1 00:00:15,316 --> 00:00:21,636 Speaker 1: Pushkin. Hey, Brendan, this is Christie from Topic I'm Missing. 2 00:00:21,676 --> 00:00:24,836 Speaker 1: You're on your flight to Mexico City right now. We 3 00:00:25,116 --> 00:00:26,956 Speaker 1: just wanted to make sure you receive my email because 4 00:00:26,956 --> 00:00:29,556 Speaker 1: they haven't hear back from you. So there just is 5 00:00:30,196 --> 00:00:33,956 Speaker 1: We really want to proper dinner party from you this episode. 6 00:00:34,436 --> 00:00:37,556 Speaker 1: Not like an art loss or a pizza party, but 7 00:00:37,756 --> 00:00:40,836 Speaker 1: like an actual dinner party at the home of a 8 00:00:40,876 --> 00:00:43,156 Speaker 1: local person. It's like you promise when you pitch just 9 00:00:43,276 --> 00:00:46,236 Speaker 1: a podcast. Remember, Okay, let me know if you have 10 00:00:46,276 --> 00:00:50,196 Speaker 1: any questions. Oh. Also, I was looking over your receipts 11 00:00:50,236 --> 00:00:54,396 Speaker 1: and you can't expense cocktails on non travel base and 12 00:00:54,436 --> 00:00:57,876 Speaker 1: I'm going to assume that was a mistake. Okay, assimi, Ago, 13 00:00:58,756 --> 00:01:02,636 Speaker 1: this is not lost. Each episode, a friend and I 14 00:01:02,756 --> 00:01:06,516 Speaker 1: go somewhere to find ourselves and yeah, try to get 15 00:01:06,556 --> 00:01:10,036 Speaker 1: invited to a dinner party. Um, Brendan, friends is this week? 16 00:01:10,236 --> 00:01:14,196 Speaker 1: My friend is my frequent co conspirator, the writer Daniel Henderson, 17 00:01:15,556 --> 00:01:26,916 Speaker 1: and the somewhere Mexico City. Driving through a neighborhood, you 18 00:01:26,996 --> 00:01:29,236 Speaker 1: see people kind of just going about their Friday morning 19 00:01:29,276 --> 00:01:31,876 Speaker 1: routine and then you kind of turn on an avenue 20 00:01:31,876 --> 00:01:35,356 Speaker 1: and it's very open and the city lake. Yeah, it's cool. 21 00:01:35,956 --> 00:01:38,796 Speaker 1: After dropping our things off at our renter department, Danielle 22 00:01:38,796 --> 00:01:41,196 Speaker 1: and I cruised the streets of Mexico City in the 23 00:01:41,236 --> 00:01:44,876 Speaker 1: back of maneuver. We passed clusters of people gathered near 24 00:01:44,916 --> 00:01:48,156 Speaker 1: food carts and coolers filled with twenty five cents Tomali's. 25 00:01:48,676 --> 00:01:52,076 Speaker 1: The streetscape shifts from neo colonial buildings and big trees 26 00:01:52,396 --> 00:01:55,156 Speaker 1: to low slung auto repair shops baking in the sun. 27 00:01:57,116 --> 00:02:00,036 Speaker 1: So where we go, we're taking this uperwear. I thought 28 00:02:00,036 --> 00:02:03,836 Speaker 1: we started the Zokolo, the main square, which is the 29 00:02:03,836 --> 00:02:06,476 Speaker 1: center of Mexico City, of the city of twenty million 30 00:02:06,516 --> 00:02:12,036 Speaker 1: and growing. And so we're meeting Professor Pavel Maldonado and 31 00:02:12,356 --> 00:02:14,316 Speaker 1: he's a professor of culture at the University of Mexico. 32 00:02:14,596 --> 00:02:17,076 Speaker 1: So I thought he could kind of get us our bearings. 33 00:02:17,316 --> 00:02:18,796 Speaker 1: Because I get to do this all day, I could 34 00:02:18,836 --> 00:02:22,756 Speaker 1: just be in the super Well. There's a lot of 35 00:02:22,756 --> 00:02:26,436 Speaker 1: color here. It's like red grid white. Also, a woman 36 00:02:26,476 --> 00:02:28,996 Speaker 1: wearing an aren't like he has a uniform with CDMX. 37 00:02:29,036 --> 00:02:30,916 Speaker 1: It looks like she works for the city cleaning the 38 00:02:30,916 --> 00:02:35,556 Speaker 1: sweeping the street. I like uniform culture. I feel like, 39 00:02:35,676 --> 00:02:38,396 Speaker 1: don't don't expand on that that it's such a privilege 40 00:02:38,396 --> 00:02:45,156 Speaker 1: in New York. No, it doesn't, or why I've warned 41 00:02:45,236 --> 00:02:49,876 Speaker 1: them like I don't. Danielle might not share my appreciation 42 00:02:49,996 --> 00:02:52,596 Speaker 1: for chic workwear, but it was important she and I 43 00:02:52,716 --> 00:02:54,716 Speaker 1: were on the same page about our mission in Mexico, 44 00:02:55,436 --> 00:02:57,596 Speaker 1: because yes, we were going to learn about the secrets 45 00:02:57,636 --> 00:03:01,356 Speaker 1: of masks, wrestling, eat great food, and get private dance lessons. Well. 46 00:03:01,396 --> 00:03:04,916 Speaker 1: He also had a very specific objective. She was really 47 00:03:05,036 --> 00:03:07,636 Speaker 1: adamant that we have to have a dinner party this trip. 48 00:03:08,356 --> 00:03:11,516 Speaker 1: I mean, that's on you. It's just not realistic for 49 00:03:11,596 --> 00:03:13,716 Speaker 1: a travel show. I think it's if we were here 50 00:03:13,716 --> 00:03:17,676 Speaker 1: for a week, sure, for two days. I mean, like, honestly, 51 00:03:17,676 --> 00:03:18,916 Speaker 1: I feel like at the beginning of the show, I 52 00:03:18,996 --> 00:03:21,156 Speaker 1: did think it was a good idea, But as you've 53 00:03:21,196 --> 00:03:24,356 Speaker 1: pointed out to me, in other places, like we do 54 00:03:24,516 --> 00:03:27,396 Speaker 1: get good conversations with people while we're meeting them, so 55 00:03:27,476 --> 00:03:29,636 Speaker 1: it does seem a little superfluous maybe to go to 56 00:03:29,716 --> 00:03:32,596 Speaker 1: their home, but I don't know that's the show they bought. 57 00:03:34,876 --> 00:03:37,036 Speaker 1: In a moment, the light shifts in the back of 58 00:03:37,076 --> 00:03:42,676 Speaker 1: our uber are dense surroundings, cars, peddlers, pedestrians give way 59 00:03:42,916 --> 00:03:47,396 Speaker 1: to sky and space. Yeah, it is legitimately the biggest 60 00:03:47,436 --> 00:03:51,036 Speaker 1: flag I've ever seen in my life, Mexican flag. We've 61 00:03:51,196 --> 00:03:54,116 Speaker 1: entered the Zokolo, one of the largest city squares in 62 00:03:54,196 --> 00:03:57,356 Speaker 1: the world. Casually dressed in a Bart Simpson T shirt, 63 00:03:57,556 --> 00:04:00,476 Speaker 1: Professor Pavel Maldonado fits right in with the other locals, 64 00:04:00,636 --> 00:04:04,556 Speaker 1: just doing their thing in the Zokolo's vast, shadeless expanse. 