Letter Kenny: A Case Study in Modern Manhood

Talking points: addiction, psychedelics, the trouble with success, death, grief, masculinity, How I Met Your Mother

Honestly, there's not a single topic Josh and I didn't cover in this episode. We've been friends for years and wanted to jam together for a long time, and it's clear we had a ton to talk about. Deeply grateful for his insight, perspective, and stories.

This is a great episode if you're looking for the perfect combo of candid, vulnerable, and funny.

[00:06:02] - Josh's defining moments

[00:18:43] - Addictive personalities

[00:23:01] - The power of empathy and forgiveness

[00:31:04] - What's brilliant about 12-step

[00:35:03] - What was happening in Josh's life when How I Met Your Mother became successful

[00:42:06] - What made HIMYM successful, and it's portrayal of masculinity (and Canadians)

[00:50:47] - "The baseline question [of HIMYM] was 'Who Am I?'"

[00:58:55] - Depth vs growth, Jung's puer aeternus, and death

[01:14:03] - The role of a parent, unconditional love, and what Josh's dog Nelson has taught him

[01:24:46] - Josh's experience with plant medicines

Writer, director, and actor Josh Radnor is a multifaceted talent, bringing a wealth of experience to all his endeavors. Radnor is perhaps best known for playing Ted, the central character in the seven-time Emmy-winning comedy, "How I Met Your Mother."

Premiering at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award, Radnor directed, wrote and starred in his first feature film, "happythankyoumoreplease." The film was released in March 2011, and featured an ensemble cast including Richard Jenkins, Malin Akerman, Kate Mara, Zoe Kazan, and Tony Hale.

Radnor's second directorial effort came with the Sundance Film Festival favorite "Liberal Arts", which he also wrote and starred in alongside Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins, and Allison Janney. His upcoming music album, "Eulogy", will be released later this year.

In addition to film and television, Radnor starred on Broadway as the title character in "The Graduate" opposite Kathleen Turner and Alicia Silverstone. Off-Broadway and regionally, he has appeared in productions with the Manhattan Theater Club, The Vineyard Theater, and Baltimore Center Stage, among others. A gifted writer, Radnor has published several articles in the Los Angeles Times Magazine, Guilt and Pleasure Magazine, Moviemaker Magazine, Indiewire, and The Huffington Post.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Radnor attended Kenyon College where he won the Paul Newman Acting Trophy. He received his MFA in acting from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He currently resides in Los Angeles.

Connect with Josh:

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JoshRadnor/

Pick up my brand-new book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/

Check out some free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship

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