Today's podcast is sponsored by sea Geek. If you didn't know, Sea Geek is the official ticketing partner of the Brooklyns. Whether you're trying to go to a Nets game, Liberty Game, concert, or any other event at Barclay Center, you really only need Sea Geek. Welcome to Courtside Conversation. I'm your girl, Ali Love. After years on the Heartwood as the in arena host for the Brooklyn Nets, it's time for me to take a courtside. We're here with artists, athletes, and all of our favorite people to break down the game called life. We're getting real about the grow up and the glow up. So let's take a seat. What's up everyone, It's your girl Ali Love here. Welcome to Courtside Conversation, where we are taking a seat courtside with the one and only Matt Barr. He's an actor, he's all things, he's getting married soon, we're it on the street. But overall he's a fantastic human being, and so we're going to look at his life in the four quarters of this game, and we're going to talk about how he is winning. Matt, thank you so much for joining. Thank you. I love that intro Oh, well, you know, I've had some practice. I've had some practice. Life is four quarters, isn't it exactly? So we're gonna take you, take a seat courtside, and we're gonna just pop right in into the first quarter. In terms of growing up, I think most people, and I was having this conversation the other day and I talk about it often, most people don't know what's available to them at a young age. Right you grow up, you have your family, you have some siblings, and you're out here in the world just thriving, living your life. And then you recognize at a certain point, whether it's middle school or high school or even in university, that you have to make some adult decisions. I figure out what you want to do with your life. In your youth growing up, was there ever a moment you were just like, huh, I gotta figure this out? Or did you always know what you wanted to do with life? I knew out of the womb. It's pretty rare, at least in my experience in life. But like, just as far as I can remember, I wanted to be an actor and in movies and TV, and I remember my earliest memory was Christopher Reeve Superman, and my aunt actually took me to meet him as a little kid in Dallas, like some type of convention thing, and I kind of learned that he was an actor and you know, he wasn't really flying, but you know that that magic just stuck with me, and you know, I really haven't, I like I've never grown up, still kind of chasing that every day. So yeah, tell us about the childhood in terms of give us a glimpse into young into young Matthew. Are you were you the type of child that was an extrovert in terms of always putting on performances in front of their families, because I remember growing up as a dancer. I as much as I'm an extrovert, I never wanted to perform in front of my family and friends. It was always my mother who would be like, get out there, I'm gonna put on some music and just dance for them, which was traumatizing. But that was how it went for me. What was it like for you? You know, It's funny, I feel like it's that's the most like vulnerable thing is to perform in front of your family and friends that know you so well, So like I could no more do it? In front of mine and like like like at Christmas or Thanksgiving when I'm like, mat do a monologue, like I could no more do that, But put me on a stage in front of four thousand people, and I you know, I can go out there and rocket. So I kind of still feel that way if my family comes to a screening and I'm like I'm sweating, you know, waiting for their criticism. My dad was a football coach, so you know it's always like constructor criticism and then you know, some compliments about the work. Yeah, dad was football coach chip or Due University. Having a family that is like pretty much built around sport, how was that in terms of deciding and to tell your family like, hey, I want to be an actor versus going into into sports itself. Right. I remember that conversation with I was talking about that recently where I was I played quarterback, played football in my whole life, and then had that talk with dad where I was, I'm gonna quit football because in Texas, you're you're all in. You know, playing quarterback is like a full time job plus going to school. They should probably pay high school quarterbacks. But um so in order to do the plays I had to had to tell Dad that I was going to, you know, jump into theater and quit football, and he just remember that advice, He goes, you know what, that's fine. Just whatever you do, go in one hundred percent and you know, give it your whole heart. And um, so that's that's what I'm trying to do. What did what did that feel like? Well, when was the moment that you knew that this was that you were going to make that change? Because I assume, like you said, in Texas, like football is everything, like growing up even in Miami, for my cousins like playing football and that being a potential avenue for them. They put they invested so much time and energy in it, into it, and then there is a moment of realization of whether this is going to be the course you can tinue to take into your young adulthood, or you need to you need to come to terms with it, whether you fall in love with something else, or whether you just know, unfortunately I might not be able to make this kind of like a viable career for myself. When was that turning point or that pivot, or when was that crossing the road for yourself? I think there was never a turning point. I knew as a kid that I was going to be an actor, but I knew I knew that my football days would end at some point. I wasn't going to be Tom Brady. So yeah, I think it was just, you know, it was all about when that. I think it was my junior year high school when I when I knew, I was like, I'm gonna have to start putting you know, I'm gonna graduate, and you have to go out in the world and actually do this now walk the