1 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: I'm just about to go to work. If this is 2 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:11,799 Speaker 1: an emergency. Is it's a third time you've called them? 3 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: Everything okay with the baby? Yes, yes, beautiful baby. 4 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 2: Thank you. You know I take a lot of pride 5 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:23,240 Speaker 2: in that. God, he's nine months old now. But you know, okay, 6 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 2: I will respectfully let you go because I don't want to. 7 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: There's nothing respectful about you, Johnny, because I told you 8 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 1: six months ago I don't want to be on your 9 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 1: show anymore. I picked up the phone. It was about 10 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: something else. 11 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 2: But it's you had said to me that you didn't 12 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 2: want to be in the introduction to the episodes, right. 13 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 2: What if I were to tell you that this isn't 14 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 2: an episode, it's a pre episode. 15 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:47,879 Speaker 1: Oh god, it's a difference. 16 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 2: Well, because it's not going to be a canonical episode. 17 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 2: It's an anticipation of the second season, and there isn't 18 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 2: going to be another episode coming out for an entire month, 19 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 2: so it's very pre on. 20 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: I don't want to be on the show period. You're 21 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: not listening as usual. 22 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 2: The floor is yours. I'm listening, yeah. From Gimblet Media. 23 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 2: I'm Jonathan Goldstein and this is Heavyweight, today's pre season episode. 24 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 3: Milt, you have one new voice message, a. 25 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 2: Voice message from my friend Gregor something about my podcast 26 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 2: destroying lives. Must be a bad connection, I think, because 27 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 2: my podcast saves lives. I phone back to remind Gregor 28 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 2: how last season my show repaired his friendship with noted 29 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 2: vegan and bald headed techno musician Moby in the. 30 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 4: Sense that you forced me into with like probably one 31 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 4: of the top three most awkward afternoons of my life. 32 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 2: So it was a little It was a little awkward 33 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:07,559 Speaker 2: in the room, but in the end. 34 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 4: It wasn't a little awkward. It was incredibly awkward. You're 35 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:12,959 Speaker 4: like a nightmare therapist who causes fights. 36 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 2: Okay, yes, you felt that way in the moment. I 37 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 2: explain how making things right is often preceded by discomfiture. 38 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 2: But the main thing was that people were relating to 39 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 2: his journey of healing. In fact, I say the episode 40 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 2: generated a very lively discussion on the website Reddit. 41 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 5: Reddit. 42 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 4: Well, I finally made it to Reddit. Soon I'll be 43 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 4: on four un. 44 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:36,919 Speaker 2: Thank you when Gregor's done giving me the sasmouthing of 45 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 2: a lifetime. He explains that in the end, the podcast 46 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 2: did more harm than good. He tells me that the 47 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 2: episode actually destroyed his father's oldest friendship destroyed. I ask friendship, 48 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 2: I ask. The trouble all started. Gregor explains when his dad, 49 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,920 Speaker 2: an eighty five year old man named Milt, sent the 50 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 2: episode to his friend Sidney. Sidney hated the podcast so 51 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 2: much that he sent Milt a letter formally ending their 52 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 2: sixty five year friendship, and that was that. According to Gregor, 53 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,920 Speaker 2: Sidney is a genius and couldn't believe Milt had the 54 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 2: audacity to disrespect his intelligence and remaining time on Earth 55 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 2: by recommending such a truly terrible podcast. In the time 56 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 2: he spent listening to the episode, he could have done 57 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 2: something brilliant. Sidney is a professor, the author of countless 58 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 2: academic articles, and, according to Gregor, a true literary scholar. 59 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 4: A Joycean scholars and James Joyce. 60 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 2: As opposed to Joyce de Witt, who played Janet on 61 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 2: Three's Company Anyway, very. 62 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 4: Very intellectual guy. 63 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 6: Right. 64 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 4: He does not suffer fools. He's very much inclined to 65 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 4: dress people down, set them in their place, that kind 66 00:03:59,160 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 4: of thing. 