JASON SCHWARTZMAN Speaks In Italian Hand Gestures

Summary

Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers – Episode: JASON SCHWARTZMAN Speaks In Italian Hand Gestures

Release Date: February 11, 2025

In this engaging episode of Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers, hosts Seth Meyers and Josh Meyers are joined by actor and musician Jason Schwartzman. The conversation delves into Jason's rich family history, childhood memories, and the unique experiences that have shaped his life and career. Below is a detailed summary capturing the essence of their discussions, enriched with notable quotes and structured insights.

---

1. Shout-Out to Jason’s Family and Dad’s Foot Surgery

The episode kicks off with Seth and Josh giving a heartfelt shout-out to Jason’s family, particularly focusing on a humorous take on Jason’s dad undergoing cosmetic foot surgery. Seth humorously remarks:

Seth [00:25]: "Maybe a shout out to dad and then we'll follow it right after with a shout out to mom because dad got his foot done."

Jason elaborates on the procedure, mentioning his dad's desire for a “pretty foot” and the challenges that followed:

Jason [02:36]: "Anytime you ask, you weren't really told. But I know there's a fusing of some bones and there was no cartilage."

This lighthearted banter sets the tone for a candid and personal conversation about family dynamics and the quirks that make each family unique.

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2. Jason’s Family Background and His Mother’s Acting Career

A significant portion of the discussion centers around Jason’s mother, who played Adrian in the Rocky film series. Jason shares insights into his upbringing in a showbiz family that nonetheless sought to keep him sheltered from Hollywood’s limelight:

Jason [12:30]: "She played Adrian in Rocky. And in the early '80s, especially when I was growing up, it was such a, you know, she was so recognizable."

He recounts humorous anecdotes about people mistaking him for his famous mother, highlighting the constant mix-up:

Jason [13:38]: "In all different states, you start to wonder why do they all keep thinking you're the same person."

Jason’s reflections reveal the complexities of growing up in a family with a strong presence in the entertainment industry while striving for normalcy.

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3. Childhood Memories and Experiences with Playwriting Festivals

Jason reminisces about family trips to playwriting conventions in Italy and Connecticut, experiences that significantly influenced his passion for the arts:

Jason [30:53]: "I loved being outside and doing stuff just around my house. That was just so fun to me."

He shares a poignant memory from a Dionysian Festival in Italy, where playwrights from around the world gathered, fostering a sense of community and creativity:

Jason [40:43]: "I remember loving the idea of, like, helping one another, I just was really, like, excited about that."

These trips not only connected Jason to his Italian heritage but also kindled his love for theater and storytelling.

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4. Family Relationships and Dynamics with Brothers

The conversation shifts to Jason’s relationships with his siblings, emphasizing the close-knit bond he shares with his brothers Matthew and Robert:

Jason [26:02]: "They know what the other one is doing. And it's not like we all love each other equally. I don't know what it is."

Jason describes the camaraderie and subtle tensions that exist among siblings, painting a relatable picture of family life filled with shared memories and playful rivalries.

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5. Parenting and Jason’s Children’s Experiences

Jason discusses his role as a father and the unique experiences his children have through sleepaway camps:

Jason [53:27]: "My kids fucking love it. My daughter loves it. She's gone like the last five years now. And my son went when he was seven and he's going back again now at eight. And he loved it."

He reflects on the bittersweet feelings of sending his children away for camp, recognizing the importance of independence and personal growth:

Jason [54:36]: "They have this shared memory together that's not even about school or our house or it's like a whole other environment."

This segment highlights the balance parents strive to maintain between nurturing their children’s growth and managing their own emotions.

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6. Insights into Jason’s Personal and Professional Life

Throughout the episode, Jason provides glimpses into his professional journey, including his involvement in music with Phantom Planet and his experiences navigating the entertainment industry's challenges:

Jason [35:12]: "Nobody blocks a punch. Every single punch lands and they can absorb everything."

He shares anecdotes about his early days in the industry, his creative endeavors, and the enduring influence of his family's artistic pursuits on his career.

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7. Notable Quotes

• Jason on Meeting Dolph Lundgren:

  "I remember meeting Dolph Lundgren. His hand fit over my whole head. I was really compressed by this, by this giant hand."
  (Timestamp: [19:10])

• Seth on the Rocky Speech:

  "If I could change and you could change, maybe we all can change."
  (Timestamp: [21:05])

• Jason on Family Strengths:

  "I'm so happy that they have these strengths or these things that maybe afflict me or afflicted me that they don't have yet. I'm so happy that maybe... our family is progressing in a way."
  (Timestamp: [53:27])

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8. Closing Remarks and Reflections

As the episode draws to a close, Seth and Josh reflect on the enriching conversation with Jason, expressing appreciation for his candidness and the depth of his stories. Jason reciprocates the sentiment, acknowledging the warmth and connection felt during the discussion.

Jason [70:04]: "It's the best. Love you guys."
Seth [70:10]: "Love you too, buddy."

---

Conclusion

This episode of Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers offers a heartfelt and insightful exploration of Jason Schwartzman’s life, from his family’s unique Hollywood ties to the meaningful experiences that have shaped his personal and professional journey. The blend of humor, nostalgia, and genuine conversation provides listeners with a compelling narrative of family bonds, artistic passion, and personal growth.

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Note: Advertisements and non-content sections have been excluded from this summary to focus solely on the enriching dialogue and stories shared during the episode.

Transcript

[Sufi]

This episode of Family Trips is brought to you by the all new 2025 Nissan Armada. Because going big never goes out of style. Learn [e-mail] Here we go. Hey, Bashi.

[Bashi]

Hey, Sufi.

[Sufi]

How's it going?

[Bashi]

It's good.

[Sufi]

How are you doing? Really good.

[Bashi]

Nice.

[Sufi]

You know, I feel like we have to give a shout out to one of our loyal listeners.

[Bashi]

Who's that?

[Sufi]

Dad.

[Bashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

Well, you know what? Maybe a shout out to dad and then we'll follow it right after with a shout out to mom because dad got his foot done. He got cosmetic. He got elective cosmetic surgery on his foot.

[Bashi]

I don't know how he would describe it.

[Sufi]

No, I think he went in. I guess he decided he's always wanted a dancer's foot. Oh, yeah. Pretty foot.

[Bashi]

He said he wants a pretty foot.

[Sufi]

He said he wanted a pretty foot. So he went and he got a surgery to make it look like. I guess he brought in, you know, picture. I guess he had, like a photo of a ballerina's foot and he brought it in and I guess it was a pretty painful surgery, but they rebuilt his foot and he's been off his foot for six weeks.

[Bashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

Yeah. And I think it's been maybe a little burdensome on Mom.

[Bashi]

Yeah, I would think it would have to be.

[Sufi]

Yeah. Seems to be a trooper.

[Bashi]

Yeah. I mean, I haven't heard complaints, I'll say that.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Bashi]

And she's one to complain.

[Sufi]

Yeah, that's true.

[Bashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

I don't think anybody would say about Mom. You never know when she's had it. And then here's a quick question. When I'm talking with the kids on FaceTime with dad and they ask him how his foot is, how quickly do you think he can turn his camera around and actually get his foot in the frame?

[Bashi]

He could just turn the phone around.

[Sufi]

Yeah. I think he kind of tries everything. I think he maybe flips it, then he turns the phone around. So then you're just looking at him again.

[Bashi]

Yeah. I don't know where you're going on giving him a shout out here, but I think. I hope it's to the same place.

[Sufi]

Oh, right. Currently, this mostly has been critical.

[Bashi]

Yeah. Unless it was just a shout out for wanting. Wanting a pretty foot.

[Sufi]

Here's the thing. I'm just saying, we love you, Dad. I know it's been a very. I know I've been redirected by Pashi to be a little bit warmer about this. We love you. We're very excited to see your new foot in Beach Season. Now the question is, do you get the other foot done? Because, you know, it's kind of crazy. He went in, right, and only got the one ballerina foot.

[Bashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

I mean, what is the actual foot surgery he got?

[Bashi]

I don't know. Anytime you asked, you weren't really told. But I know there's a fusing of some bones and there was no cartilage, but now he's gonna get himself a glass slipper.

[Sufi]

You know why it's hard to understand the surgery?

[Bashi]

What's that?

[Sufi]

It's too fusing.

[Bashi]

Which I mean deep dive on Meyer's speak. Fusing is the word we say for confusing. So it really hits. It really hits for if it didn't.

[Sufi]

So that's maybe in the end, maybe that's what this shout out intro has been. Is the long walk to get to the place where the punchline was too fusing.