walk, you know, professionally. And and so I gave myself about a year of kind of prepping before I took my jeep to California and went for it. All right, let's talk about this jeep to California. We have this dream we've seen the Superman back in the day, knowing that the magic is technically greal, but the magic is still there. Tell us about this journey of like, Okay, I'm starting on something new. You had been trained at this time, you had taken some classes, like you obviously while you were playing football, you've taken some classes, so you had the foundational principles, but you were just like, let me take it to California, talk about that that moment. Yeah, well, I think it's the same like you know, growing up in sports, like you what you learn as you learned discipline and like the you know, like work ethic is just to me like the the key to the city. So I kind of wasn't afraid to work. So I actually got a movie right before I graduated, a shot in Austin, Texas. So I went there, did that film and got an agent, which anyone in Hollywood knows that's kind of a big, a big part of the puzzle. And so I went out to LA I knew no one, and you know, started going on auditions and got my ass kicked for a bit. But um, what's funny is like I always trusted this process. I didn't even know what the process was, but I just thought, like with sports, you just you just continue to you know, work and train and grow and evolve, and you know, eventually you start to kind of see the field better. And that's kind of how I've seen my career and my maybe ability grows, you know, much like making a shot. I guess. Yeah, So I just feel like I don't know, I've know so many actors, like like I said, I grew up in the arts, and I know so many people who are like, you know what I'm gonna be successful to answer, I'm gonna get with this company, I'm going to be on TV. And unfortunately it doesn't happen, and or it doesn't happen right away, where you always is positive. So you happen this jeep, you go home to California, you're like, okay, I'm you got a few knows, but really walk us through. Was there ever any point of contention or soul searching where you were just like, wow, I didn't think it was either going to be this hard or like I said, where you just always optimistic that somehow, like Superman, the magic will hit at some point. I don't know where that where that ability to trust this instinct or like I said, trust this process. But I just knew. I knew I was meant to be an actor and that's what I was going to do. And it's probably like that youthful naivete where it's like you don't know any better. So I was like, I'm going to do this like Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford, I'm doing that, and you know, probably now I even look back and it kind of seems scary to me. But at the moment, I don't know whatever that thing is in your gut that you just trust like you're where you're supposed to be and you know, keep moving forward. You know, I never I never even let an alternative enter my mind. It was all about onward. And uh when you moved to La, where you were you like living by yourself? Like were you set up into in a comfortable space where you were just like, Okay, I can I can explore this new avenue of life comfortably. Or were you like many of my friends where it was just like fifteen of you in a house trying to trying to sort it out. I didn't do that, No, it was it was it was pretty tough, you know, I did. I had had a cousin, Lee, who who I was able to live in this guesthouse for a bit after I'd kind of done the whole you know, living with five guys for a while too, so that that that was a great gift to me. And I appreciate Lee for that, um, which allowed me to sorry here in New York with all the noises. Um. But yeah, yeah, no, I just um, you know what's funny is like one of my first jobs I was catering movie premiers and so I got to be around that kind of ecosystem. Just really again, I was a growing up, so you know see whether it was like Tom Cruise or Tom Haigs, you know, and it sort of inspired me and it became very real once you can kind of touch it. It's like, this isn't some you know, metaphysical thing in the ether. It was this is a real, real place and these artists were actually making things and you got to meet them and so that that was actually a great asset to me kind of working for that when you were away from home. When you're away from home, what did your family because you you grew up, you have siblings, what was that like in terms of your house that hold? Before we go into the second quarter, just understanding the dynamic is what we want to do for the listeners. Paint a picture of completely who you are. We can research you. We know you know one tree Hill, we can we can literally list your entire resume. But I think the interesting thing about Quartzite Conversation and what makes it unique is that it's an inside scoop to what can almost seem so perfect, right, small aperture of social media or or the big screen when you're sitting at home and you're like, wow, Matt has it all together. What we do is open the aperture and wide and say, you know what, this is how my family dynamic was, this is why I'm this way. And so it's like we tell we contextualize the character, the real life character of who you are. And in terms of your family dynamic, you made this transition. You knew in your heart you love football, just like any any good Texan would. Um, you played football, you're at the quarterback. How was the family dynamic at home? Are you a competitive family? Are you a family that just like ultimately just super supportive. Did any of your siblings have the same dream of acting? Yeah, that's a that's what a great question. You know, my mom wasn't it was an a portrait artist and my dad football coach. So it's like completely you know, bipolar sides of the but but the what it allowed me to do is like nurture kind of that competitive, sort of driven side