In an age of oppressive societal structures, comedians come to the rescue as demolition experts. And then in Sam and Joe Rogan we not only have the demolition, but reconstruction of new and better ways of thinking and being.
Hats off to Sam for turning his life around and staying sober. Trying to be the best possible version of yourself so that you can do your best for your kids really is the highest calling.
The only thing I heard Alex say that I might take issue with is that your kids are going to be what they're going to be. Now I get the need to not be overbearing and allow a certain amount of freedom to explore and express themselves, and I get that who they become is some combination of nature and nurture and there will be aspects of their personality that are hardwired, but I think most people have taken this way too far and have taken away all imposition of structure or character on young minds. We don't have the same attitude about ourselves, "well I'm going to be what I'm going to be... if I want to do this or that, then that's just who I am even if it is harmful. I don't need to discipline myself. I just need to express and be led by my emotions." No successful person thinks this way. And I think our job as parents is to first learn how to transmute ourselves... be self-aware, face the shadow, then turn the lead into gold, turn the adversity and challenges of life into growth and responsibility and meaning. And then we help our kids do the same.
Loved the part about the voice in your head... we are more fractured than we realize - a hierarchy of subpersonalities and at one end is the angel and the other is straight up devil. Sorry for posting this a 4th time but this is the most perfect depiction I have seen of this wrestling with the voices in your head in music (and a fantastic message):
Edit: Ren's next release just came out... as someone who struggled for many years with Lyme disease I can relate: