The Hangout Podcast - Episode 8 - Dakota Chappy

https://www.facebook.com/TheMagicDistrict/ 

Transcript

unknown 0:01

Am I a milking that is me?

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Like they know it just what you dream is the way that you make those things reality. You see that's a magic of me.

SPEAKER_02 0:21

Hey guys, welcome again to the Hang Up Podcast. The magic Digrick Hangout Podcast. Yes, I'm always announcing it. So I figured I'd let you go. Anyway, uh today we have a really cool guest. Like, okay, so the funny thing about this guest is that I know this guest in a different way than he does. And I'm very excited because at one point someone told me that we were very similar in a lot of ways, which I didn't understand.

SPEAKER_03 0:44

But now that we know what we're I wish you were sitting here because we got two very strong women. Yes. And that's that are I mean, which is cool. So do you want me to announce who it is? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 0:52

Okay, guys, we have Chappie Windsor, Dakota Chappie in the house, aka. Do you have a stage name too? Or is it Dakota Chappie is the stage name. That is okay. Yes. Okay, just want to check it because when we had Dakota Faye. Oh, I know. We yeah, we had to find out about his name, his like, you know, stage name and how that happened. He was so excited to tell that story.

SPEAKER_04 1:13

Right.

SPEAKER_02 1:13

So thank you so much for coming on. We are so excited to have you here today.

SPEAKER_01 1:17

Thank you. I'm thrilled to be here. Awesome.

SPEAKER_02 1:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:19

It was I I want you to know I literally planned my entire weekend around this. Can I tell you everything?

SPEAKER_02 1:25

You think first of all, thank you. But by the way, I want to just say, can you see how fabulous she guys look? Please, Adam, look at this. Look at you need to stand up, Adam. This is the couch. You need to stand up for a second. Just turn around. No, no, no. Woo! Look at dude, seriously? To the nines. I love it.

SPEAKER_01 1:40

There were there were some other things that I last minute planned it, but there were other things that I did.

SPEAKER_02 1:45

I mean the whole look. It's everything.

SPEAKER_01 1:46

Oh, thank you.

SPEAKER_02 1:47

And that's the whole thing. I love it. You're so well put together. And and I I have work in a sandwich shop. I'm not always well put together, but I will tell you, I did get this top from your new boutique in the mall. By the way, guys, you have to check this out.

SPEAKER_03 2:00

Which is cool because Chappie, you just moved everything.

SPEAKER_02 2:03

Everything. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 2:04

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 2:05

Everything, which is insane because when I moved here, I knew nothing but like I see them out with fur coats and walking on the road in the middle of the winter. And I'm like, oh, we have a fashion show outside in the middle of winter. Awesome. Like, who does that?

SPEAKER_04 2:16

Right.

SPEAKER_02 2:17

And now you move now to the mall. I've moved to the mall. But I hear you have fashion shows there too now. Yes, I do. We built a runway right in the store. That's awesome. So please explain a little bit about who you are, like what your whole thing is, because I'm still learning about you too.

SPEAKER_03 2:29

Chappie, you also do music. Yes. And way back in the day, Chappie was in a band called The Pink Ladies.

SPEAKER_01 2:37

The Pink Ladies. Oh my God, I love that.

SPEAKER_02 2:39

Okay, tell me about this. I know nothing about this.

SPEAKER_01 2:41

You know, I'm sitting here and I'm looking out the window, and I feel like this might have been the actual spot. I know it was on this side of the street. Brays is right here, right? Down right. Okay, so yep, it might have been right in front of this very storefront that I agreed to be in my first band. So Carrie Nelson Sitma.

SPEAKER_03 2:59

Right. Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:01

The former first lady of Mina.

SPEAKER_03 3:02

So former first lady of Mina.

SPEAKER_01 3:04

Um, she and I were walking downtown and I started singing Sister Goldenhair Surprise by America. Oh my goodness. This is a song from the 70s. Really lovely. Yeah. And um she looked at me and she said, You have such a great voice. We should start an all-girl punk band. And when I have been thinking about this over the last couple of days, I re because Magic's because um the North Dakota Music Hall of Fame did a spotlight on me this week. So shout out to them, K Kit Radio. Yeah. So I've just been kind of like peeling the onion back and like working with my memory, what memory I have at this point. Um, and I was thinking about how Carrie said that to me. And it is the first memory that I have that I can recall of anybody complimenting me on my voice.

SPEAKER_03 3:54

It's kind of cool. Somebody giving you basically, you could say that helped get you to where you're at today a little bit.

SPEAKER_01 3:59

It sounds like 100%. It's a pivotal moment. It's like a such a pivotal moment because it was literally like one of those moments where I was like, okay, so I'm not the only one that thinks that. Because growing up, um, you know, I mean, I grew up in Grey House, I was I was encouraged in things. Um, but in school, um, you know, I can remember kind of feeling like nobody could really see me for who I really was. Like I didn't ever really doubt myself, yeah, but I was convinced I was the only one that thought the things about me that I know about myself.

SPEAKER_02 4:37

I love that you're saying that because I actually had a moment yesterday about something similar about that. And it's interesting how some people you think you think of them one way, but then you don't know what they're really going through.