of me, which is my father, and then that artistic kind of nurturing side and that that dreamer sort of so and my my siblings actually are in the business as well. My brother's a host and my sister was a writer. So I guess we have that artistic DNA for sure from mom and and I guess, like Dad, the ability to take action and do it. You know. I remember him telling you once. I was like, I want to go, I want to go be a movie star. He's like, well a B C D Like do it. You know, it's it's just a process, Matt. Okay, let's I can do that. So very very supportive. Again, with any coach, you know, a lot of criticism, but like, I think that's what drives you. So I'm when I work with directors these days, you know, they're kind of and I'm like, give me whatever you want. I can take it. Yeah, You're like, you're nothing compared to my dad. So keep it coming, keep the feedback coming, exactly right. All right, let's roll into the second quarter. Here, in the second quarter, which is one of my favorite moments in this game of life that you are winning at, we talk about adversity and assists, and I think this is again so important when we talk about the contextualization of someone's life. Let's talk about the adversity in terms of now you are I mean, bright eye, bushy tail in la. You're like, this is going to happen for me. You're optimistic, you have this this confidence in terms of your optimism of going forward, of moving through, which I will say is commendable. Well, there ever moments or actually take me to the first moment and we just discussed you you're great at taking feedback, but getting that first no as an adult, right like, now you have to make a living. Now you're living you know with Lee's he's laying it up for you. You're dunking it a little bit, and you're getting your first no. How did that affect you at all? And what were some of the takeaways of getting some of those nose in the industry? Yeah, I think you know what my parents did right was like really it and still a strong sense of self. You know, it's like trusting who you are. And I always go back to that, And so I remember getting really like getting like, like I said, I've got a lot of nose. And I remember having directed told me once like you're just not you're not good, like you're not doing this job well. And I remember thinking like wow, that that could have broken me, and I'm you know, part of me wanted to like get the jeep and drive back east, you know, to Texas, and I just thought, what's funny is you know I woke up the next day and I was just more driven than ever and kind of excited to like grow. It was like I remember thinking, it was that opportunity of like I can, I can be better, and also maybe that competitive side of you that's like I'm going to prove this guy wrong. What does be better look like for actors or aspiring actors? Because I just had this conversation. Someone reached out to me, a friend that I've had for a long time, and she was looking for advice. And I think oftentimes we use these blanket statements of like we're going to work hard, and I think too, I think super one of my superpowers is being disciplined. But it's like you cannot completely understand what that means and how to apply discipline if you don't know the process of what to do. So so, what what was it when you say like I wanted, I was excited and I want to put in the work, Like what did the work look like for you? Or get better? Look like for you, it's a great question. I mean again every rather it was like technical stuff, you know, in terms of, you know, the ability to understand you know, film language and a camera on how to move in front of it, and then how to be natural, you know, how to sort of develop a character and sort of shape that you know, like they're saying the lines. And then there's really like internalizing you and making it real. You know, you know, all you get the more it just becomes more real, moreal because you have that life experience that comes to your eyes. But um, you know, you just you just go to you know, you sort of start to build it, like the shoes and the pants and the shirt and then you have the hat and then it all comes together. And also the ability to learn how to hustle and where to put the energy in the right way. You know, it's like you can spend a million hours in an acting class. That's not necessarily going to serve your career. You gotta go, like, you know, hustle your agents. You know, you gotta you gotta be a squeaky wheel. You gotta get out there. And so I think you know, nurturing the show and the business maybe equally. Today's podcast is sponsored by Seek. If you didn't know, see it's the official ticketing partner of the Brooklyn Nets. Unlike any other apps, set Geek makes buying tickets super simple. Whether you're trying to go to a Nets game, Liberty game, concert, or any other event at Barclays Center, you really only need seat Geeks. Seat Geek puts tickets from all over the web in one place to make buying simple. I like that you say, be a squeaky wheel, and I'm going to pluck that out because I agree. I think we overlooked that as an asset, as a tool and a tool that we should implement often. When I first, you know, I moved to New York City, I didn't know what I knew. I wanted to dance. I was going to school for dance, and I just knew dances didn't make enough money and I couldn't survive, and I didn't want to go home. Home to me was failure. It wasn't that I couldn't go home. I just didn't want to go home. I didn't want to move back home because that meant I couldn't make it in New York City. You know where if you make it here, you can make it anywhere. Yeah. Yeah. But one of the things that came up for me was, oh, I'm going to try to be a model, and I end up getting a contract. I like, I nagged them. I called them, I went into the office. Probably you know, if they were really thick with security, they probably would have carried me out. But I went in the office and I knacked