1 00:00:15,316 --> 00:00:22,236 Speaker 1: Pushkin. So the other week I was staying in a 2 00:00:22,316 --> 00:00:25,796 Speaker 1: hotel on Hollywood Boulevard for a few days. It was 3 00:00:25,836 --> 00:00:30,996 Speaker 1: a fine hotel, if not a fine hotel. Its most 4 00:00:30,996 --> 00:00:35,316 Speaker 1: compelling feature was the pool area, which looked exactly like 5 00:00:35,436 --> 00:00:40,516 Speaker 1: how people think Hollywood looks. A shimmering blue roushak plot 6 00:00:40,796 --> 00:00:43,716 Speaker 1: surrounded by lounge chairs, each holding a yellow and white 7 00:00:43,756 --> 00:00:46,436 Speaker 1: striped towel rolled up like a Swiss cake made of 8 00:00:46,596 --> 00:00:51,116 Speaker 1: terry cloth. Attractive staff flitted to and fro trays of 9 00:00:51,196 --> 00:00:55,196 Speaker 1: champagne and potato chips. I was at a cafe by 10 00:00:55,196 --> 00:01:01,116 Speaker 1: the pool, eating a salad. Shakespeare once described someone's youth 11 00:01:01,236 --> 00:01:05,676 Speaker 1: as their salad days, a time of carefree innocence. But 12 00:01:05,876 --> 00:01:09,036 Speaker 1: my salad days didn't begin until I reached middle age 13 00:01:09,956 --> 00:01:13,316 Speaker 1: and realized if I didn't start pounding vegetables, my body 14 00:01:13,316 --> 00:01:17,276 Speaker 1: would molt into a piece of uncooked dough. The sandwich 15 00:01:17,396 --> 00:01:19,756 Speaker 1: days would be a better phrase for my care for youth. 16 00:01:22,036 --> 00:01:26,156 Speaker 1: So there I was pool side, virtuously eating my raw vegetables, 17 00:01:26,516 --> 00:01:29,476 Speaker 1: as well as reading a book. It was a novel 18 00:01:29,716 --> 00:01:34,036 Speaker 1: about a formerly successful, newly middle aged man, recently single, 19 00:01:34,596 --> 00:01:39,476 Speaker 1: who decides to travel to find himself. Yeah, if it 20 00:01:39,476 --> 00:01:45,676 Speaker 1: had been a podcast, I'd have a copyright claim. Palm 21 00:01:45,756 --> 00:01:50,516 Speaker 1: Trees Swede American songbook music dribbled out some invisible speakers. 22 00:01:52,156 --> 00:01:55,596 Speaker 1: Two young couples entered the pool area, and they looked 23 00:01:55,756 --> 00:01:59,316 Speaker 1: as if they were from Central Casting, which, considering this 24 00:01:59,396 --> 00:02:03,996 Speaker 1: was LA, might have been the case. They were all slim, smiling, 25 00:02:04,116 --> 00:02:07,156 Speaker 1: and wearing black bathing suits, the men in trunks, the 26 00:02:07,196 --> 00:02:10,196 Speaker 1: women in bikinis. They called over the waiter and ordered 27 00:02:10,236 --> 00:02:13,116 Speaker 1: a round of spritzes. I looked down at my long 28 00:02:13,156 --> 00:02:16,796 Speaker 1: sleeved sweater and corduroy slacks, forked a tiddley wink of 29 00:02:16,876 --> 00:02:19,676 Speaker 1: radish into my mouth and went back to my book. 30 00:02:25,356 --> 00:02:29,556 Speaker 1: Earlier that day, I'd walked along Hollywood boulevards, concrete galaxy 31 00:02:29,596 --> 00:02:34,636 Speaker 1: of stars floating amidst the Milky Way of celebrities for tourists, 32 00:02:34,756 --> 00:02:38,916 Speaker 1: street merchants, and unhoused people. Soon I found myself in 33 00:02:38,956 --> 00:02:43,236 Speaker 1: front of the famous Hollywood landmark, Gramin's Chinese Theater, built 34 00:02:43,236 --> 00:02:47,876 Speaker 1: in nineteen twenty seven by Sid Grammin. Built to look 35 00:02:47,916 --> 00:02:50,516 Speaker 1: like a Chinese pagoda, It's set back from the street 36 00:02:50,596 --> 00:02:53,716 Speaker 1: and has kind of a courtyard outfront. The story goes 37 00:02:53,716 --> 00:02:56,036 Speaker 1: that when they were completing construction on it. Sid was 38 00:02:56,076 --> 00:02:58,876 Speaker 1: inspecting things with an actress who stepped into the wet 39 00:02:58,916 --> 00:03:03,156 Speaker 1: pavement by mistake. Instead of getting upset, Sid got an idea. 40 00:03:04,836 --> 00:03:07,556 Speaker 1: He decided he would invite celebrities to dip their hands 41 00:03:07,556 --> 00:03:10,636 Speaker 1: and feet into the pavement on purpose, and it would 42 00:03:10,676 --> 00:03:13,556 Speaker 1: serve as sort of a monument to Hollywood, the town 43 00:03:13,676 --> 00:03:17,836 Speaker 1: that lined his pockets. So the area is covered with 44 00:03:17,876 --> 00:03:20,596 Speaker 1: the feet and hands of the many famous Hollywood stars 45 00:03:20,596 --> 00:03:24,236 Speaker 1: that have come before. You can see Shirley Temple's little feet. 46 00:03:25,276 --> 00:03:28,396 Speaker 1: You can see Carrie Grants also kind of little feet. 47 00:03:29,796 --> 00:03:31,716 Speaker 1: When I was there, I saw a German tourist try 48 00:03:31,716 --> 00:03:33,956 Speaker 1: to fit her hand into scarlet to a Hanson's hand. 49 00:03:34,916 --> 00:03:37,636 Speaker 1: If you look closely, you can see the Melbrook's right 50 00:03:37,676 --> 00:03:41,756 Speaker 1: hand has an extra finger. The comedian secretly wore prosthetic 51 00:03:41,916 --> 00:03:46,276 Speaker 1: when he pressed his hand into the wet concrete. But 52 00:03:46,356 --> 00:03:48,516 Speaker 1: a keen observer would realize that for a place that's 53 00:03:48,556 --> 00:03:51,636 Speaker 1: been around since nineteen twenty seven, there really aren't that 54 00:03:51,676 --> 00:03:55,796 Speaker 1: many slabs, which is odd because stars have been dipping 55 00:03:55,796 --> 00:04:00,036 Speaker 1: their extremities in the concrete at Grammins for nearly a century. 56 00:04:00,876 --> 00:04:04,236 Speaker 1: It turns out the theater removes slabs of sidewalk from 57 00:04:04,276 --> 00:04:07,356 Speaker 1: time to time when a celebrity star is faded, or 58 00:04:07,636 --> 00:04:09,556 Speaker 1: if they just need space to make room for the 59 00:04:09,596 --> 00:04:13,596 Speaker 1: new kid in town, then the imprints of the formerly 60 00:04:13,636 --> 00:04:18,916 Speaker 1: famous are stored somewhere in the theater. I imagine that 61 00:04:18,956 --> 00:04:22,716 Speaker 1: inside Grummins is a room filled with hands and footprints 62 00:04:22,756 --> 00:04:28,556 Speaker 1: that looks like an archaeological dick stacks of concrete indentations 63 00:04:28,556 --> 00:04:31,556 Speaker 1: of people who made their literal mark on the landscape 64 00:04:31,556 --> 00:04:34,916 Speaker 1: of Hollywood and never imagined that the ground could be 65 00:04:34,916 --> 00:04:37,676 Speaker 1: pulled out from under them and they would be replaced 66 00:04:37,876 --> 00:04:46,836 Speaker 1: by someone else. Later, as I'm dutifully eating my salad 67 00:04:46,876 --> 00:04:49,636 Speaker 1: poolside at the hotel, I noticed one of the women 68 00:04:49,716 --> 00:04:52,676 Speaker 1: from the blackclad foursome emerged from the pool, and I 69 00:04:52,756 --> 00:04:56,956 Speaker 1: noticed someone else watching her. It's a silver haired stranger 70 00:04:57,676 --> 00:05:00,796 Speaker 1: who selected a lounge chair one seat away from the couples, 71 00:05:01,196 --> 00:05:04,316 Speaker 1: despite the many other available chairs around the pool. He 72 00:05:04,396 --> 00:05:06,796 Speaker 1: looks to be what would be called a silver