Mostly Me, Occasionally Wise
Mostly Me, Occasionally Wise is a real, relatable podcast about modern fatherhood, life lessons, and figuring it out as you go.
Hosted by a work-from-home dad of three, this show blends humor, nostalgia, and honest conversations about parenting, relationships, and personal growth.
From 80s movies and action heroes to real-life moments that hit a little deeper—this podcast is about learning, laughing, and becoming better along the way.
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Mostly Me, Occasionally Wise
Wednesday with Uncle Rob
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This week Brian sits down and talks with the amazing Uncle Rob. They talk about their favorite movie composers, movie soundtracks, and everything else.
This is a fun; lighthearted interview filled with occasional wisdom.
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Until next time — stay mostly you, and occasionally wise.
Hey everybody, this is Brian from Mostly Me Occasionally Wise, and today we have the famous Uncle Rob on the show. I've talked about him several times throughout my episodes leading up to this one. And today we're going to be talking about movie soundtracks, life, fatherhood, marriage, everything in between. I hope you guys enjoy the show and remember to stay mostly you occasionally wise. I am talking about the amazing Uncle Rob. How are you doing today? I'm great. I I don't know about amazing, but I'm I'm good. Well, good, good, good. So what have you been up to? How's the summer been going? I know you guys went on a cruise recently. How did that go?
SPEAKER_03Oh wow, that was fantastic. I think I've sent you some pictures. It was fabulous. Sharon looked great, but much better than me. I was able to get her a ring and surprise her with it. Oh, that's cool.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And so that was a lot of fun. The cruise itself was not near as scary as I thought it was going to be. I'm a land lubber from Oklahoma, so I've always heard all the horror stories of cruises, you know, fires, stomach sickness, and all that kind of none of that happened. I never got seasick. The the ride was very, very smooth. We had one night that it was kind of bumpy, but I couldn't even feel it with my MS brain. It it just felt normal to me.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, uh, that's the thing I'm I'm concerned with because you know I try not to watch TikTok videos here and there, but it comes across my feed every now and then, being that this is our first cruise that we're going on in October. I'm a little nervous because I've been on the ocean, but not for this extended period of time. And of course, I'll have motion sickness stuff because I do get motion sickness from time to time.
SPEAKER_03But if you're like me, you don't even feel it. I mean, I it was like being in a hotel. Really? Okay, cool, cool.
SPEAKER_00I'm I'm excited. That's awesome. That's awesome. So I know we don't have a whole lot of time. You know, we kind of talk about Zoom and how far we can record and everything like that. So let's just get into it. Today we're gonna talk a little bit about movie soundtracks. I don't know if you struggled this with your top five. I struggled a lot with it because anytime I rank movies just or anything in general, I'll start it and then something else comes up, and I'm like, oh, maybe I should add this in. And then finally I'm just like, hey, you're just gonna have to roll with it. So we're gonna talk about movie soundtracks, and then of course, we're just gonna pick your brain a little bit about being a dad and a husband and everything like that. So I will go ahead and start with you. What is your number five best soundtrack of all time?
SPEAKER_03Number five. Oh wow. I only wrote down four, so all right, we'll do four then.
SPEAKER_00Four of work, four of work, yeah, because it was tough for me. Like I could have gotten 10 or 15, but yeah, we'll do four then.
SPEAKER_03Four sounds very I hate I hate to rank them, but I guess would that be Hans Zimmer? Would be number four. Okay. Let's see. Number three, Danny Elfman.
SPEAKER_01Okay, yeah.
SPEAKER_03I've really been impressed with him and and uh how versatile he is. Of course, all these composers are versatile. John Barry. Okay, so I'm not familiar with him. John Barry, he was the uh composer of Dances with Wolves soundtrack.
SPEAKER_00Oh wow, man, I hadn't seen that movie in ages.
