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Every once in a while, Ellie gets to share her (singular) interest — running — with someone else. And this week, Randall Park is fresh off his first marathon. The actor and lifelong runner talks with Ellie and Scott about motivation and the lies you get told about how close you are to the end. He might even share his finish time… as well as what he really thinks about cast iron pans.

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Transcript

SPEAKERS

Ellie Kemper, Randall Park, Scott Eckert

Ellie Kemper  00:09

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  00:16

And I’m Scott Eckert.

 

Ellie Kemper  00:17

And today we will be talking with the beloved actor and comedian Randall Park, but first, Scott, how has your week been?

 

Scott Eckert  00:27

Good, excellent. Good Thanksgiving went really well. I have a very exciting thing to tell you that I’m excited about that happened to me over the Thanksgiving break, but I’m gonna save it for next week, Ellie, because it’s your turn to talk about something you love.

 

Ellie Kemper  00:46

You just guaranteed our audience will be listening yet again next week to find out what it is that brought you so much joy over the Thanksgiving holiday.

 

Scott Eckert  00:54

I did, guys, you’re not gonna be disappointed, but that’s not what we’re here to talk about today. We’re here to talk about Ellie, yeah, what did you love?

 

Ellie Kemper  01:02

So I it was, it is the season of giving thanks. But I’m not gonna talk about Turkey or mashed potatoes or gobble gobbles, although, in a way I am, because the mind has to do with birds. But I let me just get to it, Scott.

 

Scott Eckert  01:18

Soon as you said, it has to do with birds, I got excited. It’s gonna be better than the thing, the thing that I got in the chamber for next week, guys, is can’t possibly compare to something that Ellie Kemper loves about birds. What is it? Ellie.

 

Ellie Kemper  01:33

Gobble, Scott, I purchased not only a bird feeder, but a shepherd’s hook. Now, what are they?

 

Scott Eckert  01:42

What is the shepherd’s hook?

 

Ellie Kemper  01:44

So I feel like I’m a broken record at this point. I’ve recently relocated to California. I have a yard for the first time in years, there’s there’s an abundance of wildlife. Wildlife abounds all around me. I’m seeing birds. I’m seeing squirrels. I’m seeing coyotes, coyotes, some people call them. I’m seeing those, that’s about it, but I’m seeing a lot, a lot, a lot of wildlife. So we decided to get a bird feeder that’s pretty normal, common. But immediately, of course, we our efforts were thwarted, because those dirty, dirty squirrels were climbing the branches and stealing all the little bird food you’ve seen it. I mean, rookie move for once.

 

Scott Eckert  02:25

When you’re buying a bird feeder, really what you’re buying is a squirrel feeder, absolutely.

 

Ellie Kemper  02:30

Sing it okay, amen and sing it, because that’s exactly what you’re doing. Um, less, enter the shepherd’s hook.

 

Scott Eckert  02:42

I figured out what it is now, and I can’t wait to you’re so excited.

 

Ellie Kemper  02:47

It is okay, so I’ll tell everybody I did not bother to do any research on where the term Shepherd hook comes from. It looks like a staff that a shepherd would use, I guess, to herd sheep. Perhaps that’s probably why.

 

Scott Eckert  02:59

That’s probably where it comes from. But why? Why a shepherd would use a staff shaped like that? That’s the real mystery.

 

Ellie Kemper  03:05

Well, exactly, because this shepherd’s hook is, you know, it’s a hook, and then it swoops up so that one can hang, you know where the story is going. You can hang a bird feeder on it. So it’s like a you it’s like a hook that keeps going up into a u so I can hang the bird feeder right in the on the lower most point of the U.

 

Scott Eckert  03:25

It’s like a giant candy cane with the little hook at the bottom of the thing. I think that our listeners are smart enough to know what shape we’re describing.

 

Ellie Kemper  03:34

I think they know it’s unlike any shape anyone’s ever seen. There should be a name for it. I guess the name for it is.

 

Scott Eckert  03:40

Shepherd’s hook.

 

Ellie Kemper  03:41

Yeah, so I could not be happier because we thought, Oh, well, should we hang some twine and put the bird feeder out, you know, in the middle of two branches, so there’s no way the squirrels could jump onto it. Should we put it on like a longer rope, a skinnier branch? Nope. We didn’t do any of it. It took five seconds for me on Amazon to figure out, oh, this is what people do in this situation. Scott, it brings me so much joy. I mean, maybe I’m a little wicked, but it brings me so much joy seeing those squirrels trying and trying to climb up the skinny, slippery rail of the straight part of the cane. You know that just the rod and they can’t, and they can’t, and now their efforts are thwarted because they cannot reach the bird feeder. And I’m seeing so many gorgeous bird now that they’re free of these squirrel bullies. I’m seeing, well, I don’t know what any of them are. I’m seeing birds that are blue birds. They’re birds that are all together, blue birds that have only a yellow breast, birds that are maybe Robins. I haven’t seen Cardinals. I’ve seen birds that are green, tiny, not Paris.

 

Scott Eckert  04:53

Since you’ve seen all the colors of the rainbow, like your bird feeder.

