Latest / Most Things Kenobi - A Star Wars Podcast / Episode 108: Listener Stories - How Has Star Wars has Helped You Through a Hard Time? Part 1

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Episode 108: Listener Stories - How Has Star Wars has Helped You Through a Hard Time? Part 1 · Most Things Kenobi - A Star Wars Podcast

0:00
Hello there. It's most things Kenobi.
0:04
This is the podcast you looking for.
0:19
Hi everyone, welcome to another episode of most things Kenobi.
0:22
A podcast about Obi-Wan Kenobi and all things Star Wars.
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I'm your host Lauren, and I'm your host Leanne, and this week,
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we are probably going to be doing a two-parter.
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Here, this is, yeah, this is an in-depth thing.
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We're going to focus on. We asked our listeners to tell
0:39
us about a time when Star Wars helped them through something
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difficult and boy. Did you guys deliver?
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Yes. Which is great because that
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means Star Wars is doing what it's supposed to write.
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It's actually a really great example of the good side of
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fandom. Hmm.
1:00
And part of why we wanted to do this is we know a lot of our
1:05
listeners, we actually interact with our listeners pretty
1:07
closely and we know a lot of people have had struggles
1:11
lately, especially we know a lot of people are having hard times
1:15
and part of why we thought this would be good.
1:17
Is so you can see that you're not alone in some of the
1:21
difficulties you're facing or even if you're not facing the
1:25
same thing as someone else, you're not the only one having a
1:28
hard time. There's maybe some comfort in
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that. Absolutely.
1:32
Yeah. This doesn't have to be a fandom
1:34
that tears people apart, it can be one that keeps us all United
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in the most basic of human emotions, which is, I think, you
1:43
know, perseverance. Hope all the things, the Star
1:45
Wars brings to the table, right? Manatee side.
1:48
Yeah, and that's what we wanted to highlight because Lauren and
1:52
I, I mean, we kind of met when our lives were a little bit
1:57
chaotic, like our real world. Yeah.
2:01
And we met through Star Wars and I'm so grateful for Star Wars to
2:05
be that me too. And how funny to think if I
2:10
hadn't started watching Clone Wars, right?
2:12
When I did, I might never have met you, you know?
2:16
No, it's wild. Pretty crazy, you know, for my
2:22
part I could probably go back and think of a specific instance
2:26
where Star Wars, you know, helped me through something.
2:29
But as a whole, I think the consistent message and this also
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goes I will say this. This also goes for Lord of the
2:36
Rings. It's the yin to my yang in
2:38
fandoms, right? Yeah.
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Star Wars Lord of the Rings and it's the escapism for me.
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If this world is too much, I rely on these worlds to escape
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from this one. I don't linger.
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There you can't, you can't live in a lol and you can't make it
2:57
real no matter how fake it is. So some of us try to make it
3:00
real really hard shit and, and I feel you on that because it
3:05
would be lovely, but every galaxy has its problems.
3:07
Don't forget that true. Yes.
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The Grass Is Always Greener but it's really not, not on Tatooine
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anyway. Not us.
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A stitch of grass. It's nope, not at all.
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But I, I completely connect with all of the stories that are
3:24
like, it's my Escape, it's my, it's my happy place, it's my
3:28
yeah. You know, the place I go, when I
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just want to empty my brain and stop stressing about this.
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That and the other thing and just focus on like Luke and how
3:38
happy he is and how strong he is.
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And it reminds me at the bottom, the bottom line, the end of the
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day, Lord of the Rings. Our Wars hope.
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Yeah, you know even the smallest of creatures can change the
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course of the future even the most unlikely of characters can
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blow up the Death Star and go on to change the Galaxy.
3:58
You know, things like that. That's the overarching message
4:00
that I take from these things when I'm going through a hard
4:04
time because it's none of these people's Journeys, were easy and
4:08
they still did it. So it's a nice reminder to have
4:11
and that was the thing. I really took away from all of
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the stories we got. Even the saddest story we had
4:18
submitted is really a story about Hope and how Star Wars
4:23
reminded them to keep going or, you know, that there's something
4:27
else going on behind the scenes in their lives.
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And that to me. It's so Star Wars, right?
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It's all about. Hope.
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It's all about companionship compassion.
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Like that's the, the ultimate story, and it's pretty beautiful
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to see a piece of media validating.
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Ends of people's lives. It's a worldwide thing for a
4:49
reason. Yeah, it's amazing.
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This is an example of the best of fandom, truly.
4:54
Hmm. Yes.
4:56
For myself personally, I feel the same way.
4:59
It's, it's definitely a safe space that I want to escape to.
5:03
And later, we'll read Michela story and she touches on exactly
5:08
why I kind of disappear into Star Wars in particular and know
5:12
if it's a chemical thing or whatever it is.
5:14
But there's something about how it Oops, into our lizard brain
5:17
about, we know how much danger is going to exist in this world.
