This episode is the longest, deepest, realest one I’ve ever done, but I’m in a really great place right now so here goes nothin’ 😌
I start by opening up about a question/feeling that has haunted and driven me all my life — why am I not good enough? 🤷🏻♂️
That’s going to be a reoccurring theme throughout the episode (as it’s been in my life) as I explain where that comes from and how deep it goes for me 💯
I give a quick update on the car and on the upcoming episodes (27:03), then I share how my Christmas Day went (34:10) and what made it one of the best Christmases I’ve ever had 🎅🏼
I also share what complicated my Christmas Day, including why I had to give my family the Irish Goodbye after dinner (58:20)✌🏼
Then (1:24:51) I share some thoughts on why we use drugs and alcohol to escape our realities, drug/alcohol addiction vs. drug/alcohol abuse, which category I fall into, and a rock bottom moment for me that led me to court-mandated AA meetings and forced me to confront my relationships with drugs and alcohol 🍻
Another reoccurring theme of this episode is the phrase, ‘Emancipate Yourself,’ and I share where that comes from and why Christmas ‘08 was the day I emancipated myself and became a man (1:34:24) ✊🏼
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to go through a divorce in a Catholic, Italian family, I break it down (1:57:57) and explain what it’s like being blackballed by your Grandma, Godparents, cousins, aunts and uncles 👤
And speaking of being blackballed... I share another life-changing experience that I had to go through when I was blackballed by my fraternity (2:21:35) 🔞
I talk about why that happened, why proving people wrong has been such a powerful and motivating feeling for me, and how I took a 2.2 GPA to multiple Dean’s List finishes, dual majors, created internship opportunities for myself, my own radio show, and getting paid to tutor student athletes 📚
Later (2:41:20), I share some other stories from past Christmases, including what it’s like partying in Las Vegas on Christmas, what it’s like to pass out in a Los Angeles church on Christmas, and what it’s like totaling a car and spending Christmas morning in the Emergency Room 🚑
Finally, I wrap up with a quick New Year’s story and why it’s one of my favorite memories (3:00:41), plus setting my goals for 2021 👀
Enjoy, my friends, and have a happy New Year 🥳
