Re-Release: Randall Park

Summary

Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim: Randall Park (Re-Release)

Podcast: Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim
Episode: Re-Release: Randall Park
Date: March 17, 2026
Guest: Randall Park
Host: Ego Nwodim

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Episode Overview

Comedian and actor Ego Nwodim sits down with Randall Park (Fresh Off The Boat, Always Be My Maybe, WandaVision) for a heartfelt and humorous exploration of fatherhood, gratitude, cultural identity, and generational shifts in parenting. Raised by a single mom herself, Ego deep-dives into what it’s like to be a father and a son—especially as a child of immigrants—touching on everything from saying "I love you" to career paths, to the meaning of success and family legacy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Saying "Thank You" (04:07)

• Cultural Norms of Gratitude: Ego and Randall discuss being raised to express gratitude frequently.

  • Ego: “You still say thank you. And I’ve had people say to me, 'You say thank you too much.' ...If you had to choose between me not saying thank you enough and saying thank you too much, we would go say thank you more, right?” (04:24)
  • Randall: “Well, yeah... I notice on my text chains, I’m constantly thanking someone... There’s just so many thank yous.” (04:38)

• Appearance vs. Reality: They joke about tattoos and parental reactions, highlighting generational shifts in what’s considered rebellious or acceptable.

2. Family, Fathers, and Cultural Expectations (13:00–20:24)

• Randall’s Dad: Stoic but Caring

  • “He was kind of that stoic Asian father... He wasn’t big into conversation. He was a man of few words. He worked very hard... He loved his family so much, particularly his two sons.” (13:56–14:20)

• Immigrant Experience and Expression of Love:

  • Both parents were Korean immigrants; expressing love was often shown through actions, not words.
  • “Both my parents are immigrants...it just wasn’t something, I guess, in their mind needed to be expressed. It was what it was.” (16:22)

• TV Dads vs. Real Dads: Randall reflects on wishing for the “TV dad” experience but later appreciating the unique sacrifices his parents made.

  • “Now that I’m older, I just have a totally different perspective on it. They loved us just as much and they sacrificed just as much, if not more.” (19:09)

3. Career Choices, Conflict, and Reconciliation (25:00–35:26)

• Telling His Family He Wanted to Act:

  • Randall feared telling his immigrant parents about his career choice.
  • “I brought it up to them...both of my parents were like, 'What are you talking about? Are you insane?'” (25:47)
  • His parents hoped for doctor/lawyer/engineer paths.

• Pursuing Acting Behind Their Backs:

  • Randall stopped discussing acting with them to avoid discouragement.
  • “I was very sensitive, and I kind of needed as much of a support system as possible, so I just went after it without them knowing.” (27:08–27:22)

• Gradual Acceptance & Pride:

  • Over time, commercials and newspaper mentions helped them feel proud.
  • “My name would pop up in the Korean newspaper and that was like a big, big deal.” (33:39)

• Financial Struggles & Family Help:

  • Randall lived with his parents into his 30s while chasing his dream.
  • “They were happy, you know, whenever I’d move back. It always baffled me when parents are like, you’re 18, you’re out of the house.” (37:08)

4. Fatherhood, Love Languages, and Regret (38:12–45:22)

• Moments of Vulnerability:

  • Randall witnessed his father weep only twice, once in grief and once in joy during Randall’s public accolades.
  • “When I gave this speech...my dad was crying...That was a really special experience.” (38:35)

• Resentment and Compassion:

  • Resentment faded after understanding his parents' intentions and after achieving success, particularly after Fresh Off The Boat.
  • “It also kind of honored the fact that they supported me in a different way.” (39:38)
  • “Having a kid, definitely being a TV dad...really was being a father myself that gave me that perspective.” (45:09)

• On Words vs. Actions:

  • “Hearing the words I love you...it’s beautiful. But it’s easy to say that...Love is, as they say, a verb...an action that you experience and show.” (42:48–43:06)

5. Randall as a Father (43:31–62:33)

• Communication:

  • Randall's daughter is on the autism spectrum; verbal communication is limited but love is always felt.
  • “Her verbal communication is very limited...but I just know how I feel about her. She doesn't have to say it. I just know she does.” (43:31)

• Family Values:

  • Randall's father taught him to value people over possessions.
  • “Things are great...but they're not that important. He kept his world very small—just his family.” (46:34–47:29)

• Retirement and Purpose:

  • His father worked up until shortly before passing; being a provider was “part of who he was.” (49:58)

• Becoming a Dad:

  • Randall didn't always want children, but felt the desire after meeting his wife.
  • On parenting style: “She would say I’m probably a little too smothering, because I just am so crazy about her...Probably a bit more helicoptery.” (57:11–57:54)

• Friend or Parent?

  • Wants his daughter to be able to come to him, but not necessarily be her "friend."
  • “I do want her to feel comfortable enough with us to come to us with anything...But I’m also okay with her having her life...her secrets.” (62:40–63:28)

6. Food Talk and Light Moments (53:40–56:40)

• Pizza and Ramen: Randall and Ego bond over their (and Ruby’s) food choices, from pizza to deep-dish debates.
  • “What kind of pizza does Ruby like most?” Ego (53:57)
  • Randall: “Just cheese.” (53:59)

7. Vulnerability, Drugs, and Advice (65:39–72:49)

• Drugs and Boundaries: In the advice segment, Ego jokingly seeks advice about peer pressure and drug use.

  • Randall’s dad wisdom: “I think life is for experiencing things, but you don’t have to ever feel the need to experience everything...Just be very aware of the people who are offering this. Are they good people? Will they take care of you?” (69:07–69:44)
  • “Some dads would be like, absolutely not...But I personally feel like it’s okay to try things as long as you’re safe.” (70:49)

• Honesty about Limits: Ego shares her own boundaries and lack of addictive personality as context.

  • “I actually don’t succumb to peer pressure...But I wonder, should I be more curious about these drugs that my friends are like, ‘I do this, and it's fine’?” (68:06)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Afterlife & Dad Relationships:
  • Ego: "I'm never going to have [a relationship with my dad]...he's actually dead now, so it's not possible, unless there's an afterlife." (06:12)
• Randall on His Father’s Love:
  • “He wouldn’t tell us that he loved us. But we just knew it.” (14:20)
• On Career Disappointment:
  • Randall: "She sat me down in front of the TV and it was just like, 'Let's wait for the first Asian face to pop up'… She was like, 'That’s my point'." (30:18–30:39)
• On Vulnerability:
  • “The other day… I looked at my dog and I was like, is this my grandmother?” – Ego (07:39)
• Randall on Being Helicopter Dad:
  • “She would say I’m probably a little too smothering, because I just am so crazy about her… probably a bit more helicoptery.” (57:11–57:54)
• On Trying New Things (Drugs):
  • “I think that life is for experiencing things, but you don’t have to ever feel the need to experience everything.” (69:07)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Expressing Gratitude and Saying Thank You – 04:07
• Tattoo Talk and Generational Shifts – 05:01
• Randall’s Relationship with His Father – 13:00
• Immigrant Upbringing; Cultural Differences in Love – 16:22
• Wishing for "TV Dads" and Coming to Appreciate Authenticity – 18:11
• Telling His Parents About Acting – 25:07–27:22
• Turning Point: First Signs of Parental Pride – 33:24
• Financial Struggles, Parental Support – 35:03–37:08
• Fathers, Guilt & Perspective as Adults – 39:38–41:54
• Randall on Being a Dad and Love Languages – 43:31–45:22
• Dealing with Possessions After His Father’s Passing – 46:33
• Retirement and the Immigrant Work Ethic – 48:36
• Parenting Philosophy: Friend or Father – 62:40
• Advice Segment: Drugs & Peer Pressure – 65:39–72:49

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Final Thoughts

This episode is a candid, funny, and insightful conversation about generational change, what really matters in parenting, and the evolution of understanding between immigrant parents and their American-raised children. Randall’s openness about vulnerability, regret, and love—as both a son and a father—resonates as a tribute to his own family's sacrifices and the ways he hopes to pass on gratitude, resilience, and a focus on what truly matters to the next generation.

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Memorable Dadly Wisdom:

“Life is for experiencing things, but you don’t have to ever feel the need to experience everything…Just be very aware of the people who are offering this."
— Randall Park (69:07)

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For fans of warm, real conversations about family, culture, and the messy, beautiful art of growing up—and raising the next generation.

Transcript

[Ego Odom]

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[Randall Park]

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[Randall Park]

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[Commercial/Ad Voice]

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[Ego Odom]

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[Ego Odom]

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[Ego Odom]

Visit your nearby Lowes on Colorado street in Kennewick. When Kohler, global design leader in luxurious kitchen and bath products, asked me to be their ambassador for timeless, elegant, durable

[Randall Park]

cast iron, I said, I'm in.

[Ego Odom]

Soon after, I was in their Kohler, Wisconsin foundry watching molten iron, poured enamel applied by hand, and the beautiful finished pieces ready to ship. Since 1883, Kohler cast iron has been

[Randall Park]

crafted by incredible artisans, and seeing it

[Ego Odom]

firsthand, it gave me a whole new

[Randall Park]

appreciation for their craftsmanship.

