People of Northwest Arkansas
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People of Northwest Arkansas
Erykah Groff on Glow-Ups, Business & Motherhood
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We sit down with Erykah Groff from Stay Rad Tanning to talk about getting a natural glow without the damage. Along the way, we get real about body talk, building a business in Northwest Arkansas, and what it’s like being married to a stuntman while raising three boys.
@stayradbeauty
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Tanning Bed Regrets And Skin Safety
SPEAKER_02Dale, do you remember the days of tanning beds and fake and bakes and all the things and sacrificing our skin and our bodies to the rave beds on I did them too. I sometimes regret it. However, I also spent a lot of time in the sun being a swimmer, playing water polo. So I was always in the sun, always tan, always some sort of color, now have freckles and dark spots and all the things now to deal with that. However, now I really am a lot more sensitive to what, you know, where I'm putting my body out in the sun. Like, am I out there a lot? Am I making sure that I have sunscreen on? Am I sunblock? All those things. And now I really love spray tans.
SPEAKER_03Oh, me too. My dermatologist rec recommended them because I just I won't get in a tanning bed ever again. Ever again? No.
SPEAKER_02Did you do them a lot?
SPEAKER_03For a time. I hate to admit that. You just not want to admit this at all. Uh I did when I was a teenager. I I did have a membership.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03I won't say where, but it's very common. I had a membership at the classic place. I did the little stickers. What stickers did you use the most? The bunny and the Yeah, you did.
SPEAKER_02I mean, that's what they provided. That's what they provided. Not the heart, not the smiley, the bunny.
SPEAKER_03I only remember the bunny. What kind of the ears, the little ears. But no, I just did whatever, like little sticker, you know, you can see what how many shades, you know. But I never did a little I never stayed in a super long time because I always had really sensitive skin. But yes, the damage is probably done, and now I'm gonna have to pay a ton for lasers and all the things to help my skin. But no, I do not I do not let my face, you know, when I'm out tanning, if I always wear sunscreen, I never I always have a cap or some kind of hat on.
SPEAKER_02We really are becoming old ladies. Yeah. I am here for I will spray tan. I will spray
Meet Erykah Of Stay Rad Tanning
SPEAKER_02tan. And today we have a guest in the studio who does the best spray tans in all of Northwest, Arkansas. And she has done many for me and friends. And what I really, you know, we'll get into it a little bit more, but what I really love about what Erica does and what she brings is this idea of not body shaming yourself and really loving your body. And I've never felt uncomfortable being in her studio, and that's really, really, I think special. So let's welcome Erica to our podcast. Hi, everybody. Hello. Thank you for having me. You're so welcome. We're excited to have you in the studio today. And also for those that are listening, if you've been following our podcast for a while, Erica's husband was on our show at one point too, uh, Jeff Groff, and we talked, and so we're gonna talk a little bit about him and what it's like to be married to a stunt man because of course we have questions. Of course we do.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I don't feel like we got enough of the the juicy detail. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02It was after we wrapped, and then he started telling us all these stories and we're gonna tell stories. There's too many to count. There's too many to count.
SPEAKER_03There's too many to count. Yes. All right. So I mean she also has three sons, so I'm sure there's some stories there.
SPEAKER_02There's a lot. We could this we're gonna have to be careful how we wrap up. There's stuff in the making. Oh, I can imagine. A pile of trouble. If you could see her face in the studio right now, you would know a pile of trouble.
SPEAKER_01It's their dad's fault.
SPEAKER_02It's their dad's fault. Oh, I believe that actually. I totally believe that. Yeah, I do. Tell us a little bit about so we love to open up our podcast asking our guests like how they ended up in Northwest Arkansas. So
From California To Bentonville
SPEAKER_02why don't you walk us through that journey of how you ended up here and why why Northwest Arkansas? Why Bentonville?
SPEAKER_01So that is a funny story. We knew that we wanted to move for a really long time. My husband's from upstate New York. He grew up in a different lifestyle. I am a California girl through and through. It's never left, it's still here within me. But I had never moved out of state before, and it was just something really scary. All my family's in California, and so I never saw myself anywhere else. But for many years, he would always just kind of say, We should go here, go here. And I'm like, no, that's not happening anytime. And then COVID happened, and that kind of changed a lot of things for us. It was just a little bit crazy in California for us, even though there's so much to love about it as well. And so whenever we are on like trips or road trips, we stop at different bike parks, skate parks, that kind of thing. And so, because my husband's work was basically shut down, we had plenty of time. So we did road trips back and forth from Florida many times. And so I specifically remember Jeff saying, We're gonna stop at this place called the Rail Yard in Rogers, Arkansas. That might be a place that you would want to move. And I said, Arkansas, you think I would want to move to Arkansas? Do I look like I would fit into Arkansas? Because the thought I had of Arkansas is so much different than what I know now. But that was just my first inclination.
