Tahiry Jose and D’Nay B Talk At This Big Age Podcast
TV Personality Tahiry Jose and Dancer and Choreographer D’Nay B are creating a safe space for women to tell it all with their new podcast, At This Big Age, and the ladies aren't holding back from "giving the tea, telling the story." With season one in full swing, the ladies converse on topics from health and wellness to infidelity and motherhood. "At This Big Age is about talking about the things that people always feel like they shouldn't. We put it out on front street," Tahiry shared. We sat down with the ladies to talk about At This Big Age, from concept to the launching of season one and what to look forward to as At This Big Age continues into season two.
How did you ladies link up and decide to start with a podcast together? Let's start with D'Nay.
D'Nay B: So Tahiry had the brilliant and wonderful idea to do a women-based podcast, talking about great things, positive things, everyday life things. We have a mutual friend, and she went to him with the idea, and she was like, I need a girl, and he was like, I got the perfect person for you. And the perfect person just happened to be me. We went out to dinner and ended up sitting and talking like old friends for six or seven hours, and we shut down the bar. It was just like love at first sight. It was a match made in heaven.
Tahiry: I felt like, for a long time, I didn't see anybody owning that space of, Hey, I'm in my 30s, I'm in my 40s, at 20, I might want to know what women go through when they get that at that big age. People are afraid to be called old, and she's aging. She's talking about menopause and dating younger men, being moms and not being moms --I'm not a mom in this case. I didn't see or feel like there was a space in the world that we live in where you tap into funny conversations that make women feel like the world isn't over because you're in your 30s. It's taboo to discuss age, how life goes on, and how everything is better with time, so it was time to lend my voice to an outlet where I could be myself, where I can discuss my changes because I started in my 20s in this industry on TV, and as the world turns, you change, and you grow. I needed someone funny that we shared the same spaces but had different outlooks. D'Nay and I are in the same space, but not. She's in her mid-30s. I'm in my mid-40s. She has a child, I don't. She's married, I'm not. It's giving different POVs and perspectives to women out there but making it fun and educational. We're not pros, but we can tell you what not to do because we've been through some things. I think it was it was perfect timing. It was a bit like she said a match made in heaven. We're like the duo that people didn't know they needed.
What inspired, or who came up with the name "At This Big Age?"
Tahiry: Well, at first, I came up with, This Is 40. I wanted to call it This Is 40, but then I didn't want to be put in a box where younger women didn't feel like they should listen or look at the show because it just says 40. So I was playing around with titles that pretty much describe, this is us in this phase in our lives, past our 20s. Greg, who's my partner in this project, and I played around with some names. And, At This Big Age is something we both said a lot, and we were like, this is perfect. It's a celebration of a different phase in a woman's life. So that's how At This Big Age was born; Greg and I came up with it together.
Okay, then D'Nay, what is your initial reaction to this podcast name, At This Big Age? When I first read it, I'm thinking how dope is this? You hear that phrase all the time now, normally in response to somebody's behavior.
D'Nay B: I was like, that's lit. Because it makes you think of the journey. It taps into the story. You want to know, you want to dig, you want to hear what these girls are talking about. Even if it wasn't me, I'm like, damn, At This Big Age. You start thinking about your journey, your own life. And then it's always fun to hear other people's stories and close your eyes and see the movie play out while they're talking. I love the title. I was like, that's lit. Let's go.
Something you mentioned earlier, Tahiry, was a woman talking about her age being taboo. So we have this title, At This Big Age. And then immediately into the first episode where we're talking about a woman's weight. Age and weight are two things you don't ask a woman, right? How challenging is it to discuss these vulnerable topics?
Tahiry: It's not as hard because it's our safe space. So D'Nay and I walk in, and we kick it, and because she's always dancing on stage and working out, she comes in with a pizza at 1 pm. I'm looking at her like, girl, I'm fasting. We share our experiences as we film and this is our safe space. This is ours. I want every woman out there, and even men, when they're listening to what we have to say, to take notes on why can't we just be honest with ourselves because it starts there first. So to us, it's pretty much our safe space. I'm in a different space in my life. At this big age, I'm unapologetic like it is what it is, bro. I'm 184 pounds. Today I was at the gym. This specific trainer hadn't seen me in 10 years, he came in and had videos of me when I was like 130 lbs. So he comes in, and he's like, it's been 10 years. I posted it and I looked at him and I was like, well, at this big age, things change about our lives and weight. I have a platform. D'Nay has a platform. We're not afraid that we're women and that we should be proud. And if we don't like something, change it, I think that things start to change. So that's why for us it is what it is let's talk about it. That's what At This Big Age is about, talking about the things that people always feel like they shouldn't. We put it out on front street.
Okay, how about you? D'Nay? How do you feel about being vulnerable about these topics that you ladies are discussing?
