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Ten News Road Trip Remix
Ten News Road Trip Remix: 🧱 Ryan and Ten'er, Everett, are creating LEGO masterpieces in honor of LEGO turning 90. 🎧 And, to top it off, they're listening to the Ten News interview with special guest, LEGO designer, and LEGO Masters' judge, Amy Corbett. 👾 But, the fun doesn't end there, are any of you Pokemon fans? 📺 We've got you covered with our interview with Sarah Natochenny, the voice of Ash Ketchum in the Pokemon animated series!
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TRANSCRIPT:
Ryan Willard 0:02
And there we go. Done! Yo, Everett. I finished my LEGO Ironman mini-mech 130 pieces, baby. It only took me 90 minutes.
Everett 0:12
Good job, uncle Ryan. Boom! I just finished my LEGO, 565 pieces in 45 minutes. Can you be that, uncle Ryan?
Ryan Willard 0:23
Of course I can. I'm your coolest uncle. Just hold on for one sec. Pick up, pick up, pick up!
Tracy Kaplan 0:33
What's up, Ryan?
Ryan Willard 0:34
Tracy, I need your help. I'm on FaceTime hanging out with my nephew Everett and we built all the LEGO's and he's way faster than me and I need something else to impress him to make me look cool. Any ideas?
Tracy Kaplan 0:46
Well, Tessa told me that LEGO just turned 90 years old. That's pretty cool, right?
Ryan Willard 0:51
Yes, but definitely not cool enough. What else you got?
Tracy Kaplan 0:54
Well, we did have Amy Corbett on the Ten News. Amy is a design lead at LEGO and a judge on the TV show, LEGO Masters USA.
Ryan Willard 1:02
Wait, what? You know, Brickmaster Amy?
Tracy Kaplan 1:06
Yeah, she was awesome. I'll send you the interview and you can play it for your nephew.
Ryan Willard 1:10
You the best, Kap. I'm Ryan Willard. That's Tracy Leeds Kaplan and this is a Ten News Road Trip Remix.
Various Voices 1:17
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Tracy Kaplan 1:29
Welcome to the Ten News. We're so excited to have you here today. We know that you are zooming in with us today from Denmark. So, can you tell us a little bit about what your day is like working at LEGO?
Amy Corbett 1:43
Yeah, well, first to say I'm super excited to be here with you. So thank you for having me. That my day at LEGO, one of the fun things is that every day is a little bit different. Because as a designer, we're always solving different challenges. But every day involves building with breaks, you will be happy to hear. So we're thinking about different ideas in the team, maybe in the morning, and then in the afternoon, we'll go out we'll build them. And we'll see what we can come up with. We'll bring them back together. And then we also love testing out the ideas with kids. So we have kids in the office quite a lot just playing with the different ideas we've come up with.
Tracy Kaplan 2:18
So, tell us. Did you just grow up one day and you said, you know, I love playing with these LEGO bricks, so I'm gonna go work at LEGO. How did this all happen?
Amy Corbett 2:26
I think the thing is, I never quite grew up, I get to be a big kid, which is great. But no, I always loved being creative and are and I also loved maths. So I was looking for something when I went to university that could combine both. And then I thought okay, being a designer is pretty cool. I can also use my math. And then toys is the most fun way to be a designer in my perspective. So that's how I ended up at LEGO.
Tracy Kaplan 2:50
And you're famous in this household for being the brains behind LEGO Friends. How did that come about?
Amy Corbett 2:56
Yeah, so I spent a long time when I first started in LEGO and the LEGO Friends team. And we saw an opportunity with others, a lot of girls maybe at the time that were in feeling like LEGO was for them, and they couldn't find them see themselves in other projects. So we tried to kind of tackle that problem and see how we could we create a product line that would reach more girls and more kids? Really, and it took off. We're super excited about it. And we're so happy that it's still going strong to this day.
Tracy Kaplan 3:23
Do you have a favorite LEGO Friends set?
Amy Corbett 3:26
I love so many of them. So, it's hard to say but selfishly my favorite is probably the ski lodge because there's a little Amy in that set that was based on my ski outfit. So I am super excited by that. That is my still my claim to fame.
Tracy Kaplan 3:40
We'll have to look at that. I think my favorite is when there's little cups of coffee in there. I feel like that's for me.
Amy Corbett 3:47
Details are good. Right on, the coffee is certainly good in there.
Tracy Kaplan 3:50
That's great. So, how did you go from your amazing job to another amazing job, becoming one of the hosts of LEGO Masters?
