Calvin Higgins: And welcome back to Choice Man, everybody. Sam, how you doing? Doing good. How are you? Doing good. Hallie, I'm not gonna shake your hand, but welcome to the podcast. Thank you. Thanks for having me on. You're welcome. yeah, so in case you're wondering who this person is, this person is not related to me. just kidding, this is my sister. she's younger than me, and I let her remember that every once in a while. Sam, you don't have any siblings. Just kidding, you have lots of siblings too. Well, it actually is interesting. The age dispersion in your family does kind of make you a weird only child. Yeah. And kind of makes Jade an only child as well. Or like your older siblings, they are all more clumped together. But it's interesting. We don't really have any only children at our house. We're all middle children. Pretty much. It's pretty much how we act. All act like it. Yeah. So, yeah, today we are in episode three of the interview section of the Choice Men Student Summer Series. So our first guest was Xander Avia, our second guest is Josh Wasar, which technically, at the time of recording this, that one has not come out yet. But you will have already seen that by the time you see this. We plan on having at least a few more. We've got a couple more weeks before school starts. So but We got Halle, we were trying to get Halle on for the first one. Then we were trying to get her on for the second one. But Hallie, go ahead and tell us what your sequence of events was and why that why that didn't work. well the first one I think was my wisdom teeth. Right? Yeah. So I got my wisdom teeth out. was out for a week. Woo-hoo. and then the second one. Why couldn't I do it? What was the it was the day after the dance? I was leaving We left early for something. Like we had to leave. I was going to a summit. I had to time at a summit. That's right. so then we weren't. Yeah, and the only time that we could record was six in the morning and me and Steve I was by the way, I was willing to do that and he wasn't. So well, because we've done that before. Yeah, we don't have a good we don't have a good track record of being on time for those Yeah, I mean w there w there have been times where we've recorded before five. There was a Thanksgiving day. There was one. That was the best thing that was one of the best Thanksgivings ever. We got there at four thirty in the morning. We were not late. Yeah. And we And didn't we have a gu, we didn't have a guest, but we had somebody else show up. No. four thirty in the morning. I'm thinking of something different. Yeah. I think you're thinking about the other one where we had boaz on. Yeah. Yeah. Like six, I think. Yeah, that was that was earlier in the morning because you were having the guys show up to set up tables and chairs, yeah. So we we know a thing or two about early recording and that not being a good plan. So we've kind of switched to nine being our hypothetical start time. And of course it's nine fifty four right now. So you might be wondering why. Because I was late this morning. There we go. it's interesting how you need mics. and that makes you extra late if you were already late and you need to go back and get mics. So but we're here and we're recording, and this is great. so again, if you are unfamiliar with the Choice Men's Student Summer series, I don't know why you would be unfamiliar with that. It's so popular. tweet, tweet, tweet. No. I might actually I might actually add it something in there. But leave a like. That's great. Yeah, comment. Tweet tweet. questions. But yeah, so this is again, this is the third episode in that in that series. What we're trying to do is we're trying to interview students of Evangelical Classical School, and we're trying to get their perspectives on how they spend their summers, how they think people could, you know, be able to use their summers better. use their summers in a more productive way while also still having fun. So you could have a hypothetically very productive summer that's actually no fun at all. And that would also probably not be a correct use of your summer. It is your break from school, but you know, and we'll we'll cover some things in that area. and also because Hallie likes it, we're this is episode sixty seven and yeah, I'm not gonna participate in that. But I'll do I'll drink that. Anytime the episode six, seven, just match it, we'll we'll take a drink. I like that. Yeah. the Christian drinking game over here. Yeah, with caffeine. Fooser church. my goodness. Whoa. Drinking game with caffeine, you would have a heart attack. Yeah. Yeah, probably. Also, I do actually have something to say about the productive summers and the fun thing. Because I think that also you can Like me and a friend actually just went canoeing this past week. We went from the Snowhomish boat launch to their house. I don't actually we should have tracked how long it was. It took us, I think, five hours, but that was because we also stopped for multiple hours on and just played. but so like you don't to have a productive summer, that is also fun. I don't actually think you always have to be making something or working. all the time. I do think that you should be doing those things, but I also think that you can do just fun things like actually going outside, hanging out with friends, being in a fellowship. I think that can also be productive. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, this see, this is what we're having you on. You we we I didn't even ask you any questions and you're already you already have thoughts, which is great. Yeah. I have thoughts. yeah, I mean and we I mean we could just kind of jump we could kinda just jump off of that Off of that topic right there. Yeah, I mean, there are plenty of things you could do during the summer. and obviously, like that's a great time for families to go on vacations or go on trips or whatever, and that that's good because at that point the students are now done with their school year. They get that rest and relaxation time. but You know, 'cause we we had started this series without having any students on, but we we were talking from our experience about like what we would have done differently. And it's not necessarily that we wouldn't have gone on any trips or that we wouldn't play outside at any point, but that we would spend more time actively working to keep our minds sharp for the upcoming year. Because that's one of the things like lots of times when you show up at this point the first day and they assign you homework and you're like, homework, what? How do people do homework? You get to math and you're like, wait, how do you do this again? Yeah, you're like, I know how to do this amount of homework. And then about four or five weeks in, you start to feel more accustomed to it again. But I I've really been trying to think about, you know, how could you limit that amount of like, I don't know how to do this couple of weeks. Trying to limit that to maybe like one day of it being uncomfortable. But then you're right back into it because you spent your summers doing something. And so we've been trying to think about okay, what does that look like for students? And that's why we're having students on, is to kind of ask, okay, what do you think as a student you would need to do and do you do anything to keep your mind relatively sharp enough during the summer that then where coming back into the school year it doesn't feel like absolute torture to come back, where obviously it still should feel harder than the summer. Like that. Okay, no duh, but like how to keep that muscle memory short. Yeah. Well, I think the first thing I think like two years ago I tried switching my mindset about what summer actually was for. because I think most kids I still do this sometimes, but like you go through school like every week. You're like counting down until summer comes. And so you're just waiting, like summer is the end goal of the whole school year. And so then in summer, then you're just dreading going back to school. And so I I think I think it was two years ago. I was like, okay, this is not working. So I tried switching the mindset to that summer is just like a longer Christmas break. So it's like summer is just like how do I put this eloquently? like summer is not it's just to refresh you to then be able to get back to school and Like you worked really hard. So I do think that you should go play and go on trips with your family and have a lot of fun. because you don't actually get a lot of time to do that in the school year. but remembering this is so then I can work even harder and be better next year. So I think mindset is the first thing that you have to think about. so being prepared to go back even harder. like We went to a cult conference, I think, last year and they were talking about like the huddle of a football game is not why you're there. It's so then you can get back and play harder. So like any rest that you're taking if you're watching TV with family, if you're going on a trip, if it's summer break, that is not the point. It's so then you can be refreshed to work even harder. so mindset would be the first thing, because I think you can have high expectations for yourself or like Lofty ideas of you're like, I'm gonna read this much, I'm gonna work on math facts, I'm gonna do all of these kind of things. Yeah. And then you never do really, because summer is busy and also it's you don't usually wanna do that. so mindset would be the first thing. And then probably actually just reading. I mean that's what I've been doing more. So I've been trying to read more PG Woodhouse the summer. That was like my main author that I've been trying to do. So Yeah, and it's not like it's not like you're reading Kant. No. Either. Because I that you know, there's the well, P. G. Woodhouse is also a fun read, but still enough mental work where it's not like you're not just reading Curious George books. Yeah. You know, but you're also not reading super huge philosophy books, because no, you're not required to explain this down. Like, why would you? Unless unless that's what you really wanted to do. So there is, you know, that is potentially a thing that could get lost in translation of what we're talking about here, is that we're not saying Or at least that's not what we're trying to say, is that what you need to do during the summer is you need to do a bunch of stuff you don't like to keep yourself mentally sharp. Like, well, do what you like, like read what you want to read, but probably do some reading. and I've really tried to think about, and I didn't really do this. I didn't really do very much of this, but we had started Choice Men. And November of 2024. But that was the podcast. We had started Choice Men in 2023 before we graduated. So our meeting time with with the guys. And that I felt like that kind of actually replaced for me a little bit of the writing. So I wasn't doing any writing, but because I was thinking about what our discussions needed to be like, there was some forethought into how I wanted to say some things. And that Kept me because in 11th grade is when I figured out exactly what Grant was saying about writing, like what he wanted from our writing. Particularly what he meant by, I don't care what you think, I want to know how you can take these people's quotes and prove your point with them. I didn't really understand how that meant or how to do that. Until we read, and I talked about this a decent amount, but until we read the Heidelberg Catechism and John Calvin. Yeah. Regardless