SPEAKER_02And so on a road to similar experience.
SPEAKER_01Also being from California, yeah. Yes. Because I am just, I don't know, typical, I guess, California Valley Girl type thing.
SPEAKER_03You don't have the Valley Girl accent though. Can you channel it? I can like totally channel it. Oh yeah. I need you voted to talk in Valley Girl for the rest of the rest of the episode.
SPEAKER_02Like, oh my gosh. So, like, what were you thinking when you came to Arkansas the first time and you saw Rogers and you were like, What is this place?
SPEAKER_01Like there is no way. No, that's how me and my best friend talk on a regular basis. Really? Oh yes. That's but we do it, it's a thing we chant. It's not yeah, it's a thing you chant.
SPEAKER_03No, I get that because some people's accents they change. Like, for example, when we go to visit my in-laws in Oklahoma, I swear my husband has a non-existent accent, but it gets very like he gets a little southern twang when he goes home. And I don't I don't I'd like to think that I don't, but I don't know. Some of my family has a very Texas twang, and I think once you're in it, then it kind of that switch flips back, right? So you get the valley.
SPEAKER_02It is, yeah, because it's funny. It's just it makes me laugh. I have to really break myself from saying shut up all the time. Totally. People would be like, Why are you telling me to shut up? Oh my gosh. It's so funny because I really was like, they'd be telling me something that was just like, oh, this crazy story, and be like, oh my gosh, shut up.
SPEAKER_03And they think you're really telling them.
SPEAKER_02Like, well, that's rude.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, they're like the scrolls.
SPEAKER_01If you're not, yeah, so Arkansas, is that what you call Arkansans? Arcadians. Maybe it wouldn't Arkansans wouldn't welcome that as much because they'd be like, I don't know who you are. Where did you come from?
SPEAKER_02Where did you come from?
SPEAKER_01An outer space planet called California. Well, anyway, on the way on the road trip, I started researching like what is this? And I actually saw many blogger posts about Bentonville and like for girls' trips, and I was wondering why are they coming here? Like, what is so special? And so I kept seeing stuff, and so it kind of got me a little excited. And so once we finally came here, we went to the road yard. It was great. We just I decided, I told Jeff I wanted to stay a few extra days because it was really beautiful. I loved what I really loved about it was the murals, the artwork, like in the square and different places, because I love just artsy, art eclectic kind of vibe and style. And so that's kind of how we ended up here on the way home. I said, I think this is where we should move. And he was pretty shocked, Arkansas. But I'm like, no, this feels so different. It feels like what we're looking for, where it's not coming from Los Angeles, a really big city. This didn't feel too too big, not too small, and also not middle of nowhere. Right. Farm life. And so that's what that's what I was expecting.
SPEAKER_03Green acres. Is that where you expect for green?
SPEAKER_02Oh, a hundred percent thought that. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Well, it's a hidden gem for sure. Yeah. And I think they protect to keep, you know, they try to I mean, I don't think it's it's very well known. It's becoming more well known now, but it definitely has been a hidden gem.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it is very much a hidden gem here.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I kept hearing those specific words, and I'm like, well, why are they calling it that?
SPEAKER_02Right.
SPEAKER_01So I I just wanted to know why. And I saw, you know, those posts from bloggers. I'm like, okay, there's a reason they're coming here. And I don't know, it's just really charming and and like small town feel, but also like not because I said, is there a target close by? A target.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, that was actually important to me, too.
SPEAKER_01Like, you're lucky we have one. Well, yeah. That was enough for me. So it's not too small. I th yeah, and I'm sure there's other questions, but biggest adjustment I would say is was the weather. Definitely putting my summer clothes away and genuinely not seeing them for a while. Genuinely. Was an adjustment and tornadoes and the weather was was the biggest adjustment, but then also not really uh an issue of just not having every store at your fingertips, which I was used to since I was born, I guess I would say. But then you realize you don't really need all those. Online shopping. Online shopping is there, but you really don't need everything that is all around, and you learn to just adjust and just I don't know, it's just a new way of living for us that was really a breath of fresh air.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I mean you have to there's a there's a give and take, right? I don't miss Dallas traffic at all. When I go home, I'm like, ugh. Yeah, I I will give up the all the access to everything to have some peace in my commute every day.
SPEAKER_01It does feel peaceful because I was used to that traffic. I I would say that Dallas and Los Angeles are probably pretty similar.
SPEAKER_03It's aggressive.