Amy Corbett 3:59
Yeah, I'm guessing it was a little bit of fate in there. But as soon as I heard of the show being made in America, I was like that looks really fun. I would love to be a part of this and talk to a few people that a couple of auditions and luckily it was Jamie and I that were picked to be on the show and actually Jamie and I had never worked together before we were on the show. But we have so much fun working together which is super lucky and I think we balanced each other out really well because I love making the playful kids designs and Jamie you know he makes a huge sets for adults. So we have both sides of the skills there.
Tracy Kaplan 4:34
It seems like the two of you have known each other forever. There's such a great chemistry. Then with host Will Arnett, the three of you just seem to be having a blast.
Amy Corbett 4:46
Oh, we have so much fun together I think. Yeah, I think it's as much fun behind the scenes as it is on camera and actually seeing the brick belts come to life in real time is very exciting. But yeah, we have a little giggle we have a little joke and We get on really well.
Tracy Kaplan 5:00
We're always debating the story that some of the contestants come out with and the creativity versus the technical skills, like Zack and Wayne and the creations they put together. How do you judge? I mean, it's the two of you. So do you ever get stuck in a tie?
Amy Corbett 5:17
Oh, yeah, a lot of the time, we spent a lot more time than you see on camera back and forth discussing who's winning, we always try to think about what we said in the beginning of the challenge. So what are we ask the contestants to do? Who has really delivered on that? And what's the mix of storytelling, creativity and technical ability? And yes, there are a few heated discussions, and behind the scenes, and sometimes we have to put it down to the tiniest little details. And it's a big process, actually.
Tracy Kaplan 5:47
Sure. Now, how do you and Jamie build your own versions of each challenge?
Amy Corbett 5:53
Unfortunately, they keep us so busy behind the scenes that we don't have time to build. But you can always find me, Jamie, and sometimes we'll hang out in the corner saying, you know, if I could just get my hands on the bricks and take part in this challenge, this is what I would build or why doesn't the team just do this? Or how cool would this be? So, we can never stop thinking about the ideas and have to confess we do little side builds. So we do many builds ourselves because we cannot keep our hands off the bricks.
Tracy Kaplan 6:19
So, as a parent, I of course, watch this and think who puts everything away? At the end, so do the creations do they get put somewhere and saved for the season or do some come through at night and kind of break everything down?
Amy Corbett 6:35
A little bit of both. So we tend to keep the winning builds, we take really good photos of everything. But we do have a team who take the belt apart at the end of the day. And they work really, really hard to take these creations apart. And it's quite sad, actually, sometimes to see them be broken down. But at the same time, I very strongly believe that LEGO bricks are designed to be reused and rebuilt and make other creations.
Tracy Kaplan 6:59
That's great. Okay, so now we want to know, there's been some great costumes during this past season of LEGO Masters. I mean, I don't know if if you were supposed to be in the suit of armor, and Jamie lost the bed and had to be in the suit of armor. But, how involved are you in your wardrobe choices?
Amy Corbett 7:19
We have a fabulous wardrobe team. But I have to confess that I just love trying on the different outfits to march that I probably have more say than the wardrobe team is happy in it. So there is a really fun day at the start of the season where you just have a room full of clothes, and you try everything on. And I love that day. And then when we have some fun challenges, and we have a chance to wear costumes, then Jamie and I are very upfront and love having a little bit of fun picking a costume. So the princess one for me was was super fun. But I really wanted to be a strong Princess, hence why I had the Lego belt bow and arrow. And Jamie in the suit of armor. I mean, we had a little discussion of who should be in it. But he was he was so excited for that. And I think he pulled it off. So well. It was hard work. That thing was heavy.
Tracy Kaplan 8:06
I'm sure. Yeah. So, that's a great segue into just talking about, you know, women and girls involved in LEGO. And I think you know, one of the things we're seeing you be that that strong princess with your LEGO bow and arrow. How has that changed for you since doing the show of really being a role model for young girls?
Amy Corbett 8:28
Yeah, I mean, I have to say is one of my most is the thing that gives the biggest smile on my face is when I get a little message from someone, and especially from girls, or dads of girls or moms of girls who said that maybe their kid didn't realize that LEGO was something for them. And since seeing me on the show, they now realize that they can build. Of course, it makes me sad that someone would ever have thought they couldn't build because everyone out there you can build with LEGO bricks, you have permission. But I think it's really nice. It's really nice to have the visibility out there. I also want to say we have lots of great female designers, and the LEGO Group. I'm certainly not the only one. And there's lots and lots of us. But it's also great to see strong female builders on in competition. I think for me, that is also super exciting that that they're out there. I think there's so many more of them out there that haven't popped up yet. And so many more kids building with Lego after seeing the show. So it feels like a big responsibility. But, I also feel super proud and excited to be the face of that.