of if their Bible verses were like in context in the right areas, regardless of that, it was the principle of how they used it. My writing shifted a huge amount at that point. And so then I started trying to think about that everywhere I was. Particularly with choice men, I was like, okay, I need to have. scripture verses, I want try to have that for these guys for what we what we should be doing. So then that whole idea to me stayed pretty relevant in my mind. and 'cause what you were saying, the thing about like summer is the huddle. It's not the game. Yeah. And yeah. And I think that people talk about like students in particular, as guys in particular, talk about recess like that too. Where it's like, this is the point of why we're here. Well, my soccer coach was like, he like during practice, he would call us up like right at the start and be like, hey, what are your guys' favorite classes? You guys cannot say recess. also another thing is so we read Wordsmithy, which kinda to your point, Calvin, of of staying sharp and keeping up on papers and actually having it click. Wordsmithy. We read in twelfth grade. We read our senior year. Mm-hmm. Which I thought was it's a good book and it's a good book to read your senior year. But I was like earlier. So I'm actually trying to get my younger sister Jane to read it. And I'm like, I'm not helping you with any papers until you read this. You can pitch because I'm sure. No, actually that's interesting. It's a short enough book 'cause like we read classical me, classical D in seventh grade. Which I think is great. I actually think that paired with wordsmithy would be interesting because she's talking a little bit more to the well, you're feeling rebellious currently. Here's what you need to do. Yeah. Doug is presuming that you want to be Interesting. Or even that you should. Well well, I think I think Becca's assuming that the reader doesn't care and then telling you why you need to care. Doug is assuming you're reading this 'cause you care. So I think if you read those back to back, that would be kind of interesting because the idea of like you want to be an interesting person, no. You want to be an interested person and that's gonna make you interesting. Yeah. Where it's like, well, if all you care about is the summer or recess, you have lost a lot of interesting factor. You you have dropped you down into the negative interesting points because you're not actively working to be interested in other things. So, and I think you know, the school year gives you what you put into it. So you put in nothing, you're getting nothing. You put in medium. You know, half booty cheeked effort, then you're gonna get medium, half booty cheek benefit of that. You go all in, you give all your energy and effort that you can, you're gonna get a lot out of it. And so I think that, you know, students who think, well, I could just sit here and be quiet and not participate. And I'm still getting the same stuff as the person who is participating. That's not true. Just because you're in the room doesn't mean you're getting the same stuff because you're mentally somewhere else. Your body is here. And even if you're still like listening and everything, like you're still getting a different, even a different approach to how it hits you too. Because if you're interested, certain things that are being talked about will hit you differently than if you're just not incredibly that interested in whatever's going on. Right. you won't. focus in on certain parts that you are trying to either get better at or even just grow your interests or whatever. So yeah. Also with staying mentally sharp for a school. I think that a good school is teaching you how to think, not what to think. that's something that at least in the upper classes like of the secondary is talked about a lot with the teachers. So how to think, not what to think. So I think In the summer, if you want to stay mentally sharp, maybe instead of like doing math facts or kind of things like that, like learning math, or that's great. But also get interested in something, or even if you are interested in something, learn more about it. so like keep the learning process going. So even if you're not learning things that are technically applicable to school, you so like An example for me would be film. So like learning more about the technical side of how films are made, and then learning and like watching more intently, like figuring out what parts do I like, why is it like that. Like we just watched The Dark Knight recently. Man, that was intense, but it was It was such an experience, even just like on our little TV. And so thinking about how Christopher Nolan did that and watching videos about how he made it and his thought behind that. So like working on learning, so like the process of learning and liking that process, I think will do a lot, even if you get back to school and you're like, I can't remember how to do algebra. But if you have the mindset of I would like to learn how to do it again, or I would like to learn more about it. That's gonna serve you really well. Yeah. You know I was gonna mention it when we hit record. Well, I've already hit record, so you could start. So fun fact about that is Christopher Nolan actually used he he shot on traditional 35mm camera film because The digital cameras, in his opinion, don't capture the quality texture of light as well as digital cameras. And the IMAX film is the closest thing to what the eye actually sees? Well, no, 70 millimeter is the closest thing to what the eye sees. Not the 35. Yes, but like the IMAX film camera, like that version of filming is still closer. And also he was saying, yeah. Because until the Odyssey, I believe, he because like in The Dark Knight, he the action