Meredith Seacrest Leach (co-written with Ryan Seacrest), THE MAKE-BELIEVERS
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[0:42]Meredith C. Crest Leech is co-author of The Make Believers alongside her brother Ryan C. Crest.
[0:50]Meredith C. Crest Leech is the executive director and COO for the Ryan C. Crest Foundation.
[0:56]She was a driving force behind the conception and development of the foundation since inception in 2009.
[1:02]In her current role, she manages and cultivates relationships with key partners and donors in entertainment, healthcare, education, and technology,
[1:09]whilst strategizing financial campaigns and programs to help continuously advance the organization in the 14 C. Crest studios
[1:17]in leading pediatric hospitals across the country, which we talked about.
[1:21]Prior to overseeing the foundation, Meredith was the director of Creative Affairs at Reveley, now known as the production company,
[1:28]Endomall Shine, North America. Some of the programming she was responsible for included Nashville Star, Master Chef, and the buried life.
[1:36]She also worked in hospitality, public relations, managing several luxury resort accounts, and is the manager of communications at Entertainment Tonight and the Insider,
[1:45]where she oversaw national press for two top entertainment news programs.
[1:49]The Make Believers is her first picture book.
[1:52]Ryan C. Crest could not appear as he is on iHeart Media and, therefore, it's not allowed, I guess, to be on another show that is outside of iHeart.
[2:01]Oh, well, we missed him, but delighted to talk to Meredith.
[2:04]Welcome, Meredith. Thank you so much for coming on mom's don't have time to read books to discuss The Make Believers,
[2:10]which you co-wrote with Ryan C. Crest illustrated by Bonnie Lou. Is that your pronounce?
[2:14]Bonnie Louie.
[2:16]Bonnie, yes. Oh, French. Yes. Okay, congratulations.
[2:21]Tell me about how this book got started. Why did you all team up to do this book together?
[2:28]How did you pick the Make Believers? Let me hear the whole story.
[2:31]All the things, all the things.
[2:33]It really started, you know, I have a five-year-old daughter, but this we started this process a couple years ago.
[2:39]So she was probably around three at the time, but we were just kind of playing with my daughter Flora and just, you know,
[2:44]she's an amazing imagination and it got us reflecting about, you know,
[2:49]just the times of what we played as kids and what we did.
[2:53]And it is different today, you know, with iPads and all these things and other electronics and we didn't have all that, right?
[2:59]So we were playing Make Believers, if you will, all the time and just talked about, you know,
[3:05]what it kind of it opened doors for us in certain ways.
[3:08]And a lot that we played, you know, Ryan is a kid.
[3:12]He would pretend to be Casey Kasem and, you know, host shows and he would interview me and I'd be Cindy Lop or Madonna and we made music videos.
[3:21]We did all this fun stuff creatively and then it also was like,
[3:25]gosh, it's crazy like what you played Make Believers actually became, right?
[3:29]And you never know, you know, things that you might pretend to do just as a child could inspire where you want,
[3:35]you know, where to go in your life, right?
[3:38]In many ways, like my daughter, you know, she loves to play that she's a veterinarian.
[3:42]Who knows, maybe that'll be where she goes.
[3:45]So it's really, I guess, going back to the, you know, why the Make Believers,
[3:50]but it's really about, you know, imagination and where your dreams can take you and lead you and to celebrate that.
[3:57]And I also, I think for parents, you know,
[4:01]when your kids want to play Make Believers, like get down with them and engage in it because it's just so special.
[4:06]And, you know, put the iPad down and, and go play Make Believers, such good advice.
[4:12]I remember my daughter, I have four kids, my oldest two or 17 and down to nine.
[4:16]And my older daughter, she always used to play school like all the time.
[4:19]And now she's like, playing does college to be a teacher.
[4:23]I mean, it's amazing, right?
[4:24]It's like, there is, there's a reason why people play certain ways and you should pay attention a little bit, right?
[4:30]And it's so true.
[4:31]And, you know, I think with my daughter too, it's like she's an animal lover,
[4:35]but then she loves to perform.
[4:36]So she's like, yes, singer and an veterinarian.
[4:39]I'm like, sure, you know, totally.
[4:41]You can add it all.
[4:42]It's a Vegas act right there.
[4:44]I mean, exactly.
[4:46]I love to the nod to chocolate chip pancakes in the book, which is a staple in our household,
[4:52]which I guess should be more of a special treat.
[4:54]But unfortunately, on the regular menu these days, but, you know,
[4:58]the book speaks to so many just childhood, you know, bare hugs and chocolate chip pancakes and a giant stuffed unicorn.
