The Marissa Mitchell Show: October 14, 2026

And he's being inducted into Maryland's Hall of Fame. And we're going to chat with him about everything WWE superstar Drew McIntyre is here as well. He's stepping out of the ring and into a different kind of action. And the weather is lovely today. It is. Yeah. We're going to have a lot of big masculine men on the show tomorrow, including me. I know, right? Yes. We've got to beef up a little bit. Drop and give us like 20. I don't want to embarrass anybody. 88 this afternoon. Much cooler tomorrow, but that's record heat this afternoon. All right. Great weather to get outside and do some working out. It should be dry. Yeah, thanks for joining us, guys. Marissa, over to you. All right, thanks so much, team. I'm standing here with Mark L. Wahlberg. Hello. I've seen you on Antiques Roadshow so many things. You're in town, though, with Wheel of Fortune Live. That's right. It's a stage version of our favorite show. Uh-huh. And you could be a contestant. Can't get more iconic than that. Stick around for the Marissa Mitchell Show. To the Marissa Mitchell Show. And you can rethink that second, perhaps third cup of coffee today because we have all the energy you need from game time with an iconic TV host to a simple fitness routine, we have your midweek boost to power through. Game show lovers, the beloved TV hosts, as you've seen on Temptation Island, Antiques Roadshow, Mark L. Wahlberg is in the building and he has a sneak peek of Wheel of Fortune Live in D.C. and better yet, how you can get a chance to spin the wheel and win some money. That's exactly right. Big money. EM Squad, do your thing. Scan the QR code to send Mark a question or a comment. We're going to read those messages in less than 30 minutes. Plus, our hot sheet is spicier than ever, thanks to a debate that's heating up after the Real Housewives of Potomac season premiere. And my interview with a cast member is at the center of it. If you see your friend's spouse on a dating app, shouldn't you tell that friend? We're going to hash it out. And then we're all about our gym glow-up, too. We can get moving with an easy-to-learn workout. You only need dumbbells and yoga blocks, and you don't have to wait until January to do a new thing. That's the best part. We're going to round things out, though, this hour with balance, fitness, then indulgence. Treat yourself to an easy-to-make apple pie recipe from Founding Farmers. It's perfect for fall, so please be prepared to take some notes. Well, if you're like me, you love games, you love game shows and fun. And one of the most legendary franchises of all time, The Wheel of Fortune, hits D.C. tonight. And if that's not exciting enough, you have a chance to participate and win big money. And the person who's hosting it all will look familiar. Here's that music? I automatically want to pop in a TV dinner. It just comes to me. I grew up on it. I'm talking about beloved TV host Mark L. Wahlberg. He's here. You've seen him on Netflix's Temptation Island, Antiques Roadshow, and more. Now he's here on our couch. Good to see you. I'm so glad to be here. Thank you for having me. Host to host. Yeah. Come on. You do a great job. Oh, I appreciate it. I think I might have a future at this moment. I think so. Step out on a limb and say. I'm going to support you on that limb. Thank you. Before we get started, you guys, please scan the QR code. Send him your comments, your questions, favorite memories even of the show. He's going to read those in just a bit. So it's going to be at the Warner Theater tonight. Yeah, let me be clear. This is not for TV. It's a celebration of America's game. People are going to come in. We're going to pull contestants right out of the audience to play the game with me on stage. You don't even have to be good at it. We're randomly selecting people by the computer. They come up and play for a chance to win. Could win up to $10,000. $10,000? What are some of the other prizes at hand? Trip to Hawaii. We gave away, last night, we gave away a whole package of outdoor furniture and a grill and a cooler. Somebody's hooked up for summer. Oh, man. Yeah, so. When I think of Wheel of Fortune, too, I think back to family members and memories. People love this franchise. It's a part of us all. It feels like comfort food to me. We all grew up with the music. We all played the game at home. And what I love about this tour is, you know, in the world that we're living in, people, you know, we're so divisive. And I just love that we get in a room, and for 90 minutes, I've got you, and we all can agree that we want to solve puzzles. And then we remember that, you know what, we actually like each other more than people will have you remember. Yeah. We get along pretty good. And the game is a great place for us to just celebrate that. Do you have any crazy guesses when it comes to guessing the puzzle? I love looking at this from the actual show on television online. And when it's live, it's even better because our contestants, some of them are great, and some of them came with somebody who's great, you know, not particularly good. And what I love is the audience, they solve it quicker than the people on stage. So they'll say, is there a B? And before I can say there's three Bs in the puzzle, you hear the audience clap. I'm like, oh, you already have it, huh? So it's a party. Oh, man, but how long is it? It's about a 90-minute show. Oh, there's plenty of time. It's like going to a concert, you know. Gotcha. But we've got the wheel, just like TV. We've got the letterboard, just like TV. The best part is we pull our contestants out of the audience, but also we pull somebody out