1 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: Welcome back to the Carol Markowitz Show on Biheart Radio. 2 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 1: My guest today is Eric Ericson. Eric is a very 3 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: popular conservative talk radio host and author of three books, 4 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: most recently Before You Wake, Life Lessons from a Father 5 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: to his Children. Hi, Eric, so nice to have you on. 6 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me. 7 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:21,319 Speaker 3: So. 8 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 1: I've known you and of you like a million years. 9 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: You're really og in this movement and it's so nice 10 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: to talk to you. I'm not sure we've ever done 11 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: a show together before, but I've been looking forward to this. 12 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 1: Where did you get your start? How did this all 13 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 1: happen for you? You know? 14 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 2: So politics. 15 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 3: I grew up overseas and politics was just a way 16 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 3: to connect into American culture, and then went to college, 17 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 3: started college Republicans at my college, started volunteering for campaigns, 18 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 3: kind of fell into it, and went to law school 19 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 3: because the congressman I was working for said a law 20 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 3: degree is an MBA in politics. So I did that, 21 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 3: got married, and my wife was like, I'm not moving 22 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:07,759 Speaker 3: to Washington. So I became a lawyer, start at Red State, 23 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 3: and one thing led to another, and a local radio 24 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 3: show host got arrested in a crack house literally, and 25 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 3: they needed someone to fill in for him. 26 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 2: So I did, Uh so this is yeah exactly. 27 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 3: So Herman Kane was running for president at the time 28 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 3: and his station needed someone, and his boss drove through 29 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 3: my town all the way to Disney World thought it 30 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,960 Speaker 3: was my show. I knew Rushland bought the time who 31 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 3: lied and said I was totally a radio pro. So 32 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 3: they gave me Herman Kane's job. Wow, and here we 33 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 3: are all these years later, now the longest job I've 34 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 3: ever had. It's been a wild ride. I mean, from 35 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 3: Red State in two thousand and four to now talk 36 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 3: radio and kind of doing my own substacking. 37 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 2: But it's been a lot of fun. 38 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: That's amazing. I mean, just the fact that it wasn't 39 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: even your show and somebody happened to hear it. I 40 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: you know, that's really a kismet. So what kind of 41 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 1: lessons do you tell your son in that last book? 42 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 1: I'm interested in the path that you took to get here. 43 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: It was sort of I mean, I don't want to 44 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: say lucky wasn't you know? Luck played a role? But 45 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 1: so how do you impart lessons when there is that 46 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: luck factor? 47 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 3: So the background for the book kind of the genesis 48 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 3: of it was in twenty sixteen. I was, as every 49 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 3: nightmare story begins, I started CrossFit trying to get back 50 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 3: into shape, and I couldn't breathe. I couldn't keep up, 51 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,920 Speaker 3: and I thought, God, I've hit forty. I'm old. That's 52 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 3: the problem. And finally my wife was like, you got 53 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 3: to go to the doctor. So I go to the 54 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 3: doctor and. 55 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:41,519 Speaker 2: They send me to the emergency room. 56 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 3: And literally the guy who does my CT scan freaks out, 57 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 3: straps me to the table and says, sir, you can't 58 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 3: get up. You should be dead right now, which was 59 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 3: kind of like, oh, there's something going on. It turns 60 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 3: out my lungs is filled up with blood clots. They 61 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 3: gave me twenty four hours to live. They told me, 62 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 3: you've got to call your family. As I'm trying to 63 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,519 Speaker 3: call my wife, my wife is calling me and she says, hey, 64 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 3: I got a call from the Mayo Clinic and they 65 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 3: think I have lung cancer. So literally like they're wheeling 66 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 3: me into an ICU of twenty four hours live and 67 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 3: my wife is getting this phone call that they think 68 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:16,959 Speaker 3: she has lung cancer, which she does. She's got stage 69 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 3: four of a very rare genetic form of lung cancer. 70 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 3: And it was kind of like, you know, if we 71 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 3: both die, I need to write something for my kids. 72 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 3: I got to include their favorite recipes. I've got to 73 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 3: give them some life lessons. And it also was an 74 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 3: epiphany as well that my God, if they google me, 75 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 3: they're going to think I'm a horrible person. And so 76 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 3: it was kind of a I want you to believe 77 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 3: in God, because we believe in God, I believe in eternity. 