[5:03]And it's hard to look at the pictures and read it without feeling that childhood joy and magic and possibility and just how fun it all seemed, right?
[5:15]When now it doesn't always all seem so fun all the time.
[5:18]You know, the book can take you right back.
[5:21]It's so true.
[5:22]And I think, you know, you can go anywhere with your imagination.
[5:26]You can meet anybody.
[5:27]You can be anybody.
[5:28]And there's something just so fun about that.
[5:30]I feel like the make believers is another name for readers in general.
[5:35]I mean, I feel like that's what we do.
[5:36]We put ourselves in other people's shoes all the time.
[5:38]That's what a good book does.
[5:40]And if you don't have the childhood, the child ish imagination anymore.
[5:45]Sometimes just plopping on the couch and literally becoming like in a novel, the veterinary or something can do the trick or at least tap into that lost art.
[5:57]and agree and agree.
[5:59]And, you know, my brother and I through some of the work we do with our foundation, the right secret foundation, we work so much with children in the hospital.
[6:07]And it's another place where imagination can help with healing.
[6:12]And when we build it's basically a hybrid of a radio TV studio in the hospital, but kids get to come into the studio and create content and shows and be stars and pretend that they're someone else in a certain way.
[6:26]And just all the creative things that we do within the hospital also inspired a bit of this as well.
[6:31]It's just amazing, you know, again, how imagination can again help out a child in the hospital go beyond those hospital walls even for a little bit.
[6:40]Yeah, that was fascinated by that.
[6:42]And that's so amazing that you do that, which hospitals are the centers in.
[6:46]We are in 14 hospitals now across the country in a two more that we're opening in.
[6:52]And so it's quite a list, but it all started in our hometown of Atlanta and then it kind of snowballed into, you know, then we were opening in Philadelphia.
[7:01]And then it went to Dallas and then it just kind of started to go across the country.
[7:06]So it's been very rewarding to work together in the foundation side, but all not also now to launch this book together.
[7:13]And it's first time authors.
[7:15]So it's a lot of fun.
[7:17]So how is it working on these projects with your brother?
[7:20]I have a brother and we don't necessarily work together.
[7:23]I mean, I adore him, but I don't know.
[7:25]I don't know how it would be if we tried to like take on a professional project at the stage in our lives.
[7:30]You know, we've been working together now for almost 13 years.
[7:35]So I've been in a role that's kind of used to working with him and how he ticks and luckily, you know, again, the areas that I work with him are helping others.
[7:46]So that's a great place to work together.
[7:48]And then this book project was just something fun and creative, you know.
[7:52]So both areas are kind of a fun space, if you will, versus you know, I'm not necessarily working for him and trying to do XYZ and sell this, do that.
[8:02]I'm like, I'm on the good side of all.
[8:05]But yeah, and we're six years apart.
[8:07]So I think we don't, we're not siblings that are so close that we've, we never fought and we're boy in a girl.
[8:13]I think a lot of that factors in and we just are fortunate.
[8:17]We get a long, long work while together.
[8:19]That's amazing.
[8:20]And how did you pick hospitals?
[8:22]Like how did that idea come about?
[8:24]You know, my brother with this radio show, kiss FM and Los Angeles, they would take the radio show and go to Children's Hospital of Orange County a lot and broadcast live.
[8:34]And I would even go with him sometimes when I was living in LA.
[8:37]And we just saw kind of the power of bringing this entertainment in the hospital and how it got, you know, children are not a bed and he would bring in special guests with him.
[8:47]And it just created energy and excitement.
[8:50]And he even got a lot of feedback from parents saying, you know, my kids 14, 15 in the hospital and there's a lot of things for the little ones, but not as much for the older kids.
[9:00]And so this really was so fun today from my child.
[9:04]And it stuck with him and then it kind of brought it back.
[9:07]I was like, all right, you know, I've supported a lot of other organizations, but I'd love to do something of my own.
[9:14]And what if, you know, we built, I can't go broadcast live every day from a children's hospital, but what if we kind of build something like my radio studio and then it evolved to television capabilities because we feed all the programming up to patients bedrooms.
[9:30]So if you can't come down, you're still included.
[9:33]And it evolved into what we now call secret studios.
[9:36]And at the time, we decided to build the first one, the concept in Atlanta where we're from.
[9:41]And that's when he was, I was working in production in LA for a TV production company.
[9:47]And then he's like, where do you leave your job and just let's go for this and run it.
[9:51]And I thought, well, again, if there's anything to work with you on, it's doing, you know, things to help families in need.
[9:58]We.
