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Hey, everybody. I'm Tarika Foster-Brasby. What's up, y'all? I'm your girl, Cheryl Swoops. When you tune in to a new episode of our podcast, Levels to This, you're definitely going to get some spicy WNBA analysis. But we're more than just hoops. And the real conversation is what we actually bring.

It's been really, really cool seeing kind of these women just really step into their power off the court and understand that they are basketball, right? And they're not asking for permission.

Listen to Levels to This with Cheryl Swoops and Tariqa Foster-Brasby on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Weekend afternoons might as well be an open house with guided tours.

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This is Mojo in the Morning. One, two, three, two, one. This is Mojo in the Morning. Mojo.

Mojo. This show's up. And the rocket's red glare. You're not being logical is what I'm saying.

This is like an orgasm in a cop.

Showtime.

I feel like one of those TV news anchors that's filling in. I'm filling in for David Muir right now. Hey, look, that's a good look. On the nightly news. That is. Hi, everyone. My name is Joe. Mojo is out, and Mojo's also my dad. So you might hear us on the afternoon. I heard that we actually got the day off, though, today.

Well, it kind of sucks because you wanted the day off. But if you're staying with Mojo and he says, I'm not coming in. You go do the show. Now what? It's a little tough.

Yeah, you take orders. I'm a little bit freaking out right now. I don't know.

Why? You're fine. You've got this. Because I'm going to screw everything up. Who cares? That's the best part. What's your dad going to do, send you to your room?

Well, I'm going to send myself back to Florida if that's the case. He's not going to get me.

Like today are like when parents go out for date night for the first time in a year and they give you $20 for pizza and say, don't burn the house down. And you get kid cuisine. You get kid cuisine. This is today, okay? Just don't burn the house down and you're good.

Well, and listen, even if your dad was here, we would have still been messing up left and right this morning because we all had about two hours sleep after the big iHeart jingle ball at Little Caesars Arena, and we were all running around like crazy. And I think that's really what did your dad in and got him sick. He probably already had a little bug or something, but we did not have one free minute for six hours. Well, for your dad, it was eight hours because he went down early to hang out the Backstreet Boys and do the interview and stuff.

One of those long days where you can't, like, complain. Because, like, how are you going to complain about being with the Backstreet Boys? Best job in the world. Oh, yeah. Or Khalid or Kid Leroy.

It was so much fun. I couldn't believe how much fun it was. It was the best night ever.

And if you were there, please call us and tell us what you thought of the show. Because we would love to actually hear what you thought. 844-665-6548. 844-MOJO-LIVE. But I assume they're all still sleeping. We're the only dummies that had to get up this early. I don't think anyone is.

Are people up right now at this point?

Usually, yes. Yes? Yes.

I didn't know that.

Remember, this is a third shift town here. We've got a lot of great people going to work early and coming home from work.

This is my plan to fill in is I'm going to now start making fun of your guys' show and say no one listens. Now, everything, too, is on our socials as well, which there's a lot to, like, break down when it comes to Jingle Ball. And that's literally what it is because normally if Mojo's out, I mean, it would be – there's a thing we call best of. But it's very important that we talk about, fun fact, there is someone in this room.

where a Backstreet Boy almost punched him. And, like, we have, like, video.

Okay, I heard this story. It wasn't me. Thank God. I was on my best behavior on the Backstreet Boys. Almost rushed them backstage, but I did it. I refrained. I heard that this happened, but I haven't heard this story. So I am so excited to hear this story. When are we telling it?

We have audio of it, too, by the way.

Okay, when?

We'll do that, like, at 740.

Okay.

How about that?

Okay. They were just hanging in that backstage area For a while before they went on stage And I kept walking by going Do I ask them for a picture or don't be that girl Don't be that girl

We're supposed to maintain a level of professionalism

But like 11 year old Shannon Murphy was like Go do it, this is your chance

I wanted a photo so bad too Because I got the memo to wear all white last night And so I matched them And I really wanted a group photo Like I am an extra member of the band tonight And I was like leave them alone

Well, that was the cool part about the I Heart stage is the fact that it rotated and it turned and the Backstreet Boys were on this little level. I thought that it was going to turn and they'd all be standing on this. And I told Megan, why don't you just stand up there? Yeah, you know the moves. What's going to happen? What's the worst thing that's going to happen? They're going to have to run and get security to move you? No. They're going to let you stay up there.