 

Ellie Kemper  04:57

That’s exactly it.

 

Scott Eckert  04:58

Yeah, I asked Kelly, which. Brought you more joy seeing the birds enjoying their snack, or seeing the squirrels denied a snack based on your enthusiasm. I think the answer is clear.

 

Ellie Kemper  05:14

I think the answer is clear. I mean, do we need to say it out loud? Maybe it is delight at seeing the squirrels struggle, and I mean to me, they just represent, you know, pests, and I’m not mad to see them not be able to reach the food.

 

Scott Eckert  05:30

So is there some schadenfreude? Do they actually scramble up and fall, or they’re just, you see them sort of sitting and stewing and looking longingly up at the food that they will never have.

 

Ellie Kemper  05:42

I want everyone to know, no squirrels are injured in this effort in the shepherd’s hook construction. They are not sliding all the way down. They can’t even get up to begin with. So they’re just staring longingly, and I can see them, their brains ticking away. How can I do this? But squirrels aren’t smart enough to figure out how. It’s a little sad, but they’re not smart enough. And certainly, by the way, I’m not saying the birds would have been smart enough.

 

Scott Eckert  06:07

I mean, birds have the advantage of flight.

 

Ellie Kemper  06:10

That’s it, but what I’m saying is the squirrels being able to figure out how to get food out of the bird feeder on a branch. That’s one thing birds have, no offense bird brains. So, I mean, they’re not smart. I don’t even know why this became a intelligence competition, but I am delighted by both, but maybe a little bit more that seeing that I I’ve won in this squirrel battle, and the squirrels are, they’re getting plenty of food around the yard. I don’t know what they eat, but they’re fat or well fed, so I’m loving it. I’m loving it.

 

Scott Eckert  06:43

You’re not the only one. My father is a huge bird feeder guy. He’s got multiple bird feeders. One question I have for you, I think that you’ve already answered, but as somebody who knows a little something about bird feeders, do you have just regular seeds? Is the food or or is it a hummingbird feeder? Because that’s the next level. And I really enjoy seeing hummingbirds.

 

Ellie Kemper  07:06

We have two.

 

Scott Eckert  07:07

You have two?

 

Ellie Kemper  07:08

Oh, we pulled out all the stops.

 

Scott Eckert  07:13

Is one of them a hummingbird feeder with that sweet, sweet nectar?

 

Ellie Kemper  07:17

Yes, it is. And that one we need to get, dare I say a second Shepherd took not because the squirrels are going but because.

 

Scott Eckert  07:24

I can’t syrup those squirrels. The only reason they can’t figure out how to climb the shepherd’s hook is because they’re so they’re so blitzed out of their minds on that sugary hummingbird fluid.

 

Ellie Kemper  07:36

Completely inebriated, they are wasted beyond compare. I can’t see the hummingbird, where feeder, where we’ve put it, so it’s like you have to open the door to go see it, and I just want to see it out my window as I’m doing the dishes. So I think we need to change. And I do think there’s going to be a taller shepherd’s hook in our very near future.

 

Scott Eckert  07:55

Or a multi tiered shepherd’s hook.

 

Ellie Kemper  07:57

Yeah, I don’t know. We live like kings over here.

 

Scott Eckert  08:04

You’re like, a woodland queen. You like, reach out your arms and the birds come to you. Like, is that Snow White? Who does that? Yeah, she’s friends with the mice. Though. She doesn’t tease the mice. She doesn’t glory and revel in the fact that the mice are hungry.

 

Ellie Kemper  08:19

Touche, can I just tell you? Touche, do you guys know touche means like, well done. Like, it means like, I accept that you just gave me a sick burn. Okay? Touche, I had to brag that I knew. All right, Scott, that’s what I’m loving this week. It’s been such a wonderful week of watching birds eat and squirrels struggle. But Scott, let’s pivot now to who we are talking to this week, the wonderful Randall Park.

 

Scott Eckert  08:46

Randall Park, I mean, that’s the most exciting part of my week. I mean, I bragged about my next week’s love, but you know, maybe it’ll change to this conversation with Randall Park, because he’s one of my favorites. Ellie, do you want to tell our listeners a little bit more about Randall?

 

Ellie Kemper  09:00

Yes, guys, Randall Park is an actor and a comedian who you probably know from his role on the very long running sitcom. I don’t know why I said very long running, not just long, very long running sitcom, Fresh Off the Boat or, uh, maybe you’ve seen him in vape the office, or that scandalous movie The Interview. Do you remember that 2014 wild time?

 

Scott Eckert  09:22

I do. It made North Korea very unhappy.

 

Ellie Kemper  09:25

I can’t believe it was that long ago, 10 years ago. I feel like it was yesterday. But you know what? North Korea is still angry with us. So Randall is also the director of the beautiful movie shortcomings. And best of all, he and I actually crossed paths when he was part of a fan favorite episode of The Office. So I’m very happy that we get to cross paths once again, everybody, when we come back, we are going to talk to the very funny, very charming Randall Park.

 

Ellie Kemper  10:04

We are back. We are here with the very funny, very talented, very entertaining. Randall Park, hi, Randall.

