Popp Star Talk, December 10, 2025
Popp Star Talk with Mary Jane Popp
Ep13, Lou Gossett Jr, famous actor
Legacy of a Legend: Lou Gossett Jr.’s Life, Art, and Mission
This episode of Pop Star Talk reflects on the monumental career and humanitarian legacy of Academy Award-winning actor Lou Gossett Jr. Through archival interviews and expert commentary, the program explores his journey from a 17-year-old Broadway debutant to a global advocate for "Eracism."
A Groundbreaking Career in Stage and Screen
Lou Gossett Jr.’s entry into acting was serendipitous, sparked by a high school sports injury and the encouragement of a teacher. At just 17, he landed a role in the Broadway play Take a Giant Step, marking the start of a career that would span over six decades. Notably, in the late 1950s, Gossett was offered a professional basketball contract with the New York Knicks but chose to pursue his role in the landmark production A Raisin in the Sun instead, a decision that solidified his path in the performing arts.
His filmography is defined by versatility, ranging from early "cult classics" like Travels with My Aunt to his iconic, Oscar-winning portrayal of Drill Sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentleman. This win was historic, marking the first time a Black man received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Beyond the big screen, his performance as Anwar Sadat in the 1983 miniseries earned him a Golden Globe and deep critical respect for his ability to "live" his characters rather than just play them.
🏆 Career Milestones
- ⭐ Academy Award: Best Supporting Actor (An Officer and a Gentleman)
- ⭐ Golden Globes: Winner for Sadat and The Josephine Baker Story
- ⭐ Broadway Debut: Take a Giant Step at age 17
- ⭐ Historic Choice: Chose acting over a New York Knicks contract
The Eracism Foundation and Social Advocacy
In what he called the "last quarter" of his life, Gossett dedicated his energy to the Eracism Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization aimed at dismantling racism through education and youth mentoring. A centerpiece of this initiative was the "Purple Ball," a bipartisan concept where red (Republican) and blue (Democrat) combine to support a unified American future. Gossett emphasized that the foundation’s mission was to prepare the next generation to live without the "negatives" of past generations, focusing on self-respect, history, and conflict resolution.
Gossett’s philosophy was rooted in the belief that "there is no such thing as impossible." He viewed the election of Barack Obama as a pivotal moment for the country to outgrow the "oppressor personality" and realize the promise of equality written in the nation's founding documents. He often spoke about the need for global cooperation to save the planet, comparing humanity’s internal conflicts to passengers fighting over first-class seats while the airplane is plummeting.
💜 The Eracism Philosophy
"The Purple Ball: A combination of red and blue... a support statement for a unified society."
Core Mission: Mentoring children in history, hygiene, self-esteem, and respect to ensure they are "ladies and gentlemen" in the schools and streets.
Personal Resilience and Final Years
Gossett faced significant health challenges throughout his later life, including a battle with toxic mold in his Malibu home that initially led to a dire six-month prognosis in 2001. He survived prostate cancer in 2010 and a hospitalization for COVID-19 in 2020. He eventually passed away at the age of 87 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure. Even in his final years, he remained prolific, leaving behind several unfinished projects and a voiced role in the 2024 film IF, which was dedicated to his memory.
Key Data
- Age at Death: 87 years old.
- Foundation Status: 501(c)(3) non-profit.
- Historic Oscar: First Black man to win Best Supporting Actor (1982).
- Posthumous Legacy: 11 films left unfinished at the time of his passing.
To-Do / Next Steps
- Visit the Eracism Foundation website at eracismfoundation.org to learn about their curriculum and mission.
- Review the details for the "Purple Ball" and upcoming fundraisers at inauguralpurpleball.com
- Support media and documentaries that promote hope and positive education for children rather than violence.
- Encourage local sports organizations (NBA, MLB, NFL) to devote one game per year to supporting youth foundations.
Conclusion
Lou Gossett Jr. was far more than an acclaimed actor; he was a "gentleman" whose life work sought to bridge the deepest divides in American society. By turning his personal success into a platform for the Eracism Foundation, he ensured that his legacy would not only be found in film archives but in the improved lives of the children he aimed to mentor.
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00:00
Speaker 1
(jazz music plays) Let's remember together some of the greatest TV and movie stars of yesteryear with the woman who knew them. Mary Jane Pop hosted radio and TV shows for nearly five decades, meeting these stars and getting them to share their real-life stories. You'll meet them up close and personal as Mary Jane searches her extensive archives for the best and brightest real star talk on Pop Star Talk. And here she is, Mary Jane Pop.
00:32
Speaker 2
(jazz music plays) What a special time to look back over my years and years (laughs) and even more years of doing interviews with celebrities. And, and this episode was a special one, because of the legacy of works that he has done, and that's Lou Gossett Junior. I'm Mary Jane Pop, and of course, with me, as always, is my producer of Pop Star Talk, Kenneth Segura Noll. And with us on this episode is our special guest, Matthias Blombach, film critic, and historian, MAB Hollywood. Now, Matthias, I'm gonna start with you. Was I exaggerating when I said Lou's legacy will live on for generations to come?
01:14
Speaker 3
Absolutely not, Mary Jane. Uh, here is an actor who even at his earliest beginnings in the late '60s and early '70s was making some pretty big impressions on the screen, with such wonderful, I'm gonna call it a cult classic, it, I don't think it was a big hit in theaters, but it's beloved by many. It's a movie called Travels with My Aunt with, uh, Maggie Smith, and in that picture, he made a very colorful impression early on. And of course, he was in the movie Woodstock, the great concert film. He was, uh, uh, featured in that as well, so that's right around the same time, 1970, uh, 1969. And those were an early beginning for him to go on to do many great roles that we've come to enjoy, from action films to the movie for which he won an Academy Award for best supporting actor. So yes, you're not exaggerating.
02:02
Speaker 2
Oh, thank you. (laughs) But Ken, what was your favorite movie? Was it Officer and a Gentleman?
02:09
Speaker 4
Oh, no. Uh, um, I, you know, he had such a huge body of work, uh, but I loved when he played Sadat in 1983.
02:17
Speaker 2
Oh, yeah.
02:17
Speaker 4
Uh, I, uh, he was so convincing, you know, and, and it's, when you're an actor, um, you know, it's, it's hard to be, take so many roles and be convincing where you believe that it's not him the person or another actor, you know, or, or another part that he played. But he, he really nailed it in Sadat.
