Alicia Quarles: Host of Daily Mail and Good Morning America Reflects on Her Life and Career

Joe Katz: (00:00)

Alicia Quarrels. Thank you so much.

Alicia Quarles: (00:11)

It's my pleasure. Thank you for having me.

Joe Katz: (00:13)

I'm so glad to have you on the show. I've I feel like I've known you so long now. It's like, God, I knew you back in the day.

Alicia Quarles: (00:23)

Let's talk far back. We go that's. I mean, that's gosh, maybe 15 years. So we gotta be, at least we don't look at Dan for 21, but yet, you know, when does that nap? Maybe not quite 15. Maybe about 10 years though. So it's been awhile. Yeah.

Joe Katz: (00:40)

And you were there for how long? Like I was there for 10 years. 10 years.

Alicia Quarles: (00:44)

Yes. I left as their APS since I was 22, when I left there and I was 32 or so, but yeah, it was a good

Speaker 3: (00:53)

One. Oh my gosh.

Joe Katz: (00:55)

Yes. So I met you back at AP, so just so everybody knows Alicia, a lot of people know you from a daily mail, but you were on E entertainment and then now you're on good morning America, right? Yes.

Alicia Quarles: (01:09)

Yeah. So God is good. The universals gets, yeah, it was after the associated press. I went to eat for four years and started my own company. Um, and then I went to daily mail, uh, bid day mail for, you know, since the very beginning and I joined good morning, American next hopper. Oh my gosh.

Joe Katz: (01:25)

That's amazing. So I want to get into all that stuff too. Cause I want to know more about it because we haven't caught up for, I don't know, long,

Speaker 4: (01:32)

Long, long time. I know.

Joe Katz: (01:34)

But um, I love your necklace that you're wearing. So if you're listening, you've got to tune into the video because you've got to see what Alicia's wearing. She's a stylist, a fashionista, beautiful way to see her skin. It's glowing. And it's like, she looks like she's 24, 25. I love you for that. Thank you. Yeah. So, um, yeah, so tune into the YouTube, uh, section so you can watch the video, but, um, I just wanted to go back Alicia and just understand, like, I know your dad was in journalism, but it's like, how did you, when you were younger, like growing up, did you always say like, this is what I want to do. I want to get into journalism. I always

Alicia Quarles: (02:16)

Did. So no back when newspapers were really viable for the internet, my dad was the first black newspaper publisher in the nation and worked for Gannett for 20 years and the McClatchy, but he was a fixer. So we would basically move every three years to papers that weren't doing the best and he turned them around and we move on. So growing up in that environment or you're always moving, Barbara Walters was my best friend in my head. I was the only little kid running home to watch 2020. So I knew I wanted to be a journalist like from the very beginning, but I wanted to do it on television. Wow. And so

Joe Katz: (02:47)

What did, so where did you, where you grew up? Where all over?

Alicia Quarles: (02:52)

Yes. I was born in Fontana, Southern California. And then from there moved to Reno, Nevada for Collins, Colorado rock hill, South Carolina stopped in California Modesta. What lived in Japan for a year. And then I went to USC and then came to New York. So it's a little bit, it's almost like being a little army brat, but not quite.

Joe Katz: (03:10)

So it was it, um, like going to school, was it hard because like making friends and then you gotta go,

Alicia Quarles: (03:17)

You know what? I don't think I'd be the journalist that I am today. Had I not moved that often. So it teaches you not to be a fly on the wall. Um, you just, you just got used to it first of all, because you don't know anything else. Um, but also I knew that I couldn't be somebody, you know, I remember this, I was coming from California and went to live in rock this after everybody was like, you tell like a white girl, I'm like, what does that mean? So you just can't, you gotta be strong. You gotta be brave. And it helped my career because I can talk to anyone. Oh wow. Oh, because,

Joe Katz: (03:44)

So like how many year? Like every three years. Yeah.

Alicia Quarles: (03:47)

Yeah. About every three years on average. And so my sister had it worse than me. I'm older sister. They moved to her, her senior year. Mine wasn't that bad. But about every three years, there's just the two of you. There's just the two of us. Yeah. Is she in broadcasting too? She is not Amazon interior decorator. She went, we're like night and day. We're totally different, but she's in Charlotte living her best life, married with kids. So she's happy.

Joe Katz: (04:11)

So, um, when you were moving around, I mean, what was it like? Like you're, you know, if people check out Alicia quarrels on Instagram, you see, I mean, you're great and fashion, you know how to put stuff together. I remember when I met you, you were, you know, you were the global entertainment director. And I, when I first saw you, I was like, oh my God, look at her fashion. She knows how she's in Jordan, even in front of the camera. And, and so when you were, um, growing up, were you like a fashionista where you kind of a quiet girl? What were you, you

Alicia Quarles: (04:44)

Know, growing up, I was really a town where my sister's always been the fashionista. So I was kind of all worlds class prom queen and homecoming queen, but I was also voted most athletic. Um, so I always had good style, but it didn't really evolve until I moved to New York city when I was 22, 23. That's when I discovered, you know, sample cells. So to get that fun DVF dress for $50.

Speaker 4: (05:07)

Great. Are those great.

Alicia Quarles: (05:09)

And I took advantage of being in this world and also I love designers. They're my tribe. So a lot of us came up together, the Christian Siriano, Zac Posen, we're all kind of the same age. And so they would dress me and look out for me. Um, and you know, Anna winter was really pivotal in my career, so I really loved the fashion community. Um, and my friend, Cara Ross made this for me. So just kind of became my tribe. Right. What

Joe Katz: (05:32)

Do you mean Anna winter mentorship?

Speaker 4: (05:35)

Well, it's

Alicia Quarles: (05:36)

A good one. So, okay. So when I was at the associated press, she would always give the Vogue covers the breaking news to USA today. And I was like, ah, we AP should have them. So I remember writing her a handwritten letter and there, her father was also a newspaper publisher, just appealing to her on that level. And from there opened up the doors, she only would give them to the AP at the gala should only test, stop and talk to me. Um, it just really, really helped my career. So I'll never forget that the first time I met her, I will, I will say this. My friend took me to this. Uh, it was called seventh on sixth. Do you remember that it was charity where they would open up the vaults during fashion week? The first one, I couldn't afford anything like that. And I was wearing like maybe target and banana Republic, this mixture. Someone's like, hi, miss mentor. Nice to meet you. Cause she greets everyone. She goes nice to meet you too. Like, what am I wearing? But I'll never forget that, but she's always been good to me. And what

Joe Katz: (06:33)

Did she say? Did she make a comment about your,

Alicia Quarles: (06:35)

That was just that, you know, the up and down look like, what does this have on it? It wasn't a bad outfit, but obviously wasn't

Speaker 4: (06:42)

There. It was not that's. Okay.

