Subtitles section Play video
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66 million of you have watched our next guest's video, but
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there's more to his story than just being a dancing barista.
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His name is Sam and he's autistic.
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Sam was told he would never be employable but
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he was given an incredible opportunity by a Starbucks manager named Chris.
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From Toronto, Canada, please welcome Sam and Chris.
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Hey, thank you so much for being here.
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This is your first talk show?
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>> Yeah, I love It's my first time being here, and I'm a huge fan of you.
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>> Well, thanks so much.
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I'm a huge fan of you.
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So, how did you two meet?
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>> Well, Sam and I met at a camp called I Said,
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Camp Fry was a camp where we went to, we got to meet kids with autism,
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Sam really stood out to me when I actually met him, he told me one of his dreams,
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he wanted to be is a barista, and I tried to make that happen.
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>> So, that's amazing.
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>> [APPLAUSE] >> Okay, so you met at the camp, and
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then how long after was the interview?
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>> Sam?
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>> So, I went to the store and I thought I was gonna get a formal interview.
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But, then Chris just said, you got the job.
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In that moment, my life changed.
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My whole world changed.
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[APPLAUSE] >> Yeah, I bet it did.
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[APPLAUSE] >> I mean
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>> [APPLAUSE]
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>> It's your dream job.
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I mean, what an amazing thing that you meet and have this instant connection and
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you go in.
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Okay, so you're dancing behind there, tell everybody why you're dancing.
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>> So, basically, the reason I dance is to concentrate.
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I concentrate a lot better when I dance.
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And yeah.
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>> Me too.
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>> [LAUGH] >> So.
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>> Yeah, me too,
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I concentrate a lot better when I dance, which is not really that good.
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>> Well, I could add on to that.
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Through Sam's jerky movement through his autism, the music and
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the dance was able for him to control himself.
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Focus on the drinks, focus on the routines.
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He's become more comfortable, and he's been doing so great.
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>> Yeah, so you like working with Chris?
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>> Yeah, he's an amazing boss,
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and he's also like a really, really good friend.
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And I wouldn't give
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him up for anything.
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>> [APPLAUSE] >> Pretty amazing.
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Pretty amazing.
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You're 17 years old?
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>> Yes. >> 17 years old.
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So, have you seen, you must have,
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you must see a change in Sam since you hired him.
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>> My gosh, when I first met Sam, he was a little shy.
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He had heart trouble looking me in the eye.
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Through the progression, I've seen Sam being so outgoing with our customers.
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He's been able to make all the drinks.
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He's so friendly and he works independent.
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>> And he's probably changed you too.
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>> My gosh.
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Sam has such a big heart and he's made me a better person.
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In stories like this, to hear that you're told you would be unemployable,
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that you're not be able to work, and you make this connection.
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And you give Sam a job, and he's excelling as an employee and
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as a person, and helping you at the same time.
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I hope more people see this, and
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see that you actually can hire people that you think you shouldn't hire.
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And, I hope more people do that right now.
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[APPLAUSE] >> That's fantastic.
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I mean...
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>> [APPLAUSE] >> And
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I hope you know you're an inspiration, Sam.
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I mean, to so many people watching right now, you're a huge inspiration.
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You're an amazing guy that you hired Sam.
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But this is incredible.
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You make money by tips, right?
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I want to make sure you get as many tips as possible.
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I'm going to give you a tip jar.
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>> [LAUGH] >> So,
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>> [APPLAUSE]
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>> [APPLAUSE]
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>> All right, all right, see and
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I have an arm that shows people where to put the money and everything.
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Sam, there's a place that you've always.
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You love to travel right?
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>> Yeah. >> Where is a place that
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you've always wanted to go?
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>> Since I was about four, I've always admired Japan.
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>> Japan, since you were four years old.
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>> Yeah. >> So, you're drawn to go to Japan for
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some reason.
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Well, we wanna make sure your dreams come true, so you're going to Japan.
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>> Aah!
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>> [APPLAUSE]
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That's right.
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>> [APPLAUSE] >> Our friends
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at Shutterfly want you to share life's joy, so that's gonna be amazing.
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I can't wait to hear this, obviously, you're supposed to go there.
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Four years old wanting to go to Japan.
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And we have something for you too, Chris.
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You're a big fan of the Toronto Raptors, and I want you to look at this.
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>> Hi guys. Kyle Lowry here.
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I have Masai and DeMar with me.
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Our good friend Ellen told us how big a Raptor fan you are.
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>> To show our appreciation, we got something for you,
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because we are such big fans of you two.
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>> We couldn't do the things on the court that we do without fans like you.
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So >> On behalf of the Raptors,
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we want to invite you to our practice, meet all our guys, our players and
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also invite you to our game.
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So thanks, Ellen.
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>> Thanks, Ellen. >> [APPLAUSE]
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>> You'll meet the team and
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get VIP treatment [NOISE] And they send some swag.
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>> My God.
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>> We'll be right back.
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>> [APPLAUSE]
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>> [MUSIC]