02:37
Speaker 2
Oh, yeah. And, and the other thing too is, I was amazed when I found out how he began his career. He was still in high school, at 17 years old, and one of his teachers said, "You gotta go audition for a show." And he went out, auditioned for a part, got it, and shortly thereafter, I'm, we're not talking like years, just, you know, a very short time after, he successfully auditioned for the Broadway play, Take a Giant Step. Isn't that amazing? He started off very, very, very young. So, you know, this man will go on forever in all the work that he did, but also, in what a gentleman he was. Not only in a, (laughs) a gentleman and an officer and a gentleman, but he was also just a nice person. So, let's check in on a special day gone by for me.
03:36
Speaker 5
(guitar strumming) Hey, look a yonder. Tell me, what's that you see? Marching to the fields of Concord. Looks like handsome Johnny with a musket in his hand. Marching to the Concord War. Hey, marching to the Concord War. Hey, looking a yonder. Tell me, what's that you see? Marching to the fields of Concord.
04:03
Speaker 2
Now, we l- hear this song, and you think, "Ah, that's Richie Havens." Yeah, it is Richie Havens, but that song was co-written by my next guest. Now, would you believe that a sports injury led him to his incredible acting career? With movies like The Deep and Officer and a Gentleman, Enemy Mine, The Punisher, and Iron Eagle, this Academy Award-winning actor has done it all, from television and stage to the big screen, with several productions still in post and/or awaiting release. Now, you'd think that Lou Gossett Junior has his hands full, but no. He has another project that he has, that has his attention. It's called The Eracism Foundation, and there's an inaugural ball, The Purple Ball, to benefit the foundation. He has a mission to accomplish before he calls it quits. Mr. Gossett, thank you so much for joining us on Pop Off today.
04:53
Speaker 6
Oh, it's a great pleasure to be here-
04:55
Speaker 2
Now-
04:55
Speaker 6
... and talking to you.
04:55
Speaker 2
... it is incredible to see a person of your stature, the movies that you have done, the work that you have accomplished, and yet you want to dedicate what you call the last quarter of your life, and we hope it's a lot longer than that-
05:07
Speaker 6
It's been a long 75 years, you know.
05:09
Speaker 2
There you go, exactly.
05:10
Speaker 6
(laughs)
05:10
Speaker 2
To The Eracism Foundation. Now, tell us, what is your mission? What is your, what is your dream with The Eracism Foundation?
05:16
Speaker 6
Well, um, it, it was a, it, it, it, ironically, it was a very unpopular dream, uh, to keep in people's minds, especially across this country-
05:23
Speaker 2
Mm-hmm.
05:23
Speaker 6
... uh, oh, five years ago, when I started to talk about the idea. And then, when I, uh, incorporated, made it a 501 (c) (3) , everybody seemed to agree, the United Way, uh, the, the YWCA has got the same, uh, motto, to, to get rid of racism, and the brothers and sisters, everybody is, is now in, on board.
05:39
Speaker 2
We take care.
05:40
Speaker 6
But then when Barack Obama won the presidency, it came to the top of the surface.
05:44
Speaker 2
Wow.
05:44
Speaker 6
That we must prepare our American society, uh, for the reception of, of, and the reality that, uh, a Black man could be president of the United States. One of the most
05:54
Speaker 2
Well, and the beautiful part, and Mr. Gossett, I, I'll really be honest about this, I, I think by calling him even multiracial, because he is, he's half Black-
06:02
Speaker 6
Oh, absolutely.
06:02
Speaker 2
... and half white. He's a, he's a president for all the people.
06:05
Speaker 6
He fits like a glove.
06:07
Speaker 2
Yeah.
06:08
Speaker 7
It, it, e-
06:08
Speaker 6
During the campaign, they kept talking about race. He represents both races, it's a no-brainer.
06:13
Speaker 7
Exactly. (laughs) And, and-
06:15
Speaker 6
What are you gonna do? Talk about race, he's both.
06:17
Speaker 7
Thank you, thank you. Now-
06:18
Speaker 6
The best thing that that man did was stop the campaign and go see his grandmother.
06:23
Speaker 7
Yeah. Yeah.
06:24
Speaker 6
There's a photograph of his grandmother in Hawaii, that sold it all.
06:29
Speaker 7
Yeah. He had a heart, you know, he showed that there's still heart out there, even in politics.
06:35
Speaker 6
Yeah. Yeah.
06:35
Speaker 7
And all the stuff that's going on. Isn't this crazy? Politics seems to have gone insane.
06:40
Speaker 6
Huh?
06:41
Speaker 7
Politics seems to have gone insane.
06:44
Speaker 6
Oh, yeah, yeah. Absolutely. In fact, I think it goes that way, uh, because it's very funny, the country started from oppressed people from Europe.
06:54
Speaker 7
Yeah.
06:54
Speaker 6
They ran from, from, being oppressed for different reasons, and it became the place where everybody would go from Italy, France, and, and England, and Germany, and all those places. And a very ironic thing takes place wh- when you run and you create your own from oppressed people. You have a, the danger of, of taking the characteristics of your oppressor.
07:13
Speaker 7
Mm-hmm.
07:14
Speaker 6
And you have to outgrow that entire paradigm in order to free yourself.
07:18
Speaker 7
Well said.
07:19
Speaker 6
It's taken all of this time for us to outgrow the oppressor, uh, personality to be an equal country. It's written in all of the declarations and in the Pledge of Allegiance, but for us to come to the plate and realize that all men are created equal, it took something like this for us to try and realize, and some people still won't believe it.
07:41
Speaker 7
Right.
07:41
Speaker 6
But it's more, now the people who don't believe it are in the minority, obviously now.
07:44
Speaker 7
You bet. You bet. I-
07:45
Speaker 6
So we need to prepare our children, not to bring on any negatives, not carry them on from one generation to another.
07:51
Speaker 7
Mm-hmm.
07:52
Speaker 6
And, and do only the positives, so we can't plant any negatives into our children. We have to put together an organization, a mindset with or without the organization, that these children, all of them, must be mentored properly. The ones who are in the minority, who don't think they have a shot now have to know they have a shot. And there's, there's, there's examples out there, like the synagogues and the temples, the synagogues of the Jews and the temples of the Koreans, where these children, before they even go to school, have to learn who they are, what their history is, their self-respect, respect for their elders, respect for the opposite sex, their hygiene, their ability to speak, comes out of, starts, used to start in the home-
08:31
Speaker 7
Mm-hmm.
08:32
Speaker 6
... but comes from this place, this center, I call it.
08:35
Speaker 7
Right.
08:35
Speaker 6
Then when they come out of there, they're ladies and gentlemen in the streets and definitely in the schools. That's a positive step toward bettering our society.
08:45
Speaker 7
You bet.
08:45
Speaker 6
So that if, so that if we say a prayer, we live it. If we say a pledge, we live it. It's all there, we just have to behave that way.
08:53
Speaker 7
I, I must ask you, uh, uh, first of all, do you mind if I call you Lou?