Joe Katz: (06:49)

Did she, did she, um, guide you a little bit? Like, did she dress you for things or?

Alicia Quarles: (06:54)

Oh yeah, definitely. So as my career progressed, for example, she's the creative director for the Tony's. So maybe a couple of years ago, you know, have me host the red carpet and specifically things that my outfit and dressing. So yes, it's been kind of along the way we can say that, but she's busy me. You're

Joe Katz: (07:13)

Like, uh, were, yeah, like you were like in the devil wears Prada. That girl was so young, probably as young as you were starting.

Alicia Quarles: (07:20)

So yang starting and not realizing how you've always accessed, but the stories are funny now. And at the time, I guess they'd be part of that moving around my thick skin. I just didn't think anything of it. You know?

Joe Katz: (07:29)

You mean when she looked you up and down, you were like, yeah, whatever. You're not intimidated.

Alicia Quarles: (07:35)

No, I was as good as my annulments were. I don't care what I had on. So

Joe Katz: (07:40)

We'll kind of person. Wow. That's good. That's good. I think that makes you so much more, you know, like I think so much of us we get, so, um, I, I was thinking about this actually the last couple of weeks about like always worrying about what other people think can be so debilitating. Like why do we always worry? What do you think? What do you think it's like, w you know, does it matter? You know,

Alicia Quarles: (08:04)

It's exhausting. It definitely can be, especially in our industry is we're can be so hyper competitive. And I think at this age of social media where people are always checking you out, but if you're not comfortable in your own skin and look to your point, doesn't matter. Right. Right.

Joe Katz: (08:16)

I mean, so, so then you, so when you graduated high school, you went to USC here in Southern California. That's a great school. You were like high honors.

Alicia Quarles: (08:27)

Uh, yeah, I was what's the top one silica Mahdi. And I can hear it now, but yeah. So I was, yeah, I had a very high GPA, but it came naturally to me, journalism. And so I pitched the right major for me. It's like, I was over there, Jim math classes. This is like my natural inclination, but in college, but can't remember working that hard. That's great.

Speaker 4: (08:47)

You're gay.

Joe Katz: (08:50)

And so then what happened then you got your first job was

Alicia Quarles: (08:53)

My first job was at the associated. Um, it was an associate producer in Los Angeles and it was a hybrid job. So it was a half Joe harden. He doesn't have to in left out entertainment. We eventually, I just transferred over and it's entertainment. But, you know, I worked my way up from the very bottom mayor to be a, being a director about 60 people, as you said, but I loved it there. It was the best training ground because there's not a job in the industry that I probably haven't done. Um, so it really like helped me, you know, cut my teeth. Wow. I

Joe Katz: (09:21)

Mean, so, because I remember when I met you, I thinking, oh my God, she's the global entertainment director. And you were like, in your twenties wearing yes,

Alicia Quarles: (09:31)

I was 28 when I got that job. And I remember so, you know, at the AP, if you're a good journalist, they promote you, but pushing you into management, just because you're a good journalist doesn't mean you'll be a good manager. Right. I was talking to my dad, should I take the shop? not? And he said, luckily, if you can't put yourself last for two years and put your team first and you don't take the job. So for two years have put myself last. I worked, my butt off for my team was about 60 people globally across formats. So print digital in a TV, you name it. Um, and we kicked butt and we did stuff like no break. Whitney is at the Whitney. He has some issue at rest and peace, a lot of stuff that you could burn out too. If after two years of putting everybody first, it was great, but it was also time to move on.

Joe Katz: (10:11)

What do you mean? Like you broke that story about Whitney. You were the first one and the

Alicia Quarles: (10:15)

Moody broker who was there, my team. So she broke the story of Whitney Houston's death. But for example, you know, the cameras that were in her funeral, that was all me and the AP. Like I w I was in that funeral, we're directing it, Florida directing. And it was like, kind of my Swan Swan song from APA. You know, you cover the desk, Michael Jackson. So you break a lot of news. So I stood at my aura by the Supreme court. Um, it just, it was constant. It was great, but it's lasting. What

Joe Katz: (10:40)

Do you mean when you said to your dad, I'm going to put myself last and my team first, like,

Alicia Quarles: (10:46)

Oh, sorry. He told me don't take the job. If you can't do that, he goes, because you can't put yourself last and your team first for at least two years, you don't go into management and he goes, you know, that's a real commitment. And when you're managing, it's not about you anymore. It's about your team. So in other words, you know, you take all every call. You, you, you, it's not about you anymore. It's about you doing what's best for your team. So that's really, it was a great lesson for me.

Joe Katz: (11:10)

But in the end, your team is a reflection of you, right. Which has been about you. That's

Alicia Quarles: (11:15)

True. That's true. I think overall, I want them to know, you know, and a lot of people I've worked with for years, a lot were double my age. And I just said, look, there's a lot that I won't know. I'll learn it. And I'll work my hardest and I'll fight for you. And I'll be honest with you. So I think that's more the lesson I took out of it because you're right. Your team is a reflection of you. Yeah.

Joe Katz: (11:34)

So like, if you, I mean, I read about you that, you know, being so young at the AP, you had people that were double your age, like you said, how was that? How did people kind of take you serious that like, you're the global entertainment and you're 28. I think

Alicia Quarles: (11:50)

It was twofold. I think a lot of these people I had worked for so long, so they knew my work ethic and they knew my value. And I think the people that didn't take me seriously, I ever care. Like I remember oftentimes I was like, the only minority in a boardroom would be a lot of older white men from different departments. Some of them will try like, come at me and I'm like, I can hold my own. I got this. So I, I just, us, as the proof is in the pudding at the end of the day, if your department's making money in a big mess with you. Oh.

Joe Katz: (12:19)

And so you opened up a lot of doors like that. You helped the AP open up, get access to things basically. Yeah,

Alicia Quarles: (12:27)

Absolutely. I mean, obviously it says it depresses, always going to get access, but it's also about your relationships. Um, and I've been lucky to forge really strong relationships. So those celebrities or publicist wanted me one of my team to break the story. So that was, it was a great symbiotic relationship. Wow. Right.

Joe Katz: (12:44)

What advice, like, you know, somebody that listens now, when they look at you and they watch you on daily mail, they saw you on E and that type of thing. What is, what, um, what advice would you give them? If they're like, you know what, I want to break into journalism and I want to maybe do TV, or maybe I want to be a producer or something like that. What would be your advice? Well, I think that my

Alicia Quarles: (13:04)

Number one advice is because of technology. If you want to do it, do it like Joe, what you're doing with this is awesome. There's so many platforms out there. If you want to do it, you don't have to necessarily be at a big outlet or wherever. There's just time and opportunity now. Um, you know, whatever your medium is, just go out there and do it because if you're, first of all, you're going to learn as you go along. And if you're good at it, and eventually it'll explode, it'll pop. Right. Right.

Joe Katz: (13:30)

Um, and so when you were at, so then you got to the, you did the AP, and then why did you decide to pivot? Because when I knew you, you were the behind the scenes, you were doing managing all those people. And then slowly I remember I met Michael, remember Michael, he worked. Yeah. He was like, when I saw Alicia quarrels, I was like, she's so beautiful. She needs to be in front of the camera. I remember he

Speaker 4: (13:52)

Told me that. I know.

Joe Katz: (13:55)

And so, um, he, so then I saw you start to pivot and then how did that happen? Well,

Alicia Quarles: (14:02)

I've always wanted to be on air. Remember I was telling you wanted to be like Barbara Walters when I was little, but I was shy to be in front of the camera, believe it or not. So as I was a producer for a long time, so when we were out in the field, I would always bring an extra that's many of the tapes or just, I would bring my own NASA care. Man, could you pop this in? And I'm like, force myself to do stand-ups or be on air. And it wasn't very good at first. It just kept forcing myself to do it cause about if I ever want to be on air, but I overcome this fear. And, um, one day Fox news, a call of somebody on my team to come off as an expert and she didn't want to do it. And I did it. And from there, or Mr. Collins was kind of born out of that.

Alicia Quarles: (14:38)

I was on there just as a talking head. I was on there being an expert on something American idol. And then I started doing Greg Gutfeld show red eye a lot. And then from there, you know, if you're, if you're decent or good on one show, bookers from other networks will call you. Right. That's really how my on-air career was born. Um, and then fuse, fuse news, call me music channel. So I did, I started working for them in addition to AP, AP was fine. Cause they're like, let's get it by us too, for people, as long as you do whatever, your first job as well, people give you a chance that your second job employers are usually pretty good about that. Just do what you gotta do first. Well. Um, and then from there, like I kind of pivoted and started APS on air department cause I wanted to be on air. So yeah. So it just kinda, it kind of grew from that.

Joe Katz: (15:20)

So then you left the job as the global entertainment director and became a non-air for them. I did

Alicia Quarles: (15:26)

At them. So no, I, I was doing both. So basically the on-air part, I made it profitable out of business, part of it, right. AP I go, how can we make this make money for the company? Because that's the way to sell something. Right. So figure out a way to package it up. And it wasn't just me. There were other people on here too, but I just kind of spearheaded it and then he can call him. And he came calling at the same time as entertainment tonight. And then CBS has started a morning show here locally in New York. So all about all three job hours at once. And I really went with three at one, so it was wild. Um, and I went with E because the man was hiring me. [inaudible] just a wonderful human I'm. Uh, my gut and my heart said to go there and also be a good place to put my, my teeth and I get to be a 30 rock. So that's where I went. Wow.

Joe Katz: (16:10)

That's so interesting because it's like, it's, I mean, things just kind of evolve. So then you left that then moved right over into the, um, into the on-air stuff. Yeah.

Alicia Quarles: (16:21)

Yeah. I moved right over into the on-air stuff. The SOP I called the glory days, a vehicle that's been around CFS was there and as really honest, so there, but it was like the OGs. Yeah. Right.

Joe Katz: (16:30)

Wow. How did it go at first? Was it, was it difficult or was it,

Alicia Quarles: (16:34)

No, it actually wasn't, you know, it's such a small industry. It was so one of my producers I had worked with at AP for a long time. So he kind of ushered me in he's my producer. He, um, but we were all at the same age, it wasn't difficult. It was fun. And it was exciting and it was just something I think, you know, you learn as you go, but it wasn't, it wasn't difficult.

Joe Katz: (16:54)

And so what are, um, I know I've read about you about some different things. Like your favorite celebrity was, uh, interviewing George Clooney. You mentioned him before, but what w who were some other ones that you loved because you meet a lot of them on the red carpet in interview with them.

Alicia Quarles: (17:09)

Oh yeah. You meet a lot of them. I'm trying to think who were the most interesting ones we'll put it like that. I'll put, um, Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Natasha Bedingfield TA the first time everything else has been cool. So I've had some, some moments with them where like, Hmm. That also had some great moments with them. So you can keep with celebrities.

Joe Katz: (17:28)

What do you mean when you say like, it was like, what kind of, what kind of, uh, awesome.

Alicia Quarles: (17:34)

Okay. I remember it looked, the directness is okay. I remember Angelina Jolie was doing this movie about a journalist who was killed. True story. I think his name was Daniel, but she wanted, it was telling his truth. Right. But she wanted all of us journalists to sign NDAs. We wouldn't ask certain questions was ethically. You don't, if your movie's about truth-telling you don't ask Charles to do that. I just asked her about a flat out in the interview. Just turned ice cold for, Hey, it's my, it's my right to do that. Journalists signed NDAs. Yes. It does met hypocritical view. Um, as you know, we were all talking about it. So that's, that's the one thing I can say too. I've never been afraid to ask the question ever. And no matter what job I've had, because usually it's a manual that you've asked it. And if you say directly to their face, it's not like gossiping. It's not, I mean, this is just, I always got interviews with her after, but if she did turn ice cold in that moment, what she say to you? How did she, she say, you know, it's so funny. I don't remember. I don't remember the answer, but I remember how she made me feel and it was cold.

