Going to the Movies with Ronald Young Jr.
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Have you ever met someone as enthusiastic about seeing a movie in an actual theater as Ronald Young Jr.? The podcaster raves to Ellie and Scott about how some films are just made for the big screen, and they all agree that, many times, the communal experience transcends the movie itself. (How else could Ellie have witnessed what she witnessed while seeing The Hangover in theaters?)
Catch Ronald as the host of Lemonada’s own Pop Culture Debate Club, as well on his weekly podcast Leaving the Theater, where he reviews movies right after the credits roll.
Follow Ellie @elliekemper on Instagram and Scott @mescotteckert on Twitter, and get in touch at borntolovefeedback@gmail.com. Stay up to date with Lemonada on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.
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Transcript
SPEAKERS
Ellie Kemper, Ronald young Jr., Scott Eckert
Ellie Kemper 00:09
Hey guys, welcome to Born To Love the show where we talk to the people we love about the things they love. I’m Ellie Kemper.
Scott Eckert 00:18
And I’m Scott Eckert.
Ellie Kemper 00:19
And today we’re talking to the award winning podcaster Ronald Young Jr. But first, Scott, how the heck has your week been?
Scott Eckert 00:30
Ellie, my week Excellent. A little stressful, stress for Election Day. I know a lot of people are.
Ellie Kemper 00:37
Yes, of course.
Scott Eckert 00:38
In a stressful week, but that having been said, it’s been fun for me Ellie, because I have rediscovered something that I used to do a lot and have done less and less in adulthood, and that is, I am reading a new book.
Ellie Kemper 00:55
Oh my this is music to my ears.
Scott Eckert 00:59
I years ago, transitioned to audiobooks because I’m lazy and it’s easier to listen to the words in your ears than read the words on a page.
Ellie Kemper 01:09
You’re also driving a lot. Scott, I will defend you until the end of time, you are not lazy.
Scott Eckert 01:15
That’s good to know. Thank you. Until the end of time.
Ellie Kemper 01:19
Oh yes, there will be there will be asteroids, there will be flames, there will be floods and droughts and all of it. And yet, what will I be doing, defending me, defending you.
Scott Eckert 01:30
Against charges of laziness, specifically. Well, it’s funny that you say that Ellie, because the book that I am reading, the book that has gotten me over my audiobook addiction and back into the worlds of turning pages. Is about a hero. Is about a hero, just just like the one you were describing yourself to be. It’s called, it’s a book called The Song of Achilles. Have you heard of this book Ellie?
Ellie Kemper 01:54
Do you think I have heard of the Song of Achilles? No, Scott, I haven’t, but it sounds so intriguing.
Scott Eckert 02:00
Well, it’s I as listeners, we have a smart audience. Most of our audience is smart, not I’d say we’ve got some dummies.
Ellie Kemper 02:07
Do we have a few idiots listening to the packet? I would say, what would you guesstimate it at 98% smart.
Scott Eckert 02:14
98% 2% dumb, yeah, yeah. It’s 98% smart, 2% dumb. For the 98% Yeah, it’s Achilles, the Greek hero from from the Trojan Wars. And it’s this, this contemporary novel that is just telling his story. It’s several years old. It’s won a bunch of awards. My sister recommended it. I said, You know what? I’m not. I’m not. I don’t know that I’m necessarily going to be into this. It’s kind of got a romance element to it. And I started reading it, and was within three pages, I was completely engrossed.
Ellie Kemper 02:49
What on earth is it about? I’ve, I’ve already forgotten the name, the what of Achilles, the song.
Scott Eckert 02:56
The Song of Achilles. And it’s about Achilles and his best bud, Patroclus. And they might kind of maybe sort of fall in love. It’s very steamy, in a sense.
Ellie Kemper 03:09
Is this? Is this based on, I know nothing about Achilles. I after having identified our audience as 98% I’m in the 2% I listen and speak as one of the dumb ones. What is the actual story of Achilles besides the heel?
Scott Eckert 03:24
Well just, I should pause and show my cards, they made a movie called Troy about 20 years ago. And do you remember that book or that movie? Rather, yeah. Well, there was a man named Brad Pitt in it, yes. And do you know what character he played?
Ellie Kemper 03:41
Did he play Achilles?
Scott Eckert 03:42
He played Achilles baby. He’s Achilles is like the hero of the Trojan War, and your Achilles heel is, is that? That’s how he based the bottom line. It guys Achilles. He’s a half god, greatest warrior in the world, super quick, super tough, can defeat anybody. And then at the end, he gets shot in the heel and he dies, which is like a bummer, but super cool up to that point. I mean, I would say super cool still, after that point, does do a lot of killing. Will admit, haven’t gotten to that part in the book so far. He’s just like a kid growing up with his friend Patroclus, and he’s the coolest dude ever. And when I saw the movie Ellie, when I saw the movie Troy with Brad Pitt, it’s the only time in my entire life, and just speaking the truth, where I have been like that is a sexy man.
Ellie Kemper 04:41
Who’s going to argue you on that he there could be no other person playing Achilles than Brad Pitt. Even though I forgot that was the person he played, I just remember thinking, Oh, if you’re looking for a Greek hero, of course you’re going to cast that guy. I’m not even sure I knew who he was at that point, 20 years. Go, who knew anything.
Scott Eckert 05:01
You probably knew. I mean, he was in like, what other seven? The monkeys won seven?
Ellie Kemper 05:08
Had he been in seven by that point?
Scott Eckert 05:10
Because, yes, he had been in seven. Yeah, we know who he was, but he knew he was. He was looking at his absolute prettiest in Troy. I think we can. He’s got those long blonde lock.
Ellie Kemper 05:21
Forget it. he’s got those he’s got those calves. I mean, he took Achilles heel and he said, what I’m gonna get shot here. I better make it look good. And he built up his legs, just like a creek warrior would.