08:58
Speaker 6
That's my name.
08:58
Speaker 7
Okay, I appreciate that. I feel like I know you. I mean, I admired you on the screen for so long, I feel like I know you anyway, so. But I, I did wanna ask you, Lou, because it seems like you're so right, you hit it right on target when you said that the oppressors then bec- become the people who oppress, and it's because it's power. When people get power, they get corrupted.
09:20
Speaker 6
Yeah. And plus, we, we forget about the people who put on, the powers that put us on the planet. Whether you might call them God-
09:26
Speaker 7
Yeah.
09:26
Speaker 6
... might call 'em Buddha, might call 'em Allah, there has, there has been, from the wise men of all cultures and all religions, it has been on the way we should live. And when we separate ourselves from those, those precepts, that's when we start making decisions that we should not make. We should follow the, the, the, the lines of those beautiful books and those beautiful phi- philosophies.
09:49
Speaker 7
Yeah.
09:49
Speaker 6
Because they were studied and they were put there for us to live by, and we don't. We, we're beginning to do that now, which is wonderful. I'm very proud of this country making this dramatic giant change. But now the work starts.
10:01
Speaker 7
Now, but, the, the hard work starts, because let's be honest about it, he did not get elected into a very good time. This is bad.
10:08
Speaker 6
No. But, but, the work, the hard work's really easier if you know you're doing the hard work for making something better.
10:13
Speaker 7
This is true. This is true.
10:14
Speaker 6
Hard work is when you're, when trying to climb up a mountain and a, and a, a nice mountain with, with, uh, bare feet. That's hard work.
10:20
Speaker 7
You bet.
10:21
Speaker 6
This is something else. This is resolute, this is beautiful, this is God-driven, and it might take four to eight years, if not longer.
10:28
Speaker 7
Yeah.
10:29
Speaker 6
But as long as we're going in that direction, it seems like God helps us, and it speeds up and it gets there before you think.
10:35
Speaker 7
I do have to be honest with you, though. Do you think we'll ever, ever be able to do away with total bigotry? There's always gonna be some form-
10:42
Speaker 6
Absolutely not.
10:42
Speaker 7
... of bigotry in one form or another.
10:44
Speaker 6
No, there's gotta be bigotry, bigotry so that we can compare the, the, the non-bigot with it.
10:49
Speaker 7
Well said.
10:49
Speaker 6
As long as there's more free-thinking people than are bigots, there's gonna be bad news in order for good news to be so good. There's gotta be, uh, uh, uh, turmoil in order for the good times to be really be relished. So that's gonna happen, I think, I think-
11:04
Speaker 7
Yeah. (laughs)
11:05
Speaker 6
... forever, because I think it's, it's put out there for us to, to make our choices. And, uh, and through our experiences, we, uh, have intelligence and then we, we make those the proper choice. If a child touches hot iron-
11:17
Speaker 7
Mm.
11:18
Speaker 6
... that's, that's the turmoil.
11:19
Speaker 7
Yeah.
11:19
Speaker 6
But the next time, when he, when he touches the iron, he grabs the handle. So I think we have to learn that way. Those things we have to learn by. We have to hope we've learned that war is not the way.
11:29
Speaker 7
That's right.
11:30
Speaker 6
Where, where that song comes from.
11:31
Speaker 7
I've always said, and I, I bet you'll agree with me, war, in war, nobody wins. I mean, we always say there's a winner.
11:37
Speaker 6
Nobody wins.
11:37
Speaker 7
There's no win.
11:39
Speaker 6
Well, there's a bottom line problem, which is, which makes us still how we're removed from that-
11:43
Speaker 7
Right.
11:43
Speaker 6
... is, uh, the number... The main problem is the, the planet is about to die. It's about to change dramatically and get rid of all of us because of the size of the hurricanes, and the storms, and the earthquakes. The only way to stop that is for everybody to drop all the other agendas around the world and cooperate in saving the planet, which will replenish everyone and feed everyone.
12:02
Speaker 7
Why-
12:02
Speaker 6
And, uh, and if we're fighting a war, then we're like everybody's in a 747 airplane that's at 30,000 feet-
12:08
Speaker 7
Mm-hmm.
12:09
Speaker 6
... and the plane is really plummeting to the ground, but people are still busy fighting over who's gonna be in first class.
12:13
Speaker 7
Isn't it? (laughs) That's true. You're so true.
12:17
Speaker 6
That's what we're doing.
12:18
Speaker 7
Yeah. You're right. You're right.
12:19
Speaker 6
We're blowing things up and killing people, and the planet is dying. What? That's... No, no, that's nonsense.
12:25
Speaker 7
And the idea of fighting over religion, you know, it's like, that's insanity. Uh-
12:31
Speaker 6
That's insanity. That's what other folks are saying.
12:32
Speaker 7
... killing each other over, o- o- And, you know, a- and I have to be honest about this, because I, I'm a firm believer, I believe in God and all that, but it's like, excuse me, more people have died in the name of religion than anything else. Isn't that insane?
12:44
Speaker 6
It's, it's man taking over and putting his precepts for his own good, taking something that's written beautifully and interpreting it the wrong way, just like laws. Every time man takes over and thinks he's the king, he comes up with something that's destructive.
12:59
Speaker 7
You bet.
12:59
Speaker 6
Because if it's written for us to live by, we have to live by it.
13:04
Speaker 7
You know, and-
13:04
Speaker 6
So I say in the media, which is what I do, I try and encourage television and movies and documentaries to put those films on the, on the screen.
13:12
Speaker 7
Good for you.
13:12
Speaker 6
It will help our people and our children know that there's, there's no such thing as possible. There's a better way to live. Uh, we've got enough violence on our screen.
13:21
Speaker 7
It's, and it's-
13:22
Speaker 6
It's all over the place.
13:22
Speaker 7
It's not only-
13:23
Speaker 6
That's because it makes money, but we need some stories like they used to have.
13:27
Speaker 7
Exactly, something that gives hope.
13:30
Speaker 6
That's right.
13:31
Speaker 7
We don't have any h- It seems like even the young people... I live close to a high school, uh, up in Northern California, and I see these kids coming out, Lou, and they're sad. Uh, they wear darkles-
13:42
Speaker 6
Nobody taught 'em.
13:42
Speaker 7
No, and their heads are held down. There's no spirit left anymore. It's terrible.
13:47
Speaker 6
Nobody taught 'em. Nobody taught 'em those basics. I learned it back in the, the, the day in the neighborhoods which were clean and multiracial-
13:55
Speaker 7
Yeah.
13:55
Speaker 6
... and an extended family. Nobody could do bad. Everybody knew who did that bad, so it was tough.
13:59
Speaker 7
Yeah.
