Delilah: The Untold Story Behind Radio's Most Comforting Voice

[music]. >> Is this thing on? Hello friends. Today. my guest is one of the voices that. basically has woven was woven into the. American night time culture. Millions of. people fell asleep to her voice for. decades including now 8 to 10 million. listeners per week on over 250.

radio stations. Her audience trusted her. with secrets for 40 plus years and not. only that, she's the blueprint for the. late night emotional safe space. Ms. Delilah Rene is in the house. Thank you. Thank you. Wow, I sound so old when you say it like. that. >> No, you don't. You sound so cool. I like. I grew up listening to you. Like I. >> I read that in your book.

>> Yes, yes, yes. I I. >> like, that's me. She was talking about. me. But thank God for you because I grew up. on Howard Stern also and it was like you. taught me how to be like soft, empathic. and like almost like you know, feminine. and then I had Howard Stern on the other. hand. >> how to be freaking hysterical. [laughter]. Just being a lunatic. But you know what, he's the nicest guy. Like I got to meet him this year finally. and he really is not who Howard was back. then and he's like a changed man now and.

he's the sweetest human ever. Have you. ever got to meet him? >> I have not met him but I have laughed. hysterically at his. incredibly rudeness. [laughter]. Oh, it's wild. And but all the years in. radio, you two have the queen of radio. and the king of all media have never. >> It's weird. I actually don't know hardly. anybody in media. Wow. >> Honey, I have been very blessed to be. in the public ear, you know, and kind of have a public. persona, and yet.

my life is all very, very, very private. I learned that as I was researching you, and I was studying you. Like, it's crazy. because like when people are on TV, I. feel like you know everything about. them. But then people who are on the. radio, it's like we all we fall in love. with your voice. We don't even know what. your face looks like half the time. And. I had to search and learn all of this. stuff about you, and your story and your. testimony is absolutely insane. I'm so. excited to like dive into it because.

you're a phenomenal human, and just what. everything you stand for is just it's. amazing. And then Trust me, I'm I'm not. that phenomenal. I'm I'm really not. I. have made more mistakes and. uh. unlike you, who are incredibly. bold with your testimony, a lot of my. stuff, you know, I don't really put out. there the mistakes that I've made and. the bad choices I've made. Um. but I I serve an amazing God, and.

because of that. I have had a an incredible life, but. left to my own devices, I could get. myself in a whole lot of trouble. Well, I had to I had to look up your birthday, and I I know you're probably not into. astrology or astrological signs, but I. looked up your birthday because I'm. like, this woman is a natural-born. rebel. She's a rule-breaker. She's just. like me. Like, there I have to know when. her birthday is. You're an Aquarius, just like me. So, I was just like, "Oh. my god. Okay." Oh, we're we're far more. alike than you know. Oh, yeah, yeah.

>> [laughter]. >> Well, I'm hoping that we could get into. that today cuz I did watch a ton of like. pods with you on it, and I've watched a. bunch of stuff with you on it, and I do. see how you're like a little bit evasive. with certain things, but I think that um. your testimony and just who you are and. what you've been through and the things. that you have put out into the world is. what people, especially nowadays, need. You are authentic in your own way, and. you are so loving. Like, you lead with.

love. And to me, that is the most. important thing that you can do. Amen. >> Have you always been like that? I have. always. You know, I think it was Lady Gaga that. said I was born this way. And I have always been that person that. talks to everybody. I. I've never met a stranger. I love. people. I love. people's backstories. I love knowing. what brought them to where they are. Um. the downside of that is I get physically.

ill when somebody is hurting. I thought. everybody was that way. I thought. everybody. like had the same sensation. Like, I. physically retch, my stomach turns, I. throw up when I'm sharing space with. somebody who's going through trauma or. hell, or especially physical pain. And I only recently realized that not. everybody is made that way. Um. which.

uh was a shocker to me. I'm like, "What. do you mean you don't get sick?" You're. an empath, and that normally comes from. a lot of childhood trauma. But reading. your book, it I usually can finish a book in a day. I read very quickly, and uh it took me. weeks because I kept. hurting for you, and crying for you. And. my husband would come in, and I'm. blubbering and praying. He's like, "Are. you okay?" Aw. >> And I'm like,

"You're just a few years older than my. son, and I'm just like, I wish I could. have known you when you were a kid, you. know?" I would have let you adopt me. I. would have I would have adopted you in a. heartbeat. We would have been a the. dynamic duo. >> Yeah. Yeah. I would have helped you get. into even more trouble. Um. >> [laughter]. >> Hey, listen, I'm always down for a good. time. Um so, let's go back to where it all. started for you. Um you do speak on your. childhood um briefly in the interviews. that I've seen and from what I gathered,

you grew up in kind of a a um. I don't want to say like a controversial. home, but your father was an alcoholic. You went through some things as a child. Can you take me on that journey of your. childhood? Dad was a very. high-functioning. um you know, the more I learn about. myself and my issues and my. neurodivergency, the more grace I have. for my folks. Isn't it insane? >> It is insane. Like. back in the day, we didn't know what.

being on the spectrum was or being. autistic was or being neurodivergent. was. And now I'm like, "Oh my gosh, my. dad was OCD to the max. He was. neurodivergent. He was probably off the. chart on the autistic spectrum." And he. you know, made himself comfortable in social. settings by drinking. >> Mhm. And now I can say that with no. judgment, no anger, no no. anything. That's such a beautiful place. to be.

>> It is. But when I was younger, you know, I was busy pointing the finger and. playing the blame game. But my mom was. classic codependent. Um. we found I found a few letters when they. passed that they had written when they. were young and it was such an unhealthy. attachment. And I'm like, "Gee, I wonder. why I've had unhealthy attachments my. whole adult life.". >> Yeah, we we learn it from our parents. >> Yeah. Yeah, you know, you repeat those. patterns, but. >> What were in the letters? Just a bunch.

of jealousy and my mom was from. Arkansas. She met my dad when she was a. teenager, moved to Oregon. She decided. to go home one summer. uh when they were dating to Arkansas and. my dad would write her these letters. like you better not talk to anybody, you. better not, you know, just weird. >> Yeah. You know. >> Controlling like yeah. >> Yeah, very controlling and they were. young. She was like 19, he was 21. But they learn that's learned behavior. from your dad's upbringing too. Like as.

you get older, it's like you realize. like okay, you're a product of your. parents and I don't know forgiveness. just becomes. essential. when you get to a certain point in life. for your parents. >> Yep. And it was uh I was living in. Boston and I was going through some. stuff and I was seeing a counselor and I. purposely chose a woman counselor who. was the same age, like exact same age as. my mother and I was working on some. stuff and I was telling her about this. woman that was living in my house and I.

had custody of her kids and she had. relapsed and she was back in recovery. and blah blah blah. She said, "Let me. understand this. This woman has abused. her children?" I said, "Yeah." She said, "And you're raising her children right. now for her?" I said, "Yeah, hopefully. she'll, you know, get into recovery and. it'll stick this time and blah blah. blah." And she said, "And you love her?". I said, "Yeah, she's a friend.". She said, "You can love her, but you can't love and forgive your mom? Mm. And yet you say your mom loved you. fiercely and never abused you?" She.

goes, and it was in that instant, I got. goosebumps. She said, "Your mom is just. a woman who was doing the best that she. could." Mm. And in that instant, something clicked, you know, that. epiphany. And I went, "Oh my god, my mom is just a. woman like I am. who made some bad choices." Mm. >> And in that instant, God. healed so much.

That's powerful. >> And forgave so much. Um. and. yeah. But I learned I learned from the best. how to have really unhealthy. attachments. >> Yes, same sister, same. And I've, you know, with being with my. husband, I have learned so much. Him and. I have learned so much, um, growing. together, trying to break toxic traits. that we both learned from our families. So, I mean, it's We never ask for the. trauma that we get put through, but I I.

preach very heavy on the podcast. We. don't ask for the trauma that we that. we're put through, but it's our. responsibility how we move forward. >> move forward. How we heal from it. >> Yes, absolutely. So, circling back to. childhood, um, how many siblings did you. have? I had There were four in my family. Um, my my mom had a boy, girl, girl, boy. But then I found out when I was a. teenager that I had siblings that lived. less than half an hour from us. Stop. That we had no idea about.

Like my dad had a family. before he met my mom. And never told her. or she knew? She knew, um, but he. forbade anyone else to ever talk about. it, ever bring it up. And we lived in the same neck of the. woods. >> What the hell? And he never went to go. see them? He just cut them off? >> never saw them, never met his son, never. laid eyes His son was born after they. were divorced. >> Right. >> And never saw his son, um, convinced.

himself it wasn't his son. Aw. >> Um, cuz she. she had had a boyfriend, broke up with him, met my dad, got. pregnant as a teenager, married my dad, had a daughter, got. pregnant again, and then they divorced. He married my mom, she married her first. first boyfriend that came back in the. picture. >> Right. And, um, the kids never knew that. they weren't their stepdad's children.

Wow. And it wasn't until I was a. teenager. I had snuck out of my parents house. got caught. got beat. and got sent to live with my. grandparents. And I was crying to my grandma saying, "I don't know why dad hates me so much.". And she said, "Baby girl, your dad. doesn't hate you. Your dad loves you. He's just afraid you're going to make. the same mistakes he made." No. And he's.

trying to keep you off that path. Mhm. I'm like, "What are you talking about? I. don't know what you're talking about.". Cuz to me we had the ideal family. >> Mhm. You know, we had a little house in. a suburb in a tiny town. We had a car, you know. We had the perfect family, I. thought. And that's when she said, "Actually, I. could get killed for this cuz your dad. is forbidden to No, grandma is spilling. the tea. >> Grandma spilled the tea. >> [laughter]. >> And grandma said, "You got a brother and.

a sister." Damn, grandma had been. waiting years to to let that go. That. was therapy for grandma. >> Yeah, grandma grandma spilled the tea. and she's like, "We didn't want your. mother to marry him cuz we knew that he. had kids and um How's she going to talk. good about dad and then be like, "Oh, by. the way. >> By the way. [laughter] By the way. >> By the way. And so. >> How did that make you feel? >> can't tell anybody." Mhm. >> So here I am 16 years old with this big.

old secret, which of course I couldn't. keep. So I went running Once I Once my. folks let me come back home, I went. running home and said to my older. brother, who was just 16 months older. than me, "Matt, did you know we have a. brother and a sister?" He's like, "You're lying." I said, "No, we really. do. Grandma said." He's like, "She's. lying.". >> [laughter]. >> Turns out, get this, they were the two. brothers two half brothers went to the. same community college at the same time, were on campus at the same time, didn't.

know about each other. So, they didn't. know about you guys, either. They didn't. know about us, we didn't know about. them. >> Wow. My half-brother tells me this. story. Now, we're very close, by the. way, now. That is so sweet. >> went to a bar one night, one Saturday. night, cuz my dad was a pool hustler. His son, my half-brother, who I'd never. met, is a pool hustler, and my brother. loved to play pool. So, my half-brother. goes to a bar and he's playing pool and. somebody walks in and says, "You were.

such an ass last night." And my. half-brother's like, "What are you. talking about? I was at home last. night." They said, "No, you were here, running your mouth, being a jerk, drunk and acting like a fool." And Ken's. like, "Well, I probably was drunk, but I. don't remember acting like a fool, and I. wasn't here.". Turns out, my full brother was there the. night before, playing pool, being a bit. of a jerk. >> And they look alike? And they looked. enough alike that this person thought. that my brother was.

who my brother was. Yeah. >> And. he said that happened more than once. He. would go places and people would say, "You were just here." That is so crazy. >> crazy? >> That is so Okay, so how So, grandma lays. this on you. How does this make you. feel? Do you go to your mom and tell. your mom, too? >> no. No. Oh, no. Okay. >> No, no. What was your relationship like? >> want to betray my grandma. My grandma I. was her favorite person in the universe. >> Gotcha. Okay. >> And I wasn't going to betray that. So, I. was in my 20s, I was living in Seattle,

I had been disowned by my father. >> Which we'll get into that. Not allowed. to speak to my mother. And my grandma sent me a clipping in an. envelope, and I opened it up, and it was. a newspaper clipping saying that my. brother, my half-brother, had graduated. from school, that he had taken a. college program for um. radiology imaging. And she said, "I understand he's living.

in Everett, Washington, which is like 40. minutes outside of Seattle." I was in. Seattle. Mhm. And I'm like looking at. his picture going, "Oh my god, that is. my brother." Cuz like I said, my dad. always said that he was not his. biological child. So, I pick up the phone back in the day. This was in the '80s, 1984. And I called. 411. And I said, "Ken" and gave his last. name, and they gave me his phone number. cuz you used to be able to do that.