Speaker 4: (18:37)

You got frozen. She tried

Joe Katz: (18:40)

Sometimes there aren't the publicist jumping in going, Hey, Hey. Yes.

Alicia Quarles: (18:44)

It's a, that's like, I think 90% of the time, if you're dealing with a difficult star, it's usually not the star. It's the handler, the publicist out of control. That's on a power trip. Um, I dealt the one of those recently. She's probably the only person I've dealt with in years. It's just acting like that. And it's just like, I don't know. You, you don't know me. The star you're representing is cool. Calm down. Oh,

Joe Katz: (19:04)

And what about, so who were the Madonna you said kind of, uh, well, it's

Alicia Quarles: (19:08)

Always been cool. I mean, when I say cool, always, always cool. But I did ask her when she had first adopted David Banda. I asked her a question about her son. It wasn't offensive, I think, but I think she was tired of the questions all day. So she snapped at me, but I've also partied with Madonna on a bank and her birthday, like, so I've had really good moments of Madonna.

Joe Katz: (19:30)

Oh, so what did w w like she got angry at you? She got angry with me. Yeah. What'd she say? She

Alicia Quarles: (19:36)

Didn't like the question. Just, she just had to shut me down. She didn't like the question and I wasn't having it. So I was persistent. So we were going. Yeah, but you know what, but the thing is, I mean, I interviewed her many times after that. So I think sometimes when you hold your own, people don't have a choice, but to respect you.

Speaker 3: (19:54)

Wow. That's interesting

Joe Katz: (19:56)

Because, you know, sometimes it's so difficult, you know, when you're on the red carpet, cause I've done different things like that. And everybody's trying to get their moment in and trying to get their sound and all of that in, it becomes so competitive and so aggressive. It does become

Alicia Quarles: (20:11)

Competitive and aggressive. And I think that's a benefit of being young. Now, when you're young, sometimes you just don't even know any better or care. Right. I think I was so young. I'm like, look, and I was all about truth in journalism. I worked for the APM to ask what I want to ask any of my bosses. That would back me up. I know these were intelligent questions. These weren't gossipy. This is just getting into the truth of the situation. So I was always fearless in that way, but I think that, you know, ignorance is bliss also. I might've just been too young. Any

Joe Katz: (20:36)

Other interesting. So it was Madonna. It was Angelina. Who else did you,

Alicia Quarles: (20:39)

Um, Madonna. Angelina and Natasha Bedingfield was interesting. Do you remember her? The song I'd written, she's a British singer. She came in for an and just did not have it together. She, I don't know what the heck was going on, but then she came back the next day. She did not have it together. Can I answer a question? Um, I don't know. You know, she, she just got vacation, whatever, but I've interviewed, she came back the next day. I did a beautiful interview. I've interviewed her since I really like her. It was just one of those days. She, I think she just was that in interview mode. Yeah.

Joe Katz: (21:07)

Do you, so you said you then like partied with Madonna. Do you actually go and hang out with celebrity? I mean, do you do a little bit? I used

Alicia Quarles: (21:14)

To have a rule that I now will never, ever hang out still. You know what I mean, celebrities. Yeah. But at a certain point in your life, if you're covering this all the time, if you're, this is your world, you're going to become friends with people in ed inevitably. And that's always the rub because then you have to cover them. So there's a fine line. Um, so I don't want some diner, friends to have, I definitely partied with her at her birthday. Yes. And that's a cool moment because

Joe Katz: (21:37)

Sometimes you think, well, because we're friends, you're going to give me a better look at the media. You're not going to say certain stuff. And I hope because I invited you to my birthday. You're going to be really nice. Right? Yeah. That's

Alicia Quarles: (21:49)

What that 1% a game. Yeah. It's a game. Yeah. It's your, yeah, you're a thousand percent. Right? So it's like, am I going to say no to Madonna? No, I'm not. I know it was actually, it was, no, it wasn't her birthday. It was the end of her tour. She was celebrating in the start of any movie, but it felt like a birthday party. Cause it was fun. Um, but yeah, like that's, that's where you have to keep your ethics in check. Because if you do accept that, invited that, that, and you have to talk with this person, your job as a journalist has to be unbiased. Right. Right.

Joe Katz: (22:17)

And so, yeah, no, it's interesting to see because I'm sure you get a lot of invites. Right. People invite you for different things

Alicia Quarles: (22:23)

You felt like before pandemic. Yes. Like all that like five nights a week. Oh yeah. All the time, especially in New York night is here. I mean always something. So you could easily be at three different things at night, but you know, it's not like you're just going out for social fun. That's actually where you get your best sources. That's your social currency. So it's important to show your face.

Joe Katz: (22:47)

So who were some of your best like wow. Interviews that you did, you were like, holy moly. I just,

Alicia Quarles: (22:53)

Okay. Well, um, like I said, I love the designers. So one of the interviews, I was most nervous for us. So one of my favorite memories was the first time I interviewed Karl Lagerfeld. I always loved his designs, but you know, he's a tourist. He was rip, notoriously a cutthroat with journalists. And so I was wearing one of those $50, DVF, dresses and Colbert. So I knew that was his favorite color. And I got there and his assistant came out and she said, you're good to go. She goes, you're nervous. I was like, I'm so nervous because when you're wearing his favorite color, God, I thought it just for him, we hit it off. It loved him, had him laughing. It was so rare. So he was one of my favorite. I actually got 10 tight with Georgia money who doesn't even really speak English. I don't know how that happened is probably the only time I've lost my words. Um, loving

Joe Katz: (23:40)

Does. He made you nervous. He

Alicia Quarles: (23:42)

Made me nervous. Some people have that expectation of that. You don't realize you're in their spirits. Yeah. He had the X factor. Like, it just can be nicer, but he the translator, but yeah, he made me nervous. So that was memorable. Um, uh, gosh, there's been, there's been, you know, there's a little club here, um, in New York and prince played there maybe a month before he passed away. It was just very small group. Harry Belafonte. Was there a very small group of us. That's memorable. So to get, to have that moment. Right. So there's stuff like that. Johnny Depp interviewing him in The Bahamas for an hour. Um, yeah, he still remembers my name to this day. What'd you guys talk about? Well, what did we talk about? So this was before all the Amber heard and all of that, this was for pirates of the Caribbean and it was, it was a print interview. So you get a longer time with them. Right. And we talked about his life. I think we talked about with no-no. It was like more of a retrospective and he's wonderful.