Scott Eckert 05:34
He built up his everything. Ellie, now, imagine if you just took the essence of Brad Pitt in the movie Troy, and you boiled it down into a sweet elixir and then turned that elixir into a novel. That’s what this book I’m reading is.
Ellie Kemper 05:51
Your sister could not have recommended. She’s a professor. Let’s let cards on the table like she knows. She knows good from bad to begin with. She’s an English professor, correct?
Scott Eckert 06:00
She is indeed, yeah. All right.
Ellie Kemper 06:02
She’s in the 98% of our listeners. But she could not have recommended it seems like a better book for you to make your RE entrance into the written word.
Scott Eckert 06:13
Yeah, well, anyone who checks it out, I bet you will be on board in the first 10 pages, because it’s real.
Ellie Kemper 06:21
Can I ask you, what time of day do you read? Do you read it before bed? Do you read it in the morning? I’m because I always wonder, when is the optimal time for me to be reading, where I’m going to be alert and focused?
Scott Eckert 06:33
Because reader hard for me to give advice, but I can tell you, I have, I have read it a little bit before bed. So as I’m, you know, got my little reading light. I have a little clip on reading light that I’m pretty proud of I know I’m so sorry.
Ellie Kemper 06:50
I didn’t know you had one. I just, I have, I share that feeling. What is it, with the pride of a clip? You feel like it feels like a hack. I guess you feel like you’re, you’ve, you figured out something no one else has.
Scott Eckert 07:02
We it’s yeah, because you’ve got the secret, you bring the little light. But then it also makes me feel like I’m a I’m a reader of books, which I like to feel that I am even knowing that I’m not, I’m not really right. That light does not get used very often, but the fact that it’s on my nightstand makes me feel good about yourself.
Ellie Kemper 07:21
[…] you have, Scott, I would never, ever characterize you as a non reader. So this is news to me. If you want a non reader, look no further than me. I don’t even listen to books on tape. I’m in there listening. I’m just, you know what I’m listening to, I’m listening to Taylor Swift. I’m not listening to books on tape. I’m not reading any books. It’s who I am. There’s no going back.
Scott Eckert 07:41
Well, there’s no shame. There’s no shame. The only reason I listen to audio books in large is I don’t like music. So if you don’t like music, and you gotta pass the time, you listen to the book. So I don’t know Achilles Song of Achilles. It’s by Madeline Miller. I absolutely loved it, and I think that you will too, but we’ve spent enough time on me. Ellie, I think that we should get to our guests, don’t you?
Ellie Kemper 08:01
Oh, I could not be more excited about this guest. I love his work. You know what? I take it back. I listen to him and I listen to Taylor Swift. So there you go. Okay, I listen to Ronald Young Jr. He is such a fantastic podcaster. Scott. Tell us more about Ronald.
Scott Eckert 08:17
Well, Ronald, he is an audio producer, a podcast host and a storyteller based in Virginia in 2023 he was named one of the four podcasters to watch by vulture, and he’s hosted multiple critically acclaimed shows, including his original show. Wait for it spelled W, E, I, G, H, T, so it’s a little bit of a pun. The show is built around Ronald’s experiences with body image, health and love, and it was named a New York Times Best podcast and showed at the Tribeca Festival. He is also the host of lemonade news show, pop culture debate club. So stick around, and when we get back, we’ll be chatting with Ronald Young Jr.
Ellie Kemper 09:10
Hey everyone, welcome back. We are so happy today to be chatting with Ronald young Jr. Ronald, hi.
Ronald young Jr. 09:18
Hello, I’m happy to be here now.
Scott Eckert 09:20
Ronald, you you are basically not to flatter you, one of the best podcasters in the world. You’re a storyteller, you’re an award winner, you’re a cultural critic. You’ve investigated some of the world’s most challenging problems. But we are we’ve invited you on the show to talk about none of that you’re not going to talk about any of that you you came here to talk to us about going to the movies. Your love of going to the movies is that, right?
Ronald young Jr. 09:47
Yes, I want to talk to y’all about, first of all, investigating some of the world’s problems. Is that is cap. I don’t know if I do that at all, but yes.
Ellie Kemper 09:59
Yeah. You go in and you talk about things that are uncomfortable, that plague the world, but, but none of that is is happening today.
Ronald young Jr. 10:06
No, we’re not gonna fix any problems today.
Ellie Kemper 10:08
We’re fixing nothing. We’re going to the movies in person, baby.
Ronald young Jr. 10:12
Yeah. So I, I could, I can tell you, from the very first time that I entered a movie theater and sat down, that it was a special place for me, even. I mean, I remember, so I remember the three movies I saw first in the theaters. And I actually looked this up, and I don’t know which one was first, but I know these were the three. They were Dick Tracy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Little Mermaid. And I saw all of these films in the theater. And when I was a kid, I remember I would go in and my I would always be with my parents, and they’d sit me down the seat, and then we’d just be looking at a blank screen. And the feeling that I would have when I sat down and looked at like this blank screen of endless possibilities. Whatever is about to come up screen, I don’t know what it is. Could be a cartoon, could be live action, could be my favorite superheroes. Doesn’t matter. I that feeling has really not gone away, even up through today, and I’m 40, so it’s been many years, and I still have this same little love for just walking into a theater, settling into a seat and just being excited to see whatever it is I’m gonna see on the screen.
Ellie Kemper 11:25
You have given me goosebumps. I am four years older than you. For you mathematicians, that’s 44 so we’re of the same era, and I I saw every movie you just listed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dick Tracy and the little mermaid in the theater too. I don’t know if they were the first ones I saw. I probably, as I’m a few years older than you probably saw something before that, but that you just captured that magic perfectly in that description, because it is so it’s, it is the it’s, it’s the blank slate, it’s the blank page, it’s the blank screen, yeah, what is about to happen? And it is so magical in there, and it for me, it doesn’t happen as often these days. I don’t know. Do you remember feeling the the actual experience of seeing movies on a big screen rather than just on your television. Did that strike you as a kid?
