“Everything good that has happened to me has happened as the direct result of helping someone else.”
– Danny Trejo
*Film by Nelson Lee of Noteworthy Collective
For our fourth episode of Dine & Dish with Dawn, I didn’t have to go further than right around the corner from my house to get my interview on…and leave with a new baseball cap on my head.
There, I met up with Machete himself, actor & producer Danny Trejo, at his flagship restaurant, Trejo’s Tacos, where we enjoyed street tacos and street corn, while he waved at fans who honked at us as they drove down La Brea.
Danny and I dished about everything including his time in prison (including 4 months in “the hole”/solitary confinement which led to a life-changing epiphany), addiction and recovery, the importance of having people around you that you trust, what Cinco de Mayo really means, how the whole world can think you’re a movie star but you can’t, his mother’s dream of owning a restaurant and how – as fate would have it – he came to own a chain of restaurants of his own today.
The best role that Danny has played is that of a survivor. And, he’s not only survived, but thrived, and continues to give back. For Danny, he has had dreams come true that he didn’t even know were possible, and now he helps others fulfill their dreams and potential as an intervention counselor.
As much as he might play the “bad guy,” this nice guy is the first to tell you that he is not in charge…his faith is.
A man whose faith and work ethic have helped him overcome every obstacle, you won’t ever think of Danny Trejo the same way again.
Just don’t call him Marcia.
*Producer’s Note: This was our show’s first attempt at recording outside in Los Angeles, the audio is as rough around the edges as Danny is tough. Please be patient with me as I’m still learning here.
To find out more about Danny Trejo: www.DannyTrejo.net
Thank you to the owners, cooks, management and waitstaff of Trejo’s Tacos where this podcast took place. And, thank you especially to the patrons who were so kind and patient to wait for pictures until after we had wrapped.
Special thanks to our sponsor, La Croix Water my healthy must-have as I continue to travel across America, dining & dishing, and indulging in all this good food. I’ve always got three packs of this bubbly goodness in my fridge!
A percentage from the sponsored fee for this podcast has been donated to the charity of Danny’s choice: the Learning Rights Law Center, a legal services nonprofit that fights for a child’s right to education, and assists low-income families by providing free legal counsel and advice, advocacy, direct representation, education, training and policy work.
Engineered & Edited by: Maddie Ross
Follow Learning Rights Law Center: Learning Rights Law Center
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