[Ego Odom]

Now I am proud to lend my stamp of approval to my favorite Kohler cast iron products for their durability, beauty, and enduring style. Shop my curated [e-mail] as the Kohler Cast Iron Ambassador, I say, long live cast Iron. Do you say thank you a lot? Do you feel?

[Randall Park]

I do.

[Ego Odom]

I do, too.

[Randall Park]

I do.

[Ego Odom]

You were raised to say thank you.

[Randall Park]

Yes.

[Ego Odom]

Yes. I would have to say, and that sounds so heavy. I. I like this about us.

[Randall Park]

Yes.

[Ego Odom]

I was raised, like, if my mom dropped me off at ballet practice, I said thank you, even though it's like, who else was gonna take me?

[Randall Park]

Yes, yes.

[Ego Odom]

You still say thank you. And I've had people say to me, you say thank you too much. And I'm like, it's just how I was raised. And I'm like, if you had to choose between me not saying thank you enough and saying thank you too much, we would go say thank you more, right?

[Randall Park]

Well, yeah. I notice on my text chains, like, if I'm, you know, I'm constantly thanking someone and then they'll, like, write one thing back, and then I'll say thank you again, and I'll look back at the chain and like, there's just so many things.

[Ego Odom]

Thank yous, thank yous, thank yous. Okay. The other thing I was gonna say, Randall, is I'm just noticing for the first time ever, you have a tattoo. I'm on a tattoo kick right now.

[Randall Park]

Well, they're very like, and small.

[Ego Odom]

Mine are too for shame.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. Ye. But it's. Yeah. My. This is my wife's name and my daughter's name. Oh, that's so cool.

[Ego Odom]

Did you get them the same day?

[Randall Park]

I did. I did.

[Ego Odom]

Were you worried you were gonna get in trouble with your parents?

[Randall Park]

No. No, because. It's. Because I'm an adult.

[Ego Odom]

I know. I don't. I'm a grown man.

[Randall Park]

There are those thoughts, but every once in a while.

[Ego Odom]

You knew. Okay.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Have your parents seen them?

[Randall Park]

Well, my brother has, like, full sleeves.

[Ego Odom]

Oh, really?

[Randall Park]

So I could really do anything at this point.

[Ego Odom]

Is your brother older or younger?

[Randall Park]

Older.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Usually it's the youngest who kind of goes like, I'm the youngest and I've gone down a different path. And usually it's the youngest who walls out. Shout out to your brother for being brave.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, for sure.

[Ego Odom]

Was that rough when he first got a tattoo, or was he also.

[Randall Park]

He.

[Ego Odom]

He.

[Randall Park]

I think he was older.

[Ego Odom]

He was older. Not.

[Randall Park]

Not super older, But. But I think he. He didn't live in la. Oh, he didn't live in la. Yeah, he lived away, so. So he was able to kind of live with it and then slowly unveil

[Ego Odom]

it because he'd wear long sleeves or something around the family.

[Randall Park]

And then one day when it was like, 100 degrees out, he'd be in like.

[Ego Odom]

What's going on with your brother?

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Is he sick? Does he have a fever? Okay. Hi, guys. I'm Ego Odom, and welcome to. Thanks, dad. I'm going to do the intro now. Sure. I was raised by a single mom, and I don't have a relationship with my dad. And here's the thing, guys. Not only do I not have a relationship with him, I'm never going to have one. And I know we're not supposed to speak in absolutes, but here's the thing. He's actually dead now, so it's not possible unless there's an afterlife. I like to believe in one, but I feel like if there is one, I'll probably still not have a relationship with him. Randall doesn't like the sound of the. Randall furrows his brows at the thought. What gave you pause? You think in the afterlife I would have one?

[Randall Park]

I mean, I don't believe in the afterlife. I don't know. So I would say. I wouldn't rule that out.

[Ego Odom]

Okay, that's true. Okay. That's fair. No absolutes. That's the whole point. I won't have a relationship with him on Earth. That's fair.

[Randall Park]

Yes. Because he's gone Unless, who knows? Unless we're back on Earth, I don't know what happens next.

[Ego Odom]

Fair enough. In my mind, once we go, we're

[Randall Park]

definitely not here reincarnated into, you know, a horse and another horse. Who knows?

[Ego Odom]

You never know. I, the other day, just feeling very spiritual and I'll probably say, cut this out. I say that probably ten times an episode. I maybe shouldn't be hosting a podcast. I just feel like a freedom here because I'm not on a live TV show. I get to be like, we're cut that out and cut that out and cut all. There's no podcast.

[Randall Park]

There's no podcast. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

I just brought you here to talk to me in front of Mike's, that's all. But the other day I was feeling very woo woo. And I have a dog, his name is Chief. He is a little over a year old. And I don't know why. Maybe I was crying about something. I don't think so. I don't think so. And I looked at him and I was like, is this my grandmother? So I was like, mama, is this mama reincarnated? And then he immediately walked away from me. And I go, okay, that was a weird moment that I didn't need to tell anyone about.

[Randall Park]

Wait, so wait, what fascinates me about what you just said is that you were crying.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah.

[Randall Park]

But you didn't remember what it was about. Which makes me wonder, do you cry often?

[Ego Odom]

I am a crier, but I wasn't always. I used to think crying was weak. I was like a sign of weakness. And then when I realized it wasn't a sign of weakness and it's actually quite healthy, I feel like I went too hard in the other direction. And I'm like, I'll cry cause I'm happy. I'll cry because something's funny. I'll cry because I'm sad. I'll cry cause something's touching. I think last week I cried multiple times. Nothing to do with my life, just touching stories or touching moments, making me.

[Randall Park]

Thank you.

[Ego Odom]

But now I'm like, it's not weakness. What a cool thing to cry.

[Randall Park]

No, you're alive.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah, I'm alive and I'm feeling things. Right.

[Randall Park]

And you're seeing people in your pets?

[Ego Odom]

Yes, in my pets. And I'm thinking, then immediately I go, is that you? And they go, no, bitch, walk away from me.

[Randall Park]

Unless your grandmother was one to walk away from me.

[Ego Odom]

And then I was thinking, I go, okay, I'm trying to remember, was that her thing? And I don't recall that being her. We were really close. But anyway, Randall, on this podcast, I'm sitting down with father figures who are old enough to be my dad. No offense, Randall. No offense.

[Randall Park]

That's true.

[Ego Odom]

I'm 12, so. I'm 12, and I have this crazy career in life. Or men who are just dads themselves, you know? Or people who are just dads themselves. I'm gonna get to ask the questions I've always wanted to ask a dad. Like, how do I know if the guy I'm dating is right for me? What's the, like, dad giveaw? Or what should I look out for when I'm buying a car so I don't get bamboozled by the car salesman? Or can you teach me how to change my oil? Could you teach me how to change my oil if we went outside right now?

[Randall Park]

No, but I could take you to. I could show you where you can get your oil changed from a trustworthy person.

[Ego Odom]

Buy a trustworthy. You don't even know that they're trustworthy. They could tell you any number. Right.

[Randall Park]

I'm pretty much one of those guys.

[Commercial/Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

I will say this. Today I was talking to my friend, and she was talking about how she had a contractor come to her house for repairs, a bunch of repairs, regularly. And it was always like, oh, this is a really big problem. This is gonna cost $8,000. And then someone overheard that conversation once and told her, like, you should reach out to my contractor. Same problem that new contractor comes in is like, oh, that'll be like, I think 350 bucks.

[Commercial/Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Are you getting taken advantage of by contractors, Randall?

[Randall Park]

No, because I get a lot of estimates.

[Ego Odom]

Oh, you do? Okay. Thoreau.

[Randall Park]

I always get a lot of estimates. Okay.

[Ego Odom]

Henry David Thoreau.

[Randall Park]

Y. Yes.

[Ego Odom]

Okay. That's me.

[Randall Park]

That's me.

[Ego Odom]

Thoreau spelled a different way. Not French. I look up reviews. A lot of everything. I feel like I won't make a decision without being like, what are the people saying?

[Randall Park]

Yeah, it's reviews. It's getting options.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

And it's the vibe.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

The energy.

[Ego Odom]

Vibe is big, Randall.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

This is maybe basic, but maybe not. And I'm not calling you basic now, but I've lately been like, oh, I can just go off of gut and energy and instinct.

[Randall Park]

Vibe is big. Big in everything.

[Ego Odom]

Yes, but when did you learn that, by the way?

[Randall Park]

Well, I think it's different for different people, too, though, because I think some people, maybe their, I don't know, ability to feel and read people can be easily compromised, you know, by whatever you know. But I think for me, I've always been pretty good at it. And I think I've gotten better as I've gotten older.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

What is your sign?

[Randall Park]

I'm an Aries.

[Ego Odom]

An Aries. Which is. Hold on. I'm always like. I'm not into astrology because I once knew nothing about it. But then I'll be like, now I still say that thing. But I'm like, maybe I am into it, but I'm still owning that old.

[Randall Park]

What's yours?

[Ego Odom]

I'm a Pisces, so I know Aries is. You're, like, late March. April, right?

