Riding The Wave | Young and Motivated

Noah is an idiosyncratic youngster who does not waste his time! Join MJ and special guest Noah on his voyage to success as he demonstrates his will and commitment to his college career, side hustle, circle of trust, lovable family, and God. How does a 19-year-old manage an equilibrium of the adherences above, in addition to the many barriers that seem never-ending in the second half of 2024? Find out as Noah elaborates on what it takes to become deterministic, diligent, and constantly fight for solidarity in any given situation.

Riding the Wave puts our audience first. We want to hear your high and low tides. No judgment! DM us on Instagram @ridingthewave2024 and we will respond to your questions in a future show.

Creators & Guests

Host

AYD

Host

James "MJ" Escalera

What is Riding The Wave ?

Welcome to the Riding the Wave podcast, where we talk about the daily struggles we call life. In being a part of this community, we want to hear your high and low tides. With no judgment! The purpose of this podcast is to connect with our audience and try to put ourselves in your shoes. We are here to motivate to all our listeners but also give any of you Kings and Queens an opportunity to share your story. With unity, we can overcome any obstacle. The first step of overcoming challenges is to face them head-on. No more deflecting or hiding our pain with a smile. It's time for enlightenment. At Riding the Wave, we put YOU , the audience FIRST. Join us on this voyage and discover the pursuit of happiness.

MJ: 00:12

What's up, ladies and gentlemen? Welcome to riding the wave podcast with your host, MJ in the house. Y'all better motherfucking recognize. And I got my little nephew here to the right. Noah said, what's up, Noah?

NOAH: 00:27

Good to good to be on this podcast.

MJ: 00:29

Hey, man. Thank you. Thank you for, taking the time, to be on with me. And if anybody's curious, where's where is AYD? He's currently saving lives.

MJ: 00:41

He's currently saving lives overseas in, I think, in Africa, you know, so he's out there saving young children. No. He's not. He's not doing that. He's working.

MJ: 00:48

He should be here, but he's working. Now they chain they changed his schedule, so, it's we we got we got some we got a uphill battle to to figure out, but we're gonna get there. We're gonna get there. Until then until then, hey. Keep on doing what you're doing, brother.

MJ: 01:03

We miss you. We'll see you on the next one, hopefully. But, alright, nephew.

NOAH: 01:07

Wait. Hold on. Hold on. This is for 8. Are you dedicated?

MJ: 01:10

There you go, baby. Are you dedicated? Let's do it. Well, let let's get things started, bro. Let's get things started.

MJ: 01:17

How's your current?

NOAH: 01:19

My current's pretty good this week. It has been a solid week. I've just been working working on my business. And today, I was just doing laundry, making sure my car's clean. My, my setup's good for details for the upcoming week.

NOAH: 01:33

So it's pretty good.

MJ: 01:34

Well, we're gonna we're gonna get to that. We you don't wanna reveal too much. You don't wanna reveal too much. Yeah. My current's good too, bro.

MJ: 01:41

I'm I'm super super excited to, get get get this this get this conversation going. Do you have any shout outs? Any anybody you wanna do shout out to?

NOAH: 01:50

I just wanna shout out my parents, Chris and Maria Escalera. I love you guys, and I appreciate all you guys do. I know I don't say it enough, but you guys mean the world to me.

MJ: 02:01

Man, it's best to wish

NOAH: 02:04

you a shout out to you?

MJ: 02:06

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I wanna do shout out to you do shout out to you and and, for thanking you, for for coming on and just and supporting me. And, also, wanna so it was it was his birthday.

MJ: 02:21

Was it last week?

NOAH: 02:22

Yes, sir.

MJ: 02:23

So I wanted to sue again a happy birthday. It was funny because I thought you were 18 that you thought you were 18. So I I post I posted like 18 and a bullet and his mom hits me up, like, oh, he's 19. I'm like, oh, smack. Like, my bad.

NOAH: 02:39

Both of my grandmas did that too. They thought it was

MJ: 02:41

in 18. We can't keep up, bro. We can't keep up with all these all these all these nephews and grand kids and all that. So, but, yeah, I wanna do a shout out to any shout out to you, and, let's let's get this started.

NOAH: 02:55

Yeah. And if you guys, like, don't know, I know I'm a little darker than him, but he is my uncle. I got the Mexican side for sure.

MJ: 03:03

Yeah. He got the the indigenous side. That's what that not a Mexican. You got the indigenous. I got the European side.

NOAH: 03:08

I wish.

MJ: 03:09

Okay. So today's topic is gonna be young and motivated young and motivated because honestly, a lot of people don't know much about my nephew. But honestly, this kid is a, he's extremely motivated and that's why I want to bring him on share his kind of this share where his mind's at. I think it's very important that a lot of these young kids are not these young kids, but young adults kind of get to hear a positive side of of of what his journey is like, what he's getting into, what his struggles are, what his strengths are. And he see, you know, he's he's very he's very independent.

MJ: 03:54

That's one thing I could say about my little nephew at a young age. He's very independent. That's what I love about him. And we're going to, we're going to dive into this conversation. You ready?

NOAH: 04:03

Yes, sir.

MJ: 04:04

All right. Let's go. Let's go. All right. Well, let's let the honest know what you're about.

MJ: 04:10

Where did you grow up brothers and sisters? What high school did you go to and so forth?

NOAH: 04:16

Alright. So my name's Noah. I'm from, El Sereno, Los Angeles, California. Represent. Represent.

NOAH: 04:23

Also from, East LA. Like, I I hold those 2, places, dearly in my heart. So I'm from El Serena and East LA. I grew up playing sports my whole life. My dad has been my coach.

NOAH: 04:35

My mom was always the team mom, and it's just pretty much been the 3 of us my whole life. But I also have, 2 brothers. One of them is CJ, CJ Seafood Broil. He's been on the podcast, and it's for the most part, it's just been me and my parents. But, yeah, that's pretty much me.

NOAH: 04:53

I love sports. I love I love going to church. I love being with my family, and those are pretty much the three things that I'm about.

MJ: 05:02

Alright. Beautiful. Awesome. Awesome. Okay.

MJ: 05:05

So let's let's get the the first question. You just graduated. He just graduated. What school did you go to?

NOAH: 05:14

I went to Bosco Technical Institute. It's a small private school in Rosemead, California.

MJ: 05:19

And what is explain that to to the audience. Like, what what's Bosco Tech known for as far as its academic wise?

