Echo (Follow Up-Spring 2026)

Ajouté : 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]It's weird to hear somebody talk about, you know, beheading somebody with a samurai sword and then them still be out to talk about it. It's just how do you even get away with that? Is it like mental health or I I don't I don't understand. But it's a trip to see that um you would never think it would be somebody like that that would do something like that. So, >> welcome back, Ekko.

[00:00:24]>> Hello.

[00:00:25]>> Nice to see you again.

[00:00:26]>> Thank you. It's nice to be back. What's been going on since last time you were here?

[00:00:30]>> So, uh, you know, everything's been okay for the most part. Um, a little bit crazy.

[00:00:37]So, like ICE has been come through and, uh, pretty much wiped everybody out for the most part. And then, and like it really has it's gotten so like quiet on Skid Road. It's a trip. And so, um, other than that, there has been a lot little crazy things going on. uh some lady actually it it trips me out cuz come to find out some guy with comes with a samurai sword chops somebody's head off in front of the smoke shop last year right come to find out he's like still out I don't understand how that works but I met him the other day and um >> you met him >> yes I did I met him and uh that was it's weird to hear somebody talk about you know beheading somebody with a samurai sword and then them still be out to talk about it just how do you even get away with that is it like mental health or I I I don't I don't understand. But it's a trip to see that. Um you would never think it would be somebody like that that would do something like that. So um >> are you still turning tricks? And that's >> um yes. Yes. And um yes and no. Like I I kind of slowed down quite a bit cuz um there was two two of my friends actually were um murdered in the last uh couple months and there was foul play involved. So, I just kind of slowed down way slowed down and if if I do um it's in a place that I have like rented out or um I don't go in anybody's cars anymore. No, no way. And um I try really hard to what is it called >> when you uh >> like screen them before kind of I do short screening before I do that.

[00:02:14]>> Um because it's just not worth it, you know. Um I guess on Figuroa it's been really crazy too. people have been uh disappearing and it's like for what? For for money. It's and it's not great pay down there. So, um >> it's it's embarrassing what women are selling them so far.

[00:02:29]>> But what's crazy is I actually got a job which I'm pretty proud of. Um I'm going to be the social media director for a music studio and they're awesome. We have a lot of things going on. The guy's actually an ex porn star. Uh he is freaking cool. I wish I could talk more about him on here, but I, you know, I'll have to ask him about all that. But uh I can't wait to get started. So doing all their Tik Tok, Instagram, [ __ ] Facebook. I'm super excited about it.

[00:02:55]And it's on Matteo right there down right next to Skidro. So it's like uh I get this chance to like get out of there. I can live there if I want to, which I'm totally going to take up on that and um get out of this cuz I can't I can't uh what's the thing? Commit to a tent. You know, I've been out there for almost a year and it's like I have not had a tent that's my own this whole time because, you know, sometimes you become prideful of the tent and then you don't want to leave the tent. Actually, I did a lot of research or not research, but I watched this video on YouTube about Skidro and how they made this area in such a way that the people that are dropped off there or not even just dropped off, they're like dumped there.

[00:03:35]It's a psychological thing where they believe they cannot get out. It's like a barrier around. Um, it's very interesting. If you look up Skid Row on YouTube, it should pop right up and I would definitely watch it because it I just only got a couple minutes into it.

[00:03:50]But, um, it's very interesting the history of there. And I don't know, it's starting to get cleaned up. They're kind of like gingrifying Skid Row in a bit.

[00:03:59]Like they're cleaning it all up cuz the Olympics are coming through. So, um, it's very interesting. I it's it's crazy cuz I just I feel home there and uh I probably shouldn't but I do. I feel I feel right at home.

[00:04:12]>> Why don't you feel at home there?

[00:04:13]>> Why?

[00:04:14]>> No one should feel >> No, I know. That's what I mean. That's like I should not feel home there. But um I guess the like little amount of friends that I have gathered there, you know, some are just like me.

[00:04:26]>> Well, there's a freedom there.

[00:04:27]>> It's a freedom. Exactly.

[00:04:28]>> You can do whatever you like. The cops won't bother you.

[00:04:30]>> Yeah. But you know, it's like kind of at the same time you got a little be more responsible. I'm feeling very irresponsible with the way I'm living my life right now. I haven't uh >> You think there's a chance you'll be down here forever?

[00:04:41]>> No. Hell no. I hope not.

[00:04:43]>> What's going to change?