78 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 3: I want you to so we can see each other 79 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 3: again if something happens. And also you need to actually 80 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 3: model your life of good character. Don't worry what other 81 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 3: people think, but also worry what God thinks. That was 82 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 3: kind of the genesis of the book. 83 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 1: Wow, and you survived over the twenty four hours? And 84 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: how are you doing? 85 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 2: H You know, I'm fine. My lungs. 86 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 3: I finally several years ago, got the all clear that 87 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 3: there's nothing left. There's some damage in my lungs. But 88 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 3: my wife does have cancer. She was given two years 89 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 3: to live and now almost nine years later she's still here. 90 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: Well, I'm so glad to hear that. That's really a miracle. 91 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 1: I mean, how do you when you're dealing with all 92 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: your day to day stuff and all the politics and 93 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: all the nonsense that we all kind of go through 94 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: and living on our lives on the internet. I mean, 95 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: how much perspective does what you went through give you? 96 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 2: You know, a lot, you know. 97 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 3: So we're recording this a couple of days after Rush 98 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 3: Limbaugh died. He was actually a good friend of mine 99 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 3: before I got into radio. I remember talking to him 100 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 3: one time and this was before this had happened, and said, 101 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 3: I never wanted to do a national radio show because 102 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 3: there was no chance of being number one as long 103 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 3: as he was around. 104 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 2: And he laughed. 105 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 3: He said, even if I'm dead, You're not going to 106 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 3: be as good as me, So just be yourself. 107 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 2: And so I had that actually. 108 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 3: Around this time while this happened, and I finally thought, 109 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 3: you know, I really am. I'm pretending to be this 110 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 3: biblical donkey, if you will, and jackass to people on 111 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 3: the internet, and I'm playing someone other than myself. I 112 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 3: should just be myself. And that really was kind of 113 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 3: a life turning moment for me. Was I just the 114 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,359 Speaker 3: secret to my success is I am exactly on the 115 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 3: radio and on the internet exactly as I am off 116 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 3: the radio and off the Internet. I'm a middle aged, 117 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 3: fat white dude who's perfectly comfortable being married and enjoys 118 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:39,479 Speaker 3: my kids and lives in Middle Georgia, not in Washington 119 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 3: or New York, and relate to people accordingly. 120 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: Do you can recognize a lot? 121 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:44,919 Speaker 2: You know? 122 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 3: I believe yes, it's for a guy who's mostly on 123 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 3: the radio. Yes, And it's very weird. If I go 124 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:53,479 Speaker 3: to a restaurant and I sit and I face people, 125 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 3: no one really pays attention, and the moment they hear 126 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 3: my voice and don't recognize me, it's like, I know 127 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 3: who that guy is. I actually have literally now probably 128 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 3: four times in my life, including right after the election 129 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 3: in November, I've been standing at a urinal in the 130 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 3: airport and someone recognized me and began yelling at me. 131 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:17,720 Speaker 3: Like literally, I'm peen and I'm getting yelled at by someone. 132 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 3: It it's a very weird life. 133 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 1: That's so interesting because how do they know who you are? Like? 134 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: Are they listening to conservative radio and they hate it? 135 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:26,159 Speaker 1: It's like hate listening. 136 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, to some degree, I think. So. 137 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 3: You know, I've been on I was on CNN for 138 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,599 Speaker 3: three years, on Fox for five, and occasionally still do TV. 139 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 3: So I do get recognized, and yeah, man, the people 140 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 3: who recognize me. And right after the election, when emotions 141 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 3: were raw, that guy just I mean, I'm literally just 142 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 3: trying to mind my own business and dude is yelling 143 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:48,160 Speaker 3: at me because Donald Trump won. And then, you know, 144 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 3: the same day, literally someone followed me to my car 145 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 3: when I was leaving the airport. He was so excited 146 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,039 Speaker 3: by the election. And I finally was like, I gotta 147 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 3: like win the lottery so I can find plyer for 148 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 3: private or something. 149 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 1: What's the best part about being a person. 150 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 3: Oh, you know, the kindness of strangers at the same time, 151 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:07,280 Speaker 3: the number of people who pray for my wife and 152 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 3: for me, who send notes just that pray for you today. 153 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 3: We've got a family, their kids. My wife gets a 154 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 3: note from their church regularly that she's been put on 155 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 3: their prayer list. And it's just the kindness of strangers. 156 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 3: As much as people can kind of get upset and stuff, 157 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 3: just the random kindness from individuals who they're not wealthy people. 158 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 3: They just they're reaching out and they're praying for you 159 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 3: and cheering you honor they see they buy you a beer. 160 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: I love that. That's actually, you know, worth all the 161 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: people yelling at you as Parnels, I think, yeah, maybe 162 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: it's kind of a trade off. You know, yeah, what 163 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 1: would you be doing if not this? What would be 164 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 1: the Eric ericson. 165 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 3: Plan b Oh, you know, probably cooking in a restaurant somewhere. 166 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 2: Really, I love to cook. 167 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 3: In fact, my parents thought I should go to culinary school, 168 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 3: and I was just like, this is this is what 169 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 3: I love to do. I don't want to turn it 170 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 3: into a profession. But the older I get, the more 171 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 3: I think, if if I wasn't doing radio and conservative politics, 172 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 3: I probably would be a chef somewhere. I genuinely love 173 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 3: to cook for other people. Half the stuff I make 174 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 3: I don't even eat. 175 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: I just make it for the Really, I mean, don't 176 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: you have to eat it or taste it at least? 177 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 3: I mean, yeah, yeah, you taste a little bit. But 178 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 3: I mean if I'm smoking a brisket for someone, I'm 179 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 3: pretty sure I've got it right so I can give 180 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 3: it to them and or a cake or something. But yeah, 181 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 3: I just I love to cook. On Sundays. Several years ago, 182 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 3: my wife is like, you're live in an isolated existence, 183 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 3: you don't have a lot of friends. Start inviting people over, 184 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:34,319 Speaker 3: so on Sundays, I invite a group of friends over. 185 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 3: We saw on my front porch, watch sports, smoke cigars 186 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 3: and drink bourbon. And I cook every week. This past 187 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 3: Sunday I roasted a pork loin and made Cuban sandwiches, 188 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 3: and the week before I did a brisket, and the 189 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 3: week before that, I did fried shrimp tacos, and I 190 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 3: just I love to do it for people. 191 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 1: That sounds amazing. I mean, your wife had to pressure 192 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 1: you to have friends. 193 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 2: Over though, yeah she really did. 194 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:57,439 Speaker 1: Like all lesbians, I guess. 195 00:08:57,760 --> 00:08:59,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, I just you know, I do. 196 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 3: It is kind of an isolated existence, and I pay 197 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 3: to go to a gym to work out by myself 198 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 3: because I tried going with other people and they're like, oh, 199 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 3: let's talk politics while I'm trying to do a burpie 200 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 3: and not pute my guts up. So I just live 201 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:18,679 Speaker 3: somewhat of a private life. But I enjoy it being 202 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 3: surrounded by friends and being able to cook for people. 203 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 1: A right trip to Georgia. I think it is in 204 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: my future some of that. I want to sit on 205 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 1: that front porch. What do you worry about? 206 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:36,320 Speaker 3: I worry about my kids becoming too online. I mean, 207 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 3: we try to get them to not stare at phones 208 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 3: and stuff. But I see this with friends of mine 209 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 3: who they're less and less happy because they're less and 210 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 3: less in the world around them and more in the 211 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 3: world they've created online. I mean, we can all create 212 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 3: communities of interest where everybody thinks like us and looks 213 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:52,559 Speaker 3: like us. 214 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 2: We don't know the homeless. 215 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 3: Guy down the street or our next door neighbor. I 216 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:00,120 Speaker 3: started going to seminary a number of years ago, go 217 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 3: I talk about faith on radio and figured out how 218 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 3: to go back to seminary. And one of the things 219 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 3: that has struck me for years is as a Christian, 220 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:12,320 Speaker 3: Jesus says, you love your neighbors as yourself. And when 221 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:14,679 Speaker 3: I look at that, I try to tell my friends 222 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,959 Speaker 3: that even though I may not agree with transgenderism as 223 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:20,199 Speaker 3: a philosophy or a way of life, I've got to 224 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 3: love my transgender neighbors so much when they go on vacation, 225 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 3: they leave a key at my house or something just 226 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 3: I mean, we're in a community together, and I want 227 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 3: my kids to understand that you can't just surround yourself 228 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:33,559 Speaker 3: with people who agree with you, because you're going to 229 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 3: be a shallow angry person. 