 

Randall Park  10:14

Hi, hello. Thank you for having me.

 

Scott Eckert  10:17

Oh, it’s a delight to have you. Thank you for joining us. You are, as everyone knows, an actor, writer, director. You are a member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC universe. But we’re not going to talk about any of that, none. We’re here to talk about what you love. So Randall, tell us, what do you love?

 

Randall Park  10:37

I love running Randall and running marathons.

 

Ellie Kemper  10:43

Yeah, we had a little joke. My interests are few in this world, and in fact, maybe there’s one interest that I have, and it’s running. So we were joking a little bit between the two of us, Scott and I were having a little laugh that we have overlapping interest singular, which is running. I want to hear all about this love for those of you who don’t know, and I’ll let you talk about it. Randall, you just completed the New York City Marathon, yes, which was your first marathon? Right?

 

Randall Park  11:19

Very first marathon? Yeah, we have in common as well, right?

 

Ellie Kemper  11:24

Yes, I ran the marathon. I again, I participated. I didn’t run the whole thing in the marathon. In 2022 what? Because this is called Born to Love. What did you yes about the marathon?

 

Randall Park  11:39

It was, it was magical.

 

Ellie Kemper  11:45

Yep, get it.

 

Randall Park  11:46

Yeah, and I think, I think a lot of it, too, was the build up to the marathon that helped make it magical for me, which we could talk about. But the actual marathon was, it was just incredible, like, just all the people who come out. And, I mean, it really is a testament to this city, you know, this I mean, I really, kind of, I mean, I’ve fallen in love with New York over and over again throughout my life. But I really fell deeply in love with New York while I was running it, because I was like, wow, these people are just incredible. And just so, I don’t know, just positive and also funny, like the signs that they showed just so funny. Yeah, joyful, and that was really special. And then also the camaraderie with the other runners was really special, yeah.

 

Ellie Kemper  12:35

I’m assuming there were like 200,000 people cheering. Is that estimate insane? If there are 50,000 runners, would you say? maybe that estimate is insane.

 

Randall Park  12:44

I don’t know, but it felt like it. It certainly felt like it.

 

Ellie Kemper  12:48

I want to ask about the day itself, okay, because I wasn’t sure which adjective you’re gonna use. You said the experience was magical, and you said the day of, or you said, like the marathon was and I was waiting for that adjective, because I’m going to tell you this first, and then I want you to, because when I finished the marathon, I didn’t feel I didn’t feel great.

 

Randall Park  13:13

Wait a minute, okay, how did, how did you feel?

 

Ellie Kemper  13:19

I felt a little sick. I felt relieved that I had done it, because I wasn’t sure. And I read some articles with you at that I you had said, you know, you hope you finish it. You you were keeping everything you were you were taking everything in stride. You weren’t sure if you were going to finish it, if you’re gonna win, what time you were going to you were playing that part.

 

Randall Park  13:37

Yes, yeah, I didn’t want to set myself up for, you know, to look like, if there were photos of me be on a stretcher at mile 15. I didn’t want to, you know yeah.

 

Ellie Kemper  13:55

Can I, can we just like the elephant in the room? Can we talk about, can I ask what your time was?

 

Randall Park  14:01

So, okay, wait. So let me preface this by saying My goal was to finish. That was it. I did have a secondary goal, to not stop or walk. What to not stop or walk, just to run. That was my secondary goal. But that was like, that’s huge. But that was like, if I just finish, that’s fine. That’s not fine. It’s incredible. If I just finish, it’s incredible, yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s incredible. But my second goal was to, yeah, to try not to to stop or to walk, unless I, you know, if I had to, it’s fine. It was as long as I finished. But I ran it in a 416, and what? And I ran the whole way through, which was, yeah.

 

Ellie Kemper  14:48

Randall, so I wanted to ask, because I ran it in over five hours, I don’t remember my exact time. And that’s not, I’m not it, just I actually don’t remember it. Maybe there is a part of my pride that’s been wounded so. Don’t want to know, but it was over five hours. So I wasn’t sure which is a guys, you can do the math. I think that’s like 12 or 13 minute?

 

Randall Park  15:08

You know, that’s like.

 

Ellie Kemper  15:09

Um, it’s bad, but thank you.

 

Scott Eckert  15:12

Well, it depends how much over five hours it was. Yeah, five hours. I did it in eight hours, which is technically over five hours.

 

Randall Park  15:22

I did it in five hours and three hours.

 

Ellie Kemper  15:28

Five hours was part of what I ran. But yes, so I didn’t want to, you know, I wanted to know where we were coming from, because if you had run it in seven hours or something, I just wanted to be sensitive to that. So you, you basically ran at a fast clip the entire time, which I’m very impressed.

 

Randall Park  15:45

Yeah, I fast for me. I mean, I was you know, obviously, there are people who ran it in three, you know, and, and sub three, you know, and, but, yeah, no, I was moving the whole time, which was, yeah.

 

Ellie Kemper  16:00

Yep, did you feel? How did your body feel during it? Did you feel sick at all like was everything? You know, they say, Don’t try anything new on race, with everything.

 

Randall Park  16:09

It felt great. In fact, I probably had a runner’s high from mile two to mile 22.

 

Ellie Kemper  16:18

Oh my.

 

Randall Park  16:19

Yeah.

 

Scott Eckert  16:20

Wow, yeah. The last four miles were, how would you describe them?

 

Randall Park  16:24

Well, okay, the last so mile 23 and 24 were a nightmare, like I was cramping up, and I was like, I cannot. I want to stop, but I didn’t. And then mild the last mile was great, because I kind of I knew it was coming. The end was coming. And I kind of forgot about the pain in a weird way, because I was just like, so focused on on finishing.

 

Ellie Kemper  17:01

And that, Scott, you might not know this, but us inside NYC marathoners know that that last mile is uphill.

 

Randall Park  17:09

Yeah, and it’s, and it’s misleading, because I think you’re like, you enter Central Park, and you’re told Central Park is the end, and then you have like, two or three more miles to go, yes, like, so much, yeah.

 

Scott Eckert  17:27

You mean, inside the park, you have to, like, go around.

 

Randall Park  17:30

Yeah, you can move around it. And it’s just kind of this strange bit of a maze, and then there’s markers that say, Okay, you have 800 400 200 meters left, and then you’re, you’re like, Oh, my God, okay, I’m almost there, yeah.

 

Ellie Kemper  17:47

But yes, you enter on the east side of Central Park, and then that’s exactly it. You’re like, I’m home. I did it. And there’s so many people cheering. And then you definitely have three more miles to run, and it’s hard, yeah. Also, I’m imagining what helped to motivate is you are running on behalf of a charity.

 

Randall Park  18:04

Yes, I was running on behalf of a charity that I’m on the board of, and they’ve asked me numerous times every year if I’ve wanted to run the marathon. And I said, No, I like to run, but I don’t like to cry and and yeah, and then yeah, and then, you know, I turned 50. I turned 50. Oh my Lord and my.

 

Ellie Kemper  18:30

I don’t mean that that’s old. That sounded like I was like, Oh my Lord. I just meant that’s a lot to celebrate 50 with 26.2 miles, big birthday.

 

Randall Park  18:40

And it’s old, and you’re shocked that I’m 50 and 80. You want to end this podcast. That’s fine, but, yeah, I felt like it was like, I don’t know, a nice I’m big into symbols, and I’m big into, you know, signs. And I’m big into sometimes you gotta create your own symbols and signs. And I wanted to create a symbol for myself that remind me, or tell me, let me know that 50 I could still do anything I want to do, you know, and I still have so much more life in me and and I’m still just beginning. And what better way to, kind of, you know, metaphorically capture that in an experience than completing a marathon? You know, oh, my god, yeah.

 

Scott Eckert  19:34

Randall, because I’m someone who has never had a runner’s high, and maybe that’s just because I haven’t run far enough, but, like, I don’t know, once, once I get to about a mile, maybe two, I’m tapping out. And I guess maybe you need to go longer than that. But when did you first tap into that? And one reason I’m asking is because my daughter just started sixth grade. She just joined the cross country. Routine, yeah. And she seems to to have that yeah, and, and I never did, you know, running the mile in, in PE or whatever. So, so when did you discover running your love?

 

Randall Park  20:13

I, you know, I started running or pretty early, maybe a little older than your daughter, but I was a pretty chubby kid. And when you grow up in a Korean immigrant household and you’re chubby, you hear it, you know, like, often, and you get criticized a lot for you know. And I probably sometime around middle school is when I started like, okay, I’m gonna exercise a little bit, and that’s when I got into running. And really it was just like, I’m gonna run around the block, you know, twice, and then it would be become four times, you know, and, and, yeah. And by the time I was in high school, I was doing, I don’t know, seven, eight miles at a time, you know. And, and that kind of what’s the max for me, you know, like throughout my life into my adulthood, you know, until the marathon came, yeah.

 

Scott Eckert  21:06

Randall, I’m immensely impressed by the feat of finishing a marathon. To both of you, congratulations. But one of the things that particularly impresses me about you both in this conversation, but then also the article that we read is, you seem to have, just like the healthiest matter of fact approach to the whole thing. I, as a non runner, am so often daunted by, I don’t know, just like all of the trappings of runners world or whatever, and like not just the terminology, but the sort of attitude. And something jumped out to me, in the in the in the article, the interview you did for GQ, they said, you know, do you, do you have any rituals or warm ups? And do you remember what you said to warm up before you go?

 

Randall Park  21:57

I probably said, No, I don’t.

 

Scott Eckert  22:01

You said, well, I walk a little before that’s the best. My imagination is that a marathoner who’s running, you know, four hour marathons, has got the whole laundry list of shit that they do. And I think you may have said, You stretch, yeah. Is that, yeah? How put on? Is that? Is there a fire inside of you secretly, or is it really just like you said, it’s like, well, it’s just something I decided I wanted to do I was turning 50, and give myself a sign.

 

Randall Park  22:43

I think I Yeah, it’s, I mean, I think it’s, if it was that complicated, I wouldn’t have done it, you know, like, I think for me, it’s like, has to be simple, and it has to be, you know, something that I can imagine me like doing, yeah. And I think if there was just too many things to do to check off a checklist beforehand, I you know, it probably isn’t for me, you know. And there’s nothing more simple than running. It’s like we right, you know, like, if you’re lucky enough to be able to run, it’s like you could anyone can do it at any time. And granted, yeah, training for a marathon takes, you know, some discipline and a little bit more of a checklist of things you want to do. It’s still relatively simple, you know. And, and I feel like most things, when you really break it down are pretty simple, you know?

 

Ellie Kemper  23:42

Yeah, now there’s that wisdom again, because you had said that you during a 20 mile run, and this is something that I have, I’m coming from a different place, which is maybe a little bit I’m easily distracted, or have trouble focusing, but that you ran one of your 20 mile runs, like training runs with just nothing, no podcast, no music, yeah, nothing in your ears, just the sound you said you liked listening to yourself breathe and being able to hear yourself breathe, yeah? Yeah, that I was thinking about that because I thought, well, maybe I’ll try that on my next little three mile run, because that is meditative, I believe is what you’re describing, sort of, then it’s a meditation.

 

Randall Park  24:23

Completely, and that’s to me, like, really, I like to get high, you know, and it’s like the runner running, it offers you a great high. And sometimes music or, I mean, I love running with music too. I love running listening to podcasts, but sometimes that gets in the way of of hitting that high sooner, you know? And it to me, it’s like a real pure high when, when you’re not listening to anything. And, yeah, so, again, keeping it simple, you know.

 

Ellie Kemper  24:57

Did you say rarely I like to get high or really.

 

Randall Park  25:00

We really I like to get high, yeah.

 

Ellie Kemper  25:02

You mean smoking pot.

 

Randall Park  25:05

No, I mean running. I mean running, yeah.

 

Ellie Kemper  25:10

Because I you said it’s easier ways to get high.

 

Scott Eckert  25:14

Than running 26.2 miles.

 

Randall Park  25:18

No, I like to yeah, no, I had the natural, natural highs running. And, you know, cocaine, you know, just.

 

Ellie Kemper  25:31

Okay, yeah, the runners. I completely.

 

Randall Park  25:34

I mean, I’ve tried, you know, I’ve tried marijuana numerous times in my life. It just yeah, it just doesn’t do it for me. I, you know, and I’m jealous of my friends who, like, really get a lot out of it, but I just, yeah, it does. It doesn’t do it for me.

 

Ellie Kemper  25:48

It’s a lot easier than running, but it happens with running too. You’re on this endorphin high. You’re just like, so happy, yeah, it does fall off. Like, I’ll be running, and I come home and I’m like, why making, you know, pot roast something, like, I’m doing everything I’m gonna clean the house and like, let’s go to the movies after and then within like, 10 minutes, I’m back to my regular grouchy self, yelling at everyone. But it when it lasts.

 

Randall Park  26:16

When it lasts great. It’s so good. It’s like, it’s so amazing, and, but there’s also the other high, which is less of a, like an immediate high, but just the the feeling of accomplishment, you know, the feeling that, like just just doing hard things, I think, is good for us, you know. And it says something for your confidence. It does something for your, you know, your health, you know? And, yeah, I think those things are really important, at least for me.

 

Ellie Kemper  26:47

Did you feel like I noticed I had been told about this, but if you wear your name on your shirt, well, now you’re famous, so people know who you are, but, but if you wear your name on your shirt, that people will cheer for you. And it wasn’t an astounding, like invigorating thing to hear, yeah, hundreds or dozens of people shouting your name is you rent? Did you have.

 

Randall Park  27:05

I didn’t they, you know what? They gave me a thing to put on my shirt with my name on it. And I didn’t, because a part of me, like, thought I would get distracted by it, like, totally but I was running with somebody, and she had her name on her shirt. And while we were running together, everyone was like, yelling, Michelle, go, Michelle. And I was like, why aren’t they cheering my name? I need to hear my name because this is not easy. And then some people recognize me, obviously, but you know, the name on the shirt was something I should have done. I get it. But towards the end, I did not want to hear anything like, yeah, so I like, put on my sunglasses and my hat really low and just try to finish it, you know, because I Yeah, but it’s really so it’s just so lovely, you know that that everyone is there to cheer you on, and if you do have your name on your shirt, they’re just like, yelling your name. And, yeah, it was really cool to see. And a part, a part of me was like, I should have had my name on my shirt just to, like, get the encouragement. But another part of me was like, you know, I’m glad I just kind of did it as a runner, right yeah.

 

Ellie Kemper  28:21

Right, I also, I don’t know if you get this way, but I if someone says my name, I need, I want them to know that I heard that. That’s like, exhausting too, yeah, yeah. Can’t be saying like, yeah, yeah, what?

 

Randall Park  28:32

Yeah, and, you know, my favorite part of the whole experience was actually that night and the next day walking around because I wore my medal, because I, you know, because I just wanted people to say congratulations and show me and get any kind of validation from a stranger, yeah.

 

Scott Eckert  28:55

But the first thing you did was you put your name Randall on your shirt before the race, and Then you wore your medal, and you walked around.

