Linda Jean | THE LJ

LJ's Lounge Podcast | Episode 6 with Linda Jean

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to another edition of the LJ's podcast. Um today is extremely special. This session uh is going to be The Namesake Herself. So we have LJ, Linda Jean, Linda Jordan, um in the building. So this is appropriate and fitting because uh this is the beginning, Friday. Um is today the seventh, right? Today's the seventh? No, today's the eighth. Today's the eighth. Today's the eighth. Yeah, today's the eighth. Friday, May 8th, this edition of the LJ's podcast with the namesake herself, Linda Jean, Linda Jordan. And it's Mother's Day weekend. So how fitting is that?

SPEAKER_00 0:42

Very, very fitting. Right? Very fitting.

SPEAKER_01 0:44

Very fitting. So I want to take an opportunity today to to spend some time with you. Uh, this version and this episode and this discussion will be different. So we already have tissues on the table for the advice of Monty, because I'm sure there'll be emotions that go from the toes to the top of the head. So LJ's is my tribute to you because as I said yesterday when we kind of welcomed you in for the first time that for 59 years, as far as I can remember, um there's not a time that you did not empower and encourage me to do and chase whatever I wanted. Um so much so that I've told many people that I don't think I think it took me until about the latter portion of elementary school to realize that I was undersized. Um, you know, I didn't even realize it. So between running track, academic excellence, teaching me how to read, to me the excellence was the standard. And so I knew nothing else about go, push, run, achieve. And so, like I said, I didn't realize until I was in late elementary school. So talk to me a little bit about your growing up in Arkansas and then how that started to transition to that experience transition to you being what I would deem as an incredible mother.

SPEAKER_00 2:19

Well, first of all, I'm very humbled by the entire venture and by the emotions and your dedication and commitment to me as a mother. And first of all, for you to decide of all the things that you could choose for a name that you would want to honor and represent me, and trying to do it in a manner that is way beyond any expectation that I would have ever had. Um growing up by me losing my parents, 10, 11, my parents, your grandparents died a year after each other, it's a void that you could never um explain. So the emphasis I had when I had kids was God, the first thing, please let me be here for my kids. Um I don't ever want to have a child and not have them have the presence of a mother to nurture, to be there, to uh, you know, it's just a sp it's a bond like no other. So I think for me, with you, very special child. My firstborn, energetic. I have a great grandson that's gonna be both like you. Um I love it. Um I really wanted you, especially when I realized that my your grandfather is not very tall, and um some of my siblings aren't very tall. And then when I realized you would be small in statue, I wanted you to realize that doesn't stop a dang thing. It it's we had to overcome hurdles from the beginning, and it's like I want you to realize anything that I can instill in you to make you go beyond your dreams is what I wanted to do. And I I I just thank God that you took the you took the paton and you ran with it, and uh, it's a blessing, and uh, you know, that's all I can say is that I I just feel humble and very appreciative for the outcome. I really do.

SPEAKER_01 4:52

Thank you, Mom. So um what inspired this? First, you're welcome. Um, there's nothing more that I would rather do than to honor you and everything that you've given me and Danielle and our family. Can you talk a little bit about the fond memory that Danielle and I have? It's the it's growing up, it was three things. It was love, it was music, and it was food. And so this venture really came out of I wanted people to experience what I grew up with, and that was this environment where we it didn't matter if we were cleaning the house, we were doing homework, there was music, there was love, there was energy, and so this is meant to be a tribute and an invitation for people to experience that. So can you talk a little bit from a food perspective what you know you're how you grew up cooking or how your cooking even started?

SPEAKER_00 5:56

Yeah. With siblings, we you had aunts and uncles that 12. I've come from a family of 12. And really, the other blessing I'll share, out of 12 siblings, your mother's the only one left. Yeah, I know. Out of the 12. And I'm third to the youngest. So I've lost two younger siblings, and that's very hurtful as well. So it's a lot with the all the love that I have with all of the grandkids and all of my kids, the kids, and all, it's been a lot of hard losses that you have to overcome. Um, but here again, we had to learn early with back in in the south. You, you know, there are no fringe. You know, you you it's serious, it's basic, it's survived. It's it's survival. But I have great, great, I love my mom. I and I know that my mom was a Christian, above, you know, all my dad as well. Your your uh grandfather was a deacon. Um, they were very, very active in church, and so it it was no question that what that's what we did on Sunday, Bible study on Wednesday. In fact, Bible study was at our house. If nothing else, you use the word love, love will overcome, help overcome so, so many obstacles. And I have the deepest memories of my father with the love that he shared. My father had more energy, and I think all of the kids are more like my dad. My mom was very conservative, and so he was the one that I think kind of energized all of us. And the disciplinarian, um, hardcore, my all of the older siblings said he was kind of like a tyrant to them. They will say, kick the, you know, they got little butt whoopings. And I was sharing with you early on that I realized that I didn't like the belt. I didn't even like the way it looked. So therefore, I thought you're gonna get your butt. I'm not doing it. I would go somewhere and hide rather than you know, get a beat and go get a switch.