SPEAKER_03Uh yeah, and it's it's a gorgeous soundtrack. I used to walk to it when I did physical activity, right? That kind of thing. And of course, my number one favorite of all time, still is, is John Williams. Right. You talking about versatile, my goodness. He's done everything from campy comedies to you know Star Wars, of course. The 2004 Olympics, or excuse me, 1984 Olympics. Now I'm showing my age. Uh if you haven't, if you're not familiar with that recording, I'm sure you are because you've heard it all over the television, but you need to listen to the whole thing, it is phenomenal.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_00So with uh Elfman and Hans Zimmer, are there any like movies that stand out that were like, wow, this is this is peak, Elfman, Peak, you know, Zimmers or anything. Okay.
SPEAKER_03I'm gonna have to. I think Hans Zimmer was Batman. Okay. The original Batman. Okay. I think I'm looking it up right now.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I am too. I'm doing some. Uh let's see. He did really, he did some work in the Lion King. I didn't realize that.
SPEAKER_03Yes, I saw that too. Pirates of the uh Caribbean, he did He's a Pirate.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_03And Interstellar, he did the Cornfield Chase.
SPEAKER_00Oh wow. See, Interstellar is a fantastic movie. If you haven't anybody listening, if you haven't seen that, it's great. Yes, it's gonna make you cry. I cry every time I watch that movie.
SPEAKER_03He's got a credit, yeah, The Dark Knight is when I really first tune into Dune part one. Let's see what else.
SPEAKER_00I know Elfman Elfman works a lot with uh Burton, doesn't he?
SPEAKER_03Yes, yes, yeah.
SPEAKER_02I mean looking him up there he is.
SPEAKER_03I've never seen a picture of him, and I'm wish I hadn't.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Anyways. Let's see. Most famous works. Here we go. Batman, like I told you. Uh The Nightmare Before Christmas in 1993. Edward Scissor Hands. I think that's probably when I first uh really took note of him is in Edward Scissorhands. Oh, same with uh Johnny Depp. Yeah, yeah, that was really first time. Oh, take that back. Beetlejuice. He was he was the uh composer for Beetlejuice, and uh but that would be the first time that I really such a good movie.
SPEAKER_00That's why I think that was the first spooky movie I introduced Miles to, my boy. Yeah. Do go ahead.
SPEAKER_03I I can see where that'd be kind of spooky for a little kid. It's it's funny, but it's still it is, it is.
SPEAKER_00He laughed quite a bit through it, which is that's part of the reason I showed it to him because I didn't want to spook him out. Of course, four-year-old TJ wants to watch spooky movies. I'm like, uh, we'll see. We'll find maybe maybe the nightmare before Christmas. We'll see. Maybe maybe maybe uh so let's I've got four as well. Okay. The first one is Bill Conti. I don't know if you're familiar with him.
SPEAKER_03Probably with the with the the work. I don't know him by name.
SPEAKER_00Okay, so he did karate kid.
SPEAKER_03Oh, yes, yeah.
SPEAKER_00And the atmosphere, of course, with Bill Conti, he did he did the right stuff.
SPEAKER_03He did oh, yeah, that was a good soundtrack. He did Rocky as well.
SPEAKER_00So anytime I watch any of those movies, you know, he does a really good job with the atmospheric kind of stuff. Yeah. And of course, I had Elfman coming in at number three. Okay. Of course, yeah. Anytime you hear Tim Burton or watch Tim Burton movie, you know Elfman's involved somewhere, and yep, he's got a great repertoire of movies. Let's see, who is my number three? Oh crap. Hans Zimmer, that's the other one. Yeah. And then I see that's yeah, that's that's three. Sorry. It's still early for me. I'm still trying to, and then of course, number one, it it it is John Williams. I mean, of course, yes. He's done just about anything and everything, and I can't I can't narrow down a favorite soundtrack of his because you know, growing up, he was just a part of my childhood with just about any movie, starting off with Jaws. Of course, you know, even it's funny now because with Jaws, I'll play the dunce song right before it. And now TJ, he has great white sharks he plays with in the bathtub. Every now and then I'll hear him start doing that song before he happens from every ducky or something. So what the duck? Right, right. And he'll he'll say something like, Oh no, watch out, it's a shark, you know, or something like that. But of course, you know, with John Williams, you have Star Wars and Jurassic Park and Oh, Jurassic Park was beautiful.