[Bashi]

Yeah. Well, the shout out I would give him is that the last time I FaceTimed them, the camera was perfectly still. And he said, hey, have you noticed how still the camera is? And I said, yeah. And he said, well, yeah, years ago, we did an episode of Late Night, and we had to be at home in New Hampshire, and they sent us these little tripods. And so I have the phone and a tripod now instead of holding it. And I know I privately complained. I think privately complained, or maybe it was on the podcast, but about.

[Sufi]

It's hard to know anymore. Sometimes we think we're private and then you remember it's on the podcast.

[Bashi]

Yeah, but he's a terrible cameraman holding the phone. But he, without my prompting, I think was like, hey, I should be using this tripod. And it was wonderful.

[Sufi]

So you know what? Shame on me for. Here's a guy who's finally got the tripod set up, and I'm like, hey, flip it around. Show the kids your foot.

[Bashi]

Oh, yeah.

[Sufi]

I think I might be the problem.

[Bashi]

Although I will say we were chatting and he was at the kitchen table and he did puzzles the entire time. He was like. He was still. He was engaged in the conversation, but he was like this.

[Sufi]

Never stop.

[Bashi]

Never stop doing the crossword or whatever the hell he's doing. I don't know.

[Sufi]

So he's got a free hand now. Cause he's not holding the phone anymore, but he's not using it to engage with you. So actually, this was not about steady camera work. This is about getting his puzzle hands back.

[Bashi]

Old puzzle hands. Pretty foot puzzle hands.

[Sufi]

Maybe that was the surgery as he got his foot replaced. With a hand so that he could do.

[Bashi]

Do more puzzles.

[Sufi]

He's got. He could be doing three puzzles at once, one with each hand, and then his new foot hand. Yeah, Yeah. I think we should loop back with him and say, hey, in the end. Did you feel like that was a shout out? I had a really good skiing day. I think, you know, hopefully we've established that you're the one who loves it. And I don't care for it that much, but it is. Skiing with a kid is really fun.

[Bashi]

Yeah. Oh, no, I like skiing with your kids. I'm gonna ski with your kids in a couple weeks. In about a month.

[Sufi]

Yeah. Yeah. I'm very excited about that. And, yeah, it's just been delightful. Really, truly delightful. Axel is really, like, loves to bomb down a hill. I wish it would do a little bit more of his turns. You know, I pick him up at the end of ski school, and they're, like, on his turns, and then I. You know, we do, like, a bunch of runs together, and there's nary a turn.

[Bashi]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll work on that with him. I'll cut him off.

[Sufi]

Okay. Yeah, cut him off.

[Bashi]

I'll just keep cutting him off.

[Sufi]

With that said, I cannot relax on a ski lift with my children because.

[Bashi]

You feel like they're going to fall off.

[Sufi]

I have a irrational fear of that.

[Bashi]

Yeah, I have a fear of that in general. And this is. I mean, just. If I can soapbox for a quick minute, it's, like, considered uncool to put the safety bar down on a ski.

[Sufi]

Lift, which is insane to me. Dumb insane to me. Yeah.

[Bashi]

And I know that, like, if you're on a snowboard, it's a little bit annoying if there's a footrest thing that you just have to, like, make room for that. But snowboarders who will always go off of, like, you know, into terrain parks and off of, like, picnic tables and rails and whatever, it's like, you won't put the bottom of your board on this thing that is designed to, like, give your knees a rest. And I ski alone all the time, and I will very often ask to put the bar down. And recently it was just me and a snowboarder on a lift, and I was like, hey, do you mind if I put this down? And he said, if you have to. And I was like, well, I don't have to, but I also don't want to feel like a jerk for doing this. And I get a little bit of fear of heights in certain circumstances.

[Sufi]

I have that, too.

[Bashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

The thing I'm up against is the kids have to pass before the ski season starts. They have to pass a test where they can ride up on their own and get the bar down. So they've already. The mountain has signed off on them alone on the lift. And now when I'm on the lift with them, I have like, dad hands where I'm just kind of like. I just. I'm like hands on their shoulders, you know, pulling them back, and they then are so mad about it and they kind of like wildly slap my hand away. And in general, they're very spastic motions, I think are only increasing the chances that it's gonna. Somebody's gonna go flying off the lip.

[Bashi]

Maybe you should have your hands replaced with feet and maybe they'd be okay with feet.

[Sufi]

What do you think they did with dad's old foot?

[Bashi]

I don't know. You should ask.

[Sufi]

Oh my God, I'd love to get Dad's old foot. Now, when you say dads toenails are careful.

[Bashi]

Is this giving him a tip of the cap?

[Sufi]

No, I don't think I can talk about dad's toenails in a way that could ever be classified as a shout out. Even with the kindest judgment, I don't think I could give him no shout out to dad's toenail.

[Bashi]

Yeah. All right.

[Sufi]

You could strike a match on one.

[Bashi]

Oh, yeah. Uh huh. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sufi]

Well, that was, I think, a nice image to leave everybody with. What's the opposite of an amuse bouche?

[Bashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

So anyway, this though. God, I love this conversation.

[Bashi]

Yeah, I love this dude. I've loved this dude for a long time.

[Sufi]

And yeah, I think you're gonna enjoy talking to him. I think you're gonna enjoy listening to Jeff Tweedy. And I don't think if you're lucky, you should ever look at my dad's foot.

[Bashi]

Well, look at the pretty one.

[Sufi]

Yeah, yeah. The new one.

[Bashi]

Yeah. Family trips with my brothers, family chips with.

[Sufi]

Yeah, look at that. I'm so jealous of that beard.

[Jason]

Don't be.

[Bashi]

I've had a big beard, but it's never approached that.

[Sufi]

Just everything about jet black hair, eyebrows, beard, every part of it. I'm just.

[Jason]

Come on. I'm jealous of that fixture on the wall. What is that thing? Blue, yellow, red.

[Bashi]

Yeah, that's how he plugs his ethernet in there is what it is.

[Jason]

Surely. What is that thing?

[Sufi]

That is. When you do a podcast in a sort of very important Showbiz building like 30 Rock, there's just. You never Know what cables they're gonna plug in?

[Bashi]

Seth's in season two of Severance.

[Sufi]

Yeah, it does kind of look like Severance. It's got a nice Severance Y vibe to it.

[Jason]

May I ask, also as a fan of. What mics are those that you guys use with these dots that go around them like that?

[Sufi]

They're. Sure.

[Jason]

Oh, they're the SM7B USB ones. That's what they got.

[Sufi]

A hundred percent.

[Bashi]

I mean, but we're not using the USB things. We've got cloud lifters.

[Jason]

They're xlr. Oh, they're xlr.

[Bashi]

Okay. They can be usb.

[Jason]

I believe that's how you were able to hold it at the Grand Canyon on a tripod. You had a cloud lifter in your back pocket.

[Bashi]

We did.

[Jason]

Okay.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

Got it.

[Bashi]

Yeah. You're writing all this stuff.

[Sufi]

This is the fastest we've gotten into the granular tech of the show.

[Jason]

Writing it now. I am writing it. I started to write down. Writing it down. Sorry. Clown. Yeah, you have the clown lip.

[Sufi]

This is fantastic. You grew up in Los Angeles. You are from a showbiz family, but true story, your parents did not try to live. They tried to keep you sheltered from it.

[Jason]

Yeah. I mean, how's that going? It's good. It's good. It's so good. No, I. Well, I don't. I mean, sheltered. Yeah. I mean, I. Such a. Such a great way to start.

[Sufi]

Yeah. Just like, immediately get you back on your heels. Well, you started out.

[Jason]

Not on my heels. I'm just thinking. I'm thinking because I really want to. Because a. I really want to. Anytime you see, like, this is me really thinking about how to do my best for you.

[Sufi]

Yeah, you do it so much. That's why you grew the beard as a pad for how often you're thinking.

[Jason]

Yeah, this isn't. Yeah, this is. I grew it just like I did this.

[Sufi]

Oh, it's very helpful.

[Jason]

Well, my mom, I don't really know and I've never totally maybe asked her, but it is true that she had act. Act as an actor. And by the time I was born, she was well known.

[Sufi]

Yep.

[Jason]

And. But I do think that she. She has a. She doesn't like Holly, quote, unquote, Hollywood, whatever that is. We had a nice house. We grew up in a very nice house and such, but she's not into anything fancy and she doesn't like the idea of Hollywood and things. So we never went. I never went to a set, really, growing up, I think I went to two sets to visit once. I wasn't like a kid. And she didn't work as much in the 80s. I think she worked less and less. I don't know if that's by choice, like if that was to shelter us, as you say, but. Or if it was just to. Because, you know, she wanted to work. I don't know. But I do know, for instance, that she played Adrian in Rocky.

[Sufi]

Yep.

