Dennis & Julie

Julie talks about Dennis’ situation and shares some choice cuts from past Dennis and Julie’s: how Judaism and Christianity complement each other; aphorisms, which are a huge part of Dennis’ life; and having the courage to be wrong.

Music: Straight to the Point c 2022
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Dennis and Julie react to Trump’s big victory…  aside from being happy, Dennis’ overwhelming feeling was relief, and Julie felt optimistic about the future of the country.  The 2024 election was an indictment of the Left and the legacy media.  Praise God for Elon Musk purchasing Twitter.  What is this disdain that people on the Left have for people on the Right?  Other topics include: Abortion; Totalitarianism; Truth; The greatness and brilliance of the personalities at the Daily Wire; Adam Carolla; Hating evil; What motivates Dennis and Julie; Dennis shares a shameful story from his childhood; Julie’s pet frog Herbert; and funny Priests.

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Dennis and Julie appreciating happiness.  What are the happiest years of your life?  Do you think that your presence in other people’s lives makes them happier?  Few people realize that they are in the happiest time of their life when it is occurring.  Dennis philosophizes: “If you’re happy and you know it… clap your hands.”  At what age do you think about the past more than the future?  Dennis talks about being in Rush’s shadow for much of his radio career. 

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1. Dennis and Julie breakdown special treatment: extra time for tests, pre-boarding, and service animals.  Compassion in the micro leads to cruelty in the macro.  Dignity prevents Dennis and Julie from taking advantage of these special accommodations.  They expose the self-esteem movement… high self-esteem is great if it is morally rooted.  You must earn your self-esteem, or it is worthless.  Other topics include: shame; pride in being real; and cheating. 

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Dennis and Julie discuss being a character… looks can be deceiving.  Dennis’ nature is to play… but his friendship with Allen keeps him accountable and therefore more productive.  Dennis decided at a young age, after watching the Diary of Anne Frank, to channel his emotions into action.  Dennis’ “sanity preserver” is his belief in an afterlife.  How can you function without a belief in God?  How does thinking about death change as you age?  Do you have any regrets?  Dennis recalls some experiences from Yeshiva.  Monitor yourself… be interesting. 

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Dennis and Julie tackle: can a thought be a sin; lust versus having an affair; Dennis talks about his “Christian envy” when was growing up… “guilt over thought” snapped him out of it; Julie talks about her curiosity/flirtation with Judaism… it’s powerful to have a religion centered on referring to God rather than Jesus; people have done evil with “good thoughts,” and conversely good things have come from “bad thoughts”; intentions versus actions; capitalism versus communism; can one “do good” without “good thoughts”; how does one know if their thoughts are “good or bad”; actions are far more important than thoughts; the thought that God judges you is infinitely more comforting than the thought that God loves you; does God punish people’s sinful thoughts; under what circumstances is lustful thought not “bad” or sinful?

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Dennis and Julie discuss one of the benefits of having people in your life… it can help you to understand yourself.  Asking interesting questions of people can help them to understand themselves.  Are women more aware than men… what are the differences in the way the sexes pay attention.  Dennis shares his love of street photography.  Julie references a takeaway from: I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman's Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris - Glynnis MacNicol… don’t let the blows of your childhood hit you too hard as an adult.  Other topics include: How much are we a product of our childhood; The “baggage” issue; Is your nature more powerful than your nurture; We are the stories we tell ourselves; There is liberation in giving your parents the benefit of the doubt; blame; The butterfly effect; Meeting Dr. Laura; punishment for sins; Julie asks Dennis if he believes in a “cosmic scaffolding”; there’s no such thing as “one” lie.

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Dennis and Julie dedicate this episode to prayer.  Does prayer play a role in your life?  What does prayer mean, and how does prayer in Judaism differ from Christianity?  Define what it means to have a “relationship” with God?  What does God want you to do?  Do you talk to God?  Does God talk to you?  Is God difficult to love?  Do you listen to God?  They discuss the difference between praying for others versus praying for yourself.  Are you “close” to God?  Do you love God?  Is obedience to God more important than loving God?

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Dennis and Julie ask did you have trepidation on your wedding day?  The famous are rarely significant, and the significant are rarely famous.  Is fame significant?  Is fame a uniquely American pursuit?  Let’s say you do get into a good college… then what?!  You need an “inner” life to be happy, the “outer” stuff won’t get you there.  Once you get what you want, it may not be what you thought it would be.  What role does God play as the engineer of your life?  Other topics include: vehicular misadventures; acts of heroism that go unnoticed daily; Bridge of San Luis Rey - Thornton Wilder; cigar lounge experiences; and clown parties!

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Divorce, Dignity, and Demons
Dennis and Julie start with the decline of “Mrs.”  Topics include: affinity groups; changing last names upon marriage or divorce; it is not the divorce that damages children… it is what happens after the divorce that damages children; how the parents treat each other matters; dignity matters… spreading dignity is contagious; everyone needs to develop “shock absorbers,” or else they’ll be crushed by life; people have demons; a painless life is not possible; Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina principle – “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way”; “Giving it up to God” is misunderstood.

Music: Straight to the Point c 2022
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