fox, 73 00:05:07,676 --> 00:05:11,436 Speaker 1: gray hair, lean tan body, his white teeth flashed in 74 00:05:11,476 --> 00:05:15,436 Speaker 1: the sun. He smiles and appears to start talking to 75 00:05:15,476 --> 00:05:17,796 Speaker 1: the woman, while she looks on with that kind of 76 00:05:17,836 --> 00:05:20,396 Speaker 1: grimace of someone who doesn't want to be rude, but 77 00:05:20,596 --> 00:05:25,996 Speaker 1: is thinking what's going on here? Finally, her partner stands 78 00:05:26,076 --> 00:05:27,796 Speaker 1: up and puts his arm around her, and they turned 79 00:05:27,836 --> 00:05:32,116 Speaker 1: back to the other couple. The fox keeps chatting with them, 80 00:05:32,116 --> 00:05:35,036 Speaker 1: even though their body language their backs mostly turned towards 81 00:05:35,116 --> 00:05:40,516 Speaker 1: him indicate that they'd rather he didn't. At last, he 82 00:05:40,596 --> 00:05:43,916 Speaker 1: took a hint, stood up and jumped in the pool, 83 00:05:44,596 --> 00:05:48,756 Speaker 1: did a lap, and returned to his lounge chair. I 84 00:05:48,836 --> 00:05:53,356 Speaker 1: closed my book. As I returned to my room, I 85 00:05:53,436 --> 00:05:56,436 Speaker 1: walked by the couples and the silver Fox, and that's 86 00:05:56,436 --> 00:06:00,076 Speaker 1: when I recognized him. He was an actor who started 87 00:06:00,156 --> 00:06:03,076 Speaker 1: Who's the Boss, one of the most popular sitcoms of 88 00:06:03,116 --> 00:06:05,316 Speaker 1: the eighties. When I was a kid, it was on 89 00:06:05,396 --> 00:06:08,556 Speaker 1: all the time, and yet that hit shows last season 90 00:06:09,276 --> 00:06:12,916 Speaker 1: was in nineteen ninety two, which is probably before the 91 00:06:12,916 --> 00:06:17,436 Speaker 1: couple he'd been chatting with We're even born to them. 92 00:06:17,476 --> 00:06:21,716 Speaker 1: He was just a guy interrupting their pool day. As 93 00:06:21,756 --> 00:06:24,396 Speaker 1: I passed, I noticed the footprints he'd made stepping out 94 00:06:24,436 --> 00:06:32,276 Speaker 1: of the pool, evaporating in the sun. All that is 95 00:06:32,276 --> 00:06:34,436 Speaker 1: to say that novel I was reading by the pool 96 00:06:35,036 --> 00:06:38,356 Speaker 1: really good. It was called Less. It won a Pulitzer 97 00:06:39,236 --> 00:06:42,596 Speaker 1: and today I'm gonna be talking with the author. I'm 98 00:06:42,596 --> 00:06:45,756 Speaker 1: Brendan Francis Newnham. This is Not Lost, and I'll be 99 00:06:45,876 --> 00:07:01,716 Speaker 1: right back after this break. Welcome back to episode one 100 00:07:01,876 --> 00:07:05,676 Speaker 1: of Not Lost Chat, my series of conversations with fellow travelers. 101 00:07:06,076 --> 00:07:11,596 Speaker 1: I'm Brendan Francis Nunham, audio producer, journalist, dinner freeloader, and 102 00:07:12,116 --> 00:07:14,876 Speaker 1: for the next half dozen or so episodes, I'm going 103 00:07:14,956 --> 00:07:17,756 Speaker 1: to be doing something a little bit different. I will 104 00:07:17,796 --> 00:07:21,836 Speaker 1: be in a studio speaking with writers, musicians, actors, and 105 00:07:21,916 --> 00:07:26,156 Speaker 1: others about their journeys. Someday in the future I'll be 106 00:07:26,156 --> 00:07:28,076 Speaker 1: out in the field going on more journeys on my own. 107 00:07:28,516 --> 00:07:32,596 Speaker 1: But until then, we have this to enjoy. Also, since 108 00:07:32,876 --> 00:07:35,676 Speaker 1: so many of you have been asking me for practical 109 00:07:35,676 --> 00:07:39,036 Speaker 1: travel information, which if you've listened to the show, I 110 00:07:39,116 --> 00:07:42,116 Speaker 1: clearly don't have a lot of. In each of these episodes, 111 00:07:42,156 --> 00:07:45,636 Speaker 1: I've invited a frequent traveler of some renown. We will 112 00:07:45,636 --> 00:07:49,676 Speaker 1: help answer your questions. But first, about that book I 113 00:07:49,756 --> 00:07:54,036 Speaker 1: was reading by the pool in Hollywood. Less is named 114 00:07:54,196 --> 00:07:58,276 Speaker 1: after its protagonist, Arthur Less, who is a mildly successful 115 00:07:58,316 --> 00:08:00,996 Speaker 1: author who was surprised to find himself middle aged and 116 00:08:01,076 --> 00:08:05,036 Speaker 1: a Drift. The author of Less is Andrew shown Grier, 117 00:08:05,076 --> 00:08:08,596 Speaker 1: who coincidentally, I'm sure is also a novelist and travel 118 00:08:08,636 --> 00:08:12,196 Speaker 1: writer probably definitely not a drift. After he won a 119 00:08:12,276 --> 00:08:15,636 Speaker 1: Poulter for Less, he wrote a sequel called Less is Lost, 120 00:08:16,276 --> 00:08:18,436 Speaker 1: and I wanted to talk with him about these books. 121 00:08:18,596 --> 00:08:22,636 Speaker 1: So I decided to reach out Andrew Shan Greer, thanks 122 00:08:22,636 --> 00:08:24,956 Speaker 1: for green to chat with me. I'm happy to be here. 123 00:08:24,996 --> 00:08:27,956 Speaker 1: And also it seems like a perfect fit for maybe 124 00:08:27,996 --> 00:08:31,036 Speaker 1: able to be on this podcast. It, I mean, it 125 00:08:31,076 --> 00:08:34,676 Speaker 1: really is in fact, so I'm not to be a 126 00:08:34,756 --> 00:08:37,236 Speaker 1: modest but you know, recently New York Magazine named Not 127 00:08:37,396 --> 00:08:40,236 Speaker 1: Lost one of the best podcasts of twenty twenty two, 128 00:08:40,516 --> 00:08:44,396 Speaker 1: and in the review describing Not Losses said, quote kind 129 00:08:44,396 --> 00:08:47,476 Speaker 1: of has the slight energy of Andrew Shong Grier's Less, 130 00:08:47,876 --> 00:08:53,916 Speaker 1: But let's not oversell it. What right I think that? 131 00:08:53,956 --> 00:08:56,916 Speaker 1: To make you read that correctly? I think I think 132 00:08:56,996 --> 00:08:59,916 Speaker 1: I think I was nagged by the reporter. But anyway, 133 00:09:00,076 --> 00:09:03,396 Speaker 1: nonetheless he piqued my interest. But yes, for better or worse, 134 00:09:03,516 --> 00:09:05,796 Speaker 1: I feel like the journey I took on this show, 135 00:09:05,836 --> 00:09:08,956 Speaker 1: at least for season one, mirrored that of your part 136 00:09:09,116 --> 00:09:13,676 Speaker 1: agonist Arthur lest Essentially, you know, he's a mildly successful 137 00:09:13,716 --> 00:09:17,236 Speaker 1: novelist in the throes of middle age who in the 138 00:09:17,276 --> 00:09:19,876 Speaker 1: first book goes on a journey to avoid the agony 139 00:09:19,876 --> 00:09:23,556 Speaker 1: of attending the marriage of his ex boyfriend. And yes, 140 00:09:23,596 --> 00:09:26,316 Speaker 1: all that does, except for the last part, sound eerily familiar. 