[Jason]

And in the 80s, in the early 80s, especially when I was growing up, it was such a, you know, she was so recognizable. And we would go places and people would say, yo, Adrian, Sure. And she would say, that's not me. I don't know what you're talking about. And then. Thank you, though. And then I was like, huh, who's that? And they're like, they think I'm some person named Adrian. Okay. But then after that happens like 60 or 70 times.

[Bashi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

In all different states, you start to wonder why do they all keep thinking you're the same person?

[Sufi]

Right. You put it together.

[Jason]

I began to put it together and then I finally saw a Rocky movie, but only until when I was like seven or eight.

[Bashi]

Wow.

[Jason]

Pretty good. I mean, I got pretty. Yeah, yeah.

[Bashi]

Still pretty early to be watching Rocky movies. I feel like there's, you know, really.

[Jason]

I just showed my 8 year old son. I just showed a child.

[Sufi]

Did you really?

[Bashi]

They're probably, they're not.

[Jason]

When you say that now, I'm like, oh my God, yes, we just watched. Yeah, we just did.

[Sufi]

Well, now I. So is. How old are your kids?

[Jason]

14? 11. Sorry. 14. 10. Almost 11 and 8.

[Sufi]

Okay. So I think the young, if your youngest can watch it at 8, because my oldest is 8 and I don't know if he could handle Rocky.

[Jason]

Well, what about it? Wouldn't he be able to handle.

[Sufi]

I don't know. Now I'm thinking the violence. But all he ever does is wail on his brother. So maybe.

[Jason]

Well, it's true. I mean, that's sort of. So as they, as they go along, they increasingly get more. Boxing violent. Yeah. Might I say the first one is really. It's really such a beautiful.

[Bashi]

It's fabulous.

[Jason]

It really is such a beautiful movie. And he wrote it and Sylvester Stallone wrote it. And it's so quiet and it's really a sad.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

Character is so sad. You know, this guy and this guy who's just sort of like looking, you know, for a way. Just looking for a way. And it's a wonderful film. And really the most violent things that there are sort of come at the end, you know, and it's And. Yeah. And then the same and same kind of with the second one. I think the third one is like when a fight happens. That's when he fights Hulk Hogan in the beginning of the movie. They open with a fight more. But you know what else they do in those movies that I noticed is each movie opens with the end of the last one.

[Sufi]

It is true. It's almost like. Previously on.

[Jason]

Which you don't see, I feel like very often in feature films.

[Sufi]

Yeah, it's true.

[Bashi]

You know what never happens in any of those movies? No one blocks a punch.

[Jason]

Ever.

[Sufi]

All. Ever.

[Jason]

Oh, my God.

[Bashi]

Every single punch lands.

[Jason]

Yeah, they land and they can absorb everything. And they. Yeah.

[Bashi]

It's crazy.

[Jason]

It's unbelievable.

[Sufi]

And I have a two part question how I imagine your kids obviously are processing that you are, you know, someone who is in films. What is their reaction when they see their grandmother in a movie when they see her as Adrian?

[Jason]

Well, it's very. So my son doesn't really, you know, he doesn't really. He hasn't really. I don't think he articulated. He was just kind of like. He was really into the movie.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

And he really was sad when Apollo Creed died.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

Spoiler alert. But he looked like he was gonna cry.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

My daughter, she was really beautiful. So she's 14. She's watching it and her. What she's seeing is so different than what I'm seeing. So we're watching these scenes and I'm looking at. And I'm kind of looking at her and then she goes, her hair is just so beautiful. And I was like, yeah, it is, isn't it? Yeah, Just how it goes like that. Sorry. Keep going. Like so. And she's just really taken by my mom's beauty, which is really. Which is so sweet.

[Sufi]

So sweet.

[Jason]

I know. I love it. And also she's really moved by their love story because they really love each other, these two. Adrian and Rocky. I did not expect to be talking about it, Adrian. But I'm so happy that we are because I. Okay. Because I've never talked about it before.

[Sufi]

You were the first person to point out who your mom was.

[Jason]

Yeah.

[Bashi]

Have you ever seen Radio?

[Jason]

You got it. Next one. I'm ready. Okay. No, so let me. So. So. But I will. So. Yeah. She's really moved by. By their love. Like she's teary by their affection for one another. And I think that's really sweet.

[Sufi]

That's awesome.

[Jason]

Yeah, I know, I know. There's all kinds of. It's great. I mean. Yeah. So I. But I have a few memories. I went. So by the time I did go to the set of Rocky iv.

[Sufi]

Oh, wow.

[Jason]

I didn't. Whenever. Whenever there was the big fight, the Russian fight, I didn't get to see any actual fighting, but I remember being by, like, a trailer or something, and I heard a crowd roaring. And I remember meeting Dolph Lundgren. Lundgren.

[Bashi]

I mean, who knows? Maybe we all met DL.

[Jason]

I met DL. I met Drago in a. In the hotel lobby. And I remember my mom said, this is my son. He said, this is your boy. And he put his hand on my head. And I remember his head covered my entire hand. And I was. I had never met a man or been touched by a man that big before.

[Bashi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

And I remember, like, it just like, I was like. I mean, I don't have the greatest childhood memory, so whatever sticks out really must have been an impression.

[Sufi]

You have to add a giant hand to stick out.

[Jason]

That's a big. I mean, every part of my head was being touched by. And I remember going like, whoa. Like, I mean, I was really compressed by this. By this giant hand.

[Sufi]

I think the most, with no exaggeration, and I feel, as I say this as someone who I believe is patriotic, I think the most patriotic I've ever felt in my life is Rocky Ivan.

[Jason]

Really?

[Sufi]

Like, in the movie theater. I remember when it was over, my friends and I were, like, jumping around in front in that little area between the front row and the screen.

[Jason]

Yes. Yes.

[Sufi]

Like, it was, like. It was just jubilant. It was like Armistice Day is how happy we were.

[Jason]

You know? And that speech he makes at the end really is quite something where he's like. I mean, I just watched it the other night, so let me paraphrase. But he says, if I could change and you could change, maybe we all can change. Isn't that. And it's pretty moving. You know what I mean? It's great. It's great. I loved it. But there's a few things I have some questions about as I'm looking into it now. As I'm thinking about it now, is like, are they implying that he was taking steroids, Drago?

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

There's one shot where they inject him with this thing. Okay, that is. Okay, so it is steroid. It's not just like some kind of, like. Yeah, okay. Yeah. All right.

[Sufi]

They were implying that he was. And they were ignoring the fact that Sylvester Stallone, definitely.

[Jason]

He was going natural.

[Sufi]

That's a natural human body. That's a natural human body.

[Jason]

Yeah. Okay. But so the idea was, even without. Look what you can do without it.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

Okay. Look what you can do in the woods.

[Sufi]

This is all wood. This is a wooden body.

[Jason]

Every one of these things in the gym that you can do, there's a real life version of it out there, and that's what you can get from it.

[Sufi]

Hey, we're gonna take a quick break and hear from some of our sponsors. This episode of Family Trips is brought to you by Nissan.

[Bashi]

Hey, Sufi.

[Sufi]

Yeah, Paschi?

[Bashi]

What's that thing I always say about going big and it never going out of style?

[Sufi]

Oh, I remember. Going big never goes out of style.

[Bashi]

Yeah, that's it. And that's why we at Family Trips love partnering with Nissan, because they know that going big never goes out of style, especially when it comes to the 2025 Nissan lineup and the Nissan vehicle.

[Sufi]

We want to give a huge shout out to today. The all new Nissan Armada Pro 4X.

[Bashi]

Sufi, what's that thing I always say about the all new Nissan Armada Pro 4X?

[Sufi]

Paschi, you always, always say that no terrain is too tough for the all new Nissan Armada Pro 4X. It's the most capable Armada ever built.

[Bashi]

Yeah, that's right.

[Sufi]

It's like your catchphrase.

[Bashi]

Yeah, I'm known for saying that. And how could I not? With a new powerful engine, incredible towing capacity, and adventure ready technology, this is the first Armada to earn the Pro 4X badge.

[Sufi]

It's built for the most rugged of terrain, thanks to the fact that it's powered by a twin turbo V6 engine, which means it's ready to give you the freedom to explore further and to propel your adventures to new heights.

[Bashi]

And my favorite part, the Armada's premium interior seats up to eight passengers. That means we can bring our six best friends with us on our next adventure. Let's name them right now.

[Sufi]

And we're out of time. So thanks again to Nissan for sponsoring this episode of Family Trips. Explore further with the Nissan Armada Pro 4X. Learn more at nissanusa.com Intelligent Four Wheel Drive cannot prevent collisions or provide enhanced traction in all conditions. Always monitor traffic and weather conditions. Support for family trips comes from Airbnb. Man, oh, man, Airbnb. They've really taken care of us in this podcast. We've had some of our best trips with mom and dad at Airbnbs recently.

[Bashi]

Absolutely. I feel like I've had some of the best trips in my life in Airbnbs.