230 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 1: How do you keep them kind of off of that 231 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 1: online existence. I mean, I'm asking for myself because obviously, 232 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 1: I think again, in our world, we're just online so much. 233 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: We have to keep up with the latest of what 234 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 1: people are saying and what X is. You know, character 235 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: of the Day is all of that. How do you 236 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 1: keep them away from it? 237 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 3: You know, so one, if you come to my house, 238 00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 3: you can't get into Snapchat, you can't get into Twitter 239 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 3: unless you have the password for the WiFi to be 240 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 3: able to access those websites. So my kids aren't on it. 241 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 3: We let them do Instagram and that's about it. But volunteering, 242 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 3: participating in a church community, in a religious community, it's 243 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 3: important to us having my kids involved in sports and music. 244 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 3: My daughter is a great artist. My son has taught 245 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 3: himself how to play the piano and the cello, and 246 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,679 Speaker 3: so now we're getting in lessons. But making them get 247 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 3: out of the house and get offline and actually be 248 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 3: in the world around them is important to us. You know, 249 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 3: we knew we had a problem one time when our 250 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 3: son we would as all I think real parents do, 251 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 3: babysit with an iPad, and we were going to see 252 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,560 Speaker 3: my in laws one time, my son loves maps, and 253 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 3: literally we're driving across the Chattahoochie River here in Georgia, 254 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 3: and my son's not even looking out the window. He's 255 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:49,200 Speaker 3: looking at his iPad. He says, we're about to go 256 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 3: over a river. It's like, we need to like take 257 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 3: the devices away, make me look out the car window. 258 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: But the problem, of course, is that like I'm on 259 00:11:57,080 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 1: my device, and it's kind of you know, my kids 260 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,080 Speaker 1: are like look up and talk to me, you know, 261 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: when we're trying to tell me something. Obviously I can 262 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 1: give them the advice of like stay offline. But when 263 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 1: I'm myself and so so into it a lot tougher 264 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 1: it is. 265 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 3: And I'm a bit of a hypocrite on this with 266 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 3: my kids all the time. We'll say my kids have 267 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 3: a brilliant sense of humor. It's actually a pretty dark 268 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 3: sense of humor, exactly like their father. And so I 269 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:29,040 Speaker 3: do enjoy sharing memes with my kids on Instagram a lot. 270 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 3: But you know, when we're we have we try to 271 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,840 Speaker 3: have dinner together, sit around the table, all devices facing 272 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:37,199 Speaker 3: the table or not at the table, and actually break 273 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 3: bread together like I do with friends. Where we're not 274 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:42,079 Speaker 3: staring at our devices. We're actually talking to each other, 275 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 3: and when my kids start talking, it really is just 276 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 3: the funniest part of the day. 277 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I love. 278 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:50,200 Speaker 4: That We're going to take a quick break and be 279 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 4: right back on the Carol Marcowitch Show. What advice would 280 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 4: you give your sixteen year old self if you had to, 281 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 4: you know, offer yourself some. 282 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 2: Thoughts honestly, to exercise. 283 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 3: I was never a big into exercise when I was 284 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 3: growing up and now trying to lose weight to get 285 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 3: back in shape, tell my sixteen year old self just 286 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 3: get out and take a walk. You know, we had it, 287 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 3: I guess to a degree easier. We didn't have the internet, 288 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 3: at least I didn't when I was growing up as 289 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 3: a sixteen year old. But get outside and enjoy nature 290 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:27,079 Speaker 3: is something I would have told myself as a kid 291 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 3: instead of sitting behind my Nintendo playing video games. 292 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: That's interesting. I feel like kids just naturally exercise all 293 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 1: the time. I would say, maybe just keep going. But yeah, 294 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 1: I definitely was never a big working out person either, 295 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: and it would have been good to start at sixteen 296 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: if somebody. 297 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:47,439 Speaker 3: Else you know, so I grew up in Dubai and 298 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 3: then move back to South Louisiana, So it was either 299 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 3: hot and dry or hot and humid, and either way 300 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:53,319 Speaker 3: it was hot and I just wanted to stay inside. 301 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:57,840 Speaker 1: What are some changes you've seen in the conservative movement 302 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:00,760 Speaker 1: over your career, Like, what do you what do you 303 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 1: think is good about the changes? Let's start there. 304 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 3: Actually, you know, okay, So what I think is good 305 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 3: about the changes is that it is much more communal 306 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 3: in that because of the way the Internet works, there 307 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 3: are a wider swath of people across the nation who 308 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 3: have a say in what it means to be a 309 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 3: conservative in what direction it goes. It's less of an 310 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 3: elitist movement than I think it used to be in 311 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 3: the sixties, seventies and early eighties. 