Latest / Tigs Bits Podcast / Don’t Create Content for Money. Here’s Why | Tory Lemoine

Transcript

Don’t Create Content for Money. Here’s Why | Tory Lemoine · Tigs Bits Podcast

0:00
Don't do it for the money, do it because you like to create.
0:03
Dust or no dust, don't crawfish. Dust.
0:08
Duh. What's your favorite hair metal
0:10
band? Guns and Roses all day long.
0:12
Slash is like ex-husband, you know, so feature husband.
0:26
If you are on social media in Louisiana, especially around
0:30
food and local spots, you have probably seen this guest on your
0:36
news feed. She is most likely popped up.
0:39
She's built a following by just being herself, what she actually
0:44
enjoys and not getting caught up in a lot of the nonsense that
0:48
comes from being online. We're going to talk about how
0:52
she got started with content creation, how she thinks about
0:56
on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, advice for
1:01
some new creators, how to handle trolls without turning yourself
1:06
into just a complete drama factory.
1:09
And then at the end, we're going to do a little Louisiana blitz,
1:14
so get ready for some good fun. Food takes.
1:17
Let's get into it. Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Tori
1:20
Lemoyne, hi. Thank you for having us so
1:24
excited. Thank you for coming on.
1:26
I am so excited too. We've talked about this for a
1:28
while and it's fun when it finally comes together and we're
1:31
finally able to to break bread, so to speak, It's fun.
1:37
Let's just start here. You built a following without
1:41
being preachy, messy, chasing drama.
1:46
I want to walk through how you actually do this.
1:49
So before TikTok, before Instagram, before Facebook, what
1:55
even made you start to create videos at all?
1:59
To be honest, I loved to create videos back before we even had
2:04
social media. Like honestly before I even had
2:06
Facebook, I tell the story all the time.
2:08
We used to have these little Flip cameras.
2:10
I don't know if you even remember those.
2:12
Like in the early 2000s. And I would video things and
2:15
like I had the very first MacBook ever and I would upload
2:18
my videos on there and like put background music and stuff.
2:22
So I loved creating in that way. I didn't really get on social
2:26
media with the intention of posting or becoming a creator or
2:30
anything. I liked to just kind of look at
2:32
Instagram and play around on there.
2:35
But yeah, I loved to be creative in that way and creating videos.
2:39
And then my husband actually, Chris was the one that was like,
2:42
you should get on TikTok. And at first I was like
2:45
hesitant. I'm like, TikTok is silly.
2:47
Like I don't really want to get on that app.
2:49
But I finally did. And when I did, I just randomly
2:52
started posting kind of the things that we were doing
2:55
naturally, which is always eating, of course, and like
2:59
travelling and doing museums and things like that, things that
3:03
are fun in Louisiana. And the more I started posting
3:06
there, I started like realizing people were interested in that.
3:10
I started to gain a following there.
3:12
And I'm like, maybe this is something people want to see and
3:15
it gives them ideas. And I love supporting small
3:18
businesses. I come from a family of small
3:20
businesses. So just that aspect of it too,
3:23
like getting someone's brand out there or their business out
3:26
there to promote them. It was like just this one big
3:30
package, like everything I love to do.
3:32
And I'm like, OK, yeah, I really want to do this for sure.
3:35
You remember what that first video was that made you think,
3:40
OK, I'm I may be on to something?
3:42
I started to realize when I started posting like Louisiana
3:46
content and then like all the locals would kind of jump on and
3:50
start following me, I'm like, wow, OK, wait.
3:52
So like this isn't nation. Like it is nationwide, global,
3:56
But like, I have a community here that people are recognizing
4:00
me. They're seeing the things that
4:01
I'm doing. So I guess I would post like
4:05
funny little Louisiana videos. Like, I think one of the first
4:08
ones that went kind of viral was like, it was something like, you
4:13
know, you live in Louisiana if and it had like these clips of
4:16
different things, like we had giant mosquitoes or like, you
4:19
know, crawfish or, you know, funny things like that.
4:22
And then I was like, OK, so yeah, like Louisiana content is
4:26
is hot. Let me push that more.
4:28
And then, of course, you know, it's hard to avoid eating food
4:32
and sharing all that stuff that we normally do.
4:35
So yeah, yeah, people love that. But yeah, that's kind of how it
4:39
it started. There's no doubt that the
4:41
community around our circle of friends or whatever, you are
4:45
very supportive. You're very supportive of our
4:48
channel. I love yours.
4:50
We all support each other. Like, comment, share, all that
4:53
good stuff like you guys should do while we're at the top of the
4:57
show. And before I forget, where can
5:00
everybody follow you on your socials?