SPEAKER_01 8:15

But you you didn't hesitate when it came to deliberately. No, I did.

SPEAKER_00 8:19

You and Daniel, I knew what it would be. He didn't he passed it on. I know, I know grandma didn't dump you, did she? I think I mean I don't think so. I think I got nicer by that point. Yeah, I think you guys, I think you guys got away with everything.

SPEAKER_01 8:37

I think I bear the brunt of it.

SPEAKER_00 8:38

Um yeah. I do, I do. Yeah, you guys said I was you guys said I was pretty hardcore. I I thought I spoiled you guys. I I it was a it was a healthy balance.

SPEAKER_01 8:51

Okay, it was a healthy balance. Like we knew the boundaries. If we push the boundaries, there's a consequence. So and we we after a while, we didn't want to deal with the consequences. See, you followed.

SPEAKER_00 9:02

Exactly. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 9:03

We followed.

SPEAKER_00 9:04

But no, we and you uh were really having you at a very young age. I um became pregnant. I uh when I got up high school in 1964, and I decided to move to San Francisco with your aunt. And she's only three years uh older than me. I decided to be a little bit wild and run and learn what body parts were. So I ended up meeting your dad and had you at 20, and I felt like it was you and I against the world at that point because it was. I decided that I had to figure it all out because I had made that decision. You sometimes have told me, well, thanks for deciding to go ahead and have me, and rather than just go, I don't know what I'm doing. So, but you have always kind of like been the my first little partner in crime and like an old school, um, you know, everyone always said you were beyond years, and I mean you were reading early on, and I knew that it was something special. So I just feel like hey, I'm gonna invest my time, my energy, and my kids no matter what, even though I mean five mates along the way, my kids were were my priority. So, regardless.

SPEAKER_01 10:26

So here's what's cool about that is I think I've definitely had you sp you talk about the void. And so I it's funny how generationally things can continue to travel because same void that you felt like you had losing your parents at a very early age, and then for me having an absence of a father uh in some regards early, and then later, even even though having a father figure, a lacking of, let's call it, the connection, I knew, same point that you made, I knew that for me, whenever I had kids, regardless of the circumstances, my model was going to be just show up. And so where I've had different relational challenges over the years and still learning and working through those, when it came to fatherhood, um it's never compromised. It's been my great it's been hands down my greatest book. Right. Hands down my greatest book.

SPEAKER_00 11:19

And I'm glad that you do. I think you've demonstrated that. And I I'm telling you, it warms my heart to see the interaction with your children, my grandkids, and to realize there's respect that goes both both ways. And it's not forgiveness. And forgiveness. And it's unconditional. No matter we don't agree on everything, but it's unconditional. And you have done such a great job with that. And no matter what you've done, you have always put God first. Although you manage to learn that that was the most important thing. Thank God. I think your Aunt Benella, I think your Uncle Manuel, I think the family member. I may not have been as dominant in some aspects. You realize that I believe in God and we have to honor him. But I think the family has done a lot to support your strength and belief to keep you going forward. And I think I see that even in your children as well. Um, so it's very humbling and very touching to me. And that's why I think you're able to execute what you're doing now. Your vision, your dream, and for me to have instilled so much in you, and for you to share that story with me and to really kind of shout it out to everybody. From the rooftop. Exactly. That you know, I could ask for nothing more. I totally appreciate it.

SPEAKER_01 12:55

So I know a lot of people, particularly here in Orange County, they're gonna want to know. Let's talk about food. So they're they're gonna want to know what's going on. Okay, you've talked about growing up around this food. So talk about how you learned how to cook, and talk about uh, you've been here with Chef, so with Chef Justin, for you know, a day and some more time today. But talk about maybe your Arkansas roots from a cooking perspective, how you learned how to cook and what soul food means to you.