>> Yes, I remember. >> I loved it. And I called his house, and his wife. Kelly answered the phone, and I said, "Is this the Ken Watson residence?". And she said, "Yes." I said, "Is this. Kelly?" She said, "Yes, who's this?" And. I said, "Well, this is going to sound. kind of weird, but I think um. I think Ken's my brother.". >> [laughter]. >> Okay, so when you found out, you never. reached out to them or tried to Okay, so. >> was a teenager. >> Okay, got you. >> I did like walk around malls and stuff. I mean, this is a small area, Bonnie. We.

had 3,000 people in my town, 7,000 in. his town, which was in like half an hour. south of us. Small area. >> Yes. So, I'm walking around cuz my dad. had ice blue eyes. And I'm looking at. everybody I see with blue eyes going, "Are you my brother? Are you my sister?". So, you call him, and he gets on the. phone. >> And he got us Kelly said, "Hold the. line. Hold on." This guy gets on the. phone, sounds just like my dad. And. we start talking, and I said, "I I think.

you're my brother.". And he says, "How could that be?" And I. said, "Is your name and you said, "Yes.". And I said, "Um your dad is Dick Luke." And he said, "Really?". And I said, "Yeah, it is your older. sister Madeline." She said yes. I said, well, I know she's my sister, but I. don't know if you're really my brother. My grandma wasn't sure. And he's like, okay, this is a lot to process. He said, I got to call my mom.

So, we talked for a while. He hung up. He called his mother. His mother. confirmed cuz she knew about my mom and. us kids. >> But mom never said anything to her kids. either? >> Nope. >> What a crazy time to be alive. Everybody's holding secrets. >> Oh, everybody used to be. Now, because. of DNA, you can't really do that. But. >> Yeah. Did you want a water or something. before we continue? Um no, I'm good. >> Okay, okay. So, the next weekend, he and Kelly and. their new baby, Katie, drove down from.

Everett to meet me and my hus- then. husband and son. And he got out of the car on the front. and he starts to walk up to my front. steps and I just start bawling cuz he is. the spitting image of my father. >> Aw. >> The spitting image like. like God cloned my father in this young. man. And I'm like. how Dad didn't know that you're his son. He says, I've never met the man. I've.

never seen the man. Was your dad alive. during this time? >> He was, but he had disowned me. Right. So, we spent the afternoon together and. then the next weekend, our family went. up to their house and for about a year. we saw each other a lot and caught up a. lot and I met my half sister on the. phone. That was before video conferences. or anything and these Zoom calls, but we. talked on the phone a lot and then. um. we met and a few months later.

he was going to meet our brother, my. full brother, his half brother. And my brother and his wife disappeared. in a plane accident. >> Mhm. And we didn't find the remains for. several years. >> Mhm. And we had a funeral for him. And that was when my brother met his. father. Wow. So, I went to my brother's.

funeral. for he and his wife. And. Ken came. And we're standing together and he. points, he goes, "Is that him?" And I. went, "Oh my god, you've never met your. dad." He was in his 30s at this time. >> Mhm. I'm like, "You've never met our dad.". He's like, "Nope.". So, I said, "Okay, here we go." I took a. deep breath and I walked over and I. said,

cuz remember, dad had disowned me. He. wasn't even talking to me. "Dad, meet your son. Ken, meet your father.". >> [laughter]. >> Man. >> I That's. Okay. >> Drop the grenade and run. >> Yeah, I dropped the grenade and ran. >> [laughter]. >> And to sit down at a funeral. And then we went out to dinner. afterwards, which was so surreal, so. weird, at the Sizzler Steak House. >> Oh, good old Sizzler. Bringing families. together since 1980.

>> Yeah. So, we had uh lunch at the Sizzler Steak. House and then I left and Ken left and. he and my dad started a relationship Aw. and. met his kids and met. his daughter, um. and his daughter, my half-sister, uh. who's a couple of years older, got to. spend some really good time with him and. with our grandma.

And um they had their own little family. reunion, which was amazing. What a. beautiful story minus losing the two, but I mean, what a beautiful story. Like. and then but that's just a testament of. you because you were the vessel that. brought everybody together. I mean, grandma dropped the tea, but then. >> Grandma spilled the tea. Grandma maxed. spilled the tea. [laughter]. Yeah. But you brought everybody together. and you were. >> know, she spilled the tea because she. really truly wanted me to know that my.

father did love me. >> Yes. >> not feel it and he did not express it. My dad was not good at expressing. emotions, but um she wanted him to know. that. that his actions were not. out of a lack of love, but out of. misdirected love. >> Mhm. And I think now as a mom with many adult. children, how many times I have acted. out of love, but not acted in a loving.

way. Mhm. So. I get it now. >> Yeah, now I can understand that, too. What was your relationship like with. your mom? My mom was a force to be reckoned with. She was big. She was bigger than I am. She was 6-ft tall. I'm 5'10. She was. over 6-ft tall. Wow. And wore a size 12. men's shoe. Wow. >> Mom was a big girl. Yeah. >> Skinny, not Like model. Yeah, oh she and. she was gorgeous.

>> Yeah, I believe it like a child. >> Gorgeous, like natural beauty. Um. and she was like we were best friends. when I was younger. And then she made choices that I really. didn't agree with and I. decided to be [ __ ] and judgmental. and be mad at her for a little minute. and then got some counseling and. thank you thank the Lord we were able to. reconcile. When I had my daughter.

Shayla, she came and spent She was just. going to spend a week with us and she. stayed a month. And we had the best time. ever and then she went home and was. diagnosed with brain cancer. Mhm. My. goodness. So. Mhm. I'm so sorry. Is she still with us? >> No. Okay. Both my parents were 57 when. they passed. >> Wow. >> Lost dad at 57 and lost mom 2 years. later. Wow. >> At 57. I lost my parents 2 years within.

each other, too. That's crazy. So growing up, we're going to pivot a. little bit. So growing up, your parents. were not Christian, but for some reason. they named your brother. >> all of us Christian names. >> Yes. Oh, did the somebody. >> Christians. They were just really funny. Did somebody have like a Christian. upbringings that they. >> name My maiden name is Luke. >> Uh-huh. Luke. Right. So they had to name my. brother. Matthew, Mark, Luke. >> Yeah. Just because who else in the world. can do that?

>> Right. You know, [laughter] and they. thought it was so funny. So when I came. along, they wanted to counteract the. good with the bad. So they named They. were It was a toss-up, they said, between Bathsheba or Delilah. So they. went with Delilah. >> I love Delilah. >> And uh at the time when I was a little. girl, I hated it. Aw. >> Cuz nobody could pronounce it. And. nobody was probably named Delilah. >> Nobody was named Delilah. Uh. the first time I heard my name besides.

myself was at a Goodwill on Dearborn in. Seattle. >> [laughter]. >> She remembered the exact location. >> location. I was thrifting cuz I am. addicted [clears throat] to thrifting. and somebody kept yelling, "Delilah, get. over here. Delilah, get over here." And. I'm like, "Who is yelling at me?" And I. turn around, here's the cutest little. girl with pigtails and caramel-colored. skin. She's so cute and I'm like, "She's Delilah?" And the her said, "Yes, and she better get over here." And I'm. [laughter] like,

Okay. Um, that's the first time I ever. met another Delilah. Yeah. >> Now we have a whole household full of. them. Yes. Um, but. uh I hated my name when I was young. And. then when I got uh started in radio, I'm. like, "Wow, this was pretty smart of. them to name me this. It works well." It. does. >> And when I go places, people are like, "That's not your real name." I'm like, "Actually, it is." Yeah. [laughter]. Folks gave me at birth, so I love it. now. I love that they named all of you. guys biblical names, but they didn't.

walk in faith towards the Lord. They did. They both came to the Lord. before they died. Praise God. My dad, um, amazing testimony. I don't know how. much time We have all the time. Okay. So, my dad, um. I started. even after he disowned me, I was trying. to, you know, win my way back into his. heart, so I would send him cards, send. him letters, and send him. chocolate-covered cherries. Aw. Cuz. those were his favorite candies. So, I.

sent him dozens of boxes of. chocolate-covered cherries over the. years, and cards and letters, and I. never. uh the first few I sent, he would send. back unopened, return to sender. He. would just write return to sender in his. perfect little printing, cuz he had. perfect little printing, return to. sender. And after like four or five, they. stopped coming back. He was like, "I. want a cherry.". Yeah. [laughter]. I still want the cherries. So, when he. passed, we found a box in his bedroom.

with every card, every letter I had ever. sent them, opened, tear-stained, like obviously he was reading them and. rereading them. Oh my goodness. All the. pictures I sent him, cuz I would send. him pictures of my son, and. um. but he called me about a month before he. passed, and he said, "I'm thinking about. rewriting my will, and I hear you like. antiques. I have this antique. pot-bellied stove if you want it.".

Like that, I'm living in Philadelphia. >> [laughter]. >> You're in Oregon, don't know how I would. get a pot-bellied stove across the US, but thanks for thinking of me. And he. says, "Well, how about um an antique red. light off the back of a train?" He had. one of those beautiful lights that were. on the caboose of the train. I said, "That sounds really cool.". >> Yeah. >> And I love antique architecture, so.

yeah, maybe that. And I said, "Really, all I want is for you to give your heart. to Jesus. That's all I want. That's all. I want. We didn't get to have a. relationship the past 10 years. I would really like to have a. relationship with you in eternity." And. he knew he was dying. We knew he was. dying. I said, "All I want is for you to. give your heart to the Lord. That's it.". Just give your heart to Jesus. And he. said on the phone, "Who are you? Delilah. Jesus Christ Renee Luke, when did you.

become a preacher?". And I said, "I'm not a preacher. I'm. just somebody who's saved by grace, and. I want to spend eternity with you.". And he said, "Well, if this Jesus stuff. is so important, why are you the only. one preaching at me?". And as soon as he said that, I went, "I'm not preaching at you." And then I. went, "Oh my god, he's read my letters.". Because ever since I had given my heart. to the Lord, I had written him. about.

what my brother tried to share with me, cuz my brother had shared the gospel. with me. He became a Christian. um when he met his wife, and. he had tried to lead me to the Lord, and. it took his death for me to let Christ. in. And so, I had written my dad all. these letters talking about the Lord. And he said, "Why are you the only one. preaching at me?" So, number one, that. told me he had read my letters. And number two, it told me I needed to. pray.