[Randall Park]

Yep.

[Ego Odom]

This is cool. This is growth for me because I once knew nothing about it. But that means you're, like, a little fiery, right? You don't seem fiery.

[Randall Park]

No, I'm not. But I think inside there's a fire. And I think Aries are passionate. Their leadership skills involved there somewhere.

[Ego Odom]

Yes. Yes.

[Randall Park]

And, yeah. It's like the first sign of the zodiac.

[Ego Odom]

Randall, we've worked together once. We met another time at a conference. I do feel like if I was in a situation where it was like, apocalypse.

[Randall Park]

Yes.

[Ego Odom]

And I saw you out in the wild and there were zombies or something, I feel like I would go, like, I can trust Randall.

[Randall Park]

I really appreciate that.

[Ego Odom]

I really mean that. You've got a good spirit. See, my vibe says that your vibe is good, which is perfect, because you're my dad for the day. You've seen my next guest, who I've spoken to at length, already in Fresh off the Boat. Always Be My maybe. I loved that. And WandaVision, which is not to say I didn't like the other two.

[Randall Park]

It's okay.

[Ego Odom]

Okay. Oh, boy. I'm really shitting the bed. Okay. Please welcome my dad for the day, Randall Park.

[Randall Park]

Thank you, Ego.

[Ego Odom]

I'm so happy you're here.

[Randall Park]

How do you feel about the other two, though?

[Ego Odom]

Okay. I'm so glad you asked. Fresh off the boat.

[Randall Park]

Just be honest.

[Ego Odom]

You're fishing. You're fresh off the boat and you're fishing. I'm gonna say I loved them all.

[Randall Park]

You didn't watch either. They were just fine.

[Ego Odom]

I've actually never seen any of these. That's not true. That's not true. I loved them all. I've seen. I've seen Always Be My maybe and I've seen some of all that's the truth.

[Randall Park]

Thank you. Okay. Okay.

[Ego Odom]

Oh, my goodness. I just started sweating. I was sweating. No. Randall, I'm so glad you're here. This is a huge, gigantic honor. Truly.

[Randall Park]

Right back at you.

[Ego Odom]

Oh, my goodness.

[Randall Park]

To sit here with you and to be your dad for the day, this

[Ego Odom]

is huge for me. We have to start by talking about origin stories.

[Randall Park]

Okay. Yes.

[Ego Odom]

What was your dad like?

[Randall Park]

My dad was. And I say was. Cause he just passed away.

[Ego Odom]

I'm sorry.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. A few months ago.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

But he was a. I think on the outside, a very. I wouldn't say stereotypical dad, but he was kind of that stoic Asian father. You know, like, he didn't. He wasn't big into conversation.

[Ego Odom]

Got it, man.

[Randall Park]

Few words. Yes, man, a few words. He worked very hard. Very hard. He loved his family so much, particularly his two sons, me and my brother. And he wouldn't tell us that he loved us.

[Ego Odom]

Sure.

[Randall Park]

But we just knew it. We just knew it. And we would. And, you know, people would. People who were around him would always tell us how much he loved his boys and how he would brag about us and Something that I never was privy to, you know?

[Ego Odom]

Yeah. But you could feel that love, right?

[Randall Park]

Yes.

[Ego Odom]

Yes. In action, right?

[Randall Park]

Yes.

[Ego Odom]

I'm presuming I say this because I introduced to my nuclear family. I don't wanna speak for the rest of my family saying I love you. I heard a song in college, and this, again, I'm judging myself. Sounds basic, but I heard a song in college, and I actually am gonna say what the song was. I was reticent to say the song because everyone hates this person now, but it was Kanye West.

[Randall Park]

Oh, okay.

[Commercial/Ad Voice]

Okay.

[Ego Odom]

I think Big Brother by Kanye on Graduation is about Jay Z and his love for Jay Z.

[Randall Park]

It's a great song.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah. Great song. But he said people never get the flowers while they can still smell em.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

So I don't know if it was necessarily right after college. I could have been in college. I'm anywhere from, like, 19 to 22. And I hear that and I go, oh, yeah, that is an insane way to live. And I know my mom loves me. I feel it in action. I'm so provided for. I feel so protected by her. But why don't we say it so that we can be sure? It's nice to hear it. And so I take responsibility for introducing that.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, that's my feel. That's beautiful. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Did your mom say I love you? Was she one to say it?

[Randall Park]

She didn't when we were real little growing up. But I would say once we started to get out of the house and, you know, we were going to college and stuff, she would say it. Yeah. Yeah. And we would say it back.

[Ego Odom]

What do you think that was a function of that? Like when you were little, you didn't hear it from her, but like, the older you got, the more you were out of the house. You told her.

[Randall Park]

I think it's just cultural, you know, I think it's just cultural. And, you know, both of my parents are immigrants that came here. My dad in the late 60s, my mom in the early 70s. And it just wasn't something, I guess, in their mind needed to be expressed. Cause it was just, it was what it was, you know, then they just

[Ego Odom]

know and you knew and they knew.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, but growing up as a kid, it was like, I didn't know, you know, I was just like, why, you know, why can't they be like my friend's parents? I know.

[Ego Odom]

Where did they immigrate from? Just for clarity.

[Randall Park]

From Korea.

[Ego Odom]

From Korea. I feel a lot of that too. Where you go when you're younger. I don't know if this is accurate to say. The sense I get is we're like a time where first gen or second gen people whose families are from different cultures but living in the States, I feel like there's an embrace of our identity in a way now that was not reflected when we were younger. I think when we were younger, we were trying to assimilate and be like, I just want to be like everyone else.

[Randall Park]

Sure, sure.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah, I resonate with that so, so much. Now you said your dad really loved his boys, right?

[Randall Park]

Really loved his boys.

[Ego Odom]

Did you have sisters?

[Randall Park]

No, no, just the two sisters.

[Ego Odom]

Because I was like, oh my goodness, the girls must have felt left out. But no, no, they didn't. There were no girls.

[Randall Park]

No girls.

[Ego Odom]

Now you said on the outside he seemed one way. What's the sense you got of him on the inside? Like, yes, really loved his boys. Really proud of us.

[Randall Park]

Really loved his boys. Really, really proud of us. But, you know, wasn't overly excitable about our achievements. You know, just like, was very strict in terms of just like education, Education, education, you know, very kind of dependable. And, you know, he was a great dad. He just. A real, real great dad. I wouldn't say in the traditional sense. You know, it wasn't like he, you know, threw a baseball with us or anything like that.

[Ego Odom]

Why are we coming up with that? You know, sorry. And I said, because this is part of why I want to have the podcast. I'm like, yeah, we have TV dads.

[Randall Park]

Yes.

[Ego Odom]

And I guess some people do actually have TV dads, but it doesn't seem like many people do or did what do you feel about that?

[Randall Park]

What do you mean?

[Ego Odom]

In terms of like throwing the baseball in the yard?

[Randall Park]

Yeah. Doing those things more.

[Ego Odom]

People's dads are a little more berserk. I don't know. I don't know.

[Randall Park]

I felt like my growing up in la, I had a very diverse set of friends and I would say a lot of my white friends, at least in my head growing up, their dads were so much like the TV dads, you know, like. Yeah. And I'd always be like, why can't my dad be more like them? You know, why can't my mom be more like their moms? You know? But now that I'm older, I just have a totally different perspective on it, you know, they loved us just as much and they. And they sacrificed just as much, you know, and if not more.

[Ego Odom]

If not more. I was just about to chime in. Not to put words in those. Cause if not more.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Just leaving their home.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. Being immigrants and learning a language and somehow finding work and making a living. And you know, my dad was. He worked in. He had a one hour photo store.

[Ego Odom]

Oh, cool.

[Randall Park]

Okay. Yeah. For many, many years. And. And then after that he worked at a souvenir shop on Hollywood Boulevard.

[Ego Odom]

Oh, really? Wow. Yeah. Did he ever retire?

[Randall Park]

He did, he did shortly before he passed.

[Ego Odom]

Oh really?

[Randall Park]

Yeah, I mean, he just, he was a worker. He just loved to work.

[Ego Odom]

He loved to work. Do you think he was passionate about his work?

[Randall Park]

I think he was passionate about his family, you know, so like the work wasn't, you know, probably like, you know, I don't know what his dream job was. That was never like a question that we had. But he's human. I'm sure he, at some point he had a dream job, he had a dream life and I don't think that was the life he necessarily led. But he did have his dream family.

[Ego Odom]

That's incredible.

[Commercial/Ad Voice]

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[Ego Odom]

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[Ego Odom]

You said he emphasized education for you guys.

[Randall Park]

Yes. Yes.

[Ego Odom]

And now, Randall, you're an actor.

[Randall Park]

Yes, yes.

[Ego Odom]

Which you don't necessarily have to go to school for. I can relate.

[Randall Park]

Right.

[Ego Odom]

What was that conversation like telling him that you wanted to be an actor?

[Randall Park]

It was. Well, it came later.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

So I was. When I was at ucla, I kind of discovered writing and acting. And out of college, I kept doing it kind of on the side for fun. But I was working these full time jobs and at a certain point in my mid to later twenties, I decided that I wanted to do this professionally. And I did bring it up to them pretty early, maybe like mid-20s. And both of my parents were like, what are you talking about?