Tracy Kaplan 9:30
So, you have your role every day at LEGO. There have been so many sets. How do you think about you know what you do next or what you bring back in the LEGO Universe?
Amy Corbett 9:44
That is a very good question. I think there's there's lots of different ways we're very we try to very much see for the kids at home and fans are wanting so we're very like aware of what's going on in the LEGO community and what people are talking about and But every year, we kind of have a certain number of months in the summer, where we're just all about ideas, we try new things. We play with different ideas, we build stuff. And the office really looks like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory with all the different ideas. And then at the end of that, we really try it with kids and consumers and see what are the most excited about what has the most potential. And then from there, we move forward with some ideas. But unfortunately, it also means that some ideas that we love, or that you at home might love, don't make it through because there are just so many different opportunities that we can come up with. It's just amazing how many times though the our team of designers can reinvent the LEGO brick in different ways. And I think that's so exciting.
Tracy Kaplan 10:39
That's great. Last question. And we'll let you go. This has been fantastic. What would you say to our Ten News listeners who want to follow you into a job at LEGO?
Amy Corbett 10:50
I would say of course, play with your LEGO bricks and build, but I'd say the most important thing is to be creative. Whenever you can, whether it's drawing, whether it's dancing, whether it's theater, I think the more creative and the more you come up with ideas. It just becomes part of you and then you're much more equipped for a creative job in the future.
Tracy Kaplan 11:10
Thank you so much. This was such a pleasure to have you here today.
Amy Corbett 11:14
It was so nice to chat with you all!
Ryan Willard 11:22
Okay, Everett, how cool is Brickmaster Amy?
Everett 11:25
She is so cool. That was so cool.
Ryan Willard 11:30
Was it cooler than the time Aunt Celine brought you to Legoland?
Everett 11:34
Almost, but we rode the LEGO ride, like 17 times, it was epic. Aunt Celine is the coolest.
Ryan Willard 11:42
Okay, hold on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on.
Tracy Kaplan 11:48
Hey, Ryan. Was the Amy Corbett interview not enough for your nephew?
Ryan Willard 11:51
No, he said my sister Celine was the coolest and I'm supposed to be the coolest. I need something else.
Tracy Kaplan 11:57
Does he love Pokemon?
Ryan Willard 11:59
Of course he does. Everyone loves Pokemon.
Tracy Kaplan 12:01
Well, you know Sarah Natochenny, the voice of Ash Ketchum? You interviewed her on the Ten News, remember?
Ryan Willard 12:07
Good gravy. I forgot about that. Can you send it over? I am here with a living legend. Sarah Natochenny, who are you? Where are you from? And what do you do?
Sarah Natochenny 12:26
Hi, Ryan. I'm Sarah Natochenny. I'm the voice of Ash Ketchum and like 30 other characters on Pokemon, the TV show and the movies for the last 16 years. I am from New York City born and raised. I'm an actor. I'm a film editor. Writing now, which is really cool. I do a lot of different kinds of stuff. But for the most part, I'm known as a voice actor.
Ryan Willard 12:52
I love it. And can you tell us more about the character of Ash Ketchum and one of our tenors Miss Maggie rose wants to know, what is it like being an animated character?
Sarah Natochenny 13:01
Ash is tenacious boy around 10-years-old, who loves to win. He loves to win, but it never at the expense of his friendships with other trainers or his friends, or at the expense of his Pokemon. He absolutely loves his Pokemon. He has so much love and care to give. And that's something I mean, I love all of those traits about ash. He's He's such a great kid and such a great example for young people. Ash is one of the most recognizable animated characters in the world. And that comes with a personal responsibility, like to his integrity that I helped create, you know, I gotta behave myself. I have to be a good example for the kids who watch who watch the show who grew up with the show. At the same time, I still have to maintain my own sovereignty apart from him, right? Like I am my own person. So that's something I'll be navigating for the rest of my life.
Ryan Willard 13:57
Okay, well, thank you. Well, I will tell you one of the kids wants to know it's my friend Everett from San Diego asked who's your favorite Pokemon? And why?
Sarah Natochenny 14:07
Can I correct you on something or is that weird? Pokeyman, Pokeyman, Pokeyman a lot of people say Pokemon, it's not it.
Ryan Willard 14:17
So, I'm gonna ask again. Who's your favorite Pokemon and why?
