We were fighting so hard to be seen as equals to straight people that we latched on to the idea that if only we could get married, if only that were legalized, then maybe they would love us. Yes, obviously there's all sorts of financial benefits to marriage, all that kind of stuff. It should be open to everybody. I'm not arguing that. I'm just saying that when we fought this hard, when we attached all of our hopes and dreams on this one issue and we achieved it, you know, we had all these slogans like love equals love. You know, that we're almost like implicitly saying we're just the same as straight people, except, you know, one and intended consequence of this strategy is that it shifted our resources away from equal rights for trans people around queer people of color getting health care. And it's like it's shifted them away. Wait for it, wait for it in favor of anything. We thought straight white people might be more palatable. So that strategy of respectability politics, which was hugely successful in part because it comforts and consoles straight, white, cis people that love equals love. We're just like you. So it's like they're able to dip their toe into diversity, equity and inclusion without actually risking too much inconvenience or wealth without sharing too much power. So, Amir, my question to you is how can we start to convince the community that love doesn't always equal love, that the love is not always all the same? Not all of us want to be the same, that trans people's lives are equally valid, that queer people of color are equally valid, and that their liberation, our liberation, all of us in this together is equally urgent.

Amir Yass [00:38:16] I mean, it's a very loaded question, and there's a lot and I obviously, as I'm sure everyone knows, but, you know, it's I think what's interesting is what you said about like this, like, fast track to marriage of 30 days, right? A lot of people don't understand the way laws and props and all these things work. So when marriage gets approved, they don't understand that on the sneaky, it's going to dissolve all these people's partnerships. Right. So there's a lot that goes into laws, right? No means yes and yes. You know, and people do and go and they make all the wrong mistakes. Right. So there's a lot that goes into like voting and people are going to crucify. But I feel very disconnected from the voting process. I mean, I was very, very political and very involved, but I feel like especially this year, I've been very like disenfranchized and very just like super disillusioned by just everything because I feel like people are just saying what we want to hear. And it's a lot of like the same topics coming up, like immigration or like all this stuff that like only like, you know, birth control rights and reproductive reproductive rights, everything just comes up every four years and it's like nothing ever changes. So I just feel very disillusioned by it. And I think a lot of younger people do as well. And I see people on TikTok and a lot of the Gen Z and, you know, they're very much into protesting. And I think a lot of millennials, even and boomers, I feel like millennials, especially the older millennials, they got very like, oh my God, protesting is kind of in camp. And it's like, do you realize America was built on protests? Like we literally protested England's treatment? I'm like, mean, that's how our country in the be like, I'm sorry that you were late to write from Omaha. You know, but but. Oh, that's annoying. So I think that's like the number one shift. I've seen that a lot of people are, like, seem kind of annoyed by the political process or, you know, like you said something that I really liked and really resonated with me is that stop trying to convince people who are so far right, like, I'm not going to try to convince Marjorie Taylor Greene that trans people, I'm not talking to JK Rowling. I don't care, like you're trash bag and let's take the trash out. Like I don't need to sit there and try to convince you. I'm trying to convince people that are writing offense or are in the middle. So that's where you're going to, because the people that are already in your camp like, whatever. But there's a lot of queer people who are really on the fence or who are kind of lean conservative. And and people don't talk about that. There's a lot of like, nothing wrong. I mean, something wrong. But I try not to know something wrong with voting for Trump now. But if you're still standing on it like you're standing for I, aside from all of his policies and everything he's done January 6th and just his like, he's just a rude human being who is an embarrassment to America. So if you're still standing for him and you're queer, there's something wrong with you. Like, you need to, like, do a little internal work. I'm trying as hard to not sound judgmental, but maybe I'm mental. You need to do some internal work. Because if. If someone hates everyone and you're still standing for them. Maybe it's not your queerness. Maybe you're standing on your whiteness. So just just just do a little internal work like I've done it. I mean, I can pass for a white and that brings me a lot of privileges. So I am aware of that. And I think being aware of your privilege and being able to check it are two different things. So, you know, a lot of straight white men can change the channel, right? They don't need to watch Middle Eastern people in trauma. They don't need to watch gay people in trauma. They don't. They don't. They can just change the channel. So how do we get them to stay on the channel? By continuing to just really just survive and to live and to have queer joy and to not push agendas down throats because it just doesn't work like we saw it with the promotion of the movie. It didn't work. Promoting non movie as if you don't go see this, you're a homophobe. Made people change the channel so it didn't work. So we have to find a different way. I think for me it's really important. Like when I page a story, I say this is a story of someone who is struggling in their 30s trying to figure out who they are in LA. It has nothing to do with being gay. That just happens to be that they're gay. And I think that's the way you can tell a story, because a lot of shows don't center the straightness because it's quote unquote normal. Why would you say this is a straight guy? He has a family. He has a kid. He has a wife. He's like annoyed with her. He has a she has a she said it's like the standard like pitch because it wouldn't. But when it comes to our stories, we have to keep saying they're gay, they're gay, they're great, they're gay. It's like you don't need and I, I'm not saying don't be proud of who you are, but this is an opportunity to pivot and to get what you want. So when I pitch the story, it's a story of someone in their 30s who's fucked up trying to figure it out. It is not a game. It is not a gay show. It is not a gay series. It is just that's just something that's just their sexuality.

