Actor Steve Guttenberg shares his journey from Hollywood success to caregiving for his father, becoming a dialysis technician at home. The podcast covers humor, reflections on fame, navigating public interactions, writing a book, childhood memories, and encounters with famous personalities.
Steve Guttenberg found pride in simple tasks like lawn care with his father, solidifying their suburban identity and bond.
Writing a book while caregiving for his ill father became a therapeutic process, intertwining creativity and personal connection.
Reflecting on life lessons from his dad, Steve Gutenberg values humility and liveliness, emphasizing generational bonds and familial impact.
Deep dives
Father-Son Bonding Over Lawn Care and Suburban Life
The podcast episode delves into Steve Gutenberg's childhood memories of moving to the suburbs and his father teaching him about owning land through lawn care. Steve recounts how cutting the grass with his dad marked their transition into suburbia, relishing the emerald green grass underfoot as they declared themselves "suburbanites." This experience highlighted the pride and joy of homeownership and familial bonding over simple everyday tasks.
During his father's illness, Steve Gutenberg embarked on a poignant writing journey, penning a book seated beside his dad as a form of catharsis. He shared intimate moments showing his dad the writing progress and engaging in conversations about the book. The creative process became intertwined with caregiving, echoing the emotional depth and closeness between father and son during a challenging period.
Life Lessons and Family Connections
The podcast reveals insightful reflections by Steve Gutenberg on life lessons imparted by his dad, emphasizing the values of humility and liveliness in interactions. Through nostalgic anecdotes and conversations highlighting family connections, Steve navigates the dynamics of grief, memories, and growth. His stories resonate with themes of generational bonds and the enduring impact of upbringing and shared experiences.
Bonding over Root Beer and Bowling in Long Island
The speaker shares a fond memory of trying root beer for the first time in a Long Island bowling alley. This experience sparked a love for root beer over crushed ice. The speaker also recalls going bowling with their father, highlighting the special bond formed during these experiences. This nostalgic reflection showcases the speaker's affection for Long Island and the memorable moments shared with family.
Transitioning from Acting Dreams to Sobriety
The speaker discusses their journey from pursuing acting dreams to embracing sobriety. They reflect on the misconception that drugs or alcohol enhance creativity, using examples of famous artists who excelled without substance use. The speaker emphasizes the clarity and natural enthusiasm found in sobriety, paralleling it to the excitement of anticipation before an event. This reflection underscores the speaker's personal growth and shift towards valuing a clear and sober mindset.
Steve Guttenberg needs no introduction, an actor, author, businessman, producer, and director. His lead roles in films include Cocoon, Police Academy, Three Men and a Babyand many many others. Steve has a new book out titled ’Time to Thank: Caregiving for my Hero’ and you can buy it here. The book chronicles the fun journey Steve took getting to Hollywood to become an actor, but also talks about how he recently had to put all on hold when he tended to his father after he was diagnosed with kidney failure. He even became a dialysis technician so that he can treat his father at home instead of bringing him into the hospital every other day. Don’t miss this episode, enJOY!