of the audience to be Vanna White every night. So somebody gets to, like... See, that's what I wanted to do. It's a bucket list moment. To be up there and turn the letters around. I'll buy some vowels if I can do that as well. I also love the fact that you've been in this hosting game for a long time. You've done it all. What does a show have to have, Mark, for you to say, you know what, I'll sign on and give it a try? Well, I've done all kinds of shows. Antiques Roadshow's one vibe. Game shows are a vibe. Temptation Island's a whole other vibe. I think what they have to have is some sort of humanity and authenticity. And as the host, that's the job. I feel like the host's job is to not be the star of the show, but to bring the audience off the couch into the room where we are, ask the questions they want to hear, and make the people on the show the stars. That's what hosting is. If you're hosting people at your home, it's not about you. It's about making sure your guests are happy. You're literally a channel for that energy to flow. I think in game shows, what's important is that there's a play along, that when we're playing on the couch, that we feel just a little bit smarter than the people on TV. Because it's easier to play when you're living. Yeah, when you're watching, watching at home. You mentioned getting off the couch. We're going to get off the couch. No. And head over to the other side of the studio to play a game with you. I know you host the game show, but you're going to play one today. Let's go. Come on over. You mentioned, too, authenticity and the importance of that. Yes. I think we're living in a landscape now where I always say real is rare, fake is everywhere. Yes. You know, you have to look for authenticity. And not only that, I feel like the younger generation that I think my generation maligns a lot, they're in tune on the only thing that matters is are you for real or are you not for real? Ooh, that part. So authenticity is the only valuable thing. All right, well, I have two authentic friends here as well. We bought it. I'm glad the green room is lit. The green room is lit today. The only thing missing with you. Anything you need, food, fitness, great minds. all is coming up you all know Chloe Caffron who joins us friends of the show and also Al Reynolds the poor Mark you all know him are you all ready to play a little game of jackpot or bankrupt we're going to ask you some scenarios right I'll put it out there if you're for it it's the jackpot if you're not then it's bankrupt so we'll just kind of go a little round robin what do you say what I'm doing a little twist on Hashi Hashi is still coming up by the way Okay, there may be some surprise bonus rounds. You never know So the first scenario when a friend cancels a big plan Last minute via text and we have this right here in case you want to see what it looks like to check somebody Or the jackpot you don't want to go anyway and they text you and say, you know, what Oh cancel you don't If you blow me off at the last minute, that's a bankrupt But if you blow me off to something I didn't want to go in the first place You don't even get like, you know bad juju from having canceled your stuff You guys are too nice it is a bankruptcy because I like drama and if you cancel on me we're gonna have a problem potlucks bankrupt or jackpot that's a bankrupt for me because you don't know how people cook their food so i'm gonna say not so much but i think you can probably find one or two things in the potluck that you like especially if i brought it or somebody that i know brought it always ask who brought this exactly right right yeah yeah because if there's raisins in the potato salad i'm not eating it we all know i see it as i like a potluck not for the food i like what it does for the vibe in the office, yeah, give us a moment to put down our pens and get a chance to be human with one another, yeah but i can't trust people's kitchens, that's true, yeah, and i don't know how you cooked it, i don't know what you cooked so i'm gonna eat my dish and maybe my best friend's dish, but i'm with you if there's raisins in the potato salad, we're done bring your lunch every day, that's right, it's a bank robbery, all right, this one is based on temptation an island. Flirt with someone who is not your partner. Jackpot? Or bankrob? Jackpot for me, baby! It's great foreplay. And you're texting sometimes. As long as you're not disrespectful. As long as you're not overly disrespectful, sometimes it's good to know that you still have it, and you take it home, baby, and make it a fun night. So innocent flirting. Not acting on it, but... Because sometimes, you know, men's egos need to be you know, stroked a little bit. All of our egos. Ego is not gender specific. Really? Well, I'll tell you, for me, I agree with you in the sense that harmless flirting gets everybody's, you know, excitement going. But I think it's about your partner. And if it's anything that makes them uncomfortable, then it's bankrupt. I'm going to say if you have to flirt with somebody else who is not your partner, you're already bankrupt in the relationship. But that's just me. Okay. We'll drop that right there. If somebody's flirting with my partner, I'm like, yeah, she's got it like that. Because I'm okay. I know who she's coming home with. Yep. And I'm good with flirting as long as it's not disrespectful of me. Let's all make this, you know, make it do what it needs to be. All right. Lastly, this is just for you. For someone who wins big tonight during the Wheel of Fortune Live, balling instead of saving it, jackpot or bankrob? I say, you know, you do you. Do you, Bill? We do not get two