Ronald young Jr. 12:24
Yes, because you know, and if I’m being honest, like even I know that everyone knows this. There’s this, if you watched Independence Day on VHS as a kid, there is the THX thing that starts at the beginning, where it goes.
Scott Eckert 12:44
It’s the coolest thing in the world.
Ronald young Jr. 12:46
Yeah, exactly, Scott, you know what I’m talking about. Like, that sound is, like, I remember sitting down at my house being acquainted with that in a way. Or like, you know, the HBO sound beginning, like, like, you know, you’re about to see something cool. So there are home experiences that I really enjoy, even to this day, that are kind of missing with the streaming experience that you don’t necessarily get anymore, like those little beginner things that really matter, whether it’s like the universal logo spinning around the globe, or the way the stars graze the water before they circle the Paramount like, there’s just little things that that we like really enjoy at the beginning that are that seem to be kind of going away in some ways. But again, you know, sitting in a theater, there’s this ritual of the smell of the popcorn, the cushiness of the seats, and now it’s not even a blank screen before you watch it more even before the previews they’re showing, like Maria Menounos is up there doing a movie, and like, there’s all these folks entertaining us, like, because you used to go to the movies and there’d be, like, a news reel, and they’d have a trip, they’d have all this other stuff that happened before the movie starts to be a short and a cartoon and all that stuff. And then for a while in the 90s or whatever, that seemed to go away, and now a lot of that stuff is back where we’re getting a lot of these, like, little cool snippets. And I know they’re selling stuff to us. I know it’s capitalism, but it still makes me excited that I get to watch all of this on this giant screen. And it’s just it feels good, like when the movie ends, I just want to sit there and watch another movie.
Scott Eckert 14:16
I couldn’t agree more. There’s like, 15 different things that you’ve said so far that I’ve had powerful emotional reactions to Ronald and the THX was like the 11th and one of them, we got to circle back to it, because we have to continue talking about the Temple of cinema, you know, going to the movies, but I’m going to put a pin in it. Dick Tracy, the first movie I just watched Dick Tracy with my son about a week ago. It was the first time I had seen it in the 21st century. That movie is banana.
Ellie Kemper 14:53
I can’t even imagine going back to it as a grown woman now. I mean, is it when you say it’s banana? Is is it racy? Is it crazy? Is it I just
Scott Eckert 15:03
Ellie. What do you remember about Dick Tracy, Ellie?
Ellie Kemper 15:07
Just Jessica Rabbit.
Scott Eckert 15:08
Okay, that’s Roger Rabbit.
Ronald young Jr. 15:12
Another one of my early movies.
Ellie Kemper 15:17
By the way. That’s not the first time I said Jessica Rabbit. I said it quietly for who is in Dick Tracy. Did I see Dick Tracy as a kid?
Scott Eckert 15:27
Warren Beatty. Warren Beatty plays a detective named Dick Tracy, who wears a very bright yellow trench coat. But Ellie, let me read. These are the people that. This is what most astonished me about Dick Tracy. Okay, it’s a comic book movie. It’s just a silly comic book movie, not like comic book movies today at all, just sort of stranger and more quaint. But the cast was Warren Beatty, Madonna Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, Kathy Bates, Mandy Patinkin, James Khan, Catherine O’Hara and Dick Van Dyke.
Ellie Kemper 16:01
What?
Ronald young Jr. 16:03
There’s names that you mentioned where I was, like, I forgot Catherine O’Hara was in that movie, like, and that’s before, Home Alone, if I’m not mistaken.
Ellie Kemper 16:11
Yeah, you are not mistaken, is it? Did you say Kathy Bates? Also?
Scott Eckert 16:15
Kathy Bates is in it. She has a very small part. Dustin Hoffman plays a character named mumbles, maybe four scenes and all he does. Ronald, when is last time you saw this movie? I’m tremendously impressed that you remember Dustin Hoffman’s lines and Dick Tracy.
Ronald young Jr. 16:37
It’s classic. I watched it so many we’ll see as a kid. I used to watch movies over and over again. So like, Would you like, if you, especially if you’re a kid of the 80s and 90s, there was the the theater to VHS pipeline. So you saw something in theaters. It came out on VHS. We were at Blockbuster, which, I mean, this whole episode could have been like, I love blockbuster, because you go to Blockbuster, you try to get a tape, you bring it home, you watch that all weekend, and you watch movies over and over again. You watch it on Friday night, Saturday night, you return it on Sunday. And so I know everyone I mean.
Ellie Kemper 17:07
When it do you? When do you think the last time you saw Dick Tracy was?
Ronald young Jr. 17:11
I have it on Blu Ray, so I saw it four years ago?
Ellie Kemper 17:14
Okay, well, obviously I need to brush up on Dick Tracy to confirm that Jessica Rabbit is not, in fact, in that movie. But I There are when you I mean, I would imagine that kind of movie would have a powerful effect on you, whether you saw in a theater or not. What is the most recent movie that you’ve seen in person in a theater? I’m imagining it’s quite recent, since you love it so much.
Ronald young Jr. 17:38
It was the wild robot. I saw it this past week. I cried three times. It is going to win. And I’m breaking news right here on this podcast on born to love, and breaking news, it is going to win Best Animated Feature, Oscar. And I want to make sure that y’all say that Ronald said it first. It’s going to win. It is full of heart. Thank you, Ellie, it is full of heart. It was wonderful. I got goosebumps watching it. And again, this is an animated movie. I’m a four year old man, and I want this movie did what I needed it to do. It drew together the kids and the adults, and it like was a magical experience. It didn’t overdo what it was trying to do, and didn’t over message. But it was movie about chosen family and then largely about community. It just it like it balanced. It had so much balance it in the way that only movies, only good movies, actually can. So I would say that would be my last. And you call me just on a good day, because I saw that on Monday. So that’s like the last, like, I’d say great movie I’ve seen in theaters, but my favorite movie of all time right now, well, of all time, because it changes every time you see a much better movie, of course, is probably a rival. A rival is still one of like the movies that just blew my mind in theaters, and it was perfect for big screen viewing, those big wide shots. I think Denis l new directed it, but I think Roger Deakins was this was the cinematographer. And, you know, he makes scenes that are meant to be seen on just a big fat screen, and it, just beautiful. I know you didn’t ask me all that, but yes, just beautiful.
