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