scenes, so a lot of it was filmed on IMAX, like the like the tunnel scene, I think, where then everything is like blowing up, is like one of the most famous ones that he shot on the IMAX camera. But he was only able to usually film action sequences because it is so loud. until then the Odyssey, they figured out, I think it's called a blimp. So they put the whole camera into like this big metal box, pretty much, which makes it weigh over 300 pounds. But it pretty much deadens the whole clicking sound. So then for the Odyssey, that's how he was able to film the whole movie in the IMAX version because then it was quiet enough that then, like in the really intense like talking scenes, you couldn't hear it. So like point is work on enjoying the learning process and doing that. By thinking about something that you love and then really learning more about that. so then your brain is figuring out how to learn and you are enjoying that process. So then when you get back to school, it's easier. It's an easier jump. Yeah. Which actually, if you read The Odyssey, you'll realize where the Odyssey movie goes wrong. I haven't seen it, but I just know. We're gonna go see some of the parts that he cut. Quick s quick side note. hard yeah. Quick, quick, quick little side note here. in case you're wondering what happened, we did have to stop recording and then start recording again. Had a little project to take care of. You're being productive, having productive summers. That's right. I will say though, back to the the Christopher Nolan thing real quick. I did see a guy who said, Don't worry about going to see it in 70, don't worry about going to see it in 35, don't worry about seeing it at a small theater, don't worry about seeing it at home. Just watch it. It doesn't matter what you're on. He's like, the actual storytelling is the thing that is really captivating. You're good. It doesn't actually matter if you see it on 70 or not. The only thing about that is just egg that's exactly how it was shot. And that's what he meant it. I mean, like that's the matter that much. I understand. And it wouldn't look really good. That's the thing. Yeah, I understand. But also like he, from watching a few interviews with him, it seems like he really cares about the experience of Like he is probably one of the most hospitable filmmakers. Yeah, but why does Batman still look good on our tiny TV? Okay, because I understand a good movie. So he so he is really good. He's actually just insanely talented at making an amazing movie. Like an amazing experience on whatever you're watching it on. Like with the storytelling especially, like he's really good at Like just building a good story and then making it beautiful to watch. But I also think that like he chose to film it on IMAX for a reason. Like he chose. So there was an intent like for the best experience that he wants you to have is to then watch it in an IMAX theater. So I think that you could still get a really good experience from watching it just on your TV at home or later. Small IMAX theaters, you could also still get a good Yeah. But I do think that. If you have the means, try like he put in a lot of effort to give you a specific experience. So I think trying to get as much of that experience I know that you said that there are only forty theaters in the world. They're basically all in the US. I mean the closest one is Oregon. Yeah. But like so trying to get as close to the full experience that he did a lot of work to build for you, I think is a good idea. But also I think that you could get a good experience from. Yeah. I mean I wanna watch the F one movie in theaters. I think that'd be really cool. I watched it in theaters. Yeah, I thought the F one movie was Ford versus Ferrari's better. Don't listen to him. I thought that we started But also he thinks they're two different movies, which is fine. I love that I love that we started talking about film, but now I'm kind of like 'cause like I actually there's really only one movie that I've watched over the last couple of years that I was really like Top Gun Mm. It was a great movie, and it Top Gun Maverick. I mean You liked young Washington. wait, he haven't seen that one yet. I saw it. You did. Yeah. But it was not it was not Top Gun Maverick level of quality. I'll see. It was it was fine. It was more interesting, just like learning about George Washington again, especially after going to the East Coast. So like after going to Mount Vernon, that was cool. But because that's a section of his life that you don't really hear about very much. But I was I was definitely not rating that based off of the the filmmaking quality. I mean it was it was good but like I also think Top Gun Maverick I think Top Gun Maverick was a really good movie and I think because we watched it we watched it first in theaters, right? Yeah, we've got to come from from vacation and we didn't go home. We were like, let's go to the movie. so we watched it on we watched it at the theater and then we watched it at home now a bunch of times and you I mean, every time. It's really good. And I also though I think part of that was because for a while all of the movies that were coming out were kind of just crap. But all the movies. I understand. But so like Top Gun Maverick was like a big break, it felt like, where we were like, Wow, an actually good movie in a lot of ways. So I think that's also part I do think it was a really good film, but I also think there's only only like three people making good like At least in terms of the movie making it good, like Christopher Knoll is one of them, but it takes him a really long time to make the movie, which is fine. But like that means he was working on this for years and they just finished it up. So I mean I also think Tom Cruise is