312 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 1: And the worst part. 313 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 3: That also it's conservatives are herding cats more than Democrats 314 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 3: because we are more individualistic. At the same time, I 315 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 3: think probably the worst part is there are a lot 316 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 3: of voices that have invaded the conservative movement that are 317 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 3: more there for profiting off the movement than committed to 318 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 3: the movement. And I think the Internet has caused all 319 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 3: of us, myself included, to lose a level of discernment 320 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 3: we went once had as to the voices we should 321 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 3: listen to and the ideas that we should be fostering 322 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 3: as opposed to festering. 323 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: Is it possible for the tech to get too big? 324 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, I definitely think so. I think there's some people 325 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 3: who want it smaller than it should be. There are 326 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 3: people who definitely want it too big. Not all ideas 327 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 3: are compatible with freedom and liberty, and I think a 328 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 3: conservative movement's got to be family focused and committed to 329 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 3: individual responsibility and individualism. This idea that I think some 330 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 3: people are trying to infect the movement with that we 331 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 3: need to be some level of Christian nationalist deocracy or 332 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 3: Catholic governance in some way. I think there is a 333 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 3: growing disrespect for the individual family within parts of the 334 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 3: conservative movement. 335 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 2: That's dangerous. 336 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 3: That at the end of the day, the free market 337 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 3: is you and me operating at arm's length to decide 338 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 3: what's best for our family, and inevitably we wind up 339 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 3: through a series of compromises in the free market doing well, 340 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 3: but having some sort of populous pullet bureau pulling the 341 00:15:56,880 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 3: levers and flipping the switches is as doomed to failure 342 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 3: as it is on the left. 343 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 1: Are you hopeful about the future of the conservative movement. 344 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 2: I am. 345 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 3: I mean, I'm hopeful because I've read the end of 346 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 3: the book. I know how it ends, and I think 347 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 3: people of faith are going to turn out okay in 348 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 3: the end. I do think that there's a danger in 349 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 3: us making an idol of our country and wanting things 350 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 3: to be a certain way. I hear people say all 351 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 3: the time, still, what is conservatism? Conservatives like your first 352 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 3: Amendment right that Jade Vans just lectured Europe about as 353 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 3: a great example. 354 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 2: But at the same time, I do. 355 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 3: Think that there are people who have a vision of 356 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 3: the country that is an idealized vision that never really was, 357 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 3: and the danger is trying to impose that vision on 358 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 3: everyone else. 359 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:44,800 Speaker 1: What do you think Rush would be saying right now? 360 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 1: Would he be excited about. 361 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 2: Where we are? Yeah? 362 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 3: I think he would be having a blash, just just 363 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 3: laughing at both the frenzy on the right. And also 364 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 3: I do think one thing that Rushed at a very 365 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 3: good job that people in the conservative movement have forgotten 366 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 3: is the other side is right for laughter. We don't 367 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 3: need to be angry at them. I mean, it's actually 368 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:06,640 Speaker 3: kind of hilarious the insanity that has infected the left. 369 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:08,440 Speaker 3: We should be mocking them and laughing them. 370 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think mockery is actually way underutilized by the right. 371 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 1: I think that that has to be how we attack 372 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: the left. I think in a joyful fashion. Making fun 373 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: of them is often the way to go. 374 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,720 Speaker 3: This anger and even some of the unhealthy anti Semitism 375 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:28,160 Speaker 3: that's just cropping up in parts of the right, that's 376 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 3: doomed to failure, and it should fail. To see some 377 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 3: people voices on the right suddenly sounding very anti Semitic 378 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 3: these days, I think we have to police our movement 379 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 3: and drive those voices out. 380 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:43,959 Speaker 1: I mean, I obviously agree, but I also I'm hopeful 381 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 1: because I think that a lot of that is only online. 382 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:50,199 Speaker 1: Like when I go the deeper, the red the area 383 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:54,199 Speaker 1: is the more pro Israel, a pro Jew or you know, 384 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: just generally not antisemitic. It is I think where you're 385 00:17:56,840 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: seeing these anti Semitic outbursts or you know, dominantly in 386 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:03,080 Speaker 1: blue areas, and I think on our side it's still 387 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 1: and you know, in my Jewish world, when I say this, 388 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 1: people think I'm being naive or something, but I think 389 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:12,880 Speaker 1: I really do think the more conservative areas are safer 390 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:13,719 Speaker 1: for Jews. 391 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 3: You know, I tend to agree with you as well 392 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 3: in that, and I do think it is mostly online. 