“Not every fearful decision I’ve made has been bad, but most of my bad decisions have been based in fear.”  –Andrew McCarthy

In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Andrew talk about the two halves of Andrew’s professional life – acting and travel writing – and his transformative first journey on the Camino de Santiago in 1994 (2:00); Andrew’s decision to return to the Camino after the pandemic with his 19-year-old son Sam, what it was like to walk for days at a time with Sam, and how being in the 1980s “Brat Pack” affected Andrew’s sense of self (11:30); how Sam’s attitude toward the walk changed over the course of the journey, and how Andrew knew he might be able to write a book about the experience (22:00); audience questions, including writing advice, what Sam thought of the book, and how travel can expand your view of the world (28:00).

Andrew McCarthy (@AndrewTMcCarthy), who rose to fame as a teen actor during the John Hughes 80’s era, is a television director and writer of such books as The Long Way Home and Brat. His newest book is Walking with Sam: A Father, a Son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain.

Notable Links:

• Andrew McCarthy on travel (Deviate episode)
• Andrew McCarthy Proust questionnaire (Deviate episode)
• Pretty in Pink (1986 teen romantic comedy-drama)
• Lowell Thomas Awards (travel writing competition)
• John Hughes (American filmmaker)
• Molly Ringwald (American actress)
• Camino de Santaigo (pilgrimage route in Spain)
• Off the Road, by Jack Hitt (book about the Camino))
• St. James the Great (Christian apostle)
• Oliver! (coming-of-age musical)
• Souvenir, by Rolf Potts (book)
• Brat Pack (cohort of 1980s teen actors)
• “Hollywood’s Brat Pack” (1985 New York article)
• Kansas (1988 film)

The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.

Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.