actually pretty hospitable. But Tom Cruise, I mean, Top Gun Maverick, and then even the last two Mission Impossible movies, like, yeah, are they not as good movies? But are they still better than the other garbage? Yes. Like, are you kidding me? Marvel has not put out a thing that is really actually probably worth watching since Shang Chi, right? Like that was the one. Shang Chi. Like Civil War. Civil War is really good. Was that after I would say one good ones. I'd say Iron Man Three is probably the last solo movie that was like good. Did I watch that? Iron Man Three? Yeah. Yeah. But it's not even as good. Iron Man Two, Iron Man One. I actually think the Iron Man movie the first two Iron Man movies, the first actual Avengers movie and the Winter Soldier are probably the la like the best. They were like, let's just add a bunch of unnecessary drama. Well, so then the multiverse thing. You're like they're It's they really it felt like they created it just so then they could keep making more movies. You're like, if you're gonna do that, make them good. Like stop stop with the Spider-Man. the The first one was really good. But anyways. yeah, back to what is interesting is one thing that I always forget about. before I go to the movie theater is how much of a like not not community thing, not really a camaraderie thing, but like you're you are doing it with people. Yeah. And so when you go to the movie theater and you hear other people go, at like a certain part, you're like, Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, Nate Wilson talked about, was it on Stories or Soul Food, I think, how originally, like when T V was a thing, there were only a few channels. So like if you were watching T V You got like everyone who had a TV was watching the same thing pretty much. And that was great because it was bringing like that brought people together. Like you were all actually bonding over a thing. But then how nineteen eleven was able to show up on everybody's TV. When w if your TV was on during nine nine nine eleven, they interrupted all the things to be like, this is what's happening. This is why in The Batman, when the Joker is taking over all the T V channels, it's because there were like three. So he was able to just do whatever he wants. But then 'cause then Nate was talking about how then when we now have endless pretty much things to watch, no one is really watching the same thing anymore. Like it's all and that is that's fine, I think, to some degree, because there are different kinds of people. And so you should be taking dominion of film. Making like you should be making a lot of things and making them well. But that's there's not really a lot of things that bring people together. But I do think theaters, like Christopher Nolan, if he's getting people to the theater, he's bringing them over one thing. And I think then as a filmmaker, you should make sure that what you're bringing them over is actually really good. like it has good content, especially. so that's a And this is where I think old nostalgic movie type things have way more success than anything else. So like if you're I mean it depends on director, movie type, and there's a third category, but like director, like Christ Christopher Nolan, if you if you know he is making a movie, chances are lots of people are gonna go see that. Yeah. His reputation. James Bond, Mission Impossible, like a couple movie genres like that. If you know one of those movies come out, Chances are lots of people are gonna go watch it. That's what Disney is banking on right now. And that's yeah. So Disney. And then there's niche things that surprisingly jump in popularity. Like some Sony movies, if you've ever seen Goat. Is that the Stephen Curry one? The new one? Yeah, that one's really good in my opinion. But Or K-pop Demon Hunters. That one jumped huge as well. Well, I mean, this is this is part of the problem, is because. I think the reason those niche ones have really gotten more popular is because the big the big nostalgic ones. So like I think the reason that Top Gun was really good is when you compare it to the newer James Bond movies. And like I haven't seen any Bond movies, but I know enough of the story and I know enough of specifically when you look at the cast list, so like the difference between Daniel Craig and like What's Pierce Brosnan? Like, there's a huge gap there in between like who's who should be playing James Bond. So I think when you when you start to look at those nostalgia movies like James Bond or like Mission Impossible, Mission Impossible got away with it because the first Mission Impossible movies were also kind of not incredible. They were pretty good, but that kind of and they were always changing the side characters. So it works to have new actors now. When you look at the James Bond movies, it's like kind of lost some of its I think it lost some of its luster. And then so something like Top Gun Maverick, which arguably is better than the first movie. That is like that is that's gonna hook people. I've I've seen a lot of the old I've seen quite a few Pierce Brosnan and James Bonds, and then quite a few of the Sean Connery ones. Yeah. A couple Roger Moore's. But I do think Daniel Craig's are the best. But but and I think they and a couple of them and Skyfall, I think, is the best of the of the Daniel Craig ones. There's lots of people who probably disagree with that. That's fine. Again, I'm arguing I'm I'm arguing not again, not from having seen them. Right. I'm arguing from those three actors that you mentioned beforehand, before Daniel Craig. Daniel Craig is not any of those guys. Right. All all three of those. Yeah. All all three of those guys are, again, when you think about the nostalgia of James Bond. Which they set the tone. Yeah, they