14:00
Speaker 6
Now they're running the streets.
14:02
Speaker 7
Yeah. Yeah. You're right.
14:03
Speaker 6
They've gotta take, take responsibility. It's a, it's a responsibility with a capital R.
14:07
Speaker 7
I mean, I was raised in-
14:08
Speaker 6
With my grandchildren, I want the planet to be better for them.
14:10
Speaker 7
Exactly. Exa- I was raised on the South Side of Chicago. It was tough. It was a tough area.
14:15
Speaker 6
I know it had to be tough. Yeah.
14:16
Speaker 7
But you know what? It wasn't bad. Everybody looked out for each other.
14:20
Speaker 6
That's right. That's right.
14:23
Speaker 7
Amazing.
14:23
Speaker 6
So that's where we gotta get back to.
14:25
Speaker 7
Yeah.
14:25
Speaker 6
That's really one nation under God indivisible, the way it's written.
14:28
Speaker 7
Yeah.
14:29
Speaker 6
We don't have to enhance it and embellish it, just the way it's writ-
14:31
Speaker 7
Yeah. Keep it simple, keep it pure.
14:34
Speaker 6
That's right. So maybe it's a test of the... but the foundation is a reminder that perhaps it'd be easier when we resurrect ourselves to go back to the basics.
14:42
Speaker 7
There you go.
14:43
Speaker 6
It's already there. Let's just live them.
14:45
Speaker 7
Yeah. We get into such a complicated whirl, Lou, that we lose sight-
14:50
Speaker 6
Yeah, I know that.
14:50
Speaker 7
... of the basics.
14:51
Speaker 6
The magic word, loophole.
14:53
Speaker 7
There you... (laughs) That's true.
14:55
Speaker 6
(laughs)
14:55
Speaker 7
That's true.
14:57
Speaker 3
(instrumental music plays) Hang in there with us 'cause we got more to come.
15:03
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19:04
Speaker 2
(instrumental music plays) I'm Mary Jane Pop, host of Pop Talk, asking, are you searching for the truth? On Pop Talk, my guests and I love to delve into stories that will make your life better, happier, perhaps even more resilient. Come join me as I take you on a journey to meet the best and brightest minds in health, wealth, and hope. I invite you to meet some gutsy people who have experienced the worlds of the unknown. They've gone beyond this life, from ghosts to the supernatural and unexplained. We need to know, are we alone? Do you believe in UFOs and aliens and the paranormal? What about the ancients, shamans, and psychics? And how about your dreams? On Pop Talk, we ask the hard questions, and we seek out the answers you want to know together on Pop Talk. We look for more than just what we see and hear. We look beyond our reality. Give Pop Talk a listen on the BBS Radio Network Station 1. Let's explore this world and who knows what we will discover together. It's Pop Talk.
20:03
Speaker 2
And you know we do talk. A- and gentlemen, I gotta ask you, some of the things that he was saying, aren't we still experiencing that today? Isn't that ama- Ken, what do you think? We're talking about power and, and overtaking and all this, and then going, "My gosh, he's talking about what's happening now."
20:23
Speaker 4
Y- you know, in, uh, almost every interview that we do, that's true.
20:29
Speaker 2
Yeah.
20:29
Speaker 4
It, uh, uh, the subject is current, you know?
20:32
Speaker 2
Yes.
20:32
Speaker 4
And, uh, um, going back to him playing him Sadat in that miniseries, I just, you know, there were politics and the Russians and, and he was so believable 'cause I, I think he really... He would... believed the character that he was playing.
20:51
Speaker 2
Yes.
20:51
Speaker 4
And he, he really lived the characters. I don't know, uh, you know, method, uh, you know, actors have methods, but, uh, I don't know what his method was. I don't know if you discussed it, but, uh, he was a great, great actor.
21:05
Speaker 2
Oh, absolutely.
21:06
Speaker 4
And it's, uh, he didn't get enough credit. He did well when, I think, uh, a Golden Globe. Matthias, I don't know if, if he did, but I think he won that for Sadat.
21:16
Speaker 3
He did.
21:17
Speaker 4
Yeah. And, uh-
21:19
Speaker 2
Yeah.
21:19
Speaker 4
... I just remember that miniseries, um, for many reasons. But, uh, we won't, we won't, won't go into that.
21:26
Speaker 2
And he had such a varied career, a musician. Unbelievable. I didn't know anything about his (laughs) musician background.
21:32
Speaker 4
Well-
21:32
Speaker 2
Uh, sort of like you, Ken. You know, we're doing this show, but you're a musician too. So (laughs) it's like all ties together.
21:39
Speaker 4
Well, let... I, I wanna clarify something. Uh-
21:42
Speaker 2
Yeah.
21:42
Speaker 4
... I'm not a musician.
21:44
Speaker 2
Oh, what are you?
21:45
Speaker 4
I'm more... I'm an artist that can formulate something that I feel, and then I let the musicians and the artists do it for me.
21:56
Speaker 2
(laughs) He's a musician, Matthias-
21:58
Speaker 4
(laughs)
21:59
Speaker 2
... let me tell you right now.
22:00
Speaker 4
Well, I'll, I'll tell you-
22:01
Speaker 2
What-
22:01
Speaker 4
... a story later about how, how much a musician I am.
22:05
Speaker 2
Okay. (laughs)
22:05
Speaker 4
Go ahead.
22:06
Speaker 2
Sounds good. This, uh... One other thing that I thought was funny, 'cause so many things he- this man has done. I mean, at the end of the 1950s, this is way back, uh, pretty tall guy at that time, six-foot-one, um, he was actually offered the opportunity to play for the New York Knicks, and he turned down the offer, uh, to instead accept the role in A Raisin in the Sun. So you never know what's gonna happen in your life. And Matthias, you too. I mean, uh, just knowing the variety of this man is incredible.
22:37
Speaker 3
Absolutely. Uh, incidentally, Kenneth, he won the Golden Globe for the Josephine Baker story, uh, which is-
22:43
Speaker 2
Oh.
22:43
Speaker 3
... he won a Golden Globe for that. But, uh, in 1961, the, the, uh, the picture you're talking about with Sidney Poitier, A Raisin in the Sun, was his first major motion picture. So I would understand why he would, of course, turned down (laughs) joining a famous baseball team 'cause it was his first movie. And I think his true love was in acting and performance, not so much baseball. But, I mean, I'm not saying that he didn't like baseball. Obviously, uh, that's quite an interesting offer.
23:10
Speaker 2
Absolutely. It's just, it's amazing learning about these people and their backgrounds and, you know, what they had to go through. And, you know, we always look at them on the big screen or the small screen, and we think, "Oh my gosh, it's so great. They're famous and all that." Um, but we don't know all the stories behind them. Right, Ken?