So, as soon as we hung up, I just said, "Lord, surround him. Surround him with. people that will share your gospel. Surround him with people right now. before he goes. that will tell him the truth.". The next day, his caretaker quit. And the woman who came to take her job. through hospice was an ordained pastor. >> [laughter]. >> I didn't orchestrate it. God did. God don't play about you, baby.

>> Yeah, and then the people that lived. right across the street from us that had. been a part of our family for years, the. Leech family, their son had just. graduated from seminary and come back. home. Alden was 6'4" and 250 lb, 300 lb, big boy. And he had just finished seminary. school, moved back in with his dad, and. he came and sat with him. And I didn't. have a conversation with him. This was. all God. He came and sat with my dad and started. sharing what what God had done for him.

So, the day my dad passed, it was in. December. My sister called me, and my sister was. daddy's girl. They had a bond like. no other. He adored her. And they just had such a sweet, sweet. relationship. And she called me, and. she's crying and sobbing, and. then my little brother gets on the. phone, and he's like, "Hey, what's. happening?" I said, "What's happening? Why are you Why are you okay?" He goes,

"Well, what would make me okay?". I said, "I don't don't know." He said, "Well, what would make me be okay with. the fact that what our Our just died?". I said, "What are you saying?" He said, "Dad was just baptized." Oh my goodness. >> I said, "What?" He said, "Yeah." He. said, "Call a pastor. I'm ready to go. home." Aw. >> And he accepted the Lord, received. communion, was baptized, and. went home to be with God. Oh my.

goodness. I have never felt two such. strong. overwhelming emotions simultaneously. as I did in that that moment realizing I. would never get to make amends or make. things okay with Not that I needed to. make amends. I'm not the one that. separated or severed the relationship, but there would never be a bridge here. Right. But we had a bridge across. eternity. And. I was laughing, I was crying, I was.

dancing. I was literally dancing in my. house, praising God, and then falling. down on my face, thanking God, and then. weeping. And it was just I was such a. hot mess. But I know that when I get. there everything is going to be so. amazing. Amen. That's beautiful. I love. that. That is such a testimony. Circling back to you being a child, you. talk about like what a tenacious child. you were. And there's a story that. actually kind of like pissed me off when.

I heard you tell it about a third grade. teacher. They duct taped my mouth? >> What the hell is that? I want to duct. tape her mouth. But she didn't just duct. tape your mouth. Like can we talk about. this? Like I guess. you used to talk a lot in class, right? Which I did, too. I was always in. trouble for talking in class. >> [laughter]. >> Yeah. Yeah. When I read your book, I was. like, "Oh my god, if if we had known. each other in a different life we would. >> [laughter]. >> I'm telling you. Hell on wheels. But.

yeah, I I. And I And the funny thing is of all the. children I've raised, almost all of. them, only like two or three don't have. the show-off gene, you know, that I must. talk, I must share, I must [laughter]. I've got to get it out. I've got to get. it out. And I couldn't I to this day I. still can't stop talking. And this. teaching. >> look at where it got you. >> [laughter]. >> Yeah. Yeah, when I signed my first. contract for syndication, I really.

wanted to. to go back to that school and say, "How. do you like me now?". >> Man, I hope she stubbed her toe every. day that she woke up. Because doing this. to a child is insane. It's abuse. >> it's abuse, you know, now. But back in. the day, you know, we used to. No, I know. It was a totally different. time. >> Totally different world. Um, but I. wouldn't stop talking. And so she tried. setting me in the front of the class. Well, duh. You're going to make me the. star of the show? Seriously? [laughter].

I'll just use your desk as my stage. Because I need to entertain. >> [laughter]. >> And then they tried moving me into the. back of the classroom thinking that. well, that'll punish me. Really? You put. all the hoodlums in the back. >> [laughter]. >> All we're going to do is conspire. together. And then they tried moving me out in the. hall, but we had this really cute. janitor, and you know, [laughter]. got to talk. So she took a piece of duct. tape and put it across my mouth. But duct tape will not stick.

to dust. or to anything that's wet. >> [laughter]. >> So I'm like. and I pushed the duct tape off and. managed to get a hole big enough so I. could keep talking. >> [laughter]. >> And in her frustration, she slapped a. piece here and then she went around my. head. >> Oh my gosh. How did your parents feel about that? Were they okay with that? >> Oh, I got beat when I got home. [laughter]. Cuz the rule was if you get in trouble.

at you get a spanking when you get home. No. So, you're getting your head duct. taped and then you're getting in trouble. at home. [laughter]. Butt whooping when I got home. >> Golly. You're just getting it from both. ends. It stuck to my hair. >> Mhm. Wouldn't stick to my face cuz I was. sticking my tongue out, but it stuck to. my hair. And my hair was much longer. than it is now. And I ended up with a. little bob. That is crazy to me. >> all the tape out of my hair. That is.

crazy to me that that woman got away. with that. And definitely a different. time because that would never fly now. Like, oh my gosh. And did you learn a. lesson? No. >> Exactly. Like, it was all for nothing. All [laughter] this All I learned is I. don't look good in short hair. >> [gasps]. >> Yeah. No, that when I heard that story, I was just like, oh my god. I hope this. teacher woke up every day and stubbed. her toe. Like, that that is the type of. woman that deserves to step on a child's. toy every day, you know? >> Every day.

Yeah, a jack. Yeah, something. >> jacks anymore? The little ball and. jacks. Yeah. Yeah, whatever. A freaking. Lego. I don't know. Something. >> Yeah, definitely. So. So, talking about. you in school, um you started doing. radio as you were in high school. >> Grade school. >> Grade school, junior high. >> Junior high school. >> Can you take me on this journey? And. then to also tell me about the teacher. that you were starting to get in trouble. and you know, she put in a a good word.

for you because she wanted you to to not. go down a bad path. >> path. >> Mhm. Um I. was born with the show-off gene. Only, I. was not born Bunny with any talent. Like, I can't dribble a ball. I can't sing a note. I can sing a note. I have a one-note range, maybe two. [laughter]. Here I am in the city of music, uh and. and I love music. Oh my god, I love. music. I feel music in my soul. I open. my mouth and out comes not what I want.

>> [laughter]. >> And so, you know, back in the day, back in the. '70s and the '80s, we only had two or three sports at our. school for girls. You could do swimming, you could do volleyball, you could do. basketball. I was not really good at any of those. three. Swimming I was really good at, but you had to get up at 6:00 in the. morning and be at the pool and my folks. are like, "No way. We're not taking you to the pool at 6:00. in the morning.". Um.

And so, I what I had this this need to show off, but no outlet for it. And I found out that our school. had a grant. that they only got the money from if. they did certain things. So, this really. wealthy man that started the school left. all these millions of dollars in stocks. and bonds and the school would get the. money if they had an oratorical contest, a speech contest every year. And if they.

had awards for um things outside of. sports. So, grades and reading. So, we. had a special reading program. And I went, "Speech contest? What does that involve? [laughter] Cuz. that sounds like I might like it.". And it was five different categories and. you could enter one, two, three, or all. five. I entered four of the five. And. you stood up on stage and recited a poem. or a speech or something. But, you had.

to do it from memory. And the two men who were the judges the. year I was on stage, seventh grade, owned the local radio station, Jerome. and Steve Kanagy, two brothers. And [snorts]. at the end of the contest, I had won. first place in some of the categories, second in some. And they came up to my mother afterwards. and they said Mrs. Luke your daughter. really likes to talk. >> [laughter].

>> And my mom goes, oh my god, I know we. can't shut her up. They've tried. everything. The school even tried duct. tape. Nothing works. [laughter] And they. said, no, no, no, no, this is a good. thing. We own the local radio station. We can harness this and put it to good. use. So myself, Starla Pointer, um Tosh, couple other kids that were in the. speech contest, they took to the radio. station and they trained us. They showed. us how to go on microphone, how to. record commercials, how to record and.

they let me record school news and. school sports. Mhm. And so we would. write the script and by we, the others. would write the script. >> [laughter]. >> and I would go on the air and read it. And they would record it on this big. TEAC machine, this big reel-to-reel and. then they would play it at lunchtime. every day for the parents to hear. So. you could hear that Danny Jones, you. know, scored the most football points or. whatever. And um I loved it. Like I was addicted.

from day one. They had an old teletype machine that. sat in a closet and shook back and forth. and typed the weather and sports and. world news and they let me bring home. sheets of teletype. It was a ream of. paper that was folded back and forth and. I taped it on my wall like it was a. poster of Mark Spitz or Donnie Osmond or. Michael Jackson. I did have those, too. But I would rather look at the teletype.

than Michael Jackson and that tells you. something. Yeah. [laughter] So when I. got into high school. and I didn't know this story until a few. years ago. Uh one of the teachers saw me. in the hall Mhm. with a boy who was. older. and saw my behavior. and went to the Caniguy brothers and. said didn't Delilah do that. program with you guys? And they're like, yeah. She said, could you.

come up with a work study program for. her? And they're like, why? And she said, she's going to get herself in a whole. lot of trouble if she doesn't have. something to focus on. That's how good God is. I didn't know. this woman. She wasn't one of my regular teachers. She was a substitute, full-time. substitute. But she could discern from a. distance by my body language what I was. doing. what I was going to do, the path that I. was on. I don't know if she knew anything about. my parents or I don't know what she.

knew, but God quickened her heart to. talk to the Caniguys. They contacted my. parents and said, could we set up a work. study program for your daughter? They did. So I only had to go to school. half a day. And then I got out of school. and went to the radio station. And I knew if I screwed up. I would lose that opportunity. And I. wanted to be on the air more than I. wanted to breathe. Aw. I loved it.