[Commercial/Ad Voice]

Of course.

[Randall Park]

What are you. Are you insane?

[Ego Odom]

Our son has lost his mind. At ucla, they put something in the water and now he's talking crazy.

[Randall Park]

Yes, they were. And you know, and now I see it from their side because I was a shy kid.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah.

[Randall Park]

I was not like a performer, you know, I was very much like that kid who would, you know, be really quiet in the Corner, you know, so they never saw that side of me that was flourishing at. At college, you know, and so they just thought I was crazy and really, really were adamantly against it.

[Ego Odom]

Did they seem worried once you started to go down that path?

[Randall Park]

Yes, but they didn't really know. I didn't tell them.

[Ego Odom]

Okay, so you brought it to them, and then they had their reaction to it, which was like, what the heck are you talking about? And they're like, maybe I'm not gonna talk to you guys about this.

[Randall Park]

Yes. And I say it was just once when I brought it to them, but I probably brought it up num times over the course of, you know, a year or something, and every time, you know, the reaction was the same.

[Ego Odom]

Yes.

[Randall Park]

And if not even more, you know, adamant over time, you know.

[Ego Odom]

Right, right.

[Randall Park]

So. So at a certain point, I was like, if I were to do this, I can't lean on them for support because they're gonna, you know, express their, you know.

[Ego Odom]

Disdain. Yeah.

[Randall Park]

Disdain for it. And then it's gonna discourage me from, you know, and I was very sensitive, and I kind of needed as much of a support system as possible, so I just went after it without them knowing.

[Ego Odom]

Oh, wow. Okay. Did you think they had something they did want you to do?

[Randall Park]

Well, you know, what was the thing? Doctor lawyer.

[Ego Odom]

Of course. Okay. I just had to ask to be sure, you know, for our listeners who might not be privy in my mind, I'm like, I know, I know. It's Dr. Lawyer. Was engineer even an option engineer?

[Randall Park]

I mean, that would have been fantastic.

[Ego Odom]

Okay, great.

[Randall Park]

Okay.

[Ego Odom]

Did your brother go into something in that. Okay, what does your brother do?

[Randall Park]

Math. He works in an optometrist's office. Okay. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Okay, great.

[Randall Park]

But he's not an optometrist. And so neither of us really did exactly what they wanted. And me especially.

[Ego Odom]

Right. When our parents immigrate to the States, it's like, what's the American dream? They have an idea of it. And I go, ah, but coming to the Western world also means your kids learn about the pursuit of happiness.

[Randall Park]

I know.

[Ego Odom]

And following their passions. And it's not exactly what you think it is.

[Randall Park]

Well, you know, I think they want us to be happy.

[Ego Odom]

Yes. For sure.

[Randall Park]

Their idea of happy is financial stability and respect from the community. And, you know, Doctor.

[Ego Odom]

Yes. My son is a doctor. My daughter is a doctor.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. And it took me a while to realize that. I thought at the time, oh, they just don't want me to pursue my dreams for whatever reason, you know, but really, they were Concerned because they knew how difficult. Especially my mom, because my mom worked at ucla, and she saw all these, you know, kids fresh out of college who wanted to pursue acting, and she saw how difficult it was for them. So she knew, you know. And I remember at one time, she even showed me, like, one of her. I guess a young person who worked in our office was trying to be an actor, and he had an acting reel.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah.

[Randall Park]

And she showed it to me, and she was like, this guy is so handsome. He's so talented. Look at his reel. And I think it was her way of discouraging me because she was like, you're not like him.

[Ego Odom]

You're not handsome. You're not talented.

[Randall Park]

You're shy. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

What is she trying to be like, your little ugly. My little ugly son.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, my little ugly son. And look at this guy. And he's having a hard time.

[Ego Odom]

I see what you're saying. My mom actually bought a vhs. Okay? So my brother, who is not a football player now, but is a spine surgeon, wanted to play football at, like. I'm gonna place him at, like, 10 years old. He, like, wanted to be a football player. And even if it wasn't like, I want to do that professionally, it's like, that's the sport I want to play. I'm drawn to that. My mom bought a VHS tape of the greatest injuries in NFL history. I remember that being in our VHS collection and her just being like, yeah, I bought this to discourage him from playing. I mean, he still went on to play, and he walked on in college, but I was like, the notion that you'd be like, that's what you want to do. I don't want you to go down that path. So I'm going to show you everything dark about that.

[Randall Park]

Well, one thing I remember my mom doing was we just sat. This was like, during that year period where I'd bring it up to her, you know?

[Ego Odom]

Yes.

[Randall Park]

She. She sat me down in front of the tv, and it was just like, let's wait for the. The first Asian face to pop up.

[Ego Odom]

Oh, Mom. Savage.

[Randall Park]

Savage.

[Ego Odom]

And also at that time, too. Oh, baby.

[Randall Park]

And, yeah, and we. You know, it was like. I don't even remember. I don't even think we saw one, you know? And it was like. She was like, that's my point, you know?

[Ego Odom]

Of course. Of course there's no model for it, and there's nothing linear about it. So you can't say to them, hey, I'm going to do this, this, and this, and it's going to lead to this. The way, like, going to medical school, it's take step one, step two, and then at the end of those steps, I'm here.

[Randall Park]

That's right.

[Ego Odom]

You just can't say that. And all that uncertainty is not something that would put one's mind at ease.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. And those first, you know, that first decade plus, it was like, oh, my God, they're right.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah.

[Randall Park]

This is so hard.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah. And you didn't take any of your challenges to them then because you're like, I don't want them to feel like they're right, and I don't want to be discouraged.

[Randall Park]

I did not want to hear and I told you so, you know?

[Ego Odom]

God, no.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ego Odom]

So much of that resonates with me. Do you feel like there were things you could talk to your dad about where it's like, mom is good to talk to about this thing? Dad is really good for this thing with my dad?

[Randall Park]

Not really. Not really. You know, it was. It was very. I don't know, we just talked about kind of the day, and, you know, it wasn't like there weren't, like, deep, personal kind of things that I felt like I could bring to him, you know? Yeah. That was more my mom.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

And when you were, like, pursuing acting and feeling discouraged and feeling frustrated and knowing you couldn't take it to your parents and knowing, like, okay, dad and I are not gonna have some deep conversation, were there other male figures in your life with whom you did think you could have those sorts of conversations?

[Randall Park]

Yeah, I mean, you know, I was doing theater. I was doing standup for a long time. I was doing sketch and improv. And so I had, like, a community of fellow actors who I really depended on and who I got a lot of encouragement from. But also, like, teachers, acting school classes I was always in, and I had teachers who very much served that purpose. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Does anyone stand out in particular, teachers wise?

[Randall Park]

Teachers wise? Oh, gosh, yeah. Yeah, there were a few. But there's a school out here in LA run by this guy named John Rosenfeld, who I was with for years.

[Ego Odom]

I know that name for being a young actor pursuing acting and trying to find an acting class.

[Randall Park]

Okay, cool. And I really enjoyed his class and got a lot from that experience. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Was there, like, a moment you can remember, though, when you go, I feel like my dad is proud of what it is I'm pursuing? So, like, you're pursuing it behind their back. You're facing your own challenges, but you have the community around you. Is there a moment where it's like, I would say what you're doing on your own connects to your family life. And they go, oh, we know what he's up to, and we're proud.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. I think slowly that happened slowly. Like, first thing, they saw me in a commercial, you know, and they were like, oh, that's, that's, that's cool.

[Ego Odom]

Did you show it to them or did they.

[Randall Park]

No, no, I did not show it to them.

[Ego Odom]

You didn't? They saw the commercial on their own.

[Randall Park]

I did not show it to them.

[Ego Odom]

Okay. Yeah.

[Randall Park]

And then I would. My name would pop up in the Korean newspaper and that was like a big, big deal, you know, Was that

[Ego Odom]

first, like, what, Jobs first?

[Randall Park]

It was like commercials. And, you know, and I was. There was a stretch when I was doing a ton of commercials.

[Ego Odom]

I could never book a commercial to save my life. It was so crazy because everyone's like, commercials. That's your foray into this whole thing. And that's easy.

[Randall Park]

Doing great.

[Ego Odom]

I think I used to draw my eyebrows on too aggressively, and looking back at pictures, I go, oh, yeah, those eyebrows are very off putting. I think it was the eyebrows. Honestly, I feel like you have a

[Randall Park]

great energy that I would buy stuff off of people.

[Ego Odom]

Thank you, Randall. Thank you. This is the kind of stuff I want to hear from a dad.

[Randall Park]

Yes, yes, yes.

[Ego Odom]

But I really. And looking back, I go, what was it? Because all my friends were booking commercials, and it's how people were, like, subsidizing their life, pursuing acting to get in TV and film, and it just could not happen for me. And I ended up booking a cholesterol medication commercial nine years into my time in la, months before I got snl. Oh, wow. Yeah.

[Randall Park]

And did that air?

