1 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: Hi, and welcome back to the Carol Markowitz Show on iHeartRadio. 2 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:10,880 Speaker 1: I've been thinking about that interview that I did with 3 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: Tim Carney from a few days ago. If you haven't 4 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 1: picked up his book Family Unfriendly, you really should. And 5 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:20,600 Speaker 1: if you haven't listened to the interview, I also highly 6 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: recommend that. I'm on the New York Times email list, 7 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: and they sent out a podcast episode recently with this 8 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 1: tease quote. Ultimately, as Ezra and his guests discuss, the 9 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: problem may not be the fertility rate itself. Rather, we've 10 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,639 Speaker 1: created a problem of stifled desire. American families want more 11 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: children than they end up having. Perhaps we've become pro 12 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:47,319 Speaker 1: child but anti children. Parents devote so much time and 13 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: energy to optimizing a single child's life that the effort 14 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: feels difficult to replicate. Until policy and parenting culture become 15 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: more forgiving, families may continue to shrink, whether people want 16 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: them to or not. I have this joke that when 17 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,679 Speaker 1: someone says, society says, or culture tells us to. 18 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:07,479 Speaker 2: They just me and their mom. 19 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:10,040 Speaker 1: So, you know, Tim and I talked about this in 20 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: the interview, and the truth is that the easier way 21 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: to have a lot of kids is to let go 22 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 1: a little bit? Does culture force us to be helicopter parents? 23 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:23,839 Speaker 1: I live in that same culture, and I don't feel 24 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: that pressure. I was a latchkey kid and I had 25 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: my brother five years younger than me to contend with. Also, 26 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 1: he was always under my care after school. So maybe 27 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 1: I just don't have my mom in my ear pressuring 28 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: me to do more or to oversee more because she didn't. 29 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: The New York Times email also faces an important point 30 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: quote fertility rates are falling, in some cases below replacement levels, 31 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: even in countries like Sweden and Japan that have invested 32 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: far more in family support policies than the United States has. 33 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: What's behind this? Cross cultural client in births? Can generous 34 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: work family policies enable people to feel like they can 35 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 1: realistically have larger families? 36 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 2: End quote? 37 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: It turns out it's not government support that leads to 38 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 1: more kids. I love pointing out that birth rates in 39 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: Spain actually declined when men got more generous paternity leave. 40 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:19,959 Speaker 1: They saw how. 41 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 2: Hard it was and were like, no more of this. 42 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 2: So how do we. 43 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: Get parents to relax in their parenting and allow themselves 44 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: to let go a little? How do we get them 45 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: to understand that our kids will not be perfect. We 46 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 1: shouldn't even be striving for perfection. 47 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 2: We should just want. 48 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 1: Happy children who become functioning adults. Tim on the show 49 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 1: said that he wants his kids to have what their 50 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: family has now, happiness, love, togetherness. This isn't that hard, 51 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 1: and I feel the same way. If my kids get 52 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: what we have right now as a family, I will 53 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:57,519 Speaker 1: consider that a huge success. If you haven't read the 54 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: book Free Range Kids, How Parents and tea teachers Can 55 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 1: Let Go and Let Grow by Lenora Skenazi. She's the 56 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: founder of the Free Range Kids movement. She let her 57 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: nine year old take the New York City subway and 58 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,679 Speaker 1: it was a huge deal and talked about in a 59 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,959 Speaker 1: lot of different places. I highly recommend that book. One 60 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: of her famous lines is quote, we have to learn 61 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,399 Speaker 1: to remind the other parents who think we're being careless 62 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: when we loosen our grip, that we are actually trying 63 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: to teach our children how to get along in the world, 64 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: and that we believe this is our job. A child 65 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,799 Speaker 1: who can fend for himself is a lot safer than 66 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: the one forever coddled, because the coddle child will not 67 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: have mom or dad around all the time, even though 68 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: they act as if he will. If you're not having 69 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: kids because you need everything to be perfect and your 70 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: kids to be perfect and your parenting to be perfect, 71 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: you're quite literally doing it wrong. Let go you and 72 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 1: your children will absolutely be better for it. Coming up next, 73 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: an interview with internet legend Comfortably Smug or Smuggy for short, 74 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: as I like to call him. Join us after the break. 75 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 2: Welcome back to the Carol and Markowitz Show on iHeartRadio. 76 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:17,040 Speaker 2: My guest today is Comfortably Smug, co host of Ruthless podcast. 77 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 3: Hi Smug, thanks for having me on. 78 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for coming on. I feel like, 79 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 2: you know, you're such a big celebrity now, it's like 80 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 2: hard to get in touch with you, hard to get 81 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 2: on you know you on the show. 82 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 4: But likewise, likewise, I'm happy to see the show doing 83 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 4: so well. 84 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 2: Thank you. So. I've known you a long time since 85 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,280 Speaker 2: really the early days of Twitter, when you are sort 86 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 2: of one of the few people really having fun on 87 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 2: the platform, and I think that's, you know, still kind 88 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 2: of a mis miserable place to be, but you're still 89 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 2: kind of enjoying yourself. Do you still think it's fun? 90 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:49,160 Speaker 3: Absolutely? 91 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 4: I will say that it was a completely different vibe 92 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 4: like in the early days, like us are our circle 93 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 4: friends that we used to have in yeah, the city, 94 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 4: we would have like a ninety percent chance of if 95 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 4: you met someone from Twitter that they're like a normal, 96 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 4: well adjusted person. And now like Elon Tweiteter the other day, 97 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 4: it's like PvP, like it's a it's a battle arena 98 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 4: now essentially, so it has changed in that aspect. 99 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,279 Speaker 3: But at least we had the early days, right, Yeah, I. 100 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 2: Mean they were pretty good. I don't know, you still 101 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 2: have your minions, you know when I am out there 102 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 2: in the world. I sometimes you and I have this 103 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 2: running joke where we call each other libs. I mean 104 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 2: you are a lib but whatever. But you know, all 105 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 2: have people, you know, Matt Matthew Foley, but other people 106 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,600 Speaker 2: also be like, you know, smug is really not a lib. 107 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 2: I don't know why you call him that. Wonderful one 108 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 2: of our jokes, you know, Yeah, they really love you. 109 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 4: That's the outside is I think. You know, Twitter actually 110 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 4: is a great place to build a community, and you 111 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 4: meet lots of wonderful folks, like minded folks, folks that 112 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 4: you have something different with. But if you use it 113 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 4: for that purpose as like a community and and and 114 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 4: folks who are actually positive when they engage with each other. 115 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 3: That's the best use for it. 116 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 4: And you know, I think a lot of people see 117 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 4: it as just like a toxic place to look for trouble, 118 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:08,840 Speaker 4: and that's a shame. But I really appreciate being able 119 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 4: to build such community on there. 120 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, so your podcast Ruthless is huge. I was at 121 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:17,280 Speaker 2: a you know, a few years ago, at a I 122 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:18,840 Speaker 2: don't know, I think he was ten years old, the 123 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 2: kids birthday party, and he found out that I know you, 124 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 2: and it became like the biggest celebrity in the whole 125 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:28,160 Speaker 2: wide world. And you called him. Shout out to Lewis. 126 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 2: But I just feel like it's everywhere and you guys 127 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 2: are interviewing everyone, and you really do seem like you're 128 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 2: having a good time. What would you be doing if 129 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 2: you weren't doing this. 130 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 4: Boy, I would number one. I probably wouldn't have to 131 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 4: spend so much time in Washington, DC. That's probably the 132 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:49,840 Speaker 4: most positive thing, right, I would say, you know, I honestly, 133 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:53,919 Speaker 4: I probably wouldn't be as happy the group that we 134 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 4: have here on Ruthless. Ashbrook Duncan Holmes you know, we're 135 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 4: not just co host and business partners are really good friends, 136 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 4: and you know, you can kind of get that off 137 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:04,919 Speaker 4: of listening to the show where it feels more like 138 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 4: hanging out with your friends than you know, hearing a 139 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 4: lecture or something like that. And for us, like, yeah, 140 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 4: it's it's a business, but at the same time, it's 141 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 4: like at least two days a week we get to 142 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 4: hang out, shoot the breeze, have a great time, and 143 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 4: I think it's good to have that, Like, you know, 144 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 4: especially when we started during COVID, everyone was like shut in. 145 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 4: It was a lot of isolation, and so. 146 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 3: It was great. 147 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 4: We would hang out over Zoom and like bet on 148 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 4: horse races and drink bourbon once a week. 149 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 3: We're like, you know, this would actually make a pretty 150 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 3: good show, and it ended up doing that. 151 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 2: Do you feel like you've made it? 152 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 3: Not yet? 153 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 2: No. 154 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 4: We On our show, we always say there's two types 155 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 4: of folks. There's you know, the sunshine warriors, the folks 156 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 4: who like reflecting on their winds, the happy warrior type, 157 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 4: and then there's kind of like the agony of defeat 158 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 4: kind of person, kind of like Michael Jordan, where they're 159 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 4: always driven by our I'm bring their failures. So you know, 160 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 4: I'm always grateful for all the good stuff that happens, 161 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 4: but I don't feel like I've really made it yet more. 162 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 4: The more things I focus on is things I can 163 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 4: get better at and just keep marching up that hill. 164 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 2: Do you get recognized a lot? 165 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 4: You know, It's funny when I wear these shades, which is, 166 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 4: you know, to hide my identity. So I go to 167 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 4: a grocery store and not worry about, uh, you know, 168 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 4: a protester coming after me or something. But when I 169 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 4: wear the shades, I get recognized. So you know, if 170 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 4: I'm traveling or something and I'm in the airport and 171 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 4: I'll wear my shades, especially like you know, DCA or 172 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 4: something like that, uh, you know, folks will pull me over. 173 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 4: And I'm always happy, you know, to meet listeners. Right. 174 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 4: And the funniest thing though, was I was traveling with 175 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 4: family in Nashville and I was I was meeting them there. 176 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 4: I got to the hotel first, so I go to 177 00:08:57,679 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 4: the hotel bar, grabbing a drink. 178 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:01,079 Speaker 3: I start talking to the bartender. 179 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 2: Wait with or without your shades, without my shades, without 180 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 2: your shades. 181 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 4: And this is before we even started video and I 182 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 4: had two folks at the bar say, excuse me, have 183 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 4: you heard of the Roofless podcast? 184 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 3: Just heal the voice talking. So it's wild. You know, 185 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:21,319 Speaker 3: it's a small world. I guess. 186 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. Do you like it? Like, do you like being recognized? 187 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 2: I feel like it's a mixed bag. 188 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 3: So, uh, if they're listeners, yes, yeah. 189 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 4: So if it's like, oh, you know that you're an 190 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 4: authoritarian or something like that, you know, then less right, Yeah, 191 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 4: that's that's less and you know, honestly, that doesn't happen 192 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,680 Speaker 4: very often at all. I guess unfortunate in the sense 193 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 4: that anytime I am recognized, you know, typically it is 194 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 4: a lister h and I'm always always happy and thrilled 195 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 4: to meet with them. 196 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 2: That's that's a really nice Like I feel like you, 197 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 2: you your perception of you on Twitter is not this like, 198 00:09:57,280 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 2: you know, nice squishy guy who like would be so 199 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 2: you know, sweet to people. I mean, I I know 200 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 2: you like that, but I feel like you're Twitter. 201 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:10,679 Speaker 4: Don't tell anyone otherwise, Oh, I tell. 202 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 2: Everybody You're horrible, But every we know, we know the truth, 203 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 2: you know, So why are you going to give your 204 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 2: mom grandchildren? You goddamn millennial. 