NOAH: 05:28

So we're known for being a really, really small, private school. My graduating class was about 70 students, and, it's really about, learning how to apply technologies and stuff like that to, help develop students. I really, enjoyed being at a school like that, really small, this low key school. We just we had fun. We enjoyed ourselves, but we also learned a lot, and it was very beneficial for me.

NOAH: 05:57

My technology, which every student has, was media arts, and I feel like that's helped me a lot, especially recently. I've been, posting yeah. Yeah. You got

MJ: 06:06

a question? Yeah. What's media arts? Explain that to us.

NOAH: 06:09

To be honest, like, I wasn't really good at it when I was in school but

MJ: 06:12

You're like, I don't know. Yeah.

NOAH: 06:14

It was just like recording, taking pictures, photography, working with the computers, which I'm not really good at. But if I have a phone and a video camera, I feel like I could do my part. So it was just like that. We made a couple, like, not not good movies, but, like, they helped us, like, film and film.

MJ: 06:33

So you're telling me that I'm paying someone to do all of this when I when you could be doing it for free or what?

NOAH: 06:39

Nah. I just do, like, TikToks and stuff like that.

MJ: 06:41

But Here we go, man.

NOAH: 06:42

Yeah. It it really helped me out though. So I wasn't the best, but, I learned a lot of stuff about media and arts.

MJ: 06:48

So it wasn't your thing?

NOAH: 06:50

Not necessarily, but now looking back, I feel like it was, it was a good thing that I joined that. I transferred to that school and they kinda just threw me in that class because I wanted to do, like, the construction, stuff like that. But they threw me in and I was like, might as well. I have a couple friends here. So I really liked it.

MJ: 07:10

So you you transferred so you went to public school. Right?

NOAH: 07:15

Like, growing up, I went to, like, charter school, so kind of public school in the East LA. Yeah.

MJ: 07:20

Okay. And what do you what's the difference, to the audience, to maybe a a young mom maybe considering, or young parents or or parents considering putting your their children in, in private school? What's what's the difference?

NOAH: 07:34

It's definitely very different between, like, public and private school. We still got our areas that, like, we struggle with or we lack in. But

MJ: 07:43

And what are those areas in your opinion?

NOAH: 07:46

I don't know. I just felt like, like, me, like or, like, other students, we took advantage of being there. I I or not took advantage of being there. Like, I I could've been more, like, involved with my school and stuff like that, but I feel like they helped me, like, have a good community. It was an all boys school, so I was just going to school with my boys.

NOAH: 08:07

We would have fun, enjoy ourselves, but it really helped, like, learning from that type of environment, being away from certain things, for sure.

MJ: 08:16

Do you think going to the all boys school, com compared to, like, a coed, do you feel like just it was more it's less distractions, like, having that, female presence? Or

NOAH: 08:28

For sure. You think so? Yeah. I had I I had no distractions. It was just me and my boys.

NOAH: 08:34

I played sports there, football on track. So it was cool just locking in, going to school, messing around, having a good time with the boys.

MJ: 08:45

So you went to Cathedral. Right? Yeah. Okay. What's what's what was the difference between going to the cathedral compared to Bosco?

NOAH: 08:53

Cathedral definitely was more of a athletic school. I I played, like, JV football. Nothing big. Freshman football. But, yeah, it was definitely more athletics, and Bosco Tech was for sure focused on education.

NOAH: 09:06

Yeah. Education, the religious life, stuff like that. And it was just 2 different perspectives. 1 was, like, super top athletes. The other one was just a couple like, smaller guys, more focused on schools and studying and, like yeah.

MJ: 09:22

Okay. And and the the the $1,000,000 question, what what is something like that what's something like that run a run a parent? An estimated guess, ballpark. A

NOAH: 09:34

year is probably, like, 12 to 14,000. Damn. Yeah. Thank you, mom and dad.

MJ: 09:41

I would I would hope he would say thank you, mom and dad. Jesus, I would say thank you thank you, mom and dad, every day you wake up. Like, mom and dad, thank you.

NOAH: 09:49

Yeah. I feel bad because my freshman year, I did a horrible I had f's and d's and

MJ: 09:54

And why you think that is? Why you think that is if he had no distractions? You just he just said he had no distractions, but he had distract I think the boys see, I think the boys is what distracted you.

NOAH: 10:05

No. I I definitely, like my freshman year, I I really didn't care. I just came out of 8th grade, and it it was definitely hard for me because it was a transition, but I I didn't lock in. I was all about, sports and stuff like that. So, yeah, I I wasn't locked in at all.

NOAH: 10:22

And my mom would cry, and she would yell at me and my dad too, but it eventually worked out.

MJ: 10:28

And you were held back. Right?

NOAH: 10:30

Yeah. I was held back, after the COVID year because I didn't show up to classes as I should've.

MJ: 10:36

So I'm I'm sitting here thinking he's an angel. Now now I'm finding out he wasn't he wasn't such a good angel after all.

NOAH: 10:44

School was definitely like and school was hard for me. I struggled academically, but

MJ: 10:49

What was what what is it that you struggle with academically?

NOAH: 10:52

I hate homework. I hate studying. I hate tests, and that definitely held me back for sure.

MJ: 10:57

Yeah. Honestly, bro, when I was going to school, I I feel like in the beginning, I was always locked in. Right? Because it's the first it's the beginning of the year. Like, you're pumped up.

MJ: 11:07

And as as the year starts to progress, you just start to kinda it turns at least for me, it started to trickle down.

NOAH: 11:16

For sure. I would always start the semester straight a's doing great by the 3rd week. Missing assignment day after day.

MJ: 11:25

Yeah. Yeah. So do you feel like school is for you? Or or I

NOAH: 11:31

feel like it is. I'm a be going to community college. Okay. So I feel I'm excited to go back to school. But at high school, I just felt like it was a drag.

NOAH: 11:42

I just showed up, did did, like, a busy work, and I just I really felt like it wasn't I wasn't as, like, dedicated as I should have been.

MJ: 11:52

And well, I think once you go to college, it's gonna be completely different because you're gonna be the one paying for it. Yeah. So it's a it's a big difference when you're when it's coming out of your pocket compared to when it's coming out of your parents' pocket.

NOAH: 12:04

I I feel so bad for my parents when I was I was down bad. I was doing really bad in school. But Did

MJ: 12:10

they ever threaten, like, man, we're just gonna put you back in in public school if this is the way it's gonna be?