[Ego Odom]

That did air. And it was airing while I was on snl. And I remember someone tweeted at me, like, are you in a cholesterol medication commercial?

[Randall Park]

I mean, those could potentially keep going. So, like, oh.

[Ego Odom]

And it paid for my life. I was like, little six figure mama that year. I was like, oh, I'm not broke for the first time. So there were commercials. And then what was.

[Randall Park]

And then they saw that I was like, you just said, not broke for the first time. They saw that I was making a living, that I was, like, eating, like, healthy food for once, you know, and taking care of myself a little better. And I think they slowly started to kind of be okay with this, you

[Ego Odom]

know, and they're not saying it, but you're noticing them ease up around the topic, is my guess.

[Randall Park]

Yes, for sure, for sure.

[Ego Odom]

Did you have to borrow money from your parents during your pursuit?

[Randall Park]

I did. Early. Early on.

[Ego Odom]

Can you help paint that picture for me? Is this, like, they know you're pursuing it, or do you tell them, like, I need to borrow money because, like, my job's direct deposit didn't hit?

[Randall Park]

Well, there were periods where I would lose a job and be unemployed and I'd have. Share an apartment with somebody and, you know, and I would need help, and they would, like, help me out.

[Ego Odom]

Lose a job, like an acting job or like a day job.

[Randall Park]

One of your day jobs.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

And then they. There was a period where I would move back home, so they helped me in that way, you know, and there was a. You know, into my 30s, I was living with my parents.

[Ego Odom]

I was just gonna ask you, how old were you when you were maybe, like, still living at home into your 30s?

[Randall Park]

Yeah, into my 30s.

[Ego Odom]

It's hard to pursue a career in this. There are harder things. I know. I'm not gonna pretend it's the hardest thing in the world, but it is such a peculiar path to pursue.

[Randall Park]

It is. I think, statistically. I mean, it's gotta be one of the harder jobs to make a living at just cause. Because so many people want to do it.

[Ego Odom]

So many people and so few jobs, especially at the time you're pursuing. I'm not trying to age you again, guys. Randall's. What, you're 37 now?

[Randall Park]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Ego Odom]

You know, you don't want to say

[Randall Park]

you're really in my early 30s. Early 30s.

[Ego Odom]

Randall, you look great.

[Randall Park]

Thank you so much.

[Ego Odom]

Okay. So they would help subsidize your life. Say you lost a day job or you have to move back in. Was moving back in with your family, how did that feel for them?

[Randall Park]

They loved it.

[Ego Odom]

That's what I think. If I told my mom to. That I was, I need to move back home into her house in Baltimore. She wouldn't go, oh, I'm ashamed. My adult daughter, she's like, I'm just happy my daughter's home. Like, there's this, like, desire to have family.

[Randall Park]

Totally, totally. Yeah. And. And so they. They were happy, you know, whenever I'd move back, you know, and, yeah, it always baffled me when parents are like, you're, you know, you're 18, you're out of the house.

[Ego Odom]

I'm gonna tell you right now, not the Nigerian experience either. It was like, my mom just feels responsible for me until the day she dies.

[Randall Park]

Yes, yes, absolutely.

[Ego Odom]

That's what it seems like it would be.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Now, did. Did you ever get to see him upset?

[Randall Park]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Growing up, like, crying upset. When we talked about tears and me crying. Once. You saw him cry once?

[Randall Park]

Once.

[Ego Odom]

What was.

[Randall Park]

Well, no, once from, like, heartache. Just when his sister passed.

[Ego Odom]

I saw it.

[Randall Park]

I don't think I was supposed to see it, but I saw it. Oh, wow. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Was it, like, in the room?

[Randall Park]

He was in the kitchen. You know, the door was closed, and I came in and he was crying.

[Ego Odom]

Did you retreat? What did you do in that moment? Did. Okay. I don't think I'm supposed to see this. I'm gonna leave.

[Randall Park]

I think I, like, you know, put my hand on him and then. And then I, you know, and then I let him be, you know? Yeah. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

And then many years later, I got an alumni of the year award at ucla, and I invited my family and gave this speech. And in the speech, I really kind of just thanked them, you know, and my dad was crying.

[Ego Odom]

I have chills now. I genuinely have full body chills. That's beautiful. I think when a parent gets to see their child accomplish one, a dream, especially if they're like, we're not into the whole dreamer of it all. We want you to have stability, but you got to accomplish your dream. And then to hear their child express gratitude and say, you are such a big part of this thing that I've gotten to do, I can only imagine how that feels. That's so cool.

[Commercial/Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. That was a really special experience. And then I was like, many years later, I did the commencement speech at ucla, and my. My parents were there, and they were both just, like, so proud. And it was like, it kind of, you know, justified. Well, for me, it justified, you know, kind of going after it despite their, you know, being against it. But it also. It also kind of honored the fact that they supported me in a different way. You know, they let me live in the house. They let me, you know, they let me borrow money. They did all these things that allowed me. Me to pursue this dream, even though they were really against me pursuing this dream.

[Ego Odom]

But did you just. Even having this new perspective as you accomplish the things you had hoped to accomplish, and they get to see you do that. Does it feel like a stark difference from when you were pursuing it in that you kind of would have liked their support and more verbalized, it sounds like. Did you feel resentment at that time?

[Randall Park]

Yeah, I did. I did. I did feel resentment. And I think it wasn't until fresh off the boat actually really helped me kind of see things differently. And I Think it's in part because I played an immigrant father, but also I think finding some success and being able to make a good living at it, it kind of took the pressure off me a little bit. And I think without that pressure, I was able to understand them a little better. And I wasn't in this kind of mode of just, like, just go after it and block out any negativity. And, you know, I was just, like, a little more open to understanding them.

[Ego Odom]

Go from having that tunnel vision of, like, I'm in pursuit of this thing and, yeah, I can't hear negativity. I have this one goal in mind. Fuck everything else. You get to go, okay, I can breathe and I can see the world a little more for what it is. And, yeah, it looks bigger. That's very, very cool. But I also. I went to college. I've. I don't. Sometimes I don't know how to do this podcast, and I'm like, I kind of touch on the same stories over and over again, but I haven't touched on this one. But I had a very Lady Bird moment when I got to college where I realized my mom was just a human trying her best. And I wanted my mom to be one way, and she just wasn't that way. We got along well, but we also butt heads a bit. It was very strange. We were very close, though. But, like, when I realized, like, oh, she's just trying her best, and, oh, my goodness, she gave me so many gifts, and I'm so proud of the morals she instilled in me. And I wasn't aware that that's what she was doing. But now that I'm out in the world and the world is bigger and I'm meeting other people who grew up in different households, I'm like, ah, thank God you were instilling these values in me. I don't know if it's a shame or if it's just the way life is supposed to go, that hindsight is 20 20, as they say, or that you just have a new perspective the older you get.

[Randall Park]

Yes.

[Ego Odom]

Because part of me wishes that, like, while we were young, I know what they're doing. They're just. I know.

[Randall Park]

I know. And you know that I. I do feel, you know, because my dad recently passed, and I do feel some guilt, you know, that I wasn't a better son, you know, and I wish I would have been there more and then, you know, but at the same time, it's. You know, I know how much I meant to them, and I know how much they mean to me and my dad. And, you know, I have always loved my dad, and. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

And it's also, like, you hear, like, people speak about love languages, and we were like, my. My dad was not gonna say I love you while we were young. That. That just wasn't something I was gonna experience from him. But he showed his love in other ways. I really think love languages, people, I'm. They really do matter. And if you. You have to be able to interpret someone else's language and. And receive it for what it is.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. And, you know, hearing the words I love you, it's wonderful, you know, and beautiful. Beautiful. But it's easy to say that. It's not easy, but if you can speak, you can say.

[Ego Odom]

You can say it, and you can

[Randall Park]

also say it, and it doesn't.

[Ego Odom]

Oh, my gosh. A lot of. I've had people say it to me and Randall, you know, some of my stories.

[Randall Park]

Some of your stories, I've had people

[Ego Odom]

say it to me. And you go, yes, it's maybe not easy to say. If you try to be sincere and your feelings and your words are integrated and you're trying to say things, you mean. And things can feel uncomfortable, vulnerable. But it is a thing, like, if you can talk, you can say, I love you. But love is, as they say, a verb. Yes, that's right. And it's an action that you experience and show love in reality.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. You know what the interesting thing about. I feel like about my life, at least in one way, is that I have a daughter, and she's 12 now, and she's so crazy about her. Like, she is my everything, and she's on the autism spectrum, and her. Her verbal communication is very limited, you know, and so it's not like we can even have that kind of communicative exchange that I always longed for as a kid with my parents. You know, I can't have that with my daughter. But I also. I don't care, you know, I just know how I feel about her. I know I'm always gonna be there for her. I know she loves me. She doesn't have to say it. I just know she does. And, you know, and I feel that's like a lesson for me in my life based on my upbringing, but also my daughter's upbringing. It's like, you know, the words are important, but, you know, it's really just the actions and the feeling and the intention and what's in your heart, you know, that's what really matters. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

And I don't Want to put words in your mouth, but it seems like to becoming a father for you did give you a whole new perspective about your relationship with your father and the kind of dad he was. And it took that to, like, really. To really unlock it.

