The One With Robb Curtis Brown and Diane Reynolds

Summary

Podcast Summary: "The One With Robb Curtis Brown and Diane Reynolds"

Podcast Title: For Love and Chocolate
Hosts: Tommy and Tara Gallop
Episode: The One With Robb Curtis Brown and Diane Reynolds
Release Date: March 19, 2025

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Introduction

In this heartfelt episode of the For Love and Chocolate podcast, hosts Tommy and Tara Gallop delve into the enchanting love story of Robb Curtis Brown and Diane Reynolds. Celebrating enduring love with their signature blend of warmth and sweetness, the episode weaves together personal anecdotes, listener interactions, and an intimate interview with the featured couple.

UK Follower Appreciation

[00:21-02:15]
Tommy and Tara begin the episode by expressing gratitude to their international listeners, particularly highlighting their growing UK audience. Tara shares a delightful encounter with a British customer who revealed that his mother has been an avid listener of their podcast. This revelation surprised the hosts, leading them to acknowledge, "the United Kingdom today... after the US, The UK has the greatest number of listeners of our podcast."

Notable Quote:
Tara (Mrs. Truffles): "I really want to say thank you... to all of our friends in merry old England."
Timestamp: [01:50]

Listener Mailbag: Navigating Love and Career

[02:15-05:23]
The hosts transition to their "mailbag" segment, addressing listener questions. The first query comes from Ava, a recent college graduate struggling to balance her demanding nightlife and weekend work schedule with her dating life.

Ava's Question:
"I'm trying to get started in my professional life, but struggling to balance that with the dating scene... How can I pursue a career and a relationship simultaneously?"

Advice from Hosts:

• Tara: Encourages Ava to seek more regular work hours to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Tommy: Suggests finding unique ways to meet people, humorously mentioning the idea of a "nocturnal boyfriend."

Notable Quote:
Tommy (Mr. Truffles): "Or you can find some interesting characters, I'm sure... Maybe a vampire."
Timestamp: [03:41]

The second question from Neville Thurston Buckingham IV of Upper Crust, London, seeks advice on maintaining passion in a relationship where his partner's strong Cockney accent hinders romantic expression.

Musical Response: "You Say It Best When You Say Nothing at All"

[05:23-09:04]
To creatively address Neville's concern, the hosts introduce Stagecoach Bob, who performs a heartfelt rendition of the classic song "You Say It Best When You Say Nothing at All." This musical interlude beautifully illustrates the power of non-verbal communication in love.

Notable Lyrics:
"The smile on your face lets me know that you need me. There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me."
Timestamp: [05:53] - [09:04]

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Featured Guests: Robb Curtis Brown and Diane Reynolds

[10:03-35:04]
The heart of the episode features an in-depth interview with Robb Curtis Brown, a seasoned actor with over 42 years in the industry, and Diane Reynolds, a marriage and family therapist with a rich background in health and human services. Hosts share their admiration for the couple's long-lasting relationship, highlighting their professional and personal achievements.

How They Met:

• Setting: Both were involved in the theater scene in Los Angeles during the pilot season of 1989.
• Circumstances: Robb won a trip to Hawaii on the game show Sale of the Century and decided to take his then-girlfriend on the excursion. Due to relentless rain, they returned early to LA, where Robb was unexpectedly cast in a play opposite Diane.

Notable Quote:
Diane Reynolds: "Many, many years ago, somebody that I really trust deeply said, best relationships are working relationships."
Timestamp: [32:28]

Relationship Development:

• Quick Progression: Despite only knowing each other for 72 hours before their first rehearsal, Robb and Diane's chemistry was undeniable.
• First Date: A short getaway to Santa Barbara shortly after meeting solidified their bond.
• Proposal: Robb creatively proposed by compiling a video montage of friends and colleagues expressing their support before popping the question.

Notable Quote:
Rob Curtis Brown: "It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart without saying a word."
Timestamp: [05:53]

Secrets to Lasting Love:

• Humor: Both attribute their enduring relationship to shared laughter and a light-hearted approach to life.
• Honesty and Communication: Emphasizing the importance of honesty and open communication to avoid misunderstandings.
• Mutual Growth: Encouraging each other to explore new interests and experiences.

Advice to Listeners:

• Diane: "Always be honest. Cultivate honesty and grow that muscle so that you can speak your truth."
• Robb: "Don't sweat the small stuff. Have faith in your partner and keep smiling."
  Timestamps: [32:55] & [33:25]

Notable Moment:
The couple receives a "big red torture bag full of romance," including French champagne, handmade body butter, and a selection of champagne truffles, symbolizing their sweet and enduring love.

Notable Quote:
Tommy: "We really enjoyed the journey and the stories and thank you for sharing."
Timestamp: [35:02]

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Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Tommy and Tara reflecting on the inspirational love story of Robb and Diane, reinforcing the podcast's mission to celebrate love and chocolate through real-life romantic journeys. They express gratitude to their listeners and encourage them to share their own stories for future episodes.