rounds at this thing called life. That's true. And while when you're young, I'd say to my kids, save your money. If you haven't done it and you've got cash to do it, go do it. Because we don't have to, Mark. All about the Benjamin. Give me $20. Exactly. I need it. What do you think, Gloria? I mean, I love that philosophy. Yes. He has dropped so much wisdom today. I know. That's just gray hair talking. I'm back in the alley. Often the East Coast needs you. You don't have to twist my arm. Okay, so make sure you scan the QR code to send Mark a question or a comment we're going to read those in just about 15 minutes, they're always really nice, you know, they didn't tell me we're doing that, you're the hostess with the mostest so you can take it, Mark, Chloe and Al, though you're sticking around for the hot sheet, it's a viral to do or not to do heating up online after Real Housewives of Potomac season premiere, should you tell your friend if you see their spouse on a dating app, we're going to get into that, uh our interview Monday kind of sparked that okay debate online and later in our fitness flex, move over hot girl summer, have a hot girl fall thanks to a workout that only requires dumbbells and yoga blocks, we're going to try it out and after we heat it up for fall, we're going to sweeten it up with the season, Founding Farmers joins us in our kitchen, they are here, our faves with some easy to make apple pie recipes, we'll be right back back now with the hottest hot sheet, oh look at this powerful team we have here Fortune Live, Mark L. Walberg is in the house The Game hitting DC's Warner Theatre tonight, make sure you go, tickets are still available, you bet so make sure, and of course we have Al Reynolds here and Chloe Caplan, having fun yet? Oh my goodness, the three of us have bonded, I think we're gonna get a condo together, I think we might be doing Thanksgiving together for sure, and I trust all of your cooking and kitchen, so good there'll be no raisins yeah, that's a potluck we can do, we could do that my portion is coming from Founding Farmers, oh yes, well done I do have a question for you though Mark, do people still after all of these years confuse you with the actor Mark Wahlberg, when they see the name but when they see us in person when I first read about the game show, I have decided to lean into it, lean into it because I show up and people like people say things they think are appropriate, I checked into a hotel one time and they said, "What's your name?" I said, "Mark Walberg," and she looked up and said, "Oh, oh my co-workers are going to be so disappointed" all right, well I'm glad you're here, there's room for two There is. There's room for Marky Mark. We'll make room for the other one. You can, you get the spotlight. Thank you. All right, well, let's do our first topic here, because we're going viral, apparently. The show is, if you spot a friend's spouse on a dating app, do you speak up? That's the question. Making ways after Real Housewives of Potomac star Stacey Rush told her castmate, Tia Glover, that a woman had seen her husband on some dating sites. Now, Stacey was just here this week, Monday. I asked her if she regretted breaking that news to Tia. She said no because it was already out there. Here's her response. I asked him, are you on any dating apps? And he said, yeah. Okay, so that was Tia's response to being told that. But here's the question broadly. Jasmine Brand, thank you for picking up our interview. Telling a friend that their spouse is on a dating app, is that hot or not? Should you do that? I'm going to say. As a friend. This is a tough one. I'm going to say not because I think years of experience have taught me that mind your business. A, you really don't know the dynamic of those two sometimes. And the worst part about it is that you could jeopardize losing your friendship over something that is actually none of your business because you never know. For me, I've seen a lot of people get back together. Now you're off on an island by yourself thinking you were doing the right thing. And that's not Temptation Island. No. But you may end up a candidate. I'm going to tag on to what you're saying because I agree 100%. Here's the deal. It's between a couple and what they're doing. But if my allegiance is to you as my dear friend, I might go to your spouse and say, what do you do and clean this up before I put you on blast? I'm going to give you a chance to do the right thing. That's a good one. Right? Yeah, before you break the news to the friend. Before I break the heart of the friend because you're right. Even when people have to People's relationships and what's right and wrong for them Is personal So that may not even be a problem for her And it's none of your business And she probably already knows He could also be recruiting For the marriage The unicorn emoji was On the dating apps It took a friend to tell me what that meant Apparently if someone's looking Or a couple, they're looking for a third If you see a unicorn In the profile You heard it right here on the brisket? Where's the horns coming from? I thought they just liked my little pony or something. I wish it was that simple. Okay, so I have a little bit of a different take here. If it's a friend that you are close enough with to have heard that potentially the marriage was opening or ending or taking a break or whatever, then I think that confronting the friend and gently just saying, like, hey, is something going on? And, you know, how are things? And, like, I have to tell you, I'm asking because I saw him on a dating app or her on a dating app, and, you know, I wanted to check on you. Is something going