SPEAKER_03 4:50

They're thinking about themselves.

SPEAKER_02 4:51

And but but they don't know how they're seeing themselves, and they don't know if anyone's seeing them the way they see themselves. I love that you're saying that because that is so true that we don't know. We don't know. But I love that she also saw that and she did and she shared that with you. She didn't have to tell you anything.

SPEAKER_01 5:06

She did kept walking. And I just think it speaks to like go ahead and just encourage each other. Like put give give the compliment.

SPEAKER_04 5:14

Sure.

SPEAKER_01 5:14

Even if you think that that person it's very obvious to them, I don't think that we have to worry about like blowing up each other's egos because I think that there's so much that happens in the universe that humbles us that we do not need to humble each other. Yeah, nobody needs to humble anybody else. Like all the circumstances that we will deal with will do that for us. Life will do that for us. Yes. So just keep being the encourager, you know, keep um, you know, sharing the compliments if you have a good feeling or an admirable quality that you see in someone else, like verbalize that. Because I mean, think about that pivotal moment that Carrie gave me that day. Right. Yeah, it was a gift, you know, such a gift.

SPEAKER_03 5:50

Right.

SPEAKER_01 5:51

It was a gift.

SPEAKER_03 5:51

And so so um going from that moment, so you did so did she play guitar, right?

SPEAKER_01 5:58

Okay, Carrie did play guitar. Yeah, um, I had started kind of dabbling with it a little bit.

SPEAKER_04 6:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:05

Um, shout out to Aaron Keelan, Keebler, if anybody remembers him from the punk days. He was the one that um kind of like put his guitar in my hands, and I found some alternative chord progression type things that I still play broken code cords.

SPEAKER_03 6:20

Had a huge punk scene. Yes, and this is what we're talking about.

SPEAKER_02 6:23

This is what we're talking about. Yeah, yeah. Oh, that's awesome. This is nineties. Yeah. Oh, well, come on, 90s was fully punk and grunge and all that stuff.

SPEAKER_01 6:31

I love that. Okay, so you guys were part of that scene. We were part of that scene. Um, I think probably one of the biggest shows we had here was Bikini Kell. Were you at that one?

SPEAKER_03 6:39

I was not at that one, but I I remember hearing I've heard about it.

SPEAKER_01 6:42

Okay, so bikini kill.

SPEAKER_03 6:44

Which is uh clean Hannah, right? Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 6:47

Where were these at by the way? Right down here. Right. And did you know, did you know that there is a new sort of Lilith Fair that Olivia Rodrigo just started and Bikini Kill is on that ticket? No, and I've been to Lilith Fair.

SPEAKER_02 7:02

So I I I know what that's about too. That's fantastic.

SPEAKER_01 7:05

So it's in Sarah McLaughlin's on it. You know when she started it or whatever. But I mean, it's just it's just so interesting that like what separates us from people who are household names is really nothing at all. Right.

SPEAKER_03 7:20

You're right.

SPEAKER_01 7:20

You know, like when I go to a big concert, one of my favorite things is to be right up against the edge of the stage. Yes, because I literally feel like the stage is where I belong. And so I have like a magnetic pull in my soul that draws me closer and closer and closer to that all of the time. I feel you. And I and I like to be in those spaces. I like to put myself in those spaces.

SPEAKER_00 7:43

Love rocking. Yeah, and it's funny.

SPEAKER_02 7:44

Yeah, I was just saying one of our other previous guests, which is actually Craig Rutland, who was for the fair, he and I were just talking about the concerts. We were just talking about, you know, how they choose them and who they're coming in. I'm like, look, I was a concert going my whole life. Like that was my thing. I was not like a person that was like, I need to play music, but I'm like, I need energy. There's a there's a pull of that. And I do theater, so theatrics are entertainment of some sort. So I get you what you're saying. It's an energy thing. Fantastic. It's an energy thing. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:13

But yeah, the punk scene was amazing. Yeah, it was a really magical time. I was um downtown at Citizens Alley the other night um for Jasmine's and and the girls who rock and everything that's happening there. And I I turned to somebody and I said, Do you think that we will look back in the at this in like 30, 40 years from now and be recalling what a magical time this is right here that we're living? Yes. You know, because I growing up, my parents would always talk about downtown Mina and like going to Ellison's and I heard. And I heard you mention uh Betty Fedorchek on the podcast, who's a dear dear's friend. Yep. And just you know, those things that become so nostalgic, like to just have this moment here with you guys on this podcast and think about the nostalgia that we are actually creating right now.

SPEAKER_02 9:00

And the moment it's funny because people say, God, you lived us such a great life back in the day. I'm like, we did, but we enjoyed it, and we look back. So what you're saying is absolutely true. Right. That's why we wanted to do this, so we could have these conversations so we can look back and say, what exactly has been going on? What is the history? What do people know and don't know?

SPEAKER_03 9:17

Right.

SPEAKER_02 9:18

You know, and that's what it's about. It's it's it's just that collection of stories. It blazes it.