[00:04:44]>> I don't What's going to change? Um you I already feel like the the change is already starting. You know, I honestly the last video that I did on here really made all the uh comments and everything that I read and how much uh how much people just encouraged me and seeing my light and who I am. That really put a fire under my ass to start having a different perspective, you know, taking care I I'm in separation from my husband. me and him are splitting up and it's hard because half the time, you know, we're splitting up, half the time we're trying to work it out and it's like uh obviously doing what I do is not um feasible for a marriage, you know, but at the same time it's like uh survival down here to be a drug addict and have a job is a little bit difficult. I can't even keep track of my clothes for a week. How am I supposed to maintain a regular job, you know? But um that's that's where I'm getting to is like once I have a little bit more of a home, I'm honestly thinking about going back to rehab because I think that's the best way for people to get um clean is the medical detox. Uh with the fennel, it's all kind of new relatively. Uh they know how to get off heroin, but um the fennel is sticks in your cells like a lot longer than heroin. So, like instead of being just a couple a day uh detox, it's like on day five, you finally get to take the suboxin and you finally start to detox. And even still, I remember I took mine on day five and I got so sick with that precipitated withdrawal or whatever it's called. It's horrible. It's just it's really hard on your body and your mind. And that's why a lot of people stay out on this. Even thinking about it now, it's like, man, that's I've done it twice successfully.

[00:06:31]And um I don't understand how I could go through that and then when it's put in front of my face, me even think about touching it again because it's like you know what the hell it it's like to get off of it and it's almost impossible seeming. Um but yeah, it's crazy. I'm I'm excited though. I'm uh I'm grateful for all the different um how would you say duality of moments that I've had in my life and the the how would you say that the the scale of things that I've been through good and bad and um I'm very grateful to have had this chapter in my life. But yeah, like I said, I'm I'm trying to move up and on out and hopefully take a couple of people with me.

[00:07:16]>> Do you have children?

[00:07:17]>> Huh?

[00:07:17]>> You don't have children?

[00:07:18]>> No, no babies.

[00:07:19]>> That's good. I'm I'm an aunt for sure though. I got like slew of little baby baby nieces. They're big now. Shoot.

[00:07:26]>> And how old are you?

[00:07:26]>> I'm 33.

[00:07:27]>> 33 this year. Yep. My birthday this year was uh 0515 2025 which I thought was super cool. Oh, by the way, I did meet Miss Rebecca um a couple I think it was like a month or two ago and I have to say she's just fabulous. She wanted me and her to come on this the show and I don't know how me and her ended up getting uh you know pulled away from each other because I really had I I ended up I was on a date with some guy and we were on scooters right and it was badass date and I seen her and I was like oh my god I have to stop bro I'm so sorry I have to I'm sorry. I was like but this is like one of the last chance I get to meet Miss Rebecca. So I I was like I'm so sorry. And this is like the third time I've started a date with this guy and totally ditched out on and um so I stopped and me and her talking and I told her I said you know how's it feel to be like to be like Skidro famous you cuz you're totally Skidro famous and she's like I know right she has a sheet right and she's wrapped it around herself so beautifully like just a goddess in her own skin.

[00:08:32]>> She she turns junk from a from a dumpster into fashion. I was just so just in the way her body is contoured and she's so beautiful, you know, hella beautiful. And that's a that's the thing about u LGBTQ or how like my best friend growing up, she was gay from the moment I met her in second grade. She's always been and but she was homophobic until our senior year, you know, and then finally she come out and I'm like, "Well, come on, bro. Like we already knew of this." Like, you know, we don't and we love you the same. Um it's just a strange strange trip that it's amazing. She's beautiful and um I can't wait to have another chance to sit down and talk to her. She was hilarious though. This lady, she asked her for a cigarette and uh the lady was like all timid and stuff, but she had been staring at her for like I don't a good 20 minutes. You know, the lady had no problem staring at her, but when she asked her first cigarette, she's like, you know, takes out and she she got mad.

[00:09:23]She said, "Why are you going to light it for me too?" And the lady started to take off. She goes, "Oh, hell no. You are going to light me this cigarette."

[00:09:29]And it's just wonderful how unap unapologetically she is herself. I think that's something to be uh admired.

[00:09:38]>> She she doesn't have the uh she doesn't edit anything she thinks or says.

[00:09:44]>> I think it's a beautiful thing. I think a lot of us need that, you know. So, but I don't know >> where where do you go from here? What are you going to do? Me?

[00:09:54]>> Well, >> how long you been on the streets now? Um well, see I for now it's been about since Thanksgiving last year, you know, and um >> it's almost a year now.

[00:10:05]>> Almost a year. It's been it's been a [ __ ] rough year, but um >> it's going to get cold.

[00:10:11]>> I'm not doing the cold again this year.