on? I didn't know. If it's a friend that's close enough where you should have known, I think that it is a yes for me. It's hot to tell them. Yeah, yeah. I think that's exactly right. I think the line of demarcation is how close are you as a friend. For instance, in The Real Housewives, it was putting them on blast almost twice. Right, right, right. Exactly. That's performative behavior. Yeah, you know all about that. If I'm with my best friends, I'm protecting my best friends. Yeah, for life. If you come the way you did with kindness and heart, I'm with you. I'm lukewarm on it, too. It depends on the situation, case-by-case basis. Long-term relationships sometimes lose that spark, and we begin to ask the question if you've actually lost the attraction to your partner. Experts say that may not necessarily be the case. It's going to take emotional connection, safety, a little mystery, and spontaneity to spice things up. When it comes to that advice, do you agree? hot or not. To re-spark the spark. Ask the question again. You need spontaneity. You need mystery. You need added connections. Oh, if I lose attraction. Oh, absolutely. I think for me, it's hot. I think it's natural to lose attraction. Listen, when you first start dating someone, you don't care if they leave the toilet seat up or down. You're just like, oh, you're just so cute. The way you walk, the way you smell, the way you make noises, all that's beautiful. Then it becomes annoying as you know what. So this is what I say. Spontaneity, also a little bit of role-playing is okay. Bring some spice back into the relationship. Unicorn costume. The unicorn emotion. No, I didn't know anything about it. Now I do. Right. It means a couple of... I've been wondering why that keeps popping up in my timeline. I thought I was looking for a third Tucker. Well, his wife is absolutely beautiful. Yes. Stunning. Stunning. We'll go for more, though. No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. Listen, beautiful afternoon. It will be a hot afternoon. Maybe record heat. You brought the record heat. Upper 80s around here. I brought it from L.A. I know. It was hot there last week. It was terrible. Upper 80s later this afternoon. Back to the 60s tomorrow. So up and down we go, but a hot afternoon for sure. All right. Nice talk. Tucker, thanks so much. Thanks, Tucker. And thank you all for coming. Hang around, Mark. You're not done yet. Also in today's booked and busy, busy rather, profoundly busy, coming up, a story from author Eric Moon. He's going to take to the couch to share his journey through transracial adoption. You don't want to miss that. Also, there is still time, two minutes, in fact, to send Mark your question or comment. We'll read those after the break. I'm back with the Live TV host, Mark L. Wahlberg, with your comments. Cindy Falls Church, Virginia, I've watched all of your hosting gigs. I was so excited when I heard you'd be on the show. You light up the camera. You are gifted, Mark. Oh, my goodness. Are we related? That's so true. Did a relative pay you to say this? I appreciate that. Thank you. I'm so grateful to do what I do. I'm so grateful when I connect with an audience. And thanks for the kind words. Oh, thank you, Cindy. And then Steve out of D.C. Mark, you've done so many iconic shows. What's your favorite? I find something to enjoy in all of them. The Antiques Roadshow was a joy. The people there were fantastic. I love Temptation Island because it looks like one thing and it's something else. It looks like a messy, crazy, sexy thing, which it is. but there's this authentic emotional intelligence conversation I'm glad that it's purposeful and that it's been provided for me a forum for that I always tell people you don't get to pick the pot you grow in you just gotta bloom wherever they put you oh bloom where you're planted that's it. Voila, we're gonna end on this one they don't want to include their name but out of Virginia seeing you tonight at the live they will be there. Great bill of fortune, I love you Mark you're better than Ryan. No shade no shade. A little bit of shade and I'm here for it. No shade all tea. It's okay. Thank you for that and good luck tonight. Good luck and speaking of that you all go get your tickets. They're still available for the Warner Theater tonight to go see Mark, have some fun, spin the wheel and all of that jazz. Thanks for coming. Thanks for having me. This was so much fun. Oh, I had a time with you. I really did. My aunts, uncles, they're super excited you're here too. You have a huge fan base oh you're making my day yeah this is great well the fun continues and also the great conversations because we're talking all about identity in today's booked and busy next author Eric Mone is going to share his experience as an adoptee in a transracial adoption stay with us for today's booked and busy we have an inside look at transracial adoption through the eyes of an adoptee. Author Eric Mone shares all in his new memoir Stranger in My Own Story. Eric, who is black, was adopted by a white family in a small Massachusetts town. His coming-of-age story explores identity, belonging, and how culture shapes the search for a home. Oh, I love the pictures, too. Eric is here, all grown up. All grown up. Here to share his story. Thank you so much for writing this. Thank you. Thank you for having me. Yes, because there's one thing to be adopted, and we've done several conversations and segments on adoption and foster care is something entirely different to be a part of a family of a different race or a different culture, even religious background. Walk us through your story and how it started. Yeah, definitely. So