1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: My goodness, is that sunny? Sunny? Thank you for the 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 1: wonder in your face. During one of our interviews, I 3 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: surprised Raffie with a special guest. Oh ma, look this 4 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: is Sunny. Hi, Hi is sunny. And who else? My 5 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: wife val joined too. It's so wonderful to meet you. 6 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 1: Pleasure her entire life. She's been listening to you, Raffie. 7 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: At this moment. Through the screen, I see a version 8 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: of Raffie that I haven't really seen up close before. 9 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:46,279 Speaker 1: I wish I could hold her. Oh, that would be 10 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 1: the best to lovely. Look at Look at how alert 11 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: and awake she is. Wow. He transforms into Raffie the 12 00:00:55,560 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: children's entertainer, and he pulls out all the stops. Thanks 13 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:07,399 Speaker 1: so Lord, thanks for their sun in the sky. He sings, 14 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: he talks in silly voices, he barks like a dog. 15 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: He's in his element, and I can't help but think 16 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 1: about how he never had kids of his own. It's 17 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: everyone's personal choice, really, you know. In my case, my 18 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:33,400 Speaker 1: albums felt like my kids. The amount of labor or 19 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 1: the effort, you know, taking care of them as they 20 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 1: as they came into the world. Even though Rappie didn't 21 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 1: raise his own kids in a way he raised us. 22 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: So many people associate him with their favorite childhood memories. 23 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: But is that enough? You know, are you only just 24 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: going to remember me for my six little ducks and 25 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: apples and bananas and baby bug? Or are you going 26 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: to look at the rest of my life as well? 27 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: Are you going to look at my second career, my 28 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 1: child honoring work. What about my thirty years as a 29 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: climate activist? Will you take a look at where all 30 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 1: this music and you know, advocacy, activism was coming from. 31 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 1: What what was it about? Will you see the coherence 32 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:33,679 Speaker 1: in it? The Earth and Child link. I'm Chris Garcia 33 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: and this is Finding Raffie, a ten part series from 34 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: My Heart Radio and Fatherly in partnership with Rococo Punch 35 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: about the life, philosophy, and the work of Raffie, the 36 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 1: man behind the music. For the last two years, Raffie, 37 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: who's seventy three, has been writing out the pandemic at 38 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: home on a small island off the coast of Vancouver 39 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:03,639 Speaker 1: with his dog Luna. No concerts, not much socializing. If 40 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: you're looking for Raffie, your best bet is Twitter. He's 41 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: super active there promoting his organization, the Raffie Foundation for 42 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 1: child honoring and expressing his thoughts on all sorts of things, 43 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 1: climate change, vaccines, fascism, and the war on Ukraine. In 44 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: a recent tweet, he called the war genocidal and referred 45 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: to Vladimir Putin's actions as one man's evil epic harm 46 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: in Russia and beyond. But he also life tweets ice 47 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: hockey games and shares pictures of the sunrise. And he's 48 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 1: still making music, still writing songs with a message. Don't 49 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 1: people marching striking for climate black lives matter? Of course 50 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 1: they matter. Lack loves matter to me in this time 51 00:03:52,920 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: of turning, this time of yearning feel the way of democracy. 52 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: For someone who has spent a lifetime connecting with people, 53 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 1: I imagine the isolation has been especially hard and it's 54 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: given him ample time to think, especially about how he 55 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 1: wants to be remembered. Here's my producer Andrea, asking him 56 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:24,039 Speaker 1: about that. What do you hope your legacy is. I've 57 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 1: been toying with the idea of asking my fans how 58 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: they would celebrate my passing. It's not a question that 59 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: one would lightly put to one's fans. If one day 60 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:45,160 Speaker 1: you hear on the news celebrated children's entertainer Raphie has 61 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 1: passed away at the age of blah blah blah from 62 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:53,040 Speaker 1: whatever melody was right. I imagine there would be a 63 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 1: couple of days of outpourings of love from fans, you 64 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 1: know how it is that you hear in media and 65 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 1: so on, and then life goes on as it should. 