SPEAKER_03Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_00I remember, and Miles, my 14-year-old, he teases me all the time, you know, we'll watch a movie on TV, and Jurassic Park was one of the more recent ones we watched together. Yeah. He was and I was like, you know, I remember going to CNS in theaters, and he'll pipe something off, like, was there a dinosaur in there with you too? And I'm like, dude.
SPEAKER_03No, he went with Uncle Rob.
SPEAKER_00Right. But like, man, it was just John Williams is he's easily the greatest of all time. You're not kidding me.
SPEAKER_03I'm telling you though, you need to go back and listen to that uh 1984 Olympic thing.
SPEAKER_00Okay, I will, I will. And then uh after this, I'll probably watch Dances with Wolves. I hadn't watched it.
SPEAKER_03Oh, that's a good movie. Uh Kevin Costner, but right, right.
SPEAKER_00You know, I was actually have you ever seen The Postman with him?
SPEAKER_03No, I've seen scenes from it and things like that, but I've not actually watched it.
SPEAKER_00So it's it's another long Costner movie because you know he's famous for those.
SPEAKER_03And it's essentially as Kevin Costner.
SPEAKER_00Right? I mean, he he doesn't really have a lot of acting chops in this movie, but it's essentially him. There's been an apocalyptic, oh, an apocalyptic event, and he recreates the United States Postal Service so people can start. But I mean, it's just you have a bad guy that's trying to stop it, and along the way he runs into Tom Petty. And of course, there's there's a lot of there's a really fun short dialogue. He's like, you know, Kevin Kostner along, he's like, didn't you used to be famous? And he's like, and of course, Tom Petty responds, he's like, Yeah, something like that. And then of course he helps him out. But it's it's a good movie, it's a Kostner film. I mean, don't expect much, but that sounds like a fun ride. It is, it is, it is. So yeah, uh, there you have it. Check that out. Yeah, yeah. I'll definitely uh I don't have the kids today, so I'll definitely watch Dances with Wolves. So all right, so we've done our soundtracks, we've done, we've had fun there talking about how old we are and showing our age and things like that. Let's get into uh the dad side of things. Oh boy. Okay. Uh let me pull up my questions here. Sure down here at the bottom. Well, I did. There they are. So the first one, and I'm just gonna come out swinging. Okay. If you if you could go back to the day you became a dad, what would you tell yourself?
SPEAKER_03Well, I'd go back further, even whenever we found out that Sharon was pregnant and it was going to be a viable pregnancy. You know, there's a saying that don't sweat the small stuff. I'm I'm sure you're very familiar with that. Yes. And when when you first find out that you're going to be a dad, you know, there's it's like, wow, I'm gonna be a father. I get to do all these things, and then all of a sudden it's like, oh, wait a minute. I'm responsible for this little person. What his life becomes is a lot of, you know, I have a lot of say-so in that, and I have a lot of responsibility, and it kind of it's can be overwhelming, you know, when it really hits you between the eyes that the way this person looks at life and lives their lives is heavily influenced by you, but at the same time you're gonna put this you learn as you go along exactly what is the small stuff and what is the big stuff, and they're not always clear cut, there's you know, sometimes it'll be little, but to your child, it's the biggest thing in the world, yeah, and you're like, What? You know, and then the things that I think are huge don't mean a thing to them, right?
SPEAKER_02Right.
SPEAKER_03My biggest advice to myself would have been don't sweat the small stuff and learn what is actually the small stuff. That just takes time, right?
