I wish they’d send Joan to space.
She's a real writer... who wrote about true things. I want her to describe the feeling and the wonderment of what life would be like. But they don't send writers to space.
Only scientists (for now). Joan Didion pioneered a new genre in writing: "creative nonfiction." Before her, storytelling and nonfiction never touched. They were separate.
She's one of my all time favorite writers. And I spoke to her nephew, Griffin Dunne, a filmmaker, director, producer, actor...
And now, he's a documentarian. “Every family has it’s tragedy," I said. "But not everybody dives into that tragedy decades later to re-explore it."
The documentary is about his aunt Joan Didion. "Was it painful for you to go through every piece of tragedy in your life?” I asked.
You don't usually see directors or documentary makers making a movie about somebody so personally close to them.
“I think she knows that I love the people that we lost," Griffin said. "We’re the last two standing in the family. I think when she looks at me she sees someone who loved her husband and her daughter. And when I look at her, I see someone who adored my mother and adored my father. We grew up together. ”
Her story's never been told. "Why'd she let you do it?" I said
"I can only sort of guess what the reasons are," he said. Sometimes mysteries stay mysteries, but also become art.
This is why Griffin was able to make the documentary. And make it beautiful, creative, and inspiring. He titled it, “The Center Will Not Hold”.
This podcast is about so many things. Joan Didion’s writing. Griffin Dunne’s career. But most of all, I think he taught me about instinct. He told me about his daughter. She wants to be an actor (my daughter does too). He discouraged her a little bit. Encouraged her, but also told her about all the heart ache.
But Joan told her, “Do what you want to do. Do what you feel and what you love. Forget everybody’s advice, follow your gut.”
I think we all need a Joan.
At least I do.
848 - James plays skeptic on crypto... with Omid Malekan & Dan Kelly
847 - The Printing Press Moment of Bitcoin with Jake McCarthy and Jeff Bishop
846 - How to Make Your Romantic Life Better Using Data with Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
Idea List of the Day! - Embracing Orthogonality
845 - How to build with the iPhone Inventor, Tony Fadell!
844 - How to find the right innovations in the challenging time with Former President of Nintendo Reggie Fils-Aimé
Idea List of the Day! - Things You Should Ignore in 2022
843 - How Feeling Melancholy Can Boost Your Creativity with Susan Cain
842 - How to improve your critical thinking with Puzzles and Riddles with A.J. Jacobs
841 - DIE WITH ZERO! with Bill Perkins (Re-Release).
840 - The most dangerous mental errors that you don't know you're making! with Sahil Bloom
839 - The War Without Rules with General Robert Spalding
Idea List of the Day! - People I'd Like to Meet While Cruising The US
838 - Gilbert Gottfried: What to do when half of you want to please everybody!
837 - Pete Stegemeyer: The Great Heist!
Idea List of the Day! - Japanese Concepts That Can Help with Self Mastery
836 - Trung Phan: The untold obstacles of 'The Godfather'!
835 - Don Miguel Ruiz Jr.: The Five Levels of Attachment
Idea List of the Day! - The Most Influential People of All Time
834 - Don Jose Ruiz: The Fifth Agreement!
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Ask Altucher