Britt East [00:43:03] I think for a lot of us, after a while, labels have diminishing returns. Like at first when we come out, it's so thrilling to claim our identities when we come out, to come out on any issue, not just sexual orientation. So many of us are closeted about a wide array that shoes sexual orientation is just kind of the first thing that comes to people's mind when you use that phrase. But when you first come out and embrace the label, it's thrilling, it's exciting, it's clarifying. You want to shout it from the rooftops and all that's wonderful and beautiful and valid. But what I've experienced over time is it's just like it becomes less interesting, like you're describing. It's like, and inadvertently, like we were saying earlier, kind of can become a disclaimer or wafer and the world you're describing for a media company to check a box without truly investing in the talent and cultivating the audience, it's like, no, we have our token gay show. And, invariably that then becomes about white gay men. Well, I guess this men, frankly, because we, you know, we can't help but lead with our whiteness and our maleness and our sickness because society imposes that upon everybody else. That's the first thing people encounter. And I can say that because I'm a white gay man, and I experience that every day people encounter me as white and male insists before they encounter me as gay. And oftentimes that conflict is not pretty, that when they start to register that it's gay, that cognitive dissonance kicks in. And to some, some bad ways. But I have all of that range of privilege that I get to experience not getting fired, getting unwarranted raises and promotions, getting having an easier time getting jobs thing, feeling free and easy to take over, meeting dominated room just because of my stature, my size, my color, skin tone and color. My, you know, whatever. All of that kicks in before the queer stuff, which is a lagging, almost like a lagging indicator. But when we are in relationships with one another, what I have found in my own life is we have a larger appetite for complexity and, you know, so it's like understanding the nuances of the issues and seeing where people are coming from. And so where I almost think, you know, the answer is and it's really unsatisfying because it's going to take a long, long time is that this stuff is going to change one friendship at a time.