Final Quote:
Tara (Mrs. Truffles): "What seemed to be some cosmic interference... it kind of makes you realize that sometimes maybe there's other forces involved."
Timestamp: [30:58]

Closing Remark:
"This podcast is being brought to you by Beverly Hills Toyshire Chocolates of Switzerland... the home of the world's first and finest champagne truffles."
Timestamp: [35:04]

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Key Takeaways

• Enduring Love: Robb and Diane's story exemplifies how passion, humor, and honest communication can sustain a relationship over decades.
• Balancing Life and Love: The episode offers valuable insights for listeners navigating the complexities of modern relationships alongside personal and professional responsibilities.
• Community and Gratitude: The hosts' appreciation for their diverse listener base underscores the universal appeal of love stories.

This episode of For Love and Chocolate serves as a sweet reminder of the magic that happens when two hearts align, fortified by mutual respect, laughter, and unwavering support.

Transcript

[Mr. Truffles]

From deep in the heart of Beverly Hills, you found For Love and chocolate with Mr. And Mrs. Truffles.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, welcome back.

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, hello, Mrs. Truffles.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Welcome to the podcast, everyone.

[Mr. Truffles]

Don't you look darling today. And I love what you've done with the studio.

[Mrs. Truffles]

What is going on in here?

[Mr. Truffles]

I think, you know, it looks like.

[Mrs. Truffles]

High tea is being served.

[Stagecoach Bob]

High tea.

[Mr. Truffles]

I love crumpets.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Crumpets with high tea is the best.

[Mr. Truffles]

It might be my favorite day. But what is happening in the studio?

[Mrs. Truffles]

I think there's a reason that we are celebrating the United Kingdom today.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes. And we have the. The Union Jack flag is. Is waving right.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Right below our American flag, where we always pledge of allegiance every morning. And so we had a customer come into the store this week.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes, we did.

[Mrs. Truffles]

A very judgy Brit.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes. Everyone would know who this person is.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, we certainly recognized him from a show that we've watched, and he's a regular customer when he's in town. And he was telling us something very fun. What did he say?

[Mr. Truffles]

He said, my mum has been listening to your podcast and loving it. Absolutely loving it.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So we looked into it, and it turns out that we've got a little bit. The following growing across the pond.

[Mr. Truffles]

It's more than a little bit of a following, sweetie.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It's a. Everything's relative.

[Mr. Truffles]

I know. I mean, we like to be modest, but, oh, my goodness, this was shocking. After the US The UK has the greatest number of listeners of our. Of our little podcast that could.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Who knew?

[Mr. Truffles]

Not me until yesterday.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, that is. That is so fun.

[Mr. Truffles]

It really is fun.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah. And I really want to say thank you. A proper thank you to our friends and to his mom and to all of our friends in merry old England. So, Mr. Truffles, I think you know what time it is.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, is it time?

[Mrs. Truffles]

I think it might be time.

[Mr. Truffles]

Okay, let's hit it. Well, Mrs. Truffles, what's in the mailbag today?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, Mr. Truffles, I've got the first question here from someone calling herself Ava.

[Mr. Truffles]

Ava.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Ava. Yes, she says hi. Recent college graduate. Here I am trying to get started in my professional life, but struggling to balance that with the dating scene and quote, unquote, getting out there. The industry I work in is a lot of nights and weekends, which I feel like limits not only my opportunity to meet people, but also makes it hard to schedule things. Would appreciate any advice you have in how to pursue a career and a relationship simultaneously. Thank you. Ava.

[Mr. Truffles]

Ava. Okay, well, I mean, that's somewhat of a unique problem I mean, nonetheless, Right.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Most people work days and have weekends off. But having said that, you know, I think sometimes when you're fresh out of college, you kind of have to pay your dues. But my best advice to you, Ava, would be to look for more regular hours. I know that can't maybe happen right away, but that should be the goal. Just for balance in your own life and for your own. For your own well being.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah. Or you can find some interesting characters, I'm sure, out there, you know, starting at.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Find a nocturnal boyfriend.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah. Maybe a vampire. Just walk in streets.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah. I don't think we want sweet Ava dating vampires. You don't think so, Mr. Truffles.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Right.

[Mr. Truffles]

Which is an idea. No, but Ava, I think that, you know, through your work, you're gonna meet some interesting people. I'm sure. But yes, at the end of the day, I think you'd probably like to be dating when the rest of the world does and keeping schedules with young gentlemen suitors that can maybe take you out before.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Right. Yeah, she'll get there. She's just. She's new at this.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

But good luck to you, Ava. And I hope your Mr. Wright comes along soon.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes. Thanks for writing in, Ava.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, Mr. Truffles, what else do we have in the mailbag today?