67 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 2: I had ample experience with that kind of thing. Case 68 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 2: in point, Gregor proceeds to tell me in painful and 69 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 2: gratuitous detail. What Sidney thought of my podcast. 70 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 4: Certainly the sound of your voice could make. 71 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 2: Among other things, he thought at Jujune middlebrow and nothing 72 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 2: but a load of chit chat. 73 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:19,280 Speaker 4: As with a lot of things, that says. I kind 74 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 4: of agree with him. It is just chitchat. I mean, 75 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 4: the podcast was just us talking to each other as not. 76 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 2: But I mean, you know Socratic dialogues. I mean all 77 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 2: that was really was two guys talking, right. 78 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 4: Well, I think, yes, that's empirically true. But I mean 79 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 4: if you're a guy who's gonna be like, hey, Socrates talked, 80 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 4: I talk I'm Socrates, you know, then I don't think 81 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 4: I can get any point through to you at all. 82 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 2: Gregor says the letter hit Milled hard. He's lately been 83 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 2: taking his meals alone in his office and not speaking 84 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:53,840 Speaker 2: much to anyone. It's hard for me to imagine how 85 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,120 Speaker 2: my show could end the friendship. Sure there were podcasts 86 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 2: that could. I'm all a bit positive the Ted Radio 87 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 2: destroyed tons, maybe even a few marriages, but not Heavyweight. 88 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 2: My heavyweight couldn't hurt a fly. And so I want 89 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 2: to see proof. I insist Gregor send me a copy 90 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 2: of this breakup letter, which he does, I'm gonna read, 91 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:17,839 Speaker 2: We're gonna go through the letter. Okay, we're gonna parse 92 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 2: through the letter, all right, sure, Okay, here we go. 93 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 2: So it starts off where he says, after our exchange, 94 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 2: without so much as a dear milt, the letter launches 95 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 2: into a list of complaints written in the style of 96 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 2: an academic monograph, replete with annotation and appendices, and then 97 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 2: in parentheses see poem about friendship references to previous correspondents. 98 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 2: So he quotes from an email sent eleven years earlier. Yeah, okay, 99 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 2: so here it is high milt and second references to 100 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 2: age old intellectual turf wars, not understanding the neurotic elements 101 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 2: of the battle about the school superintendent. Okay, so this 102 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 2: is a whole other thing. There are numbered sections which 103 00:05:55,920 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 2: contain lettered sub sections bracketing number C. So it goes 104 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 2: back to subsection C bar mitzvah I had invited, And 105 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 2: finally there it is like Gregor said the stuff about 106 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 2: heavyweight to quote subsection Jay, Jay, you sent me the 107 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 2: link to a radio program greg was on. I have 108 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 2: listened to similar programs when I was driving. Very rarely, 109 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 2: if ever, did I stop my reading or writing to 110 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:23,599 Speaker 2: listen to what I call chitchat programs. Seeing that chitchat 111 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 2: thing in black and White was especially piquant. But as 112 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 2: we read through the letter, it becomes apparent that this 113 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 2: friendship has bigger problems than my podcast. According to Sidney, 114 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 2: while he always asks after Milt's family, Milt never asks 115 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:42,559 Speaker 2: after his. And while Sydney attends Milt's family functions, Milt 116 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 2: doesn't attend his. And although Sidney takes an interest in 117 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:49,679 Speaker 2: Milt's work, to quote Sydney, when I dedicated a published 118 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 2: article to you, I quoted William Carlos Williams, so much depends, 119 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 2: to which you replied that it reminds you of the 120 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 2: adult pads depends so much for the dedications the history. 121 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,839 Speaker 2: It seems Sidney isn't so much upset about having listened 122 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:05,359 Speaker 2: to an episode of my podcast as he is about 123 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 2: having listened to an episode of my podcast starring Milt's son, Gregor, 124 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:13,239 Speaker 2: because yet again, Sidney was being asked to care about 125 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 2: Milt's family in a way that was never reciprocated. Sidney's 126 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 2: real problem, it seems, is that he's always asked to 127 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 2: look and listen in on Milt life without being seen 128 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 2: and heard himself. Although the letter reads like a legal deposition, 129 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 2: by the end, Gregor and I come to see it 130 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 2: as something else, an outpouring of sixty years worth of 131 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 2: hurt feelings. Their friendship began in nineteen fifty four in 132 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 2: a rooming house in Iowa, where they both attended college together. 