[00:10:13]Not doing it. The rainy wet and it like I was just thinking about that the other day cuz I get really depressed during a seasonal like whenever it starts to get like droo like that's why I came to Southern California. And then the first year I spent here, almost the whole year was like was like rainy and cloudy. And it's crazy cuz now I feel like we've been in summer for so long. I can't imagine it going back to winter. I'm like, "No, >> it was a warm summer."

[00:10:37]>> I'm hoping to maybe get a little bit of um sobriety under my belt before it gets too uh too cold and stuff cuz I think that's what keeps me on drugs, too, is the the depression that comes along with the seasons. I don't know if everybody is like that, but um like when Christmas comes and I think about past uh like me and my husband, that's going to be really hard. That's going to be the first year I'm not with my husband, you know, and um I'm still absolutely head over heels in love with him, but he's not even he's out here, you know, and uh he's not himself at all. And that's really hard to see. And I feel like that also keeps me out there is because I don't want to leave I can't imagine leaving him behind and not you know wherever we go after this whether it be together separate I'm not going to leave him here in Skidro you know I just can't do that it's not who I am as a person so I might have to weather the storm a little bit longer but I'm going to drag his ass out with me whether he likes it or not. So >> what is your drug? me, I smoke crack and fentanyl and uh recently ketamine, which uh I don't know if anybody has ever done that, but for therapy reasons, that was amazing. Really, it was I was able to get some stuff out off of my Well, I seen some kid almost get stabbed to death the other night and um I'm not going to pretend like I'm not human.

[00:12:02]That [ __ ] affected me like a lot.

[00:12:05]And so one of these days it picked me up and uh I went and sat in a shower for almost like 3 hours and first hour I just like cried and it um the ketamine really helped me be able to like release and process things quicker than than I normally would. I usually would have just boxed it up, bottled it up and then you know went on a war you know war how do you say it?

[00:12:32]warfare against myself until I was able to process it. But that it actually helps. They call it special K. It's a therapy drug, you know. I think we should utilize it much more often. It's much better than the than the crappy like fentanyl and meth and it's that stuff actually I feel like has medicinal value for sure. Um but >> what stops you from just trying to get clean?

[00:13:02]addiction. Like I don't know the the phenomenon I'm craving. I feel like you know like uh I know what it's like to be clean. I love being clean. I love the people that I surround myself when I'm clean. I love who I am when I'm sober. I love all of it. I love every minute. But it's that process of getting there that 3 months that you have to just tooth and nail white knuckle like you know it's very uncomfortable. I didn't sleep for 2 months the last time I got sober like two months straight and there's nightmares and if you don't have the right support system it's very hard to successfully do that and I'm I'm very sensitive person you know so um hopefully this chapter I can find some good people around me that my family is amazing so I don't have a problem finding good people to surround me and support me but I kind of haven't spoke to them for a minute is kind of tired of disappointing them and and and giving them false hope. So, I want to give them the next time I call them and say, "Hey, this is what I'm going to do." I want to make sure that I mean it and actually follow through with some of my stuff. So, hopefully just one foot in front of the other. And um this week I got my glasses back. I haven't had I've been able to see for six months. So I went down walking eye exam got my glasses and I'm very proud of myself for finishing at least one goal.

[00:14:26]You know that's a start.

[00:14:28]>> Good for you.

[00:14:28]>> You start small and get big and but um just a heed to people around that there's a lot of uh like a lot of women going missing right now down on Skidro and Figureroa and there's a lot of sex trafficking is is rampant right now.

[00:14:47]Very bad. I mean there's people they do this thing where it's not every night but a lot of days this week there was you know on one cross stop boom boom boom there's four people on each block and I walked see this is why I always say hello to everybody too whenever I walk by say oh hey cuz so I can gauge what they're there for and what they're doing cuz some people are not there for good intentions so you know I walked by I said oh hey what's going on how are you doing I started talking to him ask him I have a cigarette you know he said no. And uh he's like being all weird and looking around and I said, "What's going on?" He said, "Well, I don't I I don't want them to see me with you with you."

[00:15:24]And I said, "Well, who's them?" Like, and it wasn't like uh you know, he was a CEO or anything like that. He was you know, he was sitting on that corner for some reason. you start sweating bullets and and uh I noticed I was being followed and just uh just make sure whatever area you're in to make sure that you're taking heed and like watching your back may paying attention cuz it's it's it's um yeah it's been real scary especially down there. I can't imagine other places. So >> all right Echo, thank you so much for coming back.

[00:15:58]>> Thank you for having me back. I >> wish you lots of luck out here.

[00:16:00]>> Thank you.

[00:16:01]>> Thank you.