[Sufi]

And, you know, I remember when we got to the last Airbnb that we stayed at with mom and Dad, I walked in the door and you had on a giant dining room table. You had already set up a brand new board game. Now, again, we're a board game family. You've done some research, and it was one of those games with a million pieces. And I feel like there would never be a place in a hotel room to do this sort of thing, but it was just laid out, ready to go. It felt like a home away from home.

[Bashi]

Yeah. I mean, if I had done that at a hotel, you probably, like, I'd have to lay it out on a bed, and then you'd probably come in and just jump on the bed and mess it all up.

[Sufi]

That'd be exactly what I would do.

[Bashi]

Because it would be funny. It would be a jerk move, but it would also be funny.

[Sufi]

I recognize that it's nice when you're reuniting, be it with friends that you used to hang out with or your family that you used to hang out with and warm spaces to go to an Airbnb and have that instant connection that you used to have in places that were not hotels.

[Bashi]

Also, sometimes you're like, I don't know, is this place going to be okay? Well, then you should just try a guest favorite. And you know, it's going to be okay because. Because, you know, people aren't gonna find a place that they were not impressed with and say, that's my favorite. So get yourself a goodie.

[Sufi]

Book your next awesome trip [e-mail] Here we go. So where you have a younger brother. How many years younger is your brother?

[Jason]

So I have a. He's two years younger.

[Sufi]

Okay.

[Jason]

And I have a younger brother then. So my parents were married twice, so I have. Before they met each other. So I have my little brother Robert, and I have an older brother, Matthew, and then I have an older sister and then an older brother again.

[Sufi]

Gotcha. So did one come with your mom and two with your dad?

[Jason]

Exactly.

[Sufi]

Gotcha.

[Jason]

Yes, that's exactly right. But my brother John, he's amazing, but he was just at that point enough older that he was sort of like he was 18, so he was going to college. And then Stephanie, my sister, was 16, so really kind of in the house. It was Matthew, myself and Robert.

[Sufi]

Gotcha.

[Jason]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

And how much older was Matthew than you?

[Jason]

Five years.

[Sufi]

Okay. But you were a pretty good group of boys there.

[Jason]

Definitely.

[Sufi]

Gotcha. Got along well.

[Jason]

Yeah, got along well. Oh, my God. Yeah, I think we did. It's not really fair, I feel like, to talk about your brothers if they're not here.

[Sufi]

Yeah, I think that's true. That's probably why.

[Bashi]

I mean, it depends what you want to say about them. You've only said the nicest thing so far, but, yeah. I guess what you're holding back on.

[Jason]

I'm stopping right here. That's my.

[Bashi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

No, no, but I think that my brothers were. We get along great. They are really close, Matthew and Robert.

[Sufi]

But they have a lot of. Between them.

[Jason]

They do. And I don't. I don't know. They're just very. They get. They. And to this day, they are very much still the same way. They. They go on, like. They go on more trips together. They're closer. They know what the other one is doing. And it's not like we all love each other equally. I don't know what it is. They just have a kind of. I don't know exactly what it is, but when I was little, I think I was definitely as a kid and still am a little bit more, like, happy to have, like, a lock on my door.

[Bashi]

Yep.

[Jason]

Than maybe others. And, you know, my brothers, for instance, love the idea of, like, sometimes I hear y'all talk about. It's like, let's all rent a house together and we'll all be there and it ends up being fun, but it's not like my dream idea. But, you know, the truth is that even if it was my. Even if it was not my brothers, I wouldn't.

[Sufi]

Right. Of course.

[Jason]

Like it.

[Sufi]

It's just the idea of let's all get together, rent a house.

[Jason]

Yeah. Yes.

[Bashi]

What if it was a big house and there was, like, a casita? Like, you could have the casita. Like, that's.

[Jason]

It wouldn't matter because I would be so. I would feel so bad about being in the casita, to be honest.

[Bashi]

Right.

[Jason]

And I would know that they were like my brother, specifically. I know they'd be, like, making fun of me for being in the casita.

[Bashi]

Right.

[Jason]

Like, I know they'd be like, oh, yeah, Jason having a thing. Because I remember being a kid, and, like, they would be doing something and I'd go to my roommate and go, there goes Jason, to his room to write a poem.

[Sufi]

I think if we had had a third sibling, if there had been a third Myers, I think I very much. Josh, tell me if you think I'm wrong. I think I would have totally been the one who checked out.

[Jason]

Right.

[Sufi]

Maybe.

[Bashi]

Yeah. I think you're more likely to have.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

You know, I just. It's a space thing. Like, I don't know, like, I don't. It's weird. Like, I. And I love my brother so much, so. But, you know, I was, like, the kind of kid, like, Robert, my little brother, would like, is the sweetest person in the world. Like, I would. We had. We shared a bed for a really long time, and then we got bunk beds. And, like, it's the kind of thing where, like, he came up onto my bunk bed one time. He was like, hey, can I talk to you? And I was like, get off the. Get off my bunk. Get off of here. And he's like, I just want to show him. Like, get off. And I pushed him, and he, like, went flying off the bunk bed, hit the ground. I mean, I was not.

[Bashi]

Were you punished for that?

[Jason]

No, because I think I rushed to his aid and mended him before it was like, this is.

[Sufi]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jason]

That's like.

[Bashi]

That stays here in Miller's Crossing where that dude hits his kid and then says, like, oh, did somebody hit you?

[Jason]

No, I definitely got in trouble. Of course I got in trouble.

[Sufi]

You. Were you a big. I mean, again, I'm. I might be, like, wishcasting what I want to hear the answer to be, but, like, again, like, your uncle's Francis Ford Coppola, like, I want to believe you all, like, took giant trips to Italy.

[Jason]

We. Not in my youth, but as a. So we. We have taken giant trips to Italy.

[Sufi]

Okay.

[Jason]

Is that. If that's what you want to hear.

[Sufi]

I'm happy to hear it.

[Bashi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

But my family is from a small town in Italy called Bernalda, and my uncle recently, or I don't know how recently now, but like, purchased a little building in the town of Bernalda and turned it into a hotel, of course. But nonetheless, it's been a place that we can all go. And literally, it is the town that we're. And it is a very, very small town. I can see. I can walk around. I can see where my great great grandfather and mother lived. And it's tiny, and they say salve. Salve. I mean, and there's some people almost speak half Latin, half Italian. It's quite old and a very beautiful place, a very small town. And I recommend that you just get that. That area is really beautiful in the south of Italy. But.

[Sufi]

Yes. Do you feel like a sort of generational pull? Like, when you saw. When you see your great, great grandparents home, do you feel anything?

[Jason]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

Or you do?

[Jason]

Well, I don't. I rarely feel anything, but I feel like when I walk around the town, pretty good.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

And I feel like these people kind of look like me, or I don't know what it is, but, like, I. They say hi to me, and people don't usually say hi to me. Like, they. And I go like, hey, I guess they think I'm having Italian. Like, I feel really included.

[Bashi]

Do you speak Italian?

[Jason]

I can understand Italian okay. Kind of. Yeah. But I think that's just because the nature of the language is they want you to understand it.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Bashi]

So maybe you just understand hand gestures.

[Jason]

I understand hand gestures and enthusiasm, but I. No, but I. And I understand a little bit. And so I can kind of piece together things. But, no, I don't fully understand it, but I can kind of fake it. I mean, I feel I was in Chicago working on this show, Fargo, and I was meant to be like, this. I'm an American Italian in the show, but I'm surrounded by all these, like, real, like, Italian Italians that work, you know, work for me in this gang. And I remember, like, some of them are some pretty, like, big guys in Italy. Some, you know, real act. And we, like, we went out to some Italian restaurant in Chicago, and we, like, went in, and the guy who. The maitre d saw them is like, oh, Dominicato came over. He's like. And he's, like, kissing all of these guys, and he's like. Like this whole thing, and I'm the last guy. And I was like. And I'm like. Like, I just did, like, a vein. He's like. And so I could tell he thought I was Italian by proxy.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

So we go in, and then I was like, sit there. And I was like, how long can I keep? What am I supposed to do? I feel weird. Like, should I say I'm not Italian? Or maybe he doesn't think. Maybe I'm. This is just narcissistic. He did think I was Italian. He kept speaking to me, and then the other. But people kept speaking on my behalf. Anyway, fast forward. My family comes to town like, three weeks later. My wife and kids. And I was like, I know where we should go eat. And we went to the Italian restaurant. And I walk in, the guy's like. And I was like.

[Bashi]

Three table in the back, please.

[Jason]

And then he's like, ah, si, si. And then he came and brought these American menus to English menus. And I was like, graz, grazie.

[Sufi]

Oh, man. Camera's up.