SPEAKER_01 9:24

People are always talking about their ancestry. There's so much conversation around that. I heard you mention MHA, right? Yes. Um, so that's Mandan Hadatza Erika tribe, three affiliated tribes for anybody that doesn't know. But um, I I've been thinking a lot about lately about how I am someone's future ancestor and how I'm showing up in the world and how I'm shaping um that like coming together of my culture and my bloodline. Because at what point does the culture become the blood? Yeah. At what point does the blood become the culture? And just how we kind of are identifying ourselves and others like within this space. And I've been thinking about how powerful it is to think about what kind of ancestor I am.

SPEAKER_02 10:12

Yeah. I mean, like when they look back, what are they gonna see that you brought to the table? Right. They're like, I'm proud of that. Right. And looking at mine too, it's funny. But I look back and I'm like, wow, I didn't know I had a great great grandfather named Salvatore. I mean, Salvatore. That's crazy. Like I hear that name all the time, my whole life. I never identified with it because I can't tell you I'm I feel like I knew that person, but now when you dig into that, you say, Okay, was it a part of him that's me now? So what does that mean? So I love that you're saying that because my not is very a lot of hodgepodge cultures now, but generally it's always been known as Scandinavian, sure, which you do have some heritage from that. I do. So I do tell me about that because I know you guys used to have a business uh and used to play at the business. Was that your dad?

SPEAKER_01 10:57

Okay, so my dad um had Wild Things Gallery. Okay. So my parents, I should say my parents. Yes. Yes, and it was in the Dakota Square Mall. Um, what building though?

SPEAKER_02 11:08

Yes, okay. That was a cool building, by the way. I it's still there. So first it was in the mall and then they then they moved it. Okay, did you guys build that building? Um, we did not. It was a former Jehovah Witness Kingdom Hard. Really? Oh, I would never put that there. Yeah, but I like the idea of Wild Things in that building, though. It seems like that makes a good fit.

SPEAKER_01 11:25

Yes, it did make a great fit. Um so yeah, my dad had Wild Things Gallery, my parents had Wild Things Gallery. I grew up um with like just a a a huge part of what was emphasized in everything growing up was culture. So my aunt was the executive director of the North Coast Fest, Pam Davy. Oh, yes, I know Tam. Yep. Pam. And then my my father is a Native American historian, so like we grew up going to all the powwows, and we had like So outside of Wild Things, there was actually a teepee there.

SPEAKER_03 11:59

Yes. And I remember I I I just moved back to town and um the the wife and I wanted to find a place to eat and just I like newlywed. And we went there, and I believe it was your dad was playing guitar inside the teepee, which was really Oh my gosh, that's awesome. Oh, it was awesome, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:15

Yeah, my dad um I think is a like a good example of like how like where where does the bloodline like cross over into culture where does it come back? Um we have not done 23andMe, so I don't know if there's anything in the bloodline, but there is something definitely some kind of influence that that he and I both feel um a pull to like the native cultures. So when I started my business, I named it Dakota Chat because I'm very proud to be from North Dakota. Right. And I wanted a fusion of Scandinavian and Native American culture represented through fashion. I love that because this is what I my eyes have seen and what I've experienced um growing up. And my name in old, well, since Dakota Faye got to tell his name story. Yeah, my name story. But um, my name in old English means loyal friend. So chappy um people will say he's a good chap or whatever. It has a male connotation with Chappie. And then in um Lakota Sue, um, Dakota means friend or ally, which I didn't intentionally choose that. Yeah, I chose Dakota because I wanted to be to represent. The you know, North Dakota. Sure. I wanted to just make sure that no matter what happened and where things went for me, that I always had that as a part of like what I had done. Yeah, what I get in my identity. Yeah, I get you. And so I mean, it was like maybe three years into my business, and my dad was like, you know, have you ever thought about this? And I was like, oh my gosh, how serendipitous is that? You know? So, like, did I choose the name or did the name choose me?

SPEAKER_02 13:56

Yeah, you know, yeah. Yeah. Oh my goodness. So, okay, so you were there, you worked there with your family. I did.

SPEAKER_01 14:03

And did you play music there too? Or was this right around that table? You know, I guess probably not really. Although there were some things that happened to me while I was there musically that were really pivotal. Okay. Um, there's a guy named G5 uh Glenn Clark, who is my favorite rapper of all time. Um, he just happens to be a friend. But you know, some of my favorite artists that I think are the the greatest in the world are people that are like that I know. Yeah. Of course. Of course. You know, I don't, I mean, I don't like hold fame in stardom as like an earmark of whether or not somebody is good. Um, so anyways, but Glenn's like one of my favorites, and he's the first one that introduced me to like a pre-recorded beat that then you could put music on top of because the track and then you over up until uh we were introduced, I always wrote everything on guitar. Oh and then you know, went into the studio and like recorded with like live instruments and did that whole production rather heavy, yeah, heavy, it's heavy work to do it that way. Um, and as a songwriter, there's some creative limitations that come with that because if you don't know how to play certain instruments, then you might not be able to translate that into something that people can hear, even if you can hear it in your head. So I hear a complete production music in my head when I write something. I can hear the drums, I can hear the guitar, I can hear the whole orchestration, everything gone.