I was born in 1987 and then was in foster care and was actually named Daniel. And after three months, my white parents adopted me and grew up in Harvard, Massachusetts. And that took me on. I mean, it's an affluent white town. And so I didn't have any racial mirrors and so it was really about me figuring out what it means to be black in America without a blueprint which took me to Howard it ultimately took me to Ghana It took me to Alabama and then eventually I reunited with my birth family And so that's why I felt like it was necessary to write this story now. What happened with your birth family? What happened with my birth family my mom? She was 23 years old and didn't feel like she could raise a child at that point in time just given her background She didn't feel like she was held by the women in her life So it just didn't feel like she had the tools to raise me and give me the financial resources that I needed, like the education, the house, to be able to flourish in the world. Yeah, and so they adopted you and all of that and raised you. Looks like in love, so much of it. Definitely a very loving family, for sure. You know, when we see kids, and I have a young nephew and other young folks in my family, kids don't see color. You know, they just see other kids, right, and it's so lovely to see the innocence of it all before we adults get in the way. At what point growing up did you truly realize, I'm black and I'm different and treated differently because of me? It's funny you say that. So the first time that I put it into words, I was at preschool, so I was about four years old and I saw another black kid on the playground and I was immediately drawn to him. So I walked across the playground, we began to play with each other. And after a few moments I said, I think you're my brother. And then I asked my mom later that day or the following week, is Miles my brother? And she had to explain, no, he's not your brother. But that's the first time I was able to articulate, oh, I'm different. I'm conscious that I don't look like my family. And there's something here that's missing. I'm a little disoriented. And so that's when the questions really started to begin and where that racial isolation and then that journey between blackness and family started. And what ways growing up did you try to find yourself in your culture in a way that was good for you but then also didn't isolate your white relatives who love you so much yeah for sure so a lot of it was through media so listening to rap music rap was a huge portal into black life i had black men on speed dial got into rap when i was about 11 12 maybe 13 years old and was looking for a playbook on manhood and ultimately Jay-Z, Nas, Fabolous, Dipset they became my fathers because at that point i could count how many black people i'd seen especially black men now to your second question i isolated my white parents i did not collaborate with them there was a lot of tension in the household because i didn't feel like they understood what it meant to be black in america and couldn't teach me what i was going to contend with when i left um harvard massachusetts yeah there was some some anger there and also confusion a lot of confusion on both sides yeah and so then you end up at the Mecca, Howard University. Talk about choosing that renowned HBCU and then the experiences you had there that really got real for you on a deeper level. So I originally enrolled in the University of Maryland. And then one night I woke up in a cold sweat and I said, I have to go to Howard. I walked in my mom's room and I said, I have to go to Howard. I need to learn what it means to be a black man in America. And she completely supported that which is a beautiful thing right then we got to Howard's campus and I remember probably a week and a half in I was like oh this is the longest that I've ever spent around any black people in my life and I had a panic attack because I didn't think I would fit in I didn't think I was going to be black enough but ultimately I was embraced by my friends at Howard ultimately they embraced my mother as well and that was a really pivotal moment because that's the first time that I had a black identity and a black community that was fostering me in a healthy way as well and i wasn't having to consume black culture through media and in unhealthy ways that i was before in high school you mentioned something and it took me to my next point not being black enough yes because i actually dealt with that too growing up you know and i grew up in a black household with both of my parents but i went to predominantly white schools even though we lived in a black neighborhood i was bust but there were some conversations through grade school and I would say college too about not being black or down enough whatever that means you can be smart and be black enough by the way it is possible so you dealt with that too or at least thought that you would I thought that I wasn't black enough because the distance between the reality that I was living in Howard and my choices and the reality that I was consuming through rap music or BET was just so far that I just, I created that standard in my head and that insecurity in my head as well. That said, when I got to Howard, no black person has ever said you're not black enough. White people have said it, but no black person has ever done it. They've always welcomed me with open arms and that's been a beautiful experience and that's what happened at Howard University. And I think now I just don't measure blackness. I don't like that we're measuring blackness anymore or black authenticity anymore either because it puts us in a box. It's