Ellie Kemper 19:12
That is why, that is exactly what we’re asking. I This will surprise no one. Perhaps I have not seen a rival. Oh, Elliot, have you seen it? I know.
Scott Eckert 19:20
Please, Amy Adams, please.
Ellie Kemper 19:22
The list is long. I know Amy Adams is in it. I know, but I as that is what. And I will sound like an old, you know, curmudgeon, but I do feel like, you know, when people talk about, oh, you know, people are selling movies, whatever, and talking about, yeah, but most people are really just gonna see it on a six inch screen on their iPhone. It with this has been talked about before. We don’t need to go through it, but it is sad, right? I just don’t I think that communal experience of being in a theater. I don’t even know if wild robot was the theater crowded Ronald was it so well attended.
Ronald young Jr. 19:52
So full disclosure, I mean, I went to a press screening.
Ellie Kemper 19:56
Excuse me.
Ronald young Jr. 19:58
Theater was packed for this. Press creating, people brought their kids. But I will say, like, you’re so like, the movie going experience like, I think this will speak to your your what you’re saying is that the last time I remember it feeling totally communal like that was Marvel. Was probably the last time we did that. I went and saw Avengers end game, of course. And there’s a scene in there, which is spoiler alert, if you haven’t seen it, but if you haven’t seen it, but if you haven’t seen it at this point, you just don’t care. Is, is when Captain America picks up Thor’s hammer. And I’ve been a church going person my entire life, this was probably the most connected I felt with a group of strangers outside of a church service in my life. When we watched Captain America, we watched 20 movies up to this point, and we watched Captain America pick up that hammer. And I’m telling you right now, if you saw that on your phone, on your iPad, and you weren’t in a theater opening weekend, cheering with other people, like screaming, walking up the aisles, out of your seats, all of that, you really missed. The reason why we have movie theaters, it’s for that so we could, like, slap our neighbors and be like, Oh my God, or cry with our neighbors and like, that’s what it’s for.
Scott Eckert 21:08
Ronald, I’m tingling.
Ellie Kemper 21:10
I literally have goosebumps up and down my arms and calves. I don’t want to even interrupt you, because I want that sound bite to like, go out to be I don’t know an advocate for seeing movies in person, because there is something so powerful that can’t be captured watching it individually, no on a phone or isolated. And for me now, mostly it’s about just getting my act together and being having a plan to go to the movies and enjoy a show. And I don’t go often enough.
Scott Eckert 21:40
Scott is the last movie that you saw. Ellie Ronald saw one on Monday, an all timer. What about you?
Ellie Kemper 21:46
I did actually see this summer. I saw a Despicable Me. Is it four or was it five?
Scott Eckert 21:52
And you are going to plant your flag and say that is going to win Best Animated pictures that right? We’re going to have a little friendly bet between the two of you did, you were you transported by the cinema going experience Ellie.
Ellie Kemper 22:08
Just pickle me for great, great, entertaining flick. I don’t it was not a well attended screening. It was like I was there with my nephews and nieces. I don’t want to even count that necessarily as one of my movie going experiences, because it was, it was average. I didn’t get, I didn’t have, like, the emotional response I was maybe looking for Scott. What’s the most recent movie you’ve seen in a theater?
Scott Eckert 22:37
Well, I’ve got a pretty cool one that I hope I’m now. I’m just trying to impress Ronald, because he’s impressed me so much. The last movie that I saw in a theater was about a week and a half ago, and it was Indiana Jones. And the Last Crusade I saw ratchet screening.
Ronald young Jr. 22:52
Yeah, she did there.
Scott Eckert 22:54
We go. 1980 I think 1989 masterpiece, I went.
Ronald young Jr. 23:00
Good choice, that’s my favorite one too.
Scott Eckert 23:02
It’s, well, it’s certainly the funniest one. Indiana Sean Connery plays Indiana Jones’s dad. They sleep with the same woman, which is really weird.
Ronald young Jr. 23:11
Very funny.
Scott Eckert 23:14
But it was also strange. And I don’t know if you’ve been to this theater, Ronald, it’s in LA I’d only it was the first time Quentin Tarantino owns it, and he shows old movies. He wasn’t there. But it, I had never been, and it, and it, I, as soon as I walked in, I was like, oh my, holy cow. I’m like, 11 years old again. Because it’s not stadium seating. It by, by modern standards, the screen was kind of small, and it’s, it was hard, just, it’s kind of hard to see the sheets were old and sort of metal upholstery. And my kids were like, Oh, this is the worst theater that I’ve ever been to, right? But, and I, a part of me, was like, Ooh, I guess theater building technology has improved in the last 40 years. But it was practically sold out, and as soon as the movie started, it it that all fell away, and it was a packed house. So there was all this laughter at the right parts, and there was cheering that we cheered at the end. They literally ride off into the sunset, and we all cheered the nerds who decided to go see Indiana Jones in the theater. Of course, they’re primed to cheer but, yeah, that’s a movie where I’d seen it. I’d saw it in the theater. I think when it came out, I don’t, I don’t remember, but I’ve seen it countless times at home, and this was the first time seeing it on the big screen, and it made all the difference.