set the tone, and all three of them followed each other in still being nostalgic. Daniel Craig is not nostalgic. Well and he never will be. And it's r and cause when you see the first one, Casino Royale, you realize, This is very different because James Bond originally was, you know, it's a f it's a slightly comedic, action-packed spy British movie. Yeah. And you get to Dana McCraig and you're like, this is a serious it turned it a little more into a heist yeah feel. And I think that that does not have with people anymore. I don't actually think that has the same kind of nostalgia. Because the Top Gun movie, if you watch the pacing of that one and the old one. I think it's still pretty close, but it's cleaner. Right. Which yeah is a crazy shift from like not as vulgar, right? Or cleaner 'cause I mean it's still cleaner than the other one anyways. There's way less cuss saying it. Yeah, that's in the first thing. That's what I was saying. Like insect, cause also clearer like a lot like even the filming, yeah, got it. clip. Yeah, no no no. I'm saying yeah, I'm not saying cleaner and legway. It's vulgar, but it's also That is also true. 'Cause my mom, when we watched it in theaters, the one of the main takeaways that she got from it was that when they're in the airplane in Top Gun Maverick, you're actually able to tell what's happening. Like you're able to tell what's going on, where they are, where they're going. In the first one, you're like you're in a plane, don't know where you are, and then they die. So you're like Well, and film filmmaking since then obviously has gotten better, but also Tom Cruise is getting access to things that he wouldn't have otherwise had access to in the 80s. But also, he didn't direct it in the 80s. Yeah. He he was the, I think he was like either the director or the producer of this one. And it was a surprising, like when you get into certain situations in that movie where you're like, okay, let's pause it here. What decision, if I was them, would I make right now? I actually don't think I would have made if I was them. I don't think I would have made some of the decisions they did, but I think it was for the better. Because like the scene there were there were enough scenes where like they did something unexpected. It was culturally different than what most people do. So like this scene where he gets back together with his with his girlfriend, they could have really taken that a different direction. You know, they only ever actually mention her in the first movie. You never meet her in the first movie. Really? Yeah. Mom looked up in the figure because we were like, who is this? The lady in the first one we mentioned named Charlie. Mm-hmm. That's right. The lady in the second one is Penny. She's the admiral's daughter that they mentioned in the first movie. That he gets in trouble with. Right, that makes sense, yeah. Cause also now the lady's blonde. I don't love her in I like how she acts in Top Gun Maverick, but I don't love like I love her character and what she says to him. Like she She's a pretty good Astrid. I think Astrid is still the best version of that kind of wife character. But Penny, she's she emotionally. We've really gotten way topic here. Anyway, so all I was trying to say is that they made they made some decisions that are counter-cultural in that movie. So, like, even the one, the one F word in Top Gun. I'm not I'm not a condoner of the F-word. However, I do think in that moment, it doesn't feel forced. It doesn't feel In a pro like it doesn't feel gross in that moment. Because again, in the in the climax of that scene, that would be like what just happened. We've never seen a plane do that before, and we're gonna die. Okay, that in that moment, and to have one in the whole movie and it be in that moment, that is countercultural to how filmmaking it, like adult filmmaking, is at this point. Kids' movies, obviously, we're not doing that. But they didn't they're much worse things actually. And I think and they because so like I'm surprised sometimes by what is considered PG thirteen and what is not. Well that has definitely shifted over the the years. But like, because so them not having a identified enemy. Yeah, mom was like that. In Top Gum never. Obviously, is that a cheap and easy way to get around needing to have any political drama? Yes, because you're not saying who it is. Fine. I actually think, cause that was not the point of the movie. Yeah. Right. The point of the movie is not a political agenda. The point of that movie was to make an awesome movie. Because like the the Top Gun, the original Top Gun was kinda like a Cold War. Yeah. Well, and I think that fit a little better in the in the eighties when like political things. Like political movies. It was a little bit less like, I can't believe you're making another political thing. I was like, this is cool. Now it's like everybody is pushing a political agenda in their movies. And they were like, you know what we're gonna do? We're gonna do the exact opposite of that. We're gonna have it be very nondescript. Obviously, these are Americans, but they don't really talk about it like that. We should just go back to like Tom Clancy. Okay, well don't give me a scaredy because the first three Jason Bourne movies are phenomenal. Okay, fun fact, I was telling Calvin this. Did you know that the screenwriter script writer, screenwriter, he f for the first Jason Bourne movie, he had never read the books and the director just told him the plot, like the general plot, and then he wrote the script. It turns out they're phenomenal. And everyone's like, okay. Because my dad has read the books and he likes the books and he likes the movies. And he's like, you gotta realize that they're not the same thing. It's ca yeah, he had never read the books. But like I think if they had been the same I mean Which actually it's funny because some people do that and it works out really well. And some people do that and it's just horrible. Yeah. Well, 'cause like let's not talk about the Lord of the Rings, but you know, what happened there on Narnia day. But it's interesting because Lord of the Rings I think is one of the most respected Well, because they're eight hour long movies. it's kind of impressive to be. It doesn't feel cheap though. Like it none of And it was filmed in an amazing location. man. All right, let's let's try to wrap this thing up. We are way out of our summer productivity. Yeah, we're way off podcasts, just movies. Yeah. I mean we're at twenty minutes of just film talking now. this episode has been brought to you by We Don't Have a Plant. 67th Podcast. Welcome back. Yeah. So hey, sip sip, six seven. There we go. Wow. the string. Yeah. So again, I think I think which is great, but I think our main our main point here is you can actually still be productive and it doesn't have to be you're only working on school stuff for you to still be able to come back to school and still be mentally sharp. so that's great. I think those are good. Think those good thoughts. So we thought about having Hallie give dad advice. I we we still might do that. But let's have Sam at least show you the way it off. Yeah. Okay. Both of us are not dads though. Can I point this out? I know it's more likely for him to be. Everybody knows that with girls. Sam has g been giving dad advice the whole time. Sam has literally been the only person giving dad advice. We both have pretty good dads. So that's you. Yeah. Pretty good dads. I think both of your company's dads are. My dad is better, but your dad is your dad is pretty close. I'm gonna have to agree with you. Only because it's my dad. I mean, this is not I'm gonna have to disagree with you there. you're more than welcome to disagree with that. That's a good dad advice. You are 100% right and we are 100% wrong, and also bad advice for the day. If you can't say that your dad was your favorite dad, you're doing something wrong. I you're doing something wrong. No, I disagree with that. And your dad's doing something wrong. So as a dad, you need to instill in your kids a love for their parents that they can carry with them and apply to their children as well. Because also the Bible says if you love your parents, good blessings will come to you. Yeah, I think I think I probably would not word it that way, but that's that's what it's I think I would probably change the beginning of that a little bit. And I would say if you as a dad, if your kids can't say that you're the best dad they've ever had, then that that is wrong. I actually do think there are kids who should not say that their dad was the best dad they've ever met. Because because so I mean Let's let's say Qualification now here. Yeah, let's say your father is actually a horrendous person who's a murderer and a drug addict and an alcoholic and they're in prison. Well, there's a lot of other people who have done better than that. However, you are still supposed to love like you should not love another dad more than your dad. But you and again, I think this is where it comes down just more to the dad side. Like, you need to be living in a way where your where your kids think. This is the most awesome guy ever. And also, we should be able to agree that both of our dads are the best dads. Like you should think actually your dad is better than my dad. But again, and this is where kids this is where kids, you know, venture off into the plays. Because actually what it because actually what it is, is your dad is a better dad for you than he would be for me, and my dad is a better dad for me than he would be for you. Not that my dad is a better human being than your dad. No. No, that's not that is not how that works. Who is testing? but I do think that's where like family loyalty and some people have, you know That's called nepotism. No, no, no, that's from the parents to the kids. I d I do think that it's good for kids, particularly to be really loyal to their families. But Dads, you should lead like that. All right, Sam, good dad advice, Hallie. What about you? Okay, technically I'll give my dad advice, but first, dad, my dad, at the our youth retreat for our church, he talked about how you should try turning a profit on whatever your parents have given you. So even if you can't sell their house. So even if you can't say that your dad is the best dad in the world, which I don't actually think I agree with Calvin and I think Sam also agrees. I don't think. All kids should say that because I think that's a lie. but so like our dad, his dad did not he was he did not give dad or his sister what he should have. He did not they didn't always feel super loved or cared for. Like he he provided for them and his wife, but like well, he wasn't he wasn't a great dad, but So then our dad though was talking about turn a profit on whatever your parents can give you or did give you. So even if they're they were not the best, they probably did give you something at least, or you can learn from their mistakes. So like figure out how to turn a profit. but then my advice was want to grow, like really try to keep growing your faith, which I know it seems pretty vague. and like just biblical because that's what the Bible says. But like our dad, my mom used to like she would tell us that dad is a completely different person from really who he was before. Like he has grown so much and it's because he really wants to grow. So like he is looking he's very realistic with his problems. So like he can see himself very clearly and then is able to grow from those problems. and like even