393 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:21,160 Speaker 3: And I think the danger for the right right now 394 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 3: is much like the left was in twenty fifteen or so, 395 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 3: that we think that what happens on teter is reality, 396 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:31,119 Speaker 3: and I've seen more and more younger guys on the 397 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,679 Speaker 3: right say that, no, actually, what's happening online is a 398 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 3: reflection reality. I don't think it is. And I do 399 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 3: think that in the heartland outside of New York and DC, 400 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 3: people tend to really get along regardless of their politics, 401 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 3: and they have the backs of their Jewish neighbors as well. 402 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 1: Yeah. But other thing that I'm worried about on the right, 403 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 1: and maybe you are too, is just this whole you know, 404 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 1: it's sort of the Andrew Tate thing, but it's like 405 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:02,159 Speaker 1: that don't get married message to men. I find that 406 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 1: that is growing on the right, and that is something 407 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 1: I feel like I'm worried about leaping into real life 408 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:09,440 Speaker 1: because our marriage rates are already into decline. 409 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 3: What do you think, Yeah, listen, I'm glad you said that. 410 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 3: And this is again, it's where my fear is that 411 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 3: there are so many people who take what's happening online 412 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 3: and try to impose it offline or translate it offline. 413 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:24,879 Speaker 3: And the marriage movement is something that I worry about. 414 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:28,880 Speaker 3: There are helpful signs offline though, about the number of 415 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 3: young people who are going back to religious institutions, to 416 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 3: synagogue tipples and churches, who are trying to reconnect with 417 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 3: their faith. And that's a data point that does give 418 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 3: me some hope on this that we have these cycles 419 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 3: of life, and it's reflective in the West right now, 420 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:49,399 Speaker 3: a birth decline across the Western world. But I do 421 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 3: think there's an opportunity for it to rebound, and a 422 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 3: younger generation that actually is more connected to its faith 423 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 3: probably is where it's going to happen. 424 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:00,679 Speaker 1: I love that optimism because I think we really need it. 425 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:03,640 Speaker 1: We need that rebound, and I think that the right 426 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:06,399 Speaker 1: needs to be driving the conversation where marriage is a 427 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: good thing for both men and women. We need to 428 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 1: get back to it and have those numbers go up. 429 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 1: You know, I'm hopeful, but I definitely am concerned too. 430 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 2: Right. 431 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:19,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, there's a lot of data out there that does 432 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 3: give me hope for the younger generation, and it's one 433 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 3: of those weird cyclical things where you go through, like 434 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 3: with kids and group work, you have a generation that 435 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:29,680 Speaker 3: wants to collaborate, wants to do group work. 436 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:30,880 Speaker 2: And then you have these individualists. 437 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,640 Speaker 3: And I see it in my kids that their generation 438 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:36,399 Speaker 3: right now is very their individual thinkers. They don't like 439 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 3: group work, but they're also much more committed to institutions 440 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 3: than kids just a few years older than them. 441 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:46,040 Speaker 1: I love hearing that. Thank you, Eric. This has been 442 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: so amazing for my last question that I ask all 443 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:52,119 Speaker 1: my guests leave us here with your best tip for 444 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: my listeners on how they can improve their lives. 445 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 3: Know your actual neighbors if you live in an apartment complex, 446 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,919 Speaker 3: if you live in a community, actually know the people 447 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 3: you live next to and try to have some even 448 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 3: mild relationship with them, so that I mean, your Facebook 449 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:12,399 Speaker 3: friend is not going to come take care of you 450 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 3: if you're sick, but your next door neighbor might. So 451 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 3: you want to rebuild your community, I mean, look to Jeremiah, 452 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:20,320 Speaker 3: seek the welfare of the community in which you live, 453 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:21,720 Speaker 3: because there you'll find your welfare. 454 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 1: Love it. I have to go meet some neighbors for sure. 455 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:27,359 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Eric for coming on. He's Eric Ericson. 456 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:30,159 Speaker 1: Read him, check him out. Such a great voice on 457 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:33,119 Speaker 1: the conservative side. And I just I've been listening to 458 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:35,199 Speaker 1: you for years and I really loved having you on. 459 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 4: Thank you, thank you, thanks so much, Thanks so much 460 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:40,160 Speaker 4: for joining us on the Carol Marca Woich Show. 461 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:42,400 Speaker 1: Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.