I loved going to the station. I loved. ripping the wire. I loved reading news. I loved writing commercials. I loved it. It was home. Mhm. It's it it was my. happy place. It was a creative outlet. for you. >> Yeah. Yeah. And so they sent me to. Portland to. get my broadcast license. I flunked the. first time I went. So I went back 6 months later and I. passed. I was the youngest person to. ever get my license in Oregon. What does.

getting a broadcast license entail? Well, now it's nothing. >> Back then you had to take a test and you. had to know frequencies and transmitter. heights and. >> Wow. patterns of broadcasting and the. difference between AM and FM and how to. modulate and how to Wow. >> Because we had these big glass tubes. and we had to turn the station on a half. an hour before broadcast so the tubes. would heat up. Um That's some lore right. there. >> Yeah. It was for reals. And I got my.

license so that meant I could be in the. station alone. Mhm. So then they let me. start opening the station at. uh for broadcast. We went on the air at. 6:00. and we went off at sundown. So I would. ride my little bike down to the radio. station on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Turn the filaments on, heat up the. tubes, and go on the air at 6:00 with. the weather report cuz we were a fishing. community. Mhm. So the fishermen needed. to know if the bar conditions were safe. And uh.

did sports. First thing in the morning. we did weather and sports. I had to. learn to pronounce Martina Navratilova. Oh man. [laughter]. So. falling in love with radio and just. having a such a crazy worth at at work. ethic at such a young age. You were. working 6 days a week. 7 days a week. 7 days a week. >> station Saturdays and Sundays at 16. At. 16. Like that is wild because you can't.

you can't teach work ethic. That's. instilled in you, but you loved being on. radio so much. >> I loved it then and here's the crazy. [ __ ] thing, Bunny. I love being on the. air as much today Mhm. as I did back. then. Aw, it just brings you joy. >> love it. And the part that I loved about it. wasn't even being on the air as much as. it was being on the phones with my. listeners that would call in. And we used to get a phone call every.

hour from the um. the military because we had. fishermen and they needed the bar report. and so the Coast Guard. the military station, the Coast Guard. station would call every hour with an. updated bar report and I would put them. on the air. Like I didn't just take. notes and then say it myself. I'm like, "I'm putting you on the air." cuz some. of the guys were so funny and so. engaging and it became, you know, our. little stick, I guess, back then. And I.

loved working the phone lines. We did a. show called sales and trade where people. would call in and say, "Yeah, I got an. old '57 Chevy I want to sell, 200 bucks. Anybody can haul it off my property.". And [laughter] so I turned that into a. stick, you know, like it was fun. And to. this day I love working the phone lines. I I think I love We have a segment that. we do on my podcast called Ask Tell. Confess and it's people and I've been. doing it for years and people write in.

for advice and there's nothing more fun. to me than hearing people's stories, laughing with them, you know, >> [clears throat]. >> crying with them, giving them advice. Like there's just something about. connecting with people like that that I. completely understand why you do what. you do. It's just the connection is, um, so so much more rewarding than anything. else. Amen. Yeah. >> Amen. So you graduate high school and. you went into college to pre-med?

I did. I. I wanted to become a doctor and. radio was my I was thinking I will be in. radio to finance what I eventually want. to do. And then I kept flunking chemistry. [laughter]. I can't I dude, I can't do chemistry. either. I can't do math, I can't do. algebra. I can count money, that's about. it. Hell hell to the no. I [laughter] I. I I even count the money. Um but after I.

flunked chemistry the third time, they're like, you can't this this is not. the right path you're on. >> [laughter]. >> And I had a conversation with one of my. professors because I was also doing some. minute uh some media stuff on the side. And one of my professors told me how. much he would had his doctorates. And he told me how much money he was. making at the college. And I'm like, wait a minute. I'm making more money than you being on.

the air at 20 years old. than you're making with your doctorates? I never went back [laughter] to school. That was it. That was the end of my. college career. So, you get a job in uh Eugene. Wait, no, you got fired from every station in. Eugene. >> I did. >> What happened with that? Why were you. getting consistently fired? What was. What was going on? Um. well, one of the times I got fired, I. actually deserved. But most of the time.

um my big mouth got me in trouble. It's. just funny, you think there's sexism in. the world today, you have no idea. Like. back in the '70s and '80s, they didn't. even call me a woman on the radio. I was. the girl. Doesn't matter if you're 20 or. 30 or 50, you're the girl at the radio. station. And. I. I can't keep my mouth shut. And stuff. that's unfair is unfair. And it's wrong. And.

I I I'd have to pop off. And like. >> You're very protective of yourself. >> Yeah, and it's just I don't like. injustice. I don't like when I'm treated. unfairly. I don't like when I'm treated. like crap. And I'm not going to keep my. mouth shut. And. you know, they want you to shut up and. play the music. And I'm like. I mean, I went to work for a station in. Seattle that told me I couldn't go by. Delilah on the air because it sounded. like a a made-up name.

So, they wanted to change my name to. Kelly Starr. That sounds like a porn star name. Thank. you. Thank you. Okay, so you want me to. change my name to sound like a porn star. instead of use the name that my parents. gave me because it sounds like a made-up. name. I said, "How about this? How about. I go by D Renee?". Cuz Yeah. D is my initial and Renee is. my last name and they're like, "Okay, that'll work." So, the first night on. the air, I'm like, "Welcome to the. Delilah Show.". >> [laughter]. >> Oh, I forgot.

I forgot we had agreed to that. But just. there's so much crap. I mean, I worked at a station in Seattle, K A Y. O, country K O. And. um the news director had a crush on me. and I was not the least bit interested. >> [laughter]. >> And I just kept ignoring him and. ignoring him and I came in one day and. there was a banner across my studio. So, it was on the news side, but you know,

we had glass that faced and it said, "Delilah, you're a fabulous F.". A banner, like from the the ticker tape. machine that they had used that paper. and written in a black felt pen, "Delilah, you're a fabulous.". What? >> Hanging up right before I go on the air. So, I took it down, I put it in my. locker. And then I came in a few days later and. there was a cartoon out of a Playboy. magazine taped onto the outside of my. locker. It's freaking sexual harassment. at this point. And I was dating my first.

husband who was the news director at. another radio station. um and was black. And we showed up at a company event. together. Mhm. And all hell broke loose. and I was told I could not bring him to. any station functions because nobody who. listens to country music wants to see. a blonde woman with the N-word. Wow. So,

I took all this evidence, I went into my. boss's office, and I said, "I'm going to. hire a lawyer, and this is not okay. I am not coming to. work and being treated like this." And I. showed him all the evidence, and he's. like, "I am appalled. I am disgusted. Leave that with me, and I'll deal with. it.". Mind you, I was 21. Right. >> So, I left it with him. Walked out the door. A week later, I was fired. Wow. And he destroyed the evidence. >> Destroyed all the Destroyed the cartoon,

destroyed the the poster, gone. Don't. know what happened to it. And. that That's when I should have learned. to never trust anybody, but of course, I. made many, many more stupid mistakes. like that. in my radio career. Wow. But. >> I can't believe that. I'm so sorry that. happened to you. That's not fair, and that's not okay, and it wasn't okay back then, just. >> No, but there's a lot of things that are. not fair and not okay, and they still.

happen every day. Yeah, absolutely. >> It's not fair that my children will make. 80 cents on my dollar. Mhm. That's not. fair. Mhm. It's not fair that less than 5% of kids. who are in foster care will ever be. adopted. That's not fair. I know. You. gave. >> fair that 1% of them will ever get to. graduate from college. Mhm. Nothing is fair. No, it's not. But it's. You still didn't deserve for it to. happen to you. No. As someone who is such a born rebel, um.

this was a question I had because I feel. the same way. I don't like injustice. I'm just a born rebel. Working in radio, there's so many restrictions. How do you. deal with that? Because you are such a. just a big persona, you know? >> It's hard. >> [laughter]. >> Um I I am surrounded with people who. love me fiercely and go to battle for. me. >> Mhm. And kind of protect me. Yeah. Um. but at least what do you think Aaron.

like once every 6 months? At least [clears throat] I have to call. my business partner. >> [laughter]. >> flipping out. I'm just flipping out and. I'm like, "Can you effing believe they. effing did this?". >> [laughter]. >> He's like, "Okay, take a deep breath. Take a deep breath. Take a deep breath. I'll deal with it. I'll deal with it.". And uh. you know, it's not fair. There's so many. things that are not right and not fair. Um You Do there restrictions that get. put on you though? Like I I have I.

wanted to be in radio though for the. longest. You read about that in my book, too. And then when I was presented with. the opportunity to get into radio, I was. just like. I don't know because you know, when my. my team came to me and they were like, "We have this deal for you, blah blah. blah." And I was like, "I I can't have. somebody controlling what I'm saying, you know? And I like with the podcast, I'm so free. I can do whatever I want. because this is my brand. I I own all of. it. But working for a station, uh I I. won't say who it is, but working for.

and block that out, they would totally. restrict what I would say and I was just. like, "I don't know if I can do that, you know?" So I was like, "I have to ask. Delilah how she gets around that because. Well, I'll let you in on a little. secret. >> And we can bleep it if we need to. Yeah. >> [laughter]. >> I am probably the only disc jockey. personality left in America that gets to. choose my own music. Wow. >> And that's in my contract. Oh, I love. that. >> So. >> Yeah. Half of the songs are pre-programmed,

pre-formatted, and then the half that go. with dedications, I get to choose. Aw. >> And I got it in my contract that they. cannot control my content, what I say. Um, I get to choose what advertisers I. will represent if I don't believe in. them, if they're not something that I'm. comfortable with. They just came to me. with a movie that, you know, looks like. a great movie and they're like, you. know, can we will you talk about this? And I said, "No, cuz I I wouldn't let my.

kids watch that. And if I'm not going to. let my kids watch it, I'm not going to. advertise it." Um, but I have a business. partner that because of his belief in me. and love for me, I have a lot of freedom. that nobody else has. >> That's amazing and that's where I want. to be. Yeah. I'm going to take a play a. page out of your book once I get to. >> you. that status. Yeah, I would love. that. So, let's talk about these babies. and let's talk about these marriages. At. 24, you were all You were.

>> [laughter]. >> I hear I hear a giggle in the back. >> plural there. It's I've been married. three times. I don't judge anybody who's. married. My husband was my third and I. third time's the charm so far. So, I. love him to death and, you know, it is. what it is. Sometimes we have to kiss. different frogs to become princes, you. know? >> yeah. I kissed a lot of frogs, baby. [laughter]. Um, so 24 you had your first son. >> My first bio child at 24. >> And you were married by that time to the.

man that you were talking about earlier. Um, it George. George, okay. I didn't. know if we were allowed to name him or. whatever. Um, sexiest man I've ever met. in my life. >> You always talk so good about him. Was. he your first love and are you. >> He was my first true love. Um, loved him with every fiber of my being. and he was a funny, smart, beautiful. human being. Um, but he had addictions. and his addictions cost him his life.

and cost him all of his marriages. I was. number three. He went on to have two. more after me. Um. but he. he never. was never able to face his demons, never. able to. um. come to peace with what had happened to. him as a child. And. but he was. Oh my god, he was so funny funny. He was. He was a comedian. He should have been a.

comedian. And his son, our son together, is the. funniest, most gorgeous, most amazing. human being you will ever meet. >> Oh. He got the best of his father in. every way. I love that. You light up. whenever you talk about him, I've. noticed. And Yeah, he. he was amazing. I love that. But he was. also the reason why your father disowned. you. Yes. >> So we're circling back to that. >> wasn't the reason. Racism was the. reason. Correct. >> Correct. Yeah. Correct. Um I see you.

trying to get the dog to stop barking. >> just sawing logs. Um. >> [laughter]. >> so. having your father disown you and, you. know, having your first baby, how how. are you feeling in this moment? Cuz. you're at this point your career is. thriving. You are on the radio. You're. doing your your Delilah show. Um I. forget the name of it. Lights Out? Lights Out. >> You're doing Lights Out. Look at all the. research you did. >> Oh, girl, I love you. So I was like, I. got to. >> Was it as hard for you to do the.

research on me as it was for me to do. the research on you? Uh I don't know. How Let me know what you know about me. Well, we'll go we'll do that on your. podcast. >> Okay. I just know that I love you and I. so wish that I had met you when you were. seven. Well, we have the rest of our. lives now, so we can do this. Um so you had gone from number 16 to. number one. Like you were really. >> a guy named Victor Strediki. Mhm. All of that is because one man believed. in me and loved me and took me under his.