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, this question comes from Neville Thurston Buckingham IV of Upper Crust, London.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Uppercrest, London. How lovely. We're starting to actually get questions from across the pond.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes, we are. And Neville says, Dear Mr. And Mrs. Truffles, I'm writing to you today to express my gratitude for the fine work you do and to seek your assistance with my most concerning relationship issue. I've recently fallen madly in love with a beautiful woman, but here is my plight. She has the face of an angel and a heart of gold, but when she opens her mouth to speak, she speaks with a cockney accent that would make Eliza Dolittle wince and the stray cats all yowl. How can I lovingly express my feelings to her and yet keep our passion alive? Signed, Neville Thurston Buckingham IV of uppercrest, London.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, Mr. Truffles, I think that this question needs a musical answer.

[Mr. Truffles]

And I think you're right, Mrs. Truffles.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, luckily, we happen to have Stagecoach Bob in studio with us today. What do you have to say?

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, Mrs. Truffles, every relationship issue can be answered with a country western song.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, take it away, Stagecoach Bob.

[Rob Curtis Brown]

It's amazing how you can speak right.

[Mr. Truffles]

To my heart.

[Rob Curtis Brown]

Without saying a word. You can light up the dark. Try as I may I can never explain what I hear when you don't say a thing the smile on your face lets me know that you need me. There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me. A touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall. Now you say it best when you say nothing it at all. All day long I can hear people talking out loud but when you hold me near you drown out the CR. Old Mr. Webster could never define what's being said between your heart and mine. The smile on your face lets me know that you need me. There's a truth in your eyes Saying you'll never leave me. The touch of your hand said you'll catch me me whenever I fall.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Rob Curtis Brown]

You say it best when you say nothing at all the smile on your face lets me know that you need me. There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me. The touch of your hand said you'll catch me whenever I fall.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah, you.

[Rob Curtis Brown]

Say it best when you say nothing at all.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, thank you, Stagecoach Bob. He really does have all the answers.

[Mr. Truffles]

That was beautiful. And it just goes to show you, every question about love and romance can be answered with a country western song.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I think so, yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

You know, speaking of song, I have mentioned before my acapella group, the Five Johnsons. John Michael Higgins was on the show earlier. And now today, our next couple, Rob Curtis Brown and Diane Reynolds. Well, Rob was one of the Five Johnsons and we sang together for years. And super excited to have them both on the show today. In fact, I'd like to tell you a little bit about the Mrs. Truffles.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Please do so.

[Mr. Truffles]

After meeting her beloved on stage in 1990, Diane Reynolds became a marriage and family therapist. Every showbiz family needs one. And later a consultant in health and human services. For over 30 years, she leveraged all those cumulative experiences to co create a strong and lasting marriage and raise two beautiful, creative and resilient adult children. Life is very good. Rob Curtis Brown has been an actor for 42 years and a very lucky husband for 33 of those. With over 300 credits on stage in film, TV and commercials, his favorite role was playing opposite Tom Gallop in Without a Trace. But his two all time favorite productions are his children, Eli and Em. So sweet.

[Mrs. Truffles]

We'll be right back with Rob and Diane.

[Mr. Truffles]

For over 40 years, toyshare has been a staple in the Beverly Hills community. Like so many other families in the community, our family has had a long standing love affair with toyshire. Chocolates. Over the years, we form traditions and memories around these extraordinary Swiss chocolates and the enchanting wonderland of fantasy truffle boxes inside our store. Today, our family is proud to be carrying on the Toyscher tradition in Beverly Hills. Well, welcome back, everybody. I have this kind of warm, gooey feeling happening right now. I don't know if it's the. That you just plowed me with or just being in your presence, or it might be because we're sitting across from two very dear friends of mine that I've known for. Say it, sweetie.

[Mrs. Truffles]

30 years.

[Mr. Truffles]

30 years. I've known them for 30 years. That's right.

[Mrs. Truffles]

How did I guess that?

[Rob Curtis Brown]

I don't know.

[Mr. Truffles]

You're very smart. We've got Rob Curtis Brown and Diane Reynolds. Two very sweet, very dear friends. Guys, welcome to the podcast.

[Diane Reynolds]

Thank you.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Thank you for having us.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, of course. I'm so glad that Mrs. Truffles gets to meet you guys because.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Mrs. Truffles.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Mrs. Truffles, yes. I've heard about the Five Johnsons.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Yes, yes, the Five Johnsons. Medical anomaly.

[Diane Reynolds]

I know, I know.

[Stagecoach Bob]

I think. I think Tommy, you came up with that name.

[Mr. Truffles]

I think I may have.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Sounds like something that. Mr. Trump.

[Mr. Truffles]

Welcome to the show, guys.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So how long have you guys been married?