65 00:04:04,996 --> 00:04:08,196 Speaker 1: You know, guys work here at the Socolo, the santric area, 66 00:04:08,196 --> 00:04:11,196 Speaker 1: and this plast is supposed to hold one hundred thousand 67 00:04:11,236 --> 00:04:13,756 Speaker 1: people if you want to be you know heard nowadays 68 00:04:13,796 --> 00:04:16,556 Speaker 1: saying whatever this the play were used to come even 69 00:04:16,596 --> 00:04:19,396 Speaker 1: from Mexicans that are now from Mexico City. Did he 70 00:04:19,516 --> 00:04:21,556 Speaker 1: of coming to Socco? It's like wow, you know, like 71 00:04:21,836 --> 00:04:24,076 Speaker 1: the big deal. You know, you may think that it's 72 00:04:24,156 --> 00:04:26,556 Speaker 1: kind of touristic, like I get a picture of selfie, 73 00:04:26,636 --> 00:04:28,876 Speaker 1: you know, with a flat but actually I would say 74 00:04:28,876 --> 00:04:31,876 Speaker 1: that probably nine out of ten Mexicans you know, have 75 00:04:32,116 --> 00:04:34,596 Speaker 1: this picture as a Facebook profile, you know, at least 76 00:04:34,636 --> 00:04:36,436 Speaker 1: once in their lives. What is it like to live 77 00:04:36,476 --> 00:04:39,396 Speaker 1: in the middle of all these millions and millions of people? 78 00:04:39,956 --> 00:04:43,756 Speaker 1: Is the city where everything can happen? You know, it's funny. 79 00:04:44,116 --> 00:04:48,076 Speaker 1: Salvador da Lee came here once only watching his life 80 00:04:48,596 --> 00:04:50,476 Speaker 1: and he was like, um, I don't know, like kind 81 00:04:50,516 --> 00:04:51,956 Speaker 1: of jealous because he was like, you know, the city 82 00:04:52,076 --> 00:04:54,716 Speaker 1: like so surreal, you know, even more than my art. 83 00:04:58,676 --> 00:05:01,796 Speaker 1: Do you guys know? By the way, what's the definition 84 00:05:01,836 --> 00:05:05,436 Speaker 1: of the word Mexico do you guys know it? No? Well, 85 00:05:05,476 --> 00:05:09,436 Speaker 1: the word Chico, like from Mexico, means center, So the 86 00:05:09,516 --> 00:05:12,956 Speaker 1: word Mexico mins the belly, bottom of the universe, the 87 00:05:13,076 --> 00:05:16,636 Speaker 1: center of the universe. What's going on? Well, you know, 88 00:05:16,836 --> 00:05:19,316 Speaker 1: this plas is like so popular. You know, people who 89 00:05:19,716 --> 00:05:22,716 Speaker 1: you know have here or said some protests or some 90 00:05:23,156 --> 00:05:26,476 Speaker 1: meetings and like, you know, people trying to get some 91 00:05:26,876 --> 00:05:31,116 Speaker 1: more riots. You know, in general, get right, but also 92 00:05:31,196 --> 00:05:33,596 Speaker 1: like the place where you have all these massive concerts, 93 00:05:33,636 --> 00:05:36,796 Speaker 1: free concerts. I also think it's it's kind of interesting 94 00:05:37,716 --> 00:05:44,116 Speaker 1: that there's such a rich history of heavy metal music here. Yeahs, 95 00:05:44,156 --> 00:05:47,076 Speaker 1: who are your bands? Guns and Roses and yes, you 96 00:05:47,196 --> 00:05:51,076 Speaker 1: know kids like or Ozzie Osbourne, y alltise like heavy 97 00:05:51,076 --> 00:05:52,596 Speaker 1: metal bands were like like you know, it's this white 98 00:05:52,636 --> 00:05:54,956 Speaker 1: guy with his long hair. You know here in Mexico 99 00:05:55,076 --> 00:05:57,836 Speaker 1: we carried to ideas a stigma like that brown skin 100 00:05:57,916 --> 00:06:01,836 Speaker 1: people are not attractive. So yes, when the Spanish came here, 101 00:06:02,076 --> 00:06:04,276 Speaker 1: of course, the idea of being indigenous, you know it 102 00:06:04,316 --> 00:06:06,636 Speaker 1: would be brown skin was like, you know, that's not cool, 103 00:06:06,796 --> 00:06:10,116 Speaker 1: you know, But the slash was like, yeah, this guy's bronsky. 104 00:06:10,276 --> 00:06:14,476 Speaker 1: I love that slash was the gateway. Yeah, we're literally, 105 00:06:14,516 --> 00:06:17,196 Speaker 1: I mean so we're literally on top of a Naztec ruin, right, Yeah, 106 00:06:17,236 --> 00:06:18,676 Speaker 1: that's right, you can see it. Actually, what does it 107 00:06:18,796 --> 00:06:20,916 Speaker 1: feel like to live in a city where the past 108 00:06:21,036 --> 00:06:23,956 Speaker 1: is underneath you and the future is rapidly being built 109 00:06:23,996 --> 00:06:27,996 Speaker 1: around you? Many people they will say like, oh, you know, 110 00:06:28,076 --> 00:06:31,236 Speaker 1: people here we have no memory. I think that's why 111 00:06:31,316 --> 00:06:34,356 Speaker 1: we're not so aware of who we are. And if 112 00:06:34,396 --> 00:06:36,156 Speaker 1: you're not aware of that, you're you're not aware of 113 00:06:36,396 --> 00:06:45,636 Speaker 1: who you can bet. We hear drums and follow their 114 00:06:45,676 --> 00:06:48,476 Speaker 1: sound to a far corner of the Zokolo, we find 115 00:06:48,516 --> 00:06:51,596 Speaker 1: a roped off area of dark stones and partial stairs 116 00:06:52,076 --> 00:06:54,796 Speaker 1: remnants of a temple built in the fourteenth century for 117 00:06:54,916 --> 00:06:59,476 Speaker 1: worshiping the God of Rain and the God of war. Nearby, 118 00:06:59,636 --> 00:07:01,556 Speaker 1: a group of men and women dressed in n Aztec 119 00:07:01,596 --> 00:07:05,476 Speaker 1: clothing with painted faces feathers and skull masks, bang on 120 00:07:05,596 --> 00:07:10,636 Speaker 1: drums and dance. This place was so important before the 121 00:07:10,716 --> 00:07:12,956 Speaker 1: Aztec civilization. It was a place where you can get 122 00:07:12,996 --> 00:07:15,876 Speaker 1: in contact to the you know, the gods, the gods 123 00:07:15,956 --> 00:07:18,196 Speaker 1: you know paid reviews are do you are these people 124 00:07:18,236 --> 00:07:22,876 Speaker 1: actual Aztecs? No? Uh, they are. They went to Nyu, 125 00:07:24,196 --> 00:07:27,196 Speaker 1: most of these people are. They're really like shamans or 126 00:07:27,236 --> 00:07:30,916 Speaker 1: you know, educated people you know in these fields. Which, yeah, 127 00:07:30,956 --> 00:07:33,996 Speaker 1: there's such of the culture. This place is so important 128 00:07:34,316 --> 00:07:37,076 Speaker 1: and so popular, not only among visitors but also among 129 00:07:37,156 --> 00:07:39,316 Speaker 1: locals because it's the place. Would you get the olympias? 130 00:07:39,436 --> 00:07:42,156 Speaker 1: You know you have olympia, you know, to clean like 131 00:07:42,276 --> 00:07:45,076 Speaker 1: negative vibes that you received from the order from your enemies. 132 00:07:45,796 --> 00:07:49,596 Speaker 1: Olympia is an Aztec healing ritual meant to cleanse the spirit. 