5:02
I want TikTok. It's Tori Lemoyne, first and
5:06
last name. It's spelled with a YTORY
5:08
Lemoyne on TikTok. Same thing on Facebook.
5:11
I am a page, so there's two different Tori Lemoines.
5:14
I have my personal page. I don't even go on there
5:17
anymore. So go to my professional page.
5:19
That's where you'll find all my fun videos.
5:21
And then on Instagram, it's Tori Lemoine 1.
5:24
So those are my 3 platforms that I'm on.
5:26
Perfect. At what point did did all of
5:30
this stop feeling kind of for you as a content creator stop
5:34
feeling random? Because I know this is at least
5:37
my experience and I may be talking out of line, but I from
5:40
others I've talked to, it's kind of how you started.
5:43
You're just posting random videos, doing whatever you want.
5:46
When did it start or when did it stop feeling so random and start
5:51
to feel real? Like, OK, I really I can I have
5:55
an impact with people. Yeah, well, when when brands and
5:59
businesses started reaching out to me to post about them, I
6:03
guess that's when I realized like this is this is a real
6:06
business. This is an advertising business
6:08
basically, and people like it. So, you know, I kind of then you
6:14
started making money off of it and people like brands asked
6:17
what my prices were to post for them.
6:20
And that's when I realized this is this is the real deal.
6:23
This is a real job. What's some of your favorite
6:27
collaborations that you have done thus far?
6:30
Oh my gosh, that's so hard because I feel like they're all
6:33
like my friends and they're my babies, you know?
6:35
Like I want to promote all, but I mean, every local Louisiana
6:40
spot restaurants, they're just all so good.
6:43
Everyone that I've ever shared about was just honest, legit
6:46
feedback. I just love these places.
6:50
All of them, really. Literally everything you see on
6:53
my page is is real. I love them all.
6:56
Knowing you, I 100% believe that she's not full of it.
6:59
She really does. She really she really does.
7:02
You put everything that you have into your content.
7:05
It's extremely obvious whether you're watching a TikTok live
7:09
that you're doing. It's you don't just randomly do
7:13
these things like you put thought behind it.
7:15
You put effort you've you've prepared before you go it.
7:18
All of that shines to me anyhow. I see that.
7:22
I know how I know how hard you work behind the scenes because I
7:25
know what it I know what it takes to put stuff out.
7:28
Yes, I appreciate that it's easy to get caught up in the you
7:34
know, you it's it's especially when you're when a brand reaches
7:37
out to you and they're like, can you make an advertisement?
7:39
You kind of like want to put your teacher voice on and like
7:42
sound it. It can, you can easily slip into
7:45
that advertising sound, right? But so it is kind of a Gray
7:50
area. But I try to still just be
7:53
honest, make it feel as real to the viewer as possible so that
7:57
you know, I stay trustworthy, basically so that you, you know
8:00
that what I'm putting out there is my real honest opinion.
8:03
What people say your videos feel personal to them, they feel
8:07
intentional. Is that just how you talk?
8:10
I mean, is that, is that just your cadence, just kind of your
8:14
natural dialogue I guess? Yeah, again, I appreciate that
8:18
so much because I always like look back at my videos.
8:20
I'm like, gosh, is this sounding?
8:22
Is this starting to sound really salesy?
8:25
Like that is my fear that like I sound like I'm just a walking
8:27
advertisement when. But it like I said, it is hard
8:31
because sometimes it is an advertisement, a business or a
8:34
brand is paying you to say something about their business.
8:39
But it I guess it just does come natural.
8:41
I do try to make it feel like I'm talking to a friend.
8:46
I try not to make it sound like an ad.
8:48
I really want it to sound authentic and real and that's
8:51
always my goal with every video. People don't follow content,
8:56
they follow how content makes them feel.
8:59
That makes sense. If somebody was going to start
9:03
out today, they were just going to go to 1 platform.
9:06
Where should they start? Where should they actually focus
9:09
first? Gosh, I still think I would say
9:11
TikTok though. I don't know.
9:14
I guess it depends on what type of content they're creating too.
9:18
But even like lifestyle, pretty much anything honestly, whether
9:22
you're doing like food reviews or you know, lifestyle content.
9:26
I feel like TikTok really, it started out as that type of
9:30
platform that people just like to watch that type of stuff and
9:34
then you can just repurpose it everywhere.
9:36
But I still would start on TikTok.
9:38
Honestly. It just feels like easier I
9:41
guess to post that kind of stuff.
9:43
I was just curious if you thought that there would be one
9:45
that would be better than the other.
9:46
I think I'd probably say the same thing.