SPEAKER_01And it will take years off your life. And that's all that's what I did because I drove by from where I worked and lived. It was a lot of driving, and so you know you get used to where you live. And so I wouldn't say the traffic here is that bad, although I do hear obviously people complain about the traffic. You get used to what you're used to. But for sure. I have to remind myself it's not Los Angeles, exactly not LA traffic and it is not Dallas traffic. No, which both are horrible. Yeah, they're terrible. But I have seen the growth since we've been here since 21, but yeah, it's still not what I've been used to. It's it's been great.
SPEAKER_02It's better than what it was. It's funny, like when you live here long enough though, and you start getting used to there not being as much traffic. Yeah, there are certain roads I will avoid at certain times now, though. Oh, absolutely.
SPEAKER_01You get used to your own surroundings, and I'm like, why is there so much traffic? But that's just how we that's just how life is.
SPEAKER_02You know, and as more people come, then you know they have to catch up with that. And yeah, it takes time. Yes.
Building A Spray Tan Business Fast
SPEAKER_02So walk us through the journey of starting your business. And did you have this business in California? And how did you kind of get the word out when you moved here?
SPEAKER_01So I did not do tanning in California. It was very brief. Okay. I'd say I did, but I didn't. I got trained literally just a few months before we moved. And so before we moved, I practiced on some friends and some some people, but I wasn't doing it. It was a completely different way than what I'm doing now. Okay. I got started in the beauty business in 2016. That's actually kind of what manifested into like where I am now. I was working for Centence, which I still kind of am, but I was full throttle in that, which is that's like a multi-level marketing company kind of like Mary Kay type thing. Okay. And so I loved it, and I was just head first in the beauty world, so fun. And so that kind of brought out a lot of who I am now and per personality, and even just how I dress, and just I grew a lot from that. And so the girl who trained me, who's the solution that I buy from, she trains people. She's been in business almost 20 years, but she trains a lot like group settings. And so I would be a model a lot for her trainings. She would always put out a thing saying that she needed spray tan models, and so you're like, of course, I'm gonna go get a spray tan for that. And so then I got to know her better, and then I had said, Hey, we're moving to Arkansas, met with the question of why. The question I got from everybody, but and she casually just said, Oh, you should do this over there. You might you might like it. I said, Okay, why not? And so I got trained, but when we knew that we were gonna move here, a friend of mine added me to the mom's group. Okay, it was someone actually that I worked with because I used to work in garment manufacturing, and she works with Walmart like vendors and things like that for clothing. And so she added me to the mom's group, and I put out some feelers out there because I was trying to see are there spray tan artists, is there a need here? And I didn't really find many. You can find so many now. I found very few, and I put out just a feeler post of like, uh, is this something that you guys like to do? Is it a need? And I was met with a huge response. And so that really took me back. I will say the mom's group is different than any moms group I've ever been in from the city that I moved from. It just completely felt different, like people actually seem to care and respond. And you know, every mom's group has the people, you know, where it can be negative, but it was very positive for me. And it was it was I was shocked. And so believe it or not, I was booked out two weeks before we even moved here. I had my books already scheduled out.
SPEAKER_02Wow.
SPEAKER_01So I gave me prop myself probably about a week to like settle in and move, and then I I just had back-to-back uh bookings. But at that time I was in a guest room in our rental house, which was not ideal. Right. I hated it, but we knew we're looking for a house. Let's figure out what that looks like. And so where we are now is a private studio that was built out. Yeah, your studio is really nice. Yeah, previous owners in a studio, and so nice just fit the minute I saw it. I was like, oh my gosh, this is what this is what we need. It's a perfect scene. So you bought it already built out into the studio. Yeah, that's and I just made it my own, and so it was it was totally a god thing because I was thinking, oh no, I'm gonna have to build a she shed or this and that, extra work like that, that I didn't necessarily have time for. So I didn't even envision something like this. So then when we saw it and we loved the house, it just really made sense and it took my business really to the next level because having a guest room was just not ideal with kids and dogs and walking through the house. It's just, I don't know, to me, it's just it's not the professional look that I want to to be and hold for my business.
SPEAKER_03And so you've been voted number one now. Yes, twice. Yes. So the best.
SPEAKER_01Yep, yes. Yeah. Last year I was voted number well, it's a scale of one to three, but number one, and then this this most recent number two. So that's great. Congratulations. Congratulations.
SPEAKER_03And you describe your your basically your experience as a luxury. Yes. What does that mean in the world of spray tans? Because, you know, some people may have had one, some maybe not,
What A Luxury Spray Tan Means
SPEAKER_03but what does that mean? Like what extras do you get with that?