[Randall Park]

Sure, Yeah. I think having a kid, definitely being a TV dad on Fresh off the Boat was like. I mean, it happened around the same time, like when we had our kid. But it really was being a father myself that gave me that perspective.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah, that's really remarkable. Now you have your own daughter, you have your own family now you're the dad. You are the father. You are her father. You're my father. I mean.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Ego Odom]

What did your father instill in you that you now employ or would like to instill in your daughter?

[Randall Park]

Well, one thing about my dad was that he was very. It's very interesting. Cause after he passed away, you know, you go through your father's stuff, you know, and, you know, and for some people, it's this daunting task. Cause there's just so much stuff to go through. You know, paperwork and bills and, you know, but also possessions, things that they owned, you know, and you learn about your parents from the things that they collect, you know. And my dad had nothing, hardly anything. He had very few possessions, you know, just a few things. It was, you know, and it was really surprising to me. Cause I thought he had more things. All the things that he, like, had and coveted were things that I gave him as gifts after I became more successful. And he loved those things. But that was like it, you know, and that was something that he instilled in me in the sense that it's like, things are great.

[Ego Odom]

Yes.

[Randall Park]

And it's fun to have things, but they don't. They're not that important, you know, and he was very much one to keep his world very small. You know, he's just his family, you know, he did have some friends that he saw, went away, worked hard, came back home. He had a very kind of simple approach to life. And I think that's something that I take with me all the time. And that's something that I want to instill in Ruby, you know, just to, you know, what matters most are the things around you, the people around you, you know, the neighbors, the community, your friends and us, you know, and there will always be love there, you know?

[Ego Odom]

Right.

[Randall Park]

And everything else is great and fun and do it.

[Ego Odom]

Yes.

[Randall Park]

Pursue what you want to pursue, but it's not everything.

[Ego Odom]

That's beautiful. That's really beautiful. Now, did you Have a sense of that. Before you had gone through his things, that. That was something that he really valued.

[Randall Park]

I did have a sense of that. Yeah, I did. But seeing it, you know, like, literally, like, accounting for, like, his things was really kind. You know, it was really eye opening. And also seeing, as far as, like, his bank account and, I mean, both of my parents did not have a lot of money. You know, they really gave us this great life with very little.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

That's remarkable.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, it's remarkable.

[Ego Odom]

It really is. You said he worked up until pretty close to the time he died as well. Now that you've made it, you have money, you've achieved success. Were you trying to get him to retire? Did you want to pay for and subsidize his life the way they had helped with yours? What was that relationship?

[Randall Park]

I mean, I did. I liked help them pay off the house and got my dad a car and, you know, and I did give them things, but. But I knew how much working was just, like, a part of who he was. So, yeah, none of us in the family were like, let's tell him to stop and relax, because that just wasn't him. So when he did get sick and he did end up leaving that job, we kind of knew that was the beginning of something. Because he was a worker, he loved to work.

[Ego Odom]

I've said before, you know, in terms of retirement, so many of my first gen friends and even myself, I'm like, parents do not have retirement funds, and it's like, what they know is to work. And I think my mom even dabbled with retirement. And then it was like, I go, you seem more alive when you work for her. That's whether she likes it. That's my thought or not. I just go, oh, you know, you just seem more yourself to me. And that can sound. I don't want that to be misconstrued, but I'm like, you just seem more yourself and more gregarious and such when you're working.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

And seeing you dabble with retirement, I go, I don't even know if that quite suits you.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, yeah. I think for my dad, like, a big kind of part of his identity was being a provider, you know, and so I think in that sense, like, work, it was a part of who he was, you know, I mean, my mom is retired, and she loves it, you know, so it's just, like, very different.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah. It depends on the person. But then, you know, if that was, like, such a part of his identity, I see how he would be like, I'M going to keep doing this as long as I can, and I have the energy to do it.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, that's right. That's right. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

So did you know you always wanted to be a dad?

[Randall Park]

Not necessarily. Not until I met my wife.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

All right. And then you go, I want to have a family with this.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. Well, thought we both were like, if it happens, that'll be great. If it doesn't, that'll be great too.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

It wasn't like we had to become parents, you know?

[Ego Odom]

Right.

[Randall Park]

And it wasn't like we, like had to really try. We were just like, if it happens, great, Great.

[Ego Odom]

Right.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. And then it happened.

[Ego Odom]

And then it happened. And were you nervous, scared, excited? What were. Where were you at?

[Randall Park]

All those things. All those things. Yeah, yeah, all those things. It was, you know, it kind of happened before the work really started coming for me, you know, so we were, we were still. And we were both actors. My wife's an actor, so we were both like, we don't know if we could afford this, you know? Yeah. So, yeah, we didn't know, but we were like, let's just, this is life. Let's live it and let's, you know, see what happens. And she came and she's the best and it brings us so much joy all the time, you know, so. So it. Yeah, it's been such a blessing.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah. Did you ever ask your parents for any advice with Ruby in terms of being a parent to Ruby or. Not really.

[Randall Park]

Not really.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

Not really. I mean, my mom gave advice, you

[Ego Odom]

know, let me tell you one thing about grandmas. My mom also given all kinds of advice to my brother and sister in law and it's like, we got it. Don't do that. Do that. Why are you doing that? Give her that. Do that.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. And whenever she would, I mean, for me, it got. I don't know, I bristled at it sometimes because it felt like she. Every time she said it, I had interpreted as, you're a bad parent, do this. You know, it was that kind of Korean mom criticism, you know, thing, you know, I just had in my head, you know?

[Ego Odom]

Yeah, okay. You're able to say it made you bristle.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

But then did you know when you're bristling and then like, say two minutes later you're like, oh, it's because I feel like you're saying I'm a bad dad. Oh, you knew. Okay.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, yeah. And I would tell her, you know.

[Ego Odom]

Okay, okay.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

How was your dad with Ruby?

[Randall Park]

Oh, my God, he Was crazy about her. Crazy about her. Yeah. And that's another thing that I'm just so happy about that he got to see her grow, you know, and even, you know, up until his last days, he'd be in the hospital and he could barely move, you know, he could barely, you know, open his eyes. But whenever she would come in the room, he would smile so big, and it was just like, really, really, really wonderful.

[Ego Odom]

When you talk about love and people showing love and being able to say it as one thing, but then being able to show it as another thing, I'm like, there is. Case in point. Your dad can't do much, say much, but is like his whole spirit lights up because Ruby's in the room. That's so.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, it was really, really beautiful.

[Ego Odom]

That's really, really cool. So, okay, what kind of things do you and Ruby do? And can I come?

[Randall Park]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

You think I'm joking and I'm like, I'm coming.

[Randall Park]

Do you like pizza?

[Ego Odom]

I. I love pizza. I love eating. Randall, like.

[Randall Park]

Yes, I know this about you.

[Ego Odom]

It's actually problematic.

[Randall Park]

I know this about you and so does Ruby. Yes.

[Ego Odom]

Okay. We would get along.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

What kind of pizza that is, Ruby like most?

[Randall Park]

Just cheese. Cheese in crust.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah. Classic gal. Okay.

[Randall Park]

Very cool, Like New York style. She loves.

[Ego Odom]

Okay. Have you taken her to a deep dish place?

[Randall Park]

Yes.

[Ego Odom]

And what was not into it. I get it. It took me a long time to come around on deep dish.

[Randall Park]

I love deep dish.

[Ego Odom]

Really? Off the bat. Yeah, off the bat. I went to Masa of Echo park, which is a deep dish place here, I think, let's say, say 10 years ago for the first time, and I was like, this is disgusting. But then I had to go back a second time and be like, you have to go in knowing that this is not going to be your thing across the pizza.

[Randall Park]

It's different.

[Ego Odom]

Yes. You have to go in understanding it's different, and then it's good.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's almost not a pizza in a way. It's like.

[Ego Odom]

No, it's the.

[Randall Park]

It's like a bread.

[Ego Odom]

A bread bowl with cheese and marinara sauce, I think.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

And then you go, okay. Yes, that's. That could be enjoyable, too.

[Randall Park]

I love it.

[Ego Odom]

It's really, really good.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, but she loves pizza. She love, you know, all the kid foods. Yeah, she loves. She loves, like, noodles and, like, Asian food, you know?

[Ego Odom]

Do you guys hit pine and crane ever?

[Randall Park]

That's. She. She wouldn't.

[Ego Odom]

She wouldn't like pine and crane.

[Randall Park]

I love pine.

[Ego Odom]

Pine and crane's. So good. But does she like ramen then?

[Randall Park]

She loves ramen.

[Ego Odom]

Okay, so Ruby and I can go eat pizza together. I'll let her have ramen on her own with you. Because you don't like ramen. I don't think I care for ramen. And I don't know.

[Randall Park]

I know some people who are very.

[Ego Odom]

I like.

[Randall Park]

Yes, yes.

[Ego Odom]

They're not the same, so let's be clear about that.