141 00:09:27,316 --> 00:09:30,076 Speaker 1: And in the first book he goes from San Francisco 142 00:09:30,116 --> 00:09:32,476 Speaker 1: to New York to Mexico City, to Berlin, to Paris, 143 00:09:32,476 --> 00:09:35,476 Speaker 1: to Morocco and then India. And in the most recent 144 00:09:35,516 --> 00:09:37,796 Speaker 1: book he's in need of money and he ends up 145 00:09:37,836 --> 00:09:41,636 Speaker 1: traveling around the US. And so I guess, just stepping 146 00:09:41,636 --> 00:09:46,676 Speaker 1: way back, why is Arthur Less always traveling? I would 147 00:09:46,676 --> 00:09:49,516 Speaker 1: say it started off as a very practical reason, which 148 00:09:49,556 --> 00:09:51,436 Speaker 1: is that I was in order to make a buck, 149 00:09:51,476 --> 00:09:54,876 Speaker 1: because I'm just a novelist. I was pitching myself as 150 00:09:54,876 --> 00:09:57,796 Speaker 1: a travel writer, and I would pitch ideas to in 151 00:09:57,956 --> 00:10:01,756 Speaker 1: flight magazines for United and stuff like that. Yeah, so 152 00:10:01,796 --> 00:10:04,876 Speaker 1: I was already finding myself traveling around. And I was 153 00:10:04,916 --> 00:10:08,716 Speaker 1: working on a novel about a sad, sack, middle aged 154 00:10:08,916 --> 00:10:11,036 Speaker 1: game a man in San Francisco, and the novel was 155 00:10:11,076 --> 00:10:13,116 Speaker 1: just a drag and I thought, what if I make 156 00:10:13,196 --> 00:10:15,996 Speaker 1: him travel? What if I have memories of travel because 157 00:10:15,996 --> 00:10:18,476 Speaker 1: I have all these notes, because if you're a travel 158 00:10:18,476 --> 00:10:22,036 Speaker 1: writer or sitting alone in a restaurant in Saigon for 159 00:10:22,156 --> 00:10:26,636 Speaker 1: hours just writing down what dog walks in, And so 160 00:10:26,916 --> 00:10:29,276 Speaker 1: I thought, I will, I'll use my notes. And I 161 00:10:29,396 --> 00:10:32,356 Speaker 1: enjoyed writing the travels so much that I ditched the 162 00:10:32,436 --> 00:10:33,916 Speaker 1: other part of the novel and I made it a 163 00:10:33,956 --> 00:10:36,996 Speaker 1: comedy about him traveling and it was great fun. And 164 00:10:37,036 --> 00:10:41,436 Speaker 1: I started pitching ideas to fit the novel, not to 165 00:10:41,476 --> 00:10:43,916 Speaker 1: fit where I wanted to go. Yeah, can we talk 166 00:10:43,956 --> 00:10:46,596 Speaker 1: about that for a moment, because, as you just said, 167 00:10:46,756 --> 00:10:49,756 Speaker 1: to help support your creative writing, you work as a 168 00:10:49,796 --> 00:10:53,276 Speaker 1: travel writer. In other words, it's a job. Yeah. Now 169 00:10:53,396 --> 00:10:55,436 Speaker 1: I'm someone who's done some travel writing. I have a 170 00:10:55,476 --> 00:10:59,636 Speaker 1: travel show, and I find that my friends and people 171 00:10:59,676 --> 00:11:03,076 Speaker 1: I meet often forget the fact that it's actually work. 172 00:11:03,476 --> 00:11:05,276 Speaker 1: Does that happen to you? Like, I feel like people 173 00:11:05,276 --> 00:11:08,756 Speaker 1: think it's all Margarita's and cha cha cha. Yeah. People 174 00:11:09,116 --> 00:11:11,596 Speaker 1: people get very envious of my being able to travel. 175 00:11:12,036 --> 00:11:15,716 Speaker 1: But I will tell them like, well, like I just 176 00:11:15,796 --> 00:11:18,076 Speaker 1: took a trip to Australia and I was there for 177 00:11:18,116 --> 00:11:21,556 Speaker 1: three days and then I flew back, And that sounds 178 00:11:21,636 --> 00:11:23,836 Speaker 1: fun to people, and I know how to enjoy it, 179 00:11:24,236 --> 00:11:28,556 Speaker 1: but it is madness, you know. And I'm still suffering 180 00:11:28,556 --> 00:11:31,876 Speaker 1: the jet leg from that for three days in Australia. 181 00:11:31,956 --> 00:11:33,676 Speaker 1: And it was, you know, the first time I went 182 00:11:33,716 --> 00:11:37,196 Speaker 1: to Japan, in fact to research for Less, I was 183 00:11:37,196 --> 00:11:41,156 Speaker 1: only in Kyoto for four days, and you can't do 184 00:11:41,316 --> 00:11:44,316 Speaker 1: very much, especially if you're having to gather information about 185 00:11:44,556 --> 00:11:47,916 Speaker 1: three hotels and five restaurants in that time. You can't 186 00:11:47,916 --> 00:11:51,116 Speaker 1: do much else but eat the same meal five times 187 00:11:51,116 --> 00:11:54,916 Speaker 1: in a row and sleep in very similar hotels. So 188 00:11:54,996 --> 00:11:57,436 Speaker 1: you have to get used to that tedium. You mentioned 189 00:11:57,476 --> 00:12:00,596 Speaker 1: that you drew from your notebook in many of Arthur's misadventures. 190 00:12:00,996 --> 00:12:02,876 Speaker 1: So what about the most recent book, where Less is 191 00:12:02,876 --> 00:12:05,556 Speaker 1: traveling across the United States. As I understand it, you 192 00:12:05,556 --> 00:12:08,236 Speaker 1: yourself also drove across the United States in an RV. 193 00:12:09,316 --> 00:12:11,556 Speaker 1: Kind of things occurred on your journey that ended up 194 00:12:11,596 --> 00:12:13,876 Speaker 1: making it in the book. Yeah. I took two different 195 00:12:13,956 --> 00:12:16,356 Speaker 1: RV trips. One was like a big Cruise America RV 196 00:12:16,596 --> 00:12:20,676 Speaker 1: through the Southwest, and the second was these handmade little 197 00:12:20,756 --> 00:12:25,276 Speaker 1: camper vans this guy makes out of Atlanta. What never 198 00:12:25,356 --> 00:12:27,436 Speaker 1: made it in was when I would get the story 199 00:12:27,516 --> 00:12:30,396 Speaker 1: of the diner cook who would tell me your life story. 200 00:12:30,396 --> 00:12:33,596 Speaker 1: I didn't put anything like that in, but I would 201 00:12:33,636 --> 00:12:35,796 Speaker 1: put in things like when I went to a rural 202 00:12:35,876 --> 00:12:39,156 Speaker 1: bar outside of Muscle Show's, Alabama and it was kind 203 00:12:39,196 --> 00:12:41,116 Speaker 1: of like a Peewee Herman movie where I walk in 204 00:12:41,196 --> 00:12:45,076 Speaker 1: and the jukebox stops and everyone stares at me. I 205 00:12:45,156 --> 00:12:48,036 Speaker 1: put that down verbatim in the novel because I thought 206 00:12:48,036 --> 00:12:51,036 Speaker 1: it was so funny. I did not belong in that 207 00:12:51,076 --> 00:12:55,556 Speaker 1: bar and they were awfully nice to me. Well, you 208 00:12:55,596 --> 00:12:58,836 Speaker 1: allude to this a little bit in Definitely Less is Lost. 209 00:12:58,876 --> 00:13:02,156 Speaker 1: But you know, traveling across the United States as a 210 00:13:02,196 --> 00:13:04,876 Speaker 1: gay man is I'm assuming different than it was for 211 00:13:04,996 --> 00:13:08,676 Speaker 1: me as just a straight white guy. First of all, 212 00:13:08,676 --> 00:13:10,356 Speaker 1: I was saying, I don't think it's different at all. 213 00:13:10,476 --> 00:13:13,476 Speaker 1: I don't know anything about you, but I bet the 214 00:13:13,996 --> 00:13:17,276 Speaker 1: awkwardness of feeling foreign in your own country is something 215 00:13:17,316 --> 00:13:20,116 Speaker 1: a lot of people share, and that it's most apparent 216 00:13:20,476 --> 00:13:23,756 Speaker 1: for me that people can sense something different about me, 217 00:13:23,836 --> 00:13:26,636 Speaker 1: but they can't quit put their finger on it. And 218 00:13:26,716 --> 00:13:28,476 Speaker 1: that's what happened when I showed up at the RV 219 00:13:28,636 --> 00:13:31,556 Speaker 1: park and there was a woman who said, now you're 220 00:13:31,596 --> 00:13:33,076 Speaker 1: not from here are you? And I said I was 221 00:13:33,076 --> 00:13:35,236 Speaker 1: from Maryland and she said, now, I thought you're from 222 00:13:35,236 --> 00:13:39,836 Speaker 1: the Netherlands. There was just something about me she couldn't 223 00:13:39,916 --> 00:13:43,556 Speaker 1: quite name that was not what she would call American, 224 00:13:43,756 --> 00:13:47,116 Speaker 1: and I knew what it was. But that was actually 225 00:13:47,316 --> 00:13:49,916 Speaker 1: the real surprise to me going around is that as 226 00:13:49,996 --> 00:13:52,396 Speaker 1: much as I dressed myself up in Walmart when I 227 00:13:52,436 --> 00:13:55,476 Speaker 1: thought was straight guyed clothing, everybody knew I was gay yea, 228 00:13:55,676 --> 00:13:57,636 Speaker 1: whether they knew that's what they were talking about or not. 229 00:13:57,956 --> 00:14:01,556 Speaker 1: And it was not dangerous for me. Yeah. So maybe 230 00:14:01,596 --> 00:14:04,196 Speaker 1: stepping back to Arthur, and I guess I am asking 231 00:14:04,196 --> 00:14:07,436 Speaker 1: this about you too, Like what is the appeal of travel? 232 00:14:08,316 --> 00:14:11,076 Speaker 1: I think it's two things, and I don't share necessarily 233 00:14:11,116 --> 00:14:14,636 Speaker 1: both of them. One is the sense of being wrong 234 00:14:14,996 --> 00:14:18,356 Speaker 1: all the time. And if you are wrong at home 235 00:14:18,396 --> 00:14:20,676 Speaker 1: all the time about like how to order a bagel, 236 00:14:20,916 --> 00:14:23,836 Speaker 1: you're kind of like a loser. But when you travel, 237 00:14:24,276 --> 00:14:26,676 Speaker 1: being wrong is like the name of the game, Like 238 00:14:26,836 --> 00:14:30,756 Speaker 1: that's part of the experience, is to challenge yourself with 239 00:14:30,796 --> 00:14:34,436 Speaker 1: There are other ways to get onto a subway or 240 00:14:35,316 --> 00:14:37,236 Speaker 1: the different people around the world have a different idea 241 00:14:37,276 --> 00:14:40,676 Speaker 1: of what a sidewalk is you start to realize that 242 00:14:40,756 --> 00:14:43,916 Speaker 1: it's arbitrary the system you thought should always be in place, 243 00:14:43,916 --> 00:14:48,116 Speaker 1: and that's eye opening and liberating because if you make mistakes, 244 00:14:48,196 --> 00:14:51,596 Speaker 1: that's normal. Yeah, so that's good for him. He is 245 00:14:51,636 --> 00:14:57,516 Speaker 1: a character who is utterly innocent about the sort of 246 00:14:57,596 --> 00:15:00,876 Speaker 1: dangers of the world or the problems he himself is causing. 247 00:15:01,196 --> 00:15:03,716 Speaker 1: And then at the end of each he keeps choosing 248 00:15:04,236 --> 00:15:07,516 Speaker 1: doubling down on innocence. You know, like, the next town 249 00:15:07,596 --> 00:15:09,236 Speaker 1: is going to be better. I'm going to get it 250 00:15:09,316 --> 00:15:12,436 Speaker 1: right this time. I'm sure. I'm sure it's going to improve, 251 00:15:12,876 --> 00:15:15,756 Speaker 1: which I found really sweet to write about and which 252 00:15:15,756 --> 00:15:18,196 Speaker 1: I think is part of travel too. You're like, well, 253 00:15:18,556 --> 00:15:21,196 Speaker 1: let's try the next town. You know, who knows what's 254 00:15:21,236 --> 00:15:24,476 Speaker 1: going to happen there. I consider travel kind of the 255 00:15:24,556 --> 00:15:27,596 Speaker 1: laziest form of learning in that sense too, where you 256 00:15:27,716 --> 00:15:30,036 Speaker 1: arrive in a place and just waking up, getting breakfast, 257 00:15:30,476 --> 00:15:33,756 Speaker 1: getting somewhere, getting a cup of coffee. You're learning all across, 258 00:15:33,916 --> 00:15:36,596 Speaker 1: you know, just by survival, because you know you're in 259 00:15:36,596 --> 00:15:39,796 Speaker 1: a different place. You might be a better traveler than 260 00:15:39,836 --> 00:15:41,956 Speaker 1: I am, though I already have that sense that I 261 00:15:42,876 --> 00:15:45,436 Speaker 1: am quite incompetent at those but I agree it's it's 262 00:15:45,476 --> 00:15:50,356 Speaker 1: a great learning experience. Now, when I've done traditional travel writing, 263 00:15:50,596 --> 00:15:54,076 Speaker 1: I've found that the frame is too limiting, like you 264 00:15:54,116 --> 00:15:56,716 Speaker 1: have to leave out all the stuff that's the best 265 00:15:56,716 --> 00:15:59,396 Speaker 1: part of traveling. Oh yeah, random meeting of people, Yeah 266 00:15:59,476 --> 00:16:03,316 Speaker 1: yeah yeah, misadventures, romance, whatever. And when I was making 267 00:16:03,356 --> 00:16:05,196 Speaker 1: this show, I tried to make it in a way 268 00:16:05,236 --> 00:16:08,196 Speaker 1: where I could include all of that stuff. And I'm 269 00:16:08,196 --> 00:16:10,996 Speaker 1: wondering if you kind of viewed your novels in a 270 00:16:11,036 --> 00:16:13,916 Speaker 1: similar fashion, like that they were a place you could 271 00:16:13,956 --> 00:16:16,116 Speaker 1: open up about what it's really like to go somewhere. 272 00:16:16,236 --> 00:16:19,956 Speaker 1: I think you're totally right. Like I in the books, 273 00:16:20,036 --> 00:16:23,756 Speaker 1: I don't have to put in every restaurant that I've 274 00:16:23,796 --> 00:16:27,196 Speaker 1: been assigned, or sit down with the manager for two 275 00:16:27,196 --> 00:16:29,116 Speaker 1: hours as they take you on a hotel to where 276 00:16:29,116 --> 00:16:30,756 Speaker 1: you're never going to put in the article, you know, 277 00:16:30,836 --> 00:16:35,756 Speaker 1: all those really important parts when they need a sidebar 278 00:16:35,996 --> 00:16:38,236 Speaker 1: of like you know, five places to get a great 279 00:16:38,236 --> 00:16:40,676 Speaker 1: bond me in ho Chi Min City. I didn't have 280 00:16:40,756 --> 00:16:44,076 Speaker 1: to do that for the book, but for less everything 281 00:16:44,116 --> 00:16:47,516 Speaker 1: else got put into the book because you're right, you 282 00:16:47,556 --> 00:16:50,996 Speaker 1: can't put things that are too personal. So when you're 283 00:16:51,036 --> 00:16:53,076 Speaker 1: you know this is your second this is the follow 284 00:16:53,156 --> 00:16:55,836 Speaker 1: up to Less. When you're touring for these books or 285 00:16:55,836 --> 00:16:57,756 Speaker 1: people are talking about them, why do you think they 286 00:16:58,396 --> 00:17:03,596 Speaker 1: enjoy them so much? I people tell me. I can 287 00:17:03,596 --> 00:17:07,036 Speaker 1: only report what people tell me. They find them to 288 00:17:07,156 --> 00:17:10,916 Speaker 1: be like a big, warm hug, that's what everyone says. Now. 289 00:17:11,156 --> 00:17:13,196 Speaker 1: I don't know if I wrote them as a hug, 290 00:17:13,636 --> 00:17:16,716 Speaker 1: but I do think that it's because I'm not making 291 00:17:16,716 --> 00:17:19,996 Speaker 1: fun of the places I'm going to. They're not cruel. 292 00:17:20,676 --> 00:17:23,716 Speaker 1: People are, especially after being trapped inside so much that 293 00:17:23,716 --> 00:17:29,276 Speaker 1: they're enjoying this sort of fantasy of travel as trouble, 294 00:17:29,316 --> 00:17:32,196 Speaker 1: where everything certainly is going to turn out okay. Because 295 00:17:32,236 --> 00:17:35,236 Speaker 1: I think in a comedy you have there's a tacit 296 00:17:35,316 --> 00:17:37,756 Speaker 1: understanding with the author that it's not funny unless it 297 00:17:37,836 --> 00:17:41,316 Speaker 1: turns out okay. So we're going to laugh assuming that's 298 00:17:41,356 --> 00:17:44,116 Speaker 1: how it's going to be, and when you're actually traveling, 299 00:17:44,476 --> 00:17:47,716 Speaker 1: you're not sure that's how it's going to be. Yeah, 300 00:17:47,756 --> 00:17:51,476 Speaker 1: that's where the panic comes in. Like these books aren't 301 00:17:51,516 --> 00:17:54,556 Speaker 1: simply hugs, Like they contain a certain amount of pathos. 302 00:17:54,796 --> 00:17:57,676 Speaker 1: Arthur is a little heartbroken and a drift. You know, 303 00:17:57,756 --> 00:17:59,796 Speaker 1: he's single at middle age, while most of his friends 304 00:17:59,796 --> 00:18:03,316 Speaker 1: are in couples. And actually, on that point in particular, 305 00:18:03,916 --> 00:18:06,996 Speaker 1: I have a question for you. Yeah, absolutely, How would 306 00:18:06,996 --> 00:18:11,596 Speaker 1: you describe the difference between traveling when single versus traveling 307 00:18:11,596 --> 00:18:15,196 Speaker 1: while in a relationship. Oooh, that is a juicy question. 308 00:18:16,316 --> 00:18:18,796 Speaker 1: I'm not sure I get in there and that liberty 309 00:18:18,876 --> 00:18:24,476 Speaker 1: to answer that fully. Well, they're definitely very different. I 310 00:18:24,516 --> 00:18:28,796 Speaker 1: think when you're single, you're looking for an experience. You 311 00:18:28,836 --> 00:18:31,556 Speaker 1: have the kind of person you would never meet anywhere else, 312 00:18:31,796 --> 00:18:34,956 Speaker 1: and you might find that if you're open to it 313 00:18:35,036 --> 00:18:37,476 Speaker 1: in these in these in places where you go, you're 314 00:18:37,476 --> 00:18:41,116 Speaker 1: open to it. But if you're not single, it's you 315 00:18:41,156 --> 00:18:43,556 Speaker 1: have it. You're open to something different, which is that 316 00:18:43,636 --> 00:18:45,916 Speaker 1: you can't sit at a bar and just talk with 317 00:18:45,916 --> 00:18:48,396 Speaker 1: the locals for hours because you're not trying to pick 318 00:18:48,436 --> 00:18:51,796 Speaker 1: anyone up. Yeah, but so you're never going to get 319 00:18:51,836 --> 00:18:56,236 Speaker 1: that intimate pillow talk from around the world, but you 320 00:18:56,316 --> 00:19:00,876 Speaker 1: do get the bud light talk. Each is different. They 321 00:19:00,916 --> 00:19:03,396 Speaker 1: both had their pros and columns. Yeah, I also think 322 00:19:03,436 --> 00:19:06,356 Speaker 1: I've done both, and I do feel like traveling for 323 00:19:06,436 --> 00:19:08,476 Speaker 1: better worse is a little bit of a narcotic in 324 00:19:08,556 --> 00:19:11,796 Speaker 1: that you're on you know, it is a little bit fantasy, 325 00:19:11,916 --> 00:19:14,236 Speaker 1: and part of the allure is that anything can happen, 326 00:19:14,716 --> 00:19:18,636 Speaker 1: whereas when you're with someone, even if they're not with you, 327 00:19:18,876 --> 00:19:21,676 Speaker 1: there is a ballast, which is a good thing but 328 00:19:21,796 --> 00:19:25,196 Speaker 1: also changes the experience. Couldn't you get close enough to 329 00:19:25,236 --> 00:19:29,076 Speaker 1: the fire where there's a little vibration of possibility and 330 00:19:29,116 --> 00:19:31,476 Speaker 1: you're like, actually, I don't have to push the button. 331 00:19:31,516 --> 00:19:33,156 Speaker 1: I can't push the button, so I don't have to, 332 00:19:33,236 --> 00:19:35,516 Speaker 1: but I can just still imagine what might have happened. 333 00:19:35,836 --> 00:19:42,556 Speaker 1: Good Night, everybody, you know, well, Andy, thank you so 334 00:19:42,636 --> 00:19:45,476 Speaker 1: much for coming to chat with me, and thanks for 335 00:19:45,596 --> 00:19:49,956 Speaker 1: making these books. They're they're just wonderful and inspiring me 336 00:19:50,076 --> 00:19:51,876 Speaker 1: to want to go hit the road for me too, 337 00:19:52,476 --> 00:19:54,556 Speaker 1: And I've just left the road. Thanks so much for 338 00:19:54,636 --> 00:19:58,276 Speaker 1: chatting with me today. Thank you for having me. Andrew 339 00:19:58,316 --> 00:20:02,236 Speaker 1: Sean Greer's most recent book is called Less's Lost. I 340 00:20:02,276 --> 00:20:04,116 Speaker 1: saw it at the airport when I was returning from 341 00:20:04,276 --> 00:20:08,076 Speaker 1: la which to me that means you've made it. Forget 342 00:20:08,076 --> 00:20:10,596 Speaker 1: the Pulitzer. If they're selling your book next to the 343 00:20:10,836 --> 00:20:13,916 Speaker 1: neck Pillows and Peanut M and M's, you are a 344 00:20:13,916 --> 00:20:18,036 Speaker 1: popular author. And speaking of airports, it's almost time for 345 00:20:18,116 --> 00:20:20,516 Speaker 1: us to talk about the less sexy parts of traveling. 346 00:20:20,876 --> 00:20:23,836 Speaker 1: So after a quick break, comedian and master of impressions, 347 00:20:23,916 --> 00:20:27,836 Speaker 1: Jay Farrow channels a former president to help me answer 348 00:20:27,876 --> 00:20:30,236 Speaker 1: some of your travel questions. If I'm sitting in the 349 00:20:30,316 --> 00:20:35,476 Speaker 1: seat and the person beside me is acting our rate, 350 00:20:35,596 --> 00:20:39,516 Speaker 1: I'm going to call a flight attendant before I stick 351 00:20:39,596 --> 00:20:45,156 Speaker 1: my size thirteen foot up there, tiny ass, not lost, 352 00:20:45,316 --> 00:20:58,956 Speaker 1: We'll be right back. So I asked some of you 353 00:20:59,116 --> 00:21:02,996 Speaker 1: to send me travel etiquete questions via my small but 354 00:21:03,236 --> 00:21:08,796 Speaker 1: mighty social media channels. BF Newnham on Twitter. Thank you, 355 00:21:09,716 --> 00:21:13,476 Speaker 1: I asked because during my recent excursion to La I 356 00:21:13,596 --> 00:21:16,116 Speaker 1: realized that I've kind of forgotten how to be with 357 00:21:16,156 --> 00:21:22,556 Speaker 1: other people in public, specifically in airports, in shuttles, in hotels. Anyway, 358 00:21:22,796 --> 00:21:25,556 Speaker 1: you gave me some great questions, and today I have 359 00:21:25,716 --> 00:21:29,276 Speaker 1: actor and comedian Jay Farrow here to answer some of them. 360 00:21:29,916 --> 00:21:32,316 Speaker 1: Jay is best known as being that guy on Saturday 361 00:21:32,436 --> 00:21:37,076 Speaker 1: Night Live who did amazing impressions of Barack Obama, Kendrick Lamar, 362 00:21:37,276 --> 00:21:41,036 Speaker 1: Kevin Hart, and countless others. He has gone on to 363 00:21:41,076 --> 00:21:45,436 Speaker 1: work on a number of TV shows and movies, including Unsane, White, Famous, 364 00:21:45,716 --> 00:21:49,316 Speaker 1: and most recently comedy centrals out of office, and he 365 00:21:49,356 --> 00:21:52,076 Speaker 1: also does stand up, which is where he started. And 366 00:21:52,116 --> 00:21:54,716 Speaker 1: he's currently on tour all over the world, which means 367 00:21:54,916 --> 00:21:58,916 Speaker 1: he's traveling a lot. And Jay, welcome, glad you're here. 368 00:21:59,516 --> 00:22:01,916 Speaker 1: Tell me how do you feel about all this traveling. 