SPEAKER_01So I I feel like there are a lot of people out there that can probably just be a spray tan artist and just give a spray tan. But I feel like what takes you to the next level is going above and beyond. First thing is my exclusive solution that I use, it's very special. And then just the overall experience, that's what they're gonna remember. Of course, they'll remember they got a spray tan, but I think the experience is gonna last longer in their minds versus how their spray tan looks. And so I try to be overly detail oriented where I say, I might be OCD, but I'm gonna be very detail-oriented. I'm gonna be very extra here to blend or just provide the best experience from start to finish as far as providing all the instructions, things like that. I just want them, anyone who walks to my studio to just feel like they don't have to think about anything and everything is kind of done for you, but extra. I don't want it to be a basic spray tan appointment. I want them to feel like they got more than what they expected at their appointment. And that just goes with my interaction, that solution that I'm the only one in Arkansas that uses it. I want to also add, I just remembered my spray tan extraction system is really special because it extracts over spray. And so being very health conscious, it provides healthier air quality in my studio. And so and then along with that, I have them wear uh nasal filters, and then I also wear something which I don't see a lot of people doing, but you know, when I'm spray tanning all day, it's you have to protect yourself, right? Protect your lungs and protect yes. So just having that extra protection, it just feels very just uh purposeful, cared for, and that resonates with a lot of people. That there's that healthy uh air quality in my studio because if not, it would just over spray, it would be everywhere, it would just be the first thing that you can obviously smell the scent, which is a creamsicle orange scent, which is a lovely smell, actually. Not like a usual spray tan. They a lot of them smell hideous, but this is quite pleasant.
SPEAKER_03And so some people like the smell. My sister likes the smell, but I I don't either it bothers me a lot. Like not bothers, but I I pick up on it all day. For sure. And I'm ready to take a shower. Yeah, no, I hear you.
SPEAKER_01And I think everyone has different sensitivities, especially as like is it a light smell? Like people, it's not just oh, it's a light smell for me. Everyone has different, you know, right that is uh boundaries for that. So all of that just creates this warmth in my studio of just not only taking care of them uh exteriorly with a spray tan, but also their internal health and just protecting them as well.
SPEAKER_03So what do you think some myths are about spray tans or misconceptions of what things that people don't get right about it?
Spray Tan Myths And The Orange Fear
SPEAKER_01The biggest thing that I love to prove to people when they come in is that they will not be orange. That's the biggest concern I have every time. I love having new clients because I'm like, yes, I get to win someone over now because they're terrified.
SPEAKER_03I have been turned orange before in a local. I won't say, I won't say. Don't say, don't even say local. Okay. I won't not local. Not local. In a studio somewhere. Yes, I have orange.
SPEAKER_02You can message her if you want in it.
SPEAKER_03It was a few years ago and it was like before Easter, and on Easter I looked like an orange Easter egg. Oh, that was really cute for them to make you on trend.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. They wanted you to match the theme. Yeah, right. She doesn't know it yet, but she's gonna be a star. I know. I've I've never been orange. Erica's spray I have a spray tan right now from Erica, and I've never been orange, and I appreciate that.
SPEAKER_03Yes, you did not turn me orange. Thank you for that. Glad to do it.
SPEAKER_01That is the O-word in my studio. That is that is considered a swear word. Yeah. You're not allowed to.
SPEAKER_02We don't use orange, and no. But yet your spray tan solution smells like orange creams of the colour. I know we've figured that's funny. I love that. True.
SPEAKER_01That's the only, that's yes. That's the only orange allowed. Yeah. We don't speak, no, but every, almost every new client is just like, I don't want to be orange, I don't want to be over the top. And I love proving to them that you're not gonna be orange. It's gonna be beautiful, it's gonna be natural. I'm gonna work with you to see what shade that you're hoping for, depending on their complexion, that kind of thing. But I would feel like, you know, we're all scarred by the early 2000s tanning era of just when it was really bad. And so I think we're all envisioning, you know, like Ross from Friends, that kind of thing. So Oh my gosh. I did a four, I did a four. Yeah. For those not used to a spray tan, they just, you know, I don't blame them because I would be scared too. I mean, you don't know who you're going to, and you're put they're putting their trust in you and for their special event, you know. Right. It's really helpful to get like that trial, but right 99% of the time they're not trials. Right. You're basically they're trusting in you and to give them something that, you know, for weddings and stuff, that's gonna last forever in photos.
SPEAKER_03Oh, yeah. So and how do you make them last longer? Because I feel like I'm really bad at keeping a tan a spray tan. Maybe I'm just you do not follow her
How To Make A Spray Tan Last
SPEAKER_03instructions. I don't. I forget. I have to offensive too. I'm sorry.
SPEAKER_02You should be offended. How dare you?
SPEAKER_03I mean, I think mine might last season five, six days.
SPEAKER_01Is that a good amount? It is a good amount. There are factors. So I always say it can last anywhere from seven to ten. I will say in a spray tan appointment, it's fifty fifty the artist, and the other half is. the client because I send you off and then it's your job to follow instruction, things like that. It's now in your hands. But skin prep is important. And then the posthand prep is important. So exfoliation is definitely key because the way that our skin new skin cells renew itself, we're trying to beat that clock essentially. So I say like the day before your appointment you're gonna shave and exfoliate. And we're trying to beat that natural shedding cycle which can happen in that seven to ten day period. But at the same time everybody's body is different in how our new skin cells renew because the spray tan goes on our exterior dead skin essentially on that outer layer. And so when you prep your skin that's basically how you're gonna really encourage your tan to last longer if you use lotion regularly. I have clients that are non-lotion users and those tend to not last as long as the ones who normally apply lotion every single day. Okay. And so then after your tan you're gonna apply lotion every single day as well. Dry skin and and spray tans are enemies and so if you want your tan to fade faster you're gonna go into the ocean you're gonna go into a hot tub you're going to rub your skin vigorously with a towel every time you get out of the shower.
SPEAKER_03Sorry I was channeling Brock for a second there. So okay those are all really good tips and I'm gonna keep that in mind because I think that well you know I think it's that prep that I that I miss sometimes the exfoliating before and I think that's good a good note that you got to prepare like the day before. And then take care because you and there's certain lotions that you have to use the all natural ones right that's what you told me.
SPEAKER_01Yeah I created a graphic for my clients that is just nice and easy for them to follow as far as pictures and you know things that you might already have but you want more natural products because a lot of the ones if they have mineral oil or you know bath and body works type products with too much perfumes it's gonna fade your color. Yeah things like that.
SPEAKER_03So I want to shift gears into family life.
SPEAKER_02Before you shift gears just really quick okay I really want
Body Image Rules Inside The Studio
SPEAKER_02to talk about how sorry what are you shifting back to I because I always have to go back. I really loved how you were talking about that you are helping women externally you're you're spraying a spray tank and you're also paying attention to internally like what's happening and keeping the air quality well there's a third thing that you do that you didn't mention but I want to mention and I think is really valuable. That's a third thing and I think it's the mental emotional side of it and the self-esteem in our heart and I have stood in your studio multiple times facing a sign that says says what?
SPEAKER_01It says you do not have to apologize for the common I don't have a memorized at this moment but I don't have a memorized either I was trying I'm like I'm gonna point off to her hand but no you don't have to apologize for the way it's basically you don't have to apologize for how your body looks whether you have one boob no boob stretch marks cellulite whatever common things to a human body that there is you don't have to apologize for that. So it's basically no defamation and so that is a huge thing that happens in my studio where people it it happens every day really of I'm so sorry this or that and I'm like look at this sign I go no mm we're not doing that. Yeah that's a great reminder and it's a reminder for I think everybody I need that reminder because we're women and it's just in our nature to just do that and I don't like it when when they do that but I understand it because I do that as well.
SPEAKER_02We all do that just by habit and so but it's such a great reminder and I've stood there multiple times and there's if you've never had a spray tan before there's a vulnerability you're going in I remember the first time I got a spray tan and I didn't really know Erica well our kids did like theater together and I was and I was just like I don't know this woman and she's about to see every part of me and I don't know her and I don't know anything really truly deeply about her and I was so nervous and I remember seeing that sign and being like okay I like this woman that I like this this is great and it reminded me to not think about all the things that are wrong with me or all the things I think are wrong with me and that I'm gonna pick apart and pull apart and try to make excuses for and it just felt right and and it was such a good reminder of of just who we are as people and we're all different shapes we're all different sizes we have all different scars and things from our body whether we're moms, whether we're not whether whatever it is that we've gone through and I want a spray tan so I'm gonna go get a spray tan from Erica because I'm gonna feel comfortable in her studio and I'm gonna look at that sign and go, well I can't make anything I cannot say anything about my body I cannot talk bad about my body while I'm here and I think it's great. So I I really just wanted to before we jumped into the next thing about family I wanted to talk about that and how you really are doing kind of this whole person experience for people of just like okay like I'm gonna help you feel beautiful from the inside out because you can't talk bad about your body.
SPEAKER_01I appreciate that no I it definitely helps to set the tone because I want people to feel loved. I want them to feel beautiful and I know that's a very vulnerable state that they're in and I understand it because I remember when I got my first one and I was just scared just like them and so I kind of the way that I treat people that way is coming from that place of I I was there too so what can I do? What worked for me to make me feel comfortable and uh yeah it's all in our mindset. So it really is. And like take that stuff outside the door.
SPEAKER_02Next time you're gonna have to study that sign that you're there. You probably for sure you had to have seen it. I probably did.