[Randall Park]

But yeah, I know folks who have that exact same opinion. And I get it.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah. It's something me and ramen and don't. But there are things that I don't like that people just really love. And as a person who's a foodie, I'll go, well, I need to find a way to like that. Because I feel like if you're a

[Randall Park]

foodie, you like this, you should like this.

[Ego Odom]

Such as olives. I've come to. I've truly trained my myself to like olives.

[Randall Park]

So if you could train yourself to like something.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah.

[Randall Park]

You probably could potentially like everything, right?

[Ego Odom]

Potentially, yes. You know what I don't like, and I don't think I'll ever come around on saffron.

[Randall Park]

Saffron?

[Ego Odom]

Yeah.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Do not like a saffron, like, rice dish. No.

[Ego Odom]

Oh, my gosh. Immediately hard. No. I can taste it in things. I went to a coffee shop in Oakland a few days ago, and I got their signature chai. And I was like, can you tell me what's in it? Because I know you're best known for this. And they were like, oh, cardamom, cinnamon, everything sounded good. And then she goes, saffron. I go, oh, no. But then I was like, maybe I'll like it since everyone else does. Not saffron, but the drink. Okay. And I go, I'm gonna try it, cuz it's got such great reviews. And I was like, I hate this beverage. I didn't take it back. I finished it. I made my. But I didn't.

[Randall Park]

Of course you did.

[Ego Odom]

Exactly. I was like, I don't like this. She asked me how it was. I go, it's great. And I hated it. It's the truth of the matter. So you and Ruby. Pizza, we're going out to eat.

[Commercial/Ad Voice]

No, she.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, she. I mean, really? All the kid foods she loves and we're trying to expand her palate.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

She's tough.

[Ego Odom]

She's like, I like what I like and I respect that about her.

[Randall Park]

Yes, yes.

[Ego Odom]

What kind of dad would Ruby say you are?

[Randall Park]

Well, she wouldn't say of Course, verbally. Cause she's not verbally.

[Ego Odom]

Right.

[Randall Park]

But she would say spiritually. Yeah, spiritually, she would say, I'm probably a little too smothering. Cause I just am so crazy about her.

[Ego Odom]

He's obsessed. Cue Mariah Carey. Why are you so obsessed with me, dad?

[Randall Park]

Damn. So I'm always, you know, always giving her hugs. Always. You know, I guess in some ways helicoptery, you know, because I'm always, like, worried. I just want her to be safe, you know, I would. Of the two of us, my wife and I, I would say I'm a little more str.

[Ego Odom]

Okay. I was gonna ask who's the disc?

[Randall Park]

That was gonna be a question.

[Ego Odom]

I have to know how.

[Randall Park]

Bit more of a disciplinarian.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

A little bit more kind of adamant about certain things, you know, like, you can't be on the iPad too much. You can't, you know? And. But. But she would. I mean, she would know right off the bat that my dad loves me and is crazy about me.

[Ego Odom]

That's beautiful. Yeah, that's beautiful. And key. I'm like, you know, I did not have a helicopter dad.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

What's it. When a helicopter is, like, not around?

[Randall Park]

When flies away.

[Ego Odom]

Helicopter flew. And you're like, oh, I think that's a helicopter. It's a bird. It's a plane.

[Randall Park]

No, that's a clown. It's a helicopter. In another. Another country.

[Ego Odom]

Exactly. That's what I had. So I'm like. I always wonder, I'm like, do people like their helicopter dads when. When they hear about how other people's dads are not present or are even quite stoic or word you used previously, they go, oh, I would take a helicopter dad over the one I have. But I do think the grass is always greener, by the way.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. I. You know, she's getting to an age now where I think it's getting annoying a little bit, you know?

[Ego Odom]

Yeah.

[Randall Park]

But I can't.

[Ego Odom]

You're like, I can't help myself. I love this girl. That is very cool. Do you think you and your wife will have other kids?

[Randall Park]

Yes.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

Yes. But I would say I'm more. I'm more all about my kid. And, you know, and I'm a. I'm like, if someone has a baby, my wife wants to hold that baby.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

If someone has a baby, I want to look at the baby I got you and make faces with. I do not want to hold the baby right out of fear.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

What has been one of your scariest Moments as a dad.

[Randall Park]

Scariest moments as a dad. Oh, gosh.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah. Like young. When Ruby was young.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. I mean, maybe a couple years ago, she broke her arm really bad. And when I was a kid around her age, at that same time, I broke my arm and I remember my parents freaking out, like, yeah, she tripped over, like, a hose in our front yard, and her arm just at her forearm just snapped.

[Ego Odom]

Was the bone sticking out of the skin?

[Randall Park]

It wasn't sticking clean out, but you could see it kind of poking through.

[Ego Odom]

Oh, gosh.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. And that was really scary and traumatic for me, but also, like, you know, I don't know, I kind of clicked into kind of like, you know, dad mode and like, okay, we gotta do this, we gotta do this. We gotta take her to the hospital.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah. When that happened, what did you feel, though, as a parent? So, like, you're like, yes, this is scary, but I clicked into dad mode. She gets a scan and then a cast, and then the doctor tells you all the things to do. What's your thought after? Now the worst of it is behind you. Did you have any thoughts about it and did you feel like it reflected on you as a parent or anything like that?

[Randall Park]

Well, I marveled at her because she was just so chill throughout it. And I was like, how can you be so chill?

[Ego Odom]

Yeah, maybe you don't have to worry about Ruby so much.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. When I was your age and this happened to me, I was crying so much.

[Ego Odom]

You know what they say the guys are a little more dramatic than the gals.

[Randall Park]

They say that's what, you know, I was screaming.

[Ego Odom]

Have you heard about this experiment where they, like, simulate period cramps on men? And then men are like, oh, my God, how are you handling and living your life like this? You're experiencing this or you're going to work? Okay. That's an experiment that's happened.

[Randall Park]

And.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah, I think. Of course. Of course, Ruby was cool.

[Randall Park]

She was just so cool, so chill. And. And the other thing was I. I felt a little guilt because I was on watch when it happened. The helicopter was on watch when it happened.

[Ego Odom]

Not so helicopter after.

[Randall Park]

And. But also, I don't know, I felt. I felt very. I felt a lot of gratitude to. Oddly, you know, in that we, you know, she had such a great doctor and we were able to, you know, kind of take care of her as a parent would, you know, like, just the fact that we were able to do that simple thing in such an unusual. Not unusual, because it happens a lot, but, you know, in such specific type of Circumstance. There was a little bit of, oh, wow, we did it. You know.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah. So now you know. You can probably handle anything as a dad. Frankly, in my mind, I'm like, Ruby broke her arm. You can handle.

[Randall Park]

And that's such a little thing. It's like it happens to kids all the time. But yeah, it was very jarring.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah. I've asked a few people this and I find it to be an interesting question, which is, guys, why I keep asking, but do you care if Ruby. Or would you like Ruby to see you as a friend at some point in her life?

[Randall Park]

No.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah.

[Randall Park]

No, not necessarily. But I do want her to feel comfortable enough with us to come to us at any time with anything. You know, and sometimes there is a delineation between what you can bring to your parents and what you could bring to your friends. I knew that growing up.

[Ego Odom]

You just kind of. I don't even know how you come to know.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Where you're like, some friends are the type to talk to their parents just growing up about all their boyfriends.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

And I'm like, one, I didn't have those. But also, if I did, I would not. I'm like, I'm not gonna come talk to my mom about that.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

But you just kind of know inherently, which is.

[Randall Park]

And I'd want her to feel like she could if she needed to, but I'm also okay with her having her life.

[Ego Odom]

Yes.

[Randall Park]

And her, her, her secrets and her experiences. You know, as long as, like she knows when she's not safe, feeling. Not safe or feeling sad or, you know, that. That we're there, you know.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah. With your parents and your dad specifically. Did you feel like you did have to keep secrets from them? Like, you obviously mentioned secrets.

[Randall Park]

I'm like, oh, yeah.

[Ego Odom]

And I know the career pursuit was one of them. But there were other things as well that you're like, I'm not. I'm not bringing.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. You know, just my dating.

[Ego Odom]

You didn't bring any of that to them, right?

[Randall Park]

No, not. Not really.

[Ego Odom]

Not until you were ready to marry your wife where you liked.

[Randall Park]

No, there was. There were a few girlfriends before my wife that long term girlfriends that I brought to them and, you know, they would see and get to know. But there were shorter term girlfriends that they didn't meet.

[Ego Odom]

Well, that's. Every guy, every dude out here. Like, you don't get to meet the parents.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

That's not what this is.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. And then all the other stories, you know, worse. Not, you know, were. Or stories that they weren't privy to.

[Ego Odom]

Okay. You also mentioned being like, why can't my parents, when we first started this conversation, be like, this other friend's parents? Was one of the things you wish that they were like is like, did you have friends that were telling their parents, like, all the things?

[Randall Park]

Oh, yeah.

[Ego Odom]

And did you want that at the time?

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Now do you appreciate that that was not the case?

[Randall Park]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Okay. That's kind of me, too.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

I didn't mean to put that all on you. It was all very lead in a court of law. The judge would have been like, objection. You're asking leading questions.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, for sure. I like, you know, I always had those people that I could talk about those things with, and those things would have upset my parents.