Joe Katz: (24:36)

Do people ever say, God, I really enjoy talking to you, Alicia. Like, could I ask you out? Oh yeah. It's kind of intimate it a little bit. And it's like, oh, I find you attractive. You maybe like me, maybe we could go out, you know? Like have they ever asked you? Yeah,

Alicia Quarles: (25:00)

You may have asked me out. I only really did it to celebs. I did a Questlove and then Colin Kaepernick, but the rest of them

Speaker 4: (25:10)

Plus loving Colin Kaepernick. So, um,

Alicia Quarles: (25:14)

So totally different kind of people, but good souls. Um, but yeah, for the most part, you don't go out with them. Cause I don't know about you. I don't really love actors like that. Um, and musicians, so yeah, for the most part, a little bit better. I like, I like the musicians a little bit better. They're not so in their heads.

Joe Katz: (25:32)

Yeah. The actors are very yeah. Always looking within and all of that stuff. Yeah. What have you learned, like from your interviews, like with, um, Johnny dept or maybe it was Madonna or any of these, what are some interesting things you took away and learned from these people? Was there anything that was like, oh, you know, I learned some stuff about bud light for about just in general.

Alicia Quarles: (25:56)

I think one of them I'm trying to think. Oh, I remember the first time I read Oprah, I was in the hall. I guess I must've been, my leg was shaking. I was shaking like that. Like, you know, that nervous tap that had on my first pair of live Bhutan's I ever bought in my life and my sister who was like, just get them, get them. As I talked about for years, I got 'em and like go in the room and I guess my legs still shaking. Cause she puts her hand on my leg and she goes, we're the same. We have the same shoes on as well. And it just made me calm down. Like they're just like us. I remember I used to do Katie Kirk show and um, I would always have, how is that? No was right. So talking about hard politics, which at the time I didn't do a lot of, and she slapped the paper out of my hand, right before I went on set. That was like, then I'm like, what are you doing? She was Lucia. You know, what are you down? And that was a good lesson. Um, well I'm still doing it.

Joe Katz: (26:45)

I do it too. I do it too. I'd be because you can have it as like a little bit of something, but I suppose why, because you were, you were, she was interviewing you on her show. Cambridge, Roman. She

Alicia Quarles: (26:57)

Had the show on ABC. I was one of the, yeah, it was, I was one of her panelists. So it was, I think I have the names of Supreme court. I was something that was a little bit out of my usual wheelhouse, but I didn't know the information, but it just helps to write it down. Right. Well that was it. Basically. She was saying don't doubt yourself.

Speaker 3: (27:12)

Right. And it helped

Alicia Quarles: (27:14)

It did it did you'd have to walk out there with confidence then, right? Yeah. It really, I tell

Joe Katz: (27:20)

You, even if you don't know a lot, but you've got the confidence, it helps it sells it

Alicia Quarles: (27:25)

Industry that go far because I got competence. Yeah.

Joe Katz: (27:28)

Yeah. It makes a difference. Wow. What else did you learn from Oprah? Anything not to be nervous.

Alicia Quarles: (27:34)

I know that Oprah, she, you know, she did her, she does her favorite things party. Right? So, um, this is like a couple of years ago and a friend that she doesn't always go every year. So a friend of mine works at her. So like this one you want to go to, so upper comes in, these men come in with no tops on and both has like yours and just to see the pants and I'm like, what is going on? And they're just, they're all, they're so handsome. And they had trays of tequila shots, tequila shots, oh, for comes in. And we're like, oh. And she was like, oh, this is my favorite tequila. And we're going to have fun. And she goes, I know I might've, it's going to be really well for me. Cause I might just taking a painkiller for my back or something like that. So we were just doing shots with opera. So I think what I learned is you can be the most famous, most influential people, but you can still have a good time while you're working. Right.

Speaker 4: (28:19)

Right. Yeah. That's really true. Yeah.

Alicia Quarles: (28:21)

Well, I mean life is short, so you got to enjoy it.

Joe Katz: (28:24)

True. Yeah. Um, when you, you know, you've been doing, you do a lot, you cover pop culture, but then you do, do you still cover some hard news or no?

Alicia Quarles: (28:34)

Yeah. Yeah. So now it's reverted back to at the beginning of my career. So meaning as far as what it covers, it's probably 50% hard news, 50% lifestyle entertainment, that kind of stuff.

Joe Katz: (28:44)

And so for the hard news is that, uh, do you mostly do that on GMA or GMA is mostly,

Alicia Quarles: (28:50)

Um, lifestyle stuff. For example, we're reunited of man that almost said of COBIT with his doctor that saved his life. It's that kind of be a family oriented, so good stuff. Um, you know, what's put in your body and then for daily mail it's it's politics, it's entertainment. It's, it's the wild and crazy story. Right? Right. So you cover both of those. Yeah. Yes. I kind of get the best and that's what I wanted to do because as an entertainment reporter, you're, especially as a woman, unfortunately, your shelf life isn't that long. So I did want to transition into exactly what I'm doing. Right. Right.

Joe Katz: (29:24)

Is it, um, do you, and so you're doing both of those simultaneously, right? You have both of them going. Yeah. Wow. And then you have your own and you have your own media company. Do you have your, I do

Alicia Quarles: (29:37)

I still do that? Yeah. So basically any media organizations, any outlets that might be struggling or look at to pivot into a different way, you know, it could be taxi TV trying to reach this demo. Our team will go on and do a 360 and tell you exactly how to, you know, reach what you need to get it.

Joe Katz: (29:52)

Wow. So people come to you, it's more corporations coming to you.

Alicia Quarles: (29:56)

Exactly. It's more corporations. Well, you can still do that too. I still do it too because I wanted some control over my career. Meaning as, um, you know, when you're on air or whatever, you still have somebody commodity. So I want something that I could actually own that nobody could take away from me.

Speaker 3: (30:11)

Right. Right. Wow.