 

Randall Park  29:04

And I held a sign that said I ran the marathon, but and then seeing other people wearing their medals, going up, talking to them, you know, connecting, hearing their Like, why they ran it and, you know, and it just felt like such a, you know, a community. And, you know, when you have a shared experience, it’s just like such a bonding thing, especially if that shared experience is hard, you know, oh, yeah, and it was really cool.

 

Ellie Kemper  29:38

It might be too soon to ask, but do you think you’ll be doing another one?

 

Randall Park  29:41

I think so yeah.

 

Ellie Kemper  29:47

Has bit you.

 

Randall Park  29:48

Yeah, the charity is asking. They’re asking if I want to run the London one and and what I love London? Yeah, I love London. So I think I, I’m still thinking about it.

 

Ellie Kemper  30:03

When, like, this year, like within, do two marathons in a year.

 

Randall Park  30:07

No, it would be, it would be next year, in first half of the year, some, sometime, yeah, and then the LA Marathon too is, I mean, that’s where I was born and raised, that’s where I live. That’s another one I have to run at some point, but yeah.

 

Ellie Kemper  30:23

My gosh, I’m impressed I had the any pain has already faded from your memory, although it sounds like you had a pretty positive experience the whole time. It sounds like.

 

Randall Park  30:30

I was the one who was in pain. I was in severe pain the next day. I mean, I was like, Yeah, but, but I still could walk like I walked around the city. But it was not easy. It was not easy, you know.

 

Ellie Kemper  30:42

I mean, no, it’s not, and it shouldn’t be. And that’s why I keep I’m like, I know the 26.2 miles is significant because of the run from what is it Sparta to ask, guy.

 

Scott Eckert  30:55

Town from the little village of Marathon.

 

Randall Park  30:58

That’s right yeah.

 

Ellie Kemper  30:59

Everybody’s a little sick of your smart Scott the two marathoners, we’re not sure what marathon was no.

 

Scott Eckert  31:05

Sorry, while you guys were running, I was reading books about ancient Greek history. Randall, this has been such an absolute delight. Do you have any final thoughts about your love of running or your love of marathons that we haven’t gotten to touch on yet?

 

Randall Park  31:21

I think, I think, I don’t think everyone necessarily needs to try to do a marathon, you know that, but I do think that if you’re able to run, it’s such a great just a practice, you know, it’s such a great practice. And I, and I encourage people, Scott, to, you know, lace up your shoes, do a block or two, and then, you know, a few days later, just add on a little bit and just kind of keep doing that. And then before you know it, you’ll be, you’ll hit a runner’s high, and you’ll be like, I gotta keep doing this.

 

Randall Park  31:59

Yeah, junkie, yeah.

 

Ellie Kemper  32:05

Randall, thank you so much. Do you have a minute or two to stick around to play a game with?

 

Randall Park  32:10

Sure, yes, I do.

 

Ellie Kemper  32:12

Guys, we’ll be back to play. Love it or load it with Randall Park.

 

Ellie Kemper  32:28

And we’re back. Okay, guys, we have a favorite game and an only game we like to play. It’s called Love it or loathe it. Scott, why don’t you introduce it this time? Because every time I explain it, I make it way too long.

 

Scott Eckert  32:40

This is like episode 50 something. I’ve never had to explain it Randall, but the good news is, it’s very so.

 

Randall Park  32:46

Okay.

 

Scott Eckert  32:47

we’re gonna give you four different items. They’ve been chosen at random by our wonderful producers, and you’re gonna have to tell us if you love them or you loathe them. The trick is, there’s no in between. There’s no wishy washy. You got to decide, Do you love it or do you loathe it?

 

Randall Park  33:05

Okay.

 

Scott Eckert  33:07

All right. Ellie, so why don’t you take us away the first item, 11, low lit, love it or loathe it with Randall Park.

 

Ellie Kemper  33:13

And Randall, we would welcome your explanation as to why you love or love it. It’s not just bang.

 

Randall Park  33:18

Not just love it, loathe it, okay.

 

Ellie Kemper  33:22

We need to know why, all right. Randall, love it or loathe it. Singing Happy Birthday.

 

Randall Park  33:30

Love it, yeah. Long pause though, yeah, I um. I pause because sometimes it’s really bad, or often it’s, the singing is really bad, right and.

 

Scott Eckert  33:54

Almost every single time.

 

Randall Park  33:56

Almost every single time there are, there are really bad singers. And I thought, Oh, well, that’s not nice to hear, you know, but then what I love about it is that it’s the same thing. It’s there are bad singers, but they sing it anyway, and they’re not letting their inability deter them from celebrating a friend. And I think that’s a beautiful thing. It’s a beautiful thing. So, yeah, that’s why I love it.

 

Ellie Kemper  34:30

That is, it was a beautiful explanation, and also just the root you followed during that loving or loathing was so I was winging it the whole time. I didn’t know what, you that was the correct answer, okay Scott.

 

Scott Eckert  34:50

All right. Randall, love it or loathe it. Sunglasses chains, or regular glasses chains, you know, the little chains behind the glasses that people wearing.

 

Randall Park  35:00

Loathe it, yeah.