[Jason]

Yeah, but my family does. There's a lot of Italian, but I'm very Italian. And there's a lot of Italian and half Italian, half Polish.

[Sufi]

Yeah. It's a nice mix. It does feel. It's the mix where I feel like you could do a one man show about it. That would have like a funny title.

[Jason]

That's funny. What would it be called?

[Sufi]

I don't know, like, you know, like. I don't know. Mama. I don't know.

[Bashi]

Spaghetti and sausage.

[Jason]

Mama Misk. Mama Misky. Mama Misky.

[Sufi]

Yeah. Mama Misky. Mama Misky. There you go. Look at that. What are we doing here? Trying to come up with we're not going to beat Mama Miski. So what? And then where else would you travel within the States? Was that something you said? Oh, I did.

[Jason]

By the way, I did go to the set of Rad just to go back to your Rad thing. I did not go to the set of Rad.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Bashi]

When I was younger, like, I loved the Rocky movies, but Rad to me was maybe the first movie that I watched like 12 times, like just renting it.

[Jason]

And I gotta say that also one of the bigger memories that I had in my life is I got to go to the recording session of like Break the Ice, like all those songs. I remember being in the studio for like these musical. Those songs and I was just like, fuck, that's. I think. Yeah. I just was so into music even then. I was like, yes, this is amazing. And so anyway. But I loved. I loved Rad.

[Bashi]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Same stuff.

[Jason]

That was fun. Sorry.

[Sufi]

How young were you when Phantom Planet started?

[Jason]

So we started. I guess I just turned 14.

[Sufi]

Get out of here. Wow.

[Jason]

Yeah. But, yeah, that was like when that group of people finally clicked. Was 14 years old.

[Sufi]

And you were all 14?

[Jason]

No, I was the youngest one.

[Sufi]

Okay.

[Jason]

The oldest was 16.

[Sufi]

Still. That's so awesome.

[Jason]

Yeah. Yeah, it was wild. Yeah.

[Bashi]

My wife was just saying, I said you were going to be on. And she's like, oh, what's that song? And I was like, california? And she's like, no, no, no. And she's a big Coconut Records fan.

[Jason]

Oh, wow.

[Bashi]

Yeah. And I was like, this song. And she's like, no, this song. And played west coast that she's all about. Yeah.

[Jason]

Thank you. Yeah, tell her thank you.

[Sufi]

And so were there. Were you guys a family that would travel within the states? Like, what would you do? What was a big vacation for the Schwarzman's?

[Jason]

There weren't any.

[Sufi]

Okay.

[Jason]

I don't. That I recall. I think that we were. I think first of all, we. I think we were just really happy to be home.

[Sufi]

Yep. We were that kind of family too.

[Jason]

Yeah, we just. I loved Being home, and I still do to this day, I just. I love. I loved my backyard.

[Sufi]

Yep.

[Jason]

You know, we had a. We had a backyard. And I just. I really loved being outside and doing stuff just around my house. That was just so fun to me. And, you know, to be honest, I don't even think that I could say one time. I think I went to New York one time, maybe with my dad accompanying him on, like, a pseudo business trip, actually, which is where the line from that west coast song comes from, about packing yourself in the suitcase. Because he was going to New York and I didn't want him to go, so I packed myself in a suitcase beside his suitcase.

[Sufi]

Oh, wow.

[Jason]

Because I think I had seen that in. Well, it's a very 80s trope to me. Yeah, Right?

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

Yeah. Was there ever a Mythbusters about that?

[Sufi]

That you probably couldn't do it?

[Jason]

That you probably couldn't pack yourself in a suitcase and get on an airplane.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Bashi]

And have your dad by mistake and.

[Jason]

Yeah. There was, like, an earnest thing up. There was an earnest. No, they, like, put you in the. You come down, like, baggage claim. You come down baggage. It's like, ha. But that was my idea. And so I. Anyway, but. But for most that I can remember, we stayed at home a lot. And when we went on trips, I think that we would go to Palm Springs and just for. We'd go for, like, a weekend or something. And my brothers Matthew and Robert, again, they play tennis, and my father played tennis. I was a ball boy.

[Sufi]

Oh, no. That's worse than not playing tennis.

[Jason]

And anyway, so that's where we. That's like, you know, that's the nearest, most kind of often version of a trip would be these. But. And they were great. They were wonderful experiences. And the only other ones like that were kind of annual were we would go to Napa sometimes for Thanksgiving to my uncle's place. And that was so fun. Another Rad thing, which I didn't expect to talk about, but somehow my dad. We got to own these vans that were used in the movie Rad, I guess as transport vans. They were Chevy black Astro vans, and they were equipped somehow in the back with a power outlet. So we would take this little vcr, you know, like a TV that just had a VCR built into it. Loved it. And we would take out the backseat, lay carpets, lay blankets down, and me and my three brothers would lay in the back and watch movies while my dad and mom drove us up to Napa. And it's so dangerous, obviously, now in retrospect but those are. Those are my big, like, kind of family trips, as I remember them. And we took other trips. I went on the two big trip, like kid trips that I remember with my. My mom took me to a playwriting convention in Italy once when she was 11. And then the year after we went to the Eugene O'Neill center in 1992. And she stayed like in a. We stayed in a house like a mile from there. And they never went there. I just went there every day. And it was my. I loved it. I worked in the bar and I would go see plays every day.

[Sufi]

And how old were you?

[Jason]

I think I was eleven. Eleven and a half. Twelve. Wow. I'd go to the Q and A. I'd go to all the Q and A's, which I loved. With all the playwrights. I loved it.

[Sufi]

And was this some. Do you think they did that trip because they knew how much you would love it or was it.

[Jason]

No.

[Sufi]

Okay. So the byproduct was they. They went on a trip for them and you were the one who enjoyed it.

[Jason]

I don't even know why they went on a trip. I actually thought it was rude. They seemed rude. They went because someone affiliated with the place was like, come to the thing. Come out here. And they came and they never. They just knew someone that was like, it'd be nice if you were in Connecticut. I don't know. I don't know really. This. I'll. I'll get to the bottom. My mom will avoid the answer, but I'll ask her.

[Sufi]

Where is it Exactly?

[Jason]

The Eugene O'Neill center is in Connecticut.

[Sufi]

Harker. Great. And so you. And were you surprised as an 11 year old how much you loved it or would you know, on your way? Like, this is gonna be right up my alley.

[Jason]

I knew I was gonna love it. Cause the year before I had gone to this. We went to this place. My mom was invited to this incredible thing called the Dionysian Festival. I don't know what it was, but it really was a big impact on me as a kid. Where it was in Italy. And basically what it was was a little hotel, a little town that really was like a hotel sort of was that small. Had invited 12 playwrights from around the world to come and perform a play in their language with actors from their country for all these other playwrights and actors. And so every night would be like the Nigerian play, the, you know, the. The French, the German play. And all the actors lived there and they all rehearsed in these little rooms and My parents took it as, like, a trip, I think, really for them to have, like, a nice trip to Italy. But they took me, so it was me and them. Matthew and Robert played tennis with each other. They're not into the arts as much. No, Sorry. So. So. No. But they were back. But I went. And I remember that being a definitive moment for me. Cause I remember going into this cafeteria, and all the actors were getting food from different countries, and they were all eating together. And I remember loving that camaraderie. I was like, oh, this is amazing. Cause I loved music. Even before then, my dream was to be in a band from a very young age. And what I loved about it was sort of like when I would see live performances, looking to the side of the stage and seeing other bands watching from the side of the stage. And I always love that idea of, like, wow, they're all together and they travel together. It's like a circuit. You know, they all are this little team that move together and they support each other. And this idea of, like, helping one another, I just was really, like, excited about that. And then being with all these actors and stuff, I just. I didn't think that I would be an actor at all. But I loved this feeling of, like, this community of people. And I loved the plays, and I loved going to the Q and A's. And I remember, like, this one guy, this, like, one German playwright, he walked everywhere. We'd always, like, pass him in a car, but he'd be walking. And then someone said, why do you walk? He said, because when I walk, I dream. And I just remember that being such a great. I was like, wow. And anyway, blah, blah, blah. It sounds pretentious, but it wasn't like, some fancy thing. It was just this, like, small idea. Someone had to get a bunch of playwrights together.

[Sufi]

I. It's such a beautiful thing that you're. It is a reminder that we can't force things on our kids. But you do something like that, and if it, like, clicks with your kids, what an incredible byproduct of taking a vacation to a playwright festival.

[Jason]

Yeah. And the same happened at the Junior Neal Center. I was like, there were people playing volleyball. The actors play volleyball. They do Q and A. They do a performance at night, then a Q and A the next morning of the play. So I'd always go to the. I biked myself from my house to where we were because my parents never came there. So I biked, and I would just go to the Q and A's. And then also, I Became friends with the actors. So, like, I remember Boomerang came out that summer, and I went with all the actors from one of the plays there to go see Boomerang, the new Eddie Murphy film.