133 00:07:50,236 --> 00:07:53,436 Speaker 1: It evolves being immersed in a percussive sound bath, rubbed 134 00:07:53,556 --> 00:07:56,956 Speaker 1: with fresh herbs and the fog of insects. That's also 135 00:07:56,996 --> 00:08:01,676 Speaker 1: a good preparation for chicken. You're heartbroken, you know, your 136 00:08:02,116 --> 00:08:04,436 Speaker 1: job play as well. Come canna get olympia, man, Maybe 137 00:08:04,476 --> 00:08:06,636 Speaker 1: I need to get one. Yeah, you know, I think 138 00:08:06,716 --> 00:08:08,956 Speaker 1: I need some bad vibe removal. How do you do. 139 00:08:12,076 --> 00:08:14,556 Speaker 1: Pavel approaches the shaman and lets him know him in 140 00:08:14,596 --> 00:08:18,756 Speaker 1: the market for Olympia, You're leaving everything behind. You know, 141 00:08:18,956 --> 00:08:21,836 Speaker 1: this is the new Brands and you know, yes, I'm 142 00:08:21,876 --> 00:08:23,956 Speaker 1: wishing for this show to succeed because i want this 143 00:08:24,076 --> 00:08:26,476 Speaker 1: to be my new future. And then also I'm wishing 144 00:08:26,516 --> 00:08:28,516 Speaker 1: for a dinner party to happen by the end of 145 00:08:28,556 --> 00:08:35,916 Speaker 1: this weekend. Raid close your right, please. The sound of 146 00:08:35,996 --> 00:08:40,156 Speaker 1: the shell is gonna made out the spirits. This bad vibes, 147 00:08:40,596 --> 00:08:47,316 Speaker 1: his bad souls escape from Brandon's body. But this rituals 148 00:08:47,356 --> 00:08:50,676 Speaker 1: before and after the combats. It's the way that you 149 00:08:50,716 --> 00:08:53,556 Speaker 1: can be protected. This is a new beginning for Brandson, 150 00:08:54,076 --> 00:08:55,996 Speaker 1: you know, and it's a new beginning for all of us. 151 00:08:56,196 --> 00:09:07,436 Speaker 1: Right now. I emerge ears ringing, smelling a bit like 152 00:09:07,516 --> 00:09:11,916 Speaker 1: a hippie dorm room and invigorated. You're you're a new 153 00:09:11,996 --> 00:09:16,396 Speaker 1: person now. That was smoky but interesting. I smelled a 154 00:09:16,436 --> 00:09:18,436 Speaker 1: lot of sense. He made me close my eyes. I 155 00:09:18,516 --> 00:09:24,156 Speaker 1: feel ready to roll. Not wanting the effect to wear off, 156 00:09:24,276 --> 00:09:26,316 Speaker 1: I decided to put some of my newly cleansed vibes 157 00:09:26,356 --> 00:09:28,956 Speaker 1: to work. Part of the thing we're doing is we're 158 00:09:28,956 --> 00:09:32,396 Speaker 1: trying to get invited to someone's house for dinner. The 159 00:09:32,516 --> 00:09:35,276 Speaker 1: idea thinking that getting in someone's home will really understand 160 00:09:35,316 --> 00:09:38,636 Speaker 1: the culture. So I wonder, Daniel and I maybe induced 161 00:09:38,676 --> 00:09:40,596 Speaker 1: a dinner party. You can invite your friends over, and 162 00:09:41,276 --> 00:09:43,196 Speaker 1: I would really like to have you on my blaze. 163 00:09:43,236 --> 00:09:47,236 Speaker 1: But uh, I get it, it's a big ask. Well 164 00:09:47,276 --> 00:09:49,476 Speaker 1: how about this. I have faith that I'm going to 165 00:09:49,516 --> 00:09:51,236 Speaker 1: find someone will be game if I do. Would you 166 00:09:51,316 --> 00:09:52,876 Speaker 1: maybe be willing to join us? Yeah? You know, you 167 00:09:52,916 --> 00:09:55,596 Speaker 1: can kind of meet with a a scalt man. Oh nice, 168 00:09:57,636 --> 00:09:59,556 Speaker 1: I could do with a shot of mescal to Washtown 169 00:09:59,596 --> 00:10:03,316 Speaker 1: Pavel's rejection for here in the belly button of Mexico, 170 00:10:03,636 --> 00:10:06,916 Speaker 1: a huge space dedicated to social gatherings. You think people 171 00:10:06,916 --> 00:10:08,836 Speaker 1: would jump at the idea of hosting a dinner party, 172 00:10:09,356 --> 00:10:13,036 Speaker 1: but alas, it seems like good vibes alone aren't enough. 173 00:10:13,756 --> 00:10:16,236 Speaker 1: We need to up our game. So that's what we do, 174 00:10:16,796 --> 00:10:21,436 Speaker 1: all right, So our next job is dance lessons. Wait, 175 00:10:21,676 --> 00:10:24,756 Speaker 1: you're you're having dance lessons and I'm going to hang out. 176 00:10:24,836 --> 00:10:27,196 Speaker 1: We are We are going to have dance lessons, hopefully, 177 00:10:27,716 --> 00:10:31,676 Speaker 1: because we are in a city where apparently everyone dances 178 00:10:31,756 --> 00:10:35,676 Speaker 1: all the time, all ages old, young, For formal occasions 179 00:10:35,716 --> 00:10:38,636 Speaker 1: and NYM formal occasions. I'm so excited to watch you 180 00:10:38,836 --> 00:10:43,836 Speaker 1: do that. I personally know dance because I cannot dance. 181 00:10:44,076 --> 00:10:48,796 Speaker 1: I have no moves. I've got great rhythm, I don't 182 00:10:49,036 --> 00:10:53,036 Speaker 1: enjoy I don't know how to say it, but like, 183 00:10:54,236 --> 00:10:57,716 Speaker 1: I'm at odds with my body and I don't want 184 00:10:57,796 --> 00:11:02,436 Speaker 1: to do anything that I know will make me look 185 00:11:02,556 --> 00:11:07,236 Speaker 1: and feel foolish. Dancing is for like beautiful people who 186 00:11:07,436 --> 00:11:09,196 Speaker 1: like to be seen, and I don't like that. M 187 00:11:09,596 --> 00:11:11,476 Speaker 1: I'm an old person with a sword back, and I 188 00:11:11,596 --> 00:11:15,196 Speaker 1: like that. It's also a way to get lost. Let's 189 00:11:15,316 --> 00:11:17,356 Speaker 1: let's think of it as a window into the culture, 190 00:11:17,356 --> 00:11:18,996 Speaker 1: and we'll see. We'll take it from there. We'll go inside, 191 00:11:18,996 --> 00:11:21,556 Speaker 1: we'll meet Rosa. We'll definitely gonna good meet and check 192 00:11:21,596 --> 00:11:32,356 Speaker 1: it out and and watch thank you, goodbye, goodbye. Let 193 00:11:32,396 --> 00:11:34,636 Speaker 1: me take it advil just in case I feel the 194 00:11:34,676 --> 00:11:38,636 Speaker 1: spirit hit me. I should also take my hand I 195 00:11:38,676 --> 00:11:58,316 Speaker 1: depressed them in case I feel spirit happy Rosa, Hi, 196 00:12:00,236 --> 00:12:03,116 Speaker 1: hi Thaniel. For the reason we wanted to come here, 197 00:12:03,516 --> 00:12:05,516 Speaker 1: or I wanted to come here, is because it seems 198 00:12:05,556 --> 00:12:07,636 Speaker 1: like dancing is a very big part of the culture here. 199 00:12:08,916 --> 00:12:11,796 Speaker 1: You usually like people come here to Mexico City. I 200 00:12:11,836 --> 00:12:15,676 Speaker 1: don't know, like to know the city or the museums 201 00:12:15,956 --> 00:12:20,236 Speaker 1: or the historic part, but not that like social aspect 202 00:12:20,396 --> 00:12:23,756 Speaker 1: of life like in Mexico City. What are the most 203 00:12:23,916 --> 00:12:27,316 Speaker 1: kind of common dances of this form? It would be 204 00:12:28,036 --> 00:12:31,516 Speaker 1: salsa of course, dance on. I think it's one of 205 00:12:31,596 --> 00:12:35,276 Speaker 1: the we're gonna learn how to do dance on here 206 00:12:35,316 --> 00:12:38,036 Speaker 1: in Mexico. You've seen maybe you've seen it since you 207 00:12:38,116 --> 00:12:42,316 Speaker 1: were a kid, so maybe even if you don't dance, well, 208 00:12:43,316 --> 00:12:46,836 Speaker 1: you kind of know how to do it, like you 209 00:12:46,916 --> 00:12:49,956 Speaker 1: know how it feels, it moves more like in a 210 00:12:50,116 --> 00:12:54,916 Speaker 1: natural organic way. Americans. It's really funny because they look 211 00:12:55,156 --> 00:12:59,356 Speaker 1: really Americans, so it's really easy to see that you're 212 00:12:59,436 --> 00:13:04,316 Speaker 1: not like made to dance. Now you're on her side. 213 00:13:04,396 --> 00:13:08,716 Speaker 1: Hold on a second, but actually it's I know you're 214 00:13:08,716 --> 00:13:12,036 Speaker 1: saying Americans are just a little whatever stiffer. I would 215 00:13:12,076 --> 00:13:16,436 Speaker 1: say trunk, like like you see that part of the 216 00:13:16,556 --> 00:13:22,236 Speaker 1: tree trunk or like trunk. So you just moved like 217 00:13:22,796 --> 00:13:27,716 Speaker 1: like a trunk. You know, you just walked like Frankenstein. 