SPEAKER_01Yeah you probably did I just I'm she was probably too much in her head like yeah that's exactly what and that's usually that's like 90% of my one thing that's really funny about that particular I get a many clients who are new that I've said that they've had a Brazilian and I say this to a lot of people and they see way more than I do. Oh for sure. So I'm I'm baffled that they're scared of this but they've had a Brazili they go get a Brazilian and that is a totally different that's a totally I see less than that. And so it's not as scary it's just a new experience. That's true. And I think the new experience is different it's just you know your legs aren't open as much as those that's true. That is true.
SPEAKER_03All right let's jump into the talk about having three boys and then
Life With Three Boys And A Stuntman
SPEAKER_03a husband that does stunt work what that's like have you become desensitized to I don't even know where to begin just just tell me I would say to chaos no chaos I am definitely desensitized Jeff will laugh because I can tune out chaos really well where he's like do you hear them screaming?
SPEAKER_01Yes I do hear them screaming is anything broken? No I think we're okay.
SPEAKER_02They're they're over there they're having a great time but you know they're different screams I'm sure you're like oh I know it's not a scream for help this is not a hurt scream this is a scream for joy and we're having fun.
SPEAKER_01Exactly and having boys you know wrestling at any given time it's just it's just chaotic I mean and you know what I have Jeff prepared me for that with his line of work that I knew what I was getting myself into when I met him but I would say more I'm desensitized also to his work.
SPEAKER_03I was gonna ask about that if because if you were someone that was a worrier I don't know how that marriage would work because you I guess you just have to come to a certain level of comfort like just being okay with what they do and knowing that there's risk involved.
SPEAKER_01Yes I can be a worrier for sure. Earlier on in his career I I definitely was but I think as the years have gone on I have just gotten used to what he does and confident in what he does and trusting his abilities and so it's really helped me not to have to worry because I get asked that question all the time how are you a wife to a son how does that and my only answer is just I'm just used to his work just like you're used to your husband's job or you know whether they're a firefighter or a police officer that can be equally as risky and dangerous with what they're doing putting their lives on the line. It just looks differently do you ever go drifting with him I have been in his car yes we do you like that oh I do yes you don't get car sick not really so we hold as you you know we hold drifting events and so there's always that opportunity and I when I do go I do still get nervous and I do think why am I in this car doing this but I don't go with anyone else I go with him because I trust him. But the part that does scare me is when it's called tandems and when they're following closely behind cars they're literally on their bumper completely controlled and I sit there terrified. I know everything's gonna be okay but I still am like oh my gosh oh my gosh like you're not supposed to be that close to a car going that fast. That's not normal.
SPEAKER_03Yeah you're supposed to be I was always thought one car's length behind the car in front of you.
SPEAKER_01Yeah touching the bumper how fast are they going? Oh my gosh it can be I want to say depending on what track that we're at it can be 40 50 but it just I mean it feels really intense. And they're just they're really they're you the way that they tan them they're right on their back bumper and then there's points where they're switching like this to the side so you're literally like hi next to you and they're just next to you where you could grab their hand the driver. Oh my gosh. And so it's really intense and that can go on for however long the track is but it's really fun and I love it's an adrenaline rush. Yeah totally exhilarating and you know if you've never been in it's definitely one of those things. I mean I'll take that over skydiving any day I am not a skydiver type per person but I will do this. Do you ever drive it? Oh no I thought that's a good question. Do you ever drive no I'm not she's like no that's okay that is okay I know so we have a driving simulator that's what my kids drive and they're excellent but you know what it is they have never driven so they're learning from a blank slate. Right and does that frighten you when they can drive a little bit no not at all my good no my son has already driven he's already drifted at our track twice at our tracks more than twice. But yeah he he drove in one last season and he crashed the car Jeff was inside they were okay but you know he got a little just like full throttle he was 11 years old and the car was probably a little too powerful for him. It's a race car big motor all that kind of stuff. Now he's in more of I guess what you would say is a more basic seat time practice car. Okay. So he just drove this last weekend and it was just so exciting.
SPEAKER_02That's no I don't really say this so casually about an 11 year old I'm like huh yeah well I think I'd let my 13 year old do that.
SPEAKER_01Well but they're that they're trained yes correct would I put some random person you know in a car. No they're training on our sim simulator driving amazing like our nine year old drives it practices on it. But they had tried to teach me drifting on there to practice and I just it I really struggled but it's because I'm just so ingrained to drive how I drive and you're having to switch how you're driving. Because you have to drive a stick shift to drift right yeah it's yeah if okay I'm gonna I just butcher it all it's really funny that I am the drift wife because if you ask me a bunch of questions about cars and stuff I'm like what that is what I I wouldn't say I'm the typical I'm like oh that's cute what you do I love it I'm gonna go support I'll be your cheerleader but no I'm not like that's his thing it's not my desire to drive like I love that they do that but we do have some some women that drive and it's so fun to watch them they just that's really they kill it out there. But yeah I like to be the cheerleader on the sidelines.
