Wow….you said the interview went beyond the books/politics, but I wasn’t expecting that. What a very personal, meaningful conversation the two of you had. Thanks for sharing it with all of us and through her show, that takes courage. Ms. McDonell seems to have a way of inviting people to bear open one’s soul - but in a good, cathartic way! And that was just from listening to part 1. Makes me want to cancel my plans so I can listen to part 2 right now. 😁 It’s clear that you are also a genuine and kind person - thanks again for sharing and for your candor around some of your difficult life experiences.
I was listening to this podcast working a late shift. Mary Mc Donnell bought us all into her space in that beautiful hotel and began such a friendly conversation with Mary Trump like I’ve never heard before. To learn that they’ve a similar past ; was what made this podcast so interesting. She even amazed Mary on a few revelations about her book(s) Mary Trump seemed very relaxed and funny at times as well as Ms. McDonnell . A nice conversation on so many topics Mary was light and easy to listen too I came away feeling how warm and friendly a conversation can be , that’s what’s missing in our lives right now . I liked your post as well . It was nice meeting you here.
Thanks, Paula. Completely agree with your description. And I think you’re right about conversation being a big part of what’s missing. I hope your shift went well and that listening to the interview made the time pass more quickly.
I've listened to every one of Mary McDonnell's Lady Bam podcast episodes because I'm such a fan of her and her work, especially Battlestar Galactica and Major Crimes, and was so excited to see your interview with her. It was very moving, illuminating, delightful and informative. I'm so glad we got to hear the two of you in conversation. Also, your podcast is fantastic and and I can't wait to see who your next guests will be.
This "interview" was exceptional! I felt honored to listen in to what I experienced was a deep conversation between two friends that was enlightening, honest, intimate, humorous at times and reflected an easy connection between the two of you. Thank you for working through any "butterflies" that came up when going to meet Mary McDonnell and I am happy for all of us that it was such a meaningful experience for you because it certainly was for us.
I also have listened to both of your podcast episodes Mary, and can't wait for your future discussions with more brilliant and genuine people (like yourself). It is now right up there with #SistersinLaw for me. Bravo!
Happy Holidays! Rest up and enjoy your time with those close to you.
I enjoyed your interview with Mary McDonnell. It felt like “two friends that never met “
As a little girl growing up in the 60’s I would hear the ad song for TWA on the radio show rambling with Gambling on the AM dial “ to the good life to be free to explore the unknown “ ; was the height of the jet age . I felt free and full of wonder listening to that jingle. Every boys dream for a present was an airplane with the TWA logo . One day my brother and I playing in the basement; took the lampshade off to show me the plane flying past the sun . He left the plane on the bulb and it melted !
At that time flying a plane was a prestigious and glamorous profession.
Your dad was a handsome man and very well liked . If given the chance I believe he would have went further than Donald and Fred Sr. I see a lot of your dad in you.
Your books were compelling and very painful to read . You put everything on the line with great risk to yourself. How you began writing about your dad with a blank page is something I can identify with .
The inherent guilt of being gaslit is in of itself traumatizing that some of us don’t feel the humiliation. It’s way beyond that now . It is anger and contempt at our leaders . I agree that people should no longer have the excuse of ignorance . However they choose to be this way. It’s all about “I want my thing “ and the rest of us can go..
To use anger in such a way that holds people accountable even to the point of confrontation is where I believe we’re headed, to this I say let’s go.
I’m so glad to be able to listen to your podcast . Your wealth of knowledge is a blueprint on how we all should begin an honest conversation about what we want our lives and interaction with each other to be or not. Thank you .
OK, this was an outstanding interview. What a deep dive. Thank you for sharing all of that, Mary. Your reflections reminded me of losing my own father when I was 20, although our stories are very different. He's been gone for almost half my life now. Mary McDonnell (who should have won that Academy Award for Dances With Wolves, in my opinion) went to college at SUNY Fredonia which is close to where I grew up - shout out to WNY. Happy holidays, Mary.
I just finished Part 1, Mary. There's a lot in there. The genuine connection between you and Mary McD was touching, given your years-long attraction to the essence beneath "the actress." You recognized, without "knowing" her, your shared sensibilities, and the podcast seemed to bear that out.
You both experienced a huge absence—an abyss, really—when your respective fathers died. I'm still thinking about the guilt you feel from buying the family story about your father until it was "too late." You said you'll always have the guilt. I felt genuine pain upon hearing that. I read a book once that erased *those kinds of stories* that I told myself—"Loving What Is," by Byron Katie.
Katie's technique consists of four questions that you ask yourself for any situation that causes pain, grief, dis-ease. It's such an effective technique that the Dean of the Psychology Department at the University of Washington invited her to speak to the psych students some years back. (I attended, but only as a seeker of useful knowledge.) She has YouTube videos, but reading her initial book before watching the videos makes her recorded sessions with people make sense. She has a handful of sessions on, well . . . your uncle (being afraid of him or his administration).
I'm looking forward to listening to Part 2 of the podcast soon.
Thank you, btw, for the tutorial on "Le Nozze di Figaro." I tried to comment on it, but kept getting a "page can't be found" notice. The history behind the glass harmonica was greatly appreciated.
Haven't finished reading your post, because I had to watch Passion Fish. Freaken fabulous. Thank you. Late, I'll finish reading in the morning. I grew up in the Lower Alabama bayous and then New Orleans. Loved this movie.
Wow….you said the interview went beyond the books/politics, but I wasn’t expecting that. What a very personal, meaningful conversation the two of you had. Thanks for sharing it with all of us and through her show, that takes courage. Ms. McDonell seems to have a way of inviting people to bear open one’s soul - but in a good, cathartic way! And that was just from listening to part 1. Makes me want to cancel my plans so I can listen to part 2 right now. 😁 It’s clear that you are also a genuine and kind person - thanks again for sharing and for your candor around some of your difficult life experiences.