very narrow-minded. Black is all things. It's multidimensional. like any other race is, for that matter. Looking back over your life, now that you've put the pen to the pad, the pen to page, do you think you got the best of both worlds? Now I would say yes, because I was able to have a really good education. I was able to see how white people lived and operated as well. And I got all those experiences while going to my friend's summer houses in Maine, right, or traveling the world. I spent the first three years of my life in Switzerland. So that opened me up to different cultures and different ethnicities. and now immersing myself in black culture and now my life is very black i can operate and navigate through these different worlds without having to think right and that's an edge that a lot of people don't have because i have a cultural fluency that i didn't have growing up but now that i've been able to immerse myself in both absolutely i would argue especially and in corporate america a lot of people don't get that because they haven't been exposed to I'm the counselor for a lot of black people in corporate america because i'm like oh this is how they operate. This is what's going on. Here's what you need to be mindful of. And I understand white people intimately at the end of the day. Finally, what advice would you give to people who are maybe considering a transracial adoption? What do you want them to do? Yeah, absolutely. I would say that loving your child and nurturing their culture and their heritage and their ancestry are one and the same. And that a lot of transracial adoptees say your child should not be your first black friend right so you need to analyze your relationship with blackness if you are adopting a black child or any culture but also at the same time you need to be able to immerse yourself in that culture and have a support network because it does take a village at the end of the day oh gosh eric i gotta talk to you the entire show i'm so immersed in your story thank you so much for sharing it thank you for having me and all that you're doing broadly uh for communities i think you're truly making a difference. Thank you. It's been a pleasure. I see a movie. Is a movie in the works? That's really the goal. I just got that download. Let's go. We can put it on Netflix, HBO Max, A24, whatever works. A lot there. A lot of people can benefit. Thanks again. Thank you for having me. Well, coming up, these ladies are bringing the energy in today's Fitness Flex. I just met them in the hall. I cannot wait to get over there. They're a fun bunch. Coming up next, start your day off toned and feeling better than ever thanks to their simple workouts using dumbbells and yoga blocks plus always reward yourself you can treat yourself too for a job well done once you get done hitting the weights i'm going to treat us as usual with an easy to make apple pie recipe from founding farmers we'll be right back for today's fitness flex i know it can be stressful to figure out which workout to follow and how to pull off all those reps that's a workout within itself deciding how and when to start so i called in a few ladies who figured it all out for us you're in for a treat we have owner and head trainer of Be Fit Be Well Fitness Studio we have Brittany Brooks Brown and we also have Day and Mean joining us as well hey ladies where's my fit i want a t-shirt i want it got it got it uh talk about what you do you know at your studio and your whole psychology and philosophy behind staying healthy so first of all thank you marissa so much for having us here um the philosophy behind that will kind of get a little bit personal right now but it started when my aunt my mom's youngest sister she was around in her 30s she was morbidly obese and she passed away so suddenly from being obese when i was in college so i got the phone call and in college i was studying exercise science i wanted to do physical therapy and i was like oh i'm on track and then when that happened i'm like okay well no i gotta just take a step back I got to figure out what I really want to do because clearly I need to be helping women who need help so that was kind of the philosophy behind it you know a little personal a little sad but I know she's looking down happy we've helped so many women, absolutely, you turned that pain into a triumph and you brought along some other women with you, what is it like working out with her and getting better and healthier each day? It's amazing, actually. Becoming a part of Brittany's team has really helped me in my own fitness and health wellness journey. It's like family there. Oh, from the trainers to her manager and just the women, the OGs that we call them, and then even the new ladies that come. Like, it's so welcoming. It's so welcoming. I think that's half the battle. I've gone to some places and I'm like, This is not a safe space, but I'll get through it. But you all are about making it feel like a sisterhood or a family. That's very important. Absolutely. Accountable partners. That's what we need. Someone that holds you to a standard versus, I'm tired. We have people that's going to check on you. Where were you at? Why didn't you get to class? Why were you late? I saw your Instagram story last night. You were outside. And that excuse better be good. You got it. So I see the dumbbells. I see the blocks here. Talk me through what you all are about to do. Okay, so I know you got to keep your cute outfit. Go ahead. I'm kicking off the shoes. She's kicking the shoes off, everybody. Ladies at home, you're also going to follow this, too. If you don't have a block, that's totally okay. I'm not going to use a