[Diane Reynolds]

This September, we will be 33 years.

[Stagecoach Bob]

33 years.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So tell us, how did you two first meet?

[Diane Reynolds]

This is a story that we have told so many times because the universe had to work really, really hard. Yeah. Any moment, just any moment, it would have shifted and gone another direction.

[Stagecoach Bob]

I am from the East Coast, Philadelphia, ish. Little north of Philadelphia.

[Diane Reynolds]

And I grew up in Alaska. Anchorage, Alaska. Moved to Southern California for college.

[Stagecoach Bob]

We grew up very, very, very far away from one another. So. So I guess the story kind of begins early in 1989. Begins with the pilot season. January through April was thought of as the pilot season, of course. And so people would come out to LA from New York in hopes the big fish and launching some kind of crazy career. I was out here in la, had a friend from New York, and he and I were working on a writing project. And we've been hammering away at this screenplay, waiting for the phone to ring. In a moment of complete, utter boredom, we opened the LA Times, and in the want ad section are huge ads for game show contestants. My friend and I thought, well, what the heck? Let's audition for this game show. And the game show was called Sale of the Century. It's a very popular show. So we go and we audition for this game show and we're gonna. We're gonna do the show. So he won $8,500 and I won $11,000 and a trip to Hawaii. Wow. And the trip to Hawaii, essentially was a blank check to go to Hawaii for a week. It was a little rental property right on the beach in. On the. On the South Shore. This was at the end of January of 1989. Pilot season sort of, you know, flames out. I go back to New York and was cast in Shakespeare in the Park, Joe Papp's theater. Big splashy production with all kinds of famous people. Cast of thousands in Central park over the summer. And it was a great show.

[Mr. Truffles]

What was it? Cause I'm sure I saw it.

[Stagecoach Bob]

It was a show called Titus Andronicus.

[Mr. Truffles]

You were wonderful.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Thank you so much. That's so kind of you. Which night did you see? Which was the.

[Mr. Truffles]

Thursday.

[Stagecoach Bob]

The Thursday.

[Mr. Truffles]

It was Thursday.

[Stagecoach Bob]

We're performing the show. Great. And I become very good friends with one of the other people in the show. She decides she would like to fix me up with her sister. The backstory on that was the sister was engaged at the time to someone else. I was sort of being inserted into this situation because the family was really unclear as to whether or not they wanted that engagement to take.

[Diane Reynolds]

But you didn't know about it.

[Stagecoach Bob]

I didn't know about that.

[Mrs. Truffles]

You were a hapless fawn.

[Stagecoach Bob]

I was a hapless fawn in the Chessboard of. Right. It was. There weren't big expectations in the relationship, but we had a good time. This would have been the summer of 1989. That show ended. I went straight into another show at Playwrights Horizons. Started doing that show. I was working nights, she was working during the day. We didn't see one another very much. And I think there were a lot of differences in who we were. And I didn't know that it was ever gonna really fly. Toward the end of 89, I realized I had only a few weeks to take this trip to Hawaii that I had won the previous January.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Okay. There was a time limit of when.

[Stagecoach Bob]

You could use the one year thing.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Ticket, Right.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Exactly.

[Mr. Truffles]

And it was one ticket. It wasn't two tickets.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Oh, it was two tickets.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, it was 2 tickets.

[Stagecoach Bob]

2 tickets. Yeah. Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I mean, what fun would. One ticket.

[Stagecoach Bob]

One one way ticket.

[Mrs. Truffles]

That's right.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Goodbye. Good luck, Mr. Travel. Just saying.

[Mr. Truffles]

Brought to you by sale of the century.

[Stagecoach Bob]

That's right.

[Mr. Truffles]

Go ahead.

[Stagecoach Bob]

So, yeah, two tickets. Two round trip tickets to Hawaii. Only had a month or so to take it and I, this young woman, if she would be interested in going, all expenses paid trip, why not? In January 1990, we get on a plane. We land in Kauai. It's a beautiful night, Pick up the convertible, drive to this beautiful house on the beach. It's absolutely glorious. Wake up the next morning and it is pouring rain. And it rains the whole first day, the whole second day, third, fourth, and fifth days. And on the sixth day, sound like I'm doing reading of the Bible. And on the sixth day, God created more rain. We called the National Weather Service, realized it was not going to stop raining, and we decided to come back to LA a day early. So we landed in LA on a Saturday night to stay with my then girlfriend's sister, whom I had met doing the Shakespeare play.

[Mr. Truffles]

Who introduced you to this?

[Stagecoach Bob]

Who introduced us? She lived in la.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Okay.