Amir Yass [00:45:23] From a micro level. What we're saying, right. Because I think a lot of people think grow and and even when it comes to like, okay, I want to change the landscape, start one follower at a time, start one friend at a time. Right. There's certain things that people understand that I'm not going to put up with. I'm not going to put up with transphobic comments. I'm not going to put and I will remove you as a friend and I and it's very I'm very clear. And it might come off judgmental, but with all due respect, I don't really give a fuck because there are certain things that I don't want those kind of people in my life and I and again, this is I'm not talking about acquaintances. Acquaintances can have whatever opinion they want to. I'm talking about a good friend that you have interactions with that are on the regular. So I think it's about, again, the beauty of being a queer person is that you get to design your life and you can design it the way you want and you can. And again, we don't choose our families, and sometimes our family relationships are very contentious. They might not accept who you are, they might kick you out, whatever. So the friends you make kind of become your family, and you need to cultivate a friend group that kind of resonates. You know, where you're at in your own life. But I think what's interesting is that, like, like you said, even in the gay community, like what you said about says, you know, white man in a room take up space, even in the gay community, like that's seen as a premium, right? Like if I was not Scullin and I was like, because I'm way passing, I if I was a masculine gay man, like I would definitely get way more attention online. I would definitely have more followers. I would definitely have more brand deals. I would definitely. So there's a lot of like still misogyny in the gay community. There's a lot of hatred against feminine men. There's a lot of no femmes, no thoughts, no blocks. You know, you have all of these these tropes. And I got like a lot of people think, oh, you know, things are better or whatever, but they're not. Like, if you look on a dating app, there's still people who act like that. There's still people who operate that way. And again, these dating apps, these social media is a litmus test for what the society at large is, which is kind of scary. Like, I'm not going to lie, when I see a buff white. Masculine gay man. I'm like. I'm even like, and I've done a lot of work around this. I'm even like, oh wow, that's really amazing. Like, what would it be like to be like, what would it be like to have that much privilege? What? You know, I even wanted to do a test where I use like this, like masculine white gay guy that I knew was like photos online just to see, like, would I get a lot more messages? Not that I would actually like catfish anyone, but just to see like there is such a discrepancy because when you go to other countries, like I get so many more messages or like I have friends who are Asian, if they go to another country, they get so much more attention, like so there's a lot of like, there's a lot of, censuring a certain group. And I wonder why that is. Right. And it kind of goes back to what you were saying. Who's more comfortable with, like a fabulous gay man with nails who shows up like me and is like, is like very feminine? Or do they want someone who kind of looks like them? Oh my God, I didn't even know you're gay. They love that. Like I remember with my accent, people would be like, I don't even know he's gay. Oh my God, it almost felt like it feels like a badge of honor, right? You're not coming off feminine. You're not a sissy. You're not gay. But it's like that person's gay. Like, so why are we giving that a premium? It's like. It's like, oh, you didn't open your mouth. Like, I remember this one time. This was like, if you didn't open your mouth, I wouldn't know you're gay. It's like, that's not of what. Am I supposed to see that as a compliment? Is that a compliment?

Britt East [00:48:42] So much of it is like an extension of misogyny and gets back to the gender roles that we were describing. It's like the measure of somebodies gayness. Gay city, gay attitude. There's no word, I guess is like masculinity and femininity. What, like you're saying, none of this has anything to do with one another. You know, your performance of gender has nothing to do with your performance or your your adherence to gay culture or queer culture or what. You know, so but it's weird, these assumptions that we make and it's titillating, it's surprising. It's, you know, to find out somebody's game. We didn't know. It's we swim in this together. It's we have we're all saturated with the same messages. So of course, we all internalize that, whether you're whether you're gay or straight or whatever, your orientation. And so it's like we all are susceptible. Every day when I take stock of of the day, every day, I'm like, oh my God, I can't believe I thought that or oh my God, I can't believe I said that. I was so stupid. Where did that come from? Get off of me! Where did that come from? Some racist, sexist like crappy thing that just like barnacles, you know, we're swimming in the sea and we get these barnacles, and it's part of our job to constantly take stock and exercise them, frankly.

Amir Yass [00:49:55] And these are implicit biases. They're racist tendencies of moving to the other side of if a black man is walking, I mean, people have these tendencies. These are people that have done the work and they still fall in these pitfalls. So you have to like, really actively do the work because I don't think you just wake up and you're not racist and sexist and you're not homophobic, because even gay men have a lot of internalized homophobia when you're telling another game and they're too feminine for you, that's internalized homophobia. You need to check that shit. Nobody cares if you want a laundry list of what it takes to date you. You have issues. You need to work on those. And I remember I got into it with someone me say, I don't want to know if you're not into black men. He's like, you're not even black. That's not the point. I don't want to know that you are no black. I don't need to see that. That's weird, and I don't. When I'm on Grindr, I don't want to see. And so you're going to. I'm going to. I'm going to block you. But I just want you to know it's weird what you're doing.