66 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: It's just the way things are right. And what I've 67 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: been wondering is, and I hope that you can sense 68 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 1: this isn't my ego speaking. What I'm wondering is if 69 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: tens of millions of people have my music living in 70 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: their hearts and minds in a profound way. You know, 71 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 1: those people who say that my music was the soundtrack 72 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: of their childhood, and that they're younger hearing it still 73 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:35,360 Speaker 1: every day from a very young age in their formative years. 74 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:39,719 Speaker 1: So my question is, might there be a way of 75 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: a It's an emotional question. Might there be a way 76 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 1: of guiding or or a way of conspiring together how 77 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: my passing might be held in the hearts of minds 78 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:00,599 Speaker 1: of people so as to move them to make the 79 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: bold choices towards planetary survival in the climate emergency age, 80 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: towards sustainability and restoration of ecosystems and the ecosystems on 81 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:17,840 Speaker 1: which our lives depend on this beleaguered planet. Is there 82 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 1: a way that my passing conserve a greater purpose than 83 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 1: just saying some nice things to me, you know, uh 84 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 1: in public for a couple of days. That's kind of 85 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 1: what I'm asking. Of course, I can't answer Raphael's question. 86 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: I want to, but I can't. And what strikes me 87 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: the most when hearing him contemplate his legacy, is that 88 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 1: this is a man looking back on a life, a 89 00:06:56,480 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 1: full life, a meaningful life, and he's will never stopped 90 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: wondering can I do more? It was almost fifty years 91 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: ago when Ralphie started making music for kids, and since then, 92 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: generations of his fans have passed his music down to 93 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 1: their children. Ralphie calls them Beluga grads, kind of like 94 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 1: Jimmy Buffett and his parrot heads. I came across a 95 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 1: variety of them, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, poet Leopoldine, core 96 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: filmmaker Sean k rob and Chris Hayes of MSNBC. There's 97 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 1: a specific genius required in adults who make stuff the 98 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: kids love, and he has it clearly you get older 99 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: and then you have your own kids, and lo and 100 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: behold you find that Baby Beluga is still absolutely slaps 101 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: as the kids say, I could be like unconscious and 102 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: be reciting, you know, Baby Beluga. Mina Harris is a 103 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 1: Beluga grad to. She's a lawyer, activists, children's book author, 104 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:07,559 Speaker 1: and founder of the fashion and entertainment company Phenomenal. Shake 105 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 1: my silly is out, apples and bananas will be all 106 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: be woo um down by the bay. Oh my god, 107 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 1: we're seeing that in our house so much. And I 108 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: think Raphy's adult fans, those who are sharing his music 109 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 1: with their own children, like Chris and Mina, they have 110 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: something in common similar parenting values. It's really about, you know, 111 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: respecting children right, respecting their big ideas, their their feelings, 112 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 1: and really understanding and appreciating that they're quite capable and insightful. 113 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,680 Speaker 1: Talk about your feelings, talk about when you're sad, don't 114 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:46,680 Speaker 1: bottle things up inside, listen, be kind, reach out to people, 115 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 1: enjoy word play and funny jokes and rhymes, and be 116 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: curious about the world. And all those values are like 117 00:08:56,040 --> 00:09:03,599 Speaker 1: to me really enduring the way I was raised and 118 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 1: the way that we're definitely you know, trying to raise 119 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: our own kids. Is that you know, you don't baby them, right, 120 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: We don't sugarcoat things. We never had a kiddie table 121 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:15,319 Speaker 1: in my house, right, Like you sat at the dinner 122 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 1: table and you were expected to, you know, yes, listen 123 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 