Ronald young Jr. 24:35
Yeah, I It’s funny, because I’m of two minds on that, like one as a person who really enjoys the modern advances in filmmaking and watching. I completely understand your kids consternation, like walking into being like this, ain’t it, dad. But that being said, I saw a hateful, eight Quentin Tarantino movie at AFI up in. Silver Spring. I’m in Washington, DC area, which is a 70 you. I wanted to see it in 70 millimeter with an intermission. I hated those seats, but watching it like in its original film intent, it definitely did something to me. I think we could have done it in recliners or with a couch in a blanket, but, but there was something about seeing it as like they intended. Now I could see Quentin Tarantino building a theater that’s like, No, I went to school. I walked uphill, both ways. This is how movies are supposed to be like, that’s very much. That’s what that experience sounds like.
Scott Eckert 25:31
He bought an old one. I think, I don’t know. I think this story was proven. Scott, that’s right, yeah, that’s right.
Ellie Kemper 25:39
There are different, of course, levels of theater comfort these days, as we just discussed, I am not a fan of the where you can order from your seats. There are people, there are waiters coming in constantly throughout the show. It’s very just, I can’t imagine anyone here likes that.
Scott Eckert 25:55
I like that. I mean, I gotta say, it doesn’t disrupt your you got to balance out the waiters occasionally walking in your field of vision and your ability to order food and drink on demand. So I take the trade, it’s even, but I pick the ordering. It’s like, I feel like I want a pizza an hour into this movie. But you know, I understand where you’re coming from. Ellie Ronald, where do you come down on the food? On the food theaters?
Ronald young Jr. 26:23
I mean, to be honest with you, I do not think that. And I will say this, that I will stare them directly in the eyes, all of them, every theater company. I hope this reaches them. You could tell them. I said this, food has not caught up to the technology of theaters, of screens. All it has not. I still walk into a theater and I can’t even bring a water bottle because they’re like, can’t bring your water bottle. Gotta buy our water I’m like, but everything about that experience, the concessions experience, is probably the worst part. And if they would just allow me to pay them $20 just straight up, $20 to bring in whatever food I wanted from the outside, they would make a killing tomorrow, because your nachos are terrible, your chicken tenders are overcooked. I don’t like that giant pretzel. It’s just too much bread. And I love bread, but it’s just too much bread. What are you doing? Yeah, like, and then also the walking in front of me, like, Scott, there’s no way in the world you’re gonna sit here. Tell me you want 30 waiters walking in front of you right when Indiana Jones is about to, like, dodge the big ball or whatever, and somebody’s getting like a mediocre hamburger, and you got to sit there and just stomach kiddos, they walk by just to get the food on demand, when you could have just pulled a hot meatball sub for weapons straight out of your bag, which is what I did.
Scott Eckert 27:31
I’m giving a new choice, and that is magically pulling hot meatball subs out of my bag. I Yes, I do choose that.
Ellie Kemper 27:42
But I have to share very quickly, my probably great. And Scott, you’ve probably heard this. It’s my it’s not my greatest movie going experience of all time, but it’s somewhat iconic. It happened in New York City, like the city to end all cities, the best city in the world. I went to see the hangover. You guys remember that movie?
Scott Eckert 28:00
Ellie. I’m sorry I so I wouldn’t expect you to have an anecdote about your greatest movie going experience. So when you started, I’m about to tell you the greatest story about how I went to see a movie I’m imagining in my mind. What movie could it possibly be and the hangover would not have been on the list of guesses. Please tell us.
Ellie Kemper 28:21
Well, for me, yes, I went to see it with Michael, my now husband, and we it was a packed theater. It’s the hangover. You know, everyone’s like, excited to be there. Within 30 seconds of the opening scene, the guy next to me starts laughing. The guy next to him says, really already, like, like, chastising this fellow moviegoer for laughing. And the guy doesn’t say anything. Movie keeps going. The laughter keeps laughing. He says, seriously, you’re laughing that loud. The laugher takes his coke, pours it in the guy’s lap. Okay, so this guy’s just been doused with ice. And, I mean, I think there was just like a primal response to suddenly being freezing. The guy who was who had been like chastising the man for laughing and now has a ice soaked lap, gets up, starts punching the laugher in the face and punches him like three times, and everyone’s saying, what? Sit down. Sit down. The put the assailant, then sits down. Then, like, a second later, he realizes I just assaulted him. I mean, I just punched a man in the face. So he gets up and flees, and he runs out of the theater, and then another and several other men jump up and run after him. Everyone just goes back to watching the movie. And at the very end of the movie, one of the men in front of us who had gone, you know, trying to apprehend the the the criminal comes back and he says, you know, we chased him. We chased him all down 67th Street. And then we but we could. Find him and his wife turns to my now husband and says, Yeah, where were you? Because my husband didn’t go after him as well. He should not have as well. He should not have. My point being we were all together witnessing a man being punched for laughing too loud. Everybody then, like, went back to enjoying the movie. You can’t do that when you’re alone on your iPhone.
Scott Eckert 30:27
Wait, let me, let me apologize. That’s the moral of the story.
Ellie Kemper 30:33
Scott.
Scott Eckert 30:34
The moral of the story is, you go, be in your house. You’re not gonna see nobody get punched. All right. You go, made a piece of your house with a blanket. Have it whatever snacks you want. But you know what? You can’t have a live fight. You can’t have Fight Night Movie Theater. But Ellie, you’re right, because I had a similar I’ve had two similar experiences like that, where I remember one where this drunk guy came into the theater and we were, I don’t remember what we were watching, but this drunk guy comes into the theater is being loud, yelling at the screen, all of that, so much so that someone goes out and tells on him, and the person comes in and he he’s trying to hide. He sits on the steps high in the theater and tries to hide. And I’m wanting to watch this movie, so everyone’s quiet, the screen’s off, and they’re like, and they’re like, Um, is there somebody in here who’s not supposed to be there? And no one says anything. And I’m like, he’s up the aisle to the back. Go up. Look if you’re looking at from the right, go to the right side. Go up. And they escorted him out. And they’re like, yes, they cheered him out. I was like, but nobody wanted to snitch on this dude who was ruining our movie going experience. And that would never happen downstairs on the couch.