NOAH: 12:15

More so my mom. My dad was more like, you better lock in for sports. My mom was like, if if you don't lock in, we're gonna we're gonna take you out of here. Like, I paid too much money for that. And I I understood that, and I always felt bad, but it it just didn't change my mind.

MJ: 12:30

Not feel you. I feel you. Okay. So you talked about football. I know, you've been playing football since well, you've been playing all sports, baseball, football, and basketball.

MJ: 12:42

That's mainly it. Right? Track? You did a little bit of track?

NOAH: 12:45

I did some soccer. Sorry. I really enjoyed soccer, but I didn't play as much. But I feel like if I would've done soccer, I would've enjoyed it a lot more. Okay.

NOAH: 12:54

But, yeah, football was my main sport. I did track. I really stuck with those 2, during high school.

MJ: 13:01

Yeah. And what was the experience like, your your your mom and dad being involved, him being the coach? I know I know at times he was a little bit overly

NOAH: 13:11

Oh, well.

MJ: 13:12

Passionate

NOAH: 13:12

Yep.

MJ: 13:13

About it. Were you ever at any times, were you ever embarrassed? Did you ever tired did you ever go to your dad, like, hey, dad, like

NOAH: 13:19

No. Like, chill. There's so many times where I was embarrassed. My dad would make me cry. He would call me things like, oh, I was like, oh, no.

NOAH: 13:28

I would play bad and I would just hear it. You would

MJ: 13:30

rip you would yeah.

NOAH: 13:32

The whole ride home,

MJ: 13:33

the the coach's son always gets it the worst.

NOAH: 13:35

Yeah. No one really sees that. Like, no one really understood that, but, man, when I was in the car, my dad would have ripped it to me. But I I kinda liked it because it made it put a fire under my butt.

MJ: 13:47

But You're a weirdo, bro. He he he he liked to be talk shit too, bro. You know, we have a weird fetish

NOAH: 13:53

with you. I I loved it. I like I craved when people would talk crazy. I craved when,

MJ: 13:58

like The constructive criticism, you mean? Yeah.

NOAH: 14:00

I really enjoyed that, and it it pushed me to be better. But, like, my dad did go overboard sometimes where he got kicked out of a few leagues from coaching. And yeah. It it I remember one time he got kicked out of the league, and, my mom had to take over the team. So that that was fun.

MJ: 14:18

That's I never knew that. What he what okay. I mean, not not to, spread his dirty laundry, but what did what did he do to get kicked out?

NOAH: 14:26

We're getting smacked by, like, 50 in basketball. I remember we're at, Wilson High School. He went all the way in the top of the bleachers during the game, and he was like, you guys figure it out. I'm not coaching right now. Like

MJ: 14:36

And that was it?

NOAH: 14:37

Yeah. That was it. And he got kicked out. My mom had to step up. She was she was in the team photo.

MJ: 14:43

And how how did she do? Taking over.

NOAH: 14:45

She did alright. She let us have fun. Yeah. We just

MJ: 14:47

And and watch you guys. We're, like, undefeated. Like, I want your mom to go.

NOAH: 14:51

I think we did better for sure, but yeah. It it was a little crazy.

MJ: 14:55

Yeah. No. Because, I I, I was I think I was watching was it Andre Ward, the boxer? He was in his his dad would would would coach him, but that, when he would kind of criticize him and really give it to him that he would shut down. You know?

MJ: 15:13

You know? Some people when when you're just yelling and screaming and and for some people, it works. Yeah. For other people, not so much. No.

NOAH: 15:20

There's times I shut down, and I just I wanted to stop playing, but for the most part, I knew that that was my relationship with my dad. Like, he would try to motivate me to make me better, and sometimes he went overboard, but it made me stronger. It made it made me okay with taking, criticism.

MJ: 15:38

And that's important.

NOAH: 15:39

Yeah.

MJ: 15:39

That's that's important. And I'm pretty sure, like, how what's your like, how do you have a very good relationship with with your your your your dad and your mom? Because do you feel like this them being so involved in your in your, sports life, did that bring you guys a lot closer?

NOAH: 15:57

For sure, that bring that brought us a lot closer. It's it's just been the 3 of us growing up. So, my dad was always there. My mom was always there, so that really helped. And just the 3 of us, like, that was, like that's my team right there.

NOAH: 16:11

Yeah. Like, I I love my dad. I love my mom, and we're just we're we're a team.

MJ: 16:16

And what was, what was your upbringing like?

NOAH: 16:20

It it was a little rocky at times. My parents were really young when they had me, so they definitely did have the struggles. They had their fights and stuff like that. And there's times where I I didn't think they were gonna, like, work out. But, like, now they're they're really involved in church.

NOAH: 16:38

I'm really involved in church and I feel like that really helped us. And now, like, my mom and dad are, like, more in love than they ever have been. And it's it's good to see the growth in my parents, and it's good to see, like, how, like, how the bad didn't stop us from growing. It definitely made us stronger.

MJ: 16:55

And and seeing that, what what has that, and and seeing that your parents struggled in in the beginning and seeing how strong they are now, how did you absorb that? Like, what and how does that make you a better a better man and in for your future Yeah. Partner?

NOAH: 17:16

It it definitely made me I don't know. Because I don't I'll pretty much be on my mom's side most of the time because I I have to, like, protect my mom. I have to be there for her and stand up for her. But it made me, like, more aware of things not to do and things to do. So, like, now my parents will go out on dates and my dad will take my mom out.

NOAH: 17:36

My mom will take my dad out. And it's just good to see that, and I wanna use that in, like, my relationship.

MJ: 17:42

That. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

NOAH: 17:43

But I did see them argue a lot when I was younger, and that that made me realize, like, I don't have to raise my voice. I don't have to, like, argue like that to, like, get my point across or for my significant other to get their point across, like, we could be healthy.

MJ: 17:59

Yeah. Yeah. No. That's that's very important. Sometimes you do need to see that so you could tell yourself that's not what I that's not how I want to be.

MJ: 18:07

Yeah. You know? So that that's that's good. It's it's good that you you looked at it. You analyzed it, and you just told yourself I mean, of course, it's natural for us to get upset.

MJ: 18:18

It's natural for us. It's natural. But at a young age for you to really incorporate that and acknowledge that, that's that's a big deal. Yeah. Because I wasn't like that as a kid, bro.

