Getting Old Quickly

In Episode #10, Billy Donnelly lays the groundwork for future conversations by introducing the concept of Gary Chapman's Love Languages: Quality Time, Physical Touch, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service and Words of Affirmation. Throughout the show, Billy explores what each language entails and how each may fulfill the needs of those who fit into each category. He explains the importance of understanding each, in order to better communicate what we need to feel loved as well as what we may need to give for others to feel the same. Furthermore, he dives into his primary love language and how it correlates to some of the struggles he's dealt with over the years as well as the self-destructive behavior he's exhibited when it hasn't been met. Discovering one's Love Language can be a building block for figuring how the love you seek to receive and what you need to give in all relationships, and so Billy uses that here as a set-up for what's to come on Getting Old Quickly. 

In Episode 9, Billy Donnelly decides to answer a question he was asked about anxiety, depression and, in general, mental health being so taboo amongst men. That leads to a deeper discussion about toxic masculinity: what it is, how it affects those issues and how we begin to address it. He talks about the misconceptions of toughness, strength, weakness and vulnerability that become problematic for mental and emotional growth, in addition to the pushback a man is likely to face when trying to open up about their emotions. He looks at our ideas of what we think a man is and challenges us to consider what we want a man to be.

In Episode 8, Billy Donnelly tells of a recent bout with PTSD. Throughout the show, he dives into the story of his dismissal from a prior workplace (Ain't It Cool News) and the mistreatment he experienced on the way out. He explores all the feelings he went through as a result and thought that he'd been able to move on. That is until a name from the past resurfaced in the last few weeks, bringing with all sorts of negative feelings about that ordeal and re-opening the wound. He then discusses the prevalence of PTSD in our everyday lives and how easily it is to trigger memories of past trauma at a moment's notice. (The names of those involved have not been changed, because there is no need to protect the guilty.)

In Episode 7, Billy Donnelly has to deal with the fallout of a longtime friend dropping "All Lives Matter" on him. He examines the disappointment of being hit with such a revelation from someone he thought he knew. He also looks at the idea of being colorblind to race, namely where the idea came from and why it's proven to be quite problematic over time. In addition, he talks about challenging the graduating class of his high school, particularly those who drape themselves in the greatness of the school while conveniently ignoring one of the school's core principles - social justice - during the current movement for racial equality. Plus, he discusses having to talk with his kids about recent events and introducing ideas of racism and police mistreatment to them in order to lay the groundwork for future conversations. In addition, he touches on a recent conversation he had with a childhood friend about expectations for police interaction, given their different backgrounds, and how that made him feel. Finally, he stresses the need to challenge others right now and to do better. 

For Episode #6, Billy Donnelly decides to postpone the originally-planned show in order to discuss his feelings surrounding the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the resulting protests/riots in Minnesota and across the country. He talks about his support for the Black Lives Matter and the skin he has in the game in fighting for racial equality and against racial injustice. He gets into our need for understanding and empathy as we aim to listen and learn from the experiences of black people during these times, in order to contextualize what has led to various forms of protest taken. He also tries to relate the regular anxiety we feel in our lives to what someone black must handle daily. In addition, he calls out All Lives Matter as nonsense and explains why it's not the thing anyone should be saying, in addition to relaying several stories from his own life and the impact they had on his views of race in the United States. Furthermore, he talks to the allies and tries to direct them on what they can do to be a help right now at a time when so many are hurting, while imploring them to explore their own feelings as things continue to develop. 

In Episode #5 of Getting Old Quickly, Billy Donnelly talks about his fondness for those younger days when he felt accepted by his peers. However, that doesn't mean he was an angel as a kid and carries with him some guilt over all this time for actions and behaviors towards others from his childhood. Here, he details how he has tried to make amends over time to those he may have wronged, how those interactions have played out, what he hopes to get out of it and the results of a recent conversation he had with the last person he felt he needed to apologize to. 

In Episode #4, Billy Donnelly explores the role of work in people's lives, and ultimately arrives at the conclusion that you are not your work. Your work is not what defines you. You are more than what you put into a company during your shift, and it's now more important than ever to focus on the things that are truly important in your life... because, while work may help give you a sense of purpose, there is so much more that reflects who you are as a person that your productivity, efficiency and output. 

In Episode 3, Billy Donnelly begins to dig into the type of friendships that exist within his life, and what he finds lacking in the quality relationships he continues to seek. The importance of two-way friendships is discussed, in addition to the difficulties of making friends as an adult and the loneliness that comes from those struggles.