Joe Katz: (30:13)

What have you learned from being like a host and doing, you know, pop culture, but then also doing some hard news. I mean, what have you learned differently than probably being a global entertainment director? Right. I mean, it's a very different you're out on fields, you know,

Alicia Quarles: (30:30)

They're totally, totally different roles. Remember when I left the global editor, my dad was like against it, you can understand why I want to go on air because we can't guide you anymore. But it was my dream. It's what I wanted to do. Um, either on the trappings of fame, cause then my eight, it was just so crazy. And you've learned kind of like a protect your energy, make sure you don't let too many people around you and to keep it tight. Um, you also learn that people, most people are good. You're going into people's homes and you're their escapism. So value that. I mean, that's an honor that people are taking time to listen to your reporting and that they want to be your friend and get to know you. And I think that's a beautiful thing.

Joe Katz: (31:06)

What do you mean when you say keep it tight because people want to drain your energy, like, oh, you know, so and so, and you can help me and you can help with my, you know, that type of thing a thousand

Alicia Quarles: (31:15)

Percent, like, you know, it could be, there's always hangers-on. Yeah. There's people that always want something. And you're going to, if you're a hard worker, you're gonna want to give that or try it, but you also have to have something left for you. So you can't tap from an empty well, right, right.

Joe Katz: (31:30)

So that's, so you learned a lot of, a lot of different things, uh, especially. And so where do you think you want to go? Like, you know, you've got GMA now you're on the third hour of that. You're doing daily mail. Is it, you know, um, is it to like your own show? The Alicia quarrel show?

Alicia Quarles: (31:50)

Yeah. Eventually that's exactly what I want to do. I don't know if it'd be named at community from hosting one of those shows, but a thousand percent. I mean, I love it. I love it. I love it. It's my happy place and the reporting and the fact that it gets your protein, so many topics I'd love to, you know, transfer that and yeah, I have my own platform.

Joe Katz: (32:07)

And do your own, like, could you, you mean like on a, on a network, like an NBC ABC, it

Alicia Quarles: (32:12)

Could be, yeah. NBC ABC. It could be, you know, co-host and daily mail, Thomas Roberts just, um, I guess more of what I'm doing.

Speaker 3: (32:19)

Right, right, right. But like a lifestyle show.

Alicia Quarles: (32:24)

I think it have to be a lifestyle show because I do love covering the politics, but I'm really, for me, it's about human interest. You know, I like to tell the stories of people that really don't have a voice or a platform. So that's really my, my life.

Joe Katz: (32:35)

Well, we're putting it out in the energy that

Speaker 4: (32:37)

It might be Aleisha corals show, the Alicia

Joe Katz: (32:42)

Will do it. I will do it. I'll do it. Yes. I'll come on. As your talking head, wherever your mind we'll figure something out. Yeah. Um, that's exciting. You know, and you were saying when, you know, because when you were at AP, your career was moving up, like in weren't you like on the trajectory of like doing big stuff? Yeah.

Alicia Quarles: (33:04)

I mean, it was on the fast track for sure. So that's why it was such a hard decision to leave. It's like, okay, I could stay here and I was going faster. I know what I'm doing. I've got people that are my advocates and mentors have my back, or I can take this gamble, go be on air. But the thing is, life is short. You've got to try it. So when I left there, I was 30. Um, and at that, well, if it doesn't work out at E I signed a three-year contract, I'm sure I can come back to my print roots or my, but also the industry was changing so much that I'm like, if I had to lay one more person off because of budgets, I just don't want to do that anymore. So I had to just try something else. Wow.

Joe Katz: (33:40)

That's interesting. How did you, you know, I just was thinking back to what you were saying about how you made the money and like, what was it that you made the money with that made them so happy?

Alicia Quarles: (33:52)

Well, our department made money, so basically my predecessor, a guy named Dan Becker, it really, he, it was his vision to make entertainment, its own corporation within the AP. So sports was his own corporation. Um, entertainment was so that's where I learned about P and L's, uh, the account and became my best friend because I knew that that was not my strong suit, but that's also another important lesson where you might not be strong, make sure you have a strong team. Um, and so he taught me everything. Peter, thank you. Um, but yeah, so our, our department was profitable, I should say. And then also we got to come up with product ideas and those did make money, like, like having the honor hosts that the stations could come and pay AP for. Um, so it's just different stuff like that.

Joe Katz: (34:32)

Oh, so you became, you, you could give them a clip of Madonna or whatever, and then people are paying for that in all different markets based on okay, exactly right. Yep. Entertainment as like a, uh, an areas. It was always

Alicia Quarles: (34:47)

An area, but it, the money was kind of put in the pool with the rest of all the departments. So entertainment and lifestyle is one department they've started basically being their own business and having their own profit and loss and their own business within a business. Wow.

Joe Katz: (35:02)

It's interesting. Just to know, like the, you know, the ins and outs behind the scenes

Speaker 4: (35:06)

Of all that stuff. So,

Joe Katz: (35:09)

Um, you know, you were always, you know, if people check out your Instagram, you always look great. You're always trying new fashion. You're trying all this stuff. How do you keep, I mean, do you work out a lot? Do you, what is your routine? I will.

Alicia Quarles: (35:23)

I, okay. Let's be honest. I used to work out every day, almost twice a day. Sometimes like religiously, like a psycho. It was just like my time to be alone. I think I've worked out maybe 10 times in this pandemic is not good. I'm not proud of that. Yeah. I've definitely done a 180, but also like, it's not my happy place anymore. I used to do it for your health. Um, but what I did for years though, after I stopped working as hard as I did, we were going constantly like running this to get money into that had been running, running, running. So you're not to keep a lot of weight on you cause you were running around. So yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 4: (35:56)

You get it back together, but

Joe Katz: (35:57)

You keep in the same shape. You look, you look no different. Thank

Alicia Quarles: (36:01)

You. I feel, I feel like I actually am pretty much in the same shape. I know the older you get, you should be working out for your heart and yourself. Yeah.

Joe Katz: (36:08)

And what are your, what do you use for your, if people want to know, like how do I get gorgeous skin? Like Alicia corals and how do I stay up? What are you? What's your secrets?

Alicia Quarles: (36:19)

Oh, I do drink a lot of water. I will say that. Um, I also drink wine that don't get it twisted a lot of water. Um, and then, um, I use trace skincare, which is a really good friend of mine. Dating him often saying trust skincare. It's actually for men. So I'll send you some and yep. Yep. Here. Oh, why? So I use all of them.

