Cathy and Todd discuss Love Actually as part of their “Christmas movies that might not actually be Christmas movies” month. Released in November 2003 and written and directed by Richard Curtis, the film uses its London-at-Christmas setting, stacked ensemble cast, and interwoven stories of romantic, familial, awkward, and heartbreaking love to reflect a long-held worldview: messy humans and basic decency still matter. Cathy and Todd go through their categories, debate the storylines, and unpack why its message that “love is all around” became an annual ritual for so many—and what lands differently when we watch it now..

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• Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.
• David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
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Cathy and Todd talk about The Family Stone and why it works so well as “a Christmas movie that isn’t really a Christmas movie”. They explore how it’s a story about family systems, grief, belonging, and what happens when someone new steps into a familiar and often fragile emotional ecosystem. They get into the best family movies, the most uncomfortable scenes, each character’s role, birth order patterns, sibling energy, and the tension Meredith brings into the house. They also look at why this messy and tender story is still such a holiday staple twenty years later.

Some Ways to Support Us

1. 1. Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
   2. Order Restoring our Girls
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Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

• Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.
• David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
• MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements
• Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

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Cathy and Todd discuss Trading Places for “Christmas movies that might not be Christmas movies” month. John Landis’ 1983 comedy-satire dropped the same year as Return of the Jedi, Flashdance, WarGames, and Risky Business, yet still became one of the biggest hits of the year. With Dan Aykroyd, a very young Eddie Murphy (only 21!), Jamie Lee Curtis, and a plot that dives deep into class and privilege, they discuss what the movie was saying about wealth, meritocracy, and who gets access, along with the complicated, messy, and very 80s parts that would never make it past a studio today.

Some Ways to Support Us

1. 1. Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
   2. Order Restoring our Girls
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Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

• Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.
• David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
• MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements
• Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Other Ways to Support Us

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Cathy and Todd discuss Die Hard, the 1988 action classic that redefined the genre, covering everything from its Christmas Eve plot and iconic Nakatomi Plaza setting to the film’s surprisingly heartfelt themes of family, reconciliation, and love. They discuss why so many (including Cathy) consider it a Christmas movie, break down the characters and casting surprises, highlight the film’s legacy and genre-shaping influence, and share the behind-the-scenes stories that made Bruce Willis’s hero an unexpected cultural icon. From Hans Gruber’s unforgettable villainy to the film’s “Die Hard in a ____” effect across decades of action films, it’s a nostalgic and big-hearted look at why this movie endures and why so many of us return to it every holiday season.

Some Ways to Support Us

1. 1. Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
   2. Order Restoring our Girls
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Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

• Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.
• David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
• MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements
• Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Other Ways to Support Us

• Follow us on social media
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• Buy and leave a review for Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World
• Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page
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Cathy and Todd discuss the making of Toy Story, the 1995 film that changed animation forever. They explore the film’s massive cultural impact and the introduction of emotionally complex heroes like Woody and Buzz, who grew up alongside their audience. They also look at the creative forces behind the movie, including John Lasseter’s rise and fall and the way Pixar rebuilt its culture in the wake of industry reckonings. They dive into the random facts, hidden jokes, emotional details, and psychological layers that make the movie endlessly rewatchable, from Randy Newman’s music to Sid’s misunderstood chaos.

Some Ways to Support Us

1. 1. Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
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Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

• Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.
• David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
• MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements
• Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Other Ways to Support Us

• Follow us on social media
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• Buy and leave a review for Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World
• Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page
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Cathy and Todd discuss Forrest Gump, a movie they’ve loved for years, one they even saw together when it first came out. They explore how this emotional epic serves as both parable and modern American myth, following Forrest’s innocence through some of the country’s most turbulent moments while Jenny’s life reflects a very different America marked by trauma, rebellion, and survival. They dig into the ongoing debate over whether Forrest Gump deserved to win Best Picture over Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption, and laugh about how many lines from the movie have become part of their everyday conversations. This is the third film in our Tom Hanks month – we’ve already covered Big and Cast Away, and next week we’ll wrap up with Toy Story.

Some Ways to Support Us

1. 1. Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
   2. Order Restoring our Girls
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Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

• Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.
• David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
• MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements
• Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Other Ways to Support Us

• Follow us on social media
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• Buy and leave a review for Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World
• Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page
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Cathy and Todd continue Tom Hanks Month with Cast Away, the 2000 classic that came out just as the world was speeding up with email, cell phones, and the dot-com boom. They talk about how this quiet, lonely movie made such an impact and why it hit so differently in an era obsessed with productivity and control. They go through their categories and favorite scenes to share what makes the movie so memorable, and then “roll in the deep” about what makes it so meaningful – from Chuck’s relationship with Wilson to his final crossroads, and what the story says about time, survival, and what it means to really be alive.

Some Ways to Support Us

1. 1. Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
   2. Order Restoring our Girls
   3. Join Team Zen

Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

• Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.
• David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
• MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements
• Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Other Ways to Support Us

• Follow us on social media
  • Instagram
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• Buy and leave a review for Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World
• Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page
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To kick off Tom Hanks month, Cathy and Todd revisit Big, the 1988 classic that made him a star and reminded us what it means to grow up too fast. The movie blends humor, heart, and magic (and a somewhat inappropriate romance), letting us laugh at the absurdity of adult life while remembering what it felt like to be young. They talk about why Big still matters, why friendship is at the core of the story, and how Penny Marshall’s direction brought depth to a wild premise. They also discuss what the story reveals about growing up, parenting, and the pressure to “perform” adulthood.

Some Ways to Support Us

1. 1. Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
   2. Order Restoring our Girls
   3. Join Team Zen

Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

• Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.
• David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
• MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements
• Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Other Ways to Support Us

• Follow us on social media
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
• Buy and leave a review for Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World
• Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page
• Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile