Family With Family

Howdy, y'all! It's our first season finale, and for that we've selected something a little different for us, the 2021 Oscar-winning film CODA. It's a beautiful little film about Ruby, the only hearing member of a deaf family, who finds she has a talent for singing. To give us some additional insight into the film, we welcome Vera Goudie, herself a CODA (child of deaf adults). We talk about the uniqueness of deaf culture, the need to grow beyond our circumstances, and very little about fishing, even though that's a big part of the movie. Enjoy! We'll be back soon!Cover art by Lyla Ronquillo.Theme song by Daniel Everson.

Top o' the morning, y'all! This week we're making our way toward the end of the rainbow with a discussion of the 1959 Disney classic Darby O'Gill and the Little People, about a loveable old man and his adventures with the leprechauns who live around his village. Uncovering this pot of gold with us is Reed Lackey from the Fear of God podcast. We discuss how our deepest desires reveal our true character, the magic and wonder in everyday things, and how Sean Connery is barely in this movie. Enjoy!Cover art by Lyla Ronquillo.Theme song by Daniel Everson.

Happy New Year, y'all! Today we're getting back in the habit of posting some new episodes with a discussion of the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg comedy Sister Act, about a lounge singer who has to hide in a convent from the mob, and who gets elected the new choir director. After selecting more scenes than usual, we discuss everyday love and grace, the transformative power of community, and just how dang good Maggie Smith is at this acting thing. Enjoy!Cover art by Lyla Ronquillo.Theme song by Daniel Everson.

Merry Christmas, y'all! This is a little bonus for you this holiday, a discussion of the 2019 Disney+ film Noelle, starring the delightful Anna Kendrick. Here we talk about living up to other people's expectations, approaching others with sensitivity during this season, and just how cute that little baby reindeer is. Hope you are well, and we'll see you in 2024!Cover art by Lyla Ronquillo.Theme song by Daniel Everson.

Howdy, y'all! Stop the presses, we're going on strike! Not really, we're just discussing the 1992 Disney musical Newsies, which tells the story of the New York newsboy strike of 1899. And this week we have another guest, my brother Eric Harper. In a lively conversation, we talk about the universal need for belonging, the plight of working class people that sadly presses on to this day, and whether or not Robert Duvall is playing an offensive stereotype. Enjoy!Cover art by Lyla Ronquillo.Theme song by Daniel Everson

Howdy, y'all! Hope you're all staying warm out there, because this week we bring the chill factor up a bit with our discussion of the 2013 Disney phenomenon, Frozen. We have another guest, this time our family friend Matt Habel, whose kids have made him watch this film on a loop for the past several years. We talk about the concept of love versus fear, how fear compels us to choose self-isolation and despair, but how love is always there waiting to bring us back and warm our cold hearts. Enjoy!Cover art by Lyla Ronquillo.Theme song by Daniel Everson.

Howdy, true believers! Today we swing into action with the world's most popular hero, our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, with a discussion about the 2018 Oscar-winning animated feature, Into the Spider-Verse. For assistance we have opened up the multi-verse portal to bring over Nathan Rouse from the Fear of God podcast. Our talk touches on how the choice to be a hero is what makes one heroic, how it's never too late to reclaim your own identity, and how fun it must be to drink egg creams and punch Nazis. Excelsior!Cover art by Lyla Ronquillo.Theme song by Daniel Everson.

Howdy, y'all! The dog days of winter are getting here, so we're begging you to listen to our latest discussion about the 2022 Netflix original film Rescued by Ruby, adapted from the true story of a Rhode Island State Police officer and his troublesome but ultimately heroic canine companion. Along this hiking trail, we talk about what a rich blessing dogs are, how learning differences are NOT disabilities, and how perseverance can lead to wondrous outcomes. Enjoy!Cover art by Lyla Ronquillo.Theme song by Daniel Everson.

Howdy, y'all! Happy Thanksgiving! This week we're going back to school with our favorite music teacher, Jack Black, for a discussion about Richard Linklater's 2003 hit comedy, School of Rock. This is a fun talk. We share stories about our favorite teachers as well as what it means to set aside our own egos and encourage the gifts and talents of others, especially when taking on a teacher/mentor role. Plus we learn how the legend of the rent was way hardcore. Enjoy!Cover art by Lyla Ronquillo.Theme song by Daniel Everson.

Howdy, y'all! This week we're sick at home, so we thought we'd talk about Rob Reiner's 1987 classic The Princess Bride. In this discussion, we touch on the value of silly comedy, the importance of creating memories with those we love, and the bond forged by sharing stories across generations. It's all very pleasant and pastoral. Enjoy!Cover art by Lyla Ronquillo.Theme song by Daniel Everson.

Howdy, y'all! This week Mom and I welcome our very first guest, Dad (aka Michael Harper). We're here to discuss the 1995 film Babe. It's a warm, timeless tale of a quiet farmer and a kind little pig who turns out to be a champion sheepdog. This is a really nice discussion where we talk about having an unprejudiced heart, how one's value is not defined by the circumstances surrounding their birth, and how we might seek greatness in unlikely places. Enjoy!Cover art by Lyla Ronquillo.Theme song by Daniel Everson.

Howdy, y'all! Welcome back. This week Mom and I tackle the 2000 Denzel Washington hit Remember the Titans. We share some personal stories about Mom's experience of growing up during the early days of racial integration in public schools and my experience of playing high school football. Along the way we address the themes of listening to our neighbors, understanding that the authority figures in our lives don't always have our best interests in mind, and what it really takes to be an effective leader. Enjoy!Cover art by Lyla Ronquillo.Theme song by Daniel Everson.

Howdy, y'all! Welcome to Family With Family, a mindful discussion of wholesome fare. This is a show where my mom and I will go through a selection of family films and unpack their artistic merits as well as their themes. For our first episode, we've selected Joe Cornish's 2019 film The Kid Who Would Be King. While this movie was seen by very few people upon its initial release, it's an excellent offering and provides a great opportunity for parents and children to talk about bullying, finding value in others, and the heroism that can be found inside all of us. Enjoy!Cover art by Lyla Ronquillo.Theme song by Daniel Everson.