them, and then I eventually got signed. And one of the things that I felt was a contributing factor to the success of early on of me being able to book jobs was the fact that I went in and I quote unquote naged them. I went in, I would just you know, I don't drink coffee, but I pop by and you know, had a couple extra coffees and even know how to order coffee, so they probably taste crappy, but I, you know, I had an ex couple extra coffees and just checked in because in my mind, I wanted to stay top of their minds. And that nagging quote unquote nagging was an asset in terms of that what did you do for me? I just like it was like it was a cold roll by. I was just like, oh, I'm gonna just go upstairs and see what they're doing and kind of annoyed them for a couple of seconds, so they see my face. Was it a phone call? Was it an email? What was yours? Like? Yeah, exactly that I would. I would find excuses to call and or make them up, you know, but it would be like like that weekly or bi weekly check in or was like hey did you hear that? You know, Kevin Costner is doing a new thing? Is you know, where's where's the role for a son? Or I mean that was actually an ongoing thing that we did. I would do like weekly for years as kind of a joke, and then that actually came to fruition, which is a pretty amazing but yeah, it was it was finding ways to like remind them that I'm here and like I'm not going anywhere, so like I'll be damn like you're going to find me a You're going to find me a role, and I'll do everything I can on my side of things. But yeah, I think that's that's so kind of maybe underappreciated that sort of side of it where it's like you're right, you got to be number one or number two on the list, So that you're getting the attention, and that was the real life Instagram feed right there. Before you could like look on Instagram and be reminded of which models or which actors are on your boarder on your roster, or when you get an email and you're like who should do this? You could always go to your Instagram feed and just start scrolling and like, oh, this person, this person. That was the real life Instagram feed when you walked in, when you know, like you said, you gave a call. And I think for the folks that are listening in any industry, just acting or modeling, even when it comes to anyone you report too, it's just like that casual email of staying top of mind, of piquing interests, of being a point of conversation, even if it feels a little annoying. Yeah, and you know, I don't remember being feeling I don't about you, Ali, But it didn't feel that hard because if you let your passion drive you, it kind of came somewhat organic, like like you know, I wanted to do it, you know, So that's alway sudden. I say say to people, it's like, let the passion drive you take you know, let let that lead everything that you do, if you if you actually love what you're doing, you know, yeah, all right, let's talk about dream role. So when we talk about you know, okay, we have we have this adversity, but then we have these assists. Walk me through if there any of the you know, of the things that you've done from Danny McNamara, you know, from One Tree Hills as a crazy character, Derek, walk me through the moment of getting something that you ultimately wanted and having someone or someone's support you, who provided you the assist at the pivotal time, because oftentimes we don't give folks their flowers until way after the fact. I know you talk about your parents, and I know we've talked about your siblings who are in the industry respectively, not exactly doing what you're doing, but who or who were the folks in your life or who are the folks in your life that helped you at one of those pivotal moments where you're like, I have to give a shout out besides Lee who held you down with the pillow? That's all right, um man. I remember, you know, there was a pivotal part years of my career I was dating, dating, someone and she she and I. Her name is actually Heather Hemans, and we did a show called Hellcats together, and we dated for about four and a half years, and you know, we were we really we were partners in these in this pursuit of our careers together was such a fun time in life and like you know, trying to make our kind of carve out our place in Hollywood and reading auditions together, a million million hours of auditions. And I remember it was with her that I was an auditioned for the Hatlods and mccois, which was kind of a dream role for me and with a dream with Kevin Costner and sort of a dreamcast. And I remember, you know, the hours that we spent working on that and kind of polishing it and then getting to celebrate that win together and go to Romania and all that. So that that was someone who still to this day we support each other and you know, love each other. She's very successful, so it's fun to have seen. It's fun to see her career grow too, and someone always always be really really grateful for the way that they helped me grow. That's awesome. Shout out to Heather. That's incredible. I think that's I think again a reflection of both of you and the fact that you're in the exact same industry that you lived a part of your life together and now you're still in that those industry, that industry, but you're living apart and able to continue to champion each other. And that is again I've never heard that, and I think that, to me is a reflection of both of you and that you are in very special people. Well, thank you. Yeah, I like that, I really do. I'm like cheesing because again I think that you know what it is is that and I'm not there's no shade to Matt. People come on to court to that conversation and they definitely give the assists to their friends or their agents, and honestly, I do I would do the same thing, and I have done the same thing. But what you've just done was like peeking interest of that. We don't we forget the folks that were our emotional partners back in