MJ: 18:28

I was the same way. I would you know, if I was 18, 19, bro, I I was, yeah, I was a I was a shouter. I I I had very little self control of my emotions. So when you when you could honestly have that soft control with your emotions, bro, that's it's that's a it's that's a big mountain to to climb.

NOAH: 18:48

Yeah. And now, like, I feel like I'm I'm not really gonna be a shouter. I'm not gonna be, like, trying to bicker and stuff like that, but I know I'll get angry at some points, but I just wanna, like, remain calm and be patient.

MJ: 19:01

So what's your relationship status right now? Are you single, married, it's complicated, I'm just having a good time.

NOAH: 19:07

No. I got my girl. Yeah. She knows who she is. Okay.

NOAH: 19:10

Yeah.

MJ: 19:10

How long have you been with your girl?

NOAH: 19:12

It's been, like, 2 years.

MJ: 19:13

Oh, wow.

NOAH: 19:13

A little over 2 years. We've been together, I mean, since sophomore year of high school.

MJ: 19:17

How did you guys meet? Through church. Yeah. Oh, okay. Okay.

MJ: 19:20

So, man, I

NOAH: 19:21

just dropped. Yeah.

MJ: 19:22

Okay. Nice. Nice. Alright.

NOAH: 19:25

I love you. Oh, hell, we got it. Hey. Don't cut that out.

MJ: 19:30

We don't got time for that.

NOAH: 19:31

I had to.

MJ: 19:32

I was messing with you. So you you were working and going to high and going to school. How how do you think that that's helped you? Because I did the same thing. Okay.

MJ: 19:43

I did the same thing. I I worked, and then I was I was in high school. How how has that helped you? Do you are you a big believer that, you know, young young students should be doing that, should be going to school, working at the same time?

NOAH: 20:00

Okay. I definitely feel like it's not for everyone, but it was very beneficial to for me to

MJ: 20:06

What what made you I'm sorry to interrupt you. What made you wanna get a job?

NOAH: 20:10

I was about 15, 16 when I first started working, and, I would I would always play sports. And I had free time, and I wanted to make money for my own. So I my dad was working at a restaurant at at the time. I was like, dad, you think you could you think you could hook me up? I said, yeah.

NOAH: 20:28

So I I hooked up with him. We were working together for a while.

MJ: 20:32

How was that? How was working with your dad?

NOAH: 20:34

It it was cool because

MJ: 20:35

Shala got you? No. Was he would he tell would he was he telling you how disappointed what you could've done better in the car?

NOAH: 20:41

Not really. Because he was a server, and I would be more in the in the back cleaning and washing. Oh, okay. He's like a dishwasher. Yeah.

NOAH: 20:47

But it if I felt like, Bronnie and LeBron. It was just I'm just kidding. But we we were just working together. He didn't really get in the way of my work. I didn't get in the way of his work.

NOAH: 20:56

But it was fun to work with him for a little bit. Yeah. And it it motivated me to just be a grinder when it comes to work.

MJ: 21:03

And I I I forgot to ask you, the question previously about football. You didn't play your senior year. No. Why didn't you play your senior year?

NOAH: 21:12

I think I got to the point where I played so much growing up. I just wanted to enjoy my senior year. I just have fun, go to school, not worry about, like, the the heat of practice, running. I didn't wanna run no more for anyone's mistakes or for my mistakes. I just wanted to enjoy myself.

NOAH: 21:30

And I I had a job at I have a job at Chick Fil A. So during my senior year, I was just working, enjoying myself. I had my car, so it was cool. It was a cool little senior year.

MJ: 21:40

Was it was it, was it hard for you to pretty much just say, I'm call it quits?

NOAH: 21:47

I got to the point my sophomore year where I I was okay with walking away from sports, but I decided to play my junior year. It didn't go as well as I I wanted to. So I was at the point where I was happy I was happy with what I've done. I was happy with the things I've learned through sports where I was okay with letting it go. The hard part though was not playing the senior year with my dad coaching because he was my coach my whole life.

NOAH: 22:10

So did

MJ: 22:11

he coach?

NOAH: 22:12

He didn't coach the senior year. Like, the whole coaching stuff, like, was let go, and there was a whole new system. So I just didn't wanna be a part of, like, starting over. I was just I was content at that point.

MJ: 22:25

And what has sports taught you personally?

NOAH: 22:31

It's taught me teamwork. It's taught me to just work hard for what you want. It taught me just if you're gonna do something, do it with all your heart. Do it, like, as to the best of your ability. That's something my dad always taught me.

NOAH: 22:45

Like, if you start something, you gotta finish it. So I felt like I did a pretty good job with that. I started football throughout since I was 5. I've continued till junior year, and I I felt happy with with where I was.

MJ: 22:59

So you felt like the mission was complete. Yeah.

NOAH: 23:01

For sure.

MJ: 23:02

You didn't have no regrets, no regrets.

NOAH: 23:04

And I knew, like, at that point, I wasn't gonna go to college for football or for track. So I was like, another year, like, I don't wanna get hurt. I just I wanna enjoy myself.

MJ: 23:14

No. That's and that's and that's, respectable and reasonable when you've been doing something your whole life since you were a kid. Sometimes you just outgrow it.

NOAH: 23:23

Yeah. For sure.

MJ: 23:24

And you're just and you're a realist. You're not hoping that, hey. I'm gonna go to NFL Yeah. And this

NOAH: 23:30

and this. I'm a 510 Mexican from, Australia. I'm not gonna say NFL.

MJ: 23:34

I mean, well, you could be a kicker.

NOAH: 23:36

I guess.

MJ: 23:38

Okay. The your religious path. I I know you're you're you're really big on on religion. How did you fall into that? I I I know you a lot of it part of it came from your mom.

NOAH: 23:53

Yeah.

MJ: 23:54

But what does that where does all that stem from?

NOAH: 23:58

I always have, like, a respect for God, a respect for, church, but, like, my my family wasn't so involved. I wasn't so involved. We just go here and there on Sundays. But I got to the point where we got invited to the church across our alley by the pastor, and my dad was like, let's do it. Let's try it out.

NOAH: 24:17

They gave us some free some free furniture. So my dad told us, like, let's go. Let's let's show our gratitude. And my parents were at the point where it was kinda rocky at that moment, so they just decided to go through with it. My mom didn't really want to.