Ellie Kemper 31:38
Never happened down. And that what, not only is it like a great, you know, like the real movie is sometimes in the seats, right? But I what I mean is that you don’t, there are all sorts of things that are gonna happen in human society. We’re gonna cry together, we’re gonna laugh together, we’re gonna punch each other, we’re gonna snitch on each other, not that you were snitching, but sometimes we will snitch on each other. It feels like that. Feels like maybe you snitched All right. I mean, we’re all trying to dance around it, but, yeah, definitely. But you had to. You had to. And we don’t get that when we’re all, you know, remote and online and all of this. And again, I don’t want to be an old grump, but I do think it’s, you know, we got to remember how to interact.
Scott Eckert 32:19
We have to remember how to interact like chastising someone for laughing and then punching them in the face when they dump ice in your lap.
Ellie Kemper 32:26
Yes, we’re forgetting. We’re becoming soft. We have to remember.
Scott Eckert 32:31
It’sjust been a it’s been a tour through cinema. Is the true and we started with Dick Tracy. We made it through to Indiana Jones, then the hangover, and then, you know, the best picture, winner for best animated film, Despicable Me. Four. I can’t wait. This has been such a tremendous joy for us. Ronald, before we let our guests sleep, we try to play a quick little game. Do you have a few minutes to play our game here on Born to Love.
Ronald young Jr. 33:00
Unfortunately, I don’t know.
Scott Eckert 33:04
Oh no, right now.
Ellie Kemper 33:09
I wholeheartedly believe you and I was immediately furious with myself for telling the hangover story, wasting our time that Bravo. You had me.
Ronald young Jr. 33:18
I have time. Let’s play game.
Ellie Kemper 33:32
And we’re back Ronald, we are about to play our favorite game, love it or loathe it. The rules could not be simpler. We’re going to toss you some subjects, some items, some areas of interest. Your only job is to tell us whether you love that thing or you load that thing. There’s no gray area, though. That’s the thing.
Ronald young Jr. 33:52
Cool, do you need me to explain why I love it or loathe it? Or we do?
Ellie Kemper 33:56
It’s not rapid fire.
Ronald young Jr. 33:57
Yes, let’s go. Yeah. This is my favorite type of game.
Ellie Kemper 34:01
All right.
Scott Eckert 34:01
We’re gonna start off. We’re gonna start off with a red hot one. Ronald, okay, love it or loathe it. Alarm clocks.
Ronald young Jr. 34:13
S there’s no splitting the difference.
Scott Eckert 34:14
No, there’s no splitting the difference. We’re giving you hard ones. I said it was red hot. Do you love or do you loathe alarm clocks?
Ronald young Jr. 34:21
I love it. I love them. I mean, to be honest with you, if I set them right and it’s it’s time to wake up, they do the job that I asked them to do, and as long as I did what I was supposed to do, then I love alarm clocks. They’ve done what they’re supposed to do, which means that if I went to bed on time and I got a good night’s sleep. I love to hear the sound of the alarm clock letting me know that it’s time to tackle another day. And typically, I only have one set when I have something to do. Otherwise, I always kind of wake up at around the same time. So I love them.
Scott Eckert 34:52
Only used when needed. I appreciate that. Yeah, Ellie, you’ve got an alarm clock take ?
Ellie Kemper 34:57
I got. I just wanted to comment on his response. So I admire how deftly he played the game, because at first I thought, Oh, he is on the fence. There he is in the gray area, and then, like within the next breath, shifted so hard to loving it with a very good reason why I just Bravo.
Scott Eckert 35:13
Oh, totally. And I’m not only that persuasive, because I’ll tell you right now, my knee jerk reaction is loathe alarm clock. I don’t like being I like sleep. That’s what I love. I love sleeping, and alarm clocks are the enemy of sleep. But no, you’re exactly right. I’ve just learned to be a little more grateful for our nightstand. Friends
Ellie Kemper 35:32
Love it or loathe it. Rock climbing.
Ronald young Jr. 35:36
you know what? I love? Bouldering and my friend, yeah, my friend got me into it, and I’m not very good at it. I, you know, I’m still doing the very beginner parts, and I do it inside a climbing gym, but I actually love it, and I love watching other people rock climb. There’s that movie free solo. I don’t know if y’all saw that. It is a terrifying movie, especially when you know that people have died doing what this man is accomplishing. So I love watching it, and I’m into bouldering now, like, don’t ask me to go out with you to the wilderness, to rock climb, but in a controlled environment, love it.
Ellie Kemper 36:13
I’m sorry. The distinction between rock climbing and bouldering, what is it?
Ronald young Jr. 36:18
So it, they’re they’re both climbing activities. But bouldering is, I think it’s smaller. It’s typically lower to the ground, and it’s, you know, I think, I think the, okay, some rock climber is about to write all the email, do not forward it to me, but like, I think it’s because they are boulders and they are smaller, and it is not mountains, and you are just doing like, whatever activity to get that as opposed to going up the side of a of a wall, necessarily. So you know what? That’s the official definition. Let them email us. Who cares? I’m right.
Scott Eckert 36:47
Yeah, next one, love it or loathe it? Comic Con.
Ronald young Jr. 36:52
Which one
Scott Eckert 36:54
I’ll just go for the big kahuna San Diego?
Ellie Kemper 36:57
Yes.
Ronald young Jr. 36:57
Loathe it, yeah.
Scott Eckert 37:01
I think the answer different for different cons.