218 00:13:29,316 --> 00:13:31,196 Speaker 1: Not to put you on the spot here, but what 219 00:13:31,356 --> 00:13:33,076 Speaker 1: did you think about me when you saw me coming 220 00:13:33,156 --> 00:13:40,596 Speaker 1: in I thought, okay, Brandon's American. God, Oh my god, 221 00:13:41,356 --> 00:13:45,756 Speaker 1: you're right, And yet somehow I'm offended. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. 222 00:13:46,316 --> 00:13:51,476 Speaker 1: I do walk like I came off a horse. You 223 00:13:51,596 --> 00:13:55,476 Speaker 1: can be as great as you want, like because you're 224 00:13:55,596 --> 00:13:59,476 Speaker 1: you can have fun and you can learn. And that's 225 00:13:59,796 --> 00:14:04,756 Speaker 1: what this is all about, like having fun. No, I'm 226 00:14:04,796 --> 00:14:07,316 Speaker 1: resistant to death. I didn't tell her we were coming 227 00:14:07,396 --> 00:14:10,196 Speaker 1: until we were on your way, and then she said, 228 00:14:10,396 --> 00:14:14,156 Speaker 1: already knew. And then she said that I will watch 229 00:14:14,236 --> 00:14:16,636 Speaker 1: you dance because I'm not gonna dance, but I feel 230 00:14:16,676 --> 00:14:19,436 Speaker 1: like Danielle will be an excellent dancer. Yeah, I think 231 00:14:19,516 --> 00:14:21,916 Speaker 1: you're gonna be great. I'm so tall, I'm too big. 232 00:14:21,996 --> 00:14:26,316 Speaker 1: I don't think that's only like stereotypes. This is not ballet. 233 00:14:26,676 --> 00:14:30,716 Speaker 1: We're not in Russia. You just have one right foot 234 00:14:31,276 --> 00:14:34,836 Speaker 1: and one foot. You just have to like know how 235 00:14:34,916 --> 00:14:37,836 Speaker 1: to use them. So I think everybody can have that 236 00:14:38,036 --> 00:14:40,796 Speaker 1: kind of like redemption. All right, well, let's do it. 237 00:14:43,996 --> 00:14:46,796 Speaker 1: You need to be a little bit closer than that. 238 00:14:48,436 --> 00:14:51,636 Speaker 1: I know you hate this, but okay, at this point, 239 00:14:51,796 --> 00:14:54,476 Speaker 1: Danielle and I are standing nose to nose. We look 240 00:14:54,516 --> 00:14:57,436 Speaker 1: like wax figures on a wedding cake, one arm around 241 00:14:57,476 --> 00:14:59,676 Speaker 1: each other's back and the other stretched out in a 242 00:14:59,796 --> 00:15:04,676 Speaker 1: right angle, poised to dance. So the basic step of 243 00:15:04,876 --> 00:15:10,356 Speaker 1: dancer's a box. Okay, dan you know you're gonna start 244 00:15:10,436 --> 00:15:19,716 Speaker 1: with your right foot backwards one two, three, four? Okay. 245 00:15:19,836 --> 00:15:24,196 Speaker 1: So they are turning right now. They are doing it 246 00:15:24,516 --> 00:15:28,276 Speaker 1: pretty much well. I would say they're dancing dance on 247 00:15:28,556 --> 00:15:34,596 Speaker 1: for almost five years, Danielle. She seems like like this 248 00:15:35,036 --> 00:15:42,356 Speaker 1: gorgeous European girl with the ballroom tenderness in your body 249 00:15:43,316 --> 00:15:49,516 Speaker 1: and Brendan postures. He really really needs to have more 250 00:15:49,636 --> 00:16:02,356 Speaker 1: confidence while leading. They seem they're having fun. Also, are 251 00:16:02,476 --> 00:16:06,956 Speaker 1: you are you sure you've never done this? You're sure? Okay? Okay? 252 00:16:07,236 --> 00:16:08,876 Speaker 1: Who said in the car that you are going to 253 00:16:08,916 --> 00:16:11,716 Speaker 1: get good at this? And I wasn't. Wow, it's so cool, like, 254 00:16:12,076 --> 00:16:15,356 Speaker 1: see you can do this. Well, this has been amazing. 255 00:16:15,556 --> 00:16:18,956 Speaker 1: And I believe you when you say it's social therapy. Um. 256 00:16:19,516 --> 00:16:23,156 Speaker 1: One of my forms of social therapy is entertaining at home. 257 00:16:23,356 --> 00:16:27,236 Speaker 1: And so I'm wondering, yeah, are you interested in dinner parties? Yeah? 258 00:16:27,276 --> 00:16:30,356 Speaker 1: I love dinner parties, So could like it could Danielle 259 00:16:30,356 --> 00:16:31,636 Speaker 1: and I and if we found some other people who 260 00:16:31,676 --> 00:16:33,476 Speaker 1: like come to your place like tomorrow and we could 261 00:16:33,476 --> 00:16:38,996 Speaker 1: prepare dinner. A lot of people here in Mexico say, yeah, okay, 262 00:16:39,036 --> 00:16:43,196 Speaker 1: well but Mikasa. It's only Mikasa, okay, So, oh my god, 263 00:16:43,516 --> 00:16:46,076 Speaker 1: I can't believe Mikasa's Tukasa is not a real thing. 264 00:16:47,916 --> 00:16:49,796 Speaker 1: And I can't believe you're laughing. You know, I need 265 00:16:49,796 --> 00:16:51,996 Speaker 1: to have a dinner party. That was hilarious though, because 266 00:16:51,996 --> 00:16:59,716 Speaker 1: I told you that would happen. That was awesome. Well, 267 00:16:59,756 --> 00:17:04,036 Speaker 1: I'm glad that you overcame your anst about it, but honestly, 268 00:17:04,196 --> 00:17:06,636 Speaker 1: like it's Friday night and we have zero attraction on 269 00:17:06,716 --> 00:17:09,556 Speaker 1: the dinner party front, I'm a little concerned. Well let's 270 00:17:09,556 --> 00:17:11,476 Speaker 1: say we don't get a dinner party tomorrow, mors, what 271 00:17:11,476 --> 00:17:13,236 Speaker 1: should we do? I mean, are they going to cancel 272 00:17:13,276 --> 00:17:15,716 Speaker 1: the show? I'm going to owe them all the money 273 00:17:15,796 --> 00:17:17,796 Speaker 1: for all the shows? And then it's like, oh, two 274 00:17:17,916 --> 00:17:21,236 Speaker 1: people just went on vacation and recorded a bunch of junk, 275 00:17:21,516 --> 00:17:24,956 Speaker 1: Like that's crazy, Like have you ever seen that show? 276 00:17:25,076 --> 00:17:28,756 Speaker 1: Like what's the log line on that show? Back at 277 00:17:28,796 --> 00:17:31,476 Speaker 1: our lodgings for a much needed siesta. I think back 278 00:17:31,516 --> 00:17:34,156 Speaker 1: when something roads that told me, you need to lead 279 00:17:34,236 --> 00:17:37,756 Speaker 1: with more confidence. If I really want to get people's 280 00:17:37,756 --> 00:17:40,596 Speaker 1: troncos around a table for a dinner party, I'm going 281 00:17:40,636 --> 00:17:43,996 Speaker 1: to need to assert myself. Fortunately for me, our next 282 00:17:43,996 --> 00:17:49,316 Speaker 1: stop is a masterclass in power and grit. This is 283 00:17:49,356 --> 00:17:51,956 Speaker 1: definitely the most hectic street life I've encountered since