1: and learn, and if you had a contribution to make, 124 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 1: to do that and you know, to have a well 125 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 1: supported argument and to you know, be ready to have 126 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 1: a conversation engaging you know, kids in that right and 127 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: not assuming that you know, they can't understand or they 128 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 1: can't make some sort of contribution. You know. I think 129 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: his contribution as well is really about, you know, helping 130 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 1: kids to sort of process and embrace this complicated world, 131 00:09:47,160 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 1: but doing so with joy and and positivity. Yeah, you know, 132 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:24,079 Speaker 1: I've always loved Raffe's music growing up. Loved his albums, 133 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: all of his songs, but Baby Blugo was extra special. 134 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: I loved that song. Lindsay Monroe isn't just a Raffe fan. 135 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 1: She's also a children's musician. I am kind. I'll be 136 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:41,560 Speaker 1: your friend, will you be mine? I can share a smile. 137 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 1: I am kind. When they first met, Rafi encouraged Lindsay 138 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: to write a song for kids like her children, Jack, 139 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: Emma and mem who all have autism. So I went 140 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 1: home and I wrote I Am Kind, which is the 141 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: title song to my first album. I was so nervous 142 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: to share it with him. I thought, Oh, my goodness, 143 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: I don't know if this is any good. You know, 144 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: he's such a children's music icon. But I sent him 145 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 1: the song and he loved it, and from there he 146 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:16,959 Speaker 1: just encouraged me to keep writing. I Am Brave, I 147 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 1: do it feel afraid I can do the hard things. 148 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 1: After Rapie heard the song, he signed Lindsay to Troubadour. 149 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 1: She's the only other artist on his label. I think 150 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:35,679 Speaker 1: that while I do right with narrow diverse kids and 151 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 1: families in mind, I really do right for all children. 152 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: I try to have a message, like a social story 153 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 1: in my songs. Uh For example, on my newest album, 154 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 1: I have a song called flexible and easy Going. And 155 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 1: while you know my neurodiverse family certainly needs that reminder 156 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:58,199 Speaker 1: to always be flexible in all situations and easy going, 157 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: I think that all children really could benefit from that reminder. 158 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: So my music is for everyone. Although I write with 159 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: autistic children in mind, I feel myself getting upset, and 160 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: I remember not to fret. Those things can change without 161 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: me knowing. But I could be flexible in need see going, Yeah, 162 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 1: I can be flexible in need. Ze Going. Music really 163 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:37,080 Speaker 1: activates like both the left and right atmospheres of your brain, 164 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 1: and it's it's a good way to help really remember 165 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 1: a lesson and really um internalize it. So I think 166 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 1: that in singing about these things, the melody sticks in 167 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:51,319 Speaker 1: your head and you sing it to yourself throughout the day, 168 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 1: and it's a great way to remember the message that 169 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 1: the song is carrying. Yeah, I could be flexible in need. 170 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 1: Lindsay is clearly an extension of Raffi's musical tradition, and 171 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:13,439 Speaker 1: by signing her to Troubadour, producing her albums and collaborating 172 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: with her, it feels like Raffie is giving her his 173 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: seal of approval that Lindsay and other artists like her 174 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 1: are what Raffi wants the future of children's music to be. 175 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 1: But Raffie and lindsay style of music isn't at the 176 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 1: forefront of the genre anymore. Children's music has blown up 177 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:32,200 Speaker 1: since Raffie came into the picture in the seventies, and 178 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 1: that singer songwriter vibe is up against the massive Disney machine, 179 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 1: huge hit makers like Pink Fong, Congratulations You Know Have 180 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 1: Baby Sharks Stuck in Your Head, and the behea myth 181 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:47,319 Speaker 1: known as Coco Melon, among so many others. Rafie continues 182 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:50,079 Speaker 1: to push for a more child centric and non commercial 183 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 1: path in children's entertainment, and Lindsay is the perfect person 184 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: to follow in Raphy's footsteps. But she just has her 185 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 1: own natural songwriting style which I love and love to support. 