wing and taught me. everything I never knew about radio. Like when you're the. when you're the talent part of radio. you don't know how the business part. runs. And I don't know I don't think that's a. purposeful thing. It's just not. something we learn. You just go in and there's commercials. you play and then you leave and so the. people that sell the commercials, they. really resent the talent because we take. the money out the door and they feel.

like they bring it in the door. Right. >> The talent feels like we're the hot. stuff and we're the reason people are. listening and these commercials are just. annoyances that are in our way. So. there's. >> [laughter]. >> always been this kind of division. >> Right. >> And Victor took me under his wing and. said, "You need. the sales people on your team, on your. side and you need to be on theirs. because if you understand what they're. doing they can better sell you and you. will profit from it." And I'm like,

"How?" And he says, "Well, I'm going to. help you in your next contract and. you're going to have it tied to finances. instead of just tied to ratings.". And so he was such a godsend and he. really helped me understand. how radio works and how I could actually. make money cuz I didn't used to make. anything. Um. and so he helped me to market myself. I. didn't have a marketing department. >> Right. >> The radio station sure as hell wasn't. going to spend a dime promoting me Yeah.

cuz they considered night time radio. throwaway, like it had no value. The. commercials they didn't even charge for, they were bonus if you bought. commercials in drive time. Victor said, "We're going to change that.". >> Mhm. And so he taught me how to market. myself. Uh. He said, "All these people calling you, get their phone numbers. Call them back. Form relationships with them. If they. have a great story to tell spread it out. over five days so that people will come. back again and again and again. I'm. like, "Wow, this is genius." He says,

"TV's been doing it for years. It's it's. a series, you know.". >> Yeah. >> [laughter]. >> I never thought of that. And so, he. taught me so much that changed my life. I went from just being a voice on the. radio at night to being Delilah. Aw. >> And Shout out to Victor. >> Yeah, he was amazing. He is an amazing. human being. He didn't charge me. anything for it. He put no expectations. on me. There was no, you know, crap that I went through with program. directors that, you know, had a casting. couch, none of that. He was just.

a genuine human being who genuinely. loved me. I love people like that. Like. that just don't want anything from you. and that is just genuinely want you to. succeed. And I don't know why. everybody's not like that. >> I know. >> could understand it's not a pie that. there's only a little piece of, Yep. >> that God has abundance to give and to. share and there's no shortage, you can. bless somebody and it doesn't take away. from you, it just keeps growing.

>> Amen. I always say all boats float. Like. you need everybody around you's boat to. float and it's just you guys have one. huge massive just sail together, you. know? Um okay, so Victor's teaching you this, you're hot on fire um on your radio. show, you have your first baby, you're. going through the stuff with your dad, you bought your first house at 21. 21. which is freaking amazing. Like I mean, nobody I I. >> Reading your book, if I had your money. bunny back then, I would have made you a.

billionaire. I would have taught you how. to invest in real estate. >> you. I wish I would have been smart with. my money. I'm smart with it now. Thank. you, Jesus for giving me plenty of. opportunities, but I. if I had have done this when I was. younger, too. I mean, just when I read. that you had. bought your first house at 21, I was. like, this woman's phenomenal. Like. nobody at 21 is thinking about saving. money like that and buying their first. house. At least not in my. >> My dad had a lot of issues, but he had a. lot of wisdom and he used to say all the.

time, "Sis, if you ever get any money, buy land. God isn't making any more of. it.". >> Wow. All we got is what we got. Yeah. >> So buy land and I took him at his word. and I bought my first house at 21, my. second one at 28, my third one at 30. Um my fourth one at 32. So at 32, I was. a little real estate baroness. I love. that. That is so awesome. So during this. time you're struggling with your. Christianity and you were also doing.

modeling during this time and developed. an eating disorder. Uh yeah. You can't. really. be a good model unless [laughter] you're. having eating disorder. >> cotton balls. Yes. I I was uh five 5'10" and 145 lb and my. agent said, "You need to drop another 20. lb." I'm like, "I'm a size six." She. said, "If you want to model for me, you. got to drop another 20 lb.". >> And they were a little crazy back then.

because I mean women that's why. everybody like. the Kate Mosses and all that. Like. everybody was so sickly thin back then. It was unrealistic. >> It was very unrealistic. >> Nobody positive about it. >> up my eating disorder and at the time. Dexatrim were sold over the counter, you. know, so we had those for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I quit all of that. the day I found out I was pregnant with. my son. I'm like, "Never never doing this again." I gave. up diet Coke when I was pregnant with my.

son. I was like, "Nope, not going to not going to hurt my. baby." So I love that motherhood um. softened your heart that way. So in the end your husband ends up. leaving, cheating, and leaving. Can we. dive into that a little bit? You're at. the height of your career. and this happened. >> It was just a crap year. Uh. my brother disappeared. First, my. husband lost his sister right after our. baby was born. Mhm.

And to suicide. And then a few months. later, my brother on Memorial Day. weekend, he and his wife disappeared in. a plane accident. And like I said, we didn't find their. wreckage for a couple of years. And then in October, he moved out of my. house. and moved in with his girlfriend. Like. six blocks away. Mhm.

And I have our baby, who's not even a. year old. Well, Sunny turned a year in. September, he moved out in October. Um. and then I lost my job. I got fired from. the radio station. So, that was a really. bad bad bad time in my life. Really bad. >> was number one, kicking ass, highest. ratings in the city. And. they hired a consultant. This is how. evil radio can be. They hired a.

consultant, paid him $10,000. to do a consulting project and the title. of it was, "She is the tail wagging the. dog.". And he came in with all this research. showing how my I had better listeners, better ratings, better Q TSL is time. spent listening. My listeners stayed for. three of my five hours. Q is cumulative. number of people tuning in. I had more. people tuning in at 10:00 at night than. they had in the 7:00 drive time hour in.

the morning. He walks in with all this. data and instead of saying, "Give this. woman money. Pay her. Make her program. director. Make her music director. Have. the other DJs learn from her. They said, she's the tail wagging the dog. If she. doesn't go, the rest of the station will. never succeed. Wow. >> She is the reason that the rest of the. station is lagging because she's taking. the limelight. Wow. Wow.

And I said to the person firing me, did. it ever cross your mind that maybe you. should ask me to teach them how to get. listeners instead of firing me for Wait. a second, aren't we in the business of. trying to generate listeners? Aren't we rated based on how many people. listen? And you're telling me I have to go. because too many people listen? It's like hiring a basketball player and. saying you're fired cuz you scored the. most points in the game. But it probably was because you were a.

woman. Do you think? Well, because I'm a woman. and because I'm a show-off and because. when I would show up for an appearance, there would be, you know, a thousand. people waiting to meet me and 20 people. waiting to meet the others. And instead. of going, "Oh my gosh, you're doing. something right." They're like, "Oh, you. show-off. You're a bitch.". >> Yeah, it was jealousy. I'm like, why am I a bad person for doing what. you're not even paying me to do? Right. For bringing ratings in for your radio.

station. Yeah. And listeners. That's. just insane. You're in You know, your husband leaves, but he also leaves you with his two. children. >> With his two kids. That blew my mind. Who are now in their. 50s. Like what a way to. >> human beings. >> What a way to twist the knife, though. Like, you know, never. >> No. In In your book, when you talk about. your daughter, you mentioned during a tough period in. your life, what hurt you was that not. just that.

your husband had betrayed you, but that. another woman had stepped in and tried. to take your role in your daughter's. life. >> Mhm. That's how I felt for these kids. It's like, you can go do whatever you're. going to do with her. You are not taking. these babies. >> these kids through it. >> Wow, I love that. And. our son, our stepson went back to his. mom's after a while. She remarried and. was stable. And Camille stayed with me. until she was like 16 or 17 and then she.

moved to California with her dad. And. has done very, very, very well, both of. them in their life. Very wonderful human. beings. >> that. And you still have a relationship. with them? >> I do. And they're both really good. people. Mhm, I love that. That is that's. again a testament of you. Wow. Um, so you're in this the darkest. time of your life. You're you don't have. any faith. You're not in you're not a. Christian at this time. And this story. that you told really touched me.

Um, that you were in pain one night and that. you were contemplating suicide. And can. you take me on that journey and our. listeners on that journey of. discovering Jesus? I. I I say I never wanted to die. I just didn't want to face another day. of pain. Mhm. I didn't know. how. to keep going forward when every fiber.

of my being hurt. Mhm. Like my brother was my best friend. We were a year apart and we were raised. like twins. And he was flying from. California to Seattle to see me and to. sign papers to become my baby's. godfather when he disappeared. >> Mhm. And when he disappeared, I went home to. try to help in the search and I wasn't. allowed to help in the search. And. somebody in my family said, "It should.

have been you.". And I believed that. because my brother was always the good. one. and I was always the rebel. You know, he. was. such a smart kid. He was an engineer. He. was an officer in the Air Force. He did. everything right. He married his first. girlfriend. They became Christians. They had a music. ministry. He was the good one. He lived. up to his name, Matthew, Mark, Luke.

And uh. so I was at this point in my life, Bonnie, where I did not. know how to face another day of pain. because everything hurt. Breathing hurt. The songs I had to play on the radio. hurt. Losing my job hurt. I had a baby I had to support. I had a. house payment I had to make. I had a car. payment I had to make.

Um. and I just I laid down in bed and I. said, "God, if you exist, knock on the wall or. something. I need to know. I need to. know. that there's something that's going to. get me through this.". And I had tried. New Age stuff. Um Ramtha was huge in. Seattle at the time and channelers and. all this. And I had read about Buddhism and.

Judaism and studied all these things and. read all these things. But what my brother had shared with me. was that Jesus was real. and that he really was the promised. Messiah and that if you would put your. faith in him. you would have a relationship with the. almighty. That's what my brother had. said and I'm like, "I don't need you. I. don't need your religion. You know, I'm. I'm hot stuff.". So I was laying there holding my baby. and I said, "God." I said it out loud,

"If you exist, I need to know. Because if you don't, I cannot go on.". And I had a plan. I had a garage. I had a car. I had a plan. And. I know it sounds crazy. I wasn't I've. never been high in my life. I've never. um. never, you know, went that path. But. I felt a euphoria come over me and my.

room filled with a cloud is the best way. to describe it. It was sparkly. Aw. And. it was like a translucent. cloud. And I went to sleep and it's the first. time I had slept since my husband left. It's the first time I had slept. in you know, a long time. And I woke up the next day and I felt. different. I felt light-hearted.

There was no knocking at the wall. I. wanted him to like pound on the door or. something. >> Isn't it crazy how [clears throat] we. ask God to do things? Like. >> Yeah, please. If you're move something. Yeah, let this. coin move. So, I went to Pike Place Market um. in Seattle the next day to get these. things my son and I loved called. humbaos. And okay, I love them. I gave them little bites. [laughter]. They're mine, but I went to get a humbao. and I parked my car and I walked down. the road and I came back and I saw.

something on my windshield and I. thought, "Damn, I got a ticket. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it." Can't afford a. ticket. And I walk up to my car and it's a. little red booklet and I take it out and. it's a New Testament. A little red New Testament and I'm like, "Okay, the Jehovah Witnesses are here.". And I'm looking up and down and no other. car has one on it. And I opened it up and somebody had. handwritten in pen, "Jesus loves you.".