133 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 2: They considered themselves a couple of outcasts who drove to 134 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 2: poetry readings in Milt's model tea over late night bottles 135 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 2: of Chivus regal. Sydney would share his theories with Milt 136 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 2: about Henry Miller's Tropic of Cancer, and Milt would share 137 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 2: his attempts at poetry with Sydney. Almost seventy years later, 138 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 2: Milt is now a published poet, but when he finishes 139 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 2: a poem, he still sends it to Sydney, whose judgment 140 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 2: means more than anyone's. 141 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 4: It never changed, the roles never changed. He was still 142 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 4: the guy in his life whose opinion mattered most to him. 143 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 4: About his writing, he would say, here's the thing I did, 144 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 4: and Sid didn't just write back like nice smiley face, 145 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 4: double exclamation mark. He'd write these kind of like a 146 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 4: very deep, analytical kind. 147 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 2: Of read Sydney remains a kind of big brother to Milt. 148 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 2: This at a time when those older than him that 149 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 2: he can look up to are dwindling. And now this 150 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 2: unique friendship was ending. And the straw that broke the 151 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 2: camel's back was my stupid podcast. I mean, well, you see, okay, 152 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:57,960 Speaker 2: I mean, obviously you see the irony in this whole situation. 153 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:04,199 Speaker 2: Right after waiting a good long while, it was clear 154 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,079 Speaker 2: that Gregor did not see the irony in this whole situation. 155 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 2: I mean, I have a show that it's raison detra 156 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 2: is to unite people, and because of my show, to 157 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 2: men in their late eighties who have been friends for 158 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,679 Speaker 2: the past sixty odd years had a falling out. 159 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 4: I mean, the end of Sid's letter to my dad 160 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 4: said go shove off. It wasn't a falling out, it 161 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,560 Speaker 4: was this is the end. I'll never speak to you again. 162 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 4: And as far as you having a radio show that 163 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 4: brings together, I always thought you're a disputatious character. 164 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 2: I think my track record speaks for itself. 165 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 4: Your track record. You get into, like a tussle with 166 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:39,719 Speaker 4: a raccoon on the way to the liquor store, You're 167 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 4: never going to have any success with anything. 168 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 2: No, no to discourage you do you think that, you know, 169 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:47,439 Speaker 2: maybe I could do something to help? 170 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 4: Okay, here we go, Here we go. 171 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 2: Because like helping old men like this is sort of 172 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 2: what I do. 173 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 4: Every one of your ideas is worse than the previous one, 174 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 4: and you're building the terrible idea of pyramids. 175 00:09:58,640 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 2: Well you want to try, you want to try calling 176 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 2: your dad? 177 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 4: Almost to the top. 178 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 2: Let's call them together, and. 179 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:03,680 Speaker 4: Now we're at the top. 180 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 2: Like all Jewish men of a certain age, Milt probably 181 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:12,680 Speaker 2: has an answer to telephone in close to fifty years. 182 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 2: As expected, Gregor's mom picks. 183 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 7: Up my grandchild. Greg's son said when he heard about this, 184 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 7: he said, when a person is older, he needs more friends, 185 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 7: not less. 186 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 2: That's nicely put. 187 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:30,680 Speaker 7: The relationship a person has with a friend is so 188 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 7: intense and deep. A friendship a buddy. 189 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 5: Wow, yeah, okay, here you go over your. 190 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 8: Oh hi, Milton, I have Johnny on the phone here, 191 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:46,680 Speaker 8: john How. 192 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 9: Are you good? 193 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 2: How are you Milton? 194 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 5: I'm good. Let me just shut my music. 195 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 2: Off here, okay, sure, Milt, shush is down. What sounds 196 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:01,200 Speaker 2: like a Narlan's Dixieland jamboree marching he is Dan, and 197 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 2: I ask if there's a way in which perhaps Gregor 198 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 2: and I could help make peace between himself and his friend. 199 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 9: Are you talking about Sydney? Yeah, I mean she's very brilliant. 200 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 9: You know, he's written at least two three hundred articles. 201 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 9: She's a walking encyclopedia about literature. Nobody knows more than 202 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 9: he does. But he's more trouble than he's worth. I 203 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:31,599 Speaker 9: don't think you realize how crazy he is and difficult 204 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 9: to negotiate with. 205 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 2: I try to explain how there's nothing really that crazy 206 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 2: about Sydney at all. Really, all he wants is more 207 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 2: give and take in their friendship. But Milt is too 208 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:42,839 Speaker 2: dejected to hear me. 209 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 9: I think he's broken up with me. I think he 210 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 9: doesn't want to have anything to do with me now 211 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 9: from the letter. 212 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 5: He said, I think it's over. Forget about Sydney. All right. 213 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 8: I'm going to fix this, Dad, don't you worry. 214 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:01,080 Speaker 5: I don't want to fix it for you. 215 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 9: I don't want to six sir, all right, you're giving 216 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 9: up to giving up? 217 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 5: Just listening to the Dilama on John Oliver, Yeah, yeah, 218 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:16,719 Speaker 5: it knows about. 219 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 8: It all right. Mom peals of laughter it's Don Oliver talculator. 220 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:28,119 Speaker 8: I can't understand the word. I'll talktilator. 221 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 2: Okay, okay, Gregor, Yes, sir, okay. So you heard your father. 222 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 2: That's it. 223 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:38,800 Speaker 8: I thought your mission on Heavyweight was to resolve conflict. 224 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 8: My father's just feeling hurt. I got a massage him 225 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 8: a little bit, as far as I'm concerned, and of 226 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 8: act one. 227 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 2: And what better way to enjoy the end of Act one? 228 00:12:53,480 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 2: But with a message from our sponsors, how was I 229 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 2: going to fix this sixty year long friendship. Sydney's letter 230 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,959 Speaker 2: was an emotional plea that begged for an emotional response. 231 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 2: But according to Gregor, his dad, Milt just isn't that 232 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 2: kind of touchy feely guy. He's not a card giver, 233 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 2: a bar mitzvahgoer. Milt didn't even bother attending Gregor's graduation, 234 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 2: saying he didn't get all the hooplaw. In fact, the 235 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 2: only time Gregor catches a glimpse of his dad's emotional 236 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 2: side is when he's sharing his poetry. 237 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 4: He'd be doing public readings of his poems at you know, 238 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 4: various events that I'd go to. Yeah, and I'd say 239 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 4: in ten of those in four of them, he'd break 240 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:46,559 Speaker 4: down crying, and someone, sometimes me, would have to step 241 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 4: in and read his poem. And then I started to 242 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 4: realize that he was using poetry as the conduit, or 243 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 4: as an excuse to open the faucets in his emotional core, 244 00:13:58,200 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 4: to be emotionally. 245 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:04,120 Speaker 2: Expressive, sometimes expressive to a degree that makes Gregor uncomfortable. 246 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 4: He'll send me a poem written about my mother. To me, 247 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 4: you know, it's not exactly erotic poetry. But it's not 248 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 4: exactly not erotic poetry. 249 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 2: What do you mean? Like you me an example? 250 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 4: You know, it's like I wake to the yawning cavern 251 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 4: of your body and I'm like, okay, I have to 252 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:17,560 Speaker 4: stop here. 253 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 2: Milt's written about his wife, his kids, and his grandkids. 254 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 2: It made Gregor wonder had Milt ever written a poem 255 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 2: for Sydney. We phone Milt back and ask. 256 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 4: Not that I'm aware of, but you wrote seven thousand poems. 257 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 10: You never wrote a poem about Sydney. 258 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 2: No, but the question must have planted a seed in 259 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 2: Milt's mind. A few days later, I receive a phone 260 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 2: call from Gregor. His dad had sat down and written 261 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 2: a poem especially for and dedicated to Sydney. I'm so excited, 262 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 2: I can't even wait to finish my cream, cheese and 263 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 2: jelly sandwich, which, before conferencing us all back together, him Milt, 264 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 2: how are you good? Good? How are you doing? 265 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 5: I'm fine? 266 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 2: So I hear that you wrote a poem, Gregor was 267 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 2: saying about Sid. Yes, normally, Milt males his poems to 268 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 2: Sydney to get his feedback. In recent years, emails them. 269 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 2: But I ask if with this personal one, he'd be 270 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 2: up for phoning Sydney and reading it to him directly. 271 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 2: In this way, Milt would be making himself vulnerable with 272 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 2: a grand gesture. I was imagining something along the lines 273 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 2: of that scene and say anything where the shiftless, half 274 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 2: wit kickboxer holds a boombox over his head, but instead 275 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 2: of a boombox, it'd be a telephone, and instead of 276 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 2: a young couple, it'd be two very old men. After 277 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 2: a long pause, Milt. 278 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 3: Says, I could do that, But then, after. 279 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 2: An even longer pause, he begins to equivocate. 280 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 9: She's extremely critical. And you know he also wrote an 281 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 9: introduction to one of my books that was pretty pretty 282 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 9: insulting about I write poetry like I'm going to go 283 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 9: out say something. 284 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 2: Why would you publish in your own book of poetry 285 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 2: and introduction in which someone is insulting your works? 286 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 5: I don't know. 287 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 2: Once again, Milt was presenting his work at the feet 288 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 2: of the master, but this time it wasn't just for critique. 289 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 2: It was to make amends and win back his oldest friend. 290 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 2: And that was scarier. Uh, why don't I Why don't 291 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 2: I connect you guys? Gregor? So we're not going to 292 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 2: speak right. 293 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 8: I think we stay out of it. I don't see 294 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 8: how we could possibly do any good. 295 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, because normally, you know, I like to interlock, interlocute. 296 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 8: Right now, you're an inter locke her. 297 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 5: Call him up. 298 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:03,400 Speaker 8: Let's talk. You tell him and if this whole ship 299 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:05,880 Speaker 8: is going to run right into this iceberg er, what's 300 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 8: going to happen? 301 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 2: I'm going to get him on the phone. Okay, okay, 302 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:11,479 Speaker 2: here we go, calling him up. 303 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 9: Hello, Hello, Hello, hello, hello, Yes. 304 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 5: Who is this is Milt Irlic? How are you? 305 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:36,399 Speaker 4: Is this. 306 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 5: Milton Irlic? 307 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 10: Milton Amic? 308 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 9: How are you. 309 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 5: Okay? Great to hear from you on hold on? 310 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 9: Okay, thank you him, Milt? 311 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 10: What a surprise? 312 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 5: How are you okay? 313 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 10: Okay? 314 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 9: Go ahead, Yeah, I'm okay. But the reason I'm calling 315 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:06,040 Speaker 9: you uh Greg Greg's friend Jonathan Goldstein. He wants to 316 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:08,400 Speaker 9: wants me to read a poem I wrote to you. 317 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 9: He's on the phone right now, I believe Jonathan. Are 318 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 9: you there yet? 319 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 2: Yes? Hi, Hi, Either. 320 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 10: It's a group call. That's interesting. 321 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:18,880 Speaker 9: Yes. 322 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:23,399 Speaker 2: Not only had Milt immediately forgotten our game plan, but 323 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 2: he'd also yank down the curtain to reveal lurking in 324 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 2: the wings Sydney's least favorite podcast host. But fortunately before 325 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 2: Sydney could start critiquing my work, Milt begins. 326 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 9: Comment or interrupt anytime you want. The poem is called 327 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 9: the Iconic Class and I wrote it, and I wrote 328 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 9: it in homage homage to Sydney f okay. Words flow 329 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:55,199 Speaker 9: out of their mouths like tropical birds, shive us regal 330 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:59,399 Speaker 9: on the rocks, sell thinkers and sellow feelers struggle like 331 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 9: sweating sumo wrestlers with a question, how do I live 332 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 9: the right life? In impassioned all night arguments, delight in 333 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,359 Speaker 9: the tropics of Henry Miller and the naked honesty of 334 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 9: Molly Bloom's soliloquy. Utopianists, rebel outsiders longing for communion, and community, 335 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:30,400 Speaker 9: the en hoping to change the mind numbing deadness of schools, 336 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:34,360 Speaker 9: stamping out a mass of men leading lives of quiet desperation, 337 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 9: where men suits sit with glazed eyes transfixed by screens, 338 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 9: howl for coffee or coke, waiting for long Sunday afternoons, 339 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 9: a transformation where killing stops and the dazzling spectrum of 340 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 9: consciousness allows one to become more fully human as slender 341 00:19:56,640 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 9: fingers of the sun seep into their chamber. I solemnly 342 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:05,400 Speaker 9: tread home, knowing the struggle to awaken a moribund culture 343 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 9: has only begun. That's that's the poem. 344 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 10: I'm I'm not quite sure. I mean, it's the kind 345 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:26,439 Speaker 10: of poem that has so many references to my life 346 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 10: until now, he thought nobody noticed. If it weren't so long, 347 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 10: I'd have it on my tombstone, you know. Uh just uh. 348 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:45,679 Speaker 2: Do you do you feel uh touched hearing hearing this poem? 349 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 9: Oh? 350 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:50,119 Speaker 10: Of course I do. Uh, of course I feel touched 351 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 10: by it. I mean, uh, it's not simply a poem 352 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:04,360 Speaker 10: that was delivered the vehicle. There's milt irlic. I mean 353 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 10: he brought it to me, and that carries a thousand 354 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:14,679 Speaker 10: years of conversations and walks and talks and things like that. 355 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 10: So hearing Milt's voice delivering this poem, the weight is 356 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 10: a serious weight. It's a major weight, and and that's 357 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:30,240 Speaker 10: terribly important to me. 358 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 5: Well, thank you for helping to make me a better poet. 359 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:43,959 Speaker 10: Yeah, you know, we're we're we're we're at a new phase, 360 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:45,919 Speaker 10: new phase. 361 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 9: Okay, okay. 362 00:21:57,280 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 2: There was no reference to the letter, nor to there 363 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 2: not speak king. In other words, not a lot of 364 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 2: chit chat. But by the end of the call things 365 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:08,879 Speaker 2: felt back to normal, so much so that just as 366 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 2: we're all about to get off the phone, Sidney says, 367 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 2: as he always. 368 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:15,640 Speaker 10: Does, say hello to family, Milt say. 369 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:19,480 Speaker 2: Hello, to which Milt says, as he always does, say 370 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:25,639 Speaker 2: he who nothing much of anything, but today Sydney doesn't 371 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:26,879 Speaker 2: seem too bothered by it. 372 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 10: Bye bye bye bye, say bye bye. 373 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 5: Okay, bye bye bye bye. 374 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 2: I asked Milt how he feels the whole thing went, 375 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 2: and he says better than he expected that sometimes a 376 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 2: person just has to take one for the team for 377 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 2: the greater good of the friendship. 378 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:52,359 Speaker 5: You know. 379 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:57,119 Speaker 11: One of the essential things about friendship. I've wrote several 380 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:01,200 Speaker 11: I've written several poems about the consentment to sure, there's 381 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:05,679 Speaker 11: aways always one partner in the friendship that values it 382 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 11: more and wants it to work more. It's like in marriage, 383 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:14,199 Speaker 11: there's always one part of the marriage that loves the 384 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:17,200 Speaker 11: other person more, and because they love the other person more, 385 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 11: they can tolerate being loved less. It's the same thing 386 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:20,680 Speaker 11: in friendship. 387 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 2: Although I don't ask him out right, I get the 388 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:28,440 Speaker 2: feeling mill to saying that in his friendship with Sydney 389 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 2: he's that guy, the one who's loving more and trying harder. 390 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 2: But I'm also sure that Sydney, at that very moment 391 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 2: across town is thinking some version of the same thought. 392 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:42,119 Speaker 2: And maybe in all friendships, if you ask who's getting 393 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 2: the right end of the deal, the answer is inevitably 394 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:49,639 Speaker 2: I am. But if the friendship has a fighting chance 395 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 2: of lasting more than sixty years, that answer will also 396 00:23:52,880 --> 00:24:03,679 Speaker 2: contain some version of but it's worth it. Before we 397 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,199 Speaker 2: get off the phone, Milt has a question for me. 398 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:09,719 Speaker 5: The last thing he said regards to who did you hear? Oh? 399 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 2: He said, he said, to give regards to your family. 400 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:13,760 Speaker 5: Oh family, I couldn't hear it. 401 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:16,480 Speaker 2: Yeah you might. You might want to email him to 402 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 2: just say to give regards to his family or he 403 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:32,920 Speaker 2: might be sensitive. What would this friendship do without me? Okay, okay, 404 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 2: take it easy. Bye bye bye, Hey Gregor you're still there. 405 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:45,320 Speaker 8: Yeah, I'll be the first to admit it. I didn't 406 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 8: think it would go as well as that went. 407 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:52,160 Speaker 2: I have to say, do you do you see any 408 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:57,720 Speaker 2: any parallels in in in your dad and Sid's relationship 409 00:24:57,840 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 2: and our relationship. 410 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:02,120 Speaker 8: I mean, I think, Sai, it's a genius and I'm 411 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 8: a genius. I'll take that. 412 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:07,439 Speaker 2: Let me ask you a question. Did you know that 413 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:09,520 Speaker 2: I recently had a baby? 414 00:25:10,119 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 5: I think you mentioned that. 415 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 2: Do you know his name? 416 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:13,159 Speaker 5: Oh? 417 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:14,000 Speaker 8: You're deposing me. 418 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:18,119 Speaker 2: You've never listened to an episode of Heavyweight. 419 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:20,480 Speaker 8: I don't like those earbuds in my ears. They hurt 420 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 8: my ears. 421 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 2: Do you think we're gonna end up being friends like 422 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 2: for the next like sixty years? 423 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,160 Speaker 8: It you'd be one hundred and fifteen. Can you imagine 424 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 8: if you were one hundred and fifteen year ord you 425 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:30,880 Speaker 8: like your. 426 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:51,879 Speaker 6: Now that the Fernitures return to its goodwill home, Now 427 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:56,720 Speaker 6: that the last month's rent is scheming with the damage 428 00:25:56,800 --> 00:26:00,399 Speaker 6: to pos take this moment to decide. 429 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:20,080 Speaker 2: If to feld for Things Accident. Heavyweight is hosted and 430 00:26:20,119 --> 00:26:23,960 Speaker 2: produced by me Jonathan Goldstein along with Khalila Holt. The 431 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:27,919 Speaker 2: senior producer is Caitlin Roberts, editing by Alex Bloomberg and 432 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:32,720 Speaker 2: Jorge Just special thanks to Emily Condon, Stevie Lane, Wendy Dore, 433 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 2: Kate Parkinson Morgan, and Jackie Cohen. The show was mixed 434 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:41,600 Speaker 2: by Matthew Bole with assistants from Kate Bolinsky. Music by 435 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:45,359 Speaker 2: Christine Fellows and John K. Sampson. Additional music credits for 436 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 2: this episode can be found on our website, Gimbletmedia dot 437 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 2: com slash Heavyweight. Our theme song is by the Weaker 438 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:55,639 Speaker 2: Than's courtesy of Epitaph Records, and our ad music is 439 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:59,879 Speaker 2: by Hailey Shaw. Follow us on Twitter at Heavyweight or 440 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 2: email us at Heavyweight at gimbletmedia dot com. Our season 441 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 2: begins on October twenty six. 442 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:09,640 Speaker 3: Why are we repainted? Wow? 443 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 2: You better get yourself a new pair of headphones, my friend, 444 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 2: because there's a lot of great stuff coming your way 445 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:26,480 Speaker 2: in season two? 446 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 8: Are threatening me? 447 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:29,639 Speaker 2: I'm you know, I'm working on some stories and some 448 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:30,920 Speaker 2: of them take place in Canada. 449 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 8: You're working on stories and take place in Canada. I'm 450 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:34,720 Speaker 8: not gonna go change my underpants. 451 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 2: I don't like when you say that. And you know 452 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:40,880 Speaker 2: my friend Jackie, she's she's coming back. I think she's 453 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:44,040 Speaker 2: just alady. Know your friend Jackie, you've met her several times. 454 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 8: Name doesn't ring a bell