[Stagecoach Bob]

So we flew back to LA to stay with her. Sunday morning, woke up, we're all having a beautiful brunch out by the pool. Lovely, lovely breakfast. Her husband comes in and is sort of agitated. He's worried, he's preoccupied. He says, I'm directing this play. We open on Wednesday. So he says, would you like to come to see the dress rehearsal, which was that night? I turned to the young woman I'd been dating. At this point, she and I were barely talking. It had been such a difficult six days. And I said, you know, are you interested in going? She says, no, I said, I'll go. So I went to see the play afterwards. We went out after, after the show to have a glass of wine. We started talking about the play. And the director turns to me and he says, you have more ideas about this leading character than this actor has had in three weeks of rehearsal. We're firing him. Are you interested in auditioning for the part? And I. Nothing going on in New York at that moment. Sure, let's go. Let's audition. They called in four other actors. I went to the taper to read. You want to take it from here, sir?

[Diane Reynolds]

Rob comes into this rehearsal room with four other guys. He auditions opposite me. I was the female lead in this show that was on the tapir second stage. So I auditioned with the first guy and the second guy, the third guy, the fourth guy, and the fifth guy. Rob was one of them. And they get through everybody and then they close the door and they say, okay, so, Diane, who do you like? And I said, well, Rob. And they're like, rob? Why? Why Rob? And then they said, what about this other guy? And this other guy was Kind of a name in Hollywood. And I said, I can see the terror in his eyes. Like, why?

[Stagecoach Bob]

The terror in the other guy's eyes? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Diane Reynolds]

And they said, why? Why Rob? And I said, well, he's completely wrong for the part, but he's utterly fearless and he'll deliver the show for you. I could just tell that he was gonna get the job done. So this was on a Monday. We had our first preview on Thursday. Rob had a monologue taped on the inside of a magazine on stage. I don't know how. He had 72 hours of rehearsal. On Friday we opened. They had the full court of press there. Newsweek was there. The Times, Silly Drake was there. It was kind of a big opening for the. This guy that was the kind of bad boy of LA theater at the time. This is on the Taper second stage. It was at a John Anson Ford. They have a little black box, not the outdoor amphitheater. We kind of killed it. It got good reviews with full houses the entire run.

[Mr. Truffles]

How long was the run?

[Diane Reynolds]

A month.

[Mrs. Truffles]

What was the name of the play?

[Diane Reynolds]

The play was called the Thrill. The play kind of flung us together.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Oh, baby. Did it ever.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Was there a kissing part for you?

[Diane Reynolds]

There was no kissing. No, no, no. We completely sidestepped that part. There was full tilt. Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So there was.

[Diane Reynolds]

There was a little bit of nudity.

[Mrs. Truffles]

There was a little nudity.

[Diane Reynolds]

There's a little nudity for.

[Mrs. Truffles]

For both of you or just.

[Diane Reynolds]

No, only for me. Only for me. Yeah, Just. Just a flash.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, just a flash. But it was. Yeah, it was very. Yeah, it was very hot and heavy there.

[Mr. Truffles]

So I'm kind of curious. 72 hours you've known each other.

[Diane Reynolds]

That's right.

[Mr. Truffles]

Right. So were there already. Were you getting the feels A little bit. And, Robbie, where were you? Where was your head and your heart at this point?

[Stagecoach Bob]

I mean, I was excited to be doing this play. I was excited for this opportunity. I was intrigued by the woman I was playing opposite. And I was. I think. I mean, it was also gotta sort of circle back to the. To the nature of the relationship in the play, which was. Was about this guy coming in and seducing this young woman who works at, like, Foot Locker at the mall. So there was. There was all of that. I think it was partly that the story of the play itself, it was a seduction.

[Diane Reynolds]

It's really kind of what it was, I would say.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Right, right.

[Diane Reynolds]

That's the thrill.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Right, right.

[Mr. Truffles]

So we have a sense of the dynamic of the play of your Characters.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Right, Right.

[Mr. Truffles]

You've. Now you're working very closely together.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Very, very close.

[Mr. Truffles]

She's 72 hours in. Thinking. This is intriguing. Right. You're like, who is this frightening Alaskan, anyway? So at what point did the light switch and do you think. You know what? I'm interested.

[Stagecoach Bob]

I'm interested.

[Mr. Truffles]

Was there a first date?

[Stagecoach Bob]

Shortly, it might have been a week after we had been doing the show. I decided we needed a little getaway. So we booked a bed and breakfast up in Santa Barbara, drove up and. Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

You took her out of town a week after you met?

[Stagecoach Bob]

I think it was something like a week after we met. Maybe two weeks.

[Mr. Truffles]

But could this have been construed anything. But, I mean, was it a. Did it feel like a platonic thing or did it feel like a date?

[Stagecoach Bob]

Did it feel.

[Diane Reynolds]

Oh, definitely not a platonic thing.

[Stagecoach Bob]

I think it was a platonic thing. I think we got together fairly quickly.

[Mr. Truffles]

Okay. Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So you guys were in this play together for about a week. And so at what moment did you realize that you liked each other in a way where you would want to go away together?

[Diane Reynolds]

That's a really good question. There was a kiss that was pretty early, actually.

[Mr. Truffles]

Not in the play.

[Diane Reynolds]

No, no. There was. Was. There was no kissing in.

[Stagecoach Bob]

No kissing in the play. There was everything else, but no kissing. But the first kiss. Yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

If we can kind of go back to that for a minute.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

Do you remember how that happened and when that happened?

[Diane Reynolds]

That was in my garage.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Apart. Garage apartment. Yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

And what was the move?

[Stagecoach Bob]

What was the move?

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Well, it was a swirl with a. With a little.

[Diane Reynolds]

I think I might have made the move on you.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Easy there, Ken cowgirl. You play your cards right, that can be had.

[Mr. Truffles]

I kid.

[Stagecoach Bob]

That's right.

[Mr. Truffles]

You're moving too fast for me.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Alaska. So I know those are cold, long nights up there, but let me tell.

[Diane Reynolds]

You, there's so many points of intrigue. Oh, my God.

[Mrs. Truffles]

How long did the play run for?

[Diane Reynolds]

About a month. About a month before the show closed.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Before the show.

[Diane Reynolds]

His mom comes out with your stuff from Philadelphia. From Philadelphia. To see the show. I think they sat up close to the stage and so they saw.

[Stagecoach Bob]

They met Diane.

[Diane Reynolds]

They met all of me.

[Stagecoach Bob]

They said, all of you.

[Diane Reynolds]

Right.

[Stagecoach Bob]

I'm a little nerdy.

[Diane Reynolds]

It was just part of me. But yeah. And then. And then your folks took us to brunch at Michael's.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Michael's. In Santa Monica.

[Diane Reynolds]

Santa Monica. And your mother wore these gigantic giant Jackie clothes. Sunglasses the entire time I called. She doesn't want them Off? No, she never took them off.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Never took them off. So we're spending a lot of time, as you both know, how long it takes to get around la. So it's a lot of time to talk, a lot of time to get to know one another. And we were still rehearsing the show as pretty. It was just a pretty intense, intensive little.

[Diane Reynolds]

It was super intensive period. Yeah.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Yeah.

[Diane Reynolds]

But, you know, I think when two people fall in love fast and there is a kind of like. You can't get enough of a person. You know what I mean? Like long. You can't get that on the radio. What just happened, the two of you looking at each other was so awesome. You know what I'm talking about? It's like long phone calls or who talks on the phone anymore? But long conversations. So we had every opportunity to just spend a lot of time together.

[Stagecoach Bob]

I don't know, there was just this ease. And I think part of it, again, is having had such an intense experience in the rehearsing of this play and becoming so intimate so quickly that it sped things up. I think it just sped everything up.

[Diane Reynolds]

Yeah. I'd never met anybody like Rob, so.

[Stagecoach Bob]

I had decided to stay in Los Angeles after this. It was like, what's the rush to go back to New York?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Especially when you've got this beautiful woman.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Who'S a beautiful woman. That seems to be something that's becoming very important. I was at Diane's garage apartment, and I walk out of the door of her apartment, come around to the building at the front, and the landlord is hammering a sign to the tree in the front yard saying Apartment for rent Next door, dragging me a six garage apartment.

[Mrs. Truffles]

The plot thickens.

[Stagecoach Bob]

The plot thickens. I say to him, how many units are in the building? Four units. Which unit are you renting? It's the top right, which looks directly into the window of the garage.

[Mr. Truffles]

Does it come with a telescope.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Binoculars, and two soup cans with a string attached to them so we can talk.

[Mr. Truffles]

All night, utilities included.

[Rob Curtis Brown]

Oh, my.

[Stagecoach Bob]

This is too good.

[Diane Reynolds]

Who needs a phone?

[Stagecoach Bob]

Who needs a phone? We could have done walkie talkies. I mean, it's like, did you take.

[Mr. Truffles]

That apartment too bizarre.

[Stagecoach Bob]

I took the apartment and the apartment was wonderful. Surprise, surprise, surprise. Cassie's looking around. No, I'm up here on the balcony looking through your window.

[Mr. Truffles]

Just had water. Instant neighbor.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Just had water. Instant neighbor. We weren't quite ready to cohabitate.

[Diane Reynolds]

No, no. So we lived side by side.

[Mrs. Truffles]

How long did that arrangement go on?

[Stagecoach Bob]

10 months.

[Mrs. Truffles]

How long was it from the time you moved in, at that point, you guys were exclusive, and you knew this was on. How long until the proposal for marriage?

[Stagecoach Bob]

Well, we had decided after months of living in these. I was cast in a show. We had just decided prior to that that Diane would move into my apartment. And then I got this job which ran for about a month in la.