That's your brother. And I'm like, "Okay, that was a pretty cool thing, God. [laughter]. Like, you are for real. Like, you are for. real. Like, and I'm. doing the Snoopy dance in the street. going, "He answered me! He answered me! Like, he answered he he answered me!". I put Sunny in his car seat and uh I go. back home and my phone rings and it's a. listener who happened to live in the. neighborhood that I had become friends.

with and she said, "Hey, how would you. like to go to church with me this. weekend?" I said, "What? Like, are you bugging my phone?". [laughter] She goes, "There's a little. church I found at the end of the block. It's at the end of your block. Would you. like to go with me?". And I'm like, "Okay." Her name was. Cheryl. She passed away a couple of years ago, but I Cheryl and Mike, I had actually. read letters from her boyfriend to her. on the air before they met. And they met and got married.

So, I go to church with Cheryl and Mike. and the pastor says at the end of it, "If anybody here really wants a. relationship with Jesus, just raise your. hand." And I went just like that. That. quick. Everything changed. Everything changed. And that doesn't. mean my life got better cuz there was a. lot more crap that happened, but that. was the beginning of my relationship. with God. I love that testimony. >> Everything my brother told me turned out.

to be true. >> [laughter]. >> Like, dang, you were right all along, bro. >> I know. And he's still speaking to you. through God, so I think that's amazing. >> the time. And he's got my boys with him. And there's, you know, a whole family. reunion waiting to happen. Yes. We'll. talk about that, too, soon. So, after. you meet you. you give your life to God and you know, you're going through the changes of. faith. Um there was something that you. had said that spoke to me. You were. offered a job. um and at this point you were like,

you were like, I can't take it because. my heart's just not in it anymore. Like. my that's it doesn't represent what I am. about right now. Um and that really. spoke to me because I'm kind of at a. crossroads now with the pod with the. podcast and the things that I represent. as my walk in my faith is there's I've. been telling them for a a long time like. I'm ready to to go a different route. I. just don't know how and when you had. said something about this on I think it. was a podcast I was watching. I was just. like, man this is this is like speaking.

to me because that's where I am. So, when you were offered another job and. you had turned it down uh do you know. what I'm talking about? >> about the one in LA? Maybe. I'm not. exactly positive. I watched so much. stuff on you last night, but I remember. jotting down this as a note and um you. had they had came to you and wanted you. to do a certain show and you were like, my heart's not that's that doesn't. represent who I am anymore and that just. spoke to me because I was like that. there's so much that doesn't represent.

who I am anymore, but because I built my. brand a certain way, it's so hard for me. to know what direction to go and I was. just wondering how you did that. Well, as you walk with God um he there there. will come times in your life that did in. mine where he said, that's not who you. are anymore. It's like a butterfly. You're not the cocoon anymore. You're. not the little worm anymore. You're not. in the cocoon anymore. I've given you wings. Now fly.

You don't have to crawl up the limb. You. can spread your wings and fly. And I told you my dad was very wise. He. used to say to me all the time, sis, don't ever go in debt. The minute you go in debt, you have to. keep your job. Mhm. Because you got to. pay the man. If you're not in debt, you're free to. say kiss my. and move on. >> Mhm. And I don't know if he knew when he was. telling me that how rebellious I would. be.

>> [laughter]. >> But I never forgot that and I. have never I mean, I'm everything I'm. wearing except for the things from the. Salty Heifer. With the Salty Heifer. Shout out to the Salty Heifer. >> to the Salty Heifer for my vest and my. earrings. Everything else is thrifted. because I don't waste money. I don't. believe in wasting money. Mhm. I don't. ever want to go in debt. I don't ever. want to have to keep a job. Right. I. want to be in a position where I can say. no. No, I'm not going to do that.

>> Mhm. You can't make me. Mhm. You're not the boss of me. You can't. make [laughter] me. >> And because I work for iHeartMedia, but. I'm contracted through them. and in my contract, they're not the boss. of me. We're partners. Um. They They're not They're They would. never try to make me do something I'm. uncomfortable with. But before I signed. with iHeart, I was offered a very. lucrative position in television. >> Mhm. And. >> this is what it was. Yes. I went to LA.

I was wined and dined and. they rolled out the red carpet and I had. read a book before all this called The. Great Seduction. Mhm. And. it was about how. the entertainment industry or whatever. industry will lure you in. through blessing you and giving you all. these privileges and all these comforts. and all these. material things, but then they own you.

and get to dictate what you do. Um. And I had read that. one that Victor had suggested years. before. Finally I read it. >> And. the and that's kind of what was. happening. I was being offered really. wonderful lucrative things, more money. than I could ever dream or imagine. The. company that I worked for before um. Premiere. I was making 7%. of everything they brought in because of. me. Mhm. And that wasn't much. Right.

>> And these people were offering me. millions of dollars. Yeah. But. I'm I'm more than comfortable on. thrifted sheets from Goodwill. I don't. care. Right. If so long as I have a down. pillow, I don't give a damn. I really. don't. She's like, I need that down, baby. >> I do need a down pillow. [laughter]. I do need a down pillow. And now when I. camp, I would really prefer to be on a. bed instead of the ground.

>> Glamping. I like glamping. >> Yes. Um. but. I was in the limo coming back and the. lawyers are on the phone and they're. like, you can ask for this and you can. ask for that and blah blah blah. And I. said, yeah, but I just adopted another. baby. And I'm like, I don't really see. myself raising kids in LA. Well, you can. get a house out here and out here and. there's horses and blah blah blah and. dee dee dee dee dee and we can do this. and that or you can keep your house in. Seattle and work in LA Monday through.

Thursday and then fly home on weekends. and have a nanny with the kids. And I'm. like. okay. And I got home, I went to bed in. the middle of the night the Lord woke me. up and he literally spoke to my heart, Bonnie, and he said, I did not give you. these children for someone else to. raise. >> Mhm. At that point I had three bio and four. adopted. And I went, okay. And he's just said. again, I did not bless you with these. children that you prayed for.

for someone else to raise them. I got up the next morning. I called my. lawyers. I said, "I'm not taking it.". And they're like, "You can't say no. We've already said yes on your behalf.". I said, "No, I haven't signed anything. I never said yes." Yeah. And as God. would have it, Craig and and Premiere. Radio Networks called me shortly. thereafter and offered me a very. beautiful, lucrative situation where I. got to stay in radio, got to stay in my. house, got to stay with my kids, got to. keep my current schedule. And Is that.

right? >> people were like, "What are you doing? What are you doing? You'll have such a. better platform. You'll be on TV, blah, blah, blah." And I'm like, "I don't want. somebody else doing my hair and makeup.". >> Mhm. I mean, the girl who did it today, I. love, but [laughter] I don't want to. have to look good every day. I don't I. want to go out and ride my horse. >> Yeah. I don't want to have to. schedule my life around the demands that. that would place on me. Cuz I know. myself, I know I'm passionately.

competitive. Yeah. And if I had taken. that, I would not have been satisfied. unless I was number one. Mhm. I wouldn't. have settled for being number two or. three or four in daytime TV. And to be. number one, you know this, you got to. give like you have to your podcast, you. got to give it your blood, sweat, and. tears. >> Yes. I couldn't I wasn't willing to. invest that much energy in a career when. I had children that needed that energy. Yeah. And this career allows me to be a.

full-time mama, full-time advocate for my kids, and. and I get to ride my horse. >> That's amazing. Let's talk about these. kids, okay? You You have 15, but I heard. you adopted three more. >> I got custody of three more. They are. not legally free to adopt, but Okay, how. did this all start? Like So, you had. your last biological child at 40. Um had you already adopted before then. and how many had you adopted and then.

take me on this journey. >> [laughter]. >> many? Take me on this journey cuz it's a. little confusing. Well, I always wanted. a big family. I wanted at least four, maybe six. Mhm. I there were four in my. family and then found out there were two. more. I wanted to have I wanted my kids. to have the kind of relationships that I. have with my siblings. My sister is. amazing. >> Yeah. She is far smarter than I am and. much more grounded than I am.

She came to her wisdom a lot younger. than I did. Uh, [clears throat]. and she's very settled in her spirit and. I love her with every fiber of my being. and my little brother is just a hot. ticket. He's a wild man. You might have. known him in your younger years. He was. a wild man. >> [laughter]. >> But he is is phenomenal, phenomenal. father, phenomenal grandfather, phenomenal friend. His friends love him. to death. >> Mhm. I wanted my kids to have those kind.

of memories. But I only had one. biological child for 10 years. >> Right. And then I remarried. I was. blessed with Shayla, my daughter and I. was told before I had her I might not be. able to have her because I had. polycystic ovaries. Mhm. And they wanted. me to do surgery and all this stuff. I. was very fortunate that I was blessed to. have Shayla, but they told me afterwards. you're probably not going to have any. more. You can do in vitro, you can do. this or that.

And so I said, you know what? I've been. blessed with two bio babies and my two. step kids. I want to adopt. I want to. adopt a little boy close in age to my. son. Mhm. So that's what I set out to do. Found Manny through the foster care. system. He was placed with us. Sunny was. 12, Manny was 11. And I thought perfect. I've got my. daughter, my two boys will grow up. together. And then found out he had siblings in.

foster care. So I arranged a camping. trip. Thinking we'd just go camping, the kids. will get to spend time together. And. during the camping trip, um a little boy. who's nine reached over and said in the. middle of the night, "Can I call you mom. since I don't have a mom?". So 3 months later I got custody of those. two. >> Aw. >> [laughter]. >> So I went from two bio children to five. children in about a year's time.

And when I got custody of those two, I. sent the the four older ones off to a. Christian camp for a week. And while. they were gone off to Christian camp for. a week, at 39 years old, I ended up pregnant. with [gasps] an IUD. Wow. >> So God really wanted you that soul to. come to Earth. And I had Zach, um. and I thought, "Okay, this is this is. more than enough. Six kids, I'm tapped.

out. >> [laughter]. >> Four boys, two girls, I'm done." And. then my husband and I divorced. And I was a single mom. And a woman named Sarah Dorman. who was friends with Billy Graham's. youngest daughter, friend of mine, called me out of the. blue and said, "Do you know anybody that. wants a little baby?" I said, "No. No, I. don't. I got a little baby. Remember, I. got a a baby. I got a baby. I don't know. anybody who wants a baby. Don't need no.

baby.". She said, "Oh, there's this baby that's. mom is abusive and he's in the system. and we're trying to find a home for him. And if you know anybody that, you know, does want a baby, let me know." And I. said, "Send me his information. Send me, you know, the contact information. I'll. go to church and see if anybody wants to. adopt a baby. So, she sent me the. picture and a month later I got custody. of number seven. >> [sighs]. >> Lucky number seven. And.

he just turned 26 yesterday. Aw. And then I'm like, okay, I'm really I'm. done. So done. >> [laughter]. >> Done, done. >> God's like, no you're not. That's what. God said. God said, really? I don't. think so cuz I remember when you were. younger you prayed for a big family. When we make plans, God laughs. >> Yeah, he does. And I started working in. Africa in 2004. And my intention when I started there. was I am not going to get emotionally. invested in one person. I'm going to get.

emotionally invested in the community. and lift up the community. and work in the context of the. community. Right? The community. >> [laughter]. >> And I stuck to it for two years. And then I went one day, one trip, first. time we drive into the camp, my eyes. lock eyes with this little girl and I. knew the minute our eyes locked, I knew.

she was my daughter. And I'm like, no. God, no, no. And God said, yes, yes. And. I'm like, okay. Are you sure? I had not I didn't even meet her. Didn't. know her name, never talked to her. But. I knew it the minute our eyes met, God. said, meet your daughter. And. later that trip I met my second daughter. and it took me about a year and a half, two years to adopt them. and bring them here.