Who was your fave? Who was everybody's fave last night?

Macklemore.

Macklemore. Macklemore was so good. I know. The Backstreet Boys. And the Backstreet Boys. Of course.

The VR was great, too.

Nick did so well. I love him.

And Khalid was great. If you got to hear it all live last night on the EJ show, if you weren't at the concert, we were broadcasting live the whole thing, and you got to hear a lot of us popping on and off the air and bringing the artists in. So, like, the kid Leroy would walk in and just hang out and talk on the air a little bit. And drop 10 F-bombs. Oh, my gosh. I think our boss had a stroke, right?

It was really just two, or three. It felt like five, didn't it? I heard it was more than that.

Yeah, it was messy. Wait, really? Yes, he did. Yeah, it was sloppy. I don't know how he could forget he was on the radio We're all just four radio people Talking to him

This is the only jingle ball Where they actually put stuff live on the radio So the artists weren't even I know Khalid kind of had a little issue Are we allowed to talk about these side things?

I don't know that there was an issue with Khalid He was so low key and very very sweet

That's true we just had to delete the interview video

The video I think there was something that was asked That they didn't really love or wasn't comfortable But Kid Leroy, it was so funny because he comes backstage, he does the interview. First of all, I have to describe to you, he comes backstage wearing the heaviest winter coat you've ever seen in your life with a fur hood and then a fur hat and does the interview that way. He actually performed on stage that way, too. I don't know how he wasn't sweating through his clothes because the rest of us were. But he was just like, just drop an F-bath on it, right? And then he got apologizing after. I'm like, it's okay, because it's too late. We're already in trouble. We're already in trouble.

During the show, we had to all obviously go on stage to introduce all the acts. But then when we weren't on stage, we were backstage doing interviews. We were also doing all these extra little things like artist experience, bringing listeners backstage to meet them and see them perform. And then Mojo and I had the job of running up to the very last row, all the way in the back of Little Caesars Arena, and surprise fans with front row tickets and then bring them down and put them in the front row for the whole show. So we did that a few times. I think that really honestly might have been what did your dad in because Mojo was there all day. He was so tired. He was doing sound check stuff. He was doing stuff with record labels. We had such a busy day. We didn't really have five minutes to even stop and enjoy everything because the minute we had five minutes, we would all run out to the concourse to meet listeners and hang out and take selfies.

By the way, running up all the way to the top, and then running back down, if that was the only thing I did in the day, that would do me in.

I would have to be off. It was a lot of stairs. I underestimated, yeah. So it was a lot of fun, but I think Mojo already had a bug, so he was trying to hold on and keep himself running and healthy until this show was over, and then I think his body just said, okay, that's done, you're it. I gave you Jingle Ball. Now I'm collapsing on you.

When he did not get up and dance for I Want It That Way, the Backstreet Boys. He was already doing it. This is no bueno tomorrow.

He actually, I think he, as soon as we introduced Backstreet Boys, I think he had an Uber waiting for him backstage, and he went home, left Chelsea and all his friends and family to enjoy the show and just said, you guys don't worry about me. And he went home, and I knew it was bad when he wasn't in this morning because like you said before we went on the air this morning, Joe, every other city that they do Jingle Ball in, the morning show takes off because they want to go party afterwards. We want to come in and talk about it and hang out with the listeners that were there.

Well, what good does it do it for anyone who, you know, hears all about it and then doesn't even get to hear the actual payoff of the concert? But John was there. John, what was Jingle Ball like? 1 through 10, you give it an 11?

I'm giving it a 12.

It was the first concert that month.

My daughter and I went to do together. We had a suite looking right now. We can see front stage and backstage. And my daughter is actually with me now, and we're on our way to school. Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh.