SPEAKER_02 15:28

Yeah, that's fantastic.

SPEAKER_01 15:30

Um, but up until I worked with him, I didn't realize that that it was a possibility to actually translate that into something that someone then would create in the real world for me. Um and he's the one that did that. He's also the one that encouraged me to go forward with with rap because I up until that point I hadn't rapped at all. And I and I do. Yeah, I do that. Yeah, yeah. I'm not it's not the genre I'm currently really focusing on and pouring myself into, but that is what that is one of the things I do. And he really um just made me feel like I belonged in that space and I was welcome there. And that's nice, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:07

That's nice. That's well again. Coming from the time, the era we're from, you know, it felt felt very limited, you know, until Eminem shows up on the scene. No one ever thought like not a color thing, but it's like what white girl can rap. It's like what white guy can rap until you start showing that you have this cultural like feeling, this vibe in you, and you just it just comes out that way. It's not like you're trying to be anything, you're just doing it, and then you're like, oh my gosh, it just feels right. It's it's it's hopefully opening the eyes to other people to say, hey, you know what? We're all relevant, we all have something to give. I always say that, like, you know, the sandbox sandbox is large enough for it doesn't matter where you come from. I mean, look, Dakota Faye, he's half native. Do you think of his and uh him as a rapper?

SPEAKER_00 16:49

Right.

SPEAKER_02 16:50

So I love that idea. I love that you have that pull, but you don't have to always live in that space. You're diverse enough that you have other stuff. So, what is your focus on your music right now, since you did mention that?

SPEAKER_01 17:00

What is the oh so the genre? Yeah. Um, it's electronic dance pop music. I love that. Um so, but it's it's very like um commercial sounding, which I say very unapologetically. Squeaky clicky. I do. I say it unapologetically because I feel like it's super earwormy, it's very catchy. Yeah. I mean, you could literally hear like half of the song and be able to sing along to this.

SPEAKER_02 17:28

And you know, and those are those are the things that like people want like anthems. They want to feel that like energy. And you want people to learn your music fast. I do. I'm not gonna I love that.

SPEAKER_01 17:37

I'm not I'm never gonna say, like, you know, oh, I sound too commercial. No, uh-uh. No, I love it.

SPEAKER_02 17:43

I love it. I think that's fantastic. I think I think I no, because this is the thing is that to have an eclectic type of repertoire you could always pull, you know, you never know. One day when you start still doing concerts later, later, later, you can start pulling something out of anything. I guess and then you get people excited, you know. But you're like if you're like a one-tune wonder sometimes, especially with your eclectic look, too. I love that you have a vibe like of everything you do that you fit, you know, you make it fit and you you open the opportunity for other people to do that.

SPEAKER_01 18:12

So in my line of work at in the fashion space, yes, correct. Um, I have really begun to kind of like over the years I've been doing it, kind of peel back the onion and work with the some of the psychology of dressing and how that manifests itself into creating the life that you want. Sure. And for me, uh-huh, if I am not getting dressed, then I cannot stay in a vibration and in a space and in an open portal that creates the pathways for me to become who I really truly am supposed to be. I agree with you. So I that's why I dress like this. You know, it isn't um really for anyone else because honestly, if I don't leave the house, I'm still looking like this every day. Because if I don't, I literally will fall out of my magic.

SPEAKER_02 19:01

No, no, no. I I I love that you said that. I love that you said that because I have clothes that I don't wear because I have nowhere to wear them to right now. But I know what you mean. Before I moved here, I have things that I would wear every day because it was my magic. But doing the sandwich thing, I don't usually wear the clothes that I would like to wear. Which is Yeah, but but but but the thing is this is this is her. Like it's almost like it's it's it's you and and and oh yes. Yes. A lot of people don't identify with clothes like that as a part of their being. Same thing, some people don't care about food. They think if it's just sustenance, they don't care if it's like high-end or gourmet or good quality. So you have to look at it. It's like you cultivate enough of you to embrace that and you keep building on it because that's who you and that's what you're bringing to the table. And I love that because you care enough about yourself and respect yourself enough to do that. I think that's what comes down to.

SPEAKER_01 20:00

If you can see her, you can be her, which I feel like goes back to the punk thing and just what the scene was like in my knot um in the 90s. And um for me, I think it's so important for me to to live the way that I live because I think it gives people permission that maybe are going to say to themselves, I'm really not doing anything unique enough, I'm not special enough. I it doesn't matter what I wear because people don't see me, which when you really peel that onion back, equates to it doesn't matter because I don't matter. People don't understand like what they are saying. And I one thing that's been happening a lot in the store lately when people are coming in to um be styled or to get something new, they keep using these this phrase, you're taking me out of my comfort zone. Yeah. And I feel like this is something that we really need to the verbiage we need to reassess uh just across the board. I was trying to think of of today, like what value I could bring to this podcast, what um I could say to leave people with. And what I I what I want to I what I want you guys to take away um what you connect to, but start thinking about what your comfort zone is because you're actually, if you are needing to come out of it, then that means that that is actually not your comfort zone. You're in a zone that's no longer serving you.