NOAH: 24:32

She thought, like, Christians are crazy and stuff like that, but we just we fell in love, and we saw how God was working in our family. And we've just grown so much, through going to church, so I just continue to go, and I love it.

MJ: 24:48

Yeah. I remember talking to your mom about that, the first time she went. Yeah. And that she just felt like it was like a cult type of thing.

NOAH: 24:58

She thought people were crazy because they're screaming and singing and stuff like that. We we didn't really grow up, like, seeing that.

MJ: 25:06

And and now is this like, I re I remember hearing that after, high school that you wanted to go to college to become a pastor. Yeah. Is that something you're still trying to do? Or or

NOAH: 25:21

for sure. I wanna do something that involves, like, ministry and serving in the church. Both my parents, my my dad works with the men at church, and my mom works with the woman and the children. So I definitely want, like, something in that type of role, probably not a pastor.

MJ: 25:35

Like And so what is it, like, if you don't mind me, what does the ministry do? Like, what's what is that?

NOAH: 25:40

So my dad does bible studies, and my mom does bible studies as well. They just they're really involved with the man and woman. They serve them. They talk with them. They counsel people.

NOAH: 25:50

So I I really like that role more because I I can still, like, have a career, a work, but also be involved with church and helping others grow.

MJ: 26:01

And and, like, how long have has this this, voyage of you being involved in how long has that been going on?

NOAH: 26:08

Oh, we've been going to our church for about 5 years, and I feel like for sure during COVID, I grew definitely in my faith and because I would just be at home not going to class on Zoom. I I wouldn't go to class at all. So I would just read my Bible, ride my bike, just enjoy the outdoors, and I'll take my Bible everywhere with me. I'll start reading, and I really felt like something changed in me. And I just I just stuck with it, and it definitely has helped me become who I am.

MJ: 26:36

And to be a pastor, what do you gotta do to be a pastor?

NOAH: 26:40

You gotta be everywhere involved with the church. You gotta serve. You gotta help. You gotta mentor. You gotta lead the church.

NOAH: 26:47

You gotta everything. So that's I feel like I won't really step into that role, more so like

MJ: 26:53

But you just wanna be involved.

NOAH: 26:55

Yeah. I I definitely wanna be involved. I don't wanna just go to church to go to church. I wanna make a difference.

MJ: 27:00

And and what what is your take on people? Because I I do hear that a lot too where, it doesn't matter what religion, how there's a lot of, like, hypocrites. You know, they they say certain things, about about church. But yet, they don't really follow what the church like they judge criticize and like that's not something that the Bible talks about is judging people based off what they look like or judging a based off their actions. So like when you run into people like that, like, what's your view?

MJ: 27:35

I mean, obviously, I'm not trying to sit here and make you judge them either.

NOAH: 27:38

But what's your,

MJ: 27:39

like, what's your opinion on that?

NOAH: 27:40

I I definitely feel like there's gonna be bad apples everywhere, whether it's church, like any anywhere you come any group that you go to, there's definitely gonna be those people that are a hypocrite, and I feel like you shouldn't be like that. You shouldn't be a hypocrite. You you stand for what you stand for. You believe what you believe. But I know that I I love God and I I wanna live on people too.

NOAH: 28:04

So there's definitely gonna be people that spoil it for others, but I feel like you just gotta love God, love people, and also obey what his word says. And that might go against what, like, other people may believe, but I I'm just gonna stand firm on my values.

MJ: 28:21

And, what what is, like, what is the relationship with both of your parents? Like, how

NOAH: 28:30

I feel like my relationship's really good with my parents. I'm more like I feel like tighter or closer with my mom, but I also, like, I love my dad, and we'll go, like, we'll go play we'll play sports and stuff like that.

MJ: 28:44

So you're a mama's boy?

NOAH: 28:45

Yeah. I'm definitely a mama's boy. Yeah. But my dad and I relationship is different from my mom and I. My I'm more like I'll talk to my mom about certain things.

NOAH: 28:55

And my dad, I'll I'll just like enjoying being with him, like hanging out with him. Yeah.

MJ: 29:01

So do you do you, like, feel comfortable talking like, what what what is a I I if you can elaborate, what is something you feel more comfortable talking to your mom about compared to more talking to your to your dad about it and invite and and vice versa?

NOAH: 29:17

I don't know. Like, I'll I'll tell my mom anything. And for with my dad, I'm more like, oh, like I don't know. It's it's different because

MJ: 29:25

Do you feel like it's because he's gonna get upset? He's gonna judge?

NOAH: 29:27

No. He's definitely not gonna get upset or judged. I just I don't know. Like, I I feel like I have more time spent with my mom than I did with my dad, but I definitely, like I'll talk to my dad about certain things or, like, if I have an issue, I definitely know I could go to him. So just like that.

NOAH: 29:44

Yeah.

MJ: 29:45

And having both parents in the house, how do you think that's helped you?

NOAH: 29:49

It's definitely been very beneficial because if I didn't have, like, if I didn't have my dad, I feel like I probably wouldn't be I would be involved with things I shouldn't have. But if, like, I didn't have my mom, I definitely wouldn't be as kind or as, like, loving.

MJ: 30:05

Yeah.

NOAH: 30:05

Yeah. So my dad, I feel like not more disciplined, but, like, I I could just know that my father is there. He'll protect me, and he'll guide me. And my mom will be more, like, caring and nurturing.

MJ: 30:18

And just recently, you know, I would say episode with your brother CJ. It seems like your your dad and your brother had kind of made amends. Yeah. And and now they're they have a they're building a relationship. What's what's what's your feeling on that?

NOAH: 30:35

I I I love that. I love that for them. It's really cool to see, like, my dad and my brother enjoy each other's company. Like, I'll I'll be asleep because I don't really go to the gym like that, but I'll they'll go to the gym. They'll have fun with each other.

NOAH: 30:49

They'll talk to each other. And I really I'm I'm excited to see how that continues to grow. And then with me and my brother, like, I love him. I love him being around, and I love the smells he leaves in our kitchen with the seafood. But I I just enjoy having the brother I've always wanted to have.

MJ: 31:05

Did it ever bother you? Like, did it ever bother you knowing you had a brother and not being able to be with him?

NOAH: 31:13

I felt like more so when I was younger. I'd be like, no. I have this brother that I I don't know and I wanna know my brother. But as I grew, I knew, like, eventually something will grow out of it.