23:29
Speaker 4
No. And Matthias, uh, the Knicks are a basketball team. (laughs)
23:33
Speaker 2
Yeah, that's what-
23:34
Speaker 3
Oh!
23:34
Speaker 2
I was just... Oh, thank you, Ken, 'cause I was thinking, "Was it... Wasn't that basketball?" (laughs)
23:37
Speaker 3
It's all right. It's all right.
23:38
Speaker 2
I'm glad you clarified that. (laughs) Thank you.
23:41
Speaker 3
Obviously. You can see my handicap.
23:43
Speaker 4
Mm-hmm.
23:44
Speaker 2
(laughs)
23:45
Speaker 4
I, I wouldn't challenge you on anything on film.
23:48
Speaker 2
No, no, no. Absolutely none.
23:50
Speaker 3
(laughs)
23:50
Speaker 2
None. This man knows it all and more. Uh-
23:54
Speaker 4
Right.
23:54
Speaker 2
... he also, which I thought was interesting, uh, struggled with a very debilitating il- disease in the 1990s and even into the early, uh, 2000s. And he was actually given a prognosis of six months to live from a doctor, uh, at one stage. And then in 2001, he learned that his illness was actually due to toxic mold in his Malibu home.... which I thought was incredible. Then in 2010, uh, he announced that he had prostate cancer. So I mean, he's been through that. He added that the disease was caught at early stages, he expected to make a full recovery. Then in 2020, he was hospitalized in Georgia with COVID, COVID-19. Um, he eventually passed away, of course, from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at a rehabilitation center in Santa Monica. And, um, he died at the age of 87, heart failure and atrial fibrillation. And I, so many of the actors are now talking about afib, atrial fibrillation, and be very, very careful, check things out to make sure that everything is going to be okay.
25:07
Speaker 2
But, you know, the one thing that I found out about his racism foundation and the Purple Ball, I was more curious, um, about the ball that he spoke of. So I asked Lou to tell me more about the Purple Ball. (instrumental music plays)
25:26
Speaker 6
The Purple Ball was inspired by, by, by all that concept that we've just spoken about. And he has the same concept as me. His favorite color now is purple. It's a combination of red and blue, Republican and Democrat.
25:38
Speaker 2
I love it.
25:40
Speaker 6
And, uh, so we have from the, uh, movie society, from the show business society, want to declare our support in whatever he wants us to do. It's a, it's a tight little classy ball of, of 250 people at the Mayfair Hotel. And it's a sit-down dinner, and it's, and it's a, and it's endorsed by Moet, Moet from Moet Chandon. And it's an opportunity to, to make a, a support statement to him. I will have more fundraisers at a more reasonable price in the not too distant future across the country, um, by helping the, some of the programs that are doing well anyway, designating them as official Schomburg Centers, where you, you have this kind of curriculum. My partner in writing the curriculum is Wheelock College in Massachusetts, because they have a diverse faculty and have experts in all those subjects. Conflict, uh, uh, resolution, um, self, self-esteem, all of that. So not only could it be a center, a physical center, but it's also a curriculum. Uh, like a synagogue, for that matter.
26:40
Speaker 2
I love it. That is-
26:40
Speaker 6
Where these children, apart, aside from the educational system-
26:43
Speaker 2
Uh-huh.
26:44
Speaker 6
... are much more prepared to learn when they go.
26:48
Speaker 2
And isn't that-
26:48
Speaker 6
So a teacher doesn't have to be a policeman or a mother or father. They're just teachers.
26:53
Speaker 2
The key is education. We have to-
26:56
Speaker 6
Education.
26:57
Speaker 2
It's the key.
26:57
Speaker 6
Of all kinds.
26:58
Speaker 2
It's the key.
26:58
Speaker 6
Positive education.
27:00
Speaker 2
Because we can grow up in our own little world, but we don't know what the rest of the world is like. And if-
27:06
Speaker 6
Yeah.
27:06
Speaker 2
And if we don't know-
27:07
Speaker 6
But you get examples of some of our athletes who get into trouble.
27:10
Speaker 2
Yes.
27:11
Speaker 6
You look at their, their childhood. There was nobody there to teach them the right from wrong.
27:15
Speaker 2
Yeah. And money doesn't do it, that's for darn sure.
27:19
Speaker 6
That's what they think. That's what they think.
27:22
Speaker 2
The more money they-
27:23
Speaker 6
Those responsibilities for a mature person to be positively effective for the next generation.
27:28
Speaker 2
Yeah. It is so important-
27:30
Speaker 6
That's when we think that when you get to my age and you've done what I've done, that's a legacy. That's something else.
27:34
Speaker 2
You bet.
27:35
Speaker 6
That's what I think we should all be thinking in those terms, making sure that the next generation has it better.
27:41
Speaker 2
What we have to do is get away from, "I'm successful now, I can buy everything now, and I'm not looking forward to what's gonna be gone, what's gonna be left after I'm gone."
27:50
Speaker 6
And most of those rich folks aren't all that happy.
27:52
Speaker 2
No, I believe that. I believe that.
27:57
Speaker 6
I do too.
27:57
Speaker 2
Hang in there with us, 'cause we got more to come.
28:01
Speaker 8
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29:00
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30:00
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30:25
Speaker 9
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30:35
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31:00
Speaker 7
(instrumental music plays) I'm Mary Jane Poppe, host of Pop Talk, asking, are you searching for the truth? On Pop Talk, my guests and I love to delve into stories that will make your life better, happier, perhaps even more resilient. Come join me as I take you on a journey to meet the best and brightest minds in health, wealth, and hope. I invite you to meet some gutsy people who have experienced the worlds of the unknown. They've gone beyond this life, from ghosts to the supernatural and unexplained. We need to know, are we alone? Do you believe in UFOs and aliens and the paranormal? What about the ancients, shamans, and psychics? And how about your dreams? On Pop Talk, we ask the hard questions, and we seek out the answers you want to know together on Pop Talk. We look for more than just what we see and hear. We look beyond our reality. Give Pop Talk a listen on the BBS Radio Network Station One. Let's explore this world and who knows what we will discover together.
31:56
Speaker 6
Amore.
32:00
Speaker 12
And here she is, Mary Jane Poppe.
32:04
Speaker 7
It's amazing. It- We need more people like you, Lou, who step up-
32:09
Speaker 6
There are. There are.
32:09
Speaker 7
... to the plate. Ye- But, you know, they don't come out enough and speak out enough about it.
32:13
Speaker 6
Well, I'm calling them. I'm calling them. Come on out. It's time. Well, they did show up when I came out to vote for the right man, didn't they?
32:20
Speaker 7
Yeah, that's true. (laughs) That's true. You're right.
32:22
Speaker 6
So now that you're out, I got something to tell you. (laughs)
32:25
Speaker 7
(laughs) I love it. You know, when you talk about, uh, the right man, it- we needed change. We do need change. I mean, there's no-
32:31
Speaker 6
Yeah.
32:31
Speaker 7
... doubt in the mind. And I think in the minds of all the- this country that we do need change. But we need change all over the world. Everyone's gonna have to make changes.
32:38
Speaker 6
Well, we, we affect the world.
32:39
Speaker 7
Yeah. True.
32:41
Speaker 6
We affect the world, but our backyard's gotta be clean.
32:43
Speaker 7
Yeah. And, and, but, and it's not. I mean, we know we've got problems. We're still the best country in the whole world, but we got problems.
32:49
Speaker 6
Tell me about it.
32:50
Speaker 7
We have to do-
32:50
Speaker 6
I'm very proud of this country, very proud.
32:52
Speaker 7
And that's the other thing we can't lose sight of, uh, because too many people will say, "Oh, well, we're all bad. Everything's b-" No. You know, you gotta take-
32:59
Speaker 6
No, that's not it.
32:59
Speaker 7
You gotta- You can't throw the baby out with the bath water, for gosh sakes.
33:02
Speaker 6
Uh, no, you can't do that. You can't do that.
33:04
Speaker 7
Yeah.
33:05
Speaker 6
There's a humorous, uh, anecdote going around about Michelle Obama.
33:08
Speaker 7
Oh, really?
33:08
Speaker 6
That she went to the paint shop and ordered, uh, 15,000 cans of beige paint.
33:13
Speaker 7
(laughs)
33:13
Speaker 6
I was wondering what she was gonna do with the beige paint in the White House. (laughs)
33:18
Speaker 7
(laughs) Very good. This is good.
33:21
Speaker 6
(laughs)
33:21
Speaker 7
Now, you say you're gonna have some more of these fundraisers along the way?
33:25
Speaker 6
Yeah, along- Uh, well, this was the first one to, to, to, to, uh-
33:28
Speaker 7
Kick off?
33:28
Speaker 6
... re- remind people about it.
33:30
Speaker 7
Uh-huh.
33:30
Speaker 6
Then we're gonna have some nice little c- concerts and, and boxing matches, and, and some of the ballgames will be devoted to the Erasism Foun- Erasism Foundation-
33:39
Speaker 7
Now, you're gonna do this all over the country?
33:40
Speaker 6
... uh, through the course of the year.
33:41
Speaker 7
Oh, good.
33:42
Speaker 6
Excuse me?
33:42
Speaker 7
You can do this all over the country?
33:44
Speaker 6
As much as possible, yeah.
33:46
Speaker 7
Oh, that's good.
33:46
Speaker 6
I'm getting the NBA hopefully to devote one game a year, the NBA, uh, the, the baseball, the football, one game.
33:52
Speaker 7
Great. Oh, that's excellent. Good deal. Now-
33:57
Speaker 6
And have them finance and help, 'cause they're doing, they're doing it anyway. This really takes a big bite out of their, their, their helping with children. This is, uh, for the babies.
34:05
Speaker 7
Now, I need to ask you, because I admire your work, your dedication, your life's work, and what you're trying to do. What is your philosophy of life? If you could tell me w- you know, what is, what is Louis Gossett Junior all about?
34:19
Speaker 6
My philosophy of life is the same one I give to children. I say it three day- three times every day. There's no such thing as impossible. Uh, and, and there's gotta be faith. I have faith in God, which I was taught. I've gotten away from God, and it wasn't good. I want... I had my choices. We have our choices.
34:35
Speaker 7
Mm-hmm.
34:35
Speaker 6
And when we want to grow, there's absolutely no such thing as impossible.
34:41
Speaker 7
Okay. I love it. Oh, that is-
34:43
Speaker 6
So when you wake up with that, every thought, it's possible.
34:48
Speaker 7
(laughs)
34:48
Speaker 6
If you can dream it, you can do it.
34:50
Speaker 7
And, and you have to believe, you know. We've lost belief in so much. And maybe, a- a- and I'm not knocking-
34:56
Speaker 6
Who needs faith?
34:56
Speaker 7
Well, it- it's faith and everything, because we've gotten so much to having everybody tell us what to do or how to live or how-
35:03
Speaker 6
Right.
35:03
Speaker 7
You gotta believe in yourself first.
35:06
Speaker 6
Yeah. So you gotta e- eliminate the fear, 'cause when there's fear, there's no faith.
35:11
Speaker 7
Yeah.
35:13
Speaker 6
And, uh, there's a lot of people not in the mix, especially in our hoods-
35:16
Speaker 7
Yeah.
35:16
Speaker 6
... that don't think that way.
35:18
Speaker 7
It's true, 'cause like you said-
35:19
Speaker 6
So really, they're the ones that benefit most, but all children will, eventually benefit the most.
35:23
Speaker 7
Well-
35:23
Speaker 6
But those who don't think there's any hope is, is the key. That's my target.
35:28
Speaker 7
Now, you didn't grow up in a, in a terrific neighborhood either, did you?
35:32
Speaker 6
It was poor, but it was multiracial. It took a long time for me to know about racism. I was maybe 19 years old.
35:37
Speaker 7
Wow.
35:38
Speaker 6
When I first got, uh, confronted with it was in, was in the '60s, in the late '60s in, in California, uh, when I was, uh, the first A- African American to, to be, uh, put in the Beverly Hills Hotel.
35:52
Speaker 7
Ah.
35:52
Speaker 6
Uh, others were, uh, African diplomats.
35:55
Speaker 7
Uh-huh.
35:56
Speaker 6
And, uh, and the Maria Bart's Agency done, they, they just gave me a great car and put me in a, in a beautiful suite in the, and, uh, I was in the Beverly Hills Hotel. And I, I ate too much dinner, so I went to walk to see the movie stars' homes, and they handcuffed me to a tree for two hours, told me I can't do that.
36:10
Speaker 7
No way.
36:11
Speaker 6
That was my first opposite of racism.
36:14
Speaker 7
My God. Isn't-
36:16
Speaker 6
How, how Hollywood has changed since then.
36:17
Speaker 7
We've made, well, we've made some strides, thank God, you know.
36:20
Speaker 6
Oh, my God, have we? In a very short while, in a very short... All of us.
36:24
Speaker 7
And lot-
36:24
Speaker 6
We've grown up very quickly.
36:26
Speaker 7
And a whole lot more to come, right?
36:28
Speaker 6
Oh, there's, there's always gonna be a lot to come. It's infinity.As long as we go in that direction.