Britt East [00:50:44] It's harmful to the community because we're all in community together. And so you're trying to normalize those racist or whatever the bigoted message is. You're making it easier for people to cling to those dark beliefs that are always kind of reaching for us. You know, living in the US society today is is an act of, you know, if you're living honorably, it's an act of, like I was saying, constantly taking stock in exercising those messages from your life. And it's work. It takes work. And so when you then go out and you, you weaponize those implicit biases, or you try and normalize those tropes or cliches, you're making it that much harder for queer people of color or whomever the group is that's being othered to just have to just exist and live their lives.

Amir Yass [00:51:30] Absolutely not. Only like, exist and live their lives, but to be able to just use the restroom or to thrive or like you like polarize. It's like the person wants to shit they don't about, like they're just. Right. So I just, I it's like it's interesting, but these things work. Are the drag shows, right? Like you polarize it and you drag story time and. Nine out of ten people who molest children are straight mad. So do the math like nobody cares. And I'm not going to city. But again, these things started early on in the 1950s. They show videos of gay men, predatory, running behind schools, trying to grab children. There's a lot of stuff that, like, is still in the in the psyche and in people's minds. And you have to, like you said, like a barnacle excised that out. And even me, there are times where I'm like, why am I triggered by that? Or why am I? Why am I not person to be very annoying? And I'm like, okay, are they more feminine than me? And I'm finding triggers and not loving my own femininity? Or I mean, we had a freaking in the 90s. They had a whole create a whole category called metrosexual. God forbid anyone said you were gay. God forbid anybody. You know what I mean? Anything. A lot of those men, a lot of straight men, actually, Middle Eastern men, especially very flamboyant, are very feminist. But the minute you're gay, it's like, don't touch me. I remember, like, growing up, like my uncles would, like, shower naked in the, in the lake. And there's a lot of homo erotic behavior. But if you were gay. Don't touch me. Get away from me. You're disgusting. Right. So a lot of these very macho communities, they, you know, Italians, they kiss twice on the cheek. I mean, the mobsters are kissing each other on the cheek, but then if you're gay, like, you got murdered on Sopranos, like, so, it's like there's a lot of, like, you know, what is the word I'm looking for? Like, a lot of, contradictions and a lot of these communities, right? Especially when there's a lot of machismo and chauvinism and toxic masculinity. But there's also a lot of homoerotic behavior. Even in football. They're stopping each other's eyes. They're you know, I remember, like in my high school, the, the football team, like, was teabagging each other and they were all straight. But these are activities where it's like we're slapping each other in the face with our dicks. And it's just like, but these homoerotic behavior is like, it happens in a lot of sports, a lot of like groups of men, but especially in the U.S. it's very like you have two boxes, your gay or your straight. But when you go to Europe, like, there's a lot more fluidity in the way they present. That's why the joke is always like, are they gay or European? Because they're very like, if they want to wear a purple shirt, they're going to wear a purple shirt. But Americans, like, they are like second guessing, you know, they're very much second guessing, like like Lionel Messi, like he's the most famous soccer player. He has the hot pink jersey. The sales in the US are like very low in the in the UK they're sold out all the time.

Britt East [00:54:10] It's so sad because nobody cares.

Amir Yass [00:54:11] They're like, I like it's just I don't care that it's it's just so sad.

Britt East [00:54:16] The snowflake, the like the the fragility, the I mean the when you think about how, how constrained their, how small their lives are, those people who are allowing themselves to be dictated by these beliefs and these fears and, and self-loathing. You know, when you think about these labels, the human heart runs so broad and deep it doesn't fit into these. I mean, nature so messy. It doesn't fit into these categories. So what if I identify strayed and I fantasize sometimes about having same sex relations? Or I have had romantic partners but identify straight or if I identify as by, does that mean I'm 5050 or 60 40 or 92? Like we don't have words in the English language for every combination and permutation of desire. And so that's why, again, over time, like you were saying previously, the labels kind of have diminishing returns, as you see the complexity of nature and, and people's existence. And I feel like it's all, you know, maybe I'm jaded because I'm just so like social media and the internet's been so challenging. I just feel like it's I'm hopeful that it's going to come back to relationships and community. Like you're saying, that's in the micro, the macro, obviously policies and structural things have to be changed and you're going to get a lot of leverage out of that. But when it comes to relating with people, instead of, our bantering is one thing that's just fun. But arguing with trolls online when you're emotionally invested, especially if you're fragile and tender, it's just a recipe for disaster. Instead of investing in the complexity of your real relationships and community. So when somebody comes after me, I'm like, are we in community together? And then the answer is no. And then I'm like, is this fun for me to to dunk on you? And if the answer's no, then it's like delete, block, mute, whatever, you know. And I do that proudly and I encourage everybody to do that. Just as a matter of sanity.