SPEAKER_00 13:27

So our history of food is comfort, and a lot that's why we hear the term comfort food for uh a lot of our culture. We had to use the basics, so therefore, here again, everyone chipped in. You get in the kitchen, I mean, you're seven, eight years old, you're you're learning. So we did. We we learned how to cook like biscuits, things that would go stretch a long way, and so it's all about making a meal, the meal itself, anyone, there are so many good dishes, and people are capable. We have a lot of recipes and enhancements that we can reach out and you know make create great meals, but it's about I think the basics and what I think you enjoyed so much. And a lot of people will say, Well, gosh, I mean, they just act like they go crazy over it's like really. So, but I think it's the seasoning. I think a lot of it was just your garlic and your onions and taking the time and your your basics of greens, and you just you really just did the basic, you seasoned your food well, you used a lot of things like ham hocks and you know uh neck bones and different things to uh to season food, and really it was natural. And we didn't have a lot of processed foods and different things like that. So we used very natural um products. I think me watching here again, I wanted, they said my I'm taking this from my siblings, the older siblings. I realized that first of all, I didn't want whelps on my legs, so I was a pretty good kid. Whereas, and you kind of took that. Whereas they asked, if I was asked to cook, if I had my chores, I would learn and really want to do a good job. So I watched my older siblings, and then of course, your Aunt Vanella. I did learn a lot from her cooking. So, you know, you just realize you get in the kitchen and it was trial and error. And by the time I had you and Danielle, it's like, okay, you know, you learn how to make gravy, which a lot of times now it's rue, you know, you kind of explore. So I just it's a decision, it's a commitment. And with the chef that you've hired, and Chef Justin, I as we talk to him, he has a great background, he has a great attitude. Yes, he does. He seems like he has the experience to execute, and he's very, very willing. Yes. Uh, so what I think you're trying to incorporate with him, or you know, the kind of uh food that you want to have, is where a person will come in and they will realize that it was not just not intentional. You want to have a good meal, very consistent, comfort food, tasty, well seasoned, well executed, and you just and I think he can do that for you. So but I I think it's really about being very, very consistent, using the right ingredients, using fresh ingredients, and just really uh trying to be very, very consistent in how it's executed every time, doing it right the same, you know, every time.

SPEAKER_01 17:07

So I I think one of the things that I the consistent themes I hear what you're saying is A, we are resourceful people, which you know, when you think about slavery and you're gonna get what's left over and you better work with it and figure it out. So I think that very much comes through. Um I think we've done, um, I shouldn't say I think I know, I've done a couple messages on Mythbusters, and one of the Mythbusters were, you know, people were talking about, hey, is this for only black people? It's LJs, it's black-owned. And so we've talked about, no, this is for everyone, it's just representative of us. Um, one of the other what myths though was that our food or soul food or fried foods is heavily, it's not healthy. And so what I think I've watched you do with Jeff Justin, which has been cool, is we're exploring healthy alternatives and new alternatives to kind of flip the script. So, yeah, we'll still have a fried chicken, but I know you, Kimberlyn, everyone's in the kitchen yesterday working on different ways to do salmon, different ways to do catfish, and so broiled and blackened. So I think we're gonna continue to evolve that. And I think I'm excited about that, which then leads me to your history where mom, you'll be 80 this summer. You did have to get that in, right? I had to get it in because I'll be 60 this summer. So what talk talk about just everything you've seen over this time from a little girl in Arkansas to now we're in 2026, almost 80 years later, and now we're talking about ownership, we're talking about execution. Like, how does that feel just from where you came from in Arkansas to where you're sitting right now? Like, what does that feel like?

SPEAKER_00 18:55

Well, first of all, you I feel we continue to give God the glory for it's I I honestly can't even imagine turning 80 on it's as uh a lot. You're I was looking at the obituary again, uh at my my mom and my dad. Here again, being the age I was, you know, I wasn't gonna explore, you know, guess what? They're only da-da-da. But it it the history is saying that they my mom was 50 and my dad was 54. I always thought my mom was 48 when she passed, but she was 50 and he was only 54 years old. So can you imagine what I feel like now coming upon 80? It's like unreal. You know, so God has really given me years beyond what I had expected. So I'm I'm very, very grateful. I look at what we have accomplished, the family. I look at my the entire family, the extension of us. Here again, we're talking about you, your sister, your your grandbabies. I I can't get any better. The good looks, I'm gonna take credit for some of it. Hey, the I'm telling you, I just love the compliments I get. Hey, I'm the common denominator. Let's, I don't care. Let's hey.

SPEAKER_01 20:29

Without women, we wouldn't be here. Give God the glory, but yeah. I love it.

SPEAKER_00 20:34

I I have beautiful, beautiful. Well, I have beautiful children, I have gorgeous grandkids, and I just look, and I think just tenacity and love and strength and the willingness to just the willingness to survive has just got us to where we are. They can't kill us.

SPEAKER_01 20:56

You can't crush us.

SPEAKER_00 20:58

For some reason, you continue the fight, you never give up. And I think my dad having his religious background, my mother being a missionary, I honestly think it instilled something young, and thank goodness I got it. I'm not gonna pat myself on the back real well, but I never wanted to smoke. Everyone would have a joint. I didn't want a joint. Don't ask me why. I just never thought it was something I feel I needed to do. A margarita here and there is a good thing to me. It's fun, but never really overindulged in uh liquor or whatever. So I think it's helped sustain me. Um but and you, I look at even the family, and it carries on. That I think it helped. And but we've seen a lot. We've seen prejudice, we've seen, and here again, I don't want anyone to think we don't have an appreciation for all people.