block, and Nene is going to be doing the modified version, so she's also not going to do a block, too. Okay, options. So that way I want to show you guys you can still do something. Modification doesn't always mean easy. It just means you're meeting your body where it's at. Yeah, you got to do something. You got to do something. Something's better than nothing. And then Daze is going to be doing our standard version. She's going to be doing the actual version. Oh, so I get three looks. And I get to judge who's doing the best look. I'll let you start, Brittany. Okay, so the first one we have, we have three for you today, three exercises. The first one we have is going to be a lunge curl with a knee drive. So you're going to be stepping back, curling your arms up at the same time. And then as you reach your threshold with the lunge, you're going to put your knee, drop your knee up to your chest, and drop your arms. You're going to do five of those. Got it. And they're going to do different variations at the same time. So let me see you all do this. Okay, you ready? Yep. We're going to pick up our weights. And Day's going to step her left foot on the block. Nene has nothing, but she still steps her left foot back. And I have no weights. And then Nene's like medium. And then Day is the regular version. Okay. Okay, here we go. So three, two, one. We're going to curl. Okay, Brittany, as you all continue to work through that, and I'm watching here, which one would you say is the most challenging? Probably the one Day has because she has her foot elevated on a block. Okay. So essentially this workout, it targets the full body, our quads, our glutes, our hamstrings, and then when you curl at the end, it's going to target your biceps. But the block adds a little extra challenge because it's giving a little extra stretch when you go down, as opposed to, like, your own solid ground. Yeah, those blocks are having a moment. I mean, I've been on social media, and they have those stepping classes now where they're using the blocks. Absolutely. And so that's why I asked that question. Really? Yeah, I teach extreme hip-hop steps. Oh, and it's really fun, the choreography, too. You got to learn. Maybe that's the next segment. Right. When you all come back. So that's one. That's one routine. Yeah, that's one routine. And then the second one is our cardio rail. So we're going to kind of ditch the blocks just for a second, but we're going to bring them back for the third one. We're going to pick up our weights, and we have something that we like to call an up jack. And then Daneen, like I said, she's going to be doing a modified. She's going to be doing a step jack instead of just jacking her feet. Ah, okay. All right, so we're going to do six, ladies, okay? Here we go in three, two, one, and let's go. One, good, two. See the variation with the feet? Yes. So this is a modified version for someone who maybe can't or doesn't want to do the jumping, per se. like it's light on your knees, it's a lot of knee issues. And it's getting cold outside, that weather is changing. Right now, only Megan Thee Stallion is safe, I don't know. She's like that, okay, yes, absolutely, but yes. So third and lastly? Okay, so do you want to first? I want to watch first, I got to dress on, I got to see if I can do it first. Okay, yes, so the last one is called our Be Fit, Be Well Burnout. So we usually do that after every workout, it doesn't matter whose class it is, We do it after every workout. Okay. Yes. So, which means we essentially hold an exercise for one minute, but, I mean, super... It better not be a plank. No, it's not. Okay. Squat hold. Got it. So, we got to squat hold, but our arms will also be elevated as well. The entire time? Okay, I'll try. We got this. I don't know if I'm going to do a full 60 seconds, but I'm going to try. Okay, so, Day's going to be doing our standard slash advanced. We'll turn it to advanced, because her heels are going to be elevated. I see. Which means her calves are also going to be stretched. They're working. They're working, yep. So go ahead and step on the block for me, Day, and turn it sideways. OK, she hits her block, the heel. Ming has weights. We don't have weights. So we're still just essentially holding our arms out. And we're just getting ready to go. OK. So when I squat, hold. Here we go. In three, two, one. And sit and hold. 10, 9, good, 8, 7, 6. Hold your arms out, Marissa. Yep. 5, 4, and toss them out. Oh, this is the part where you add on. One and time. All right. too bad so you've been holding for a minute 62 but i have another segment over here i'm gonna do 60 seconds so for people who want to come out and they want to feel the vibes they want to get in shape and find that fitness family where can they find you um they can find me at all social medias at be fit be well or the studio name is right here on our shirt be fit be well fitness studio we also have an app be fit be well studio and then our website is also the same too okay with all of that. We have no excuses. Good day, Brittany. Thank you so much. Thank you so much, Marissa. We appreciate you. Next time, we're stepping. Yes, we'll be stepping next time. Thank you. Now that I've worked out a 10-second routine, I'm going to head over and treat myself in the kitchen with our guests here. I'm super, super excited because we deserve a treat in our lives, don't we? This is why we work out. There you go. Fall just got sweeter than ever thanks to today's Meals Made Easy. We're going to make it tasty but also simple when it comes to apple pie and apple pie recipes with beloved founding farmers. Thank you so much for coming. We've got co-owner Dan. He's