9:48
You know you can. You can just pretty much do
9:51
anything over. There, I'd say The only
9:54
exception would be like maybe if you're doing like really
9:56
aesthetically pleasing home decor, I would say Instagram
10:00
because when I want something from house, I go straight to
10:03
Instagram or like, yeah, like a cute outfit or something like
10:07
that. Instagram.
10:08
So unless you're like really aesthetic like that, I would say
10:12
Instagram is the way to go. But other than that, probably
10:15
TikTok, yeah. Let's stick with this.
10:17
Let somebody who's new, because I think that some people will
10:21
watch videos like this and shows like this to kind of get some
10:24
ideas and some thoughts from established content creators who
10:29
who have a large following just like yourself.
10:32
If someone is brand new, what are some rules that they should
10:36
follow from day one? Again #1 stay authentic.
10:41
I mean, if you come out the gate like just trying to create this
10:44
facade of something or someone you want everyone to think you
10:48
are, it's not going to work. People see right through that.
10:51
Just be yourself and be completely authentic for sure.
10:56
And just post like, like they say, everything is content when
10:59
you, not when you're thinking like nobody's going to care
11:01
about this. Those are always the videos that
11:03
do the best. Sure, just post anything like
11:06
post when you're eating out, post when you're making
11:08
something or, you know, doing something in your home,
11:10
cleaning, whatever it may be. And that might be the guide to
11:14
kind of show you which way you're gonna go.
11:17
Maybe you have something unique that you don't even notice, but
11:20
whenever it pops off online, you're like, OK, maybe this is
11:23
something special I have and people want to see.
11:25
And that will kind of guide you and direct you in what way you
11:29
want to go as far as your niche. What's 1 of the biggest mistakes
11:32
that you see new content creators make?
11:35
I sometimes I feel like when I see a new creator that looks
11:40
like they want to do it just for the money, like just to try,
11:44
they're trying to, like they're trying to work from home.
11:47
They don't want to work anymore or whatever.
11:49
They want to work from home. They want to quit their job.
11:52
They see they want to get in the creator fund or whatever.
11:55
Like that's their goal. And they'll straight up say that
11:57
sometimes like please get me to 10K so I can get in the creator
12:00
fund. And I realized that like, times
12:02
are tough and like, yes, everybody would love to benefit
12:05
financially from social media, but it takes away the like
12:09
rawness of it and like the reason why you should be doing
12:12
it. And I feel like that's kind of
12:15
why it worked for a lot of people in the beginning is
12:17
because when we started on TikTok like 4 years ago, nobody
12:21
was monetizing off of it. Like we were doing it because we
12:24
like to do it. And now that's why, like you
12:26
said, it's so over saturated because people are seeing, well,
12:29
yeah, people are getting paid and they're getting paid.
12:31
Well, let me try and get in on this, you know, jump on this
12:34
train. But it's like, gosh, now, like
12:37
we don't work. We're shuffling through who's
12:39
real and who's just doing it for money.
12:41
And I would just say don't do it for the money.
12:45
Do it because you like to create, you know, or you just
12:48
want to share your life or you have something beneficial that
12:50
people can use out of your content.
12:53
Do. You think that consistency is
12:56
more important than quality, or do you think it's the other way
13:00
around? I think there's a little bit of
13:03
both, honestly. Consistency works for the
13:06
algorithm, we all know that. But also, I guess it depends
13:12
also on what kind of content you're putting out there.
13:14
There's people that, you know, they're just sloppy and they
13:16
just post a video up and it does really well.
13:18
And that's what we love about them is that they're just so
13:20
real and raw. They don't care about what
13:22
anything looks like. And then there's other creators
13:25
that everything is so aesthetically pleasing.
13:27
And that's what I love about their content that is so
13:30
perfectly curated. Yeah.
13:32
So I guess it kind of depends on what your style is and just find
13:36
that and lean into it. But it just depends really.
13:40
What do you think is more important in the long term for
13:45
this? Is still talking about new
13:46
content creators, following trends, or just having your
13:50
personality shine? I think personality all day
13:53
long. I mean, trends are cool to like
13:55
throw in there every now and then, you know, to kind of jump
13:58
on it and you know, have something fun going on with that
14:01
everybody else is doing, but still just go right back to your
14:04
personality for sure. If you could save new content
14:08
creators a year of frustration, what's one thing you would tell
14:14
them? You have to and the, the
14:16
comments, the negative comments, I would say you have to just
14:20
develop a thick skin right out the gate because if you don't
14:24
have it, you're really going to struggle, especially in the
14:26
beginning. I mean, I everybody struggles
14:29
with it when they get online. They don't think, oh, you know,
14:31
people aren't going to be that mean.