Sarah Natochenny 14:22
My favorite Pokemon is Pikachu. Because it was my favorite and I know that's that's a really common answer and it's because it's the most recognizable sure but I've had a lot of time to think about this and I even named my cat after Pikachu I literally saved get to be like that's how I talked to my cat. I think I love Pikachu. Probably because ashes Pikachu gets so much character development. He's got so much screentime so like we get to see him and all these different situations and how much he loves ash and how much he loves food and how much he loves bunny theory and he's obviously adorable. But Pikachu just has like a special place in my heart, man.
Ryan Willard 14:59
How did you get the role of Ash Ketchum? How did you get this mantle passed on to you? And what's the best part about playing ash?
Sarah Natochenny 15:07
The best part of playing Ash is the fans, at this point is going to conventions and meeting people and getting to know people from all different parts of the world. You know, how did I get the job? I was a regular actor. I went to acting school, I went to improv classes at UCB. I went to Lee Strasberg for acting, and I got an agent and a manager. And that was like all pounding the pavement that there was no like, nobody handed me anything at that point. And I got this audition for Pokemon on. And I was 18 years old. And I happened to book it, like it was a lot of luck meets preparation. So there was like, years of preparation and that one luck, and I was just in the right place at the right time.
Ryan Willard 15:49
Well, now you are the lead of a show that has its own day. Now do you celebrate Pokemon day, personally?
Sarah Natochenny 15:57
It depends on the year, but every year I practice gratitude. I zoom out of my life, and I'm like, I can't believe this is what it is every Pokemon day. I'm like, this is a celebration of my life. Not to be selfish about it. But it's it's so incredible that something that I was a fan of as a kid is something that I now have this responsibility for, you know, and my life would not be what it is without it.
Ryan Willard 16:26
So, I heard a rumor. You're very passionate about cats. I know you have your own cat named Pikachu. Can you tell us why you're passionate about cats and how you explore that passion?
Sarah Natochenny 16:37
Sure. Actually, part of the reason was a Pokemon episode. I've always loved cats. Let's not get let's stay real. But a Pokemon episode where Pokemon passes away. That episode was being recorded right around the time that my 17 year old cat passed away. And my director's cat passed away. And we were just like, really emotional. And I wanted to understand that cats all have different personalities. That's what that was my hypothesis. And that is something that I wanted to explore that I could find another cat that has a wonderful personality like my cat did. My cat was amazing. So I started fostering kittens. And I realized that very few people know what fostering even means. Fostering is basically it's not adoption. It's the park between rescue and adoption. So somebody goes out and rescues kittens off the street cats off the street, and dogs, and then somebody else needs to give them a home because that rescue were rescued cats all the time. Can't keep all the cats in their house, right? So somebody like me comes in and is like, Okay, I'll keep these cats and kittens for as long as they need a home until they find an adopter or until they're old enough to get spayed and neutered and adopted out. And I did it and I fell in love with it. And then my mom was coming over and she's like, this is insanely cute. Oh my goodness. Then she started doing it. So over like a course of maybe two years when we had the time and space we foster like over 100 cats and kittens. Man, it was amazing.
Ryan Willard 18:09
If I were 10 year old and I was very passionate about cats and animals, how would you recommend I get into helping them in the same way that you have?
Sarah Natochenny 18:16
Talk to your parents and talk to your guardians. And go to have to update the website but voices for Foster's dot com has a list of places to foster with. You can just also Google it Google your your town and cat fostering cat adoption and I'm sure you'll come up with a short to long list of places that offer these services and sign up and let them know what your capabilities are. If you're able to do it. It's very adaptable, and it's very flexible, it's rewarding and it makes you stronger. So I support fostering.
Ryan Willard 18:52
Alright, so we're about to do serious and not so serious questions. You're going to answer them as fast as you can rapid fire if you don't hesitate or if you get any questions wrong. I will be sending you four pounds of glitter in your next birthday card. Do you understand?
Sarah Natochenny 19:06
Yes.
Ryan Willard 19:07
And here we go. Question number one. Which starter would you want to pick? Squirtle Charmander or Bulbasaur Charmander? Would you rather swim in a pool filled with sour milk or the tears of Pokemon fans?
Sarah Natochenny 19:22
The tears of Pokemon fans, that could be happy tears.
Ryan Willard 19:27
Snickerdoodles or double chocolate chip cookies?
Sarah Natochenny 19:29
Double chocolate chip cookies.
Ryan Willard 19:30
What is a movie and a TV show you'd recommend to a 10 year old?
Sarah Natochenny 19:34
My favorite kid friendly movies are Matilda which is based on a book by Ronald Dahl, but read it and watch it so so good. Danny DeVito amazing. And Andre which is a movie about a seal starring Tina Mureno that I will never forget I've seen it like 1000 times.