 

Scott Eckert  35:04

I think that’s my instinct, too. What’s your reason?

 

Randall Park  35:07

Well, I mean, on a personal like thing, it’s just, I don’t like a cold chain on the back of my neck, just hitting the back of my neck. That’s uncomfortable. But also it’s like, why are your glass sunglasses so big for your face? It’s like, get a pair that fits, and then it’ll stay and if you have to take them off, take them off and hold them.

 

Ellie Kemper  35:41

Right, remove it from you.

 

Randall Park  35:43

Yeah, why he need it hang, you know. Why do you like?

 

Ellie Kemper  35:48

Spit can fall.

 

Randall Park  35:49

Yeah, exactly or food, you know, or, you know, whatever it’s, I don’t know. It’s just extra, you know, without we don’t need that, you know yeah.

 

Scott Eckert  36:00

Well, put as always, to me, it seems like, when I hear about those glasses chains associated with surfers, maybe they have a reason to wear. Maybe the surf and the sea wind, maybe they need them also.

 

Randall Park  36:13

I don’t think surfers have like chains. You know, that’s like they probably have like the more the straps.

 

Ellie Kemper  36:21

It’s like a goggle croquis is exactly what I was thinking of. And then I wasn’t sure if I was thinking Oakley, but I was thinking croakies.

 

Randall Park  36:30

Croakies, yeah.

 

Ellie Kemper  36:31

We do have to all not correct you, but we all will say, because I’m always wrong, so I’m not correcting you. I’m saying when the servers have on glasses, I don’t think it’s on a chain.

 

Randall Park  36:45

Yes.

 

Scott Eckert  36:46

Well, I’m just gonna go on record here and saying I’m the opposite of humiliated that I didn’t know the name of that thing that surfers use to keep it on their heads. Okay, so I’ll, if you’re chastising me, I’ll gladly accept that. I don’t. I’ve never heard the word croakies before, and I’m proud of it.

 

Ellie Kemper  37:06

That is the correct answer, Scott.

 

Scott Eckert  37:09

I’m so sorry for starting a fight here.

 

Ellie Kemper  37:12

I know you did. You know what? It was already brewing. You just like, brought it to the surface. Okay? Ready? Yeah, love it or loathe it. Cast iron pans.

 

Randall Park  37:21

Love it.

 

Ellie Kemper  37:22

Oh, okay, why?

 

Randall Park  37:24

I don’t know. I mean, I don’t, oh, no, I do have a cast iron pot, but I just feel like they’re just so charming, like and they’re beautiful, you know, they’re beautiful, they’re rustic there. They’re also make great weapons if, if someone were to break into your house, you know, 100% you hit someone with a regular pan. It’s like they all like a joke, yeah? But you hit someone with a cast iron pan that you could kill them, you know, if someone were to break into your house in a good way, if they’re home, yeah?

 

Ellie Kemper  38:05

Well, yeah or by accident, yeah.

 

Randall Park  38:07

r if you’re a home invader and you want to protect yourself from being attacked with a regular pan, bring a cast iron man, yeah.

 

Ellie Kemper  38:17

Correct, I will I’m just gonna point out, I think in my cast iron experience, they are so hard to clean. Does anyone else have that?

 

Randall Park  38:26

I don’t know about that. Okay.

 

Ellie Kemper  38:29

All right, you kill them, and then you just leave the pan.

 

Randall Park  38:31

I’m just talking about weapons. That’s all.

 

Scott Eckert  38:36

Now, home invasion. That makes sense. I have a I have a question for you just quick follow up, Ellie, for the difficulty to clean. Are you abiding by the rule that you’re not supposed to use soap? neither am I? I like, I’m like, what are you talking about? All these foodies are like, Hey, you don’t, you don’t use soap with a cast iron pan. And I’m like, I fucking do. I’m not gonna let old food sit on my pan for that’s the dumbest thing in the world.

 

Ellie Kemper  39:06

Like, no, you must put oil on it and put it in the oven what?

 

Scott Eckert  39:09

To each his own for better chefs than I go for it. You know, clean your pans by putting them in the oven or whatever. I’m just gonna just just wash them off with.

 

Randall Park  39:18

That’s right. Bottom line. Great weapons.

 

Ellie Kemper  39:23

They’re incompetent.

 

Scott Eckert  39:25

All right, last one, Randall, love it or loathe it. Sweater vests.

 

Randall Park  39:29

Sweater vests, love it. Okay, you know, I don’t, oh no, I do own a couple, and I don’t wear them that often. But again, it’s the idea that I love, you know, it’s there, it’s all timey. I like old timey things and I, you know, anything that old men wear to me is a style move. You know, it’s like a great move. And it’s also probably practical in some way. Okay, you know, if you’re, if you have a warm jacket and you want to keep your, you know, chest warm, it’s like it, but you don’t want to, you know, kind of make the arms too, I don’t know, too tight or, you know.

 

Scott Eckert  40:15

If you’ve got hot arms.

 

Randall Park  40:16

Yeah, if you got hot arms and you want to wear your jacket, you put on the sweater vest, right? They also make for great weapons if you.