Speaker 4: (36:43)

Did you just say yes, we're dating.

Alicia Quarles: (36:46)

So he's cool. But the products are amazing. So I've been using it on the pandemic.

Joe Katz: (36:52)

Wait, wait, wait. Least it's for men, but you're men.

Alicia Quarles: (36:55)

It's for men, but I've been using it for the past year and I love it. So there's a face wash, a script. There's a serum, there's a lotion. And then there's lip balm. So I'll send you the set cause it's really, yeah, it's really, it's really amazing, but I have never done Botox or anything like that. So I'm not, I'm not against it. I haven't, but I just always, you know, made sure you take your makeup off moisturize, moisturize, moisturize, and drink your water. What do you use for moisturizers? The Troy skin? I use the try scans if I wasn't using try skin and believe it or not, my go tos are CFL and just get it at the drug store. I've used it since I was 13 years old. It's not expensive. And so I use their moisturizer and their um, uh, facewash now I've used it for

Joe Katz: (37:41)

Crazy $500 cream.

Alicia Quarles: (37:43)

Nope. And you know, the difference is one of my friends in beauty taught me Lemaire can have one ingredient or something else in the drugstore. That's the only difference. So you just find out what those are. So it's all

Speaker 4: (37:54)

Marketing, it's all marketing, it's all marketing. So

Alicia Quarles: (37:57)

Yeah, it just feels good. I'll see the film if I don't have the trust skincare and that's it,

Speaker 4: (38:01)

But you look good, Joe. Thank you.

Joe Katz: (38:04)

But I, you, you have, um, I think you just norm I think it's genetics too. You have good skin.

Alicia Quarles: (38:10)

It's genetics. Yeah. That is definitely. Yeah. I get that from my parents. That's genetics. They have beautiful skin. Yeah, they do. Yeah, they do. They do. So you know what else I heard, right?

Joe Katz: (38:22)

No, it's not a shocker. I don't do anything. That's like, oh my God. But it is fun. I'm going to look up this guy from Troy skin, just on a side note anyway. But, uh, um, but uh, I was, I heard about that. You were going to do the real husband. Oh,

Alicia Quarles: (38:41)

You're right on that. Yes. So I was in the running like the top few to be the first black real Housewives of New York. I didn't get it. My friend Ebony. Got it. She's amazing. And she's going to make a great house fire, but everything works out for a reason because had I gotten that job, I wouldn't have been able to do good morning America. And then the person that got Housewives Ebony is great. So I think everything just worked out the way it should. Would you couldn't have done both. I couldn't have done both. Just filming wise. It just would not have worked. Um, so I would have had to, that would have been one heck of a choice. So I, but I know that I'm where I'm supposed to be, but yeah. Um, yeah, so it was, it was interesting. So did the whole process, um, it was a lot of fun and nerve wracking, but I'm

Joe Katz: (39:23)

Like Alicia quarrels, I think of as this hard news, you know, entertainment girl on the red carpet, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah. And then I'm like real Housewives,

Speaker 4: (39:32)

Like reality. I'm like, I wasn't on my radar. They called me. It was not, they called me, they called

Alicia Quarles: (39:39)

Me. And so it wasn't on my radar at all. They said, you know, a lot of these Housewives are suggesting you and it's one of those things. If you get the call, I was like, okay, I'll go through the process. And I get that far down the line, they got really far down the line. Then I was freaking out like, oh wait, this could happen. I'm like, okay. So I, I think I'm where I'm supposed to be. Yeah.

Joe Katz: (39:59)

So you're open, you're open to doing reality. I am. You know, what, if

Alicia Quarles: (40:04)

You were to ask me this six years ago? I would've said never. Never, never, never, never, but I think it's changed so much and we know so much more about it. See, I think you can use your platform. You could flip it, you know, like, look at Beth Franklin, she's a billionaire. So if you know how to use the platform, it would have been a train wreck.

Joe Katz: (40:22)

See? And I always thought people always said that like, oh my God reality, you don't want to do that. You don't want to do that. But it got such a bad rap a little bit in that way, but yet if you do use it correctly, you know, would I do it? Yeah, I would. Yeah. I would do it. Yeah. Good. Yeah. I have nothing again. I mean, I would want to make sure, like, it would be something where I could, it would help hopefully other people as opposed to like, I don't want to flip a table, probably a separate table anyway. So I'd have to work out a little more. But um, but uh, no. I mean, cause I can't see you like getting in somebody's face. I can see maybe you being direct, but I can't.

Alicia Quarles: (41:07)

Yeah. And that was part of the process they kept saying, well, are you too nice for this? I was like, oh, well you don't make it in New York. If you're that nice. I can, I can be direct. But yeah, I'm never going to get into my space and yell and scream now. Okay.

Joe Katz: (41:19)

But if people are going behind your back and they're saying, Alicia said this and Alicia did this and absolutely that could be fired. Maybe

Speaker 4: (41:27)

You can bring it. I can bring actually I remember

Alicia Quarles: (41:30)

That. Yeah. So I remember being really yes. Like a,

Joe Katz: (41:34)

Did they ask you to like show us how you bring it or not necessarily. They

Alicia Quarles: (41:38)

Asked me, they were like, okay, what will be your tagline? Um, you know, why you think that you'd be the perfect fit? You, they, they get in there and it's like several interviews. So they definitely get into your life. And you know, because of COVID you, they, I guess they would usually come to your home. But I had to do like my own home tour. Um, it was very hard at the time. So it's a, it's a, it's an interesting process, but what's your tagline? Um, mine was, I had a couple of them. One was heard your player. Nice to meet you on the coach and then nice to see you on the coach.

Speaker 4: (42:14)

Okay. Thank you.

Alicia Quarles: (42:17)

Okay. Now I'm not rude. I'm real. Okay. I came up with

Joe Katz: (42:27)

That's cool. That's cool. Those are good. Yeah. Wow. Oh God. I don't know. Um, I, you had time to think about it. Like you had time to think about it. I'd have to think about it. Like I just want to have fun

Speaker 4: (42:47)

Really. I mean, I just like to have

Joe Katz: (42:49)

Fun. I feel like I'm just an adult kid that really just never did as much kid things when I was a kid. So now that I'm adult, I'm like, screw it. I'm going to be a kid. So I'm just curious. I'm curious. I'm I'd like to know about stuff just innately and I think I'm just an adult

Speaker 4: (43:07)

Kid. Yeah. I love it. I love it. And nothing wrong with that, so.