[10:00]and then launched the first studio Atlanta
[10:01]and then it snowballed and just been doing it ever since.
[10:06]It's amazing.
[10:07]So when you sort of fantasize about what happens
[10:11]with this book once it gets into the world,
[10:12]tell me a little bit about that.
[10:14]I mean, it's always, I think, a little nerve wracking
[10:17]when he puts him in creative into the world, right?
[10:19]I mean, we do a lot with even with the foundation,
[10:24]we bring in celebrity guests and work with a lot of people
[10:27]in the talent space and kind of know how it is
[10:29]if you're putting out a movie or a new song
[10:31]or people gonna like it.
[10:33]It's almost that similar feeling of, you know,
[10:35]you hope it resonates with people
[10:37]and, you know, there are a lot of children's books out there,
[10:40]but hopefully this kind of notion
[10:43]of just celebrating imagination and play
[10:46]and, you know, whether you're a kid or an adult,
[10:49]it just kind of reminds you of having dreams
[10:53]and not letting go of those daydreams, if you will,
[10:56]that could turn into something real and true.
[10:59]So true, and I love that.
[11:00]So what were some of your other daydreams as a kid,
[11:04]like when you would play it or when you would make believe,
[11:07]was there any place you remember even liking to go or any of that?
[11:12]I mean, we talked about,
[11:14]we did a lot of stuff and entertainment actually in our house.
[11:17]So funny enough, we ended up both going to LA
[11:19]and he went first and I went second
[11:22]and worked in television and production
[11:23]and all those things as well.
[11:25]But, you know, we both loved, you know, hosting things
[11:28]and being creative and we played a lot outside.
[11:31]I mean, that was just so fun about kind of those days
[11:35]or you can run around the neighborhood
[11:36]and be on your bike and go to friend's houses
[11:39]and all those good things.
[11:40]I mean, I think, you know, being from Atlanta,
[11:43]we didn't get to go everywhere in the world at that time.
[11:46]So I think we always kind of had, you know,
[11:48]oh, would it be like to be in New York or LA
[11:51]or all these big cities that later in life
[11:53]we got to go to.
[11:54]But I just think we were just creative kids young
[11:58]and it's just, I think what we want to continue
[12:01]to inspire kids to channel that creativity
[12:04]and you don't know where it can take you.
[12:07]Or there are things that you think your parents did
[12:09]to raise you that we can use as tools as parents
[12:13]to raise kids who are paying attention to others
[12:18]who would do something like start a foundation
[12:21]to help other people and do it as a family.
[12:23]I mean, that's really amazing and sweet and awesome
[12:27]and not everybody might think to immediately
[12:30]turn around and help in such a big way.
[12:32]Where do you think that came from?
[12:34]Or maybe I'm giving your parents too much credit.
[12:36]Maybe you're just like really nice people.
[12:37]No, I mean, I'm just growing up.
[12:39]It was always kind of ingrained in us to help others
[12:43]and whether it was even things that we did within our school
[12:45]or our church.
[12:47]It just was always kind of part of your,
[12:49]to be fortunate for what you have
[12:51]and also awareness of others.
[12:53]And I think too we, I got more exposed
[12:57]to the Children's Hospital element
[12:59]through Ryan visiting that Children's Hospital in LA
[13:02]because I didn't necessarily go as much as a child.
[13:04]I mean, that's something you don't really get your eyes
[13:06]open to that unless you have to go to a hospital, right?
[13:10]And so it's definitely grown so much even more
[13:14]with doing this foundation.
[13:16]And it truly is a family affair.
[13:18]My parents are involved and we have our boundaries
[13:21]where it's like, even though we're all kind of involved in it,
[13:24]we set time to meet about meetings
[13:27]if it's really work or if I call home at seven o'clock
[13:30]to my mom and dad, I don't want,
[13:33]they're my mom and dad, right?
[13:34]So insane with Ryan.
[13:35]I'm a sister, I'm calling about fun things.
[13:39]He's FaceTiming with my daughter,
[13:40]or I'm like, hey, I need to get you for 20 minutes.
[13:44]Here's an agenda or whatever it is.
[13:46]So we've learned that when you work together,
[13:49]you have to have boundaries or it can be, you know,
[13:53]where's the line?
[13:54]So exactly.
[13:55]And how was it working with the illustrator?
[13:58]Great.
[13:58]It's so fun.
[13:59]I think the creative process of once you get kind of the words
[14:02]down then to see it come to life and that, you know,
[14:06]how body would put, you know, again,
[14:09]put it to a picture and you see it.
[14:11]And honestly, the words itself on their own, you know,
[14:14]it's great, but it's not to the same magnitude
[14:18]when you, when the art, it just goes to another level.