14:33
People are very mean for the dumbest stuff like.
14:38
Yeah, totally. You know what I mean?
14:40
Like, I mean, when people are, you know, attacking your looks
14:44
and your family or whatever because you posted a recipe,
14:47
it's absurd. So if you can't tolerate that or
14:51
like just get that in your head from the get go to just block
14:54
people right away. Yeah, that's going to help you
14:56
just kind of get through those those tough moments for sure.
15:00
No doubt about it that this, this always, this part always
15:04
comes up when speaking with content creators because I like
15:08
to ask everybody that that does it.
15:11
How do you handle the trolls and the negativity and and and all
15:15
of that? Today I just blocked them and
15:18
move on. Every now and then I'll leave a
15:19
little snarky remark back like in the comment, but we've come a
15:24
long way because I seem very sweet and docile, like on
15:30
camera, but I can be very feisty and in the I believe it.
15:33
I absolutely would respond with a video and just go off on
15:38
people because I'm like, you're not allowed to do this.
15:40
I'm a human being. You're not allowed to say these
15:42
mean things to people. And I would let them know about
15:45
themselves. But now I've realized what good
15:48
does that really do? Like it doesn't teach them
15:50
anything. So we just block and move on.
15:54
Have you found that there is actually a best time or our day
16:01
in a week to post? For some reason on Thursdays
16:05
like this is like so specific, but always my Thursday videos or
16:09
I've looked back at my viral videos and all of them have been
16:12
on Thursdays so randomly. But I mean, the lovely thing
16:16
about like the analytics part of all these platforms is they show
16:19
you when you're, you know, followers are live the most or
16:22
online the most. So that is really helpful.
16:25
So, and I definitely recommend looking at that and if that, if
16:29
that's something you want to do and really dial in on when to
16:32
post that is helpful. Do you think you can post too
16:35
frequently? You know, I don't think for the
16:38
algorithm, no, I think they love that.
16:41
Now for me, like I have friends that tell me post constantly.
16:44
That's how I make all this money like and that's how I get all
16:47
these followers. I just post constantly and I'm
16:50
like but are people going to get tired of me?
16:53
Like I don't want to be that annoying, but not that they're
16:55
annoying, I don't find them annoying.
16:57
Right, I don't want to be. That annoying person that's
16:59
like, God, there she is again. She's on my feet again, you
17:02
know? How many times is she going to
17:04
post today? I.
17:05
Know, yeah. What do you think that people
17:08
are creators especially misunderstand the most about the
17:12
algorithm? Everything we are always to
17:15
figure it out. I mean, if I'm, unless it's just
17:18
me, but I swear we're all like, OK, what's new now?
17:21
Like what is the, what does it want today?
17:23
Every day is different. I used to do this little series
17:27
on TikTok like a couple years ago.
17:29
It was like TikTok tips with Tori because I would like study
17:32
the algorithm and what's working and hashtags and whatever.
17:36
It has changed so frequently since then.
17:40
It it just, it, it got to be unattainable.
17:42
Like I couldn't even like chase what they wanted anymore.
17:45
I couldn't catch up. So I quit doing that because I'm
17:48
like, how, how am I going to give that advice when I don't
17:50
even know anymore? You know, we're always trying to
17:54
figure it out. We, we talked a little earlier
17:57
about burnout and, and all of that.
18:00
Let's talk a little bit about boundaries and, and the mental
18:03
load that all of this takes on and and you carry with it.
18:09
How do you protect your peace while still remaining visible
18:14
online? Like you need a you burnout, you
18:17
need a couple weeks off. Yeah.
18:18
At some, I've had moments where I definitely needed to just get
18:22
off, like get off my phone, get like don't even look at it for
18:26
whatever reason, whether I was going through something personal
18:28
in my life or whatever. Sometimes just getting off and
18:31
taking a break can really just reset everything.
18:36
Again. I think that is so important
18:37
because you do become so wrapped up in it, like you're constantly
18:41
wondering what am I going to post next?
18:42
You know, what should I you always wanting to put something
18:45
out there, which is exhausting. So, yeah, I think just again,
18:50
taking breaks is very important and turning it off, closing it,
18:54
don't look at it. You can get wrapped up in that
18:57
real fast. Yeah.
18:58
What's a boundary that you finally that you you did for
19:01
yourself, but you had to learn that the hard way to do that is
19:05
it is it walking away from it? Yeah, for sure, definitely.