SPEAKER_00I mean, I still struggle, and you you know, when we adopted when we adopted the boys, and then I you know I started reaching out and picking your brain about it. It was I still struggle with that because there are sometimes, especially with the boys, Julia not so much because she's 19 and she's kind of set in her ways for the most part. She's bait, right? Right. And with the you know, with Miles and TJ, they'll come to me upset about something, and I'll kind of look at Becca and I'm like, why is this such a big deal? Like, for example, yesterday, TJ had a friend come over and he had one pack of gushers left. And I was like, Okay, why don't we give it to your friend? I can give you another one out of Bubba's drawer. And he wasn't having it. And he was like, That is my last pack. That's for me, not anybody else. And I'm like, but I have others in reserves. And I mean, he got he started crocodile tears and everything. Oh no. And then finally I sat down with him and I was, you know, but the whole time he was doing this, I was like, why is this such a big deal when we have another one here? But yeah, I mean, as far as sweating the small stuff, uh yeah, it's it's ooh, that's a tough one because yeah, it's a it's a daily struggle for anyone who's listening.
SPEAKER_03You know, even though it's not a big deal to us, it is to him. Yeah, and it and it was, and it was and it becomes a big deal to you, right?
SPEAKER_00Right. And then you're trying to figure out why it's a big deal. Like, yep. And I don't even think I really got an answer from him at that point. I was just like, hey, it's okay, we can go to the store and buy more. And he's like, but you don't get it, and I'm like, I guess I don't. I guess it's just one of those situations that I'm never gonna understand. Yep, yep. And of course, Miles is a teenager, so I don't even want to get started there because he'll come to me about stuff, and I'm like, dude, uh, I can't help you, buddy. I mean, I'm here for you if you need a hug, but yeah. So the next question I have for you is what's one thing you completely misunderstood about fatherhood before becoming a dad?
SPEAKER_03Oh wow, just how often I'm not in control. You know, yeah. I uh when I grew up, you know, dad was he was the supreme thing, you know.
SPEAKER_01Right, right.
SPEAKER_03Everything happened because dad made it happen. And so I I that's one of the things that I couldn't wait to happen, you know. It's like, hey, I'm in charge now. Uh no, I am not right. And that was that was a that was a real shot in the between the eyes.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, definitely, especially with the teenager, you know, and I'll talk to you about this as and with Becca, it's just the lack of control you do have because you want to control a situation, but at that age, at 14 years old, he is he's poking and priding, like he knows how to push your button. And he's living with us for almost you know four years going on five years, yeah. And sometimes I think he, yeah, I know time flying by so quick.
SPEAKER_03Well, it just seems much longer than that.
SPEAKER_00I know, right? And I tell people that, like, I honestly feel like we've had them since the day they were born. Exactly. But yeah, Miles, he will poke in pride, and he's doing it on purpose. And I'm like, and I fall right into it. And then of course, Becca comes in and she's like, she'll put her hand out, and she's like, You need to just stop because you're not gonna win this one, you know. You have to control Miles that corner, right? Right, right. And and and it's gotten better, you know, and I've gotten better about just okay, kid, you know, we're we're I'm not gonna do this today. This morning was, you know, he's not a morning person, so we we tend to not necessarily clash, but we'll butt heads from time to time because you know, I'm very much a morning person, and sometimes I don't realize that I'm just radiating that. And Miles is like, and Becca's the same way. And this morning I was just asking him to do some things, and you could tell he was like, Hey, give me a moment. But I was like, we don't have a whole lot of time before we have to get to school. And I get it, yeah. So the control thing completely understand. I don't think it's something that we honestly ever gain back. I think it's just kind of okay, you're cool.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, you it's it's you figure out that you're not in control, you just like like you say, you just manage the chaos, right?
SPEAKER_00Right. So my next question what's one what's something your kids will never understand about the way you grew up?
SPEAKER_03Oh, this one. This breaks my heart, to tell you the truth. It's just how different the world is now and the country. When I was their age, you know, I'm like you, my parents would kick me out of the house and say, you know, play, go do things.