[Sufi]

At the time, I thought you were gonna say. Cause obviously Boomerang was a play first, and that was out of the festival.

[Jason]

No. Seeing the feature, the adaptation.

[Sufi]

But that. I mean, it is really. I mean, it's so funny to have been introduced to you first. First time I saw you as, like, this really precocious high school student, and it just feels like that seems to be who you were.

[Jason]

No, I wasn't. Okay, because. No, because I. Well, I'll tell you. So. So I was a bad student. Well, so was that character.

[Sufi]

Yeah, kind of. Famously.

[Bashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

Hanging out with adults. Maybe I was spinning off that. You were hanging out with adults.

[Jason]

Yeah. You know, that. That might be sort of true.

[Sufi]

I mean, I. I loved that, too. I know that's true. When I went to camp, I would tend to, like, befriend a counselor. I feel like I was. My best friend at camp was the least popular counselor.

[Jason]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sufi]

You know what I mean?

[Jason]

Well, as you say that now I remember my first sleepover. My friend Liam's house. He had, like, this. A birthday party, and his mom was an artist and an art teacher, and she had, like. They had their house, but in the back was, like, her art studio. And I remember we all played and did all this stuff, but at the end, it was time to go to bed. And what we had done was we all put out sleeping bags in the art studio, and everyone went to bed. And I just remember, like, it was my first sleep, and I remember everyone being asleep, like, instantly, and I was not. Couldn't fall asleep, and I didn't know what to do. So I got up and went to the main house. You know, the main house? Just to the house. And then I knocked on the thing, and I came in and I said, I can't sleep. And I actually ended up going and getting into the bed with the parents and watching TV with them till, like, midnight. It's awesome.

[Sufi]

Yeah, that's fantastic. I also appreciate just parents of a kid that's not theirs being able to clock right away. This is what's got to happen. Yeah, we can't talk this guy back into his sleeping bag, by the way.

[Jason]

It did. It came back. Well, it comes around. Comes around. Because it did happen to me recently with my son at a sleepover, and then his friend. My son, fell asleep. My son's like an old man curmudgeon. Like, he was like, oh, can I go to bed already, please? Like, he's like that.

[Sufi]

Like, is this the youngest?

[Jason]

Yes. He's crazy. He's never called me dad in my whole life. He only calls me Jason. I don't know. It's very. I've never. He. And I don't know why. And I'm used to it. Like, I don't. Like, even when he was at camp, I wrote him, like, I wrote all my kids letters, like, I hope everything's great. Love, dad. But then when it was his, I wrote, like, love, Jason. Yeah. And like. And. And, yeah, so he's always. But yeah, he's like the kind of guy, like, we'll be like, in the car, my daughter will be like, singing along to music. My 14 year old. And I'll be like, can you stop singing just once so that I can hear the song? How it's actually supposed to be sung. Please.

[Bashi]

The best.

[Jason]

Like, you know, he's like a real grumpy. Anyway, but he had a friend come over and they went to bed. The kid did not. He's like, I can't sleep. And I was like, oh, Jesus. And so he ended up, like, I ended up watching a bunch of cartoons of this kid for like, four hours.

[Bashi]

Would you ask questions at these Q and A's at these festivals? Did you ever step up to the mic?

[Jason]

Yeah, Yeah. I don't remember any of them.

[Bashi]

Yeah, that's okay.

[Jason]

But, yeah, I remember doing that. But then this is. You were engaged.

[Bashi]

You were fully engaged.

[Jason]

This is all in that period right before. I don't know, you know that moment before you get sort of squashed as a person.

[Sufi]

Yeah. Well, before you. Shame. You don't feel shame yet.

[Jason]

Exactly. It's like just that last little moment before you're ashamed and that sort of sweet moment. And then, you know, this type of behavior didn't continue.

[Sufi]

Right. This is sort of the golden era where you were just like, fully thriving for a second.

[Jason]

Yeah, it was nice.

[Bashi]

Hey, we're gonna take a quick break and hear from some of our sponsors.

[Sufi]

Support comes from Talkspace. Hi, Pashi.

[Bashi]

Hi, Sufi.

[Sufi]

You know, it is lovely to talk to you. You're one of my favorite people in the world to talk to. I mean that sincerely. But sometimes you gotta talk to somebody who's not a close friend or a family member or a work colleague. Sometimes you need to talk to a professional therapist. Talkspace is the leading virtual therapy provider, and it makes getting the help you need. Easy, accessible and affordable. You can easily sign up online and get paired with licensed provider. That's the right fit for your needs, typically within 48 hours. You could also switch providers at no extra cost.

[Bashi]

Therapy can be costly, but Talkspace is affordable and in network with most insurance providers. Most insurance members have a zero dollar.

[Sufi]

Copay and Pasha, I didn't want you to feel like I was judging you by saying sometimes you want to talk to a therapist instead of your brother.

[Bashi]

No, I get it.

[Sufi]

With a therapist I feel safe to be like. And then like he's always like talk more about trips and I feel like he's bullying me.

[Bashi]

Right, right, right. Yeah. No, I'm not a good. I'm not a good go to for that convo.

[Sufi]

You can even talk it out between sessions at Talkspace by sending messages to your therapist. Talkspace provides personalized treatment for individuals, couples, the LGBTQIA community, veterans and teens.

[Bashi]

As a listener to this podcast, you'll get $80 off your first month with Talkspace when you go to talkspace.com trips and enter promo code SPACE80 to match with a licensed therapist. Today go to Talksports talkspace.com trips and enter Promo Code SPACE80 to get $80 off your first month and show your support for the show. That's talkspace.com trips promo code SPACE80.

[Sufi]

Support comes from Deleteme. Hey Bashi.

[Bashi]

Yeah, Sufi?

[Sufi]

Have you ever known someone who was a victim of identity theft, harassed, stalked, doxxed? I have. Yeah. And when that happens, you really do have this haunting feeling of how much of my information is out there and what can I do to get rid of it so that it does not fall into devious hands.

[Bashi]

Well, the best thing you can do, the smartest thing you could do, is to get Deleteme because Delete Me is a subscription service that removes your personal info from hundreds of data brokers.

[Sufi]

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[Jason]

Here we go.

[Bashi]

Did you go to camp?

[Jason]

No, I didn't. I didn't want to go to camp. I went to day camp, but my, my, my brothers, like, they went like, my little brother went to sleepaway camp and stuff. I went to puppetry camp and to rocket building camp.

[Bashi]

All right, I'm sorry.

[Sufi]

I like that you keep. Yeah, no, you are different from the kid in Rushmore.

[Jason]

Yeah, well, yeah, it's true.

[Sufi]

Wait, but you, your kids do go to sleepaway camp. So what? This is fascinating to me because I feel like everyone I know who went to sleepaway camp is sending their kids to sleepaway camp. But how. What was. Was your wife the one who thought it was important?

[Jason]

Yeah, my wife loves camp, okay? It. She's a sleep away camp. She's a winner. You know what I mean? Winners like camp.

[Sufi]

They do. I will say my wife doesn't. I somehow married a Jewish woman who's like anti sending kids to sleepaway camp, which I didn't know they existed because I do want to say, I'm like, that's where the winners go.

[Jason]

Well, my wife is like, so you went to camp? She's like, yeah. I'm like, did they make you line up on a dock the first day and swim out to like a buoy, first one back? She's like, yeah. And I was like, were you like the first one back? She's like, maybe, yeah. Like, that's why you like camp. That's. I was. When you're the last guy you know.

[Sufi]

It'S not for you.

[Jason]

It's not a great place to go for a month.

[Sufi]

Cause I'm guessing the best thing about puppetry camp, no winners, no losers, objective.

[Jason]

Subjective. It was all. It was like, yeah, that's a worm, you know, but it was like, but.

[Sufi]

Do your kids love it? Your kids must love it.

[Jason]

Love it. My kids fucking love it. My daughter loves it. She's gone like the last five years now. And my son went when he was seven and he's going back again now at eight. And he loved it.

[Sufi]

Is it. Wow. I mean, the thing.

[Bashi]

Do they go to your wife's camp, the camp that she went to?

[Jason]

No, no, she. They go to a camp here in California, Lake Taho.

[Sufi]

And do you miss them terribly?

[Jason]

Yeah, I do. I miss them so much. And you know, I think what's amazing is the idea is to me is that your children should Be the better. Better than you. I mean, that's evolution. Like, so I. I'm so happy when I see, like, that they have these strengths or these things that. That maybe afflict me or afflicted me that they don't. That they don't have yet. I'm so happy that maybe. Oh, my family, like, it's progressing in a way, like. And they have a lot of. I have a lot of things that they don't have. Thankful that I'm glad that they don't have that. Like, I'm so happy. And so when I see them. But there is a feeling, like, when they take them away, you have to just drop them off, and they just. That's sad. And I only can. Have you ever taken your dog to, like, the vet?