And since then I have adopted six out of. the refugee camp. Wow. You're an amazing. >> really done. Don't How about stop saying that? >> Yeah. Just don't say that anymore. >> [laughter]. >> How about I just say whatever you want, Lori? >> There you go. You're an amazing woman. That is just so I I just the heart that. you have to house this many children and. to just save this many children and.

give them opportunities that they would. never have probably gotten is just so. beautiful and like thank you for all you. do. The statistics that you were talking. about on I watched you on a talk show. I. think it was from a couple years ago. You had given some statistics about um. foster children and it blew my mind. If. you go into any prison and you interview. 100 men who are in prison for. felony crimes. 80% of them will have spent at least 18.

months in foster care. If you go into any women's prison, the. statistic is even higher. Our current foster care system. does not create fully functioning. adults. It creates. people who end up in the system for. life. It does not create lasting loving bonds. It breaks lasting loving bonds over and. over. They know. Scientists proved this.

Doctors proved this years ago, 50 years. ago, that if you if a child's primary. bond is broken after three. times severed, their primary bond with a. mother or a father or a caretaker is. severed three times, they cannot form. healthy attachments. They cannot. The. glue is destroyed. You have destroyed. their ability to attach in a healthy. way. Can they learn? Of course, they can. God. can help you do anything, but it will. not come naturally to them.

For you and I. having bonds broken in our life, the damage that it did, and the way that. having strange. relationships changed our brains so that. our brain is triggered to be attracted. to that which will destroy us. We're not We're not helping kids in.

foster care. No. It's not helping them to have these. bonds broken over and over and over. again. And when you said those statistics and. some of the things that you had said, I. just like it really tugged on my heart. cuz my husband and I have been trying to. have a baby through IVF and I was just. like maybe God's trying to push us to. adoption, you never know. And just. hearing you speak about it. >> Or both, yeah, exactly. >> Yeah, exactly. And I mean my heart's. open to to it all and so is my husband. He He's My husband just wants all the.

babies. So, we might end up with 15. also, Delilah. If you can do it, I think. you make us feel like we can do it. >> I can [laughter] help you. Here's the. thing, when you adopt a child out of. foster care, you're not just building a family, you're saving a life. Absolutely. >> The trajectory that a kid in foster care. is on, Mhm. like I said earlier, less. than 5%. will get to graduate high school will. will be adopted.

>> Mhm. The number of of high school graduations. is about the same and college graduates. is less than 1%. of the kids who go through foster care. get to graduate from college. It's not. okay. They're throw away children. What is the adjustment in your home when. you bring home a child when you have a. newly adopted child? Like how how do you. overcome some of the. um. you know, uh trauma.

>> challenges trauma that they've been. through? Like how do you navigate that? Well, I did not navigate it well when I. was younger. I did not have the. education, the information that I have. now, but the information wasn't out. there like it is now. We didn't know. that trauma changes your brain. Trauma. rewires your brain. Nobody just said. that to me. Nobody said, you know, they're like, "Yeah, this They didn't. even First off, when I adopted the first. three, they didn't even give me access. to their files. Wow. That's awful.

>> didn't even know the trauma they had. been exposed to until one of my kids got. in trouble. And when they got in trouble, I went to. the courts and I forced them to let me. see their files. They didn't let me copy. their files or take their files. >> That's crazy. >> did not let me have that. But because I. have a photographic memory, I memorized. stuff that happened and times in their. life it happened. Took me 3 days, I read. through all three of their files. A. couple of years ago, they took the state.

to court, and the court produced the. files with pages missing. Entire pages gone, and they said, "Oh, it happened in a fire." Well, how can. page seven be gone, but page eight be. there? That doesn't make any sense. You're lying. They took pages out that. proved that they were accountable. and knew that my kids were being. horrifically abused in foster care. >> Oh my gosh. >> kept putting them back into horrible. placements. Even after my kids came.

forward and said, "We're being raped. We're being abused." My goodness. >> We're being horrifically abused. What. did they do? They told the foster. parents, "Don't let your son within 50. ft of them.". >> Wow. >> Yeah, like that's going to happen. >> Oh my gosh. That breaks my heart. >> It's horrible. It's horrible. And this. isn't like. uncommon. This is the norm. Right. This. is the norm. I understand why you're wanting to save. all the babies. >> My son is a sergeant in the police. department and in the town where he's a.

police officer, there's a hotel. that is no longer a hotel for people to. go and stay at because they have a. contract with the state to put foster. kids in there at night. No. Because. there's no foster homes, so they put. them in a hotel. at night in the same parking lot as a. porn shop. Wow. Coincidence? They just don't give these kids a. fighting chance at all.

>> don't have stand a chance, Bunny. They. don't stand a chance. >> Wow. I praise God for the Kanegies and for my. mom who fiercely loved me, but. God placed those people in my life to. keep me from going down a path that. would have destroyed me. Right. You. know, I joke about the fact that I have. no singing talent. If I could sing, I. would have destroyed my life cuz I'm. such a show-off. I would have, you know, gone that trajectory and.

how many of my friends did and ended up, you know, cocaine was the queen or king, whatever, back in the '80s. These kids in foster care, they don't. stand a chance. They've been abused, they've witnessed abuse in their. maternal or paternal home, they've been. taken by the state, they are put in. foster home after foster home after. foster home. My kids were in seven, eight, and nine placements. >> Oh my goodness. Seven, eight, and nine placements during. the course of their stay in foster care.

How can you form healthy bonds? How can. you ever know how to love? How can you. ever know how to be committed to anybody. when you experience that? How do you. break through to them? Is it just being. a consistent figure of love for them in. the household? Like, how do you bond. with them after they've been through so. much? >> And sometimes you don't. >> Yeah. >> Um. but you just do your best and you show. up and I'm consistent and. you know, the my youngest child today.

has so many issues because. he was exposed to drugs and alcohol in. utero and so much abuse and. has such a hard time that I he travels. with me because if I am out of his sight. he loses it. Like I am his primary bond. You're his safe space. >> safe space. Um, but you just love. You. love and you take him to counseling and. you take him to. and I I don't let my kids have access to.

the internet. Good for you. >> let my kids have access to. um, devices except for what they need. for school. Uh, and I don't even like doing that. There's so much garbage on the internet. that kids are the stuff you were exposed. to that I read in my book. I that was. the first time I got sick. I got sick in. my stomach reading what you were exposed. to as a child. I'm like, how do you ever. form a normal understanding of love when. you're exposed to porn at 7 8 9 years.

old? You don't. >> It took being with my husband to. establish that sex isn't um, everything. that's in a relationship and that you. actually fall in love with somebody's. soul. >> Soul and their mind and their. personality. >> Yeah, because you know, as we get older. sex. fades anyways. So, it's like, you know, it's like Everything falls. Everything, yeah. Just letting you know in another. 20 years, but. >> [laughter]. >> gravity is not our friend. Oh, no, I. know. I'm 46 and I'm about to get on. HRT. I was having the phone calls before.

you walked in. >> [laughter]. >> Um, [gasps]. to not to keep the sadness going, but. you did lose two of your children and. can we just touch on that briefly. because I just want to paint a picture. for people at home who don't know you or. know your story. Like it's not always. been wins for you and like yes, you've. adopted these children, but you've also. had hardships with not only a biological. child, but but an adoptive child. >> Yeah. When I adopted Sammy, I did not. know how sick he was until the day that.

I adopted him. I was in the judge's. chambers in Ghana and he said, "Are you. prepared to care for a boy who is this. sick?" And I hadn't seen any of his. health records or anything, but the. judge had some of them. And I said, "Well, I'm sure I can get better health. care in America than here." And he said, "Of course, but I'm asking you. personally, are you prepared to care for. a boy who is this sick?" And my son. wasn't in the room and I said, "What do. you I don't understand." He said,

"His life expectancy is going to be much. shorter than the average person." So, I. I left his chambers, I went and Googled. sickle cell anemia, I read about it, I. you know, came back the next day and. said, "Yes, you know, I'm ready to do. this." I took him home a week later and. his. sickle cell had caused so much damage to. his body while he was growing and not.

getting any medical care. In the foster. in the foster system. >> from Ghana. He was in an orphanage. Okay. From the time he was a baby. He. was raised in an orphanage. >> Oh my goodness. And. um. his heart was twice the size of a normal. heart because it had had to pump so hard. to pump the sickled cells through. And I thought, you know, we'll get him. to America, we'll get him the best. health care. We took him to Children's, he had the best doctors, he had the best. health care, but he got an infection.

that went septic. And. they tried everything. They tried. everything. Blood transfusions, everything, and his heart stopped. Mhm. Um and I thought I was going to die. I. did not know I could hurt that bad. >> Oh my gosh. You know, here I brought him. to America. I adopted him to give him a. long and healthy life,

and he was gone. How long did you have him for? Um from. the time I met him till the time he. passed was a little more than 3 years. >> Oh my gosh. >> Yeah. So, I I. never. never. never knew that kind of pain. Mhm. Like. losing my parents, losing my brother, all that was devastating, but nothing. like watching a child. >> watching a child.

Mhm. And. then it was 5 years later we lost my. baby, my biological baby, Zach. Zach had decided to move in with his dad. when he was a senior. He had never lived. with his dad. And. I couldn't stop it. I didn't want him. to, but by law I couldn't stop it, and. he moved in with his dad, and. he had a very sad accident on Halloween. night.

Plowed into the side of a police car, and. nobody was seriously hurt. The policeman. cut his head, but my son thought he had. killed them cuz it knocked him out. And. that caused trauma. And then some other very sad things. happened, and he went into a depression. that he couldn't shake, and so. my ex and I took him to a doctor who put. him on medicine Mhm. that destroyed him. Mhm. And I called the doctor three.

times. Twice while my son was alive, once when. he passed. I've never gotten a call. back. But I called him, and I said I was there. with my son when you prescribed this. He. gave you permission to talk to me. Please call me. There's something wrong. There is something wrong. I called him a. month later and I said, "My son is not. doing any better. Please call me. There. is something wrong." Was he having like. a reaction? Uh just Like the side effects of the. meds they put him on. First off,

most people don't know this, but SSRIs. are deadly for teenagers. 47% of kids. who take them. develop more suicidal ideation than kids. given a placebo. They knew that when they start marketing. it to kids. They were caught 10 or 20 years after. they started marketing this to kids, and. they were fined, but the only thing they. forced them to do is to put a black box. warning on the prescription. So there's.

a black box warning saying if there's. any weird side effects, please consult. your physician. This can cause suicidal ideation. I. never saw the black box because I'm not. the one getting the prescription, and in. Washington state, if you're over 14, parents can't be involved in your health. care unless you permission them. He had. permission me, but I hadn't seen the. black box warning. I knew nothing about. this. I knew I had no idea that SSRIs. are deadly for teenagers. >> But what child at 14 can make those kind. of decisions for themselves, too? That's.

insane. Yeah. So, he was 18. He decided that the side. effects were causing him to go crazy, which they were. And he took himself off the meds cold. turkey without telling anybody. And 18 days later, he took his life. >> Oh my goodness. So, anybody who has a. child on an SSRI, watch them like a. hawk. Watch them like a hawk. If they decide. to take themself off or if your doctor.

decides, don't go by what the doctors. say and they they step down from 75 to. 50 to 25 to zero, you have to titrate. down minuscule amounts at a time or. you'll get these things called brain. zaps that he was getting. He said, "Mom, it feels like there's electrodes in my. brain." Oh my goodness. And I didn't. know. Mhm. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. Can we talk about the delay You have a. Delilah Junior. I do.