19:09
Or, you know, if somebody, I mean, I've had people that I
19:13
just feel like were it aligned with, I don't know, like not
19:18
real friends. Because believe it or not, this
19:21
can be kind of a weird world to where you, you know, you go in
19:25
thinking what everybody's so nice and not everybody's always
19:27
very nice. And you kind of just have to
19:29
walk away from those people, sadly.
19:32
And, you know, just love them from a distance and that kind of
19:36
gives you. How is your circle of friends
19:42
before? Like do you still have a very
19:45
similar circle of friends before you started becoming quote UN
19:49
quote tick tock famous or what? Whatever you want to say.
19:52
I have amazing people in my life and they think it's really cool
19:57
and they're very supportive. So I've just gained more friends
20:00
to be honest, which is amazing. That's another really cool thing
20:05
about social media is I never expected to meet so many cool
20:08
people and people who like have helped me through really hard
20:11
times in my life. Who would have never been there
20:14
had I not got on this journey, you know?
20:16
It's really the relationships that you can make with people
20:19
and the new friends or you know, like just in my case, doing
20:24
Tales from the Tailgate, somebody comes to a tailgate and
20:28
they're like, oh, I saw you on TikTok or whatever.
20:30
They're like, I want you to interview me and then we talk
20:34
and then I tag them in it and then I become friends with them.
20:37
Yeah, something happens in a a ball game and they randomly DM
20:40
me or whatever. And we're talking about, you
20:42
know, it's like, yeah, this is cool.
20:44
I'm truly it's a network. You truly.
20:47
It's modern day networking. It's a modern day B and I group
20:51
is what it is. It is.
20:52
It is, yeah. You can relate to so many people
20:55
that you meet. It's there's so many people who
20:57
have similar stories than you as you like.
21:01
I mean, just randomly, one example, finding my biological
21:06
dad was like a huge pivotal point in my life.
21:10
And when I put that out there, like I didn't have to put that
21:13
out there, but I did. And then I met so many adopted
21:15
people and like other people who it's a very unique feeling to be
21:19
adopted but not fully adopted, you know, and then you meet your
21:22
biological, it's this whole world that like you think is
21:25
only you and you're like, wait, no, there's other people that
21:27
have gone through this before and you know, you can relate
21:30
their emotions and everything. So it's it's really neat to have
21:34
met people like that online. That is so amazing.
21:38
You have absolutely no idea what I was going to ask next, nor is
21:43
it in my notes, but I knew that. I knew I knew that.
21:47
And it's not something that I really talk about on this show,
21:50
but this is a great opportunity to discuss this.
21:53
I also am adopted. Really.
21:56
And yes, and, and yeah, yeah. And, and I saw that with your,
22:04
with your story and all of that. So, so let's talk about that for
22:08
a minute. Yeah, because it's really cool.
22:10
I'll let you tell the story of how that happened.
22:14
OK, yeah. So my mom had me when she was
22:16
19. My biological dad.
22:20
They were split up. They were not together.
22:22
I never knew who he was. So when my mom, when I was 12,
22:26
she got married to who I consider my dad.
22:30
He adopted me. I took his last name.
22:32
He was my dad for my whole life basically after 12 years old.
22:36
And then I took adna test back when like 23andMe was like the
22:41
cool thing to do and like, you know, I was always the the tan
22:46
one in my family. Like they're all very well right
22:49
now I'm really pale, but I tan very easily in the sun.
22:53
And like my whole family is like this pale like, like vampires.
22:57
And they used to joke with me about that.
23:00
So I was like, you know, it was no surprise that I came back
23:03
with a lot of Spanish in me, But it made me question like, hold
23:07
on. And my mom took the test too.
23:09
And she had like no Spanish. So I was like, my biological dad
23:12
must have a lot of Spanish in him.
23:14
It just, yes. And I am a curious, very curious
23:17
person. So it just, yeah, catapulted me
23:21
into this investigation to find my biological dad.
23:24
And I was 30 years old. I reached out to him.
23:28
He was extremely kind. He had many, many regrets.
23:32
He was a rock star back in the 80s.
23:35
And he was very open to meeting me.
23:38
And I wanted to meet him and the rest of history.
23:41
We became so close. He was very special to me.
23:45
So yeah, that was the story. And unfortunately he died.
23:51
Like, yeah, he can't. I'm sure y'all saw the video.
23:54
He came one weekend and three days later he passed away
23:56
suddenly. So, but I, I think everything
24:00
happens for a reason. Like I would have never known
24:03
who my dad was or who what kind of person he was or anything had
24:06
I not just taken that leap of faith back then.
24:11
So yeah, I'm so glad I did that and got to know him.
24:15
He gave you some closure. He did.
24:17
You know, yeah, that's amazing. Yeah, that is amazing.