SPEAKER_02Yeah you're like I'm the passenger princess in the drift car. Oh my gosh exactly and have my latte and I'm like totally here and having the best time ever. That's what I do. I'm like yay sports and gripping the sides of my seat that's why you're drinking latte. Totally die. And drifting and just fly everywhere probably oh my gosh we still really want to go drifting with Jeff and bring microphones in there and capture our screen I get car sick just on a regular road so that would be interesting. I'd have to take a lot of dramamine but we record like it's a little bit well what if it's like the opposite effect on you where like you don't get car sick true well that would be what is the I I Because I don't get cars I don't get motion sick on roller coasters but if I'm just like on a road trip I get sick.
SPEAKER_01I think it's different it's a different movement I would say this is more fast paced rather than what reminds me of like when you're on a boat and slow roll like that's sometimes I can too on driving but the fast not really and it's so short winded. We haven't really had a lot of people get sick if at all but that would be funny if you did that you many years ago when I was doing when I was more full throttle into my makeup stuff we recorded a video of me applying lipstick while he was doing it and that was hilarious. Oh that's good I tried my best but zigzaggy for your face not really no I uh I'm a professional lipstick applier but I know it got a little it was funny because it was a lot of like oh my goodness mascara would be actually dangerous probably I struggle with it just sitting still I know say every day my daughter's putting on her mascara while we drive and I'm like bump you know because I'm like don't mind yourself yeah like why can't you just do this at the house? Yeah I am not to I know a makeup applier in the car. Neither am I I'm not either but I know a lot of people that that's a normal thing like while they're driving and I just I am not that talented to do that.
SPEAKER_02I remember driving with my cousin's girlfriend when I was probably around 12 years old and she was like full on driving and doing her makeup and then pulls her leg up or foot up and she starts painting her nails and I remember and it's a stick shift. No I'm kidding I mean it probably was probably I just remember thinking we're gonna we're gonna die we are going to die while she's driving and she was I mean like just the neon probably 19 at the time like she wasn't even that old yeah steering using her leg is to do the steering wheel so dangerous and now we worry about you know driving with our phones which is still not great but I digress I think I would love uh I'd love to have us all in the car with Jeff and like record it and have like the whole experience it's it would be so funny.
SPEAKER_01It's one of those things that like the minute we see someone get out of the car that's it's been their first time it's their reactions are priceless. Oh that's because it's just something if you've never experienced it before you can't even really put into words it's just really exhilarating and it really isn't that I mean yes it can be scary at the moment when you're going really fast staring at a car that shouldn't be that close but I just also really I don't know it's really fun but everyone can have their different versions of fun.
SPEAKER_02Right. That is true. That is true. Everyone does have their different versions of fun. Just like how everyone has different skin. So all of them together yes it does.
SPEAKER_03Alright so what before we kind of
Drifting Stories And Risk At Work
SPEAKER_03wrap up I want to know what is the craziest stunt or thing that he's done or maybe it's your kids that you just thought I can't believe my husband or my kids are doing that or like just anything like crazy that's happened just to having a house full of guys.
SPEAKER_01It is so wild having surrounded by men, little boys that are just I can I just preface that I really wanted girls but I am so thankful that I have boys God knew what he was doing because apparently I got this whole boy mom thing down.
SPEAKER_03There are so many stories to say I can't even narrow down one did you say what the like stunt or like either stunt your husband did that you just thought I can't believe my husband's doing that or maybe it's something that your kids did that they maybe they pulled a stunt on you.
SPEAKER_01I don't know like I would say my son driving was pretty surreal to watch because you're just I'm just in awe of being able to do that. It's stuff that I never did or just his his talent in general. But with Jeff he's done a lot of crazy stunts that have scared me as far as you know jumping off buildings with just a wire that's terrifying. I couldn't actually be at that stunt they wouldn't let a family because it was too distracting to they don't want to mess with him they don't want to like have them look back or look for you and or I think it's just like not getting just a mental thing or getting just screwing up what he's there to do. So you've been there for some I have but not not a whole lot especially because he's now that we're here he travels exclusively but when we were in Los Angeles there's times that I could kind of come by and go on set and kind of see but not all the time not as much as you think that I would be able to but some stunts they just prefer no family there just because it's really dangerous. And that was one that in particular we he jumped off a very tall build I think it was like 165 stories well just a wire goodness just a wire yeah and your face your face that really did terrify me and with those button is dumped but Danielle could never be married to Suntman I'm a warrior I am too but he knows the rules he's supposed to he's supposed to call me right at he'll call me before and he'll call me after there's been plenty just even with I think the one he talked about with you guys where he did the huge car the huge car crash.
SPEAKER_02There was one that he did share with us about where he had to it was when he worked at Universal Studios I think or just and he did and he had in the fire.