 

Scott Eckert  40:32

Is your sweater vest made of chain.

 

Randall Park  40:34

Yes, they’re made of chain and not croaky, yeah.

 

Ellie Kemper  40:39

Yeah, there’s nothing like it. Okay well, you happen at Randall, this rarely happens. You won the game, got every answer correct. Oh, my God, thank you, thank you so much for being our guest today, for taking the time to chat about marathons with us and Randall. Did you want to just mention the charity that you ran this marathon on behalf of?

 

Randall Park  41:04

Yes, absolutely. It’s called Kulture City culture with a K. It’s a wonderful charity that focuses on inclusivity and acceptance for people with sensory needs, folks like my daughter Ruby, who’s on the autism spectrum and has specific sensory needs, and it’s just about in numerous ways. It’s about making the world just a better place for folks like my daughter.

 

Ellie Kemper  41:32

Oh, that’s wonderful. Thanks for doing that work.

 

Randall Park  41:34

Yes, thank you.

 

Scott Eckert  41:35

Outstanding. Yeah, thank you.

 

Ellie Kemper  41:37

Aall the best you as you train for your next marathon.

 

Randall Park  41:39

Thank you, Ellie, thank you, Scott. That was so fun.

 

Ellie Kemper  41:45

Well, Scott, I mean, if I couldn’t imagine a more uplifting, wholesome conversation than what we just had with sweet Randall that was so lovely all around.

 

Scott Eckert  41:55

It was wholesome, minus all of the weapon fixation there at the end, but a wonderful conversation. I was almost persuaded to start running.

 

Ellie Kemper  42:09

What’s holding you back? Why almost?

 

Scott Eckert  42:11

I don’t know. You know, everybody’s got their strengths and stretches. Ellie, what are you looking forward to this week?

 

Ellie Kemper  42:18

Do you know what that so far? I don’t mean to be like, all running all the time, but I signed up for a little 5k just a little, you know, jingle bell jog, whatever they call it, turkey trot. Some people are still doing Turkey trots, even though Thanksgiving is over. I just signed up for a local 5k I am so excited, because I haven’t run in a race in a long time, and I am, I’m at a bit of a like, I don’t know, stand still. It’s hard to get motivated to run sometime, or to do anything sometimes, to get out of bed, no, but I am excited to run with a bunch of people, and the times don’t matter. I’m gonna try to challenge myself, but I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be a nice little shot in the arm, as they say. Scott, how about you?

 

Scott Eckert  42:58

I am looking forward to my daughter’s 12th birthday.

 

Ellie Kemper  43:02

What?

 

Scott Eckert  43:03

She actually just turned 12 but her party is gonna be this weekend. And the fun thing, the most fun thing about being in sixth grade like my daughter, is that she’s got a couple of different friends groups. She’s got middle school friends and elementary school friends, so they each get their own party. So she’s getting so she’s getting a middle school party, she’s getting an elementary school party, and she we just celebrated a family party. So this birthday of hers is, we’re taking it to the max, and I’m excited.

 

Ellie Kemper  43:34

Jenny deserves the max. You will be celebrating every ounce of birthday there is. I am excited to we love Jen. We here at born to love we love Jenny. We do. It’s I laughed, but it’s absolutely true. Well, that’s wonderful. I hope you guys have wonderful multiple parties, and I might crash them.

 

Scott Eckert  43:58

You’re totally welcome. Well, we’d probably have to organize a special one just for you, a podcast party. We’ll do it.

 

Ellie Kemper  44:04

Oh, I thought you said Outcast party.

 

Scott Eckert  44:08

I said podcast party, but outcasts might apply.

 

Ellie Kemper  44:11

Everybody who didn’t make the first three cuts.

 

Scott Eckert  44:14

It would be pretty funny if you showed up to her elementary school party, because then you would be the outcast. So it wouldn’t be a separate party, yeah, oh.

 

Ellie Kemper  44:21

I see yeah, exactly, right. Well, maybe I just will.

 

Scott Eckert  44:24

If it was 5-12, year old girls and you.

 

Ellie Kemper  44:28

Yeah, who do you think would be cast out of that one? All right, do the math, you guys. Thanks so much for joining us for another episode of Born to Love. If you want to find me, I am @EllieKemper on Instagram.

 

Scott Eckert  44:43

And if you want to find me, I am @meScottEckert on Twitter, and be sure to leave us a five star review. If you have any thoughts or questions in the show, send us an email at born to lovefeedback@gmail.com.

 

CREDITS  44:54

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 am going to gripe about water bottles, specifically children’s water bottles, and I’ve got a whole take that I think our premium subscribers will be dying to hear. So here are gripes, not just our loves, but only if you subscribe in Apple podcasts.Born to Love is a production of Lemonada Media our producers are Kegan Zema and Aria Bracci. Our engineers are Ivan Kuraev and James Sparber. Our SVP of weekly production is Steve Nelson, and our cover art photography is by Tony Russo. Executive Producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer, Stephanie Wittels Wachs, Ellie Kemper and Scott Eckert follow Born To Love wherever you get your podcasts or listen ad free on Amazon music with your Prime membership.