24:22
I found I did the same thing. And so I'm randomly, I'm at.
24:30
Where was that? I was at the Golden Nugget.
24:32
I was, I sell insurance for a living.
24:34
OK. And I was staying at the Golden
24:36
Nugget that night because why why wouldn't I stay there or the
24:39
Le Burge if I'm having to spend the night in Lake Charles?
24:42
Yeah. You know.
24:42
Hello. And so I was at the Golden
24:45
Nugget and I went down to the little Mexican restaurant that's
24:49
down there. I can't remember the name of it,
24:51
Cadillac or whatever it is. I can't remember.
24:53
It's probably changed names since then, but I'm sitting
24:57
there and there's this lady couple seats down.
25:02
I'm sitting at the bar. I'm just by myself.
25:05
I ordered something, I don't remember.
25:08
She and IA song came on. She and I started talking.
25:10
She passed me the menu or whatever.
25:12
As I said, are you going to bring some chips out?
25:14
That's how it all started. Are you going to bring some
25:16
chips out? And she's and like, yeah, you
25:19
know, they they charge for them or whatever.
25:21
And I'm like, OK, whatever. Well, that set her off.
25:24
Her name's Amber. Amber got was like, that's
25:28
crazy. She's from Texas.
25:29
Like you have to pay for chips. So then she and I start talking.
25:34
Next thing I know somehow or another she's there waiting on
25:38
her husband. Her husband's driving in from
25:41
Houston there and meeting them there and I don't know how it
25:45
happened. She wouldn't let me leave until
25:47
I met her husband. She's like you have to, you've
25:49
got to meet him. So I did.
25:50
He's been on the show like 3 or 4 times since since then.
25:54
We're great friends. I'm glad that all that happened.
25:57
Long story long though, he gets there and somehow or another, I
26:01
think I was ordering something and I said, dude, I don't care.
26:06
And I was adopted. I have no idea.
26:08
I probably have heart disease and all that stuff that runs in
26:10
my family. I'll never know.
26:12
And just that little casual just throwaway line is what took off
26:16
that he was also adopted. He had just recently found his
26:21
birth mother. And by the time I even we walked
26:24
out of that restaurant, I'd already ordered Adna kit.
26:27
And I was one of those people who my, my mom and dad are my
26:31
mom and dad period. That's always the way it will
26:34
be, you know, same as you said, I know, I know exactly how you
26:38
feel and, and, and never had any desire to, to know.
26:44
But something about talking to him that night and that all
26:48
coming out was just like I got hit by a lightning bolt.
26:51
And it was no doubt it was the right thing to do and I was
26:54
going to do it. So I got the test and like, you
26:59
know, a week or so later, I, I took it and got the results
27:02
back. Amber is a crime dog and could
27:06
figure anything out. And she is the one who found her
27:09
husband's birth mother. So I gave her all, here's
27:12
everything with Ancestry, I think is what I use.
27:15
Here's all of the stuff. And I mean, it wasn't within
27:19
four or five hours. We pretty much narrowed it down
27:21
to, to and found my birth mother and yeah.
27:26
And, and then I've, I've, I've not met her in person except for
27:30
the day I was born, obviously. And she carried me around for
27:33
nine months. But, and one day I hope too.
27:36
But we've talked, we've talked on the phone since we text each
27:40
other every now and then. And, and it was, it was hard for
27:44
her. And I knew it was hard for her
27:46
because, but I also knew that she just needed to know because
27:51
I knew. I mean, I, I, I just can only
27:53
imagine if I was a female and I had, I had a baby and then I
27:58
gave the baby up for adoption, that I would probably think
28:00
about that baby just about every day for the rest of my life.
28:04
And the only thing I wanted her to know was that I think I
28:07
wanted to thank her for what she did for me because I could not
28:11
have been placed with a better family.
28:13
They are my family. I don't know any different.
28:16
And I wanted her to know I was OK and just thank you for doing
28:20
that. You know, I don't want anything.
28:22
I'm not trying to be your beneficiary and your life
28:25
insurance or anything like that. I have.
28:28
I don't want anything. I just want, I just want a
28:31
little fan. What really it kind of triggered
28:33
it was that my daughter at the time was 1617151617 somewhere in
28:39
there and she just, I didn't have answers for medical history
28:44
stuff, you know, and, and that's really, kind of, that's really
28:49
what triggered it all for me is I, I need to find out a little
28:53
bit more as I found out. And once I've got pictures and
28:57
stuff like that, my daughter looks just like my birth mother
29:01
in a lot because she, so she looks like me and she does look
29:05
like me. My daughter does look a lot more
29:07
like me. And it's funny because my son
29:08
looks just like my wife. I love.