205 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's the thing I'm actually I'm working on that. 206 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 4: That's actually on the to do list. I'm not the 207 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 4: you know, legions of folks who are worried about climate 208 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 4: change and so they're not going to have kids. Definitely 209 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:32,959 Speaker 4: a firm believer in having kids, and I always love 210 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 4: giving parenting advice. I was fortunate to have good parents, 211 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 4: so I'm always happy to part that even before I 212 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 4: myself i am a parent. 213 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 2: So do you live in the DC area? Are you 214 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 2: open about where you are? 215 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 3: Sure? I live in North Carolina. 216 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 4: I also keep a place in d C because I 217 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 4: have to record the show a couple of days a week. 218 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:54,439 Speaker 3: But the less I'm in d C, the better, honestly, 219 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 3: for sure. 220 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 2: You and I used to live, both of us in 221 00:10:57,880 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 2: Park Slope, Brooklyn. 222 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 4: Do you I missed the Park Slope we lived in. 223 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:08,199 Speaker 4: I would say COVID really changed New York City. All 224 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:11,319 Speaker 4: my favorite my favorite pizza restaurant, favorite tire restaurant, my 225 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 4: favorite Chinese restaurant, my favorite bar. 226 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 3: Is all permanently closed. 227 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 4: And now it's like, you know, Park Slope was always 228 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 4: this kind of charming place. Families would move there. It 229 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 4: was very safe and even park Slopes changed. It's not 230 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 4: like it used to be. All all those bodegas where 231 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 4: you'd go for like a nice bacon, egg and cheese 232 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 4: have turned into like it's a wat shop. Like every 233 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 4: boading is now a weed shop. So it always fell 234 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 4: was like weed wherever you are in the city. Yeah, 235 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 4: there's homeless, there's time. It's a shameless COVID. But I 236 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 4: love park Slove. 237 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:44,440 Speaker 3: When we were there, yeah. 238 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 2: I did too, but it became like this really angry place. 239 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 2: I think during COVID, the people calling the police on 240 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 2: their neighbors when they had too many people in the backyard. 241 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 2: I think that that kind of thing is really hard 242 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,960 Speaker 2: for me to unsee. I don't know. I avoid it 243 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:00,680 Speaker 2: when I'm in the city now, you know, I go 244 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:04,079 Speaker 2: visit friends or whatever. But park Slope makes me feel 245 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 2: like angry about what happened to New York and yeah, 246 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 2: like I was in Manhattan yesterday and yeah, the whole 247 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 2: place smells like Weed's tons of problems. But I don't 248 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 2: think it makes me feel as bad as. 249 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 3: Park Slope does. I mean it, it was like a paradise. 250 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:21,080 Speaker 4: You had the park, you had families with strollers, you 251 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 4: always felt safe, and now that's not the case. 252 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 3: It's real shame. 253 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:28,640 Speaker 2: What would you say is our country's biggest societal or 254 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 2: cultural problem? 255 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 4: Boy, honestly, I kind of want to group it all 256 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 4: into kind of like the DEI thing, where essentially this 257 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 4: is supposed to be kind of making a bit more 258 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 4: harmonious for all the races, whether white people, black people, 259 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:51,559 Speaker 4: Latin up people, But this system has actually been itself. 260 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 4: It's a racist system. It's it's more of trying to 261 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 4: pit people against each other. And you know, you could 262 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 4: have someone, you should have someone who has it's never 263 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 4: done anything wrong, but being judged by their skin color, 264 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 4: which is I mean, it's like the opposite of you know, 265 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 4: Martin Luther King said, judge by the content of your character, 266 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 4: and now it's like, no, we will judge an individual 267 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 4: whether their contribution to the workplace or you know, whether 268 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 4: they're they're a colonist or an oppressor, based on their 269 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:23,120 Speaker 4: skin color, which is just it's absolute madness. It's it's 270 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:26,320 Speaker 4: really sad, and it's antithical to what this country was 271 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:31,959 Speaker 4: built upon. I will say it kind of feels good 272 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:37,520 Speaker 4: seeing that kind of falling apart. It's unfortunate it took 273 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 4: something like the attack on Israel last October. But then 274 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:45,199 Speaker 4: you saw in campuses. You know, so many people, especially 275 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 4: on the left, were shocked to see that. You know, 276 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 4: campuses are tearing down photos of family, kids, women who 277 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 4: have been kidnapped. But this has been this kind of 278 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:59,839 Speaker 4: hate has been breeding on college campuses and among the 279 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 4: left for a while. 