What you'll learn

• 1 (00:24) **Interview Introduction & Career Overview** - Terry Gross introduces Danielle Brooks, highlighting her roles in *Orange is the New Black*, *The Color Purple* (Broadway and film), the Mahalia Jackson biopic, and her new film *If I Go, Will They Miss Me?*
• 2 (05:50) **Juilliard & John Batiste** - Brooks recalls meeting John Batiste at Juilliard, describing his vibrant personality and their bond as two of the few Black students.
• 3 (08:06) **Auditioning for Sophia in *The Color Purple*** - Brooks describes her audition for the Broadway revival, which was the first Broadway show she ever saw.
• 4 (10:06) **The Transition from Dialogue to Song** - Gross and Brooks discuss the challenge of moving from spoken dialogue into song in a musical.
• 5 (13:43) **Singing in Church & Shyness** - Brooks talks about starting to sing in church at age three or four, but being extremely shy as a child.
• 6 (14:55) **A Favorite Gospel Song: "I Won't Complain"** - Brooks shares that her first church solo at age six or seven was the gospel song "I Won't Complain."
• 7 (15:55) **Godmother's Generosity & The Annie Edge Scholarship** - Brooks discusses her godmother, Annie Edge, who left her $20,000 in her will for college, which made Juilliard possible.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app