369 00:22:02,516 --> 00:22:04,556 Speaker 1: It's only a pain in the ass if I have 370 00:22:04,676 --> 00:22:07,756 Speaker 1: to ride air lines because they're trash. You know what 371 00:22:07,796 --> 00:22:11,156 Speaker 1: I mean. They really not a good airline. It was 372 00:22:11,196 --> 00:22:14,436 Speaker 1: messed up. That was so bad. One time I ended 373 00:22:14,516 --> 00:22:18,956 Speaker 1: up getting the mechanical problems and um, we took off 374 00:22:18,996 --> 00:22:21,836 Speaker 1: from Texas and then we got stuck in Portland and 375 00:22:21,956 --> 00:22:25,716 Speaker 1: my destination was Virginia, Like what, why do we go back? 376 00:22:26,436 --> 00:22:30,036 Speaker 1: Why do we go back here? Yeah, that's the wrong direction. Absolutely. 377 00:22:30,316 --> 00:22:32,116 Speaker 1: I like it when it's a straight flight, and I 378 00:22:32,236 --> 00:22:34,796 Speaker 1: like when I have my bag. That's the only listen. 379 00:22:34,836 --> 00:22:37,236 Speaker 1: As long as I can get my bag back. I'm 380 00:22:37,316 --> 00:22:39,676 Speaker 1: good man, because I got oils and stuff in there 381 00:22:39,756 --> 00:22:41,916 Speaker 1: that I need for my hair, you know what I mean. 382 00:22:42,036 --> 00:22:44,796 Speaker 1: I've got I've got essentials that I need for the 383 00:22:44,876 --> 00:22:48,036 Speaker 1: Jay Ferrell package. Are you a carry on guy or 384 00:22:48,076 --> 00:22:50,756 Speaker 1: you or check? I got? I have so much stuff 385 00:22:50,796 --> 00:22:53,236 Speaker 1: I have to check in check. I'm a check in guy. 386 00:22:53,516 --> 00:22:56,156 Speaker 1: I feel like it's underrated frankly because you once you 387 00:22:56,236 --> 00:22:58,276 Speaker 1: drop off your big bag, It's like life is a 388 00:22:58,276 --> 00:23:01,436 Speaker 1: lot easier when you're gonna in and around the airport. Yeah, man, 389 00:23:01,476 --> 00:23:03,636 Speaker 1: I got a question. Do you fit when you travel? 390 00:23:03,796 --> 00:23:06,116 Speaker 1: Do you still put your mask on? Because I kind 391 00:23:06,116 --> 00:23:08,356 Speaker 1: of feel like the only sub zero out here? What 392 00:23:08,356 --> 00:23:09,916 Speaker 1: do you mean by sub era that you do wear 393 00:23:09,956 --> 00:23:13,356 Speaker 1: your mask? Yeah? I wear my mask. I The only 394 00:23:13,356 --> 00:23:15,956 Speaker 1: reason I don't recently is because I had COVID, So 395 00:23:15,996 --> 00:23:18,156 Speaker 1: I feel like I'm in that sixty day window where 396 00:23:18,156 --> 00:23:20,516 Speaker 1: I get to like do whatever I want. You know, 397 00:23:20,556 --> 00:23:23,076 Speaker 1: even if the pandemic didn't exist. A mask in an airplane, 398 00:23:23,116 --> 00:23:25,556 Speaker 1: isn't it bad? I don't like like being so close 399 00:23:25,596 --> 00:23:28,236 Speaker 1: to all these strangers in the recycled error me neither. 400 00:23:28,396 --> 00:23:31,516 Speaker 1: I still do a social distancing. I'm like your backup 401 00:23:31,556 --> 00:23:34,436 Speaker 1: six feet or I'm a stone Coast stunning, stone Coat stunning. 402 00:23:34,556 --> 00:23:36,956 Speaker 1: Is that is that a move? Like? What is that move? Oh? 403 00:23:37,036 --> 00:23:39,316 Speaker 1: You don't even know. It's a wrestling move from the 404 00:23:39,356 --> 00:23:42,836 Speaker 1: Attitude era WWF. Stone Coast. Steve Auston does this thing 405 00:23:42,876 --> 00:23:45,996 Speaker 1: where he flicks you off, he kicks you and he 406 00:23:46,036 --> 00:23:49,676 Speaker 1: grabs your neck with his arm and like go like 407 00:23:49,796 --> 00:23:52,916 Speaker 1: this and my knees hit the ground and you bounce 408 00:23:53,036 --> 00:23:55,876 Speaker 1: up and do a flip. That that doesn't seem like something, 409 00:23:56,316 --> 00:23:59,036 Speaker 1: um that would be acceptable in an airport. Jay, you 410 00:23:59,116 --> 00:24:00,636 Speaker 1: don't think it. You don't think it is. Well, I 411 00:24:00,636 --> 00:24:04,076 Speaker 1: think I should try it and report back to you. Okay, 412 00:24:04,436 --> 00:24:06,436 Speaker 1: I think I should do it. Yeah, let me know. 413 00:24:07,156 --> 00:24:09,036 Speaker 1: Do you get recognized at airport? It's like do people 414 00:24:09,196 --> 00:24:11,316 Speaker 1: come up to you and do the thing? You know what? Man? 415 00:24:11,476 --> 00:24:14,276 Speaker 1: Even with a mask on, I get recognized. It just 416 00:24:14,356 --> 00:24:16,956 Speaker 1: it blows my mind. I'm like, how the hell do 417 00:24:17,036 --> 00:24:19,556 Speaker 1: you know? Like my nose is covered, how do you 418 00:24:19,676 --> 00:24:22,756 Speaker 1: know who I am? And then looking at them, it's 419 00:24:22,796 --> 00:24:24,556 Speaker 1: I think it's just the eyes. It was the eyes 420 00:24:24,596 --> 00:24:27,036 Speaker 1: of the window window to the soul right. Like I'm 421 00:24:27,076 --> 00:24:29,396 Speaker 1: just chilling and people still come up to me, and 422 00:24:29,396 --> 00:24:31,476 Speaker 1: its just like Jack, I'm like, oh, I got a 423 00:24:31,516 --> 00:24:34,636 Speaker 1: mask on, I fist bumped you. It's like seventies all 424 00:24:34,716 --> 00:24:36,436 Speaker 1: day with me? Hey, what up? Brother? You know what 425 00:24:36,516 --> 00:24:39,636 Speaker 1: I'm saying? Because I easily get sick, Like for instance, 426 00:24:39,676 --> 00:24:43,236 Speaker 1: I was I traveled to Raleigh on North Carolina. I 427 00:24:43,316 --> 00:24:45,996 Speaker 1: got sick. I got sick because this dude he was 428 00:24:46,076 --> 00:24:48,356 Speaker 1: his hand. He came up to me and I normally like, 429 00:24:48,396 --> 00:24:50,796 Speaker 1: I said, I like doing this, but he wouldn't take 430 00:24:50,876 --> 00:24:54,196 Speaker 1: this for an answer, and so I like, I took 431 00:24:54,276 --> 00:24:57,036 Speaker 1: him and I gave him my hand, and his hand 432 00:24:57,156 --> 00:25:03,516 Speaker 1: was so freaking sweaty. Up, it was slipping, slick hand sweaty. 433 00:25:03,676 --> 00:25:06,196 Speaker 1: So I touched. I was like, oh god, I'm sitting 434 00:25:06,236 --> 00:25:07,996 Speaker 1: and I'm and I don't even know if it was 435 00:25:08,036 --> 00:25:11,756 Speaker 1: from him. Yeah, but I got sick that following day. 436 00:25:11,956 --> 00:25:13,756 Speaker 1: All right, well, look it sounds like you are. You're 437 00:25:13,796 --> 00:25:17,636 Speaker 1: well traveled on tour, so you're perfectly prepared to help 438 00:25:17,716 --> 00:25:20,996 Speaker 1: our audience. They submitted some traveling questions. Okay, can you 439 00:25:20,996 --> 00:25:23,156 Speaker 1: help us with these? Absolutely what we're doing, all right. 440 00:25:23,196 --> 00:25:26,356 Speaker 1: So the first question comes from Lee, and the question 441 00:25:26,476 --> 00:25:29,556 Speaker 1: is what's a polite way to let a chatty seat 442 00:25:29,596 --> 00:25:32,316 Speaker 1: neighbor on a plane know that you're not in the 443 00:25:32,356 --> 00:25:37,276 Speaker 1: mood to talk. Oh oh wow wow, just um admit conversation. 