Ronald young Jr. 37:04
Well, I mean, there’s, I feel like your local comic cons are worth loving, because you go and there’s local artists that are a part of it, and you can really, like, dive into that aspect of it. There’s stars and there’s lines and all that stuff, but you can dive into that aspect in a way that feels like productive and fun, and it feels like you’re engaging in your community in a way which is fun. There’s one in DC, and I like it. It’s called Awesome con, and I like going to it. However, what San Diego Comic Con has become, y’all know this is true. It is like this new like announcement machine. It’s like what the Apple announcement is of the iPhone now, where they’re just like, oh, what movie is going to be announced at Comic Con? And it used to be a place where cool stuff would happen and it would be word of mouth, but once, like, you know, the big executives got a hold of it, it became something entirely different. And I don’t mean to sound like a hipster when I say that, but like, it’s almost overwhelming to plan to go to Comic Con, unless you’re working there, unless you’re actually promoting a film or something. But if you’re just a regular person that wants to go, like, read some comic books and hear some cool stuff and hang out with your friends, you’re gonna stand in line for hours. You’re barely gonna see your friends. It’s like this massive, bloated event now, so loathe it.
Ellie Kemper 38:17
Done.
Scott Eckert 38:18
Good to know.
Ellie Kemper 38:19
I mean, I’m such a little, I don’t know what you call a little Luddite, which I am, but also I don’t is, was the Comic Con start as a comic? Was it a comics? Yeah, like fest.
Ronald young Jr. 38:31
If I’m not mistaken, it was just like, comic books and comic characters. And like, you’d be lucky to get, like, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby there. That’d be a big, big deal, right? And now it’s like you got Robert Downey Jr announcing that he is now a variant of Tony Stark as Dr do like or whatever.
Ellie Kemper 38:51
I don’t want to.
Ronald young Jr. 38:52
I don’t want this.
Ellie Kemper 38:53
I understand completely.
Scott Eckert 38:55
Ellie, have you ever been to Comic Con?
Ellie Kemper 38:57
Do you would it surprise you to know that I have been once.
Scott Eckert 39:00
I want to hear it.
Ellie Kemper 39:02
Well, my experience is not worth like it was nothing remarkable. I forget what I think I went to a party there because my again, I feel like I keep talking about him, but my husband, Michael, is from San Diego, and we were there visiting his mom anyway. And then we went to a part it’s, it’s totally unremarkable. And most important, no fist fights. So I was not interested.
Scott Eckert 39:25
If there were fist fights at San Diego Comic Con.
Ellie Kemper 39:28
I would have loved it.
Scott Eckert 39:31
Yeah, I’m riding with you, Ellie. Let’s go see if we have some trouble. Because now let’s, let’s make this old note.
Ellie Kemper 39:37
where I go there will be coke throws. That is Coca Cola. Throws and laughs.
Scott Eckert 39:46
We caught the distinction like Coca Cola.
Ellie Kemper 39:48
If there’s anything I love it is a good old fashioned coke throw. I love it. Okay? Ronald, you have sailed through this game. Let’s. If you can keep your streak, love it or loathe it. Final, love it or loathe it. I’m proud of this one, Streganona Fall.
Ronald young Jr. 40:08
Streganona fall, I’m gonna be so embarrassed to tell you this. I know what streganona is. I don’t understand what streganona Fall is, and I’ve seen it, but it’s one of those. It’s one of those memes that like kind of started, and I didn’t have time to dig into it yet, of course. So can I have more information before I answer?
Ellie Kemper 40:27
You can. And the reason I’m giddy and proud is because I’m the one who came up with this. And usually I’m not on the cutting edge of, you know, I don’t know whatever’s in the zeitgeist, but I am a very cutting edge on this stregonona. If you know what stroganona is, you know what strigonona Fall is? Strigand to fall is the idea that people are just, they had their brat summer. They had their, to use another term, yes, they had their like, you know, whatever, someone and now they’re settling in to make pasta and sort of, it’s basically, to me, it’s like nesting. You’re into your striking on a fall, you’re gonna, you’re gonna make your pasta and sit on your couch and.
Ronald young Jr. 40:57
Okay, they love it. And I’ll tell you why, so, okay, I’m excited to tell you all this, because I haven’t this is the breaking news once again. So my mom died this year. She died in May, so inside here, that didn’t mean to sober the conversation, but it’s important to know that, to know what I’m gonna say next. So I recently talked to my dad, and I’m like, and I talked to my dad actually all the time. I don’t know why I said recently, like, I’ll talk to him all the time. Talk to my dad all the time. Call your parents, talk to them as much as you can. So I talked to my dad, and I’m like, Hey, Dad, what do you think about the holidays? And he says, hey, you know, I don’t know. You know, I’m not literally looking forward to him. And I was like, you want to get out of the house. Why don’t you come to my house, or come to my sister’s house for Thanksgiving? And he’s like, Yeah, I’ll come to your house. So I realize now that I’m committing to making Thanksgiving and I’m pretty good at cooking. What I’ve been doing a lot is roasting chickens, because I’m gonna roast Cornish game hens for Thanksgiving. So today I practice roasted my first chicken, because I’ve already done it, but I want to get it perfect for this. So I roasted the chicken. I, you know, got a seasoning blend together, I spatchcocked it myself, all of that stuff. And then after I was done, I wrote down in a journal everything that worked and didn’t work so I could start doing it for the next one. So the things that I love making, I love making risotto, which is very fall. I love making tomato soup, very fall. I love roasting chickens and making pies. My mom has a buttermilk pie recipe that I have to start practicing. So I’m very excited to struggle on the fall, because I’m going to be doing a lot of practicing cooking and making stuff perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas and beyond. So yes. Love struggling on a fall this has been yes, incredible. What a great way to end it that way.
Ellie Kemper 42:33
Oh my gosh. That is, well, I my art, condolences and and that is the most heartwarming answer you could have given. And I we didn’t even know it was gonna go that direction.
Ronald young Jr. 42:44
And I fantastic when I food journal Ellie, I’m like, I’m sitting there, and I’m writing in it. And it’s funny, because I watched the show called How to with John Wilson, and he has an episode called How to make risotto, and he’s he’s joking about this food journal that he’s writing in. And I remember thinking, you know, having a food journal will probably be helpful so I can know what went wrong the last time and what I’m trying to fix, and my suggestions for fixing what I’m buying ingredients and all that. So I’m sitting down writing in my food journal and feeling like revived all of a sudden, saying, hey, I can probably fix all of my recipes and like, this time next year, really just know how to make the perfect risotto, which I’m pretty good at but make the perfect risotto and the perfect roast chicken and the perfect pies, you know what I mean. And if I could do that all this fall, like with my food journal, you got me excited at least. What a great question. Yes, excited.