[Diane Reynolds]

Or, I don't know, at the Doolittle.

[Stagecoach Bob]

At the Doolittle?

[Diane Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Maybe it was two months, called the Heidi Chronicles, a Wendy Wasserstein play. Then it was followed by a national tour. Diane had moved into my apartment, like Fall of. Just in time for me to go on this national tour for two and a half months, three months. So what I did on tour is I took my video camera and everywhere I went, I would talk to people, have them say hello to Diane.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Cute.

[Stagecoach Bob]

So I had this videotape with all these people, all of the ushers at the Fisher Theater in Detroit and all on these stairs all screaming, hi, Diane. We miss you. So there was all this videotape that I'd taken with some strangers and other actors in the show. One of the stops was in Boston. I flew Diane out to Boston, and I had, through a friend, I'd been given the use of this wonderful house right on the Charles River. Beautiful house. What I did was I set up this videotape on the television, at the end of which I videotaped myself doing the Proposal. And the way that I did it, I recorded the proposal in New Haven, Connecticut, which was the previous stop. I put this whole tape together, flew Diane out to Boston. I put the tape in. In the videotape.

[Diane Reynolds]

So we're sitting side by side.

[Stagecoach Bob]

I'm sitting side by side, and I play this thing. And suddenly all these people are yelling, hi, Diane.

[Diane Reynolds]

Hi, Diane from across the country.

[Stagecoach Bob]

She's like, oh, my God, this is amazing. This is amazing. Finally, I come on and I talk about how much I had missed her and how difficult it was and how much I realized I loved her very much. What I did was I. In the video, I had a bottle of champagne, which I passed outside the frame of the television. And then had a bottle behind the tv, which I then pulled out. And then I had a ring in the video, which was also hidden behind the tv. And so I reached down and pulled that out.

[Diane Reynolds]

And I'm like, waterworks.

[Stagecoach Bob]

At the end of this videotape, I proposed to Diane.

[Diane Reynolds]

Thankfully, I said yes, and I said yes. And. And then we had a lobster dinner, right? My uncle's, which is really good.

[Mr. Truffles]

And how soon was the wedding.

[Stagecoach Bob]

The wedding.

[Diane Reynolds]

So that was in the spring of 91. And we got married on 91 in September of 91. So it was like an 18 month engagement or something. Or not engagement, but since we met.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Since we'd met. Very short, but about nine months since we were engaged age. Where was the wedding? In my mom's backyard and in Pennsylvania.

[Diane Reynolds]

Because it was founded by Quakers, you don't have to have anybody preside over the wedding. You can marry yourselves.

[Stagecoach Bob]

You can marry one another.

[Diane Reynolds]

Yes.

[Rob Curtis Brown]

Is that what you did?

[Diane Reynolds]

We did. And Rob's stepfather was the mc, so we wrote our own vows. We designed the whole thing. We had or Ted and friends that were singing.

[Mr. Truffles]

How many came?

[Diane Reynolds]

About 120.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Yeah.

[Diane Reynolds]

It was intimate.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Yeah. And my mom was so excited because she's a big gardener. And so she got to sort of redo the backyard in. In anticipation of the wedding. So it was really nice.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, how nice.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Yeah, it was cool.

[Mr. Truffles]

And where did you go for your honeymoon?

[Stagecoach Bob]

Went to Greece.

[Diane Reynolds]

Greece.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Greece.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Went to Greece. To Hydra.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Fantastic.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Yeah. Tiny little island.

[Diane Reynolds]

Yeah. In this great little house.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And how long did you stay in Greece?

[Mr. Truffles]

Two weeks.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And then after that you went back to LA again?

[Diane Reynolds]

Back to la.

[Mr. Truffles]

Nice start to your marriage.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Yeah, it was. But I mean, the story of our meeting and everything that needed to conspire in order for the two of us to cross paths, it's still. It had not been raining in Hawaii. Had we not. Had we gotten on Jeopardy. Instead of Sale of the Century? You know what I mean? Like, you know, if we got so many of those little things along the way that needed to happen.

[Mrs. Truffles]

We hear this a lot in these stories. We've been doing these interviews for a while now, and there always does. And I said this before, there seems to be some cosmic interference. Usually this sort of, you know, I mean, certainly when we met, we were both getting takeout.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Right.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Like we've gotten there 10 minutes earlier or later.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Is that. Oh, man.

[Mrs. Truffles]

No, it's just like.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Just wild.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It's interesting, the common threads that run through these stories. And it kind of makes you realize that, you know, sometimes maybe there's other forces involved.

[Stagecoach Bob]

I think so. Yeah, I think so. Plato feels that way.

[Mrs. Truffles]

You guys are clearly still very in love with each other and having a great time. What do you think is your little secret ingredient that keeps it so good?

[Stagecoach Bob]

Wow.

[Diane Reynolds]

Humor.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Yeah. Humor. Definitely.