444 00:25:37,356 --> 00:25:38,996 Speaker 1: Just look at them and just put your head down 445 00:25:39,076 --> 00:25:42,356 Speaker 1: like this. So look at them and close your eyes 446 00:25:42,396 --> 00:25:45,476 Speaker 1: and fall asleep while they're talking. In yep, that's exactly 447 00:25:45,476 --> 00:25:49,716 Speaker 1: what you do. Because and I feel like that's so yo, bro, Like, 448 00:25:49,796 --> 00:25:53,556 Speaker 1: you know, I have put my headphones on, right, why 449 00:25:53,556 --> 00:25:55,956 Speaker 1: are you trying to talk to me? I have put 450 00:25:56,036 --> 00:25:59,316 Speaker 1: them on. You watched me put them on. Read the 451 00:25:59,396 --> 00:26:04,236 Speaker 1: room broad Yeah, you know, if you could, I would 452 00:26:04,276 --> 00:26:06,876 Speaker 1: love to hear how Kevin Hart might react if someone 453 00:26:06,916 --> 00:26:10,236 Speaker 1: started to talk to him like this on an airplane. Listen, 454 00:26:10,276 --> 00:26:13,916 Speaker 1: God damn it, listen, listen. I'm not on this. I'm 455 00:26:13,956 --> 00:26:15,916 Speaker 1: not sitting here to talk to you. Listen. I've had 456 00:26:16,076 --> 00:26:20,716 Speaker 1: I've had a very rough, long, long shooting day. I'm 457 00:26:20,756 --> 00:26:22,636 Speaker 1: not here to talk. Listen. I should be on a 458 00:26:22,716 --> 00:26:25,516 Speaker 1: private jet. I don't understand why the hell I am 459 00:26:25,676 --> 00:26:29,436 Speaker 1: on frontier airlines. I don't even know, fam, I don't 460 00:26:29,436 --> 00:26:31,836 Speaker 1: know why I'm up here. Listen, Listen, this wappen, This wappen. 461 00:26:32,276 --> 00:26:34,836 Speaker 1: I have mechanical problems and a plane couldn't take off, 462 00:26:34,876 --> 00:26:36,876 Speaker 1: couldn't get another to seat. Everything was sold out to 463 00:26:36,996 --> 00:26:39,276 Speaker 1: the only damn option. So I need you to shut 464 00:26:39,316 --> 00:26:41,476 Speaker 1: the hell up and let me sleep. God damn it, 465 00:26:42,156 --> 00:26:44,756 Speaker 1: that is uncanny. All right, I think we got the answer. 466 00:26:44,916 --> 00:26:48,276 Speaker 1: I will say addendum to that, we're just as equally 467 00:26:48,316 --> 00:26:50,956 Speaker 1: as bad as when you're in the aisle seat. You're 468 00:26:50,996 --> 00:26:53,796 Speaker 1: finally situated, you got your headphones, your bag, maybe your 469 00:26:53,836 --> 00:26:55,836 Speaker 1: books out, every you know, you kind of checked around, 470 00:26:56,916 --> 00:26:58,916 Speaker 1: and then they want to go to the bathroom. Oh man, 471 00:26:58,956 --> 00:27:01,636 Speaker 1: it's like after your table's down, after the drink is out. 472 00:27:01,756 --> 00:27:03,916 Speaker 1: It's like we had this whole twenty minute pre am, 473 00:27:03,996 --> 00:27:07,196 Speaker 1: but you could have gone. But now I'm sure your 474 00:27:07,276 --> 00:27:10,156 Speaker 1: bladder was was was on fun percent, but not now 475 00:27:10,276 --> 00:27:12,236 Speaker 1: it's old. It's one hundred point one. I have to 476 00:27:12,316 --> 00:27:16,236 Speaker 1: get up, Like, come on, broxactly exactly do you do you? 477 00:27:16,316 --> 00:27:18,236 Speaker 1: Are you the person that gets up? Or do you 478 00:27:18,396 --> 00:27:20,916 Speaker 1: just take your feet and just move move in a 479 00:27:20,956 --> 00:27:22,796 Speaker 1: seat like this, I stay in the seat and I 480 00:27:22,916 --> 00:27:25,076 Speaker 1: just move my feet to the side and let them walk. 481 00:27:25,276 --> 00:27:26,916 Speaker 1: I can't do that, but I might give a look 482 00:27:26,956 --> 00:27:31,436 Speaker 1: of I might do an exhalation, like throw my headphones down, 483 00:27:31,956 --> 00:27:34,516 Speaker 1: slam up the table, and then stand there and just 484 00:27:34,676 --> 00:27:38,476 Speaker 1: not look them in the eye. This shit. I don't know. 485 00:27:38,596 --> 00:27:40,516 Speaker 1: I don't know what. That doesn't do anybody any good, 486 00:27:40,556 --> 00:27:43,356 Speaker 1: but I do it anyone? All right? We got another question. 487 00:27:43,436 --> 00:27:46,716 Speaker 1: This one comes from the shell from State College, Pennsylvania. 488 00:27:47,036 --> 00:27:49,996 Speaker 1: So our question is when checking into a hotel Is 489 00:27:50,036 --> 00:27:53,076 Speaker 1: it acceptable to lie about a special occasion to try 490 00:27:53,116 --> 00:27:56,316 Speaker 1: to get a room upgrade? Why or why not? Um? 491 00:27:57,716 --> 00:27:59,196 Speaker 1: I feel like if you want to have fun with 492 00:27:59,316 --> 00:28:01,676 Speaker 1: your partner, like sometimes you might do that. You know, 493 00:28:01,796 --> 00:28:03,876 Speaker 1: you just be hey, you know this is such and 494 00:28:03,956 --> 00:28:05,996 Speaker 1: such as bird. Oh it's a special occasion where you 495 00:28:06,036 --> 00:28:08,476 Speaker 1: can't say birthday because they got your license. You know 496 00:28:08,516 --> 00:28:10,996 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. What they look down like, Wait a second, 497 00:28:11,036 --> 00:28:13,676 Speaker 1: Wait a second. It's just your birthdays in August. It 498 00:28:13,836 --> 00:28:16,916 Speaker 1: can't be anything sprasial. You have to But if you say, oh, 499 00:28:17,036 --> 00:28:19,916 Speaker 1: it's our anniversary or something like that, or you know somebody, 500 00:28:19,916 --> 00:28:21,916 Speaker 1: we just got a job promotion and something like, I 501 00:28:21,956 --> 00:28:24,196 Speaker 1: don't think anything's wrong with that. I mean, if you're 502 00:28:24,236 --> 00:28:28,676 Speaker 1: just trying to you know, I think like concierge's are 503 00:28:28,756 --> 00:28:32,196 Speaker 1: one of the few people in modern capitalism that have 504 00:28:32,276 --> 00:28:33,996 Speaker 1: the ability to upgrade you or not. Right Like, they 505 00:28:34,036 --> 00:28:35,876 Speaker 1: have a bunch of rooms, they know who's filling them 506 00:28:35,956 --> 00:28:38,396 Speaker 1: up or not, and they have a little bit of latitude. 507 00:28:38,516 --> 00:28:40,716 Speaker 1: So why not pour on the charm a little bit, 508 00:28:40,756 --> 00:28:43,156 Speaker 1: give them a little wink. I think I think it's fun, 509 00:28:43,356 --> 00:28:45,596 Speaker 1: That's what I say. I mean, even like when you 510 00:28:45,716 --> 00:28:48,316 Speaker 1: go into restaurants sometime. Now you can use the birthday 511 00:28:48,396 --> 00:28:51,076 Speaker 1: thing at restaurants. And then my sister went into one 512 00:28:51,196 --> 00:28:54,556 Speaker 1: restaurant and had a birthday five times in the span 513 00:28:54,636 --> 00:28:56,716 Speaker 1: of two and a half months. They were like, wait 514 00:28:56,756 --> 00:28:59,956 Speaker 1: a minute's birthday again. I feel sorry for the people 515 00:28:59,956 --> 00:29:02,636 Speaker 1: who have to sing the song. Yeah, like at the restaurant, 516 00:29:02,996 --> 00:29:04,836 Speaker 1: because you know, like they will be in the middle 517 00:29:04,876 --> 00:29:06,916 Speaker 1: of some doing some other shit and they gotta drop 518 00:29:07,036 --> 00:29:09,556 Speaker 1: everything they're doing to come out saying happy birthday to you. 519 00:29:09,956 --> 00:29:13,036 Speaker 1: Fucking hands are hurting, hands are hurting, You're exhausted, You're 