the day when we were hustling. And so it's like you, that's exactly what that is. And so all right, like I said, it's it's pretty cool, pretty man. These are these are special parts of your life. Yeah, all right, let's jump into halftime. Down for this halftime, I have I have a lot of questions. Normally we hit it, quit it, we say we did it for halftime. But I want to have a little bit more fun before we step into the third quarter of that's okay with you. We're going to have an extended half time. And because you're you're a fun person. Okay, so now half time we're rapid fire. So the first thing that comes to your mind, even though I said that every time time and every time the first question, someone's like, wait, let me think about that one. Okay. The first thing, here we go. What's your perfect sandwich? Oh, turkey and bacon. Turkey and bacon. Oh my gosh, I'm hungry. Favorite recipe guacamole. Can you really slow down guacamole like you can win a guad competition? I really can. I know I say that a lot, but I actually back it up. Yeah, okay that I'm going to hold you to that. One day a party, one day, we'll do it. What inspires you, not who? What inspires you? Oh man? Other people being passionate about what they do. Favorite tradition South Padre Island with my family every summer. Currently reading Good One, a script that my friend Justin wrote. Is it any good? Let Justin know right now? Publicly it's dark and it's good. Is it like murder Mystery dark? Yeah, it's like it's like darkseil Okay, yeah. Currently bench watching Shark Tank. Wait, like the one where you come in and you pitch your ideas like that? Or is there something else that's more like not sophisticated, but something that's different. No, I'm obsessed with Shark Tank. I want to invent something. I'm not gonna lie. It's my guilty pleasure. Okay. Childhood celebrity crush, Oh, Elizabeth Shoe Oh, Adventures and Adventures in babysitting. Look at that one. Look at you? Young alternative career choice coach, some kind of coach, some kind of coach. Would it be like football character, like a like a like a sports coach. I don't know if you wanted to be a life coach. You're very passionate. I don't know if I'm not. I'm not that smart. That's smart. Ideal weekend plans oh, okay, laying by the pool, good margharita, then dinner or dinner with friends. Great atmosphere, talk in the night a way, maybe a few more marks. I don't know why I started salibrating when you said margaritas, which I was like, wow, I should really probably have a margarita today. How do you unwind? M other than shark tank? I go, I go run, I go running. Are you a distance runner or like a like fast and short? Yeah, I mean like like a good four miles. It's kind of sweat. Listen to some music that any hidden talents. I'm a really good juggler. What you can juggle? Can juggle pretty pretty well. When did you learn that? Is this like a kid hidden talent? Or did you learn that for like a role and then it's just your party trick now? It's like I think my brother and I like saw some circus where kids and we like wanted to learn how to do it. So we learned to juggle together so we can like do a whole kind of certain to so late act and we asked to tak ourselves to do a backflip. We I was just you know, I was like, you know, facting, you know, may I'll be in the circus. We're gonna play football, you're acting, You're gonna be in the circus here. This is incredible. Okay. Last two questions. The least organized part of your life least organize Oh man, man, my my closet, I don't know. I don't have I don't know how to shop. I just have a bunch of stuff in there. You know, it's kind of tossed in there. It's like a looks like a trash bind it's just grab grab it, throw it on, makes clean. It's just it's just not hanging right. Okay, what's the can wait? Can you close the door to the closet, like if you have sliding doors, tight clothes? Okay, all right, I feel like that's good. I feel like that's good. No judgment here. Final question in our halftime. What's the most organized part of your life? Whom? I think my I think my um. The way I approached my career, it's like pretty yeah, pretty calculated with the moves you know that I'm making At the time. I don't know if they're right, but you know, right at the moment. Yeah, yeah, all right, let's roll into the third quarter, and I think that's a great way to segue. Let's talk about this career of yours. All right, we moved to La We're in a jeep. We're doing a little bit of catering. We're still passionate about everything. We get some feedback, we get a lot of nose. We're able to take it. We're able to rally back and just really follow that north star of acting when you started to land, when things started to land with for you, What did that feel like when things were just like, Okay, now I have these roles and things are I'm known for something? Right, You're really known? How many people really call you? Like do people just say hey, Danny? Do they ever call? Because I feel like I know you like blood and treasure, Like when I see your face, it like comes in my head even though I know your name's Matt. I get a lot of psychoderic. Psychoderic is good from one tree, Yeah, get that a lot. And I mean, speaking of that, you kind of maybe answer your questions like that was one of the first times my career why I felt sort of like like seeing you know, people would say that walking through an airport or grocery store, and I was like, oh cool, you know that's um. You know people are seeing the work and you know they're they're they're enjoying you. That the whole idea is the like do stuff that people enjoy the stories that you're telling. Um, And so I just remembered that kind of like being further kind of motivation to like be better and like want to give the audience a great show. So that's I think of that every day I go to work. I'm like, I'm going to give you my best, you know, and that's what I got today. So you know, you