280 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:01,560 Speaker 3: Now. 281 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 4: This all based on this made up idea of a 282 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:07,840 Speaker 4: group of people are oppressors and a group of people 283 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:11,439 Speaker 4: are oppressed, and I think seeing that shocked a lot 284 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 4: of people and woke them up. We saw, you know, 285 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 4: for example, like president of Harvard step down. You had 286 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 4: universities which had been allowing this kind of stuff that 287 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 4: are being called out, especially and it's said that had 288 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 4: to take major university donors to be like, ah, if 289 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 4: you're going to allow this kind of hate on campus, 290 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 4: I'm out. 291 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 3: I want nothing to do with it. 292 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 4: And so universities, out of that, you know, self interest, 293 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 4: had to start listening to this message. 294 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 3: But also elon buying Twitter. You know, by and large. 295 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 4: People are now free to express their opinion that hey, 296 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 4: this is extremely hurtful. You know, you don't want to 297 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 4: raised kids in environment where you say okay, let's separate 298 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 4: everyone by skin color. You're good, you're evil, You're good, 299 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 4: you're evil. Right, So that ideology, tell me, is the 300 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 4: biggest problem society has in America right now. But I'm 301 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 4: hopeful that it can continue to We can we can 302 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 4: peel away and get rid of it. 303 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, you sound optimistic that we can come out on 304 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 2: the other side of it. 305 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 4: I mean, there has not been any problem in America 306 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,359 Speaker 4: has ever faced that we've not been able to overcome. 307 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 4: And it's because you know, we are a free nation. 308 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 4: We work together. We overcome problems, World War two, putting 309 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 4: a man on the moon. There's really nothing America can 310 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 4: accomplish when we work together. And so, you know, an 311 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 4: ideology that's based on essentially dividing and conquering, no country 312 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 4: has been able to do that to America. I think 313 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 4: the only country that could bring America down is America. 314 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 4: And I'm optimistic. I think, you know, so many folks 315 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 4: are starting to realize what a harmful system this is, 316 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 4: and it tries to essentially make people hate their own neighbors. 317 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 3: I think, like you. 318 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 4: Said, COVID really exacerbated that when you had folks isolated 319 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 4: for so long, you know, they become more detached from 320 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 4: their neighbors, and you know, we're all. 321 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 3: Americans here, we should be working together. 322 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 4: And I think a lot of folks are really getting 323 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 4: fed up with that, and I'm really hoping that we 324 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 4: can keep shipping away in it. 325 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 2: I love your optimism, and you're just you know, pro americanists. 326 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 2: I you know, I'm obviously the same, but I'm kind 327 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 2: of mixed, and I don't know that I'm as optimistic 328 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 2: as you, only because I got thrown out of a 329 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 2: mother's against anti Semitism group because I wrote about them. 330 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 2: And one of the things was that a lot of 331 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 2: these liberal Jews are saying, like, if we could just 332 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 2: get into the DEI system, like not get rid of it. 333 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 2: They understand that they're not part of it and they're 334 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 2: not included, but they're like, if we could just figure 335 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 2: out a way to get add into it. And that's 336 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 2: my concern is that people will kind of decide that, 337 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 2: like how do I get in, how does my group 338 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 2: fit into the system, and we just work within the 339 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 2: system instead of trying to overthrow it. You know. I 340 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 2: like the idea that people are having their eyes open. 341 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 2: I just hope that we're not too far on this 342 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 2: road of victimhood where people can't toss off these shackles 343 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 2: and realize what the better path is instead of trying 344 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 2: to get themselves included in the in the system that 345 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 2: you know really largely makes no sense. 