520 00:29:13,116 --> 00:29:15,836 Speaker 1: like just broke up with Kennedy the dishwasher, and now 521 00:29:15,836 --> 00:29:20,796 Speaker 1: you're gonna singing a happy birthday, Like I don't want 522 00:29:20,796 --> 00:29:23,716 Speaker 1: to do no, I'm not singing no. All right, So 523 00:29:23,796 --> 00:29:26,396 Speaker 1: this is our last question, uh, and maybe you can 524 00:29:26,476 --> 00:29:31,036 Speaker 1: answer this as former President Barack Obama, And the question 525 00:29:31,196 --> 00:29:34,036 Speaker 1: is when is it okay to push the flight attendant 526 00:29:34,076 --> 00:29:38,516 Speaker 1: call button? Like what need qualifies as urgent enough to 527 00:29:38,596 --> 00:29:42,156 Speaker 1: push it? What would make you push it? Well, if 528 00:29:42,276 --> 00:29:46,196 Speaker 1: I'm if I'm sitting in the seat and the person 529 00:29:46,316 --> 00:29:52,756 Speaker 1: beside me um is acting, I rate irrascible. What I'm 530 00:29:52,756 --> 00:29:57,436 Speaker 1: gonna do is Um, I'm gonna call flight attendant before 531 00:29:57,796 --> 00:30:01,676 Speaker 1: I stick my size thirteen foot up there kind of 532 00:30:01,716 --> 00:30:04,636 Speaker 1: ass And that's when you call him when you have 533 00:30:04,676 --> 00:30:06,716 Speaker 1: a problem. If you have a problem with the seat 534 00:30:07,036 --> 00:30:09,316 Speaker 1: or you can't get the seat belt out the them 535 00:30:09,476 --> 00:30:14,516 Speaker 1: and the buckle is caught in the back and you 536 00:30:14,556 --> 00:30:16,716 Speaker 1: don't want to touch that because it's COVID down there, 537 00:30:16,756 --> 00:30:18,796 Speaker 1: so you don't want to get it, so you want 538 00:30:18,836 --> 00:30:20,636 Speaker 1: them to get it for you. So you're like, hey, 539 00:30:21,316 --> 00:30:24,276 Speaker 1: you put your hands down there and you get my 540 00:30:24,356 --> 00:30:27,956 Speaker 1: belt because I'm not gonna get COVID. You are ensured 541 00:30:28,076 --> 00:30:31,556 Speaker 1: by Belta me I'm not. So they might have Obamacare, 542 00:30:31,636 --> 00:30:34,756 Speaker 1: though they might have Obamacare. I mean I think Trump 543 00:30:34,876 --> 00:30:37,956 Speaker 1: pretty much, uh, try to get that shit out of it. So, um, 544 00:30:38,836 --> 00:30:40,676 Speaker 1: you know they might have it, but it's it's not 545 00:30:40,796 --> 00:30:44,236 Speaker 1: active if they do, right, Jay, do you want to 546 00:30:44,316 --> 00:30:47,196 Speaker 1: imitate my voice and say goodbye to Jay Farah? Thanks 547 00:30:47,236 --> 00:30:50,596 Speaker 1: for coming on to not lost. Um you know, I'm 548 00:30:50,956 --> 00:30:53,676 Speaker 1: i pot rose with my impressions. They're not microwavable, so 549 00:30:53,796 --> 00:30:57,676 Speaker 1: that's not that ain't fair enough? Well, look, thank you 550 00:30:57,716 --> 00:30:59,116 Speaker 1: so much for coming by. Good luck at the rest 551 00:30:59,156 --> 00:31:01,476 Speaker 1: of your tour. If anyone sees Jay farre on the airport, 552 00:31:01,916 --> 00:31:05,756 Speaker 1: do not approach him. It's just just stay six feet 553 00:31:05,796 --> 00:31:08,476 Speaker 1: away or I will stone cold stun your punk ass. Okay, 554 00:31:15,076 --> 00:31:19,196 Speaker 1: that was Jay Farrow, honest, it was not someone impersonating 555 00:31:19,396 --> 00:31:22,556 Speaker 1: Jay Farrow, I promise you. Which come to think of it, 556 00:31:22,716 --> 00:31:25,956 Speaker 1: he could totally make a bundle just impersonating other people 557 00:31:25,996 --> 00:31:29,076 Speaker 1: for podcasts. So if you hear Barack Obama on a 558 00:31:29,156 --> 00:31:32,636 Speaker 1: future episode of the show, you are right to be suspicious. 559 00:31:35,156 --> 00:31:37,596 Speaker 1: If you have travel questions that you one answered in 560 00:31:37,676 --> 00:31:40,556 Speaker 1: a future episode, you can email them to me at 561 00:31:40,676 --> 00:31:44,396 Speaker 1: not Lost at Pushkin dot fm or ping me at 562 00:31:44,516 --> 00:31:48,476 Speaker 1: b F Newnham on Twitter. Not Lost Chat could not 563 00:31:48,596 --> 00:31:52,356 Speaker 1: have been made without ACE producer Jordan Belly, who honestly 564 00:31:52,436 --> 00:31:55,036 Speaker 1: travels a lot more than me, so maybe she should 565 00:31:55,076 --> 00:31:57,436 Speaker 1: be hosting this. The show is written and hosted by 566 00:31:57,476 --> 00:32:01,956 Speaker 1: me Brendan Francis Nunham. We receive top notch booking assistance 567 00:32:02,076 --> 00:32:06,716 Speaker 1: from Laura Morgan, who always has the nicest zoom background around. Laura, 568 00:32:07,036 --> 00:32:10,636 Speaker 1: please book your interior designer for me some day. This 569 00:32:10,836 --> 00:32:13,836 Speaker 1: episode was edited by the Great Julia Barton with assistance 570 00:32:13,876 --> 00:32:17,756 Speaker 1: from our managing producer Jacob Smith, our mix engineer who 571 00:32:17,876 --> 00:32:21,196 Speaker 1: has the patience of job is the unflappable Sarah Brugere 572 00:32:22,516 --> 00:32:25,476 Speaker 1: Not Lost as a co production of Pushkin Industries, Topic 573 00:32:25,556 --> 00:32:29,516 Speaker 1: Studios and iHeartMedia. It was developed at Topic Studios and 574 00:32:29,916 --> 00:32:33,636 Speaker 1: in case you're wondering, this show has some executive producers 575 00:32:34,076 --> 00:32:39,156 Speaker 1: including me Brendan, Francis Nunham, Christy Gressman, Maria Zuckerman, Lisa 576 00:32:39,276 --> 00:32:42,916 Speaker 1: lang Gang and Lata Mulad. If you dig what you here, 577 00:32:43,076 --> 00:32:45,676 Speaker 1: please tell a friend to make a comment at Apple Podcast, 578 00:32:45,836 --> 00:32:48,156 Speaker 1: get a tattoo, whatever it takes to spread the word, 579 00:32:48,556 --> 00:32:51,876 Speaker 1: it's appreciated. And if your inboxes lonely, you can sign 580 00:32:51,996 --> 00:32:55,196 Speaker 1: up for the Pushkin newsletter at Pushkin dot fm, slash 581 00:32:55,276 --> 00:32:59,196 Speaker 1: Newsletter and to find more pushin podcasts. And I really 582 00:32:59,236 --> 00:33:01,836 Speaker 1: mean this, there are some pretty great podcasts bipping and 583 00:33:01,876 --> 00:33:04,716 Speaker 1: bopping around here these days. You can listen and find 584 00:33:04,756 --> 00:33:08,516 Speaker 1: them on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or you know 585 00:33:08,596 --> 00:33:12,796 Speaker 1: where wherever you listen to podcasts. That is all for 586 00:33:12,916 --> 00:33:27,556 Speaker 1: this episode. Thanks everybody. We'll definitely do Robbie Downey Junior Listen, Listen. 587 00:33:27,636 --> 00:33:30,516 Speaker 1: It's it's just bro It's so arduous when you sit 588 00:33:30,636 --> 00:33:33,116 Speaker 1: down beside somebody and they're just you know, falling asleep, 589 00:33:33,196 --> 00:33:35,276 Speaker 1: and they're spitting all over your arm, and you know 590 00:33:35,356 --> 00:33:36,916 Speaker 1: you're just like, you know, I don't want your DNA 591 00:33:37,036 --> 00:33:38,276 Speaker 1: or me, And and what you're what you're gonna do. 592 00:33:38,316 --> 00:33:39,516 Speaker 1: You're gonna stone close, stun them