SPEAKER_01Right, right.
SPEAKER_03And they didn't worry about us. And we could do that, we didn't have to worry about some stranger coming down the road and shooting up the neighborhood and that kind of thing.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_03And how much common sense ruled the day. There wasn't all this wacky far out philosophies and stuff, and simple things like we didn't need a three, four-inch label on our hairdryer to say, hey, don't use this in the bathtub, it could be dangerous. Yep. Well, yeah, it's electricity, you know. So it's just common sense and we would play outside even after dark. I mean, I I see a lot of posts and a lot of I hear a lot of people say, My parents said to come in when the street lights come on. Well, they would tell us that too, sometimes, but they would always typically they'd say check in with us, right?
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_03And you stay in our yard or your friend's yard, and I want you in by 10 o'clock.
SPEAKER_01Right, right.
SPEAKER_03Of course, in Oklahoma, it stays uh stays light until 9 30. So it wasn't that much.
SPEAKER_00But the thought of Garrison and Gavin, my boys, being out past dark, even in the little town I live in, is is yeah, I know, and it's it's it's sad because it seems like more stuff happen in smaller towns than they do in big cities. And that's the and you know, bringing that up, that's the the issue I'm having with Miles, is he wants that's that independence. And we had a very in-depth conversation last week. He's wanting Facebook so he can communicate with some friends who do through Messenger, and we're like, this isn't safe, and he couldn't wrap his head around it. And of course, we talk all the time about how things were different. You know, when we were younger, it was more carefree. We didn't have to worry about those things, you know, so to speak. But now it's you know, and I've I've told him, you know, it's hard for me to to give you more leniency when and and I use this phrase a lot, it's it's not you, it's everyone else that seems to be the issue. And of course, you know, he's a teenager, he doesn't want, you know, I'm dad, what do I know? And I'm like, but dude, like you turn on Netflix, there's a documentary about a lot of things that are going on in the world today that you necessarily don't hear about, you know, you didn't have to deal with when we were younger, and but yeah, it's just it's a very big difference. And You know, as far as behavior and it's just and I clash a lot with and when I say clash or is a pick at him, it's it's the lingo they use nowadays. Like sometimes he'll throw something at me and I'm like, I have no idea what you're telling me, and I hope it's not gonna hurt my feelings when you explain it to me. Exactly.
SPEAKER_03Or when you try to, you know, be be the hip dad and mess things up.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and he's like, he's like, Dad, no. And even Julia, my 19-year-old, she'll come in and she's like, You you can stop now, you know. Um when your 19-year-olds come in and saying she's like, You're good, you're good, dad. Um so we'll do a couple more questions. Okay. And then I'm gonna I'm gonna go off the script because this next with this next question, because Becca and I we we do our own thing with our marriage, but we oftentimes talk about how we want our marriage to be like yours and Sharon's. Like it's it's it's amazing watching you two being married together. Like you can really tell you love each other and the give and take. And I know you guys have gone through your struggles and things like that, but it's just that's one of the biggest things I enjoy coming over when we hang out for Christmas and holidays and things like that, is watching you two interact together. So going off, and I know I'm throwing you, you know, throwing one out of left field. What is the best advice you can give younger couples as far as just continuing a happy marriage despite all the struggles and trials and tribulations?
SPEAKER_03Two things. Number one, keep God first in your life and in your marriage, in that order. Um, that's that is the most important thing. I'm not the best at it. Sometimes I struggle with that. Uh the other thing, realize that your spouse is a gift. Sharon, you know, I I keep kidding that I I married up, but yeah, I really did. I do not deserve that woman. She is much better than I could ever hope for. And I have to keep that in mind. Um I don't ever want to take her. And there are times that she perceives me taking her for granted, and that just kills me. I don't I don't ever want to take her for granted. So those are the two biggest things. Keep God first and realize that your spouse, that person, is a tremendous uh gift from God. And you know, the Bible says uh I think it's in Ephesians 5, especially for husbands, to love your wife as Christ loved the church. And that is you know, you think about that, and you know, Christ died for us, right?