SPEAKER_01Yes so he was in the Waterworld live stunt show and when we were like dating and then first married he did that show and we would go watch him and so he did the fire dive and he did play the mariner the lead yeah so that was really fun to see that's really cool.
SPEAKER_02That's funny that was never scary that was just like just fun. Yeah well it's never a dull moment in your life never a dull moment. So I would I have to ask though as a as a mom of all boys who are you know their dad's a stunt man they're probably love to rough and tumble do they ever like just take you out out of nowhere?
SPEAKER_01Do they like rough and tumble you all the time all the time yes specifically my nine year old has a problem of just running and jumping onto you which I truly love but he does it from the back when I don't know and that's a little startling at times but yeah they treat me like one of the guys you know and so not a princess it's so funny because I'm an older no I am treated like a princess treated like a princess there's that but then you know they think it's cute to fart on me. So my God and jump and tackle you take it.
SPEAKER_03Because I have two daughters and so my husband is now a girl dad and so he knows what grabbing a matcha and asa now he's not getting that but he takes them out for acaibles and matcha and shopping and and then we'll we we'll joke about seeing like our friends with all boys walk by and we're all just like wow you know that it's it's a whole different energy right energy now the girls have their own chaotic energy too for sure.
SPEAKER_01I think there's people I know from experience with other parents and their girls or you know all boys it's equally crazy but it's a different type of crazy yeah and so I feel like mine might just be more physical because there's a lot of punching grabbing wrestling at any given moment. Right. And that's how they share their love with each other. Yeah and with you and with me. And so yeah it was an adjustment having boys because I only have a sibling who's seven years older and so Jeff has a sister a few years difference and so he had to be like this is like a normal sibling thing because as they were getting older and the things that they were doing I'm like don't do that anymore He's like, they're playing. Oh, all right then.
SPEAKER_03Well, all gates are open now. So oh, I do the same. Except my girls, I'll think they're arguing, and I'll be like, stop talking to each other like that. And they're like, that's how we talk to each other. Oh, yeah. Like, we're not fighting. I'm like, you're not?
SPEAKER_02You're not fighting.
SPEAKER_03They're like, no, mom. Yeah. We're just deal with that every time. We're fine.
SPEAKER_02I'm like, oh. My favorite was when Ardeelia lectured me one day and she's like telling me because I didn't like her tone of voice that she was using with me. And I thought it was very disrespectful. And she's and she is very bold. And she stood up to me and she said, Mom, sometimes when you're upset with someone, your voice changes. And the the I don't think she used the word inflection, but she basically was saying, like, your voice sometimes will get higher or lower, or it will sound like you're very angry, but it's just because you're upset or something like that. And I was like, okay, you're not wrong. However, let's talk about what respect. I know. 10-year-old. 10 years old. Yeah. Aware. Yeah, I know. She's she's very aware. She's like, if you're in an argument with somebody, your voice is gonna change. And I was like, okay, thank you for that reminder. I'll be back in 10 minutes because I'm don't know how to respond right now.
SPEAKER_03So we always like to end our show with what your favorite thing is about Northwest Arkansas. Now that you've been here, hesitant to come here, loving it here, tell us your favorite thing.
Why Northwest Arkansas Feels Different
SPEAKER_01I truly love the people. I think everyone that I've met has been so nice and warm and welcoming. It has been just a different breath of fresh air than what we're used to in Los Angeles. Over there, it's just people are super busy and just consumed with their own lives. And being here, I've noticed people genuine and wanting to spend time knowing who you are, and just whether it's at the grocery store in line, just small little acts like that. I've noticed, and it's really made differences in my day. If I was having a bad day, or I'm just in myself that day, it's brought me out to just kind of look around. And so I think the biggest thing that makes Northwest Arkansas what it is is the people.
SPEAKER_03Awesome. We agree. Yes. And then tell our listeners where they can follow you online.
SPEAKER_01So I have a website. You can look up Stay Rad Tanning. It's through Gloss Genius, but if you just put it in Google, it'll come right up. I also have an Instagram, Stay Rad Tanning, as well as Facebook that you can follow. And you can book through there or you can text me. I always like that.
SPEAKER_03All right. Well, thanks so much for coming on.
SPEAKER_01Thank you for having me. It was fun.
SPEAKER_03Hey, thanks so much for listening today. If you liked what you heard, please consider subscribing to the podcast so you never miss an episode. You can also follow us on Instagram
Where To Follow And Final Thanks
SPEAKER_03at People of NWA. Thanks so much.
SPEAKER_00People of Northwest Arkansas with the two Danielles, produced by me, Brock Short of Brock Entertainment. Please rate, review, and like us on any podcast platform where you listen. For more information about today's guests and the show, please check the show notes. Thanks for listening.