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The Star Wars world. So we can like, have adventures
5:24
and move around in there without feeling the real fear that we
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feel in real life. And excellent point, I really
5:30
feel that and so when I was going through, I went through a
5:34
really painful divorce a few years ago and it was hard to go
5:38
through. But it also put me into a really
5:41
extended period of depression, which made More practical issues
5:47
for me of, like, not being able to sleep and stuff like that.
5:50
And, and so I literally could not sleep without clone wars
5:55
being on, which is such a weird thing.
5:58
You know, it's like a child but but it is that it's just that
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it's like, my brain knew it was safe and comforting and very
6:08
particularly. I know this is weird but James
6:10
Arnold Taylor. His voice was like very
6:12
grounding for me because it had been a thing of joy.
6:15
Before this happened. Yeah and so like to have that
6:19
tether to something that I knew and understood and like newer
6:23
the boundaries were that helped keep me relaxed which is yeah,
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interesting, I'd love to discuss this with a psychologist at some
6:31
point to like understand the science of it more.
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But so I like in a very practical sense, Star Wars got
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me through that period of my life but then even beyond that
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the community that we had built on.
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Well, let's Let's definitely not forget.
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The community has, oh my goodness, we are so blessed.
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Yeah, but the community that we've built truly, I mean thus
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far, it's just been truly rewarding.
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It is rewarding and even strangers on Tumblr.
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Like, I would put out just a blurb about like feeling really
7:05
frustrated or I was having a hard time.
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I didn't go into detail about it too much until much later after
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it had already passed. But strangers would happen to my
7:12
DMs and just be like we care about you.
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You just keep going. Don't give up what you do.
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Just writing fanfics is a beautiful thing that you know
7:20
that helps me and it was just like those little nuggets were
7:24
so meaningful to me because it's like a stranger took the time to
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say something kind of sure and all of that coming out of this
7:32
Star Wars community. So I mean I don't want to get
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into too much more detail personally, but that was an
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extended period of my life that I really relied on Star Wars
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heavily. Just a saying, pretty much and
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forever be grateful for it and because it brought you into my
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life, you know, before this even really happened.
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So I already had your friendship, you know, as that
7:59
started happening. And that is all because of Star
8:02
Wars. So yes, I'm already in my feels.
8:06
We haven't even started yet. Yeah, I know.
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I know, it's pretty. It's pretty amazing.
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Actually, hadn't that you and I are friends I, when I stop and
8:14
think about it. It and how all the different
8:18
decisions that were made to likely to that intersection and
8:21
our lives pretty pretty amazing. It's cool it.
8:26
And we're getting to see friendships form in the
8:29
community just to run our podcast.
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That is so, so rewarding to see it's so great.
8:36
That there are people connecting with others across the across
8:40
the world across the miles that wouldn't have met without Star
8:43
Wars. Yes.
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Oh, it's Fucking awesome. Thank you for just saying it
8:49
because that's exactly what it is.
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That's fucking awesome. So, you mentioned mishaela, she
8:56
gave us her permission to use her name.
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And when we go through these, if we say their name is because
9:01
they gave permission yes, if we don't say a name, we just move
9:04
on to read or can condense and say in a more concise manner,
9:09
what their story is, it's because they did not give us
9:11
permission to use their name and that is totally fine.
9:14
So, we hope everyone I felt comfortable enough to submit.
9:17
These seems like it because there are some really long
9:22
thoughtful things that were sent to us.
9:25
Yes, and thank you all for trusting us.
9:27
It's very personal. We understand that, and that's
9:30
why I think I even posted this, we will take care of your
9:35
messages. You know, we asked this, we
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asked people to submit stuff in good faith like we're not going
9:40
to take it and talk shit about it or anything and I think oh
9:44
God. No, we see this.
9:45
The responses that we've gone from people that they're willing
9:48
to share because they know this is a safe space so thank you to
9:51
everyone, shall we jump in? Yes.
9:55
Okay. The first of the stories that
9:58
we're going to talk about is from forest, Jedi this
10:01
individual rights. Star Wars helped me through a
10:04
really difficult 10-year period where I was dealing with the
10:07
diagnosis of my son with a medical condition after birth
10:10
and learning about his ongoing treatment, as well as trying to
10:13
support a loved one who was struggling with their mental.
10:15
Oh, health and serious, toxic family issues that made that so
10:19
much harder for them. Many times during this 10 years,
10:22
I felt I was alone with too many things to solve but Star Wars
10:25
and meditation were huge parts of my self-care and inspiration
10:29
to be strong for those who needed me.
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Most And before I continue, that's, that's beautiful.
10:36
I meditate Star Wars is very meditative.
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Yeah, I feel very connected to this.
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They go on to say, the Clone Wars episodes and the opening
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quotes were huge inspiration for me then and still are to this
10:51
day. It's come full circle.
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Now my son watches, these episodes with me and loves the
10:56
opening quotes to, and they actually submitted the opening
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quote screen if you all know. You know, right?
11:03
Dun dun dun dada da, okay? And the the screen cap here is
11:10
never give up hope no matter how dark things seem And I love that
11:16
one because it's that sense of hope never lose sight of it,
11:21
which is so fastly important. Yeah.
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In real life and in fake life, galaxy life.
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It's true. You know, people always say
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things can always get worse but also things can always get
11:36
better from where you are. You know, you might be in a
11:39
really dark place and believe me I have hit rock, bottom.
11:43
I know what my rock bottom. Tom looks like and now it's
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given me perspective to know where I am, right?
11:49
And having more of a gratitude base, you know, thought yes
11:52
this. Yes.
11:54
And to deal with the diagnosis of a child, that is so
11:59
challenging neither of us are parents.
12:01
But we know we, we have friends who are parents.
12:05
We have family who are parents, we have parents, you know, it's
12:12
a thing that really is connected to Heart in a way.
12:15
You can't deny, you know, yet when you have children, they
12:18
have a hold on you in a way that nothing else does, you know?
12:22
So the strength required to not only care for a sick, child care
12:27
for a loved one. Who is having mental health
12:29
issues and care for yourself. Yes, Forest.
12:33
Jedi are so strong and you Harry cared for your family through
12:38
this whole period without losing yourself.
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That's amazing. And they said it's come full.
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Full circle, he gets to share with his son.
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Now, yeah, the things that held him together during this period
12:51
of time, may be inspiring, the Next Generation, his, his
12:55
offspring, you know, it's kind of wonderful.
12:57
It's, you know, Star Wars Star Wars will never go away and
13:02
that's good. But I want to point, I want to
13:05
touch on something. You said, because I like this,
13:07
quote, I hope I don't butcher it, but it goes like this.
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Good times, Never Last. So, be thankful when there.
13:14
Here and bad times Never Last, so know that you can get through
13:18
it because the good times will follow.
13:20
Yeah. So it's the never ending cycle
13:22
of be grateful for the good times and be aware that the bad
13:26
times will pass the sun will shine again and Whatever Gets
13:30
You Through that, get you through it, you know, and never
13:35
give up hope no matter how dark things seem.
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I love it, love it words to live by truly.
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Thank you, Forrest, Jedi for sharing that with us and
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Allowing us to share with everyone else.
13:47
Okay. Our next story comes from Chris,
13:50
from Northern Ireland. He says, Star Wars has always
13:54
been a part of my life and my earliest memory was watching
13:56
Return of the Jedi. When I was five in the cinema
13:59
with my father, we continue to watch every iteration of Star
14:02
Wars in the cinema. Sadly.
14:04
He was diagnosed with lung cancer and the force awakens and
14:07
Rogue one. Were the last ones we got to see
14:09
together. Dad was always supportive of My
14:12
Love of All Things. Nerdy from Star Wars to Masters
14:14
of the Universe and other, Things he adored my photo when I
14:19
met Mark Hamill at Star Wars celebration 2016.
14:22
That's awesome. That's amazing.
14:25
One of the last conversations we had was about me going to London
14:28
film Comic-Con and I was meeting Ian mcdiarmid.
14:31
Who, of course, played the emperor.
14:33
Dead was really excited to see the photo and hear my story
14:36
about meeting him. Sadly, he never got to hear or
14:39
see it in 2017, when meeting mr. McDermott, I explained to him
14:43
that my father was so excited for me to meet him.
14:45
And I told him, he passed, Passed away a few months before
14:49
he couldn't have been nicer expressing his condolences and
14:51
signing my item. For me, I felt this was one
14:54
thing I needed to do for both dad and me.
14:57
Star Wars has always been an important beacon in my life and
15:00
when I lost one special person, another then came into my life.
15:04
In my girlfriend, Karen, we have been together, five years, and
15:07
went to Star Wars celebration together, and had an amazing
15:09
time meeting. So many, amazing people.
15:12
I know Dad would have loved to see our amazing photos Karen and
15:16
Dad. Never met, but I know they would
15:18
have gotten on together. So, well, servers will forever.
15:22
Be my favorite film franchise. Dad always said there's no
15:25
better villain than Darth Vader Leanne, amen.
15:30
Every story needs a villain. Every story needs a hero and dad
15:34
was my hero. That's beautiful.
15:37
That made me cry when I first read it because it's just such
15:40
an emotional roller, coaster to lose your parent and especially,
15:45
you know, to have Such a strong tie with them but then, that
15:48
beauty of having Karen come into his life.
15:52
Yes, you know. It's when a, what do they say?
15:54
When a door closes a window opens, you know, it's that same
15:58
idea and so sorry for the loss of your father, but this is a
16:03
very special collection of memories to have, you know.