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_03So um, I'm sorry.
SPEAKER_00No, no, no, no, no, that's great. Like, I can't follow that up. Like you you hit it out of the park, and that's just one of the many things Becca and I uh really adore watching you guys. And of course, you know, with our marriage, we and our relationship, we want to do our own thing, but at the same time, it's great to have influences that help mold things, and you guys, you too have just been a really big part of that. And so thank you. I'm not trying to get emotional, I'm getting there, so uh I'm gonna reel it back in. We'll do one more question. Um and it's it's the legacy question. Oh and it's something I I ask myself sometimes. If your kid were describing you as a dad 30 years from now, what would you want them to say about you?
SPEAKER_03Oh wow. I would hope number one that they always felt loved. That they know how much I love them, and that no matter what happens, that won't change. I'll always be there for them as much as I can. I don't care what they do or don't do. I just they have a home here, and they have a place in my heart, and they have a place with me. That's that's the main thing that I hope they get.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean that that's really what I want too, and and and that, you know, dad wasn't afraid to s show emotion. That's one thing which miles that we're struggling with, is I'm just like, dude, it's okay to be vulnerable, it's okay to be these things because you see me crying all the time. I mean, I could be recently every time I watched the Despicable Me movie, and he's tucking them in at the end of the movie, because you know, and I'm like, can't help it. Yeah, but you know, it's going back to the way society is built nowadays. It's for for Miles, it's he he is shown that it's not okay to be vulnerable and all these other things. And I kind of want him to understand, you know, to be able to look back and see, you know what, dad wasn't, you know, dad was okay with being emotional, showing those tears, and it's okay for me to do the same thing, along with knowing that regardless of where they are in the country or in the world, they've always got a home. Yeah, there's always gonna be food on the table. It may be chicken, nuggets, and tater tie, but it's gonna be edible food.
SPEAKER_03So well, that's you know, I uh my hat's off to you. That's uh uh oh, I just went blank. Forgive me. Oh, you're fine when uh you were talking about uh Miles seeing your vulnerability, there's also a strength about you, and that is rare as far as what kids see today. But you know, there's there's this thank goodness, there's a return to the macho for lack of better terms, right? The macho appearance or whatever of men, but they also need to see that tender side, yeah. So keep that up.
SPEAKER_00Well, thank you, thank you. Well, Uncle Rob, and we'll always call you Uncle Rob regardless. And to our boys and to Julia, y'all always be Uncle Rob. Thank you for being on the show. I've been looking forward to having you on, and of course, thank you for throughout this whole process just being a sounding board and giving me some pointers here and there. And I haven't forgotten about your offer about looking things up. I've got some some things in the works, it's just life is just chaotic right now with soccer and t ball and school and everything like that. But thank you for being on the show. I appreciate it, and I will definitely have you on again.
SPEAKER_03Oh, wow. Okay. If if my timer's correct, I see we have about eight minutes left.
SPEAKER_00Right.
SPEAKER_03So I'd like to pray with you real quick.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that'd be great.
SPEAKER_03If we can.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Okay. Pray with me, please. Okay, Father, we thank you so much for today. I thank you so much for Brian and the things that he's doing. And and I pray earnestly and beg of you that he is able to do one of the and the goals that he has is be able to reach out to somebody that may be struggling with things and maybe don't quite get it. Hopefully there was something said today and this whole program that Brian's put together that shows people exactly what they're looking for. Please continue to bless their marriage. Rebecca is such a wonderful wife and so supportive. And I I know Brian understands that and realizes how lucky he is. And their boys and their daughter. They thank you for bringing them into their lives too. I could go on and on, but I know we're short on time. So Father bless them, be with them, keep them safe. In Jesus' name, amen.
SPEAKER_01Amen.