Paul’s friend opens up about being kidnapped by a motorcycle gang at 13, his success as a South Beach nightclub owner and the effect it had on his ego, the “animal” he says he became and the cocaine and heroin addiction that brought him to his knees. He also talks about working on repairing his relationships with his sons after losing custody of them as young boys because of his drug addiction.
Standup comedian, writer and actor Fred Stoller opens up about his childhood with a sensitive withdrawn father and a fear-filled overbearing mother who he describes as a “Rainman Savant of bad news stories”. He and Paul talk about the corrosive effect a joy-snuffing parent can have on a child’s ability to experience joy. People know Fred from appearances on Everybody Loves Raymond, Dumb and Dumber, orSeinfeld. Paul reads some polarizing emails about the Ted Lyde episode as well as a happy moment survey response from a German listener who recalls the moment her depression ran out of fuel.