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

And they come out and take your dog. They go like, hi, you, Roscoe, Come on. And they take the dog, and the dog's like, whoa, whoa, whoa. And they. And they pull the dog, and you're like, it's okay, buddy. I'll be right here. Like that. That's, like, kind of how it feels because you have this knowledge that they don't have.

[Sufi]

Yeah. Like, your life is only year one, right. I mean, at this point, your kids must run to camp.

[Jason]

They. I love it. Yeah, they love it. And it's really cool.

[Sufi]

And they come back, and they must come back better. You must just be like, look at this. I mean. Because I do think there's a level of maturity that can only happen when you're not around your parents all the time.

[Jason]

And they don't. Absolutely. And I don't. What's really sweet, too, is that now they have this thing that's their camp. Like, when they talk about camp, it's so sweet because they're like, oh, yeah. And then, remember when this happened? This. Like, they don't. Like, they have this shared memory together that's not even about school or our house or it's like a whole other environment. But still, even then, my daughter's like, yeah, Julius ignores me at camp.

[Sufi]

Oh, wow.

[Jason]

Like, I walked by him and he had, like, red paint. And I'm like, hey, do you want me to get that off? He's like, no.

[Sufi]

Which is Julius, the youngest.

[Jason]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

Great. I love everything I'm hearing about this guy is right up my alley. I'm very.

[Jason]

I. I gotta tell you, he's the greatest. And I. Yeah, he calls me. Yeah. You know, he calls me Jason. When I remember, like, in kindergarten, I, like, volunteered for, like, a day to do stuff at the school. And like I was there and two other parents there. And the teacher's like, okay, so class, if you have a parent in the room today, please go and stand next to them and introduce us to your parent. So like they go up and like, so like this girl's like standing beside her mother and she's like, michelle, who are you with? What do you call her? And what should we call her? It's like mama. It's like, okay, and what should we call her? Samantha. Like, hello, Samantha. Okay, Rachel, who are you with? Mommy. And what should we call her? You know, Tanya. Hello, Tanya. Okay. And Julius, who do you have with us? Jason. Okay, and what should we call him? Dad. And I was like, what? And then he goes, ah, I'm just kidding. You can just call him smarty pants.

[Sufi]

Literally, it's like you brought your grandfather to school.

[Jason]

Like, I'm being, I'm like, the hell is going on? It's like so embarrassing.

[Sufi]

It's wonderful.

[Jason]

I'm like, don't say, don't embarrass me.

[Sufi]

Anyway, did you, where do you like going?

[Jason]

I want to ask you guys so many questions.

[Sufi]

Ask one.

[Jason]

Yeah, well, so, yeah. So like for you guys, when you, in terms of like. Well, you get asked a lot of questions all the time. But like did you have physical fights very much.

[Sufi]

Not a ton.

[Bashi]

No, I mean one to my knowledge. And I don't, I, I can't remember another one really wasn't just maybe, maybe it was the odd like pushing and shoving. But we had.

[Jason]

Right.

[Sufi]

One of the issues was we would hang out a lot where it would be me, my friends, plus Josh.

[Jason]

Well, that's right.

[Sufi]

And the roughhousing. Often Josh would get hurt and in the way that you pushed your brother off the bunk bed. Everybody would run to tend to Josh because we knew if he sort of ran to my parents, the party was over.

[Jason]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

So it was a lot of. You're good. Look at you, you're good.

[Bashi]

And like while they tackle me and hold me down and tell me how good I am and how cocaine.

[Jason]

And did you feel pressure to be good? Like, were you like, yeah, I can keep hanging, I can keep doing this.

[Bashi]

Yeah. I think I was quick to. Our father used to always say, and I don't know if it was real, I think it was a trick. But like we would play a lot one on one football where our dad would be the all time quarterback.

[Jason]

Yeah. Love it.

[Bashi]

I would like dive for a ball and would hit the ground and I'd get hurt and I'd start crying and our dad would say, you were crying before you hit the ground. And I don't think I was, but that was enough to sort of rewire my brain and sort of redirect me. And like, maybe I was. Like, maybe I was just afraid of hitting the ground. And maybe this doesn't hurt as bad as I think it does. So I was quick to cry and maybe quicker than I needed to be.

[Jason]

That sounds like an Elvis Costello lyric.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Bashi]

Crying like that anymore. He sings it a new way now.

[Jason]

She was quick to cry. She was quick to cry, but she didn't. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Bashi]

So. Yeah, so. And I. And it was like, you know, if I. If I cried and I left the sort of. We always hung out in our basement. That was like our playroom. We had this.

[Jason]

What was in there? What was in there?

[Bashi]

There was a couch that could pull out into a bed, but it had no metal in it. It was just foam.

[Sufi]

Yeah. There's a very inexpensive fold out couch. But we would mo. I mean, most of the games were like throwing a little Nerf football and like. And just like crashing into stuff.

[Bashi]

Yeah.

[Sufi]

But it was, it wasn't like a room full of toys or anything. And it wasn't. Was it carpeted when we were playing? I feel like it was carpeted back in our day.

[Jason]

Are you blown away when you see the toys now that they make?

[Sufi]

Oh, it's incredible.

[Jason]

Isn't it crazy?

[Sufi]

It's crazy.

[Jason]

It's nuts, right?

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Bashi]

In terms of what I mean, I.

[Jason]

Like the average toy. Like just the, like, if. Not that we get. Like, if you just like walk. If you went to even just like target the average toy. Like there's like Jurassic park masks that you could put on and you can open your mouth and it roars and the eyes blink and look around. That is far out.

[Sufi]

The Lego Leap is the craziest thing.

[Jason]

It really is.

[Sufi]

Because they're getting the same enjoyment out of it that I'm sure we did. But at the same time, that's when I feel a million years old. Where I want to tell them. I think ours came in three colors and three out.

[Jason]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sufi]

This is. But I. I've talked about this. But last year I made a terrible miscalculation, which is I bought the Home Alone house and they were. I did it a year too early because I realized I was just building it and then also kind of loving it because it was in my. We were staying with our in laws and so I would just go in the other room. And just kind of quietly, I would try to trick one of the other. One of the boys to come and sit next to me. So it looked like it would just be very quietly. Quietly building the booby traps.

[Bashi]

I might catch some heat for this, but we went to a first birthday last weekend over to Buddy's house, and we were, like, running a little bit late. And Mackenzie, my wife, was like, well, can we stop at this store to get a gift? And I was like, there's gonna be so many gifts and this kid's one. And like, he walked into the house and it was already like, before pre gift, there were so many toys, and it was like, we're just adding to, like, no. And we did not bring a gift. And I don't know that it was expected or required or whatnot, but didn't do it. Don't feel bad.

[Jason]

Yeah, that's. There are a lot of. Yeah. Just toy. It's a little cuckoo. The toys. But wait, I was going to say the LEGO thing. Have you ever heard of LEGO Beach?

[Sufi]

No.

[Jason]

I've always want. I want to go to this place, Lego Beach. It's apparently. And I might botch all the info, but I feel like in the late 90s or early 2000s, a shipping freight boat holding many, many, many things, but among them, 4 million Lego pieces that were being transferred from one country to another sank. And all the pieces washed up on this beach, I believe in England somewhere. And it's called Lego Beach. And people go from around, like LEGO aficionados and hunters go there to look for these pieces, and they still find. They find them, and people collect them. It's like a kind of a LEGO destination. If you're a LEGO hunter, it's.

[Sufi]

If you're a LEGO hunter, you're like, I like Legos. No, no, no. That's not enough. I want the hunt.

[Jason]

Let me ask you a question. When's the last time you dug one up?

[Sufi]

Sure, sure, sure. We all.

[Jason]

You can.

[Sufi]

We all get a hit when we buy it at a store. But the real. The real.

[Jason]

Yeah. I'm not talking about hunting for, like, a deal. I'm talking about hunting, finding it in the wild.

[Sufi]

Now you don't got to pay for it. That's your Lego.

[Jason]

But I like a LEGO Beach.

[Sufi]

We've run out of time. Which breaks my heart.

[Jason]

No.

[Sufi]

Because I feel like. I know we do. Cause it's. And it's my fault. It's my fault.

[Jason]

We didn't even talk about anything.

[Sufi]

I know, and I want to do it Again. Will you come back? This is so fun to talk to you.

[Jason]

Yeah, I mean, I'll just do it. Can we just keep going right now for another 90 minutes?

[Sufi]

No, I have to go pick my kids up at school. I fucked it. I blew it. Wait, you just ripped up the paper that had all the specs of the microphone on it.