D'Nay: I think there are so many blessings and lessons in being honest and open to telling your story. I think I've always been an open book because I always feel like there's a lesson in everything that you've gone through. It's never a loss. So I think I'm ready to give the tea, tell the story.
I have a couple of individual questions. I'll start with D'Nay. You are a dancer and choreographer? How were you first introduced to dance?
My mom. My mom was the block Association President and she used to throw these block parties. So we, her children were the entertainment. My sister was the dance teacher and she put the group together and I fell in love. I just knew I loved dance. This is what I want to do. When I graduated high school, I told my parents, I was going to pursue a dance career, and my dad and my mom were so supportive. They're like, okay! My dad's like this is what you want to do, let's sit down, let's, let's figure it out. We got to figure out the percentages, we did all the business side of things so that nobody could screw me over, take my money, or steal my money. He gave me all the facts and the foundation so that I could have a successful career. I graduated high school at 17, and I booked my first big job with Remy Ma for her, "Whatever" video, and it's just been history ever since.
You are big on community work. Who inspired you to not only get into but to continue to give back to your community?
My mom, my mom is my everything my world. She shows up and she shows out for people Time and time again. She's had an in-house daycare for 26 years, and just keeping all the community kids. She ran an after-school program. She's the plumber, like she, my mom. People's things break in the house and they call them my mom. I'm like, You're not the Super, babe. She's like, yeah, but I got my wrench, and I'm going to go fix it. She's an angel on Earth. She's my everything, my world. I aspired to do an ounce of the things that she's done and if I can do that, I feel like, I've done my job. I'm doing everything I'm supposed to be doing with all the gifts that God gave me. I'm able to share and sprinkle a little bit of that with the people and it makes me feel good.
I'll switch over to you to Tahiry, you released a book of affirmations entitled, "I Got Me." What is your go-to affirmation? Something you say to get your day started or when things are feeling rough.
Well, things feel a little bit more rough, I just pray, I pray every morning. I do have some powerful things on my wall, one of the ones that I usually turn to, especially again, being an entrepreneur and getting up every day and having to figure out where's the next check going to come from because you don't walk in anywhere and clock in is, "go where I need to go, say what I have to say, meet who I need to meet." Walking into these rooms, at times, it's so many ups and downs and you just have to make sure that you're present and getting into the rooms you have to not shy away, speaking to who you have to speak to and saying what you have to say to create the other avenues you need to continue put food on the table. So that's usually one that I look at in the morning.
Let's talk about TV because I grew up watching Love and Hip Hop. Will we ever see you on TV again? Whether the reality or scripted?
Absolutely. I don't think I'm done with that. I've had several other shows and production companies reach out unfortunately they haven't worked because either I'm overqualified is like a job sometimes like oh you have a college degree? No, you can't do that show? So I've had certain conversations to get back on TV but, everything isn't for you at that moment. But I'm not done with reality TV. And I'm not done with being on TV in general, because I love being in front of the camera, and also being behind so I'm now working on some things that I can produce in the background right now as we speak. So me, TV, cameras, film, I love, love, love. I'm not done. And right now Love and Hip Hop is made his way onto Netflix so I'm already on your TV screens. So people are now able to tune in and watch my story from where it unfolded a long time ago till now. It's funny because I launch the podcast, and then you tune into Netflix, and you're like, Oh, we didn't even know it was on Netflix, wait a minute, so it's kind of like a reintroduction.
And then my last question is, you guys are already in the midst of season one. I'm sure we're all speaking into season two into existence. What are you looking for to for the next season of At This Big Age?
Tahiry: Well, every day, I think I have a new topic that I see or read about. I'm always sending screenshots or links like, we need to talk about this. I am looking forward to adding guests. So we're working on that now as we speak, and other little bits and pieces of D'Nay and I. D'Nay goes on the road, that doesn't mean we can't give you all little topics to discuss while we're both away in different parts, because that's the beauty of, you know, being online. She could be somewhere with Megan Thee Stallion onstage, come off and get on screen and we could just discuss something fun or something that's pop culture, something that's gone viral, or something that we're thinking about. I think I'm looking forward to adding the sprinkles of At This Big Age, in different parts of the world for shits and giggles; online discussing topics that are happening as we speak.
What about you D'Nay?
D'Nay: She took the words out of my brain. I felt like I was talking but it was Tahiry. All of that. I think one episode that I'm really super duper looking forward to is the sister episode. Tahiry's the oldest. I'm in the middle. So I want to bring my big sister on, and she's going to bring one of her little sisters and just hearing like the dynamic of sisterhood. Tahiry being the oldest, my sister being the oldest, comparing and contrasting both of the life stories and talking about it. I'm looking forward to that.