186 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 1: I think she has an important voice and the niche 187 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 1: of kindness and caring that now hopefully we can spread 188 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:16,239 Speaker 1: through this music, because we sure needed in our society. 189 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 1: Talking with his fans, learning about what they've gone on 190 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: to do, who they've gone on to be. I can 191 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: see Raffie's legacy in action. It may not lead to 192 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: the elimination of fossil fuels or a world without conflict, 193 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: but his life's work is evident in the day to day, 194 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: around the kitchen table, at singalongs and at bedtime. It's 195 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: a good start when your goal is to heal the world. 196 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 1: Since last June, Raffie and I have been getting to 197 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 1: know each other. I read his autobiography I've listened to 198 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 1: his music and watched his specials, and of course we've 199 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 1: had several video interviews where we've dug really deep. I 200 00:14:57,440 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: don't know if you know this about me, but one 201 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 1: of the things I'm known for, other than talking about 202 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 1: my Cuban American heritage and about growing up between two cultures, 203 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: is that I performed as my father was dying and 204 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 1: um my father had Alzheimer's for about ten years, and 205 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 1: and it was it was devastating. I performed hours after 206 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: I found out that my dad only had a couple 207 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 1: of days left to live. And as an artist and 208 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 1: creative person and a person who wears my heart on 209 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 1: my sleeve, I had to go out and I had 210 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 1: to perform. So when I was reading your book and 211 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: I found out that you were you were touring, when 212 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: you learned that your parents were seriously ill, like, what 213 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: was what was that like for you? Well, I, you know, 214 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: lived on the West Coast. They were in Toronto, and 215 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: I had concerts to do. I took my responsibility to 216 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: my fans, of course, seriously, and I tried to do 217 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: whatever I could while balancing flying to Toronto whenever possible 218 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 1: to look in on both my father and my mother 219 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 1: in their final weeks. I couldn't know that it was 220 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: their final weeks, but I you know, I knew I 221 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 1: had to see them as often as I could, so 222 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: I really took the time to do that. Ralphie opens 223 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 1: his autobiography with the death of his parents. He writes 224 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 1: about his mother, Lucy's diagnosis inoperable abdominal cancer. In their 225 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 1: final days, Lucy and Ralphie's father Ardo, we're both hospitalized. 226 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 1: Ralphie visited them frequently, but he didn't make it home 227 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: in time to say a final goodbye. Lucy and Artokavukian 228 00:16:54,320 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 1: died on Thursday October, within twelve hours of each other. 229 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: What did you learn about yourself after your parents died? 230 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:18,679 Speaker 1: It's too broad a question. I'm sorry, You're right, it 231 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 1: is very it's too broad of a question. There's so 232 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:26,479 Speaker 1: much to unpack an event like that. Well, what aspect 233 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: of it? Am I going to speak to it? In 234 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:30,960 Speaker 1: this moment? Like, I mean, sure I remember a lot, 235 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:35,919 Speaker 1: but like, what would you have me say? Your father 236 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:40,640 Speaker 1: passes and you're you're suddenly a changed human being? Both 237 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 1: my parents passed on the same day. That was the 238 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 1: That's what the stunning event was was that I was 239 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 1: suddenly without either parents, and that's there's no preparation for that. 240 00:17:54,720 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 1: So I did my best. I started writing my autobiography, 241 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 1: is what I did. I felt it was the end 242 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:19,440 Speaker 1: of an era. Well, you you dedicated your autobiography to them, 243 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:23,200 Speaker 1: of course, and you spent a lot of your life 244 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 1: trying to understand your childhood and your relationship with them. 245 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:32,399 Speaker 1: Did you feel closer to an understanding after they passed? 