I've 284 00:17:51,956 --> 00:17:56,756 Speaker 1: been here. Well, Friday night Friday night fights, all right, 285 00:17:56,756 --> 00:18:00,356 Speaker 1: So we're approaching the thing. So we're in Roma, and 286 00:18:00,516 --> 00:18:02,156 Speaker 1: once we get on the other side of this drag 287 00:18:02,196 --> 00:18:06,596 Speaker 1: woking in Doctores and Doctores is the home of Rana 288 00:18:06,636 --> 00:18:09,556 Speaker 1: Amico where we're going to watch Luja. We're on our 289 00:18:09,596 --> 00:18:12,636 Speaker 1: way to Luca Libre with Asa Merit, an American journalist 290 00:18:12,676 --> 00:18:15,156 Speaker 1: who lives in Mexico City and spend a year working 291 00:18:15,196 --> 00:18:18,716 Speaker 1: on a documentary about its infamous mask wrestlers. What does 292 00:18:18,796 --> 00:18:24,196 Speaker 1: Lucca libre mean? Literally translated? So, Luca libre means free fighting. So, 293 00:18:24,396 --> 00:18:26,756 Speaker 1: I mean, there's so much to be said about to 294 00:18:26,836 --> 00:18:30,116 Speaker 1: what extent its scripted. It's not scripted, but in its 295 00:18:30,436 --> 00:18:34,876 Speaker 1: early days, much of Luca Libre wasn't as scripted as 296 00:18:35,036 --> 00:18:37,836 Speaker 1: narrative based as it is as it is today, and 297 00:18:37,996 --> 00:18:41,316 Speaker 1: so that's why it was called free fighting, and so 298 00:18:41,716 --> 00:18:43,516 Speaker 1: what's up with the masks like that? To me? When 299 00:18:43,516 --> 00:18:45,396 Speaker 1: I think of lucha libre, that's the thing that pops 300 00:18:45,436 --> 00:18:48,636 Speaker 1: in my mind. Okay, So the masks are key to 301 00:18:48,996 --> 00:18:51,516 Speaker 1: each of the wrestler's identities, all right. So in the 302 00:18:51,596 --> 00:18:55,076 Speaker 1: old tradition of luca libre in the golden era, was 303 00:18:55,156 --> 00:18:58,436 Speaker 1: these luchadors who went their whole life without revealing their identity. 304 00:18:58,876 --> 00:19:00,836 Speaker 1: So they would even wear their mask in public. They 305 00:19:00,876 --> 00:19:03,036 Speaker 1: would wear their mask on the plane and the security 306 00:19:03,076 --> 00:19:05,556 Speaker 1: they had passports they had their mask on and no 307 00:19:05,676 --> 00:19:08,876 Speaker 1: one really knew. And Alsanto, the most famous luch store 308 00:19:08,876 --> 00:19:10,716 Speaker 1: of all time, he had like a closet in his 309 00:19:10,836 --> 00:19:14,476 Speaker 1: house and his children thought he was a traveling businessman 310 00:19:14,556 --> 00:19:16,316 Speaker 1: until he was like they were like eight, and he 311 00:19:16,436 --> 00:19:21,556 Speaker 1: finally spilled the beans. So the mass traditionally is this symbol, 312 00:19:22,036 --> 00:19:24,236 Speaker 1: and it's a way for the wrestlers to keep their anonymity. 313 00:19:24,756 --> 00:19:28,396 Speaker 1: But it's also integral to the storytelling of lucha libre. 314 00:19:28,796 --> 00:19:31,636 Speaker 1: So Luca lira is all about good and evil. You 315 00:19:31,716 --> 00:19:34,196 Speaker 1: have the rudos kind of like rude if you think 316 00:19:34,196 --> 00:19:35,796 Speaker 1: of it that way, the bad guys, and then the 317 00:19:35,876 --> 00:19:39,076 Speaker 1: technicos like technical and the technicos are the good guys, 318 00:19:39,396 --> 00:19:42,036 Speaker 1: and so essentially what you're seeing in a Lucha Libre 319 00:19:42,236 --> 00:19:47,276 Speaker 1: match is a very sort of mythic, archetypal, iconic battle 320 00:19:47,596 --> 00:19:51,036 Speaker 1: between like the very good and the very evil. I 321 00:19:51,116 --> 00:19:54,516 Speaker 1: think the theater element is really important to understand that 322 00:19:54,676 --> 00:19:59,276 Speaker 1: there's a certain catharsis that's happening for some audience members 323 00:19:59,316 --> 00:20:02,836 Speaker 1: that's really different than the thrills of watching Game seven 324 00:20:02,876 --> 00:20:05,676 Speaker 1: of the NBA Playoff. Do you have any theories in 325 00:20:05,756 --> 00:20:09,556 Speaker 1: your studies of this, like why these mass characters resonate 326 00:20:09,676 --> 00:20:12,436 Speaker 1: so powerfully with people in Mexico and in Mexico City, 327 00:20:12,476 --> 00:20:17,516 Speaker 1: specifically of the dozens of wrestlers and Luca Libre filmmakers 328 00:20:17,596 --> 00:20:20,276 Speaker 1: and everyone I spoke to, Like, though, there's one anecdote 329 00:20:20,316 --> 00:20:22,596 Speaker 1: that I will never forget, and it's this woman who 330 00:20:22,716 --> 00:20:26,076 Speaker 1: described to me how she liked Luca Libre and the 331 00:20:26,156 --> 00:20:30,196 Speaker 1: masks to Diodos Martos and so Diodo Swartzi's Day of 332 00:20:30,196 --> 00:20:33,316 Speaker 1: the Dead is this annual holiday here in Mexico where 333 00:20:33,436 --> 00:20:36,836 Speaker 1: families get together and remember those who have passed away. 334 00:20:37,316 --> 00:20:39,756 Speaker 1: So she was explaining that to me, and she said, hey, listen, 335 00:20:39,836 --> 00:20:41,796 Speaker 1: like Day of the dead. It's it's not just like 336 00:20:41,916 --> 00:20:45,436 Speaker 1: we're getting around thinking about her relatives. We really believe 337 00:20:45,676 --> 00:20:48,196 Speaker 1: that they are there with us in the room. It's 338 00:20:48,196 --> 00:20:51,396 Speaker 1: the same with Luca Libre, like we believe. And she 339 00:20:51,556 --> 00:20:56,076 Speaker 1: described Mesco as this nation with imagination, and there were 340 00:20:56,116 --> 00:20:57,596 Speaker 1: there were hints of that from so many of the 341 00:20:57,636 --> 00:21:00,156 Speaker 1: people I talked to, that the mask was this incredible 342 00:21:00,196 --> 00:21:03,756 Speaker 1: tool for someone's imagination. We merge into a mass of 343 00:21:03,876 --> 00:21:07,756 Speaker 1: humans squeezing their way into the arena and finally surface 344 00:21:07,836 --> 00:21:12,436 Speaker 1: among thousands of hands surrounding an illuminated wrestling right. The 345 00:21:12,516 --> 00:21:16,556 Speaker 1: air smells of booze and fried food. The energy is crackling. 346 00:21:17,556 --> 00:21:19,836 Speaker 1: All eyes are focused on the center of the ring, 347 00:21:20,356 --> 00:21:24,236 Speaker 1: where two topless, masked men repeatedly crashed into each other. 