SPEAKER_02 21:26

Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_01 21:27

Okay. It's a mindset of what you're saying. Yes. I love that. So you have there's a couple things going on if that you can mistake your comfort zone for. One is your default position. So, like in your instance, your default position is to wear something to work that serves the task at hand, right? Like you have a you have a purpose and a utilitarian thing that needs to be done. So what you're wearing is meeting your needs. So that's that's not within your comfort zone necessarily. That's just what you're defaulting to because it's what's functioning for you. Um, some People think that they're coming out of their comfort zone because they have a moment to meet that is outside of that norm. So they will say, like, I need a dress for this occasion. I don't usually do things like that. So this is out of my comfort zone. And when you say this is out of my comfort zone, you are implying that you are headed to a place that will be uncomfortable.

SPEAKER_02 22:24

And that is Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's I like that you say that is incredible. Look at what's where it's going, the part of the conversation. Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 22:30

So so we gotta like, we gotta get rid of that because that's implying that you're not gonna be comfortable in the place that you're going.

SPEAKER_02 22:36

Correct. I like that you clear that up because that's actually really true. No one looks at the other end of what they're saying.

SPEAKER_01 22:40

Yes. That's implying that. Yes. It implies that it will be an uncomfortable space. Wow. And so as you are transitioning to whatever it is, the next most truest version of you, let's not talk about coming out of our comfort zone. Yeah. And let's talk about leaving spaces behind that are no longer serving us. Yeah. Meeting our moments and being willing to connect with the highest version of ourselves enough to say, what can I reach for today that is going to represent who I want to be tomorrow?

SPEAKER_02 23:17

I love that. So that's that's like you're saying it is manifestation, but it's also like, you know, say your role is evolving in life. Yes. You have to know when you need to step into that role and leave the other one behind and you're evolving. It's not like you're saying goodbye, you know, putting it away. You're still part of that person, but that's not who you're reaching for and stepping into. You know, that's like how business is, you've evolved, it changes. It it's not always the same. So, you know, some people would say when I relocated by from the mall to hear, oh, I used to like your old shopper. Oh, hey, uh, you know, I'm not sure if I like this new thing. Well, you know what? Uh things change. Everything changes. Right. You change, you change, I change. That's all. It's constant. So I love that you say that because the clothes that I was talking about, which I just mentioned before, those clothes actually got in garbage bags because I don't fit them anymore. And I wanted to keep them, but I it was so freeing. Five garbage bags went to like Salvation Army because I'm like, what do you do? I can't wear them anymore. But I love them, but now I have new clothes to stepped into a new person I am. And yeah, I I think that's fantastic.

SPEAKER_04 24:18

Right.

SPEAKER_02 24:18

And that's that's a really good way of putting that. And that's with just clothes. And clothes is the easiest thing you can change that make you feel different right away. Yeah. Talking about clothes, I when I got this, I saw that you have some amazing shapewear that is really remarkable that I haven't known you done. Like with the jeans and but but evolving. So you evolved like so much, and the skirts and oh my god, the shiny pants all attached. I was like, should I wear this? I I I just I grabbed a blouse. But I'm gonna tell you that's something I need to get now. I love that. It's like the leggings that goes up with the top, like, but it was like not jeans, they're like shiny leopard print and stuff.

SPEAKER_01 24:57

Okay, so here's the thing that's crazy in business. This is like for all the entrepreneurs out there, you, you, everyone listening. Um, sometimes we feel like we're a broken record and we are just like repeating things and we're convinced that anybody that's listening has already heard it. But knowing me the way that you do, and then for you to be surprised at the depth of what was there, yeah, makes me understand that there are conversations yet to be had. Yes. Right with people who I'm already talking to. Yeah. Because there are over 200 different designs within the total creations. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:30

That rack was just like I've never seen, but see, the thing is, remember, she moved, by the way, guys. She moved to the mall. Now you're sp everything's on one floor, which a lot of people did not know, and I was unaware that you had a whole showroom downstairs. That's actually one of your reasons why you relocated, right? Did you tell us?

SPEAKER_01 25:47

You know, yeah. Do you guys want to know like some interesting, like vibrational things about the move? Yeah, let's hear it. I I'm ready. Okay. And I think this is really good also for anyone in the entrepreneur space. Um, and and telling yourself stories that might not be true. Okay. We have a lot of untelling and retelling to do in life. So I kind of grew up at Dakota Square because my dad opened his store first one when I was in first grade.

SPEAKER_04 26:15

Right.

SPEAKER_01 26:16

And then when I built my own business, I was going in and out of the malls as I could afford to and as the malls allowed. Because back in the day, the climate for an independent business wasn't as friendly as it is now. It was very like in the malls. You like the big, they like the big names in there. Okay. Yep, yep. They they had that was kind of the focus.

SPEAKER_03 26:34

And they weren't mom and pop shop.