MJ: 31:24

Did you ever ask, like, your your mom and your dad, like

NOAH: 31:27

Not really. To me to be honest, I didn't really like, I wasn't really questioning or anything like that. I knew I had brother, but I I I just didn't really ask or I didn't want it to be awkward.

MJ: 31:41

Yeah.

NOAH: 31:41

But it's it's good to see the growth that my families have shown.

MJ: 31:45

Well, I do I do hope in the foreseeable future that you guys are able because I know you there's so much lost time spent. You know? And then it seemed like you guys are very different

NOAH: 31:56

Yeah.

MJ: 31:57

But very alike. And I feel like he could learn a lot from you. You know? I know you're young and I and and all of that, but I know you have a completely different outlook compared to to him, but you you were obviously a lot we you were more you benefited because you had your dad.

NOAH: 32:17

Yeah. Yeah.

MJ: 32:18

You know? And your mom and both present. Yeah. So

NOAH: 32:21

I definitely I I do feel that. And I've also been, like, that he's been around. I've been, like, talking to him a lot more and, like, learning about who he is, who my brother is. And he's been giving me a lot of good advice as well, and it it's been really cool to have someone bigger to look up to.

MJ: 32:38

Yeah. Yeah. And there's one thing I I I could say I I was very noble of you and very proud of you is you don't really you're not, like, you're not typical 19 year old. And what do you what I mean by a typical 19 year old, you know, when will I when I was 18, 19, I wanted to be out on the streets. Yeah.

MJ: 32:57

I wanted to be, you know, drinking and smoking weed and doing all that kind of fun stuff. Going to going to, like, going to clubs. And I know that's not where you're at.

NOAH: 33:08

Yeah.

MJ: 33:09

What what has kept you away from all of that?

NOAH: 33:12

I've just seen how I I growing up, I've seen the negative parts of that. I've seen, like, arguments and fights and I I just I didn't wanna be involved in that and that's really helped me, like, not mess with stuff like that. I've seen, like, my parents argue, my family argue. I've seen, like, fist fights over, like, drinking and smoking, so that never really appealed to me. I'm more of, like, low key laid back.

NOAH: 33:35

I just enjoy being, like, by myself in my room, with my friends, with my girlfriend. I just enjoy stuff like that. I just

MJ: 33:42

And none of your none of your boys are are into those type that type of

NOAH: 33:46

Not really. Like and the people I do hang out with, they're more so like we just we just chill together. We, like, go out, eat, stuff like that. We don't really mess mess with that.

MJ: 33:58

Yeah. That's cool, bro, because yeah. I mean and even in high school, like, in high school, like, there were they weren't young kids, you know, like, hey. You know, tempt tempting you. Like, hey.

MJ: 34:10

Let's let's I have a joint or I have I have some alcohol.

NOAH: 34:15

Or I don't think, like, anyone, like, asked me because, like, they knew I would go to church and stuff like that. But there's definitely people that did and I'm not gonna judge them. Like, I understand, like, a teenager wants to do that, but no one's really like, asked me or told me, like, hey. You want you wanna smoke this or anything? So I I just didn't wanna involve myself with that.

MJ: 34:37

No. And and honestly for honestly, nephew, I I really admire you that you stood away

NOAH: 34:42

Yeah.

MJ: 34:43

From from any of that because, yeah, you're right, man. I think, definitely, drugs and alcohol has really hindered our family.

NOAH: 34:54

Yeah.

MJ: 34:54

You know? And I I can't yeah. I can't imagine what you what you, Reno, Abel

NOAH: 35:02

Yeah.

MJ: 35:02

Isaac must have, like,

NOAH: 35:04

see crazy thing.

MJ: 35:05

Yeah. Like us, and our house is always the party house. Yeah. And and yeah, man. Like, thinking about it now, it was like, man, you know, we kinda I think, like, what

NOAH: 35:17

were we what were we doing? You know? What were what Well, our family definitely changed. Yeah. A lot.

MJ: 35:23

A lot.

NOAH: 35:23

I mean, I I love my family. I know they they argued and fight, but, like, at the end of the day, we're all we're really tight knit family. So that's cool to see. Yeah.

MJ: 35:32

Yeah. We're a very small family.

NOAH: 35:34

Very small. Yeah.

MJ: 35:36

Okay. So your side business

NOAH: 35:39

I know you

MJ: 35:40

I I know you got this because he's he's he's he's on this hustle. That's one thing I love about my my nephew compared to some of these younger adults. They're not out there being go getters. So I'm curious to know, from the audience, rather it be from parents or from, young adult his age, where are you guys at on that level? Are you guys go getters?

MJ: 36:00

Are you guys, I just wanna chill? And as as parents, like, what what is how long do you give, like, that lease? What what are where do once you come out of high school, it's, like, do you give your kids options? Either you go to school or you gotta work or you do both because you're gonna be doing you're gonna be doing both. Right?

NOAH: 36:23

Yeah. For sure.

MJ: 36:24

And living out here in Cali, we have to do both. Yeah. And you and you and we have to, you know, working at a young age, it's it's been like, it's important, bro, because

NOAH: 36:34

Yeah.

MJ: 36:34

I mean, you got you got you got a car. You gotta, you know, you gotta put gas and insurance and and all of that. So okay. So, like, your side business, what's explain that to me. What what got you into this this detailing?

NOAH: 36:49

1st first of all, a follow-up details by Noah. It's details with a z, underscore on TikTok and Instagram. I have to shout it out real quick.

MJ: 36:57

No. It's cool. We're we're gonna definitely display that on on it on it, so don't

NOAH: 37:00

on the video. So don't

MJ: 37:01

don't worry about that. But, yeah, what got you into that?

NOAH: 37:05

I was just bored, to be honest. I work at Chick Fil A right now, and I really enjoy that, but there's there's more than, like, there's more than 30 there's more than 40 hours a week that you have. There's so much time, on my hands, especially right now during the summer. I was like, I need to pick something up. I need to make some extra cash.

NOAH: 37:24

Not because I needed it, more so because I I was just bored at home. I would just be on TikTok watching YouTube, and I kinda got tired of that. I was like, let me Change change. So I would joke around a lot with people at work. I'd say, let me cut your hair.