348 00:21:25,956 --> 00:21:28,356 Speaker 1: So what you got going on right now is this 349 00:21:28,516 --> 00:21:29,916 Speaker 1: is like you got the same thing as the w W, 350 00:21:30,116 --> 00:21:33,036 Speaker 1: where you got like tag team type situation. So the 351 00:21:33,116 --> 00:21:35,436 Speaker 1: guy of the gold mask just stepped out and his partner, 352 00:21:35,556 --> 00:21:37,716 Speaker 1: which I think is the dude with the blue bandana 353 00:21:37,756 --> 00:21:42,836 Speaker 1: around his head, went in and he is getting double teamed, 354 00:21:42,916 --> 00:21:47,716 Speaker 1: unsurprisingly by the poor sported. He's about the really hurt, 355 00:21:47,756 --> 00:21:53,276 Speaker 1: he's about double job. Here comes the gold guy gold 356 00:21:53,316 --> 00:22:04,516 Speaker 1: Mask is back. Oh that sounded like a hurt Oh 357 00:22:08,796 --> 00:22:10,836 Speaker 1: I it, but I want the gold mask guy to win. 358 00:22:13,116 --> 00:22:15,116 Speaker 1: That's because since we've been here, he's been getting hurt 359 00:22:15,156 --> 00:22:16,916 Speaker 1: the most, so I kind of want him to overcome that. 360 00:22:18,996 --> 00:22:20,716 Speaker 1: You said earlier that you have a problem with the 361 00:22:20,796 --> 00:22:23,996 Speaker 1: word xpat. You think of x pats and you kind 362 00:22:24,036 --> 00:22:26,516 Speaker 1: of think of like people living around the world, and 363 00:22:26,596 --> 00:22:29,756 Speaker 1: they're kind of like rich neighborhoods going to their American schools. 364 00:22:29,996 --> 00:22:31,916 Speaker 1: If you come to Mexico to live in Mexico and 365 00:22:31,996 --> 00:22:35,996 Speaker 1: are earning in a currency either in the United States 366 00:22:36,756 --> 00:22:39,996 Speaker 1: or in Western Europe, the quality of life available to 367 00:22:40,076 --> 00:22:43,316 Speaker 1: you is like an entire social class hire. I mean, 368 00:22:43,436 --> 00:22:47,036 Speaker 1: something also comes to mind, how many Mexicans are called 369 00:22:47,156 --> 00:22:50,196 Speaker 1: expats in the news in America. They're called immigrants and 370 00:22:50,676 --> 00:22:53,596 Speaker 1: there's a threat they're like invading us or they're immigrants. 371 00:22:53,756 --> 00:22:55,836 Speaker 1: But there's never like, oh, there's a big XPACT community 372 00:22:56,156 --> 00:22:59,836 Speaker 1: in Brooklyn, or there's a big XPACT community in Los Angeles. Yeah, no, exactly. 373 00:23:00,116 --> 00:23:04,436 Speaker 1: You know, I prioritize being of this place, not of 374 00:23:04,636 --> 00:23:15,476 Speaker 1: somewhere else who happens to be here. Yeah, Well, two 375 00:23:15,556 --> 00:23:18,116 Speaker 1: body slamming. I mean, look, they're made to be as 376 00:23:18,196 --> 00:23:22,916 Speaker 1: dramatic as possible, right, so they're always really dramatic. Mucha libre, 377 00:23:23,596 --> 00:23:27,156 Speaker 1: a made up social occasion that inspires camaraderie and provides 378 00:23:27,156 --> 00:23:31,036 Speaker 1: an outlet for emotions and the imagination. Kind of like 379 00:23:31,156 --> 00:23:33,716 Speaker 1: my idea of a good dinner party. Except at dinner 380 00:23:33,756 --> 00:23:36,676 Speaker 1: parties the stakes are nothing less than body slammy are 381 00:23:36,716 --> 00:23:39,236 Speaker 1: collective on we un till it begs the reff for mercy. 382 00:23:39,996 --> 00:23:42,036 Speaker 1: I asked, as if he's ready to enter the arena 383 00:23:42,116 --> 00:23:46,476 Speaker 1: with me. Sorry, man, I just had a kid. No way, really, yeah, 384 00:23:46,556 --> 00:23:51,716 Speaker 1: seven days ago, right, okay, Well, thanks for taking us 385 00:23:51,716 --> 00:24:00,716 Speaker 1: on this stour. This wasn't good. We had only one 386 00:24:00,756 --> 00:24:04,236 Speaker 1: more day left in Mexico City and still no plans 387 00:24:04,276 --> 00:24:21,596 Speaker 1: for a grande dinner fiesta. During my flight down here, 388 00:24:21,676 --> 00:24:25,396 Speaker 1: I read a book about screenplays. Apparently in every movie, 389 00:24:25,676 --> 00:24:29,356 Speaker 1: from Harry Potter to Parasite, there comes in all is 390 00:24:29,396 --> 00:24:32,356 Speaker 1: lost moment. This is the part of the story where 391 00:24:32,396 --> 00:24:36,236 Speaker 1: our hero has no hope, his dreams have shattered, and 392 00:24:36,396 --> 00:24:41,196 Speaker 1: his chance of success is practically zero. Asa shutting us 393 00:24:41,236 --> 00:24:46,476 Speaker 1: down for a dinner party wasn't that moment? No are 394 00:24:46,556 --> 00:24:49,316 Speaker 1: all is lost moment would come the next morning when 395 00:24:49,436 --> 00:24:53,516 Speaker 1: Danielle wakes up with a crippling stomach helmet. Yes, that's 396 00:24:53,556 --> 00:24:59,036 Speaker 1: stomach helmet. The stomach helmet not uncommon to tourists in Mexico. This, 397 00:25:00,316 --> 00:25:04,996 Speaker 1: this is the moment all is lost. After loud sobbing 398 00:25:05,036 --> 00:25:07,116 Speaker 1: in the shower like an out of tune Mariachi band, 399 00:25:07,716 --> 00:25:09,676 Speaker 1: I get dressed and drag mysel helf over to what 400 00:25:09,836 --> 00:25:12,116 Speaker 1: was supposed to be our final meetup, but for our 401 00:25:12,156 --> 00:25:16,916 Speaker 1: triumphant dinner party. Omar. Yeah, yeah, hey, Brendan, nice to 402 00:25:16,956 --> 00:25:18,876 Speaker 1: meet you. Thanks so much for meeting us. Now our pleasure. 403 00:25:19,156 --> 00:25:21,996 Speaker 1: Tell me what our planets. Omar Rodriguez Graham is a 404 00:25:22,156 --> 00:25:26,036 Speaker 1: successful local painter with very cool glasses frames. I thought 405 00:25:26,036 --> 00:25:28,796 Speaker 1: it'd be good to meet up here because this is 406 00:25:28,916 --> 00:25:33,396 Speaker 1: like the iconic spots see murals in Mexico, you know which, 407 00:25:33,396 --> 00:25:40,676 Speaker 1: It has murals by the Dria Sicos and a couple 408 00:25:40,716 --> 00:25:43,676 Speaker 1: of other guys. You know, it's a pretty beautiful building already. Yeah, stop, 409 00:25:43,916 --> 00:25:45,756 Speaker 1: and we haven't even looked at Meurle yet. Well, let's 410 00:25:45,796 --> 00:25:48,156 Speaker 1: go take a look, all right. Cool? We pause in 411 00:25:48,236 --> 00:25:50,996 Speaker 1: front of a huge abstract mural the size of a billboard. 412 00:25:51,116 --> 00:25:56,596 Speaker 1: There's magenta feel, purple, lavender, gray, red color. I thought 413 00:25:56,596 --> 00:25:59,476 Speaker 1: you were only a sound guy. So yeah, we're in 414 00:25:59,596 --> 00:26:02,196 Speaker 1: like this big four story hall with a lot of 415 00:26:02,276 --> 00:26:05,956 Speaker 1: like Art Deco motifs that have in Mexican and eyes 416 00:26:06,076 --> 00:26:08,796 Speaker 1: that's like art Deco meets as tech. Yeah, exactly exactly. 417 00:26:09,116 --> 00:26:11,996 Speaker 1: I grew up here. I was born in Mexico. My 418 00:26:12,116 --> 00:26:15,756 Speaker 1: father was a painter, but he also did a set design. 