[Jason]

Shirt, sm. What was it again?

[Sufi]

Wait, Josh. But you're not done yet because Josh has to ask you some questions.

[Jason]

Wait. This is so sad, because I did have some good stories.

[Bashi]

Then we'll bring you back.

[Sufi]

Yeah, just come back.

[Jason]

Do you mind? I feel like I botched it, though. Look, I'm a fan of the show and you've had some great people on, and this was not as good as those ones.

[Sufi]

No, it was great. And there's very few people that we want to have back immediately, but we want.

[Jason]

Oh, my God. I'll come back immediately.

[Sufi]

Okay, great.

[Jason]

I'll just stay on this link and then you guys can come back.

[Sufi]

Speed round.

[Jason]

Okay, hit me.

[Sufi]

All right.

[Bashi]

You can only pick one of these. Is your ideal vacation relaxing, adventurous, or educational?

[Jason]

Educational.

[Bashi]

What is your favorite means of transportation?

[Jason]

Walking.

[Sufi]

Great. Great.

[Bashi]

If you could take a vacation with any family, alive or dead, real or fictional, other than your own family, what family would you like to take a family vacation with?

[Jason]

I was thinking, I think with Noel and Liam Gallagher would be good.

[Bashi]

Oh, yeah.

[Sufi]

Jealous. So jealous.

[Jason]

Well, you can come, too.

[Sufi]

Yeah, I would love to come. Yeah.

[Jason]

You want to come?

[Sufi]

I wish. I think we should get this in soon because I don't think they're going to be together for long. I try to schedule this trip soon.

[Bashi]

If you had to be stranded on a desert island with one member of your family, who would it be?

[Jason]

Well, I think as long as everyone else was okay, it'd be my wife.

[Sufi]

Great.

[Jason]

So my kids were watching. Yeah.

[Sufi]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jason]

Okay. Yeah. And if not, it would just be with my favorite of my children, Julius.

[Sufi]

Yeah, that's. I mean, if I. If I could be on a desert island with one member of your family, it'd be Julius.

[Jason]

I'm just kidding. No, it would be my wife.

[Bashi]

You're from Los Angeles. Would you recommend Los Angeles as a vacation destination?

[Jason]

Yes, absolutely.

[Sufi]

Great.

[Bashi]

Great. And then Seth. Seth's going to close it out for us.

[Sufi]

Jason, have you been to the Grand Canyon?

[Jason]

I have.

[Sufi]

And was it worth it?

[Jason]

Yeah. Okay, but your answer was the great. What you said was my favorite thing ever.

[Sufi]

What? I don't even remember what I said at this point.

[Jason]

Josh said something like, look at It.

[Sufi]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Jason]

And it just keeps on going. This isn't even it. It just keeps on going, and you're like. And yet this is sort of all you need. Or something like that. Like, this is more than enough.

[Sufi]

This is enough to, you know, even a little bit of the Grand Canyon is more than enough. Imagine how fast what that I got.

[Jason]

From that was Lenon and McCartney.

[Sufi]

Oh, yeah. That's the thing. I think the great thing about this podcast, the minute you start listening, you're like, oh, they sound alike. They are alike. And then you just spend some time with us.

[Jason]

No, no, no. It's Lennon and McCartney, because, you know, John Paul McCartney had the line, it's getting better all the time.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

And then John Lennon came up with the line to sing after it. It can't get much worse.

[Sufi]

There you go. Well, that's some real insight. I mean, at the end, it felt like you tricked us. And this whole time it's just been therapy and you've been the therapist.

[Jason]

Yeah, yeah.

[Bashi]

That's what the beard's for.

[Jason]

You know what this is called?

[Sufi]

What's that?

[Jason]

This is called. I forgot what the name of it is. An optical illusion. Anyway.

[Sufi]

Anyway, guys always end the podcast with a visual gag that you don't know.

[Bashi]

That you can't name.

[Sufi]

Now everybody listening is like, what? But what was he even doing? You didn't put a name on it.

[Jason]

Can I tell you one last terrible story?

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

There's this one person just along the lines of this.

[Sufi]

Yeah.

[Bashi]

Shaking a pencil to make it look rubbery.

[Sufi]

Like rubber.

[Jason]

There's this one person that I can't name, but every time I'm with him, you know how there's, like, people that are just like. You're kryptonite.

[Sufi]

Yep, yep.

[Jason]

They just make you nervous. You say the wrong thing. Every single time I have one of these people, and I just. It just. That reminds me of the last time I saw this person. We share a birthday, and I don't know the person very well, but I saw him somewhere, and I was like. He said, hey, Jason, how are you? And I said, good. And he said, happy belated birthday. And I said, happy belated birthday. And I did remember that there was another person who had our birthday. And I wanted to tell him, and I said, you know who else has our birthday? And he was drying off. He had gotten out of a pool. He goes. I said, you know, else has a birthday. And I go, no, who? He goes, no, who? I go, oh, shoot, shoot, shoot. And he's like, drying off, like, wait, wait, wait. Sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't. I just thought. I remember who had this. He's like, it's okay. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Hold on. And he's like. Now he's like, almost totally dry shirt on. It was. They have. They were a boy. It was a boy. And he. I think he did music. The guy's like, it's really okay. You really, like. I never found out who the birthday was. And he got completely dressed in front of me, basically put on new pants, new thing, combed his hair, did anything, had a baby. I was like, well, if you remember, let me know. And it was just like. It was just such an amazing thing that I realized, like, afterwards, he had enough time to completely dry off and change. And I still never came up with the name of the person because I was so nervous. I'm intimidated by the person is why.

[Sufi]

I'm very excited to. I'm going to do some digging and figure out who this is.

[Bashi]

To be honest, with our homework, it won't take long.

[Sufi]

Nope. No, I already.

[Bashi]

I mean, I got your birthday on this piece of paper.

[Sufi]

We're going to work.

[Bashi]

Yeah.

[Jason]

Yeah.

[Bashi]

That's gonna go get his kids.

[Sufi]

Jason, it's great to see you. I'm so sorry. I wish this went on for another hour. It's a pleasure.

[Jason]

I appreciate it.

[Sufi]

It's great to see you, as always.

[Jason]

Hey, you guys are so wonderful and congratulations and I love your other podcasts as well.

[Sufi]

Thank you. Some good friends of ours.

[Jason]

I'm deep into it now.

[Sufi]

It's the best.

[Jason]

It's the best. Love you guys.

[Sufi]

All right. Love you too, buddy.

[D]

People yelled, yo, Adrian.

[Bashi]

Mom.

[D]

She was the lady. And Rocky, but she said they thought she was someone else. But then he went to set in when he met Dolph Lundgren. Dolph's hand fit over over J. San's whole head. Had a sister and some brothers, but was different than the others. Liked to write poetry. Up in his room they'd be swinging rackets, he'd be making puppets. Kind of dude who liked a lock on his door. A playwright and festival was where he loved to be. In Connecticut for the one in Italy or spaghetti. Those were just the greatest days. Back into the Q&As also he went to see Boomerang. Yeah, those playwriting festivals were so eye opening. Maybe one day on the stage he'd be with Mama Misky. Jason, he was beaming, walking and a dreaming forever changed by Boomerang. Now he's got three children youngest calls him Jason. You can call him dad or call him Smarty pants. Might be fraid of offer men or a form Yankees captain. We'll ask him next time he's on the pod.

[Sufi]

This episode of Family Trips is brought to you by Nissan. Hey, Pashi.

[Bashi]

Yes, Sufi?

[Sufi]

Let's talk about some things that never go out of style.

[Bashi]

Ooh, I love this game. Like pasta, bomber jackets, high top shoes.

[Sufi]

Jean jackets, baseball hats. You know what else? It never goes out of style.

[Bashi]

What's that?

[Sufi]

Going big. That's why we at Family Trips love partnering with Nissan. Because they know that going big never goes out of style. Especially when it comes to the 2025 Nissan lineup and the Nissan vehicle we want to give a huge shout out to today. The all new Nissan Armada Pro 4X.

[Bashi]

No terrain is too tough for the all new Nissan Armada Pro 4X. It's the most capable Armada ever built with a new powerful engine, incredible towing capacity and adventure ready technology. This is the first Armada to earn the Pro 4X badge.

[Sufi]

It's built for the most rugged of terrain thanks to the fact that it's powered by a twin turbo V6 engine, which means it's ready to give you the freedom to explore further and to propel your adventures to new heights. So thanks again to Nissan for sponsoring this episode of Family Trips. Explore further with the Nissan Armada Pro 4X. Learn more at nissanusa.com Intelligent Four Wheel Drive cannot prevent collisions or provide enhanced traction in all conditions. Always monitor traffic and weather conditions.