246 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: After you were in the Your understanding of my understanding 247 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 1: of both my parents and my life with them, you know, 248 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,080 Speaker 1: was something that grew and evolved over the decades, and 249 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:46,480 Speaker 1: after they passed, that process kept on happening. Of course. 250 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:54,919 Speaker 1: You know, I understood better perhaps why they tried so 251 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 1: hard to keep the Armenian heritage alive in my life, 252 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 1: you know. But it principally I was filled with the 253 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,639 Speaker 1: longing that came out of the love I had for 254 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 1: them and the love that they had for me. I 255 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:16,160 Speaker 1: was clearly missing them terribly, and it's unlike any other 256 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 1: experience in life to lose one's parents, and I am. 257 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 1: I was glad to have an autobiography to write. Actually, 258 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 1: now that I think of it, that was a wonderful 259 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: way of remembering them, remembering their stories. I wanted to 260 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: pay respect to their life experience even as I wrote 261 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: about mine, because their life experience was formative for me, 262 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,639 Speaker 1: not only as a young child, but in my adolescence 263 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 1: and adulthood. So hopefully I did some of that justice. 264 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 1: In the book, you write about reconnecting with your Armenian 265 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 1: heritage and finding a box full of artwork and textbooks 266 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:06,439 Speaker 1: after your parents died. What can you tell me what 267 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: you found and what that was like. There were books 268 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 1: of Armenian paintings, master painters that and a little note 269 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 1: from my mother saying too, Raffie from from Lucy with love, 270 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 1: and so, you know, very touching and it was very moving. 271 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 1: These were the gifts you know that I inherited, souvenirs 272 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 1: from my parents life are cherished part of my memories 273 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: and they they are in my home now and they 274 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 1: nourish me. What happens after our parents die is that 275 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:59,360 Speaker 1: we change our relationship with them, as we must, because 276 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:02,400 Speaker 1: that relations and ship now is in our minds and hearts. 277 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 1: So we bring meaning to the past relationship with them 278 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:14,679 Speaker 1: by the new reflections and contemplations of what it felt 279 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 1: like to be their offspring, and what we might have 280 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: wanted in this way or that way that we didn't 281 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 1: possibly get. We're making meaning of the past as we 282 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 1: rolled it into the future of a relationship that exists 283 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:32,639 Speaker 1: in our memory of who these people were. It's a 284 00:21:32,720 --> 00:22:11,440 Speaker 1: beautiful process if you think about it. Before my dad's death, 285 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 1: the month of February was just a regular ass month. 286 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:27,240 Speaker 1: M Now it's biblical. My dad was born on February 287 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 1: four and died on February seventy five years later. Then 288 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:38,679 Speaker 1: last year, the month became even more loaded because Sonny 289 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 1: was born on February six. The lead up to her 290 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 1: birth was already a roller coaster of emotions, and that day, 291 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 1: February six, should have been the best day of my life, 292 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:03,120 Speaker 1: but it wasn't, because that was the day I almost 293 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:12,159 Speaker 1: lost my wife m After Sunny was born, Val and 294 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:17,439 Speaker 1: I were overjoyed, crying happy tears. But then Val started 295 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 1: losing color and losing a lot of blood, and that 296 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: beautiful moment turned terrifying. The staff at the birthing center 297 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:28,920 Speaker 1: had to call nine one one, and Val was rushed 298 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:32,360 Speaker 1: to the hospital. I wasn't sure if I would ever 299 00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:45,800 Speaker 1: see her again, and I was left with our baby, 300 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: a brand new little girl I didn't want to name, 301 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:59,120 Speaker 1: just in case I had to name her. Val At 302 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:01,439 Speaker 1: that moment, I remembered the story my aunt told me 303 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:04,199 Speaker 1: on a trip to Cuba. I told the story to 304 