419 00:26:16,196 --> 00:26:18,036 Speaker 1: So when I was a child that come to Baya 420 00:26:18,476 --> 00:26:20,716 Speaker 1: to see his opera as he did, or to see 421 00:26:20,716 --> 00:26:22,396 Speaker 1: the other plays that he worked on, and so like, 422 00:26:23,196 --> 00:26:26,076 Speaker 1: there was always like a very special place in my 423 00:26:26,716 --> 00:26:30,116 Speaker 1: heart for the murals, and I do think it's it's 424 00:26:30,156 --> 00:26:33,516 Speaker 1: something very particular to Mexican art, if I remember or 425 00:26:33,596 --> 00:26:37,796 Speaker 1: the history correctly. The first mural was done by Diabo Rivera, 426 00:26:37,996 --> 00:26:42,476 Speaker 1: so is a Rivera and it basically shows like the 427 00:26:42,556 --> 00:26:46,276 Speaker 1: power of man, of science, of technology. The mural we're 428 00:26:46,316 --> 00:26:49,916 Speaker 1: looking at is called Man Controller of the Universe. In 429 00:26:49,996 --> 00:26:52,916 Speaker 1: the center is a worker wearing overalls and holding a lever, 430 00:26:53,516 --> 00:26:56,756 Speaker 1: crowding him on all sides, or people, soldiers, workers, and 431 00:26:56,996 --> 00:27:00,756 Speaker 1: scenes a laboratory, a battlefield, all meant to depict the 432 00:27:00,836 --> 00:27:05,476 Speaker 1: modern condition. It's clearly political. In one corner, kids of 433 00:27:05,516 --> 00:27:08,356 Speaker 1: different races hold hands one on the other, a group 434 00:27:08,436 --> 00:27:12,276 Speaker 1: of oblivion rich people sip cocktails. The murals seems to 435 00:27:12,316 --> 00:27:15,516 Speaker 1: be saying, now that man can control the universe through technology, 436 00:27:15,716 --> 00:27:17,636 Speaker 1: what is he going to do with it? A lot 437 00:27:17,676 --> 00:27:20,516 Speaker 1: of the murals in this building really have a lot 438 00:27:20,596 --> 00:27:24,596 Speaker 1: of social criticism there, really are trying to portray the 439 00:27:24,716 --> 00:27:30,396 Speaker 1: fight of the common man, the upheavals of society, nationalism, globalization, war, 440 00:27:30,796 --> 00:27:33,396 Speaker 1: and in a way it's also very relevant today, you 441 00:27:33,476 --> 00:27:36,876 Speaker 1: know what I mean. Social criticism in art in the 442 00:27:37,076 --> 00:27:41,116 Speaker 1: commercial sphere is really complicated because, like I know a 443 00:27:41,196 --> 00:27:43,796 Speaker 1: lot of artists that they're like, no, let's fight for 444 00:27:43,876 --> 00:27:47,956 Speaker 1: the common man, like very socialist ideas at anti capitalist 445 00:27:48,156 --> 00:27:50,836 Speaker 1: art works, but then they're like selling their works for 446 00:27:50,916 --> 00:27:53,396 Speaker 1: like hundreds of thousand dollars, you know, like where's that 447 00:27:53,516 --> 00:27:57,076 Speaker 1: money going. Listening to Omar, I thought about how traveling 448 00:27:57,156 --> 00:28:00,596 Speaker 1: the world via dinner party wasn't exactly curing cancer or 449 00:28:00,996 --> 00:28:04,716 Speaker 1: moving the needle politically. And after taking in more murals, 450 00:28:04,956 --> 00:28:08,876 Speaker 1: some depicting the hearts of colonization, others documenting social decay, 451 00:28:09,476 --> 00:28:12,116 Speaker 1: I share some of my misgivings with Omar. Well, it's 452 00:28:12,156 --> 00:28:14,876 Speaker 1: it's I think that's something that is always like hanging 453 00:28:14,916 --> 00:28:16,916 Speaker 1: on my shoulders as well. You know, it's tricky because, 454 00:28:17,156 --> 00:28:19,356 Speaker 1: you know, like our privilege, like for me to be 455 00:28:19,476 --> 00:28:21,916 Speaker 1: making paintings or for you to just be traveling around 456 00:28:22,356 --> 00:28:24,916 Speaker 1: recording a podcast, is really due to the fact that 457 00:28:25,116 --> 00:28:27,956 Speaker 1: we're kind of working on the shoulders of like masses 458 00:28:27,996 --> 00:28:31,636 Speaker 1: of humanity. It's a problem to deal with. I don't 459 00:28:31,676 --> 00:28:34,116 Speaker 1: know how to respond to it. You know, there is 460 00:28:34,196 --> 00:28:37,236 Speaker 1: an equality, and I think the first step is to 461 00:28:37,316 --> 00:28:40,796 Speaker 1: acknowledge it, you know, to understand that your privilege comes 462 00:28:40,876 --> 00:28:43,996 Speaker 1: from someone else's suffering in the end. You know, but 463 00:28:44,156 --> 00:28:47,156 Speaker 1: that doesn't mean that you should waste your opportunities, you know. 464 00:28:47,276 --> 00:28:50,396 Speaker 1: That's rather how do you take advantage of them responsibly? 465 00:28:50,676 --> 00:28:53,356 Speaker 1: And how do you give back however you can? You know, 466 00:28:54,436 --> 00:28:58,356 Speaker 1: this was good food for thought, just the type of 467 00:28:58,436 --> 00:29:01,276 Speaker 1: conversation I'd hope to achieve if I'd successfully pulled off 468 00:29:01,316 --> 00:29:04,956 Speaker 1: a dinner party. In fact, Omar was exactly the sort 469 00:29:04,996 --> 00:29:07,796 Speaker 1: of guess I'd want there, and come to think of it, 470 00:29:08,636 --> 00:29:11,276 Speaker 1: it was also so exactly the sort of person I'd 471 00:29:11,316 --> 00:29:16,476 Speaker 1: want to host it. What's your budget. I mean I think, 472 00:29:16,636 --> 00:29:18,436 Speaker 1: I think I would. I I can make it work. 473 00:29:18,516 --> 00:29:20,996 Speaker 1: The company specifically told me, like had of a dinner party, 474 00:29:21,076 --> 00:29:23,076 Speaker 1: so it's budget for it. But yeah no, no, I 475 00:29:23,116 --> 00:29:25,876 Speaker 1: could favor the food and like that, could you absorb us? Yes? Yes, 476 00:29:26,276 --> 00:29:28,236 Speaker 1: why don't we do like a potluck type of thing? Okay, 477 00:29:28,436 --> 00:29:30,396 Speaker 1: like everybody pinching a little bit, I need to call 478 00:29:30,436 --> 00:29:34,356 Speaker 1: in a backup. With a possible pot luck pending and 479 00:29:34,436 --> 00:29:36,676 Speaker 1: a co host unable to leave sight of a latrine. 480 00:29:37,196 --> 00:29:40,236 Speaker 1: It was time. I led with confidence. I put a 481 00:29:40,276 --> 00:29:42,116 Speaker 1: call into a friend of a friend a food and 482 00:29:42,156 --> 00:29:44,196 Speaker 1: wine with it, and I told him I needed dinner 483 00:29:44,236 --> 00:29:46,756 Speaker 1: party fixings for a group that evening, and I do 484 00:29:46,836 --> 00:29:49,876 Speaker 1: whatever it took. I'm Niels Bernstein. I split my time 485 00:29:49,916 --> 00:29:52,276 Speaker 1: between Mexico City and New York. He told me to 486 00:29:52,316 --> 00:29:55,356 Speaker 1: meet him at Mercado de Medagine one hour. Okay, here 487 00:29:55,396 --> 00:29:57,596 Speaker 1: we are. This is my favorite carnita stand that it's 488 00:29:57,636 --> 00:30:02,956 Speaker 1: looking good. There's a piggy bank here. Oh it's our 489 00:30:03,036 --> 00:30:05,356 Speaker 1: humor right here. Oh there we go. Yeah, you need 490 00:30:05,476 --> 00:30:08,996 Speaker 1: lines and salsas. Just you gotta, you know, rig everything 491 00:30:09,156 --> 00:30:15,676 Speaker 1: to taste. Brain case is whoa I've never eaten a 492 00:30:15,716 --> 00:30:19,916 Speaker 1: brain brain eye uterus. Not my favorite. Here, I like 493 00:30:19,956 --> 00:30:23,836 Speaker 1: a lot. There's these spicy pickled onions, which I think 494 00:30:23,876 --> 00:30:26,756 Speaker 1: we might just make our own. Okay, okay, some haban 495 00:30:26,836 --> 00:30:29,636 Speaker 1: arrows here which we can use for the marinated onions. Yeah, 496 00:30:29,636 --> 00:30:33,756 Speaker 1: they're like little jewels, deathly spicy jewels. My Irish stomach 497 00:30:33,876 --> 00:30:35,836 Speaker 1: is quaking. If you want to get some mail, larva 498 00:30:36,116 --> 00:30:39,036 Speaker 1: is over. You're chaing that out. Okay, so let's go 499 00:30:39,196 --> 00:30:42,796 Speaker 1: get some salad fixings. Here we're looking at some star fruit, 500 00:30:42,996 --> 00:30:46,716 Speaker 1: some pomegranate, various plums and cherries, a lot of different citrus. 