SPEAKER_01 26:37

They were not mom and pop shop. Yeah. Um, you could make it work if they had availability, but it was it was kind of like only if they did. It was really limited opportunity, right? And so um with with the with my store, I had been in there in key in a kiosk for years before I then went to my own brick and mortar on Broadway. And I kept trying to go back in there and it was never good. But I kept telling myself, it's it's gonna be good. And it just wasn't, right? Like I'm going in, I'm going out. So we did that for like, I don't know, eight Christmas seasons or something, and like did various versions of ourselves. And last year I decided to go back in on a kiosk, which I was going to only do Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

SPEAKER_04 27:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 27:26

Um, ended up just needing to actually spend more time there to get the work done that I needed to. I was like, okay, let me just do every day of the week with the exception of Sunday. It was not great. I'm gonna tell you, like business-wise, it was not the numbers were not working out. But vibrationally, I felt like I needed to be there. Interesting. So you went against something. I went against the numbers. Yep. Okay. And I went with gut. Also, because our mission is to change lives and serve women. It is not necessarily to be a big revenue generator. I I understand. Okay. Right. Yep. So um I decided to move my entire store there on numbers that were not there because things were happening. There were people that I was able to say good morning to every morning that I otherwise wouldn't have been, and it was very fulfilling for me. Um, I've always said this business is such is such a spiritual mission. Yeah. And there were a lot of interactions that were happening that were not financially beneficial, but that were very spiritually beneficial for me and for the people that I was encountering. Sure. And every day when it was time to decide, am I going to the Broadway store to work or am I going to go to the mall? Because I had them both.

SPEAKER_02 28:43

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:45

I kept wanting to be there. Yeah. And so that was a big part of my move, was just what felt vibrationally right.

SPEAKER_02 28:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:56

Um, and in business, we I don't think that the narrative is generally um allows us to think about tell them to go to the other side. What it doesn't, it doesn't allow space for us to do our what our guts is saying a lot of stuff.

SPEAKER_02 29:13

I I agree. I agree. And if you have other people talking your ears saying, no, that's not a good fit. That's not you know, have you made those decisions where people are talking your ears saying this and this and that you know what they're saying? You you hear what they're saying, but you're like, but that's not what I want to do, and you end up going with them and you've made a bad decision because of that, that's what you're saying now.

SPEAKER_01 29:31

You face it off of I have a whole entire um presentation that I do, like keynote speech on manic money decisions and the bad decisions I made when I had a lot of money. Yeah. That were manic-y. Um, and so yes, listening to a lot of outside noise is definitely something that happens when you're in a manic money state. Yeah. But it really can happen at any time. Um, and I will say this I think there's a tremendous amount of value in bad advice in that a lot of times when somebody is giving you um like reinforcing a doubt that you have in yourself, that comes to you because you need to peel it all the way back and eliminate it. Yeah. They might speak an untruth on you because somewhere you have felt that. And it is now bestowed upon you to eliminate that all the way, and they put it in your face. So you have to do that. So that you would do it. And just do it. So that you would do it. Yep. That you would set out on the course to make what they have said untrue. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 30:41

Interesting. I love that. I love that, I love that. I love that you said that. Oh my gosh. Well, God, there's just so much we can keep talking about. Yeah, yeah. No, no, I don't I I want to talk about one more thing though, because we have not talked about this really quick. Um tell me about you at the fair this year.

SPEAKER_01 30:57

Oh, yay. Let's talk about it. Yes. Okay, so I'm um doing a residency. I I think this might be the fourth year of my residency. Um, I'm so blessed to bring pop music to the North Dakota State fair.

SPEAKER_03 31:11

Yeah. And you've been there probably the stage is if much has it hasn't changed, has it? No. So it's right next to the through the MHA.

SPEAKER_01 31:18

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 31:19

Right.

SPEAKER_01 31:19

Yes, it is. It's right next to the MHA. How fitting. Yeah, this is I know.

SPEAKER_03 31:23

Yeah, yeah. The energy is just right there with you.

SPEAKER_02 31:25

The full circle moments that I had are so isn't it? Isn't it rewarding just as like just knowing that like you're like, God, this is like a moment. Yeah, I I love those. Those are those are what like make me happy and my what I do, because this is like a full circle moment. But yeah, I I think that's so nice that you can appreciate that.

SPEAKER_01 31:42

I do, and and to notice it. And to be able to like see it as it's happening in real time. So I'm on West Park Stage 2, which means nothing to people, but it is next to the MHA and it is next to the sandpit, and it is the one closest to the kitty rides.

SPEAKER_03 31:55

The old, the old main gate.

SPEAKER_01 31:57

Yes, the old main gate, which is they call gate E. Yep. Yep. Um, it's really good for people that um don't want to go through the entire fair. So, like if you're a little antisocial and don't know how you feel about like the whole experience, you can literally go through gate E and that's all the places you have to go. Yes. Yep. Is that the gate across from the Capri, right? It is, yes. And it's um, well, actually, no, it's down a little bit of ways.

SPEAKER_03 32:18

The old Thunderbird.

SPEAKER_01 32:19

Old Okay, Thunderbird, but it's not far. Yeah, it's not far to get there. Okay. Yep. And um, it's all ages. I do not swear in my music. It's a free um it's free. Yep. Nice. I don't, I I'm a I'm a sensual feminine person, but I don't do any movement on stage that you would feel like you need to like cover the children's eyes so they don't see it.

SPEAKER_03 32:40

Yep, yep.

SPEAKER_01 32:40

Um You're an entertainer. I'm an entertainer, but I feel like that needs to be said because even if you watch some shows on TV that are supposed to be for kids, it's like, oh, is that? No, she's super black, so believe me, you don't know. Yeah, so it's like, you know, I don't know. You know what I mean? So I just I I and I'm really committed to that because again, I really believe like if you can see her, you can be her. And I really, really, really want our young people to value the things in within themselves outside of the world of like a sexual realm. I really want them to understand like the value of their intelligence and community. And so um, it's important for me to um, you know, bring forth that that what a royal sort of approach to things and I love that there's nothing submissive about anything that no, no.

SPEAKER_02 33:24

You know what that reminds me of? Like when I was a kid, was it gem? Remember the tattoo?

SPEAKER_01 33:30

Loved gems.

SPEAKER_02 33:31

Do you get what I'm saying? Like it was like it was like a girl power band, but like you or the full band with you know who you bring on. And I know you have dancers too. You've had dancers.

SPEAKER_01 33:40

I have had dancers in the past. What's really great though is that the audience has become the dancers because of the TikToks and everything that go with my music. They sing to me, they sing every word back. Oh, see, that's great. It's such a great experience, and it's really good for people that are maybe on a tight budget, that aren't doing the big concerts, that are maybe aren't 21, that maybe don't, you know, really connect to some of the other genres of music.

SPEAKER_02 34:05

That's what Craig had said that like there's so much music going on that this might even be their introduction, like young, young parents, for girls, their first introduction to like music, a concert.

SPEAKER_01 34:15

I can't tell you how many people I was there. This concert. And I'm gonna be in the North Dakota State Paraparade performing alongside of the Children's Music Academy. They're gonna be singing and dancing on a float next to me while I'm performing live with um, yes, yes, it's fantastic.

SPEAKER_02 34:35

What number do you know what you're gonna be?

SPEAKER_01 34:37

Um We are right in the beginning. Okay, and uh we're with First Command. Okay. So I'm on the first command float, um, very excited about what about that. And yes, so I'll be I'll be your first time being in the fair? It's like well, not the pre but the first time singing in the pre.

SPEAKER_02 34:55

Congrats. That's so cool. Yeah, yeah, yeah. There's always first time for everything.

SPEAKER_01 34:58

And the kid, the kid part for me is a big deal.

SPEAKER_02 35:00

Yeah, and that's the thing that I think a lot of people don't realize when you, as a woman entrepreneur, as a business owner, but also an artist, and you grew up here, but then you get to see the impact you have on these young people. I'm actually working on something I can't talk about right now. I'm just gonna put it this way. It's called She Plays Here. Okay. And it's gonna be something coming out this fall that I'm very excited about because I feel a mission in that respect that you have that you can see that they're being seen. And the fact that you're giving that permission, and it's either through music, through fashion, through, hey, I'm a risk taker. And if you want to be an entrepreneur, this is what it takes. But to you know, you might fail, but it's okay, it's how you get up. You know? And then you're also such an empowering person for everyone in this community. I've never seen you, I've never seen you not cheer anybody on. I mean, oh yeah, yeah, that's you're the biggest cheerleader. I mean that's the thing I really take away from her at this point. Everywhere you are.

SPEAKER_03 35:55

I think I think definitely we need to have Chappie back on because there's a whole thing, there's other questions that about I but I just loved the fact that people that come in to your store and then you can help style them. Yeah. Women. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:07

Yeah, and and and women's bodies changes in all the years. I mean, I'm telling you, before and after pregnancy.

SPEAKER_01 36:12

Sometimes it's different at four o'clock than it was at 8 a.m.

SPEAKER_02 36:15

There you go. And that's a real conversation we have. And you know what? And living up in a in a in a state that's uh cold quite a few months out of the year, um yeah, it's it's really nice to know that you have the uh offerings to clothe people to really enjoy that moment instead of saying, Oh, it's so cold on what size. Like to and and and be fashionable about it too, not just big bulky, you know, like like I don't know, what do you call them? Uh big blankets on you. But you know, you have I have some of your new files.

SPEAKER_03 36:49

I have some of your body size.

SPEAKER_01 36:51

Yeah, I do, yeah. We go up to 5x. We have um a leave no woman behind policy at the store. Yeah. Um, and so we have innovated that space. I'm I'm known in some spaces as North Dakota's fashion inventor because of the total creations and and the shapewear and things like that. And when, you know, we got into the manufacturing space, I you know, I literally was working with people that had never scaled a size run to that edge before. Yeah. So like, you know, stores sometimes get criticized for not serving you know, like the full broad range. And by the way, women that are you know extra, extra small, they have an equally difficult time. Oh, yeah. Even though they even though they are totally unseen, yeah, which I think is so unfair. Um you know, because they cry an equal amount of tears as the women on the other side of the of the size range.

SPEAKER_04 37:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:43

Um, and so, you know, when we got into that space, I just said, you know, this is my opportunity to change it. But stores get criticized for not having um, for not serving that customer. We as stores are not served because the designers and the manufacturers are not serving the stores.