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:09,920 Speaker 1: my producer Andrea during the anniversary week last month. When 305 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 1: I went to Cuba and talk to my aunt, my 306 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 1: dad's sister. She told me that my dad was born 307 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 1: feet first and almost killed his mom and because of that, 308 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:25,720 Speaker 1: his dad resented him the rest of his life. But 309 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:30,199 Speaker 1: my dad's dad was shitty to him because of the 310 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 1: effect he had on his mom. And in that moment, 311 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 1: knowing that that would be possible, I knew that I 312 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:43,760 Speaker 1: wouldn't do it to Sunny in case whatever happened. They 313 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: don't really tell you how close death is to birth, 314 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 1: but every time, it's like so precarious, you know. And 315 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: it was the most frightening day of and the saddest day, 316 00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:59,399 Speaker 1: Like I would say, it's I'd never known a deep 317 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:04,960 Speaker 1: sadness and feel like that since my dad. But none 318 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 1: of that came in the way of how I was much. 319 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 1: I was going to love this little girl, you know, 320 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 1: because I know my dad had a shitties childhood and 321 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:20,360 Speaker 1: I never knew why, but the way my aunt explained it, 322 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:22,919 Speaker 1: it seemed like it was it stemmed from the first 323 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 1: moment he walked into this earth and having a complicated 324 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:30,720 Speaker 1: birth with his mom, And I'm like, I don't care 325 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:37,240 Speaker 1: about that. I'm going to love her beyond this. It 326 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:39,439 Speaker 1: almost felt like I was gonna love her for my 327 00:25:39,520 --> 00:26:10,280 Speaker 1: dad and of course for her everybody. Oh my god, no, Sunny. Yeah. 328 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:20,600 Speaker 1: This February we celebrated Sunny's first birthday. The year has 329 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:24,439 Speaker 1: been filled with sleepless nights and tremendous joys, and I 330 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 1: got to see Sunny grow from the sweet, squishy, little 331 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:31,480 Speaker 1: baby blob to a kid who's got personality and sass 332 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:52,200 Speaker 1: and the best smile in the world. Yeah, aside from 333 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:55,280 Speaker 1: face masks and changing diapers, a few things in the 334 00:26:55,359 --> 00:26:58,040 Speaker 1: last year have been a constant for me. But for 335 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:02,120 Speaker 1: the last nine months, I've all so had Raffi. It's 336 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 1: been both beautiful and strange to know that there's a 337 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:07,359 Speaker 1: man in Western Canada that I could talk to you 338 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:12,520 Speaker 1: about music, childhood, parenting, and our pasts, a man beloved 339 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:17,000 Speaker 1: by generations of children, teachers, and parents. But I got 340 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:20,159 Speaker 1: to know, not just the musician or the entertainer. I 341 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:23,720 Speaker 1: got to know Rafi Cavukian, the man with a complex 342 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:27,280 Speaker 1: history and a wholehearted love for the world around him. 343 00:27:27,320 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 1: It's a version of Raffie. He sometimes shares with the world, 344 00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:33,719 Speaker 1: but that's often overshadowed by a song about a baby whale. 345 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:38,000 Speaker 1: When we were talking about legacy, I also asked him 346 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:40,840 Speaker 1: about how he wanted to be remembered as a person. 347 00:27:41,640 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 1: Icon decide as Rafi Cavukian, the Egyptian born kid who 348 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:48,480 Speaker 1: made his first guitar out of a box and rubber 349 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:51,679 Speaker 1: bands and obsessed over his hair as a teenager, the 350 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:56,600 Speaker 1: son of Ardo and Lucy, brother to Ownig and Annie. Well, 351 00:27:56,720 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 1: I want to be remembered as the playful person that 352 00:27:59,119 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 1: I am, the lifelong learner, the curious child. I think 353 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:10,280 Speaker 1: a deeper question, which is whose am I? Whose child 354 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:14,960 Speaker 1: am I? Yes, I'm the biological child of two parents, 355 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:21,159 Speaker 1: but I'm also the child of life's longing for itself. 