It was a late night. Who did you guys love seeing?

Macklemore was actually one of her favorites. Yeah.

Macklemore was incredible. No one was talking about Macklemore before, and he was the only one people were talking about after. All right. Thank you, John. We love you both. Thank you for being a part of the family. Hey, hold on one second. Amy, you're dragging butt today. Were you at Jingle Ball or is this just a very tired Wednesday for you?

Oh, no, no, no. I am driving the struggle bus. I was at Jingle Ball and it was worse. Every single lack of sleep I'm having today.

The artists were all great, but how beautiful did all the ladies on this show look on stage last night? I mean, was that amazing? That's why I didn't care so much to look into what it was that I was wearing because I knew nobody was going to be looking at me on stage.

I love that you're deflecting the fact that you were wearing actually the ugliest Christmas sweater I've ever seen in my life.

Yeah, I don't know if you heard about that, Joe.

Did I hear about it? I was told I couldn't say anything. We were all told. It was like a whole entire building secret.

No listeners, they don't love me. They didn't tell me. I thought somebody would sneak into my DMs and let me know what was going on. no it wasn't until we were about to walk out on stage and i'm like guys where's your sweaters like i was putting on my my ugly gear we're walking on stage and that's when i realized you son you guys got me so i look like a fool but that's okay i noticed you had multiple changes though well yeah i did uh bring in uh a couple clothes because i did soak sweat right through my clothes so i did have a normal outfit for after the ugly sweater and because i knew it gonna be too hot to wear a sweater all night yeah and then i soaked through that running around talking to people all night so i brought an extra shirt and uh ashley got to see my nipples yeah i did i did a costume change i didn't even care at the end of the night i was in the room i i think khalid might have been i don't know who else was there but i just wanted to change shirts again and plus the backstreet boys were coming on so i put on my i love hot mom shirt for the backstreet boys fans and uh yeah did you get that at hot topic by the way probably and nice probably later

in the show you should let me rate all the guys uh nipples have you seen everybody's nipples i've seen joe's i've seen oh jed you know i love yours we have got some great ones wait okay we need to talk about this because i want to know what makes his better than yeah wait hold on jett take it off go ahead go ahead he's just got great ones man aren't they great they're just They're not too pink, they're just, I don't know. What's wrong if they're pink? No, I'm checking. What the hell am I? I love how it's 6.20 in the morning and everybody's like to push up.

Shannon, we can see your nipple. Go ahead, it's all right, you can do that. Megan, you too. KP joined in, where's Reese as well? See, I'm asking both, I'm asking both genders. That's all right. It's good for social.

Mojo and I once did post a picture of my nipple next to his nipple, because we were trying to see whose was bigger, and Mojo's did have a hair coming out of it. See? I have so many hairs coming out of mine.

That's why I can't. That must be a Cuban thing. Don't guys nipples have hair coming out of them?

Mine don't. No, it has a round of hair. He doesn't have a lot of hair. Not the areola, but I mean, you know. Wait, it comes out of it? Yeah.

Now he's checking his nipples.

There's so many shirts getting raised. See how that hair still has?

This is like a kindergarten class where one kid says nipple next to every kid's shirt is off. Can we get one more person who is a jingle ball? I love, by the way, this proves to you to every other morning show around the country that has a Jingle Ball. This is why you have to be in, because it's the intro of the show, and even Anne-Marie is up. But you were at Jingle Ball. Are you tired, too?

Oh, my goodness. I am exhausted, and I'm on my way to work. But it was worth every minute of it. It was great. Who was your favorite? I was up in the suite. I talked to you guys yesterday, and I was up in the suite. I won tickets. It's the only thing I was hoping for, for you guys to be on stage more. The Mojo Show to be on stage more.

Nobody wants to see us out there. You get to hear us every morning.

What do you guys focus on? That brings up a good point, because, Anne-Marie, you say that, but, like, I would be listening, and the only time people would scream and shout and actually care, I felt like everyone was on their phones until you said, Backstreet Boys!

So true.

Yep, yep.