Ryan Willard 19:51
Which is your favorite Pokemon game? Is it the card game Pokemon Go? Is there another one what's your favorite Pokemon?
Sarah Natochenny 20:01
Pokemon Go.
Ryan Willard 20:04
Would You rather shave your eyebrows off one time? Or shave your cat Pikachu once a month for three years?
Sarah Natochenny 20:12
Shave Pikachu.
Ryan Willard 20:14
You would do that to Pikachu?
Sarah Natochenny 20:16
You didn't say how much of him I have to shave.
Ryan Willard 20:19
No, completely off, just like your eyebrows.
Sarah Natochenny 20:22
Oh, that's different. Come on, man. No, that's wrong. You can choose one of them. He's so like floofy, he looks so funny. Fine, I'll shave off my eyebrows once. I hate you.
Ryan Willard 20:39
Which of the Pokemon cast members is the most fun to work with? You can only choose one.
Sarah Natochenny 20:44
Bear Letty. He plays Moline. He's like one of my best friends.
Ryan Willard 20:49
What's the coolest place in the world you've been?
Sarah Natochenny 20:52
Venice, Italy.
Ryan Willard 20:54
Which Pokemon would you take into battle?
Sarah Natochenny 20:57
Pikachu. He's my boy.
Ryan Willard 20:59
Which Pokemon would you want to have as a roommate?
Sarah Natochenny 21:04
Snorlax.
Ryan Willard 21:06
And what is the coolest place you've been this year?
Sarah Natochenny 21:10
I'd have to say probably Corinth, Mississippi. Little town in Mississippi.
Ryan Willard 21:15
Okay, next question. Does Pikachu fart lightning?
Sarah Natochenny 21:19
Does Pikachu fart lightning? I'm afraid of answering that question because it might not be canny. But, in my honest personal opinion. Yes.
Ryan Willard 21:29
Do you have any hidden talents?
Sarah Natochenny 21:32
I play piano. I can whistle two notes at the same time.
Ryan Willard 21:36
Last question. How on earth do we catch them all?
Sarah Natochenny 21:40
Oh, good luck. Perseverance, tenacity. A strong sense of self. Okay. Never, never give up. Man. You can't ever give up until you get there.
Ryan Willard 21:51
All right. Well, is there anything else you want to say to our Ten'er, and our audience before we go?
Sarah Natochenny 21:56
Oh, my goodness. Well, thank you so much for listening. I hope you enjoyed it. And make sure you read a lot of books, please, like I did when I was a child. I read 111 books in the seventh and the second grade. And I wrote book reports on every single one and I did that because I was inspired by Belle and Beauty and the Beast. So, if I can pass anything along as my legacy, it is read books, read books, read them all.
Ryan Willard 22:23
Excellent advice from the living legend that we call, Sarah Natochenny, and she's the voice of Ash Ketchum. Thank you so much for being on the Ten News and coming with us today.
Everett 22:36
Wait, you actually know, Sarah Natochenny, Voice of Ash Ketchum?
Ryan Willard 22:40
Yeah, dude, she's a friend of mine. I told you, Uncle Ryan is the coolest.
Everett 22:45
But, how do I know you actually know her?
Ryan Willard 22:48
I thought you'd ask that. So, here's a voice note she just sent me.
Sarah Natochenny 22:51
Hi, Everett. It's Sarah Natochenny, again. I just wanted to let you know that your Uncle Ryan is the coolest and Auntie Celine is about as cool as hot garbage. Just kidding, Ryan made me say that. I don't even know Auntie Celine. I'm sure she's just fine. Now, go read some books, play outside, and ask your parents if they'll let you foster a cat because that's a really fun thing to do.
Everett 23:14
Okay. You are the coolest, Uncle Ryan!
Ryan Willard 23:19
Thank you for finally acknowledging that. One sec, Kap!
Tracy Kaplan 23:26
Hey, did it work?
Ryan Willard 23:27
You know it. You're the coolest, Kap.
Tracy Kaplan 23:30
Well, thank you for finally acknowledging that. Now remember to close out the show.
Ryan Willard 23:35
I'm on it. The first here's a quick note for the grownups. This has been a Ten News Road Trip Remix. Technically, we're off for the summer. But look out for our road trip remixes and re-airing of some of our favorite episodes all summer long. I'm Ryan Willard.
Everett 23:53
And I'm Everett, and thanks for listening to the Ten News. I hope you're having a great summer and staying cool, kind, and informed!
Ryan Willard 24:01
Everett, those were my lines. Please don't take my job. Please!