Thank you, Ronda. Spending time with Mary was an incredible experience and I'm glad that was reflected in the finished product.
I think sharing is the only way we're all going to get through this so I hope it helps.
Thank you Rhonda.
I was listening to this podcast working a late shift. Mary Mc Donnell bought us all into her space in that beautiful hotel and began such a friendly conversation with Mary Trump like I’ve never heard before. To learn that they’ve a similar past ; was what made this podcast so interesting. She even amazed Mary on a few revelations about her book(s) Mary Trump seemed very relaxed and funny at times as well as Ms. McDonnell . A nice conversation on so many topics Mary was light and easy to listen too I came away feeling how warm and friendly a conversation can be , that’s what’s missing in our lives right now . I liked your post as well . It was nice meeting you here.
Thanks, Paula. Completely agree with your description. And I think you’re right about conversation being a big part of what’s missing. I hope your shift went well and that listening to the interview made the time pass more quickly.
Battlestar Galactica, loved it
I've listened to every one of Mary McDonnell's Lady Bam podcast episodes because I'm such a fan of her and her work, especially Battlestar Galactica and Major Crimes, and was so excited to see your interview with her. It was very moving, illuminating, delightful and informative. I'm so glad we got to hear the two of you in conversation. Also, your podcast is fantastic and and I can't wait to see who your next guests will be.
Speaking with her was an amazing experience--I think moving is the right word. It really took me by surprise.
Thank you re the podcast. I'm very excited about it and have some great guests coming. Next week is going to be really fun.
She was also great in Dances with Wolves and Independence Day (in a smaller role)!
This "interview" was exceptional! I felt honored to listen in to what I experienced was a deep conversation between two friends that was enlightening, honest, intimate, humorous at times and reflected an easy connection between the two of you. Thank you for working through any "butterflies" that came up when going to meet Mary McDonnell and I am happy for all of us that it was such a meaningful experience for you because it certainly was for us.
I also have listened to both of your podcast episodes Mary, and can't wait for your future discussions with more brilliant and genuine people (like yourself). It is now right up there with #SistersinLaw for me. Bravo!
Happy Holidays! Rest up and enjoy your time with those close to you.
Thank you Ronda .
I enjoyed your interview with Mary McDonnell. It felt like “two friends that never met “
As a little girl growing up in the 60’s I would hear the ad song for TWA on the radio show rambling with Gambling on the AM dial “ to the good life to be free to explore the unknown “ ; was the height of the jet age . I felt free and full of wonder listening to that jingle. Every boys dream for a present was an airplane with the TWA logo . One day my brother and I playing in the basement; took the lampshade off to show me the plane flying past the sun . He left the plane on the bulb and it melted !
At that time flying a plane was a prestigious and glamorous profession.
Your dad was a handsome man and very well liked . If given the chance I believe he would have went further than Donald and Fred Sr. I see a lot of your dad in you.
Your books were compelling and very painful to read . You put everything on the line with great risk to yourself. How you began writing about your dad with a blank page is something I can identify with .
The inherent guilt of being gaslit is in of itself traumatizing that some of us don’t feel the humiliation. It’s way beyond that now . It is anger and contempt at our leaders . I agree that people should no longer have the excuse of ignorance . However they choose to be this way. It’s all about “I want my thing “ and the rest of us can go..
To use anger in such a way that holds people accountable even to the point of confrontation is where I believe we’re headed, to this I say let’s go.
I’m so glad to be able to listen to your podcast . Your wealth of knowledge is a blueprint on how we all should begin an honest conversation about what we want our lives and interaction with each other to be or not. Thank you .
She hypnotizes you with her eyes and you can't catch her acting. She is just telling you a story.
Totally agree.
OK, this was an outstanding interview. What a deep dive. Thank you for sharing all of that, Mary. Your reflections reminded me of losing my own father when I was 20, although our stories are very different. He's been gone for almost half my life now. Mary McDonnell (who should have won that Academy Award for Dances With Wolves, in my opinion) went to college at SUNY Fredonia which is close to where I grew up - shout out to WNY. Happy holidays, Mary.
I just finished Part 1, Mary. There's a lot in there. The genuine connection between you and Mary McD was touching, given your years-long attraction to the essence beneath "the actress." You recognized, without "knowing" her, your shared sensibilities, and the podcast seemed to bear that out.
You both experienced a huge absence—an abyss, really—when your respective fathers died. I'm still thinking about the guilt you feel from buying the family story about your father until it was "too late." You said you'll always have the guilt. I felt genuine pain upon hearing that. I read a book once that erased *those kinds of stories* that I told myself—"Loving What Is," by Byron Katie.
Katie's technique consists of four questions that you ask yourself for any situation that causes pain, grief, dis-ease. It's such an effective technique that the Dean of the Psychology Department at the University of Washington invited her to speak to the psych students some years back. (I attended, but only as a seeker of useful knowledge.) She has YouTube videos, but reading her initial book before watching the videos makes her recorded sessions with people make sense. She has a handful of sessions on, well . . . your uncle (being afraid of him or his administration).
I'm looking forward to listening to Part 2 of the podcast soon.
Thank you, btw, for the tutorial on "Le Nozze di Figaro." I tried to comment on it, but kept getting a "page can't be found" notice. The history behind the glass harmonica was greatly appreciated.
Haven't finished reading your post, because I had to watch Passion Fish. Freaken fabulous. Thank you. Late, I'll finish reading in the morning. I grew up in the Lower Alabama bayous and then New Orleans. Loved this movie.