NOAH: 37:38

Let me wash your car. Let me do something. And I just decided, like, why am I just saying that? Like, let me just invest and see where this takes me. So I spent a couple $100 on my equipment, and now, like, I watched about 10 cars so far, and I just wanna continue growing.

MJ: 37:56

Okay. So work work camp people I know I know you displayed it, but, like, because you're because you're you're mobile. Right?

NOAH: 38:04

Yeah.

MJ: 38:05

Okay. So he he has a mobile detail business. What's it called again?

NOAH: 38:09

Details by Noah.

MJ: 38:10

Details by Noah. Okay. What's what is it that, what's what's the minimum? What's the like, what what are your, your prices and so forth?

NOAH: 38:21

Right now, my basic detail, not too pricey. I know there's a lot of other details that are pretty expensive. I just wanna be an affordable business. Just I'm I'm just having fun with it. I wanna I wanna help people.

NOAH: 38:33

I know, a lot of people don't wanna go all the way to the car wash. The reason I started the detail is because I took my car the 1st week I got it to a a regular car wash that you drive through, and they dent my my door, and I couldn't do anything about it. So, like, let me I'm just gonna hand wash my car from now on, and I I kinda started enjoying it and just started doing it more often with my own car, and I felt like, oh, I could I could I could do something out of this. So my basic wash, it's about $50. My deluxe is gonna be, like, 65.

NOAH: 39:09

It's a nice interior, exterior.

MJ: 39:11

So you do both? Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

NOAH: 39:13

I do

MJ: 39:13

it. So for the $50, you do the interior and exterior?

NOAH: 39:17

Yeah. Both of them, the interior and exterior. The only difference is that the deluxe one will come with, I'll I'll detail, like, your tires and your rims, and that definitely makes the car look so much better.

MJ: 39:28

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For sure.

NOAH: 39:29

For, like, for a basic one, oh, a a 100% hand wash. We do a rinse, soap.

MJ: 39:35

And what's your rate and what's your radius? Like, where

NOAH: 39:39

all over LA. I got El Sereno, Alhambra, East LA, South Pasadena, Pasadena. I'll go anywhere. I just I I wanna serve others. I wanna just enjoy myself, and I wanna see where this can take me.

MJ: 39:53

Let's let's support the hustling.

NOAH: 39:55

Support small businesses.

MJ: 39:56

Is that Let's let's support the hustle.

NOAH: 39:58

It's hard work, but it I really enjoy it.

MJ: 40:01

No. It's cool, man. It's cool. And, again, let's let's let's support the hustle. Let's support the small businesses.

MJ: 40:08

This this young man right here just look. $50 is willing to go out, drive, detail your car in the hot sun.

NOAH: 40:15

Yep.

MJ: 40:15

I mean, it doesn't get any better than that. I think $50, honestly, for a nice detail is pretty reasonable.

NOAH: 40:21

Yeah. That's really solid. I feel like others are charging a 100, 200, $350. I'll get you right, and you won't have you could call me back. I'll come back as much as you need me to.

MJ: 40:32

That's that's awesome, bro. And I and and I, again, I I commend you on that. I'm so proud of you

NOAH: 40:36

Thank you.

MJ: 40:37

To be to be I mean, you could have just been bored and started with OnlyFans. Oh, heck.

NOAH: 40:44

What's the the feet finder? What's it called? The I don't know. Taking pictures of your feet.

MJ: 40:49

Oh, oh, oh, feet feet feet feet

NOAH: 40:50

feet feet feet feet. I could be doing that.

MJ: 40:52

But, yeah, man. Like, it it's it's it's cool, cool, bro. Like like I said, I I I admire you being being 19, man, and and and just having that that, that that that grind mentality going out, rolling up that rolling up your sleeves, getting your hands dirty.

NOAH: 41:07

It it it's hard. It it gets hot out there, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

MJ: 41:11

Yeah. You gotta do what you gotta do. Like, you know, like, until you find your career and you find that path, until then, it's like you just gotta just, you know, just be on that be on that hustle and and make that money.

NOAH: 41:26

Yeah. I really got inspired by, like, you with your podcast. I got a couple of aunts that do their own side businesses, and my brother has his seafood business. So it I feel like it kinda runs in my family, like, hustling and working hard for what you got, and that's really inspired me to do my own thing.

MJ: 41:43

Because it makes you feel good at the end of the day. Yeah.

NOAH: 41:44

You're doing your own thing. Like my even my parents, they're involved with men and women at church. It's not for money or anything, but they're doing something outside of work to benefit others.

MJ: 41:54

Yeah. Because in life, it's it's you know, let's say it's better to give than to to receive. Yeah. You know? And there's no greater feeling than helping people.

NOAH: 42:03

Yeah.

MJ: 42:03

You know? And eve even even if you're working for if you're, you know, you're helping them out and you're working for, you know, detailing their car, yeah, you're getting getting the payment, but the fact that they get to look at their car like, damn. Like Yeah. Hell, yeah.

NOAH: 42:16

You don't want a dirty car.

MJ: 42:18

Yeah. Hell. I mean, I don't want a dirty ass car. So, so, yes, ladies and gentlemen, let's let's support my nephew right here. So get get get write write that info down.

MJ: 42:32

So college, what what do you wanna what do you wanna do now? Like, getting you just got a high school, got the site you got these 2 gigs going on. What's what's that like? Do you wanna go to college?

NOAH: 42:50

Yeah. I definitely, I wanted to go to a a university, a small private Christian university, but, it was just really expensive, and I I felt like it would really set my family back. So I didn't I didn't wanna go through that path. I'm deciding to go to community college for the next 2 to 3 years.

MJ: 43:10

What community college? You're thinking about ELAC,

NOAH: 43:11

Las Vegas? Go to PCC. Pasadena. Yeah. So I'm a do that, see where that takes me, and my plan is to transfer out.

NOAH: 43:18

And my my goal out of this is to get a degree. It hasn't really been, like, there my family hasn't really got a lot of, like, college experience, so just going out of my way to get that and start for that, that's definitely my goal.

MJ: 43:33

Well, your grandma, she got her to call her associates. Yeah.

NOAH: 43:36

Yeah. But I just feel like it it'll be very beneficial for me if I have that. So I I really wanna strive for that.

MJ: 43:43

And what do you wanna go what do you wanna major in?

NOAH: 43:46

Business management.

MJ: 43:47

And what's business management with? I know it sounds Yeah.