[Diane Reynolds]

For sure. Definitely humor. Humor. And there's enough stuff that we agree on. I think all the important stuff we agree on.

[Stagecoach Bob]

And I think too. I think Too, in the differences. There are experiences I have had that I might not have had had I not met Diane. In other words, there are art exhibits, musical performances, movies, various cultural things that I might not have thought to go to or might have passed on had it not been for our partnership. It's always sort of trying new directions.

[Diane Reynolds]

And I would not have gone to as many Dodgers, and my life would have not been as good.

[Stagecoach Bob]

You got that right.

[Diane Reynolds]

That's right.

[Stagecoach Bob]

A whole appreciation for. For baseball. Yeah, I think that's part of it. I think the other thing, too. Diane said something very early on in our relationship. I still sort of think back on it as the most important thing that was ever said to me in the formation of our relationship. It was so helpful. And that is, let's deal, in fact, not fantasies. And what she meant by that was, it's easy to think, you know, what someone else is thinking or feeling and then act on that without saying, what are you thinking or feeling? So why don't I get the real information rather than acting on a fantasy in my head?

[Diane Reynolds]

Yeah. Many, many years ago, somebody that I really trust deeply said, best relationships are working relationships, meaning they're connections between two human beings that you have to work at. I think that's something I've always held in mind. Like, it's not as much work to contribute love and humor and stay connected.

[Mrs. Truffles]

What is your best advice you would give your own kids in looking for enduring love that lasts a lifetime?

[Diane Reynolds]

Always be honest. Cultivate honesty and grow that muscle so that you can speak your truth. To never underestimate the power of humor to heal and to kind of bring people back together. I think humor is huge. Don't be afraid of repair. Like, I'm huge on understanding that shit happens in relationships.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And what would your best advice be, Rob? What would you say to your own children?

[Stagecoach Bob]

It's like, don't sweat the small stuff. You can have faith in your partner. Have faith. Faith in what you've created. Have faith in the foundation. And, yeah, keep, keep, keep smiling. Keep shining on me. For sure.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Beautiful advice. Love that. So we have a little part of the program you're probably familiar with, if you've been listening to the show, is that we like to send our romantic couples off with a big red torture bag full of romance.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Oh, my goodness.

[Diane Reynolds]

Wow. Wow. I'm gonna sit up for that. Look at all these goodies.

[Stagecoach Bob]

That's very thoughtful.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Beautiful bottle of French champagne in there. That is the body butter that I made. Body butter is Mrs. Truffles. It's all organic food grade ingredients. It's so good for you.

[Diane Reynolds]

Wow.

[Mrs. Truffles]

We also have in there some lovely Toyshire offerings, including a box of our champagne truffles.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Oh my.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And a box called Toy Share toyshare, which is this little box of these cute old timey looking airplanes. And it's a medley of white milk and dark chocolate. So maybe you share it with your family. Yeah, and that's just kind of a fun little thing that our company started putting out when they started H Air sending their chocolates around the world on airplanes about 50 years ago.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Fantastic.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Wow.

[Diane Reynolds]

Wow. I'm a huge chocolate fan.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Huge chocolate.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, I think you are in for an extra special romantic weekend.

[Stagecoach Bob]

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, guys, we, we can't thank you enough for coming in and sharing this beautiful journey that, a journey that I didn't even know about you all these years. And it's, it's really, it's really special and you opened up your, your hearts and, and we really enjoyed the journey and the stories and thank you for sharing. And we'll be right back with more for love and chocolate. This podcast is being brought to you by Beverly Hills Toyshir Chocolates of Switzerland. Beverly Hills Toyshire at 371 North Camden Drive in Beverly Hills, has been serving up truffles, pralines, dipped fruits, marzipans and our world famous chocolate bars for over 40 years. So next time you're in Beverly Hills, why don't you come by and visit or shop [e-mail]. well, how about that for a little ditty about Rob and Diane?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Wow, that was some story. Yeah, it was so sweet of them to come share it with us.

[Mr. Truffles]

I really just love hearing these couple friends of ours come in and share their heartfelt stories. And it's so fun.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And those little walks down memory lane are so sweet.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, yeah. And then watching them relive it because a lot of times they forget exactly how it went down. But then when they kind of come together with it, it's just like living it all over again.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It's so nice for them to remember it and remember how they felt.

[Mr. Truffles]

And more importantly, we appreciate all of you for tuning in week after week.

[Mrs. Truffles]

You keep us coming back.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah, you sure do. So we're gonna do it again next week. But until then, say goodbye, Mrs. Truffles.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Goodbye, Mrs. Truffles.

[Mr. Truffles]

This show is brought to you by Beverly Hills Chocolates of Switzerland, home of the world's first and finest champagne truffles. Join us next week for more adventures in everlasting love.