back. And then also Chef Jasmine. Welcome. Hi. How are you? I missed you. I'm glad we're here. We missed you too. I'm looking at this like, oh, my life is grand. This is perfect. So let's first begin. I mean, you own and oversee so many restaurants in the D.C. area, but this is another menu that you all have added online it is and look i i am a co-owner but i don't own it alone my partner mike are farmers who own the majority of the company and then crazy talent amazing like chef jasmine and our culinary team, so ownership is irrelevant, it's the whole group. Yeah, Jazzy, tell us what we have. Can I call you Jazzy? and she is Jazzy. Walk us through what you all brought here. I don't even know where to start. Yeah, so we have a good amount of things here. So we have our chocolates, our house-made chocolates. That's here. We also have our pumpkin cheesecake, our pecan pie, and pumpkin pie, which are all special seasonal items. And then we have some of our traditional items, which include apple pie, chocolate cake, and carrot cake. Gosh, I think you just say it like it's any other day of the week. You've got to say carrot cake. You've got to put some respect on it because it looks so good. What would you say is the most fun for you to make and bake? I would say the most fun has to be pies. Yeah. That all-butter crust that we're making. I think the variety of pies that we're constantly making, our seasonal edition pies, our traditional pies. So I think the best thing that we're making around every day is pie. There you go. And I love all pies. Marissa, part of the magic, too, is that real chefs making real food right here in the DMV. You know, pies nowadays, so much of this comes out of, you know, factories, and it grows off a stainless steel shelf. This is made with love from scratch, real culinary talent, and I just believe that you taste the love and the realness in the food. You can always taste and slice the difference. In fact, I want to start. If you don't mind, we can talk. Well, which one do you think I should try? Which one would you recommend? I like it all. I think you've got to get active with the apple pie. The apple pie? The apple pie. Jazzy, show her how we do the plates. Yeah, let's make a little bit of apple pie fun here. Okay, I'm watching. So we have our caramel apple pie. So we're going to do a little caramel drizzle for you. And Marissa, you need to do this. So watch Jazzy closely because, you know, when chefs do the drizzle on the plate or on the pie, it's not as easy as it looks. Oh, I know. That's why I let them be the chefs. And I just show up and eat. We put the recipe on your screen there if you want to attempt to make this at home. What would you say are some of the things people need to keep in mind, Jazzy, when they're making the apple pie to make sure it's good? I would say you want to keep in mind your apples, the level of tenderness that you have. Because you want a good bite to your apples, but you want them to be fresh and crisp. So you want that good flavor. And I think another thing that's important is our crumble on top. So a lot of people traditionally might just do another pie layer, pie dough layer on top. But we like to do a crumble on top, which gives a little sweet taste to it. And it looks perfect already. All I need is some vanilla ice cream and it's over. By the way, we have ice cream. We're ready for you. But Marissa, let me see you do the drizzle too. Do you want to put me in there? Yeah. Do you trust me? Chef roll on the bottom. And the drizzle on the plate does a couple of things. one it helps a dessert not slide which is important for us when we're moving through the restaurant maybe important for you it's not just cosmetic that's right no we're going to continue working on this dan and jazzy they're going to hang around with me and we're going to dig in and eat and talk we're going to make a quick break well you two are today's bursts of joy thank you so much for coming uh how did i do jazzy i think you did fantastic we're ready to throw you on our pastry service oh our apple pie yes and then you were saying that this is at all Yeah, all of our Founding Farmers locations also available through our full-service catering and events company. So now we're doing things at people's home as well. And everything is available as of October 21st in the restaurants and for pre-ordering for the holidays. And I do, you know, we cook from scratch. So we do sell out. But I would say order your pies. You can find us on foundingfarmers.com. And we just want to be part of people's holidays. You don't want to wait until the last minute. No, you don't. This tastes homemade. It is. And it is. It is. This is legit real people making food here. This is not the boxed stuff that you buy at the grocery store. No, ma'am. Well, you did your thing, Jazzy. Thank you. Chef Jasmine. I can call you Jazzy, though. Jazzy's fine. We're friends now. We're family now. We're family now. And that's where you all can learn more. And, of course, go and check them out and put your orders in if you're interested in some of these tasty desserts and more. Dan, it's been a pleasure. Thanks for having us. As always, we'll be right back with a preview of tomorrow's show. Thank you so much for watching. I think the end note just has to be family and family feels, whether it's an adoption. We spoke with Eric Mon, the author here. We also had Will of Fortune Live host Mark L. Wahlberg talk to us. And, of course, that's been a family tradition for so many out there. And he also just wrapped up beautiful desserts from founding farmers. So make sure to love on those who you love in a multitude of ways. Come on.