[14:21]So it was a lot of fun.
[14:22]And it was great to give, you know, some feedback
[14:24]or maybe tweak this or this felt a little crowded
[14:27]and she was great and it flowed really nicely.
[14:31]Amazing.
[14:33]As a children's book author now,
[14:35]what advice do you have for other people who are out there
[14:37]saying like, I have a great idea for children's book
[14:40]or I've written a children's book
[14:41]and I don't know what to do or any of that?
[14:43]What would you tell them about your experience
[14:45]and what advice would you give?
[14:48]Yeah, I mean, you know, something I had dreamed of doing
[14:52]speaking of dreams, but I wrote little books and things
[14:54]that I was a kid or and I had one that was like
[14:58]called spaghetti spill out of cat and meaty
[15:00]and it was about this kid that was a prankster
[15:02]and all these things.
[15:03]But I feel like I was channeling it and when I,
[15:06]I was fortunate obviously I have a brother in this,
[15:09]in the limelight in a way that we were able to team up
[15:12]and that helps, right?
[15:15]It's not the easiest road to put out a book
[15:18]but I think really finding, getting your thoughts organized
[15:23]and then figuring out like how are you going to publish it
[15:25]or can you connect to a publisher to help you
[15:28]which we've been working with Simon and Schuster
[15:30]who've been amazing and they help guide so much of it too, right?
[15:33]It's so nice to have them on this journey with us.
[15:36]I think if you self publish, you know, you can't.
[15:39]I know several people who publish books
[15:40]and with just the world we're in today,
[15:42]you can put it up on Amazon and you know,
[15:45]it can take on its own growth without a big publisher.
[15:48]So there's just so many avenues.
[15:50]So it's like if you've got the creative itch,
[15:52]just go for it, right?
[15:54]What do you have to lose?
[15:55]Totally, I love them.
[15:57]Amazing.
[15:58]So is this going to be a series?
[15:59]Do you anticipate more books or is this a one and done
[16:02]or not sure?
[16:04]I don't know.
[16:05]I think it's our first and then you see how it goes,
[16:09]you know, like everything and then see where the world takes us
[16:12]and if it continues on or if it's a one and done,
[16:16]I have no idea but we're open-minded about it
[16:19]and just hope it, you know, all goes well
[16:21]with the launch and excited to put it out in the world.
[16:25]Amazing.
[16:26]Awesome.
[16:27]And then are there any children's book authors
[16:29]that you have loved your whole life
[16:30]or favorite children's books from growing up?
[16:33]I mean, I, you know, it's fun going back
[16:36]and reading some of the books that I read,
[16:39]like Amelia, Badelia, you know, some of these fun ones
[16:42]are, you know, all the Dr. Seuss
[16:44]and some of these classics that I read as a kid
[16:47]and now I'm reading it with my daughter.
[16:49]And even reading some books, it's like you kind of
[16:51]didn't think of like, what is the real message
[16:54]or does this book really make sense
[16:55]or what are we teaching here?
[16:57]And so I've been kind of reliving, you know,
[17:00]reading all these classic books with my daughter
[17:02]and just, again, loving it and excited and hope.
[17:05]This book too is something that's in, you know,
[17:08]everyone's bookshelf and it inspires them
[17:11]and makes them think, you know,
[17:13]even with the make believers the way it ends
[17:15]with the question, you know, are you ready to be a make
[17:17]believer?
[17:18]It's more than I hope it starts parents to talk, you know?
[17:22]It's a way to say, you know, if you were somebody, you know,
[17:24]or where would you want to go?
[17:26]Who would you want to meet?
[17:27]It's a way to open conversation as well of that.
[17:30]Well, well, amazing.
[17:32]The make believers so great, so inspiring
[17:35]and it's such a good reminder that even on the hardest day,
[17:39]you can just let your mind take you anywhere you want to be.
[17:41]And that's sometimes that's the best thing just to know.
[17:44]So thank you for inspiring kids and parents alike
[17:48]and all the good work that you do with the foundation
[17:51]and that you will continue to do.
[17:52]I'm sure it's really inspiring, motivating and wonderful.
[17:57]So thanks.
[17:58]Well, thank you.
[17:59]Okay.
[18:00]I'm glad to be on your podcast
[18:02]and appreciate your interest in our book as well.
[18:05]Okay, mom.
[18:06]All right.
[18:06]Well, thank you so much.
[18:07]Thank you.
[18:08]Bye.
[18:09]Bye.
[18:10]Thank you.
[18:13]Thanks for listening to Mom's Don't Have Time to Read Books.
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