16:07
Yeah. And he lives on, in a way in the
16:10
world of Star Wars that you always be connected to him
16:13
through his Spirit. Obviously he sounds Like a
16:18
really cool man. Really cool dude, and how nice
16:23
of Eden McDermott's, it to be, so kind and thoughtful as well.
16:27
I mean some people could would or could brush that off but he
16:30
was sounds incredibly gracious. Yeah.
16:33
And and now there's Karen and I think your last sentence every
16:39
story needs a villain, every story needs, a hero and dad was
16:41
my hero and I think for us to have that shared with us is
16:45
really incredible. Yeah.
16:46
I think A lot of us have not everyone has a close connection
16:50
with their parents, but I know you.
16:51
And I both do and I see all the stars were movies with my dad.
16:56
Yes. Yeah.
16:58
And so, I really felt this story.
17:01
I feel very connected to this story.
17:03
It hit me very close to home. And like you said, it's
17:06
something you'll always have now though, it might be Bittersweet,
17:09
But ultimately, it's a touchstone, right?
17:12
You know, it's like a way you can always that Chris can always
17:15
feel close to his dad. I'll revisiting Star Wars.
17:18
It's that thing that they shared and it's a very fond memory.
17:22
I think that's actually quite a blessing, you know, to have
17:24
something like that, you know. I'm the type of person that if I
17:28
go, we went to Star Wars celebration in London just
17:32
recently, and my, my bestest bestest best friend from way
17:37
back in the day, he's usually Mike on person.
17:40
He usually goes to the cause with me, we do all things nerdy
17:43
together and he wasn't able to go, he couldn't go.
17:47
He didn't want to one of the one of those, but I carried him in
17:51
spirit and it made it feel. You know, I was interacting with
17:54
him while I was there. We got him some gifts and I
17:56
carried him with me there and it felt like he was there in spirit
17:59
and I can totally see. Hmm.
18:02
How carrying Chris can carry his father with him?
18:05
And he's always going to be at the Cons with him.
18:07
Yeah, that manner. So I think I think it's nice.
18:10
You know they live on and I think it's great.
18:12
That Star Wars Star Wars is the vehicle for that.
18:15
I think it's great. Yeah.
18:16
Yeah, definitely. Thank you so much Chris for
18:19
sharing. This is beautiful story.
18:21
And hi Karen. Yes, meet you welcome.
18:23
Welcome to our group. Yeah.
18:28
The next one we have is from Ben.
18:31
He says, my story is from Star Wars Weekends at Disney 2014.
18:37
I was feeling discouraged that I might not get my dream job.
18:40
However, James Arnold Taylor was doing a version of his stage
18:44
show, talking to myself, renamed, Obi-Wan and Beyond his
18:48
bits of encouragement. That he puts in the show.
18:50
Helped encourage me to never give up.
18:53
On my goal, for getting the job. I wanted a month later, I
18:56
received an offer. For the job.
19:00
Amazing. First of all, golf clap been.
19:04
Congratulations. I, I hope James Arnold Taylor,
19:09
here's this because that's awesome.
19:11
Yeah, he's mentioned specifically a few times by
19:14
people. And I hope he listens to this
19:17
episode, because I think he's got this magical manifesting
19:22
energy that he puts out. And I know, he's deathless, he's
19:26
not fake about it, you know. He has down time so he feels
19:29
like trash just like the rest of us but like the rest of us.
19:33
Yeah, but what I noticed with him is not only is he trying to
19:37
be, you know, positive. But he literally means it when
19:40
he tries to encourage people in their own Endeavors, and the
19:44
fact that Ben was able to get his dream job.
19:46
Like, I know Ben, he's told me what his job is, it's freaking
19:49
awesome. And the fact that James is the
19:54
one who encouraged him to never get, you know, Ashley did that
19:57
for me? Me because you and I went to
19:59
Comic-Con together. Yeah.
20:01
What was that 2018? Yes.
20:03
And I went to her business presentation that she did there
20:07
and it was a smattering of people.
20:09
It's probably like 40 people was one of the smaller, you know,
20:12
little rooms but she was talking about her book that she had
20:16
written and she handed out no carts everybody and you were to
20:19
write down three things that you wanted.
20:21
And like, I think there was something you didn't want that
20:23
we tore up and threw away. And one of the things I wrote
20:26
down was that I wanted to work in.
20:28
And um somehow I don't know how here we are with the podcast,
20:32
here we are. But you also said something that
20:34
really hit me at the time. It's like the exact thing I
20:37
needed to hear. She said, two things, look at
20:40
what the universe is saying. You're going to see patterns.
20:43
So, like if you keep seeing the same thing over and over, or if
20:47
you keep hearing the same phrase over and over, it's like the
20:50
universe trying to get your attention.
20:51
And she has used that to be successful in business.
20:54
And she said, when you're feeling like giving up, Up,
20:58
that's when you shouldn't. That's that's the Crux of the
21:00
moment. Yeah, there.
