Weak-minded spineless TV networks are not the cause of the death of late-night TV talk show platforms Well maybe, in part. Fanboy podcasts can of late feature stars answering scripted questions to promote their movies or projects. Instead of having a real conversation with the hosts, who are genuinely interested, perhaps fans, they are really less inclined or motivated to create promotional sound bites.
Academy Award host, Emmy Award winner and comedian Conan O’Brien was a guest new height Podcast with host brothers Jason Kells and Travis Kells. Travis and Jason Conan have been O’Brien fanboys since they were in middle school.
Jason asked Conan, “Have you ever had an underrated guest?”
“There are many different guests who refuse,” says Kanan labelHe recalls his interview with actor Tom Cruise in London.
Conan said of Tom Cruise, “He was very humorous and naturally funny. And I have to admit, I put him in a box. Well, he’s an action star guy. So, he probably doesn’t. You know, be the funniest person, and he was. He was really great. He played it perfectly, and I thought it was a good idea, and he ‘That’s on me.’ I put him in a box. I thought he was great at hanging on the wing of a plane and delivering great action lines, but there’s no way he can. I wasn’t expecting him to be this funny, and he was so much more.”
“We all form biases,” Conan said.
he said “People surprise you every time.”
That authentic conversation touched me. Sometimes, I know I put people in a box. I don’t give them as much space as they could be. It’s on me. As I get older, I realize that people will always surprise you. Mostly in a good way.
Actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson discussed the creation with Jason and Travis. The Smashing machine (2025). Jason and Travis have been fanboys of The Rock since he was the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Dwayne says he heard his voice inside the making The smashing machine. Dwayne Johnson received a Golden Globe Best Actor nomination for his performance.
The Rock admitted, “It’s good to be scared.”
Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce, both future NFL first-ballot Hall of Famers, agreed. In their powerful conversation, The Rock, Jason and Travis share their vulnerabilities, their fears. In my own journey, I realized that it is good to be afraid. it’s ok I let go of my inner fear. That’s all on me.
on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Academy Award-winning actor Ben Affleck and actor Matt Damon discuss what they’ve learned in the film industry. Joe was a big fan of Ben and Matt.
Ben Affleck says, “One of the benefits of getting older and doing it for a long time is you realize that nobody gives a shit about you as much as you thought. Fuck. Nobody remembers.”
Matt Damon says, “You spend your 20s and 30s thinking it’s really important, but you realize nobody cares. Nobody cares. It’s not a big deal.”
Their authentic conversation resonated with me. In almost 40 years of Aikido, I have found, “No one cares that you’re scared.” I let go of my inner fear. I’m the only one who does.
In 1998, I met actress Marcia Gay Harden at a bike rental shop in Venice Beach, California. I was spending Saturday with friends at the beach. Someone said there was a lady in the bike shop who was in the movie. Meet Joe Black. Meet Joe Black is my favorite movie of all time.
I told Marcia Gay Harden, “Meet Joe Black It was my favorite movie of the year.”
“Thank you,” Marcia said kindly.
In Meet Joe Black (1998), plays Marcia Allison, daughter of deceased CEO Bill Parrish, played by Sir Anthony Hopkins. Allison over-planned her father’s 65th birthday party.
Bill said, “You really are amazing. But why? Oh why, Alison, are you doing this?”
Allison said, “I do it because I love you.”
He said, “After all, you’re a great dad.”
“Well, I’m not the father I used to be…” Bill admitted.
Allison said, “You went to Susan (her younger sister).”
“I wasn’t going to say that,” said Bill.
Alison replied, “But it’s okay, because I know you love me…”
Allison said, “… but you’ll never ask for anything from either of us. But more than Dad, I feel loved, and that’s all that matters. So, don’t feel dear. You’re allowed to have one. The bottom line is, you were mine.”
I told Marcia Gay Harden, “That scene in the movie where you talk to your dad, I cried.”
I thought to myself, “WTF did I just say!”
“Thank you,” Marcia said kindly.
Marcia and I shared our great love for film. “He always gets it on the first take,” Marcia said of Anthony Hopkins. “He’s the All-American guy,” he said of Brad Pitt, who played Joe Black.
I was its fanboy Meet Joe Black and Marcia Gay Harden. My heart was sincere. Marcia got it. His heart was also sincere. Our hearts match. In Japanese, Magokoro It means sincerity of heart. That was us. Fanboy is great, because it’s about the heart
In 2017, that conversation with Marcia Gay Harden inspired me to write and self-publish my book about my love of film, Aikido, and my journey to heal my childhood trauma and depression. My book was not a fairy tale bestseller. Still, that leads to writing for the path Good Men Project With my editor Lisa Hickey.
As a fanboy, I write movie reviews. My movie critic hero is Michael Phillips, a good friend and mentor along the way. I write about loving myself for who I am and forgiving myself for who I am not. I write there for the person who may suffer “I’m not good enough.” I know them that I am them fanboy I trust them. Bigger than they know. So that they can look inside themselves.
I am the eternal fanboy. Let the people I love and respect know that they mean something to me now. By design, life is uncertain and finite. All we have is the present, all we have now. I open my heart. My heart is sincere. Magokoro.
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Photo by Kelly McClintock on Unsplash