501 00:30:47,076 --> 00:30:50,236 Speaker 1: All right, thank you, Mercado. What is it again, Mercado 502 00:30:50,316 --> 00:30:58,396 Speaker 1: medine gassias, Adios Mercado Medeline. And then showtime along with Omar, 503 00:30:58,676 --> 00:31:01,796 Speaker 1: his wife Morgan, and their dog Nioki, a local friend, 504 00:31:01,836 --> 00:31:04,996 Speaker 1: and a roommates, as well as Omar's downstairs neighbor who 505 00:31:05,036 --> 00:31:13,596 Speaker 1: brought us guitar in a bottle of mescow old. Look 506 00:31:13,676 --> 00:31:17,116 Speaker 1: these guys, they're excited you're here. Oh this way soon 507 00:31:17,596 --> 00:31:23,716 Speaker 1: dinner was served, So karamitas and mills brock. What else 508 00:31:23,716 --> 00:31:26,796 Speaker 1: do you have for dinner? This is the solid of 509 00:31:27,236 --> 00:31:33,716 Speaker 1: laga and cherry Tomato. We talked about the city. This 510 00:31:34,036 --> 00:31:39,516 Speaker 1: is a friendly city. Are happening, everybody can feel that 511 00:31:39,836 --> 00:31:43,716 Speaker 1: you are income. We talked politics. Party in Power now 512 00:31:44,156 --> 00:31:47,676 Speaker 1: was trying to cut financing for political parties, and I 513 00:31:47,876 --> 00:31:52,196 Speaker 1: was happy and relieved, not only because I could return 514 00:31:52,236 --> 00:31:54,076 Speaker 1: to New York and let my bosses know I'd pulled 515 00:31:54,116 --> 00:31:57,356 Speaker 1: off an actual dinner party dinner party, but because I 516 00:31:57,436 --> 00:32:00,156 Speaker 1: was reminded that my pensiont to break bread with strangers 517 00:32:00,556 --> 00:32:05,156 Speaker 1: wasn't frivolous after all. Dinner parties a recess for grown ups, 518 00:32:05,716 --> 00:32:07,756 Speaker 1: a rare space where people can gather and not be 519 00:32:07,876 --> 00:32:10,516 Speaker 1: under the watchful eye of a ball us, a needy child, 520 00:32:10,676 --> 00:32:13,876 Speaker 1: or an impatient waiter. There are gatherings that are intimate 521 00:32:13,996 --> 00:32:17,716 Speaker 1: and have the power to transcend cultural barriers. There are 522 00:32:17,716 --> 00:32:21,556 Speaker 1: places where we get to play, entertain argue, and feed ourselves, 523 00:32:22,156 --> 00:32:25,716 Speaker 1: not just their bodies, but our souls, newly cleansed or not. 524 00:32:26,756 --> 00:32:29,076 Speaker 1: And dinner parties are a lot harder to manifest than 525 00:32:29,116 --> 00:32:32,596 Speaker 1: you'd think, even at home. So when we are able 526 00:32:32,636 --> 00:32:35,516 Speaker 1: to make them happen, we should relish it. Welcome to 527 00:32:35,636 --> 00:32:42,876 Speaker 1: all of our expats. Whatever I was sad, d wasn't 528 00:32:42,876 --> 00:32:45,116 Speaker 1: with us can't you just picture her showing off her 529 00:32:45,196 --> 00:32:49,116 Speaker 1: dans On moves in the corner. But I still feel triumphant, 530 00:32:49,956 --> 00:32:54,116 Speaker 1: like a masked Luca Libre wrestler, topless and gold shorts, 531 00:32:54,756 --> 00:32:58,036 Speaker 1: waving my clasped arms over one shoulder and then the 532 00:32:58,116 --> 00:33:08,516 Speaker 1: other like a champion. The lead producer on this episode 533 00:33:08,556 --> 00:33:13,556 Speaker 1: of Not Law was the unflappable Tally Abacasas. The show 534 00:33:13,676 --> 00:33:16,556 Speaker 1: was also produced and written by me Brendan Francis Nunham. 535 00:33:16,876 --> 00:33:20,396 Speaker 1: Our associate producer was Jackson Musker. Our story editor for 536 00:33:20,476 --> 00:33:23,196 Speaker 1: this episode was Mira bert Win Tonik. The show was 537 00:33:23,276 --> 00:33:26,156 Speaker 1: mixed by Hannis Brown and a big thanks to my 538 00:33:26,276 --> 00:33:31,236 Speaker 1: friend and this episode's travel partner, Daniel Henderson. Not Lost 539 00:33:31,316 --> 00:33:35,476 Speaker 1: as a co production of Pushkin Industries, Topic Studios and iHeartMedia. 540 00:33:35,836 --> 00:33:39,916 Speaker 1: It was developed at Topic Studios. The show's executive producers 541 00:33:39,916 --> 00:33:43,716 Speaker 1: are me Christi Gressman, Maria Zuckerman, Lisa Langang, and La 542 00:33:43,796 --> 00:33:47,596 Speaker 1: Tom Mullad. Production assistance on this episode also came from 543 00:33:47,716 --> 00:33:51,396 Speaker 1: Jacob Smith, Amy Gaines and Julia Barton at Pushkin. Our 544 00:33:51,476 --> 00:33:55,676 Speaker 1: theme song was created by Alexis Georgiopolis rhymes with Metropolis 545 00:33:56,636 --> 00:34:03,116 Speaker 1: and muchos gracias to Professor Pavel Maldonado, Rosa maracarman, Asa Merritt, 546 00:34:03,396 --> 00:34:06,716 Speaker 1: the Great Nils Bernstein, and I am forever indebted to 547 00:34:06,796 --> 00:34:10,196 Speaker 1: Omar Rodriguez Graham, his wife Morgan, and their dog Joki 548 00:34:10,476 --> 00:34:13,516 Speaker 1: for their hospitality. If you want to see some pictures 549 00:34:13,556 --> 00:34:15,436 Speaker 1: of where we went or learn more about our guests, 550 00:34:15,476 --> 00:34:18,316 Speaker 1: you can head to not Lawshow dot com. And if 551 00:34:18,356 --> 00:34:21,316 Speaker 1: you could just take a moment right now you're not traveling, 552 00:34:21,476 --> 00:34:23,956 Speaker 1: or maybe you are, if you just head on over 553 00:34:24,036 --> 00:34:28,236 Speaker 1: to Apple Podcasts, rate and review us. Oh man, you 554 00:34:28,316 --> 00:34:31,036 Speaker 1: are going to feel so great and we will too. 555 00:34:31,356 --> 00:34:34,476 Speaker 1: It's an easy win win. You can learn more about 556 00:34:34,556 --> 00:34:38,116 Speaker 1: Topic Studios at Topic studios dot com and to find 557 00:34:38,156 --> 00:34:41,956 Speaker 1: more Pushkin podcasts, listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 558 00:34:42,276 --> 00:34:45,956 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to podcasts. I'm Brendan Francis, Newnham. 559 00:34:46,196 --> 00:34:48,436 Speaker 1: Until next time, bonvoyage