346 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, and I mean I think I think that's been 347 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:22,600 Speaker 4: a big problem for I'll say this country, like we 348 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:26,119 Speaker 4: have an ongoing joke on the show, I say, the 349 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 4: most dangerous terror group in America is the liberal suburban 350 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,919 Speaker 4: white woman who you know, just to be liked at 351 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:37,879 Speaker 4: the book club and on Facebook that you want to 352 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 4: support any nutjob left wing movement that's going on, whether 353 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:47,399 Speaker 4: it's you know, the gender identity thing among kids or 354 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 4: whether it's DEI. 355 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 3: That's been a severe problem. 356 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 4: And you know, there was an example over the past 357 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 4: week of it was that disturbed member of the military 358 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 4: who killed themselves suicide of buy themselves up fire, saying 359 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,480 Speaker 4: for for free Palestine and part of the intersectional you know, 360 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 4: pressure press movement thing. And then the discussion online along 361 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 4: his own, like the groups, the Marxist groups that he 362 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 4: was part of, is we can't say rest in power 363 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 4: for him because he was a white person, right. 364 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 2: I mean, it was amazing how so good. 365 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 3: Insane a system is that? 366 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 4: So, you know when you bring this idea of you know, 367 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 4: you have folks who are trying to become part of 368 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 4: this movement, even though that movement hates them. 369 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:34,880 Speaker 3: You know, they just need to get their eyes open. 370 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: We're going to take a quick break and be right 371 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 1: back on the Carol Marcowitch Show. 372 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:44,399 Speaker 2: So where does Marapa go from here? Where do you think, 373 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 2: like what needs to happen in order for us to 374 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:48,399 Speaker 2: get on a better path. 375 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 4: It feels like the fever is starting to break in 376 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 4: my opinion, not just among folks who started seeing DEI 377 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 4: being it's a problems so divisive, but also I think 378 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:10,119 Speaker 4: these far left policies in general, whether it's crime is legalized, 379 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 4: you know, seeing criminals themselves is the un oppressed group. 380 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 4: I think a lot of Americans are getting fed up 381 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 4: with that idea. I saw a lot of stuff in Austin, Texas. 382 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 4: They're having a vote on I think it's their district 383 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 4: attorney and the current one who is. 384 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 3: Elected has based has said multiple. 385 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:32,400 Speaker 4: Times that even criminals who commit sexual assault, well they're 386 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:33,920 Speaker 4: victims of their circumstance. 387 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 3: Right, He's not talking about the victims of sexual assault. 388 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:40,440 Speaker 4: He's talking about the actual perpetrators are victims, and even 389 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:44,880 Speaker 4: among Democrats because it's a blue city, he's facing. 390 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 3: A challenge now in a primary. 391 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 4: I think folks are getting fed up with this left 392 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:52,160 Speaker 4: wing ideology, whether it's THEI, whether it's on crime, and 393 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:55,400 Speaker 4: even on illegal immigration. Now, you know, your Governor Ron 394 00:19:55,400 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 4: de Santis, also the governor Florida Abbot Texas, but they've 395 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 4: been dealing with an illegal immigration problem, a surge since 396 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 4: Biden got elected, and for so long they were told 397 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 4: just like, you know, shut up, keep your mouth shut, 398 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 4: you deal with it. It's your problem. You know, America, 399 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 4: we do not believe an individual is illegal, right, And 400 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:18,920 Speaker 4: it's easy to say when you're in Martha's Vineyard or 401 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:21,480 Speaker 4: in New York City. And now times have changed because 402 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:26,959 Speaker 4: you know, once Governor Abbott and Governor DeSantis started Sandy 403 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,399 Speaker 4: illegal immigrants saying that hey, okay, if you're a sanctuary, 404 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:36,120 Speaker 4: you can welcome these. Now the opinion has really changed, 405 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,040 Speaker 4: and you're seeing it in not just like pull numbers 406 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:42,200 Speaker 4: for Biden, but just I think a lot of folks 407 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:44,679 Speaker 4: are figuring out that, Okay, I want to have a 408 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 4: good life for myself, for my kids, for my family. 