It was great. Everyone, all the X were awesome.

Good. I'm glad to hear that. We have lots of great stories to share all morning about what happened backstage, onstage, all that stuff. And it was so much fun, and we love the listeners so much because you make us feel so special as we're walking around and people get excited to take selfies and stuff, and that's why we do this. This was our very first Jingle Ball in Detroit. All the bosses, did you see all the corporate bosses backstage? Oh, yeah. They were like, you guys lit this building on fire.

We're going to do this again. They said, we've got to bring it back to Detroit. I hope so.

I think it will happen. I think it will only get bigger.

Yeah.

Because the other thing, too, I assume that the artists will talk about it. They'll go, well, I don't want to go to that city because they're kind of bores. But Detroit was pretty cool. Oh, yeah. Detroit was pretty fun.

Yeah, the artists loved it. Everybody took notes. They're like, we're going to do this again, and we're also not going to let Ashley have any tequila backstage.

Anyone, I know that we had the strict rule, don't drink. No, I did not.

This might have been the first concert I've been to in 10 years I didn't have a drink at. And it wasn't because of the rules. I don't care about that. I would have had a drink anyway.

I took a sip of Wes's beer at one point. That was the only alcohol I had all night.

Yeah. You had a shot.

Who's who? Don't act like you did. All right, guys. All right. I had like three, four shots, baby. I was going crazy with it. I didn't go home. I didn't go home. It was great.

Last question, because I know we got like back in the day on the way, and then of course breaking and entering. I mean, it's a loaded morning.

Five nights to tell your mom.

Don't forget, we have Morgan Wallen tickets at 9 o'clock. And, oh, by the way, Taylor Swift tickets, too. Taylor Swift tickets. How could you forget? Well, I forgot the time. What time is it at?

We're going 6.50 and 9.50 this morning.

6.50 and 9.50. Isn't that beautiful? I love it. Were you at the Motown building at, like, 4 in the morning? Oh, my gosh. People are telling me.

I tried to keep it a secret.

Ashley.

We have to talk about that, too. Did you sleep? This is single, Ashley. For 30 minutes.

Were you swiping? Were you, like, trying to match?

Listen, I was making sure KP and Jed weren't going to do anything crazy in that hotel room.

Wait a minute. Wait, what? I'm going to rest assured that nothing. Wait. We have so much to catch up on. You know how, when we did the whole show rundown, did you notice that, like, KP's like, all right, well, Shannon, what do you want to do here? and then joe what what should we do here she didn't say anything about kp we didn't have a kp topic but we're all wondering where was kp last night and why not ask jed for a topic from last night we all have to recap our jingle ball experience and we also put them in this little

room they're producing together right now they're producing what that's the real question fresh

summer mornings start at the sink that's where hello comes in with toothpaste that brightens your routine bringing a little yay to your everyday say goodbye to tartar and brush away plaque with hello's anti-plaque and whitening toothpaste or say hello to a brighter smile powered by vitamin c with vitamin c whitening toothpaste hello products are thoughtfully designed with no sls dyes or artificial flavors making them the one thing your summer routine can't live without shop hello toothpaste online or at a store near you

Hey, everybody. I'm Tariqa Foster-Brasby. What's up, y'all? I'm your girl, Cheryl Swoops. When you tune in to a new episode of our podcast, Levels to This, you're definitely going to get some spicy WNBA analysis. But we're more than just hoops. And the real conversation is what we actually bring.

It's been really, really cool seeing kind of these women just really step into their power off the court and understand that they aren't basketball, right? And they're not asking for permission.

Listen to Levels to This with Stroh Swoops and Tariqa Foster-Brasby on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Here at the Happiness Lab, we're serving up some hot takes for the summer. Big ideas that just might reshape how you think about your well-being. Like the radical notion that we should get rid of small talk completely.

We talk about current events. We talk about what you do for a living. But not, do you love what you do for a living? Is this your dream job?

For more surprising ideas backed by psychological science, check out our new series, Happiness Hot Takes. Listen to The Happiness Lab with me, Dr. Laurie Santos, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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