remembering him from when I was little, he has grown so much. And I think that even if you're not a perfect dad, which you won't be, like working I thought that was your advice. Be a perfect dad. Be a perfect dad. Yeah. Like work, really ask God to help you to keep growing and figure like look at yourself clearly, look at what your problems are and then grow from those. Because if your kid sees, your kid is gonna see that you're not perfect. It's just fact. But if your kid sees you trying to learn and grow from your imperfections, that kid, I mean, that is probably the quality right now that I would say I respect most in dad is his ability to grow. So if your kid sees that you're willing and trying to grow into a better Christian, they will respect you and also want to do that. so grow. Nice. Or just be a perfect dad and then you don't have to worry about that. Yeah, that would that would fix a lot of things. If we were if we were all just perfect people, we wouldn't have a podcast. What what's your Perfect Men. That's what we can do. Be out of a job. What's your tip for being a dad right now? Because your practical tip, because you have a baby at home. I don't I'm not allowed to give that a Try to get enough sleep. I don't I'm not Drinker Rain. Yeah, I mean, I don't know, Sam. Are we gonna are we gonna venture off the beaten path and have me give some kind of tip right now? Or It's episode sixty-seven. I You it's a special podcast. We could do something. my tip, I think obviously we've been we've been crazy spoiled with our baby. I mean, it's like just currently is sleeping for like six hours at a time at night and not really a huge fusser and also is pretty aware. she turns three months old today as of recording. and she's pretty I mean she is talking. She obviously doesn't have any words, real words to say, but it's a lady of not many words. Yeah, she's lady of not many words, but a lot of sounds. and it's Clear, like she's it's pretty clear when she's having a bad attitude or she just doesn't feel good. Like we're we're already at the stage now where it's like, you're She's a clear communicator. Yeah, it's very clear communicating that you don't like this. or that she's having a great time. And I think that one of the things I was watching a thing the other day where a guy was saying, don't ever treat your kids like furniture or like a part of just the wall. So every time you walk by. mess up their hair or give them a kiss or give them a high five or push them around or throw them on the couch or something. He's like not with your baby. Well no. Yeah, but but it's that you are showing to them that I see you and I just went out of whatever way I was going. I just went out of my way. I diverted from my path to come and do whatever with you. Whether that was throwing you onto the couch or you know give you a noogie or or give you a kiss or say hi. All of those things add up to that kid feeling seen, feeling loved, and knowing, hey, my my parents are like paying attention to me, but also they're still doing their stuff. And I was like, that's really good because I I try to actively talk to our baby. She can't talk back. But it's not, it doesn't feel like a one-sided conversation. because she she smiles and stuff, and she's looking at me, but. I know that to that's I'm trying to show to her I see you, I'm paying attention to you, and also I still have other things to do. So like I can't just sit here forever and talk to you. But like generally when we wake up in the morning, she's in the bed with us and I will just talk to her for a couple minutes. That and I think that one sets me up better for when they're a toddler and it's just constant, hi dad, hi dad, hi dad, can I get you something? You hi dad, hi dad, can we go somewhere? Hi dad, you know, that it sets you up a little bit better because you you are paying attention to them, but you're also not like I it's also not like you're just wasting it's not w time wasting to talk to your kid even if they can't really talk back to you. So I think that'd be my tip is even if it's a baby, like actually actively try to talk to your baby. I mean I have other things we can talk about about children 'cause like it's a fun time. But yeah. Anyways fun dad memory. Is he used to my dad used to have his office in his bedroom. And if I ever need something, I could walk in there while he's typing on his computer. And chances were he was listening to the Red Cliff soundtrack, which if you guys have never heard it, look it up on YouTube because they took it off Spotify because of weird racist political stuff. But this Red Cliff soundtrack is just it's amazing. But chances are he was listening to that while he was working. You can always walk up, tap him on the shoulder, ask him whatever question. He could always turn his office chair, look at you. I can't believe you've come to bother me again. No. No. I mean no. but yeah, so Hallie, thanks for being on the podcast. Thanks for having Yeah, it was great. we we will probably see you and at least probably one or two other of your senior class members. Because that's right. We should have mentioned that. You are gonna be Hallie's gonna be a senior this upcoming school year, which is pretty crazy. But we do want to have at least a representative number of your classmates on. Probably not to talk about this specifically, but to talk about some other things, maybe some of your guys' plans for the year. So that'd be cool. Yeah. so that's it for episode six seven. I'm sorry to all our listeners. If you made it this way. No, you're not. Don't be sorry. I'm not sorry. Pounded. so once again, thanks for being on. Sam. Already on. That's right. Choice men, sign it off. Sign it off. Pounded noggin. Would you just say if you just say pounded noggin?