>> Do you have multiple Delilah Juniors or. just one? Well, I have a Delilah Junior. and. >> [laughter]. >> today, um, another Delilah's husband and. brother-in-law showed up at my farm. They're going to be living on our. property cuz like you, I've got acreage. Um, and there's. [laughter and clears throat] a young. woman that I met when she was four. She's a year older than my. one of my daughters and they grew up. together who was named after me Aw. and. I didn't know their family. She just her.

mom and dad named her after me on the. radio and she became like another one of. my kids and when her folks divorced and. her mom moved she became a part of our. extended family and she went in the. military, had some health issues. She's. getting out of the military in 14 days. and is moving onto the farm. So, there'll actually be three Delilahs on. the same property. >> [laughter]. >> Three Delilah Renées on the same. property cuz she's Delilah Renée, then. my daughter Delilah is Delilah Junior.

Um, do you guys call her DJ? No, we call. her Baby D cuz there was Mama D and then. the other Delilah was Little Delilah. We. called her Little Delilah. So, Baby D. was Baby D. Little Delilah's now grown up, so we. can't call her Little Delilah anymore. and but Baby D stuck, so at home she's. Baby D. I love that. >> And it all kind of runs into Baby D or. Bay D. It's just. >> [laughter]. >> So, Baby D just went to prom. Just went.

to prom last weekend. >> Ours just went to prom, too, and she got. prom queen. So, we were like so proud of. her. >> Woohoo! I know. We were so proud. You. made all of her bouquets and. decorations. Are you crafty like that? >> I am. I'm not. I cannot do anything arts. and crafts at all. How do you have the. patience? There's no way I can do it. >> That's I love to create anything. I love. to paint. I love to draw. I love to. sculpt. Uh I would love to be a. full-time artist, but I wouldn't make. any money. >> [laughter].

>> Uh or do set designs. I love to do set. designs. >> the if it was like a one one out of. zero you know, like a one in one Delilah. Rene painting, you could probably make. some money. So, [laughter]. uh her little school our little school I. love it so much. For their prom dinner, you know, I see my friends whose daughters have to. or you know, they have to have money to. rent a limo and rent a tax and go to. dinner and blah blah blah. And our.

little school they went to a county park. and brought taco fixings and sat around. uh you know, bench. park table and ate tacos for their their. prom dinner, which was very sweet. >> I love that. And you garden and you live. What is it called? Farm to table? A farm. to table lifestyle? So, do you grow. everything on your farm? >> I do. I grow. >> That's the dream. >> Thousands of pounds of food and produce. and That's the dream. Yeah. Do you So,

you garden and you grow the stuff. yourself or do you have a gardener? I. can't I dude, I do not have a green. thumb. I need to come stay like a week. with you. >> I need to come stay a week with you. You. got to teach me some stuff. >> to come and I will teach you herbs and. natural pathic stuff and gardening. I. love it. I'm into all natural pathic. stuff. So, whatever you want to teach me. we got to get each other's numbers so. that we can text and stuff like that. >> Yeah. We will. So, Layla, thank you so. much for coming on today. You. >> on a little um.

clip I did on Tik Tok, I said you are. neither of your title. You are neither. dumb. and I'm guessing not as naturally blonde. as we once were. >> [laughter]. >> Never. I was never blonde. I'm a. brunette. And my hair's almost black. Really? >> Yes. I'm Brazilian. >> blonde once. Therefore, I get to be blonde forever. >> same. It's like once you [clears throat]. go light, you just cannot go back to the. dark hair. I get depressed and I look. like super super cuz I'm Brazilian. So, I look super Brazilian when I have dark.

hair. Well, Brazilians are the most. beautiful women in the world. That's not. a bad thing. >> No, no, no. Not saying it's a bad thing. I just to me I need the brightness. I. totally need the brightness, but I'm. really going to come stay a week at your. farm. >> I'm not kidding. You are invited. >> We literally travel all. >> Although, I read that you are OCD. So, I. could harness your energy, but for the. first 48 hours until you get it a little. organized, you might be kind of. discombobulated. cuz I am the opposite end of the. spectrum.

>> Gotcha. I am so. so. ADHD. >> Uh-huh. like there's a place for. everything and everything all over the. place. >> Oh, you're type B. I'm type A, you're. type B. I am type slob. I am type. >> [laughter]. >> like Well, you need me. I'm going to go. there and organize. I'll go there and. organize and you teach me how to. freaking garden and like grow stuff cuz. I've killed sunflowers. I can't. >> Oh my god, you cannot kill sunflowers. >> I I didn't think you could until I. killed two. It's. >> How? I don't know. I think one I over.

watered and one just got crunchy in the. sun. I thought they were supposed to. grow in the sun. >> They do they they do grow in. Okay, you want to know the secret to. great gardening? Yes, please. >> Rabbit poop. Really? >> Rabbit manure. And not me. Not bunny. poop. Yeah, not bunny poop. No, a. different kind of rabbit. No, I I pay a. dude 20 bucks. a bag. for big old bags. He raises meat. rabbits. Yeah. >> And either I go or I make my husband go. about once every other month and bring.

home a truckload of bags. of rabbit doo. I love that. So, once I. get my garden going cuz we're going to. we're moving on to a new property and I. actually have some acres that I can do a. garden on. I'm going to be hitting you. up. First thing I'm going to do is. invest in some rabbit turds. >> Rabbits. >> Yeah, either raise your own or just know. somebody. Cuz if you buy two rabbits, you'll have 100 rabbits in a year. Oh, for sure. 100 rabbits in a year. So, but. if you know somebody that raises meat. rabbits, see then you don't have to go. out and feed them every day and you get. the benefits. I'm getting into the honey.

business this year. So, I bought some. bees. >> See, I got some bees last year and they. started producing a ton of honey and. then I got to taste the difference of. store-bought honey and your natural. honey. >> Yes, ma'am. So, we're calling it Bunny's. Honey and I'm looking for a manufacturer. right now cuz I really want to like. expand and like do this honey. Like I'm. like fully believing in this honey. And. then you can do like red hot honey. Ooh, yeah. >> Flavored honey and depending upon what. you're growing, if you've got acreage, you can grow fireweed or you can grow.

blackberries or whatever that flavors. your honey and you harvest it at. different times to get the different. flavors. >> Yes, ma'am. Okay, well, once this gets. up and going, I'm going to need your. creative direction. >> Okay, and I'll even do a little logo for. you. >> my victor, okay? >> Okay, I will I'll [laughter] teach you. everything I know. Aw, I appreciate it. Why don't you tell people where they can. listen to you, times and your social. medias and all that jazz? Uh, the. easiest way is to go on my website. delilah.com and click on listen now and.

it has a map of the US and you can find. a station close to you. If there's not a. station close to you, um, like here in this city, you can call. the local radio station and whine. Or. have your [laughter] teenagers call and. whine. >> Yeah. Show up at the station with, you. know, boxes of honey [laughter] and say, "Please, please, for Bunny, put Delilah. on the radio again.". >> Yes. Um and if you really if they don't.

do that, then you can download the. iHeartRadio app and listen to me 24/7. cuz they repeat my show. It's live at. night and then they repeat it all the. next day. So, you can have all Delilah. all the time. Um my website also has. links for all my podcasts or wherever. you download podcasts. I have two, Love. Someone with Delilah, that you're going. to be on, and then Have a Little Faith. with Delilah, which you really need to. be on. >> Yes. Um. and social, I'm on Facebook, I'm on.

Insta, and I'm on TikTok. My sister. helps with my Facebook and my Instagram. She's very organized. >> Love that. >> Um TikTok is all me and it's so. disorganized. I never know when I'm. going to post. >> you right now. >> know when I'm going to post or, you. know, when the idea hits, but that's. where uh I have a whole lot of fun. >> Yay, what's your handle on TikTok? >> radio.delilah radio.delilah, I'm. following you right now as soon as we. get off the mics right here. Thank you. so much, Delilah. I love you. Please.

come back to the show anytime you want. >> I will. I always come back. Always have. a seat for you. >> far more beautiful even than like all. the pictures I looked at. I was going to. go glam. I was going to go get my nails. done [laughter] and my hair done. I'm. like, "Why? I can't out-Bunny Bunny.". Like. you're so beautiful and I my hands are. going to be in the dirt tomorrow, so. >> Yeah, I literally podcast in sweats. I. just The only time you see me glammed up. glammed up as if I'm like on a red. carpet or I have to be glammed up, but I. prefer to be in sweats and just hanging.

out with my cows. Like that that that is. my idea of a perfect day. Well, you can. come and hang out with my cows when you. come to my property. Although, I have a. damn neighbor that stole some of them. What? >> I do. I have a neighbor. Get this. >> you steal a cow? A cow with ear tags. >> What the heck? So, our property butts up. against somebody else's property that. butts up against somebody else's. property, and the third person over. called my girlfriend Michelle, who lives.

on the other side of our property, and. said, "Uh do you have a black bull and a. couple of. uh Angus and a Highlander and blah blah. blah?" And she said, "Well, I have a. black bull, and yes, that's his tag. Why. are you asking?" He goes, "I sold him.". She's like, "What?" And so, she had lent. us her bull to get our girls pregnant, and her bull and a couple of my cows. somehow went off my property through a. down fence. We have elk that bring the. fence down all the time, over past the.

neighbor's property to this other guy. He knew damn good and well whose they. were. They have tags. He knew who they. were, and he sold them. Sold them. >> I would lose my mind. >> Sold them. And because they were legally. on his property, he legally could do. that. And so, Michelle calls me freaking. out, and I'm like, "Let me go check.". And I take a picture, and she said, "That's not Billy. Billy's got a blue. tag, not a yellow tag." And yeah, so, one of my steers he got $4,000 for. He.

sold my That's what jerks live out in in. in my valley. What? I would be throwing. hands. There's no way you If somebody. tried to sell crunch, we're fighting. I'm telling you, there's no way. Oh my. god, that I hate that. And the law that. if it's on his property, he can sell. them. They need to change that law. How. about return to sender? How about How. about you knew who they were who they. belonged to? Why didn't you call us? Why. did you not call Michelle or my husband?

Why did you not call us? That dude does. not get invited to any of the freaking. no. >> I hope he stubs his toe every day that. he wakes up. >> you step on a freaking Lego every day. >> of Legos. I hope your grandkid or your kid leaves. a thousand Legos on the floor. Matter of. fact, I hope you get a nail in your in. your foot. >> and have to go to the bathroom and don't. get to check for the Legos first. Amen, sister. >> [laughter]. >> Thank you so much for being here. And. thank you guys for tuning in to another. episode of Don't Blond. I'll see you.

guys next week. Bye.