SPEAKER_02 38:00

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:01

So, you know, that's some that's that is something to consider is it has to start with the designers. It has to start with the manufacturers. But then it has to start with you pushing them and saying, This is what we want, this is what we need. Oh, I've done some pushing. Yeah.

unknown 38:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:15

I've had some really interesting conversations. I can only imagine. I mean the food. I had somebody tell me that black is black. I'm like, there are 600 shades of black. Don't tell me black is black. There's 600 shades of black.

SPEAKER_02 38:27

So, okay. So tell us what nights you're gonna be performing at the end. Every night.

SPEAKER_01 38:31

Every single night you can catch. All night, all nine nights? Yep, all nine nights. What time? 1030. Well, 1015 is a good time to come, 1030. I also just released a song. Um yes, 10 minutes. Yes, it's called High Tide. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 38:42

High Tide.

SPEAKER_01 38:43

And I wrote it for the State Fair crowd, actually. Oh. Which is very interesting. Um, so I I wrote it for my cousin Kendra and also Daniel, who you know who's worked with me now for for Daniel Bears. If you guys see Daniel, he's he's a he's a character. He's amazing. Um, and so Kendra and Daniel and I, we've had a lot of fun together. I love so it was about them, inspired by them, but also for the state fair crowd. Um, because being with these people and their ages do broad are are broad. It's not just really young people. Um, it just has has given me um such a special experience. I think, I think that's interesting. Um, that's an onion too. Yeah. What it's like to actually be able to have an interpersonal relationship with the person that is also your star. Yeah. Right? Like you're like the person that you that you love, right? Like to be able to do that and to be able to know that person and experience them one-on-one and for them to know you. Yeah. Like that's it, that is a unique, unique, unique thing about being a local artist. Yeah. And being available to people in the way that I am.

SPEAKER_02 39:55

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, seriously, I mean, I I can't imagine it. You don't get recognized everywhere you go. And people do come up to you, probably for autographs.

SPEAKER_01 40:02

I have to tell you something fabulous. Let's hear it. I had a person in the store last week who did not know who Taylor Swift was. And I had a woman in the store yesterday wearing Lainey Wilson bottoms who didn't know who Lainey Wilson was. Wow. And I thanked both of the people for not knowing who either of those individuals are because it gave me just like a little song in my heart. Yeah. That it isn't about being a household name or everybody knowing who you are. What matters to people is going to be what connection they have to you and how that frame looks. True. And what that view is. Yeah. You know, and so I I find it phenomenal that those people now know who I am. Yes. Right. But they still don't know who they were. Yeah. And that gives like a validation to the significance that we all have.

SPEAKER_02 40:56

Yeah. Yeah. No, I listen, like we can keep talking, girl. I I'm going to do me a favor. If we we do have her back, I'll definitely dress up better next time because I want to show you what Lily dresses. I don't know that you wore that. No, no, no, no. I love it. No, but I'm going to show you some of my outfits. Some of the things from the class, the archives. Yeah. Because I don't get to dress up. Like, I'm telling you, I'm a concert goer. I love this outfit. And you're wearing a total creation underneath.

SPEAKER_01 41:17

Oh, I have two on. I have two on. 24-7. I'm never without them. I sleep in them every night. I know.

SPEAKER_02 41:22

It's fantastic. And by the way, I wore that after I had my baby because it kept everything nice. But anyway, uh, listen, you took so much time of your day. Thank you for coming and telling us your story. I learned so much. I didn't even know you were in a punk, or like that's where you started from. So I'm so like thrilled now.

SPEAKER_03 41:39

Yeah, I wish we have to have Chappie back on because I think there's a whole nother yeah, just the interesting story that you have. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_02 41:46

And she has so much more, too. I know you have so much more. I mean, and and being a mom, and we even touched that. Like, that's a huge thing and being entrepreneurs, it's crazy.

SPEAKER_03 41:53

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 41:54

But anyway, thank you so much, and we look forward to seeing you uh all nine days. All nine days at the state fair.

SPEAKER_03 41:58

And she's taking the stage at 10 o'clock at night. Yep.

SPEAKER_02 42:01

Come on over, West Park Station. And she's very helpful to like say, hey, sure, I'll take a photo with you after because I know I've seen you in the crowd after. You know what? We are there for an hour every night for the show. So if you want a photo with her, guys, you definitely stick around to the end because she would love to take a photo with y'all. I love it. And yeah, so other than that, Corey, anything else?

SPEAKER_03 42:18

No, I think we're good. Thank you again, Chappie. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 42:21

All right. Yeah, well, thank you so much again for uh sitting down with us, and we look forward to it. And then thank you again for uh Main Street America and American Express for helping us with this podcast and making this come true. And thank you for my not and you viewers, remember watch us on all of the podcast areas, Spotify, listen to us there and YouTube and everywhere else you can find us. Right. Or just subscribe to us because the more of you guys give us feedback, we'll do more and you let us know what we're doing right and wrong. Yes, thank you guys. Yeah, thank you. Bye.

SPEAKER_00 43:01

That's the magic of me.