want to put on a good show for the audience. Do you ever feel overwhelmed? I think for me, before the pandemic, we had quite a great membership for Peloton, and I'm very much known in New York City the host of the Brooklyn Ats and and and internationally because we have a lot of international fans, so they tune in to the NBA channel. And so when I travel into Nashally, I'm like, oh, you're the host of the Brooklyn Ads and a new you are you definitely know me because we all go to sporting events here. Once Peloton post pandemic had the influx of members, it was a little, i won't lie, a little shocking of stepping out on the street and being recognized and being known so frequently in airports. You mentioned airports, So that's what my that's why my antennas went is like a breeding ground for you. How did you or how did you when it first started? And how you how do you continue to handle that recognition at times that maybe aren't ideal, you know, that are unexpected. Well, I always fun and to me, it's never really about me. It's about like the it's about the characters I played. And maybe it's different because you're you know, you're you're you're sort of your yourself and you're doing the peloton. You know, it's which is actually pretty vulnerable. But no, I mean I always sort of think it's just like an a you know, appreciation of you know, those stories that we told. You know, it means a lot to me and just makes it kind of a validation that I'm like, oh, you know, whatever, whatever I was doing, maybe maybe was working, and uh, that's always really good feeling. So I'm always welcome it and enjoy it. And you know, I I hope I'm not like picking my nose or something. I hope for your sake, you are. I think it makes you more exactly, makes you more relatable it's true. Yeah, that's true. Yeah, I don't I never really bought into that hole. I don't know. I just I never knew how else. I don't know. I mean, you have a healthy ego. You I don't know how else to be other than myself, you know, And that's kind of how I choose to show up. And that's what you get. Yeah, that's what you get when you're putting in the work. Now for these roles, you've had this experience. For example, you went through Cowboy Camp training when it came down to the story of Walker, Texas Ranger. I would love to get like uncover what that was like for you, because it's kind of getting back to your roots, right Like that to you is like a line and I could almost imagine a very proud moment for you to get back to your roots. It's like bringing the youth you being with your dad that quarterbacking into the world of acting. So I'd love for you to kind of uncover what was the scope of the training like for you. Was it much harder than when you were younger of getting back out there on the field. That's a great question. Yeah, I mean, you know, it's funny because you always have this. This this the the image in your mind of like what you're doing, you know, like riding the horse and shooting the gun looks so much better until you're actually practically trying to apply it and life is so much harder, you know, the reality of it, so it kind of humbles you, you know, but uh, yeah it was great. I mean really it was like just throwing up in Texas and wanting to play cowboys, and you know, I was always a dream lind to be like an outlaw and you know, do a show like like Walkers. So getting the boots on and being on the horse and kind of training with those guys out there. It was like, you know those moments where you're not only would you not want to be anywhere else in the world, but you feel like you're kind of sitting inside your dreams, like I'm actually here right now doing it. You know, like my brother and I were out in the backyard at you know, seven years old, playing and here I am on a million dollars set doing it. It's like nothing's changed. It's the same thing, you know, It's just the costumes got more sophisticated. What did your family say about this, because I just I just can't imagine. I'm not from Texas, like I said, getting back to your root too. I can imagine your dad where you're like, Okay, you're bringing a little bit of home into the your career. Um, what was what was your like mom and dad's response of like this is what I'm doing, or you know, I sometimes send selfie because even if I explained to my parents exactly what I'm doing, they don't understand it completely. You know. I think it's you know what what was their response? And I get it, like you were like I played with my brothers, But what was your What was your mom and dad's response? Yeah, it's cool. I remember I remember like calling my dad on the way to I was like, like, what are you doing? And I said, I'm going to Cowboy Camp. I was like that's a real thing. I was like, it's a real thing. That's that's what I'm doing for my job today, you know. And so I think I think that just you know, they I think that they got a kick out of it because it was on kind of specifically on point with sort of what I wanted to do in my dreams, and um, so I think they were just just really happy and supportive, and you know it's always I mean, like again, they get a kick out of it. You know, they they didn't grow up in this business and don't really know much about Hollywood, so you know, it's still kind of a trip to them to come on set, which they did. They came into visit and it's like, you know, you're kind of wondering. You know, my dad still can't believe all the craft services free. It's like, Dad, you can just you can go grab a donut? Yeah, so where where do I pay? You? Just grab it? It's fine. All that. That reminds me of like that guy co commercials or one of those commercials when it's like you're turning into your parents and you're like, what's the overhead on this? You mean, all this is free? Like my dad, my dad would be like, well, what are we gonna waste the food? And what like are we packing it up to go home? Because I can imagine my dad just