Amir Yass [00:56:12] Sometimes you have to do it and you have to sometimes block the noise. And you have to understand that a lot of the internet is clickbait, right? Like there was that interview with Billie Eilish where, you know, instead of like just saying, like, I'm sure she said so many other important things in this interview, but what they picked out was, I want a vagina in my face. So that's the only thing we're seeing in all these clickbait. So again, it's sexualized queer people. It makes it all about sex. It makes it all about. And it's like, it's not like gay people are having more sex. They're just more they're less puritanical about it and they're more open about it. And Americans are honestly, for a culture that's so sex forward. They're very not sex positive. They're very. Their shows are very sexy, forward and the other. But it's still very like, oh my God, like, you know, like even when, like in Salt Saltburn when he's dancing, I'm like, oh, he's naked dancing. But that was so shocking. Is that a prosthetic? Is it not. You know, and I remember they asked, I can't remember who it was, but it was one of his. Oh, it was the guy that was. I forgot his name, but he's the one from, all of us strangers. And they asked him on the red carpet like you're friends with Barry. Did he use a prosthetic? You would never ask that. I'm a straight guy. You're asking the gay guy. And he really handled it really well. He was like, I don't know, and I don't care. Like, I that's not interesting to me. It's like my friend's penis and he's acting and it's like a job. And so I think it's like that kind of, oh, let me clutch my pearls. Like it's just I think to me, a lot of it's like, I think Americans are having as much tax as anyone else. They're just like very puritanical about it and they're very like, oh my God, I'm so shocked by it. It's like, you're not that shocked. Like, so I think like that's like the number one thing and it's like about just letting that go. And just if you want to have sex, have sex, you want to talk about it, talk about it. If you don't want to talk about it, that's also fine. And also, I think for me, when I want people to realize is that queer people do not equal sides, like there is asexual queer people, there's queer people who don't have sex or like your identity has nothing to do with sex. Sex is male, female. However you identify intersex trans, that's sex. The rest of it is like your choice. It's your like perspective. It's your how you see your body, how you want to use your body. Like never use it. It's you're not going to lose it. That's like us. That's like, you know, like they'll still be there.

Britt East [00:58:30] Oh, of me. Or I could talk to you all day. This hour has just flown by. I'm so grateful that you decided to come back and join me again. It's just been so fun to catch up and hear how you're doing and learn more from you. We're going to put all of Amir's socials in the show notes, so you don't have to jot them down in a hurry. Be sure to check them out. Hysterical. Funny. Educational. Amir. His website is Amir, y'all scum. Of course, we'll put that in the show notes as well. Thank you so much. Amir is wonderful to see you.

Amir Yass [00:59:00] It was wonderful to see you. And I can't believe we ended on. You want to lose it if you don't use it somehow?

Britt East [00:59:06] That seems appropriate. Somehow it seems appropriate. Okay. Everyone wants money.

Amir Yass [00:59:14] Us in 2024, in America that we got, you know, the president. That's not unheard.

Britt East [00:59:19] So. Amen to that one. Okay, everyone, you have made it through another hour of not going quietly. I'm so proud of you. We could not do this show without you. We love you so much and I'm so grateful for all of your notes and all of your comments and likes. Please come to our social media pages and engage with us. We absolutely adore you. Until next time, thank you so much. This is Britt East signing off. Bye bye.

Britt East [00:59:47] You've been listening to Not going quietly with your host, Britt East. Thanks so much for joining us on this wild ride. As we explore ways to help everyone leap into life with a greater sense of clarity, passion, purpose, and joy. Check out our show notes for links, additional information, and episodes located on your favorite podcast platform.