356 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:24,320 Speaker 1: As Kelly GiB Brown said in his book The Prophet 357 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 1: Gibbron said, your children are not your own. They come 358 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:33,439 Speaker 1: through you, but they're not of you. I took that 359 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 1: in and I asked the question then, of whom am I? 360 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:43,080 Speaker 1: And the answer isn't very difficult. Really, it leads you 361 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:49,280 Speaker 1: to the mystery of existence, of creation. I'm a child 362 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 1: of the universe. I'm a child of creation. Oh okay, 363 00:28:56,360 --> 00:29:03,400 Speaker 1: what a rich hairca really all right? How expensive? How 364 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: how beautiful? And how connecting to all of life on 365 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:15,719 Speaker 1: this earth. You see, after nearly a year of reflection 366 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:20,600 Speaker 1: and introspection about Raffie and his work, this sentiment is 367 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 1: what will stick with me the most from our time together. 368 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:35,320 Speaker 1: My child is not me. When Sunny came along, I 369 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 1: could not wait to see what kind of person she'd 370 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:40,880 Speaker 1: grow into. Would she be left handed and silly like me, 371 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:45,080 Speaker 1: or really tall and love ranch dressing like Val. When 372 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:47,680 Speaker 1: she figured out how to unlock my phone, I thought, Wow, 373 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:50,720 Speaker 1: she's going to be a cyber security expert. And when 374 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 1: I saw her in a swimming pool for the first time, 375 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:57,000 Speaker 1: I thought she was destined for the Summer Olympics. And yeah, 376 00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:04,760 Speaker 1: there was fear there too. Would my trauma become her trauma? 377 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:10,120 Speaker 1: But what Rafie is saying is that Sonny is already 378 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 1: a whole person. She'll find her own path in this world, 379 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 1: and it will be her own. And if we discount 380 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 1: our kids as half formed people, we miss including them 381 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:25,320 Speaker 1: where it matters the most. If we want to create 382 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:29,040 Speaker 1: a better, healthier world, we need to see our smallest, 383 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 1: most vulnerable members of society as people. That's what respect is. 384 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:39,120 Speaker 1: It's not just manners or civility. It's acknowledgement of our 385 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:41,920 Speaker 1: true selves, of our needs and the needs of others 386 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:47,000 Speaker 1: and of each other. Can we live holistically and not 387 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 1: in silos? Can we live in communion with each other 388 00:30:53,040 --> 00:30:59,080 Speaker 1: and not in division? Can we seek connectedness as our 389 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:05,760 Speaker 1: lack of belonging to something greater than ourselves. Can we 390 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:18,640 Speaker 1: enjoy these riches? Is this not what we're here for? Alright? 391 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 1: So any girl? Are you ready to do this? Okay, Well, 392 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:31,240 Speaker 1: here we go. The more we get together together together, 393 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:36,720 Speaker 1: The more we get together, the happy you will be. 394 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:41,480 Speaker 1: For your friends are my friends, and my friends are yours. 395 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:50,280 Speaker 1: The more we get together, the happier will be. Finding 396 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:53,120 Speaker 1: Raffie is a production of I Heart Radio and Fatherly 397 00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 1: in partnership with Rococo Punch. It's produced by Catherine Finalosa, 398 00:31:57,520 --> 00:32:01,200 Speaker 1: Meredith Hannig, and James Trout. Production and assistance from Charlotte 399 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:05,360 Speaker 1: Livingston Alex french Is our story consultant. Our senior producer 400 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:09,480 Speaker 1: is Andrea Swahe Emily foremant As our editor. Fact checking 401 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:13,560 Speaker 1: by Andrea Lopez Grusado. So many thanks to all the 402 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:16,800 Speaker 1: people who helped us make this project, including Bert Simpson, 403 00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:21,600 Speaker 1: Linda Steele, Susan Johnston, Diana Bain, Dana Etma and the 404 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:25,160 Speaker 1: team at the Raffi Foundation for Child Honoring, Stephen Kirchen, 405 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:29,479 Speaker 1: Maggie Grossberg, Donna Franken, Andrew Berman, and the teams at 406 00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:37,520 Speaker 1: the Bustle Digital Group and I Heart Radio. I also 407 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 1: want to personally thank my wife Foul and my beautiful 408 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:43,680 Speaker 1: baby Sunny, my mom and dad, I'm This, and Anna 409 00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:47,520 Speaker 1: Garcia deb and Jeff Aames, Ryan Pettigrew at Night for 410 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:52,520 Speaker 1: US Studios, and everybody at Rococo Punch and Fatherly. Rafe's 411 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:55,840 Speaker 1: music is courtesy of Troubadour Music Special thanks to Kim 412 00:32:55,920 --> 00:33:01,160 Speaker 1: Lay at Troubadour, and last, but certainly not least, thank you, Raffie. 413 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:06,600 Speaker 1: Come More We get together. Our executive producers are Jessica 414 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:10,680 Speaker 1: Alpert and John Parotti at Rococo Punch, Ty Trimble, Mike 415 00:33:10,760 --> 00:33:14,880 Speaker 1: Rothman and Jeff Eisenman at fatherly and me. Chris Garcia, 416 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:19,960 Speaker 1: thank you for listening. Are we get together, the happy 417 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:27,000 Speaker 1: will be h? I do you think