21:01
And I was a turning point. I was at this Con thinking that
21:05
maybe I was going to give up. I'm working for myself and go
21:09
back to working in an office because I just wasn't sure.
21:11
I was going to be able to make ends meet.
21:13
And she said that out loud at this presentation.
21:15
Then I heard it again somewhere else.
21:17
And again somewhere else and I was like okay I'm not going to
21:20
give up just yet. Yeah, and things have gone
21:23
really well since another group I'm glad I never went back to
21:26
the office life. So Totally get been like I so
21:30
connect with this thing Ben is saying because it's yeah, these
21:34
celebrities they don't even know what they're doing, you know,
21:36
they're they're just out a talking and being positive and
21:39
they were changing people's lives without even knowing it.
21:42
You know, well I just don't believe in coincidences.
21:46
So if you hear something and you're, you know, and it
21:48
inspires you there's a reason it happened at that time.
21:52
It came from the source that it came from and it meant something
21:56
to you and I completely Lee believed that when the energy is
22:00
pure and your intentions are good run with that.
22:03
Yes. And clearly been did and the
22:06
universe was talking to him and I think it's through the voice
22:09
of Obi-Wan Kenobi. My God.
22:10
What was interesting is that the show was originally called
22:16
talking to myself. And in this case, he was
22:19
actually talking to Ben and he didn't know it.
22:22
So yes, that's beautiful. I kind of love that next person.
22:27
We are Going to share their stories mishaela but Sheila's
22:30
was in our 100th episode. She talked about her journey
22:34
with IVF and miscarriage and how not a lot of people talk about
22:39
that. So if you want more detail, you
22:41
can listen to that episode. She talks about in more detail,
22:43
but you also sent us this message when I was going through
22:46
IVF sometimes I had to be on bed rest and it got so lonely.
22:50
I had to travel to the clinic, in California alone, and stay in
22:53
my hotel room. So, I would download the Clone
22:55
Wars and watch it in bed for hours.
22:58
Hours after I lost that pregnancy, I still watched it.
23:02
I hear that. The reason we watch things we
23:04
have seen before over and over is the predictability makes it
23:08
less dangerous to our reptilian brains but it's still
23:11
adventurous escapism. Maybe it was James Arnold Taylor
23:15
as voice but it was relaxing for me Obi.
23:18
One can be soothing. Yes and you said that, you said
23:22
that for yourself, you two are very connected in this in this
23:25
manner. I really yes I really wouldn't.
23:26
I read that. I was like you.
23:28
You said it perfectly and words that I could never have said
23:32
myself. So that's exactly how I felt.
23:36
She goes on to say, it wasn't just a miscarriage.
23:38
It was my last embryo. It was the end of my ability to
23:42
have more kids. I had to grieve the end of that
23:45
and accept it. I slowly came around to the
23:48
realization that while I couldn't give my daughter a
23:50
sibling, I could pour my everything into her.
23:53
I realized I can give her richer experiences I introduced.
23:57
Her to the things I love including Star Wars, which is
24:01
when I discovered, she loves Darth Vader.
24:04
A lot of Vader love up in here. Now, I'm digging it.
24:10
I took her to Disney several times.
24:11
She flew the Millennium Falcon watched all the movies.
24:14
Lots of other things, it's where the show is.
24:16
Now always going to be associated with that period of
24:19
my life, but it's not always painful what an incredibly
24:23
strong individual you are mishaela.
24:26
I think we told you this in person.
24:28
And when we spoke with you but it cannot be reiterated enough.
24:30
You are? Yeah.
24:31
Incredibly strong. Everyone who has gone through a
24:35
similar situation are incredibly strong.
24:38
Yeah, I don't have any knowledge of what this is like.
24:42
See that's what I was telling her when she sent this to me.
24:45
Originally, we exchanged a few emails and I think part of it is
24:48
that we don't talk about IVF and we don't talk about miscarriage,
24:53
it's very taboo, it is. And it shouldn't be, it
24:57
shouldn't be. And that's That's kind of her
24:58
Mission. That's why she's very open about
25:00
it because she wants the stigma to go away around the subject
25:03
matter and I completely agree because we don't talk about it.
25:06
So women don't get the care that they might need this correct.
25:11
Physically. And mentally, it can be very
25:15
hard on women emotionally, with miscarriage.
25:19
And doctors, don't talk about it with their patients, very often.
25:23
So I just think she's so brave to be, so open about it.
25:28
And I really respect her for being so open about it because
25:31
it's one of those subjects that like you said, we don't really
25:35
know that much about it and there's a lot of women
25:38
experiencing that turmoil and their life.
25:41
And where do they go to process that grief?
25:45
I think a lot of them feel very alone in that.
25:48
Mhm I feel like mishaela is so brave and so strong and I loved
25:54
that she found this beautiful like full circle with her.
25:57
Daughter. Yes, the daughter.
26:00
She's live in the Star Wars World.
26:03
She's flying Millennium Falcon and she's seen all the movies
26:07
and doing the Disney thing and how joyous is that, you know,
26:10
yeah, to see someone take such joy in something that has been
26:15
anywhere from a baby blanket. A comfort white to a reiteration
26:20
of like your strength and, and your perseverance and things
26:23
that I keep saying are the themes of Star Wars.
26:27
And It's beautiful and mishaela. I have a poster hanging right
26:31
above me and I believe you said your favorite character was
26:33
Ahsoka and the poster above my head says I can handle anything
26:37
and if your favorite character is Ahsoka and that is her quote,
26:41
then you and Ahsoka go way back. I think too that there's
26:48
something to be said about you. And I have talked about this
26:51
before where sometimes the expectation that you have of
26:55
life is the thing that lets you down.
26:57
Yes. Us like Zen philosophy.
26:59
Buddhist philosophy is to manage your expectation, or have no
27:03
expectation. Which is very difficult because
27:05
we, we have an idea mishaela wanted more than one child, but
27:11
the strength of her to be able to take that disappointed
27:15
expectation and turn it into a positive thing.
27:18
She doesn't get to provide her daughter with a sibling, but she
27:21
can, it means now that she has the freedom and maybe more time
27:26
to focus in on Her daughter and give her more than maybe she
27:31
would have been able to, you know, under other circumstances.
27:34
I think that's a really important lesson to Come Away
27:37
with for all of us because, you know, it doesn't matter if it's
27:41
the same experience, like not everyone has the disappointed
27:46
expectation around children, it could be anything, but if you
27:49
can find a way to take that and turn it around into, I will
27:55
never forget the Rock. Dwayne Johnson.
28:00
Oh yes, yes and posted on Instagram about how he was in
28:04
the NFL and he got cut and the worst day of his life turned out
28:08
the beat the best thing that ever happened to him.
28:10
And I heard that the day, I needed to hear it and it's true.
28:14
Not that this would be the best thing that ever happened to you.
28:17
But Sheila, I'm just saying that like that mentality of being
28:20
able to flip it on its head and say, okay, yes if I'm not
28:23
getting what I want what is it opening up for me to get?
28:26
Then it it's it takes a lot of effort to do that.
28:31
A lot of people don't and mishaela did and so many others
28:34
do. And I commend each and every
28:36
single one of them because it is so difficult to do.
28:40
Yeah. Because in the moment you think
28:42
this is it it's like yeah I am I going to let it break me or is
28:46
it going to am I going to let him make me move like move into
28:50
some other more positive space. And yeah which is also a so Star
28:54
Wars it is. It is Yes, it's so hard though
29:00
because all, you know, in that moment is the disappointment,
29:02
right? The thing that went wrong, the
29:04
thing that didn't happen. The thing that wasn't what you
29:06
expected. That's all you know, in that
29:08
moment and it's totally fine. If that's the only thing, you
29:11
know, Because it's real. It's happening, it's human.
29:14
Emotion were allowed to have them all of them.
29:16
I don't care what anyone says, you're allowed to be mad, you're
29:19
allowed to be said. It's how you manage that and
29:21
move forward from it. That makes your character and
29:25
I'm seeing this repeated in all of these stories that we've
29:29
gotten yeah. Because some damn tough people
29:31
out there and I love it. I know it's pretty great.
29:36
So thank you Miss Shayla and quote I can handle anything.
29:40
Hmm, unquote Ahsoka Tano No. Our next entry was from Sam.
29:48
She says, anytime I'm feeling overwhelmed or depressed, I find
29:52
myself turning on a Star Wars show or movie.
29:55
Even if it's just in the background, it brings me, some
29:57
semblance of peace and joy, unlike any other movie or show,
30:02
I didn't really get into Star Wars until a few years ago, but
30:04
it's become much more than just. Something to watch the
30:07
community. I found through this franchise
30:09
has been accepting joyful and just plain fun.
30:13
It. Isn't that what it's all about?
30:15
At the end of the day? Yeah.
30:17
Or should be? Yeah, there, I mean Star Wars is
30:21
pain but and you can be in a pretty shitty group of people
30:25
who just talk smack all the time.
30:27
But all the time, always, contrary always always pointing
30:31
out the dumb thing or the really, you know, like sometimes
30:35
just like that's what you took from this.
30:37
Yeah, come on. Now we got a new listener
30:41
recently who she loves. That we just aren't here to talk
30:46
shit. That's so many podcasts are here
30:49
to talk about what they were disappointed in what they didn't
30:51
like about what came out new, and we are the opposite where we
30:54
focus on the things that made us happy that we thought were
30:57
amazing and just like are we an anomaly?
31:01
We must be if so good. Yeah.
31:05
Right. Like I'd rather be this way.
31:07
Then I guess like everybody else, if everybody else is just
31:10
talking shit, like your focus. Determines your reality people.
31:15
Thank you. Thank you.
31:16
I was gonna bust that out if you weren't.
31:18
So thank you. There's a lot of chances to go
31:24
down that path because guess what that path gets you more
31:29
clicks, more views, more everything in the world of
31:35
social media. But that's not what we're here
31:37
for. We're just trying to talk about
31:39
the shit, we love ya and we'll critique something, but it's
31:43
not. Not the end of the world.
31:44
It's not like a it's it's still a show like yeah whatever.
31:50
But I like what Sam says it's more than just something to
31:56
watch and it can be accepting. It can be joyful, it can be fun
32:00
or you could go down the road of shit talk and it's fine but like
32:03
you know what why would you want to spend your days doing that?
32:06
Yeah I don't he says right here. She says right here, anytime I'm
32:10
feeling overwhelmed and depressed.
32:12
She she turns to start Okay, well, if I, let's say someone
32:15
continues to be overwhelmed and depressed, and only finds the
32:19
bad things in the movies. Like that's not fun, that's not
32:22
right. Star Wars, should be fun.
32:25
It's like, what did Mark Hamill say?
32:29
I always go back to what he said about Star Wars, which I can
32:31
never remember the exact quote, but, like, we're all here to
32:34
just have fun, right? It's yeah, it's made made up.
32:37
Its. Yes, he's not real life.
32:40
Yeah, that's it. Yeah, yeah.
32:42
I mean it's, but it But it does influence our real life and that
32:45
we have to see it through the proper filter.
32:47
Yes. And I do the same thing
32:50
actually, because she was saying, she doesn't even
32:52
necessarily watch it. She puts it on in the background
32:55
and that's what you do. You do that all the time.
32:57
I do it all the time and I don't partially because if I'm working
33:00
I can't have something that's going to need my attention and I
33:03
know Star Wars so well that I don't need to focus in on it.
33:07
I can either pay really close attention or it can just be my
33:10
comfort background sound, you know?
33:12
I'm He told me that when she watches Return of the Jedi she
33:15
even knows job has lines and I do too I am the same.
33:23
Remember I even know bib Fortuna I would talk to job at now.
33:35
Yeah I just think so. The thing I love about the
33:38
variety of stories people have sent us.
33:40
It's as small as just needing a touchdown.
33:43
Touchstone, something comforting that you can turn to, and as big
33:47
as helping you grieve, huge loss, huge.
33:52
Yes, you know disappointment and coming out on the other side of
33:56
it with hope and compassion. I think this is the coolest
34:01
spectrum of human emotion and like the best of people.
34:06
And I just, I just love these stories are amazing.
34:09
I do too and I hope everyone can pull something from these two.
34:13
Remember something by it doesn't matter if you contributed a
34:16
story or not. I think everyone's story has
34:19
kind of the same undercurrent of strength, hope perseverance, you
34:25
know, turning something around to be more positive and using
34:29
Star Wars as a way to do it. I think it's great.
34:34
Lillian wrote in and said hello. My name is Lillian and the
34:38
biggest way Star Wars has helped me is by being a huge coping
34:42
mechanism for my anxiety disorder.
34:44
Even when my support system was crumbling, Star Wars was always
34:48
there even when I didn't ask for it collecting and filling my
34:51
room with crazy things makes my room and even safer space and I
34:55
just love how Star Wars has helped me.
34:58
I love that too saying, I love that as an individual, who
35:03
suffers Was it with anxiety and I've suffered with it through my
35:08
entire life, if you can make a safe space where your comforted
35:14
and you can disappear from your overactive brain, that is so
35:18
important and I so relate to this.
35:21
Yeah I think we both are literally right now sitting in
35:24
rooms surrounded by our shit Comfort items or shit.
35:30
And what the well I mean, you know, it's like, I look around.
35:33
I was like, oh my I do I need all the I don't have a pile of
35:36
things to sell right here because I got too much.
35:38
But yeah, yeah. Some might say there's a little
35:41
too much in here and it might make for a you know a clean
35:44
space is a clean mind, right? Not here.
35:48
No, I like to be surrounded by my things but I made this room
35:52
during quarantine. Yeah, I said I'm going to take
35:56
all my things and make us a happy space because I was here.
35:59
Anyway, there were so many questions about, where are we
36:03
going? What are we?
36:04
Doing what is this? Yeah, that's spikes the old
36:07
anxiety, pretty high. When you, you know, the unknown
36:11
is just inherently frightful. And then you had anxiety on top
36:14
of it and it ratchets it up into a notch of to the nth degree.
36:19
But yeah, Lillian I totally get this you too.
36:24
Star Wars has even helped me stop having an anxiety attack
36:28
because I use a method sometimes, when I'm gonna have
36:31
an anxiety attack where I, it's Adorable.
36:35
I use the alphabet and I start, I have to like, find a word from
36:41
Star Wars. That starts with each letter of
36:43
the alphabet. And then once I go my goodness,
36:45
I go through it once, if I'm still really anxious, I make
36:48
myself like, only from A New Hope or only planets or, you
36:52
know, something like that. And it's like it stops my brain
36:56
thinking about the thing that I'm like, freaking out over and
36:59
it forces me to, like, just put a fucking stop to it.
37:03
So even though, Like a very practical sense.
37:05
Star Wars is great for anxiety. I never knew that you did that
37:10
but I think that's brilliant. It's one of the things I have to
37:12
do. If I if I'm having it and
37:14
anxiety attack, I don't have them very often but I've had
37:17
some doozies in the past and yeah, no, I feel you there.
37:22
And I feel you once you've had them, you start to recognize
37:25
when you're heading that way, and I use that technique to stop
37:28
it from getting out of hand anxiety.
37:31
Is not one-size-fits-all, that's for sure.
37:33
Mmm. Yeah, so, Thank you for sharing
37:35
with us Lily and appreciate it. Yes, thank you and keep going.
37:39
Mmm. Doing you.
37:41
Yeah. And the last one for today we
37:44
are going to, we have so many that we will do a second episode
37:48
on this in the future with these responses.
37:50
So don't worry, if you didn't hear yours, we will go over it
37:54
in a part 2 episode of this. Yes.
37:57
But the last one for this episode It simply says my sister
38:01
and I bonded over Star Wars to get through.
38:04
Lonely, quarantine, we are now BFFs and you that is that is
38:11
fantastic and we just talked about quarantine and I think
38:16
we've talked about the theme of loneliness, a lot and feeling
38:19
isolated, hmm. In many of the stories today and
38:24
Star Wars field makes us feel like we're part of something and
38:26
we are, you are part of that because We relate to it, we
38:31
relate to it and there's a community that's built in
38:34
already. I just heard an interview was
38:38
one of those variety actors on actors.
38:41
You know those interviews is to do and it was Emily Blunt with
38:43
Brian Cox and they were talking about how they had come to
38:47
realize, how important their jobs were like, at first, you
38:51
get a lot of imposter syndrome and you're like, we're not
38:54
surgeons, were not police officers, firefighters were not
38:57
rescuing people, but what they searched.
38:59
Is acting. It's really storytelling is a
39:03
mirror for people, and we really need to see that and feel
39:07
validated and that's why representation is so important
39:10
in. Yes, yes, and yes.
39:14
So you can see your valid experience, right?
39:17
And I think that that's why Star Wars is so important because it
39:21
connects with so many people and so many different levels like
39:24
look in this episode alone, how many different stories we have
39:27
of why people Are connected to Star Wars.
39:31
It's as individual as each person.
39:34
And so when you are part of the Star Wars Community, it's a
39:38
really important thing. It's representative of something
39:42
so much bigger, and I love that. It made her closer with her
39:45
sister. I know, I know, and they're BFFs
39:50
now. I know.
39:51
So they must have bridged, the Gap there, that was present
39:54
before, but now they found a commonality through Star Wars
39:58
and I think that's fantastic. Yeah, I would rather focus on
40:02
how it brings people together than how it drives, yes parts,
40:05
so thanks for sharing, and thank you Star Wars for all that.
40:13
You do. Yes, pain at all.
40:23
So next week, we're going to look at leadership within Star
40:28
Wars now. Now roll with me on this one,
40:30
we're going to start with talking about why Obi-Wan Kenobi
40:34
is the echelon of leader of a of a leader in the great Galaxy
40:41
that is Star Wars but the more you look at the different
40:45
characters and what made them have the following?
40:49
They did why they were. So trusted, why people, you
40:52
know, wanted to be around him, say Hara Leia, even Anakin Padme
40:58
Ahsoka. We could keep going.
41:00
Yeah. Also we could talk about
41:02
Palpatine because in a way he led a massive Galaxy to do some
41:08
Terrible Things. Yeah.
41:10
So you can use leadership to do good and you can use leadership
41:13
and abuse it to do bad. So we'll emphasize Obi-Wan
41:17
because we love him on the show. And he and he checks all the
41:20
boxes and he has great hair, but we'll talk about other
41:23
characters within the Star Wars universe and leadership styles
41:27
and maybe maybe will be inspired to be One of them.
41:32
Thank you so much for joining us here on the most things Kenobi
41:34
podcast. We appreciate every single one
41:37
of our patrons and are grateful for your support and Welcome to
41:40
our new ones. We are so happy to have you if
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41:47
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41:50
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And don't forget to subscribe on your favorite Pockets.
42:00
I'm leaving this it. But Drama.
42:03
Oh, yeah, I felt like a, what is it?
42:06
Like a WWE? I love it.
42:10
Sunday, Sunday Sunday. Exactly.
42:15
This is staying in. If you enjoy our podcast, feel
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42:31
May the force be with you always.