Ellie Kemper 43:34
You’ve spread joy and and happiness with this answer, where I’m now excited I’m like finding that I’m gonna single handedly cook every dish for Thanksgiving. I mean, that’s how inspired I am. But that is so lovely to hear. Thank you for sharing that.
Scott Eckert 43:50
It’s amazes me because we weren’t joking at the at the beginning, your introduction all of the things about which you’re a master, and we’ll add, apparently, fall cooking and Thanksgiving dinners to the list. So best of luck. We’ll have to let you’ll have to let us know how it all goes. You’ve got so many pans in the fire. Tell us what, where can people find you? What are you working on?
Ronald young Jr. 44:15
You could find me on Instagram. @ohitsBigRon. That’s at, O, H, I, T, S, B, I, G, R, O, N, and of course, you can listen to my podcast. Wait for it. But even more exciting is we, I just took over as a host of the Lemonada and BBC podcast pop culture Debate Club, where we have people to come in and argue positions in pop culture. We’re very excited about it. And I just want to take this moment to say you both are invited to the show. If y’all want to come argue about pop culture, I’d love to have you both on. So yeah, everyone, check out pop culture Debate Club, and hopefully in the future, we’ll have an episode with Scott and Ellie.
Ellie Kemper 44:50
Ronald. You are a delight. I will flail and and like, lose the pop culture debate. But I would love to be a guest on your show. You have put such a spring in my step. Thank you for sharing your time and your thoughts and your frankly, joy with us this morning. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you.
Ronald young Jr. 45:12
Thanks for having me. This has been great and thank you. Thank you both.
Scott Eckert 45:23
Well, there you have it. What a delightful conversation with Ronald, Ellie. What did you think?
Ellie Kemper 45:29
I told you he was gonna be great and he was I? That was a fantastic first of all, I felt so smart knowing about struggle Nona. Fall, for once, I was on trend. What about you, Scott?
Scott Eckert 45:39
It’s no great. I will to sort of maybe this is too much of a peek behind the curtain. Since we talked to Ronald, because we talked to him a little bit ago, I saw wild robot, and he was great. He was right. Wild robot, another good so I’m just full of recommendations today. Song of Achilles, wild robot, check them both out. Ellie, what are you looking forward to next week.
Ellie Kemper 46:01
Scott, listen, let’s just I we can’t ignore the elephant in the room. It’s good. It might be a stressful week in many ways. The election is happening. There’s a lot going on. I’m going to tell you something really light. I’m looking forward to a swim lesson. My son is five. He’s taking swim lessons. His teacher is the most inspirational, invigorating, positive person I come across all week, and when he’s shouting encouragement to my son, Matthew, I’m on the sidelines, I’m on the side of the pool, and I’m getting it secondhand. I mean, I’m getting, you know, you know that secondhand pot high, that’s what right isn’t their second hand high. I’m getting a second hand high from his teacher shouting these, you’re great, Matthew, there, you know, do you even need to look in the mirror every morning and tell yourself you’re great because you are. This is what he’s telling my son and I’m.
Scott Eckert 46:52
Doing like this, crawl stroke.
Ellie Kemper 46:53
Well, I mean, my bless Matthew, but I mean, he can barely swim. He’s not great yet. He’s not but he’s getting there. But I take his, yeah, he but that’s what he’s shouting as he’s not quite doing the crawl swim. But I soak that up too. And so I’ve taken it. I’ve taken to looking at myself in the morning and saying, Ellie, you’re great.
Scott Eckert 47:11
You should. You deserve it. That’s what I’ll fight. I’ll fight till the end of the time that you’re great.
Ellie Kemper 47:18
Scott, what are you looking forward to this week?
Scott Eckert 47:20
Well, you mentioned the election, Ellie. I’m looking forward to it being over, at least. I hope so. I hope, I hope that my person wins. I’m going to be voting for Kamala Harris, but, but, you know, there are a lot of people who hope that she loses, and I disagree with them, but that’s okay. It’s America. I just hope that we don’t have to go through weeks and weeks and weeks of drama. I would I’m looking forward to a resolution, a resolution because we’ve been at it for God knows how long, and let’s, let’s move on. That’s instinct.
Ellie Kemper 47:50
You know who should be present? I’m not writing him in, but you know who might consider running for president?
Scott Eckert 47:54
Who ?
Ellie Kemper 47:55
Matthew swim teacher? Well, I mean, how? I mean, how inspirational would he be? I mean, he would be. And what does he say? He’s like, winners never quit and quitters never win. That’s what he says. So take it as you will. But he’s great. So I don’t know what.
Scott Eckert 48:11
The endorsement for 2028 Matthew, swim teacher.
Ellie Kemper 48:15
He’s the best. Um may we find some peaceful resolution to all of this madness, Scott. Audience, thank you so much for joining us for another episode of Born to Love. If you want to find me and you can I’m @EllieKemper on Instagram.
Scott Eckert 48:32
And I’m @MeScottEckert on Twitter, but be sure to leave us a five star review, and if you have any other thoughts or questions for the show, you can send us an email at borntolovefeedback@gmail.com.
CREDITS 48:44
There’s more Born To Love with Lemonada Premium subscribers get exclusive access to bonus content where we flip the script and talk about something we don’t love. This week, I gripe about cooking meals for my kids that they don’t eat. Here are gripes, and not just our loves, but only if you subscribe in Apple podcasts. And in the immortal words of Arnold Schwarzenegger from Last Action Hero, I love the smell of popcorn in the morning. Scott, very good.