36:34
Speaker 7
Keep, keep the nose pointed in the right direction, and you'll get there. It's-
36:37
Speaker 6
That's all it takes, uh, c- complete faith, going in the right direction, brings you miracles.
36:42
Speaker 7
Yeah. Well, I, I'm just hoping that everything turns out well. I said, whether you voted for ... And, and I liked the idea of what President-elect B- Barack Obama said. He said, "If you voted for me, thank you. If you didn't vote for me, I will try and make you proud of, you know, what, what, my being elected." And I think that-
37:01
Speaker 6
That's all.
37:01
Speaker 7
... he tried to bridge the gap between everybody at that point. I liked that. That was a good statement.
37:06
Speaker 6
He's our president. He's gotta president for the people who didn't vote for him, too.
37:09
Speaker 7
Yeah. Uh, but I just, I do hope-
37:10
Speaker 6
He's a great man.
37:11
Speaker 7
I do hope that he succeeds, because it's gonna be a very, very difficult journey for him.
37:16
Speaker 6
Yeah. Well, he's gonna have more support, as, as much as ... He has more support than he thinks.
37:20
Speaker 7
(laughs)
37:20
Speaker 6
He's got some support from us.
37:21
Speaker 7
And I think the rest of the world is looking. They're looking real closely at this.
37:24
Speaker 6
Oh, they're in love with us. They see would, see us doing the right thing.
37:27
Speaker 7
Yeah, I'm, I'm hoping so, too. Well, Lou, I, I would love to be able to talk with you in the future. Any fundraisers that you have going on, whether it's in California or whatever, 'cause we also audio stream and podcast and all that. Uh, please let us know. We'll be more than happy to put that out there for you.
37:42
Speaker 6
Okay. You can always contact me through my foundation-
37:44
Speaker 7
Okay.
37:44
Speaker 6
... uh, which is, uh, on, on the website is eracismfoundation.org.
37:49
Speaker 7
Excellent. Uh, and you'll, uh, like I said, you'll have all these different fundraisers. We wish you the best. By the way, what's the next movie coming out?
37:57
Speaker 6
Well, there's some small movies. That's another issue. I figured I should be doing major movies, you know, like, uh, Daniel Jackson and Morgan Freeman.
38:03
Speaker 7
Mm-hmm.
38:04
Speaker 6
But I think the guy that pushes the door down is the one that gets the, the-
38:07
Speaker 7
Yeah. (laughs)
38:07
Speaker 6
... (laughs) gets the rips, and everybody else gets the glory, but that's okay.
38:10
Speaker 7
Yeah.
38:10
Speaker 6
I'm doing what I need to do. The next movies is, uh, um, Shannon's Rainbow, The Least Among You, and, uh, and another one that's coming out called, uh-
38:22
Speaker 7
See-
38:22
Speaker 6
... uh, The Perfect Game.
38:23
Speaker 7
The Perfect Game. Okay, terrific. Uh, you know, like I said-
38:26
Speaker 6
There's, there's, and then ER, the, the, the, the, one of, an e- episode about street police of ER.
38:30
Speaker 7
Oh, ER. Excellent. You know, it was so funny 'cause when I was waiting for you to come on, I was saying that. I said, "I can't believe this man. He's so busy doing all these movies. He's got movies in post-production. He's got movies, uh, waiting for, uh, release." And I said, "And he can still do the Eracism Foundation, too." It ... You're an inspiration to us, too. This is the whole idea.
38:48
Speaker 6
Yeah. Well, it looks like a lot of work, but it really isn't. Uh, I, I would prefer sometimes to do this one movie for a proper salary that I think I deserve, and then the rest would be happening even easier.
38:58
Speaker 7
(laughs)
38:58
Speaker 6
But I ... This re-, this, this replaces the major movie salary.
39:02
Speaker 7
Well, you're doing a-
39:03
Speaker 6
It's been a long time since I've done a major movie.
39:06
Speaker 7
Well, yeah. But you know what? You're doing the important ones, the ones that have messages.
39:10
Speaker 6
Yes, I am.
39:10
Speaker 7
Like you said earlier-
39:11
Speaker 6
I'm doing, I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing now.
39:12
Speaker 7
We need hope, we need faith, and if we don't have something that gives us this hope and faith, and especially the young people, we're gonna have, we're gonna be lost. We're gonna get off that road again.
39:23
Speaker 6
Gonna be in the, in quicksand.
39:24
Speaker 7
Yeah. Absolutely. Well, Lou, thank you so much for being with us on Pop Up. I look-
39:30
Speaker 6
It's been wonderful to talk to you.
39:30
Speaker 7
I look forward to our next time together, okay?
39:33
Speaker 6
Thank you. God bless you. Have a great day.
39:35
Speaker 7
Terriffic. And, uh, have a very, very wonderful holiday season and a very happy New Year. Happy New Year.
39:40
Speaker 6
Thank you. Back at you.
39:41
Speaker 7
Take care, now. Bye-bye.
39:43
Speaker 6
Bye-bye.
39:43
Speaker 7
Lou Gossett Junior. Uh, he's the man. It's called In- E- E- Eracism Foundation. So it's E-R-A-C-I-S-M Foundation. So it's eracismfoundation.org. Uh, take a look at it. Uh, you can also go to inaugurarpurpleball.com and get more information. But you can even Google Eracism Foundation or Lou Gossett Junior, and it'll come up. I guarantee you. So, uh, check that out. Uh, uh, we need this. We need this desperately in this country. Uh, and only the future knows. But you know what? We're all part of that future if we start.
40:16
Speaker 2
Hang in there with us 'cause we got more to come.
40:19
Speaker 12
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40:44
Speaker 9
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40:53
Speaker 13
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41:19
Speaker 11
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42:19
Speaker 10
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43:18
Speaker 8
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44:18
Speaker 2
(instrumental music plays) I'm Mary Jane Poppe, host of Pop Talk, asking, are you searching for the truth? On Pop Talk, my guests and I love to delve into stories that will make your life better, happier, perhaps even more resilient. Come join me as I take you on a journey to meet the best and brightest minds in health, wealth, and hope. I invite you to meet some gutsy people who have experienced the worlds of the unknown. They've gone beyond this life, from ghosts to the supernatural and unexplained. We need to know, are we alone? Do you believe in UFOs and aliens and the paranormal? What about the ancients, shamans, and psychics? And how about your dreams? On Pop Talk, we ask the hard questions, and we seek out the answers you want to know together on Pop Talk. We look for more than just what we see and hear. We look beyond our reality. Give Pop Talk a listen on the BBS Radio Network Station 1. Let's explore this world and who knows what we will discover together.
45:16
Speaker 3
(singing) And here she is, Mary Jane Poppe.
45:22
Speaker 2
Boy, are we part of that future. And (laughs) yeah, it's amazing. I mean, this is, this interview was done probably in 2017, 2018, something like that, and we're still facing all these things. It's just absolutely amazing. Um, uh, Matias, any final ideas, comments, you know, that you feel about Lou Gossett Jr.?
45:43
Speaker 3
Well, you know, he was tu- he was talking about movies he was going to do. And, and when he did die last year, uh, in 2004, he left 11 films entirely unfinished. So I don't know how many of those 11 films will eventually be released or not. But I certainly hope that we'll have some of those come out so we can see yet another facet of a fine actor who, throughout his own life, has been such an inspiration, uh, and also connected in a very real way to what he believed in, in the, in his organization. I mean, if you look at 1971 when he made the movie, The Skin Game, with James Garner, there he was flipping racism on its ear by playing, uh, a free man who was sold by James Garner as, uh, uh, to get money, the two of them as con men, to get money from a plantation owner, who then later escaped. So he was already, uh, very early on in his career in movies, uh, flipping racism upside down and trying to do something about it, and then eventually formulating this.
46:46
Speaker 3
You realize, of course, when he did win the Oscar for his incredible portrayal as the drill sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer and a General, and that was the first time a best supporting actor Oscar went to a Black man. So you-
47:01
Speaker 2
Mm-hmm.
47:01
Speaker 3
... if you think about it, th- this man has been true to his heart and his belief and to try to find inclusion, uh, since the beginning of his career. And, and what fantastic movies he made along the way.
47:13
Speaker 2
Absolutely. Matter of fact, the Erasism Foundation still exists as far as I'm concerned. Uh, and I checked it out. And also, you mentioned about when he passed away, so many projects were still there. Uh, in 2024, the live action animation film, IF, was actually released where he voiced Louis, the imaginary bear. And the film is actually dedicated to his memory, which I thought was amazing. Ken, any final thoughts about this man?
47:42
Speaker 4
No, I really love the idea of a purple, a purple party, you know.
47:46
Speaker 2
Isn't that a great idea?
47:48
Speaker 4
That's a g- great idea.
47:49
Speaker 2
Actually. Yes.
47:51
Speaker 4
You know, it, it, you know, I, I look at his career and he talks about doing low-budget films. Um, it, low-budget films are so important.
48:03
Speaker 2
Mm-hmm.
48:04
Speaker 4
And, and, and a lot of times you get actors who say, "Well, you know, I did major films. I'm not gonna do your low-budget film." Uh, it really helps when the Lou Gossetts say, "You can use my name. You can, you know, and I'll be in your film." And that, uh, develops more filmmakers, and, and, uh, that's helping the industry.
48:25
Speaker 2
You betcha.
48:25
Speaker 4
But he was a great guy. Uh, um, you know, everything, every time I heard him speak, uh, I, I heard him speak at a couple of, uh, fil- at the American Film Market one time. And, uh, he really, he really had the crowd-... right, right there, you know, wanting to-
48:42
Speaker 2
Well, it came from the heart. You know, he really meant what he said. It wasn't, like, put on or for publicity or anything. It was him.
48:50
Speaker 4
Mm-hmm.
48:50
Speaker 2
This was the real man.
48:52
Speaker 4
Mm-hmm.
48:52
Speaker 2
So, but that's about it for our-
48:55
Speaker 4
Another great interview, Mary Jane, and you did it again. (laughs)
48:59
Speaker 2
(laughs) Oh, thank you. I appreciate it.
49:00
Speaker 4
Or we, we, we pulled it out again to listen-
49:03
Speaker 2
(laughs) Yeah, pulled out another one, huh? They're gonna continue to-
49:06
Speaker 4
Oh, one, one quick thing. You did say something that really interested me.
49:09
Speaker 2
What was that?
49:10
Speaker 4
Uh, you said you were doing podcasts back there.
49:13
Speaker 2
Yes. Yes.
49:15
Speaker 4
(laughs)
49:15
Speaker 2
That was the, the, my Pop Off radio show that I was doing, you know-
49:18
Speaker 4
Yeah.
49:18
Speaker 2
... quite a few years ago.
49:20
Speaker 4
Right.
49:20
Speaker 2
And, um-
49:21
Speaker 4
Oh, I was aware of that.
49:21
Speaker 2
... we, we... The podcast would be put up on the website. Now, we have podcast... This podcast is all over- (laughs) In-
49:28
Speaker 4
Yeah.
49:28
Speaker 2
... well, how many countries? Several, several countries, two now.
49:30
Speaker 4
Uh, we're in 17 countries right now.
49:33
Speaker 2
Oh, amazing.
49:33
Speaker 4
I, I looked at the map. And the only reason I know we're in those countries is 'cause we have a listener there, or two, or three.
49:41
Speaker 2
Oh.
49:41
Speaker 4
So, we were doubling listeners. Uh, you know, we gotta continue to have our listeners, uh, let their friends know, and-
49:50
Speaker 2
Yes.
49:50
Speaker 4
... and we need to build the audience, and these are just great stories. Just sweet-
49:55
Speaker 2
Well, and like I said, these stories give us lessons about what's happening today, so please, please, please pass it on to your friends, uh, on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok. Whatever you do, let them know about Pop Star Talk. It's important. Um, also, something else that's important, Matthias Bombal, it's his birthday today.
50:14
Speaker 4
Yeah. (laughs)
50:15
Speaker 2
Would I be too forward to ask you, r- like how many years now?
50:20
Speaker 4
58.
50:21
Speaker 2
50... Oh, (clicks tongue) just a kid. (laughs)
50:23
Speaker 4
58.
50:23
Speaker 2
(laughs) Okay. Well, I gotta do this before I close, okay?
50:28
Speaker 4
Okay.
50:28
Speaker 2
I'm gonna do the little happy birthday tribute for you especially.
50:33
Speaker 4
Uh-oh.
50:33
Speaker 2
And it comes from my heart to yours.
50:36
Speaker 4
Thank you.
50:36
Speaker 2
<< Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Matthias. Happy birthday to you. >> And many more to come.
50:59
Speaker 4
Thank you. Boy.
51:00
Speaker 2
(laughs)
51:01
Speaker 4
Marilyn Monroe has nothing on you. (laughs)
51:04
Speaker 2
(laughs) Oh, okay, guys, that's it for this episode, but another one from the past, but still rings true that what happened then is not so different today. Ironic, isn't it? But that's why we need to hear the past through the eyes of those who actually admired people like Lou Gossett, who was definitely one of them. So, Ken, Matthias, another special time flies by, uh, because of those special celebrities, very special celebrities that we always remember. Till next time, live simply, laugh often, love deeply, and of course, dare to dream.
51:44
Speaker 2
(instrumental music)