409 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:51,360 Speaker 4: That includes very basic things like safety and hoping that 410 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 4: they're not the first generation that has it worse off 411 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 4: than me. And they're seeing that these policies that they've 412 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 4: been subjected to by the left have made that almost 413 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 4: imports So I've started seeing, you know, the cracks starting 414 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:06,679 Speaker 4: to form, and I'm really helpeful that we can just 415 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:08,440 Speaker 4: i mean, for the good of the country, we could 416 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 4: get rid of all this toxicity. 417 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 2: Would you ever run for office? 418 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 3: Absolutely not, never ever? 419 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:19,880 Speaker 4: So good well, I mean it's it's partly because it's 420 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 4: a shame with become of the political system where your 421 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,919 Speaker 4: opponent essentially says you're evil if you disagree with them, right, yeah. 422 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 2: But you'd relish that, you'd be like, I'm evil. 423 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:37,320 Speaker 4: And also, you know, I still think there's a place 424 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:39,680 Speaker 4: for especially in politics. 425 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:42,399 Speaker 3: So we need real public servants, We need serious people. 426 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 4: We need fewer people who are famous for social media 427 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:51,159 Speaker 4: and more people who are famous for having built a 428 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 4: reputation is helping Americans and being fully committed and experienced 429 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 4: in bringing about positive changes in their cammunity. You know, 430 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:05,159 Speaker 4: the crop of candidates that we're seeing on on the 431 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 4: Republican side it's really good in terms of your seeing 432 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 4: business people. 433 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:11,360 Speaker 3: You're seeing people. 434 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 4: Have serious philanthropic histories getting involved to become public servants, 435 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:19,640 Speaker 4: and you're seeing less of like, Okay, this person's got 436 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:24,560 Speaker 4: a lot of followers on TikTok, maybe we should run them, right, 437 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 4: I sadly, I could serve myself more of the latter 438 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 4: and more of a social media kind. 439 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 2: Of Yeah, I don't know, vote for Smug. I feel 440 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 2: like I'm gonna start writing you in any election where 441 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:40,480 Speaker 2: I don't feel like I could vote friend of the candidates, 442 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:43,840 Speaker 2: although I live in Florida now, so that really doesn't happen, 443 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:46,920 Speaker 2: you know, to New York. In New York, I would 444 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:49,439 Speaker 2: write in candidates all the time because often there'd be 445 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:53,880 Speaker 2: no Republican there's song. Yeah, but so you know, maybe 446 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:57,439 Speaker 2: I missed the writing and smug window. But you know, 447 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:00,399 Speaker 2: I don't know. I don't know that necessarily having a 448 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:03,119 Speaker 2: lot of followers are being big on social media is 449 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 2: a negative. I think that that means you're speaking to 450 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:08,639 Speaker 2: a lot of different people. I don't think it's real life. 451 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:09,879 Speaker 2: Like I think that there's a lot of people who 452 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 2: aren't on social media. They don't know, you know, what 453 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:15,879 Speaker 2: goes on in our world. But I think that there 454 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 2: is a correlation between you know, picking up a lot 455 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:22,360 Speaker 2: of a lot of followers on social media and potentially, 456 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 2: you know, being able to speak to larger audiences outside 457 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 2: of it. I don't know. I don't think you should 458 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 2: write off running for office that quickly. 459 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:32,880 Speaker 4: I mean, I'll tell you what, I'll give you some thought. 460 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:38,760 Speaker 2: All right, good? So I love talking to you. And 461 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 2: here with your best tip for my listeners on how 462 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 2: they can improve their lives. 