29:12
That, but he acts like me and she acts like her mom's, which
29:15
is great. But but all of that happened.
29:21
It was just it was that's that's my little crazy.
29:23
So I've never told that on here. Even when I've had.
29:26
JD Yeah, I've never told it. So how long ago was this?
29:28
I want to think it was 2018 or 19.
29:31
OK 17 somewhere in there probably in the in the last 10
29:35
years. OK probably.
29:37
I can't remember the exact date. I have it saved in my calendar,
29:42
but it did take, it did take a few months from when we figured
29:46
it out and a little prodding on my end.
29:50
I found her on Facebook, Facebook Messenger, and I sent
29:53
her the message that I toiled over for three or four days
29:59
rewriting it, writing it like, oh, that's stupid, all of that.
30:04
And you know, you get it. She acknowledged that it was her
30:09
and then we had she. She called me a day or two later
30:13
and we talked for probably 2 1/2 or three hours on the phone.
30:17
It was wonderful. Wow, just.
30:19
A great conversation. Oh, I'm happy for you.
30:23
I've known I was adopted from the day you know I was.
30:28
No, Yeah, yeah. Yeah, since I could, since I
30:30
could know. And my mom and dad always told
30:32
me they would support me if I ever wanted to know who who it
30:36
was. And but then they were
30:37
surprised. That was the hardest
30:39
conversation of them all was telling mom and dad, hey, I've
30:45
done this. I mean, I felt like a little 5
30:47
year old kid who had lit something on fire or something.
30:51
You know, like I'm going to be in so much trouble.
30:54
Yeah, it is hard. It's hard because they feel
30:57
like, like they weren't good enough or something, you know,
31:00
or like, why would you? I could totally understand.
31:03
As a mother. I could understand.
31:05
So yeah, that was a hard conversation I had with my mom
31:07
too, especially since he he pretty much left, you know, she
31:12
felt like he didn't deserve to know me after all these years.
31:15
So. But that was another thing that
31:17
everybody just had to work through, you know, So and this
31:21
lovely thing, even with her and him and.
31:24
Yeah, so it's just amazing. It's tough, it's hard.
31:28
It's it's wonderful. It's all these things.
31:30
But yeah. So is life, you know, that's
31:33
just, it's a part of life. So I'm, I, it's, it's nice to
31:37
hear happy endings because you don't always hear happy endings
31:41
with these stories. And I, I would encourage anybody
31:44
out there that if that's something that's on your mind or
31:49
go for it, go for it. I've shared the story with other
31:52
coworkers and things like that who then somehow or another I
31:56
found out they were adopted and then they did the same thing.
31:59
And guess what? They found their families and
32:02
all of that. And I can give you several good
32:06
examples of of it working out well.
32:09
Now I've seen cases and things where it don't work out so well,
32:13
but fortunately I haven't haven't touched on too many of
32:16
those but. Right, right, yeah, definitely.
32:19
I would, I would agree with you. Do it, but be guarded.
32:22
I mean, I definitely was too like I expected him to be this
32:26
monster and or, you know, tell me to get a get lost or
32:29
whatever. And I definitely had that
32:31
expectation or like that possibility, but you don't know
32:35
until you till you do it. And then, like you said, like
32:39
amazing things can come out of it and it can be really healing.
32:42
So it's, it's worth the, it's worth the shot to to see what
32:47
will happen. Sorry everybody, we didn't mean
32:49
to go off on that tangent, but but hey, that that's, that's
32:53
good stuff. That's good stuff.
32:55
You don't know who this will affect or who it'll touch so.
32:58
That is true. Well, before we start to wrap
33:01
everything up, let's dive into my favorite little part of the
33:06
show, the Tigs Blitz. The Tigs.
33:09
Blitz Yeah, we just, it's just quick questions, no overthinking
33:14
it. The first answer that comes to
33:16
the top of the mind, no explanation necessary.
33:20
Dust or no dust on crawfish? Dust.
33:24
Dust. Dust.
33:25
Yeah. What?
33:27
Yeah. Oh, it's so controversial.
33:29
I love it. You have to have it on your
33:32
fingers and in the juice like it's it has to be everywhere and
33:35
in the sauce. Wow, I was not expecting that
33:40
from you and I love it. OK.
33:42
From Acadiana. What's your favorite type of
33:46
dusting? Oh my gosh.
33:49
Put you on the spot, I. Have a cabinet full Look I'll
33:54
I'll plug one of my friends because I did not use theirs
33:57
yet. But this is the Hymels.
34:01
Yeah. I just remember I hadn't tried
34:03
theirs. I'm like, oh, my God, I feel
34:05
like such a bad friend, but I haven't tried theirs yet.