like, well, what's gonna happen if we don't eat all this food? Right? What's the funny thing? When my dad come on set is like being a coach. Like again, he's not an actor, never went to drama school. But he'll be behind the monitor and I'll be doing takes, and when I walk off, he'll come back and go, come here. Take number three was your strongest. Here's what I do differently, And I'm like, okay, Marlon Brando, here we go. Wow, he's getting pretty good these day. Sometimes I'm like, you know, Dad, there's a damn good idea. I think I'll do that. Let we talk about kind of like character building early on in the conversation, and we just touch on a little bit in terms of when we talk about cowboy camp training, what role do you think so far that you've had to And forgive me, I'm no, I'm no actor. So I know that there's a word for this, but I don't know it very well. But it's when you have to do like a character study, right, So before you pop on set and you start to film, you not only read the script and do the work, but you embody the character. You become the character at certain points in the day or days people do this character study. Has there ever been one of the characters where you feel like it was either the most challenging to get into or that you put the most work in to become because it was so unlike you. That's a great question. I mean, you know, ironically, one of the things, one of the hardest jobs I've done was probably a character that was closest maybe to me, which was Blood and Treasure. Playing Daniel MC in Americas. It might not seem like much of a departure, but I don't know. Sometimes it's easy to kind of attach to something, to kind of lean into, and you know, you're you're playing a part, but when it feels kind of so much like you, it's it's sort of hard to make bold choices. You're you don't feel like you're even doing anything, and so it's it's ironic how difficult it is to try to be interesting on camera when you fought you're just kind of so I think that was like trying to find ways to shape that character and make it dynamic. And you know, there's all these great actors in the show that kind of, you know, serve the composition, and I was sort of the kind of, I guess you could call it like the central everyman there, and so I was trying to find ways to kind of create a you know, a certain color for him without it being just sort of a you know generic. Uh, I'm doing a bad job describing this, but I think again that really was a lot of work trying to daily find ways to make make him interesting while still being sort of that that sort of kind of grounded, you know, central character. What was the work that you did, because if you felt like it was so, I didn't think of that either in terms of like that being challenging. It is. It is almost harder to show up on set and play your somewhat close to playing yourself versus assuming a character, because and this is what comes up for me with you, is that when you play a character, when someone recognized you for your character, they can you can separate the person from the art, but the thing character is so close to you. It is very challenging to separate the person from the art, that character from yourself. And it's almost really vulnerable. It's almost a little scary, Like you said, to make those choices, you feel a little you start to, you know, play in your own sandbox. You don't want to, you don't want to mess it up because you become super vulnerable and super aware, hyper aware in those moments. So what was that What did you have to shift in the normal work that you put in for characters and join up on set and doing this that what did you have to do for Danny every time you set on set? That was a little different, right, Well it was by the way you put that so perfectly. I want to like quote you on that, like save it, because that was that was well said. Um, you know it's this is it's it's like backstory stuff. But like I researched a lot of art history because you know, Danny was an antiquities expert, and so it was just sort of like it was more for me. I don't know if the audience would even have perceived this, but I sort of was doing reading and um kind of did did my homework. So in my opinion, I felt a little more sophisticated, did you know, than I would be, and just sort of kind of had that in my backpack. Um. Um. And even you know, even the ways that like it seems so superficial, but like a certain type of haircut, and I actually wore It's funny. I don't think I did this in the show, but I was worrying. I wore glasses a lot off offset um, like like reading glasses and uh, I don't know, it's sort of it's sort of for me, it was like a crutch that sort of was a gateway into that guy. And then I take the glasses off and go, you know, walk on the set. And it wasn't Mad, it was it was Danny now you know, and um, yeah, little I guess, little kind of crutches or you know, gateways into that that guy. I know a lot of arguments for that. That's great, But I love that for you because I do think that that's aplicable Again, every conversation I learned something, and and the folks that are amazing listeners that are with us all the time learn something. Is that that is a way that you can apply certain things in your life. I do that in meetings. When I have a big meeting, I wear you know, we've heard this before, but I wear a power color. I put on this color and it's almost like putting on my Superman cape. You putting on glasses for Danny and separating that kind of church and state in a sense of from being offset and being on set. Is you putting on or taking off that cape to say like I have arrived or I'm backing myself because if things, you know, if things can can't when things feel overwhelming, we'd oftentimes can retreat when we really want to take risk and be bold, like you said, So, I think that's a great takeaway and a good reminder for any folks that are just like, hey, how can I apply this information