Joe Katz: (43:12)

Okay. We've taken so much of your time. I always say this to everybody. Um, but I want to ask you one last question and the question is I feel like I'm on a game show. Uh, no, the question is, it's not a trick question. If you could give, tell, if you could tell us one thing you haven't told anybody, you haven't told anybody, it might be kind of personal, you know, I don't know. It's something that you haven't told anybody, but you know, we've you said it, it would help somebody else. Ooh.

Alicia Quarles: (43:46)

Those days that you're really depressed and your phone's so alone. And so Dan yourself put one foot in front of the other, it gets better.

Speaker 3: (43:55)

Mm. Did you go through that? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. It was like

Alicia Quarles: (44:02)

Right after I left, the, my best friend just died and I was going through a divorce. So I was just like really in a valley, just really, really, really depressed. I never felt that in my life, but it was just, I was grief stricken on both sides. Um, but you know, he put one foot in front of the other and it gets better

Speaker 3: (44:19)

And it gets better. Yeah. Yeah.

Joe Katz: (44:21)

I mean, you, you seem like that driven type. So that's, that's awesome. Yeah, it

Alicia Quarles: (44:26)

Is. It is. But you know, grief is something else. It could take anybody down. So, um, I'm driven, but it's also teaches you resilience. Um, and to your point, being an adult kid, you're happy for what you have in this moment.

Speaker 3: (44:38)

Yeah, totally, totally.

Joe Katz: (44:40)

Well, Alicia, you've been so gracious. You have said everything you've told us. You've told us red carpet secrets, your style secrets. Okay. One last question. I keep saying one last question, but I will ask, I should have ended on that. But you know, being that this is a fashion, we talk about fashion and style and people have to check out this very cool necklace and you go through so many brands. What are some of your favorite brands that you just love? Right? Oh, I love

Alicia Quarles: (45:07)

Rebecca Minkoff. Um, I love her as a person, but I also love her line that has been at the forefront of technology. I love what she's doing. Um, let's see here. I love

Speaker 4: (45:19)

Her bags, her actual clothes. I love her clothes. Clothes are

Alicia Quarles: (45:24)

Amazing. People don't realize that. So she's got great clothes. My friend, Cara, Ross. I do love her. Um, she doesn't do jewelry anymore, but I have some beautiful pieces from her, but she's now in philanthropy. Full-time so that's one of our favorites. Vera Wang has launched a new collection and it's she dressed Andre day at the, um,

Speaker 4: (45:41)

Yeah. It's like, it's cool.

Alicia Quarles: (45:43)

It's sexy. So those are some of my tasks right now. Yeah.

Joe Katz: (45:47)

Yeah. Cause I see you, you model a lot of different things. People send you stuff to try and stuff like that.

Alicia Quarles: (45:52)

Yeah. So I work with the awesome stylist. Pandora Marotta is that she, um, pool? Well, Pandora. She used to be,

Joe Katz: (45:59)

I know Pandora, wasn't she at? OK. Magazine.

Alicia Quarles: (46:03)

Now she's the fashion director. I

Joe Katz: (46:05)

Knew Pandora back when she was writing for,

Speaker 4: (46:08)

Oh my God. She's she's your stylist.

Joe Katz: (46:13)

And she writes for daily mail or

Alicia Quarles: (46:15)

So she's the fashion director. Wow. Does that mean she's playing with permission? Well, from Badger who does a lot of like indie independent brands. So we get this rare, a lot of really cool stuff and have fun and you know, talented. She is. Yeah. She's

Joe Katz: (46:29)

So talented. I remember she was doing, we worked together on like steel, that style steel, that celebrity style. She would write those columns

Speaker 4: (46:37)

For OK. Magazine. Yeah. Um, yeah, during the thing of daily mail and she styles just you or

Alicia Quarles: (46:44)

Just me. Um, Jenny, she does some other people like here and there, but I'm her main personal client, but then she's got her job to sub fizzy Sino. Yeah. Yeah. She has a big job there and then she's still doing her fashion thing, you know, with herself. So she's yeah. Wow. That's great.

Joe Katz: (47:03)

I always like to give good tips to people because they always want to know like skincare tips or style tips or things like that. And w what do you, when you go on the red carpet, do you wear Spanx or what do you, don't really one on the red carpet. I'll wear a double Spanx and

Alicia Quarles: (47:18)

Double thinks that from Beyonce, she's like, when you really want those curves, you know, as a woman, sometimes you can blow, you can, wherever I had double Spanx it, I do the highlights at once and I just feel so much, but can you breathe? And move almost. Thanks girl. A lot of people, don't they say they feel stifled on him. I can breathe. I can move. I can sleep at him. Like, yeah, really. And just everything just makes it all a little bit smoother. A little bit better. Yeah.

Joe Katz: (47:48)

That's, that's a secret to double Spanx.

Alicia Quarles: (47:51)

It that's a secret in the industry. If you really want to just eat double Spanx. It, why Beyonce told you that you don't say that to me. That yes. Yes. So that's a good bet. Isn't it? I don't think there's a fiance. Does it? That I could do it. Does it. Then

Joe Katz: (48:08)

I could use some of her hair and some Spanx and yeah. Wow. That's a good tip. That's a very good tip. You know, even if you go to an event, you know, so you double Spanx, it you'll deal with it for a couple hours and you can always take it off. The other

Alicia Quarles: (48:22)

Was that when you take it off, we feel like we can really relax. So it's all good. But that night you look fabulous and you're confident in your pictures. And when, you know, as we said, competence is everything. So you're walking in and it radiates. Goodness. Yeah. Yeah.

Joe Katz: (48:36)

Wow. Well, that's fabulous. Well, you have said it all. You gave us your tip from Beyonce. We have to end on that. Um, Alicia corals, thank you so much. People should tune in to see you on daily mail. Check you out on GMA the third hour and they can also, um, check you out on your website if they want to hire you for a corporate gig, basically.

Speaker 4: (48:56)

Well, thank you for the plug. I appreciate it.