[Ego Odom]

Right. And you just know, you go, I don't need to. We don't need to share that. It's fine for you to be my mom and my dad. That's okay.

[Randall Park]

Yes, yes, yes.

[Ego Odom]

And that's different from my friend or even a confidant in that way.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. But I mean, that's great. If someone does have that relationship with their parents. That's great.

[Ego Odom]

That's also great.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Randall, I end every episode of this podcast asking my dad for the day.

[Randall Park]

Yes.

[Ego Odom]

And so in this case, you for a piece of advice.

[Randall Park]

Yes. Please be honest.

[Ego Odom]

I'm going to tell you.

[Randall Park]

I'm your dad. You're my dad.

[Ego Odom]

Oh, my goodness. Oh, goodness. I'm getting nervous. But okay. Cause I never had this. So every time I get to do sometimes these are silly, silly questions.

[Randall Park]

Okay.

[Ego Odom]

So I have friends who like drugs.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Okay. And we're not talking weed.

[Randall Park]

Okay.

[Ego Odom]

Or maybe for the case of the podcast, we could be talking weed, realizing everyone gets to hear this. No, I have. I have friends who like drugs.

[Randall Park]

And then go, you should try drugs. Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

There are drugs I would never try.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

In my entire life.

[Randall Park]

Like, for example.

[Ego Odom]

For example.

[Randall Park]

Heroin.

[Ego Odom]

Heroin. I'm not gonna dabble. I don't need to try. I don't even think you're allowed to try heroin. I think if you try heroin, you're gonna start doing heroin, is my understanding.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. I don't know is my guess.

[Ego Odom]

I don't know either. But the DARE program was really effective in terms of how it impacted me. I think the DARE program did exactly what it was supposed to do.

[Randall Park]

Same until college for me. Oh, okay.

[Ego Odom]

He was having fun in college. And that's one of those secrets you were keeping from the fam. Okay, very good. Well, see, dad, I'm bringing this to you. I also wanna Google when we leave here what happened to Dare and why it was dismantled and why it doesn't exist anymore. I go, what happened to Dare? That's what. Everyone's doing drugs now. Good question. Like, everyone's doing drugs.

[Randall Park]

That's true.

[Ego Odom]

Okay, so, dad, that's. That's what I'm coming to with everyone's doing drugs. How do I draw the line on what drugs to do and which drugs not to do? Is this a publicist nightmare for you, by the way, right now? Am I getting you in hot water?

[Randall Park]

You're a grown man. I'm a grown man. Okay. I'm a grown man.

[Ego Odom]

You heard it here from Randall park himself. That's the name of the episode. I'm a grown man.

[Randall Park]

All right, so. So, okay, so when you ask the

[Ego Odom]

question,

[Randall Park]

what I'm inferring is that you're open to trying stuff, but you also want to create boundaries. Certain boundaries.

[Ego Odom]

Yeah. So, like, I'm not. I don't actually like the idea of drugs for me. Right. But do you feel like one should?

[Randall Park]

So are these drugs like Saffron to you? Like, these friends are putting it in your drink, so it's like, oh, God, those aren't friends. Maybe not. Maybe not. Those are enemies. But your friends are offering it, and you feel like you have to take it and say thank you.

[Ego Odom]

I'm not. Okay, so here's what I'll say. I'm not even a, like, peer pressure girly dad. I actually don't succumb to peer pressure.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

I don't know. I just. I'm not a peer pressure person. But I wonder, I guess in what I'm trying to say, it's like, should I be more curious about these drugs that my friends are like, I do this, and it's fine. I do this from time to time. Time, and it's fine. What I'll tell you, dad.

[Randall Park]

Yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Because we have the same genetics. You should know this already. Anyway, we have this half. You're half of my DNA today. I don't have an addictive personality. The only thing I am addicted to is sugar. And that's a real, like, serious addiction. I have a candy addiction, but otherwise I don't have an addictive personality.

[Randall Park]

Yes.

[Ego Odom]

So with that information, which you already knew because you are my dad for the day, I don't fear I'll become addicted to anything. I don't think so. But it's like, should I be open to trying drugs?

[Randall Park]

I think that it's okay. Too.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

I think that life is for experiencing things, but you don't have to ever feel the need to experience everything.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

You know, because there's so many things.

[Ego Odom]

There's so many things.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. It's like you could murder a person. You don't experience that.

[Ego Odom]

I just wanted to see what it was like to take another person's life, and now I'm in jail because I just want.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, you don't want. If they find me and. And. And drugs. Yeah. It can be. Become a slippery slope or it cannot, you know.

[Ego Odom]

Right.

[Randall Park]

I would say just be very aware of the people who are offering this.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

Who are inviting you to be a part of this.

[Ego Odom]

Sure.

[Randall Park]

Are they good people?

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

You know, sure, sure. And. And will they take.

[Ego Odom]

Okay, that's great.

[Randall Park]

That's good. Are there other people who will take care of you, or are they troubled people who are using it to escape maybe certain things about their lives, you know, because that could be the reason why they're doing it, you know, and you are. You don't have that issue, at least. I mean, at least to the extent maybe that they might, you know? So if you do decide to try something, I would see it as very much of, I'm gonna experience this once, and I'm gonna know what it's like,

[Ego Odom]

approach it with pure curiosity. But if there's a part of me that is wanting to try it as a means of escapism, that's probably. That can be tricky and maybe be a little wary of that.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. And I think the big sign of that is you're doing it often or more than once or twice or. But I. I personally feel like it's okay to try things.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

As long as, like, you're safe.

[Ego Odom]

Okay.

[Randall Park]

You know?

[Ego Odom]

Okay. Okay.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. I don't know. Some dads would be like, absolutely not.

[Ego Odom]

Right. But I also think this is another thing I think has changed. Do you think about the DARE program? When I was in school. You had the DARE program when you were in school. I'm like, it was hard to know on drugs, and I think that sometimes. Again, not a parent. I say it all the time on this podcast, but I feel like when you create those hard boundary lines, it just piques people's curiosity and interest in a way that it might not. If you were like, let me tell you all about this thing, and I'm not telling you about this thing to be like, I'm not trying to make you fearful of this thing. Because then they hear stories of people who, like, tried it and Had a fun and a nice time and they go, well, I feel like you lied to me a little bit about how terrible, scary, dangerous this thing is. And now my relationship with drugs is weird because someone told me hard. No.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ego Odom]

Like, I don't feel like growing up.

[Randall Park]

Do you judge your friends a little

[Ego Odom]

bit who do drugs? Yeah, if they do it too much, honestly. And what is too much? It's all relative. I feel like I go, yeah, what are you running from?

[Randall Park]

Yeah, that's.

[Ego Odom]

I do go, but that's good. But now I'm worried about it so that you.

[Randall Park]

Something that's implanted in you, you know, and that will keep you from ever going down that path, you know? Yeah, yeah.

[Ego Odom]

And I'm like a little too type A need to be in control of the environment and my. Like, I want the ox cord if we're going on a road trip also, because I think I'm a good dj, but I'm like, a little too that way to be like, I'm going to surrender to whatever the height is.

[Randall Park]

I don't feel like just knowing you, I don't feel like it would ever be a problem. Like, yeah, I really believe that.

[Ego Odom]

And if somehow, guys, I do develop a problem, we're going to blame Randall Park. Okay, guys. Randall, thank you so much for coming and doing this podcast. It was so fun. Is there anything you would like to plug for listeners? It could be nothing.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, nothing. Well, we did a thing.

[Ego Odom]

We did a thing. Oh, my goodness.

[Randall Park]

I don't know what, when, or what

[Ego Odom]

someone texted me about when it's coming out, but I kind of don't remember what the contents of the text said.

[Randall Park]

Okay.

[Ego Odom]

I know it's Florida, man.

[Randall Park]

Yeah, it's Florida, man. It's.

[Ego Odom]

Yes, I think it's on hbo.

[Randall Park]

Yeah. Or is it Max now? Yeah, I don't know.

[Ego Odom]

Another three letter word. Yeah, I guess HBO is not a word.

[Randall Park]

We're on something and it'll be outside.

[Ego Odom]

It's gonna be out somewhere. I love that as a plug. We're on something and it's gonna be out somewhere. You heard it here, guys. Randall, again, thank you for being my dad for the day. This has been an absolute pleasure. You are pure delight. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, guys. This has been. Thanks, dad. Thank you for listening. Thanks dad is a Headgum podcast created and hosted by me, Ego Odom. This show is engineered by Rochelle Chen and Anya Konovskaya and edited by Rachelle Chen with executive producer Emma Foley. Katie Moose is our VP of content at Headgum. Thanks to Jason Matheny for our show art and Ferris Manchi for our theme song. For more podcasts by headgum, visit headgum.com or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and maybe, just maybe, we'll read it on a future episode.

[Commercial/Ad Voice]

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[Ego Odom]

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[Commercial/Ad Voice]

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[Randall Park]

Watch us.

[Commercial/Ad Voice]

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[Ego Odom]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.