SPEAKER_01 21:57

Correct.

SPEAKER_00 21:57

It is not all about let's do a Black thing, it's embracing where we are, where we've come from. And just because we're embracing where we came from doesn't mean we don't love all people. Amen. Having the humanity and the louder for the people in the back. Yes, because if you we don't recognize it has been a lot of people of color, people of colors in our family. So everybody that doesn't really realize and look at some of my pretty grandbab babies realize that it's a combination of all.

SPEAKER_01 22:30

It is.

SPEAKER_00 22:31

So we don't, it's no prejudice there.

SPEAKER_01 22:34

Agreed.

SPEAKER_00 22:35

So, but I just think it's the bottom line, it's love. It's just strength and somehow just the faith and believing in God. I think that God has really been my leader. I I truly believe that.

SPEAKER_01 22:50

Well said. Well said. Okay, so um usually in these conversations, we're in no rush, but we are we'll put trade tables up, seat back, upright position, seat belts buckled, final descent, a couple things. Um one, I would love to hear your thoughts on, and I know you earlier you said it exceeded your expectations, but there's been a lot of subtle touches here at LJ's to kind of just they're like little nods to you, they're little shout-outs, they're little, you know, just acknowledgments. And so what I think I was really excited for, um, again, it's Mother's Day weekend. I'm a mama's boy, I'm not ashamed about it at all. So that women's bathroom to me, I really wanted that to be a really special tribute. And then to me, it's not only a gift to you as my mom is, but it's also a gift to every woman that comes in. And so I wanted every woman to feel uplifted with the pictures and the quotes and the inspiration. And you talked about perseverance. Um, there's one in Maya Angelou, and it says, and I can't remember it perfectly, but it talks about um we all have defeats, but we don't have to feel defeated.

SPEAKER_00 24:03

That's right, right?

SPEAKER_01 24:04

So we're gonna have some defeat. We're gonna take some losses, we're gonna take some losses, but you can't quit give up. But going back to the women's restroom, like any thoughts seeing that, and even overall, kind of the little tributes to you in uh in the building.

SPEAKER_00 24:18

The enhancements and the decor, the overall uh press the aura when you come in, you can tell that the thought process went into everything that you guys have done that you've done. And the tribute is very visible. You can see the music, like you say, the music runs deep in the blood. I for some reason the love for music and it was just But even think culturally, that's what we came from. Yes, so it's a great love for music and it trickles down through all the generation, but you know, just the effort that's made to make the tributes that represent the strength. We have some of our leaders that before came before us that put so much effort and lost lives trying to help move us and go move forward. So for you to incorporate that and to realize all the way down to the colors that your mother loved, the colors that represent, as I've shared, these are colors that your grandmother was memorialized in. So it's always stuck in my head. The purple, the you know, the all of the violet, and then all these colors have always just been cemented in my head. And so your and vanilla favorite color is purple. So it's a very prominent, profound color, and so I just love everything. I think together it just comes with a strong, visible presence of I love it's done in a classy way. And I think that when people walk in, they should feel warmed and they will feel that and great effort was put in, you know, putting all of this together. And I just think it's a great representation done very tastefully, very classy, and uh with a warm touch. So I just hope you continue to execute. I think the people that you're hiring represent what the message you're trying to and the warmth that you're trying to bring and the community, and you want everyone to feel it. So it's great. So I feel that I am just represented in a manner that should make everyone proud, make your whole, not only your mom proud because it's my name, but should also make everyone that's associated with you very, very proud.

SPEAKER_01 27:03

Thank you, thank you. So, on behalf of myself, um, my sissy, my own sissy, my wonderful kids, my amazing grandkids, um, everyone that's been involved in this venture. Um, let me give a quick shout out to all the investors. Um there is a it's a tight group, um, but I'm grateful to them and everyone believed in the project, so many countless efforts. Uh but on half of all of us, to you specifically, and to all the women, uh, all the black queens, all queens of all colors, um, all women who bring life into this world, um, I love you, I thank you, we honor you, uh, wish you a very happy Mother's Day. It's a very special pre-Mother's Day. I got to share you for a couple days and send you back and you can hang out with Danielle. But um, I love you, we appreciate you. Thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for the continued support. Um, and you know, I thank God first. Um, and I right behind that it comes to you. I wouldn't be able to do that.

SPEAKER_00 28:10

Thank you, and I love you, and I love the family, and we have a fantastic family, and thank you for continuing the legacy and to uh make sure that you never stop doing what you're doing.

SPEAKER_01 28:25

Thank you. We will see you all on the next episode. And I wait, look, I'm proud of us. We didn't have to dig into the tissues.

SPEAKER_00 28:32

I know.

SPEAKER_01 28:33

I think I was worse than you.

SPEAKER_00 28:35

I am