Lox and The Bagel

So we started off talking about the loss of kindness in our world today and veered off into the apparent death of democracy and our way of life, so there's that!

The wait is finally over. The boychiks are back in town. In this week's episode, we talk about everything from the growing coyote invasion fear to the new Netflix sensation, Bake Squad. And why does Joshua hate cats? And I tell Joshua about a very intimate conversation I had with his wife Jennifer about the Western Bacon Cheeseburger!

That among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. What were those old white privileged revolutionary dudes getting at when they wrote that phrase? Were they describing the happiness of the modern Kardashians lifestyle of private jets, random sex, and puffy lips, or were they talking about a kind of happiness that is more about virtue, one that is rooted in the values of meaning, relationship, and connection? Which kind of happiness lasts and sustains you through challenging times?

As we continue our conversation about Our Fathers, we delve deeper into how our fathers shaped our identities and our lives. We explore pivotal moments in Kenny’s life, like the time his father went to federal prison for 10 months and Kenny got divorced, quit his business, and became a stay-at-home dad to his then 18 month-old daughter. And how the shame he felt manifested itself is his complete withdrawal from society except for the time he spent with his child. And we discover how Kenny learned from his father to keep his feeling and emotions to himself and, as a 10-year-old boy would spend time crying on the floor of his shower with the water on so nobody would hear him.

What was your relationship like with your father? Was he your hero? Was he the villain in your story? By all accounts Joshua’s father was a self-absorbed narcissistic who was often mean and cruel, and yet, Joshua will tell you that his father always loved him. On the other hand, Kenny’s father was kind and generous and treated him with apparent respect. Both men had a profound impact on their son's view of themselves and their place in the world. In part I of Our Fathers, we focus on Joshua’s experience dealing with a father who tried to control him and who punished him for not being the son he wanted. Even as Joshua tried to protect his father from tragedy, he was subjected to rejection and disapproval and vowed to become a different kind of man.

Can we separate art from the artist?  What level of bad behavior makes it impossible to see the work without seeing the actions of the artist? We know that we can no longer watch Woody Allen movies and that feels sad, like a death in the family, as Woody Allen was formative in our experience of comedy and Jewish humor. Maybe before social media and our knowledge of people’s private lives, it was possible to separate art from the artist, but today, it is where we are as a culture and there is no escaping that reality. Because ultimately it’s about whether we want to be in a relationship with that artist and the values that artist holds.

Like most Jewish men in their 50’s Joshua and Kenny were in Fiddler on the Roof together in high school. Strangely, Kenny the lesser talent of the two had a lead role, Fyedka, whereas, Joshua, the much greater talent, had the tiniest of roles as, The Rabbi. But Kenny’s role (And I can say this because I am Kenny) was not memorable…O, he looked good, but the acting…meh. On the other hand Joshua’s 2 minute role turned into a show stopper!  Damn, he was good! Joshua went on to star in his own network TV show called, The Marshall Chronicles, for 6 episodes at least.

As 14 years old kids Joshua and Kenny met in the Intro to Performing arts class in 9th grade at Beverly Hills High School. Two kids from different sides of the tracks found a community and forged an enduring friendship. Join us as we reminisce about our highs and lows, the lessons we learned, and the people who made it all so special. (Mentioned in this episode: Kevin Goldberg, Mark Kaplan, Amanda Sutton, Zina Goldrich, Crispin Hellion Glover, Marsh Monroe, Janet Kurtzman, and Nicolas Coppola/Cage)

Do you remember when being an expert meant that you were an EXPERT in something through study or experience or lived history? Who is an expert today? And what the f*ck is an INFLUENCER? Is yesterday’s expert, today’s influencer? From 1970’s TV icon, Rodney Allen Rippy to current “Man About Town” Stanley Tucci, join Kenny & Joshua as they explore what is lost and what is gained in today’s world of information and influence. 

Did you grow up loving your birthdays? Did your family make a big deal out of holidays? Did they make you feel special? And did you continue those rituals into your adulthood or create new ones. Join Kenny & Joshua (Or Ezekiel and Jedidiah) as they tell their own stories of celebration and ritual and why it all matters so much.

The old adage says that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But why? Because breakfast is about a feeling, a sense of wonder and joy, and a memory of comfort and connection to childhood and family. Nobody has “dinner for breakfast” but millions of grown-ups enjoy “breakfast for dinner”. There is a feeling that you’re doing something sneaky or mischievous.  Join Kenny & Joshua as they explore the value of blintzes, bacon, bagels, and the bounty of breakfast bliss.