Look, all I'm saying is that when you raise a kid against its own nature, sometimes you get Jesus Cookies.

Education isn't just about school.

In this episode I speak with one of my dearest, life long friends about Education. Our common link was her Mother, who was a teacher. We reminisce, discuss our own scholastic experiences, examine how they shaped us and find some perspective in the difficulties we faced as children.

It gets deep but we have a good time. I hope you do too. Let me know what school was like for you as a kid. What were the lessons you learned which defined your character? Did they come from text books?

What are your thoughts on public school versus charter? What choices have you made as a parent for your kids education?

Mental Health check-in. What's going on with your mental health journey lately? I'm getting a lot out of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and talk about it here a little. The gist of it is you just have to Feel in order to Deal. The only way forward, is through, etc.

Adam Roche from The Secret History of Hollywood podcast joins me to add Cary Grant and Randolph Scott as a case study for the positivity of males bonding in a platonically intimate way. Yes we acknowledge the thirst for their relationship to have been carnal, but... I don't really think it was. To me this has even greater value than fantasizing about them hooking up.

My pal from across the pond sat down and spoke with me at length about male intimacy, or more so the lack of it in today's culture. Not sexuality, just good old male bonding. Emotional vulnerability, leaning on and celebrating triumphs with a good friend of the same gender. I don't think macho posturing, the "alpha male" prototype or aggressive stoicism is doing guys any favors in the long run.

You really need to check out Adams epic telling of Cary Grants life, loves, career, heartbreak and triumphs. It's truly an extraordinary tale, superbly told by a Master of the craft.

The Secret History of Hollywood

Cary

The Secret History on IG

This is potentially polarizing but it's important to make space for civil discourse on divisive topics.

We talk about common sense gun laws, what gun bans have and might look like again. We also speak about responsible gun ownership plus our own right and desire to bear arms. No, not our biceps.

Personally I feel that if someone breaks into my home, I want to make sure my family live to tell the tale. Do I live in a bad area? No, but show me any area that's entirely safe from crime. There is none. Crime is random and happens for far too many reasons to quantify and ever live under the veil of 100% safety.

We'd love your feedback. Discussions matter. We don't even need to agree ultimately but being respectful of each other is rule #1.

Common Sense Gun Laws, what would you like to see included? Excluded?

Not long after my daughter was born, I began taking stock of the things in my life which matter most. I spend a lot of time watching film so I took a good hard look at this in particular. When I had compiled my thoughts on the matter I wrote a letter to her. Rowan, so that one day she'd understand why Papa loves the movies.

During the raging actors strike, which is a fight for the future of cinema itself, I thought I'd dust this one off and send it back out into the pod-o-sphere.

With Love,

Papa

Short one today, just sharing some recent thoughts on roadblocks to success and, at least personally, how I'm usually my own worst enemy. Sound familiar? Take a listen then drop a note, let's chat about it.

The one which includes an obscure film review starring an obscure actor about an obscure vintage murder mystery. Previously released as an episode of Dear Rowan in a series regarding British actor Eric Portman. Dusted off and presented to you here as a special Halloween treat.