NOAH: 43:50

Like, you know To be honest, I don't know all that it has, but just wanna learn how to market, how to serve others, how to grow my own business I grow other businesses, stuff like that. I I wanna help develop businesses. That's that's my goal.

MJ: 44:06

Yeah. Alright. Awesome, man. Hey, man. And sky's the limit, man.

MJ: 44:10

Yep. Now now you know what you need to do.

NOAH: 44:12

Yeah.

MJ: 44:12

You know? Because now you're you're gonna be paying for all this on your own.

NOAH: 44:16

Yeah. Yeah. You're That's definitely my goal. Like, my parents spent so much money on high school, so my goal, not have them worry about, my school. I want them to just focus on building their own, financial situation so they could eventually move into their own place.

MJ: 44:32

Yeah. Yeah. That's awesome. Alright, man. And I'm gonna I'm gonna ask you the the last and final question before we skedaddle out of here.

MJ: 44:41

What is your overall motivation in life?

NOAH: 44:45

That's a that's a good question. My overall motivation is just to live for God, love all my family, be there be a be a man that, like, is firm with his values, supports his family. I wanna raise a family. I just want, like, at least 1 one to 2 kids, have a a little house, nothing fancy. I just wanna be able to be a provider for my family and to help others just enjoy life.

NOAH: 45:14

I wanna really we only have one life on this earth, so I wanna really enjoy I wanna travel. Just that. Yeah.

MJ: 45:22

Hey, man. And the sky's the limit for you, man. On honestly, the fact that, you're clean. You don't mess around. You're you're motivated.

MJ: 45:33

You're you're you're you're locked in. I I truly believe that, you're gonna do some positive they're gonna do a lot of good damage, in in this world, and and the world needs more people like you, men and women.

NOAH: 45:50

Yeah. You

MJ: 45:50

don't need people like you where it's just you're just locked in. You know, you're laser focused. We all get distracted. We all sometimes, you know, need to, get back on the

NOAH: 46:01

1st day.

MJ: 46:02

Back on the road, on that on that narrow path, but it's part it's part of growth and and and you've you've just done a such an amazing job so far. And I I know that not only myself, your mom, your dad, all our family can't can't be more, proud of you.

NOAH: 46:20

Thank you.

MJ: 46:21

You know? So, alright. So what are any any final thoughts?

NOAH: 46:28

Mhmm. I wanna shout out my uncle for his podcast. I know he he puts a lot of effort. He put a lot of money into this. So, man, it's good seeing my uncle every week, every Friday at 8 AM.

NOAH: 46:39

Just do his thing.

MJ: 46:40

He stole my line, bro.

NOAH: 46:41

He stole my line.

MJ: 46:42

I had to.

NOAH: 46:43

No. I I watch every podcast, and I really enjoy seeing my uncle just do this, and he's really enjoying it. He's really putting his effort into it. So I really I appreciate my uncle for going out of his way to do this, and I'm I'm thankful to have the family that I have who supports me, who loves me. I just wanna I just wanna help my family out.

NOAH: 47:03

I wanna be a, a man that loves my family and provides for

MJ: 47:07

them. Yeah. And honestly, ma'am, my my my final thoughts, I just wanna be, the best, role model

NOAH: 47:15

Yeah.

MJ: 47:15

That I I could not only be for for you and for Julius and for Abel and for Isaac and for for everybody. We all have strength and weaknesses.

NOAH: 47:24

For sure.

MJ: 47:24

So I I I just want us to gravitate towards the positive and we could work on the weaknesses together Yeah. As a family because we have grown so much.

NOAH: 47:36

Uh-huh.

MJ: 47:36

You know, as a family, especially me and your dad, me and your dad didn't really have a good relationship. No. I mean, it was very, very rocky. And to see where we are now, it's a it's a big testament to, people can change

NOAH: 47:52

For sure. Yeah.

MJ: 47:53

On both sides Yeah. On both sides. And, I'm very honored and grateful that you that you're here. I I really wanted you to be here, and I and I hope that there's one listener, one young listener that can grasp and take something from this. Yeah.

MJ: 48:13

Like, the whole purpose again of this podcast, it's it's really not just for myself, but it's for people like you to just express themselves, share their testament. And beef but before we get out of here before we get out of here, I was wondering if it'd be cool with you if you could just, if we could all just kinda, like, bow our heads and and and if you could just do, you know, a prayer for

NOAH: 48:35

for us.

MJ: 48:36

And so, alright. This is not I didn't wanna this is not like a religious podcast. I don't I don't wanna get any anything twisted, but the you know, my little nephew is is really big on his religion. And, I think I think today not today, but I feel like I kinda need that prayer. So

NOAH: 48:55

Okay.

MJ: 48:56

Alright. That's all just some respect and just Yeah. Bow our heads.

NOAH: 49:00

Alright. God, I thank you for this opportunity to be with my uncle. I thank you, Lord, for what you're doing in his life, what you're doing in my family's life. I pray, Lord, that you use this podcast in a a way that benefits others, that other people may see this and, just wanna grow, wanna improve themselves. I pray for the listeners out there, Lord, that they may just something about this podcast may help them, and I pray this in your name.

NOAH: 49:27

Amen.

MJ: 49:28

Amen. Beautiful. Beautiful. Thank thank you again, nephew. Thank you again.

NOAH: 49:33

Appreciate you.

MJ: 49:34

We got we got some good, things coming up in the next couple of weeks. I just my my brother hooked me up with his pastor named Sergio who, no is gonna link me up with his young boxer, named Leonard. So we're gonna be interviewing him and his coach, these next couple of weeks. It's at at Lincoln Heart's Lincoln Heights boxing gym. So I'm, like, super excited for that.

MJ: 50:01

So stay tuned, ladies and gentlemen. We got a lot of good stuff coming your way. But we're gonna go ahead. We gonna make it it like a banana and

NOAH: 50:09

Wait. Wait. I got one more thing.

MJ: 50:10

Wait. Oh, got one more. One more.

NOAH: 50:11

Are you dedicated?

MJ: 50:12

There you go. Are you dedicated? Shout shout out to a. We miss you, brother. We wish you were here, but, we we just hope that you're out there grinding, you know, for the family.

MJ: 50:23

But we're gonna go ahead and and get out of here. You're gonna catch us every Friday, 8 AM, riding the wave. We'll see you guys next week. We love you. Peace.

MJ: 50:35

Peace.