34:07
But there are so many good ones from our, you know, creators,
34:11
local people. I mean, how do you even choose?
34:14
You can't. You just you open the cabinet
34:16
and you pull out the first one that you grab and then you go to
34:21
and you're like out. I didn't use that one before.
34:23
That's a good one. So yes, potato salad with gumbo
34:28
in it on the side or none. As long as you're eating it with
34:33
the gumbo, it doesn't matter. Sometimes I put it in the gumbo,
34:36
sometimes it's on the side, but you have to be eating it with
34:38
the gumbo. All right, this this is not a
34:41
setup, but it could be. I can't wait to hear your answer
34:45
with. This one OK.
34:48
What's one thing that N Louisiana does better than South
34:53
Louisiana? How would I don't even know that
35:00
there's. There's no.
35:02
Answer. There's no answer.
35:03
With all due respect and lots of love, I married someone from
35:07
north or central Louisiana, which is north.
35:11
So nothing. There is nothing.
35:14
I'm so sorry, I still love y'all so much though.
35:20
They're great things in North Louisiana #1 the soul food.
35:23
I think the soul food in North Louisiana is on a whole other
35:27
level outside of New Orleans. But soul food in Louisiana is
35:31
just soul food. It's just done differently in
35:34
South Louisiana. It's got more spices, meat pies,
35:38
Nakatish meat pies. Can't go wrong there.
35:42
I mean, that's what they're famous for and they have some of
35:45
the most amazing meat pies. And then tamales, Zawali
35:49
tamales. I need to try tamales from up
35:52
there. I love tamales.
35:54
What Louisiana food take would you defend no matter how mad
35:57
people got at you? Well, for example, like what?
36:03
Like dusting the crawfish and potato salad with gumbo.
36:06
Those are two hours Well. Yeah, are there are there any
36:09
other food takes that you would just defend like king cake
36:14
outside of king cake season or Rouses?
36:17
Now are good friends at Rouses. This is not sponsored by them,
36:21
but they make, you know, king cakes all year long for all
36:24
different types. 4th of July king cake.
36:27
Let's use king cakes as an example.
36:29
Are you going to get mad at some body if they eat a 4th of July
36:33
king cake or an Easter king cake, God forbid?
36:36
Or something outside of the traditional Mardi Gras window.
36:41
Heck no, I want a king cake right now because I was in Vegas
36:45
during Mardi Gras and I was dieting up until then because I
36:51
wanted to be snatched in Vegas so I didn't get enough king cake
36:54
this year. So I'm literally like I need to
36:56
call meshes and see if they will do a king cake out of season
36:59
because I'm down for that. Backstreet Boys are In Sync.
37:04
I was not a boy band girl. I mean, I was raised by an 80s
37:07
hair band queen. So like, it was 80s hair bands.
37:11
And in the 90s did I even listen to like pop music?
37:15
I don't even think so. I was still stuck in the 80s.
37:18
Hell yeah, you were. I love it.
37:21
All right, well, what's your favorite hair metal band?
37:23
Guns and Roses all day long slash ex-husband.
37:27
You know, so feature husband, so heck yes.
37:33
Let's wrap it up with this one. If your if your life had a
37:38
soundtrack, what song would be playing right now?
37:43
Oh my gosh, it it would have to be some.
37:46
Gosh, there's so many. It could be a million things, it
37:49
could be, it could be something from Guns and Roses, it could be
37:53
some Taylor Swift, I'm a huge Swifty, or it could be Cajun
37:57
music, you know, Wayne Tubes, love all of that.
38:00
I don't know. My life is so unique and full of
38:04
different twists and turns and everything.
38:07
I feel like there's so many different types of music.
38:09
It would be a mixed track. It would be those mixed tapes
38:12
that are those mixed? Yes, we created in the early
38:15
2000s, that's what. Oh yeah, absolutely.
38:19
What's your favorite Guns and Roses song?
38:21
November rain all day, all day long.
38:24
Well, Tori, I appreciate you coming on.
38:28
I think, I think people are going to walk away from this
38:30
with a better understanding of how much thought actually goes
38:35
into creating content the right way.
38:39
And I know that I enjoyed this episode.
38:41
So make sure that you're following Tori and check out her
38:44
content on all of her channels. Tori, where can everybody find
38:48
you once again? TikTok you can search Tori
38:51
Lemoine or Instagram Tori Lemoine one or on Facebook Tori
38:55
Lemoine. As always, thank you all for
38:57
listening and watching. I'll see you on the next.
39:00
One thank you so much for having me, it was so fun.