463 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 4: A boy, the best thing you can do to improve 464 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 4: your life is surround yourself with good people. This is 465 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 4: this is far easier said than done, and also not 466 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:03,159 Speaker 4: as easy as it may sound. I had an uncle 467 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 4: who gave me this incredible piece of advice where he said, 468 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 4: the real friends around you are the folks who tell 469 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:12,800 Speaker 4: you no, not to do something. They're not the folks 470 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:15,479 Speaker 4: who say, yeah, why not, you know, give it a shot. So, 471 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:20,560 Speaker 4: especially when you're younger, poor decisions can be made if 472 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:23,640 Speaker 4: you're surrounded by folks who don't care and just let's 473 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 4: roll the dice and see what happens with your life, 474 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 4: as opposed to folks who are there telling you I 475 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 4: don't think that's a great idea. 476 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:30,160 Speaker 3: So it can be. 477 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:32,680 Speaker 4: Especially when you're younger and more challenging, and like, oh, 478 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 4: I want more of an enabler than another mom or 479 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:37,879 Speaker 4: a parent telling me you know what to do, not 480 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:40,960 Speaker 4: to do bad things. But beyond that, even you know 481 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:43,040 Speaker 4: as an adult, as you grow older, as you grow 482 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:46,960 Speaker 4: your career, who you surround yourself with is going to 483 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 4: have the greatest impact on where you go in life. 484 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:56,119 Speaker 4: If you're surrounded by people who are positive, focused on improving, 485 00:24:57,240 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 4: people who are who are trying to acomplish things instead 486 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:06,160 Speaker 4: of just like drift or are almost indifferent or just negative. 487 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:08,919 Speaker 4: I think that like a doomer kind of mindset of like, 488 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:11,520 Speaker 4: oh well, nothing's going to get better. If you're surrounded 489 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 4: by people who are focused on I want to get better, 490 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 4: I want to get smarter, I want to accomplish things. 491 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 4: It rubs off on you and just building a network 492 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 4: of folks like that will lift you up yourself and 493 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 4: then you can also contribute. It's like a positive feedback loop. 494 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:33,399 Speaker 4: And to me, like, I'm very fortunate. Ruthless is a 495 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:38,200 Speaker 4: perfect example. Ashbrook, Duncan Holmes. They're each like subject matter 496 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 4: experts in their fields, and they're incredibly hard working individuals. 497 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 4: We make a terrific team and just being around them 498 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:51,679 Speaker 4: makes me want to work harder and be better. And 499 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 4: I'm incredibly fortunate to have that. 500 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:55,800 Speaker 2: So actually, my last last question will be a side 501 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 2: question to that is how do you attract people like that? 502 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,399 Speaker 2: How do you how do you attract better people to 503 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 2: yourself to kind of make your circle stronger and make 504 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:07,400 Speaker 2: yourself smarter and better and all of those things. Because 505 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:09,480 Speaker 2: we talk a lot of on the show about making friends, 506 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:11,399 Speaker 2: a lot of people have moved in the last few years. 507 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:12,480 Speaker 2: How do you do it? 508 00:26:13,359 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 4: So this could be a challenge because I know, luckily 509 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:21,639 Speaker 4: I'm an extrovert. There can be some introverted folks and 510 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:24,440 Speaker 4: that's more difficult to you know, put yourself out there. 511 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 3: But that's the thing is, you know, what's the upside? 512 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:32,880 Speaker 3: What's the downside? If you meet up with a bunch 513 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:36,679 Speaker 3: of folks, If there's an event happening and you go 514 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 3: and you introduce yourself to a group, what's the downside? 515 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:41,440 Speaker 3: They'll say hi, and then you'll never speak to them again. 516 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:43,920 Speaker 3: That's that's that's the worst thing that can possibly happen. 517 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 3: What's the upside? You make some friends, you find people 518 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 3: to hang out with, to learn things from you just 519 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 3: having the It takes an ounce of courage to go 520 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 3: out there, put yourself out and meet people, and the 521 00:26:56,560 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 3: payoff is tremendous. I mean, everyone has something special about 522 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:04,760 Speaker 3: them that they can share with others, that will amaze 523 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 3: other people, that will attract other people. It's finding that 524 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 3: putting yourself out there with that talent and the rest 525 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:12,440 Speaker 3: takes care of itself. 526 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 2: He is comfortably smug listening to him at the Ruthless Podcast. 527 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:19,080 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for coming on love seeing you. 528 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 3: Thanks so much, Carol, thanks. 529 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 1: So much for joining us on the Carol Marcowitch Show. 530 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:25,440 Speaker 1: Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.