if you have big meetings you have to present. Maybe it's not glasses, maybe it is maybe it's a bold color, maybe it's where you know, maybe it's something physical that just a is a reminder to be bold or to be a part of who you are, not all of who you are, you know what I mean, but be a part of the strong part of who you are in that moment. So, yeah, that's really important. Yeah, and you know, tapping in a sense memory. I remember being like, all, there's a certain insecurity to Danny and I don't know, you guys. I remember being like in junior high and like going to dances and being so nervous to ask like the girl to dance. It was like traumatic, right, Like, so that that sense of like anxiousness, you know, you you never forget it, you never forget it. So it's like that's that's all I can bring that to the surface, and you sort of apply that sense of um, you know, or at least like lack of confidence. Let's say you know, maybe then you and there you go. There's your launching point. All right, let's roll into the fourth quarter. Yes, fourth quarter, let you go. Fourth quarter is where we win. What I want to, I want to most times, I mean, I'm gonna ask you both parts. We often focus on what's next, So I do want to focus on what's now. I know what you're doing now, but what is what does now look like for you? And why does now feel good for you? Well, I'm at a place in my life and career where I feel like I feel very sure of who I am. You know, I'm doing what I love and you know, I guess you kind of have ownership of that. Like I feel like I've sort of not because the industry or or anyone says I've I've I've earned a seat at the table, because I feel like I've earned to see it at my table, you know what I mean. So that that that feels really good. Like I feel like I kind of know what I'm doing and about to get married in a few weeks, so I feel like I'm sort of like, talk about it. Tell us, yeah, tell me more, tell us more. Yeah. Her name's Kylie and she is a lot smarter than me. So I I'm marrying up. She works on Wall Streets, so I don't know. I don't know how this ever happened, but we're no. I think Wall Street and Hollywood are like Kindred, like Kindred sisters or something. Um. But she she's amazing, you know, you kind of I waited a long time to find my right my right person, and she's just extraordinary. So we're getting married in Mexico on tax today. Just I don't know how that happened. But so yeah, that's great, Yeah really, yeah, yeah, that's right. That's right. All right? What is next for you? In terms of, like you said, you're feeling good right now, You're very You're feeling really sure of who you are the space you take up, not because like you said, that anyone has told you to feel good, but that you do feel ownership and empowered in the place that you are as you look. And I don't want to say like far ahead because I don't believe in looking five years out, because sometimes we look so far ahead the things that are destined for us haven't even been created yet because things content move so fast, media moves so fast. But when we look at when you look at your life, obviously, the wedding is on the horizon, which congratulations, it's quite exceptional as a recently married woman, it is a beautiful thing. But what is on that thank you? But what is on that horizon after the marriage, at the end of the year, beginning of next year, when you're like, these are some tangible things of what's next for me? Right? Well, one, I mean like one of those big things like I've always wanted to have a family, So I think I'm gonna, when the time's right, gonna maybe pop out some kids who had a great, you know, great day. I had to set a good example. So I hope I'll you know, become half the man that that he's been to me. Um, And you know again, I I've always had a really clear vision of what I want out of being a being a film my current storyteller, and it's like just never changed. So there's just there's stories that I want to tell and you know, different collaborators I want to work with, and um, it is it is just getting sweeter and sweeter, you know, like I love it more than I did, you know, thirty years ago. Um, and so I, you know, without getting into all the specifics, I just you know, there's certain things I know that I you know, I know genres and things that I want to try, and I want to challenge myself maybe you know, um, you know, do things that are scary to me. I've never I've never done Broadway. So I thought, you know, at some point I'm gonna I'm actually a New York right now, and I was thinking, you know, some point go, you know, face my fears and jump on stage. You are the second person. Then, in the last two days that I've had a conversation where Broadway has come up, and so I want that for you. I feel I feel like there is a pool for Broadway from the folks that I'm encountering. And y'all can call this a little you know, odd, but I ride those vibes and so I'm here for that for you. Yeah. Well that's that's that's really validating. Okay, well shit, and I have to do it. No, we're putting it out there, They're gonna come to you. You're like, whoa, whoa, whoa. I have to walk the walk now, Ali, No, I love it well, Matt Barr, thank you so much for taking a quurtsight seat. I have to say, I you are very positive. I'm a pretty positive person, like I would say, I've gotten positive Patty on lock over here. But you, my friend, are inspiring and I my mouth, my jaw dropped quite a few times in just in terms of how like, how positive and how uplifting and how dynamic that good energy you have is. So I want to thank you so much for gracing this Quurtsight seen and sharing your story with our listeners pleasure. It's a great show that you do. I mean, what a great thing to say. Thank you. Likewise, let's pay it forward, you know, Yes, let's keep that good energy going. Thank you all so much for tuning into courtside conversation. I'm your girl, Ali Love. We'll see you next time.