233: A Life Changing Question, for David Hartmann the Answer is Lightning McQueen

What can a talking race car teach us about our own lives? In this episode, Nole and David Hartman dive deep into the unexpected and profound life lessons from the Cars trilogy, using Lightning McQueen's journey as a powerful metaphor for our own.

The conversation explores how we find pieces of ourselves in the characters we love and how their stories can guide our personal growth. From the intense pressure of competition to the humbling journey of self-discovery, this episode touches on the core struggles we all face. Nole and David discuss the weight of financial stress, the challenge of navigating multiple crises at once, and the importance of anchoring oneself in faith and community.

Join them as they unpack the power of mentorship, the beauty of sacrificial leadership, and the essential shift from a mindset of mere survival to a life filled with purpose. This is a conversation for anyone who has ever felt lost, overwhelmed, or is searching for their identity beyond their latest win or loss.

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Transcript

Nole (00:13)
Welcome back to the fire you carry podcast. This is Noel. And in today's episode, I am joined by a good friend of mine, David Hartman. We recorded this episode in person, which as you know, we don't get to do very often, but it was a blast. were up in Kingsburg visiting my wife's family and we got an opportunity to sit down together in person and talk about what I find to be an incredibly interesting topic revolving around a single question.

that in David's own words has changed his life. What is that question? You're just gonna have to wait and see, but I will tell you that the answer to the question for David Hartman is Lightning McQueen. And the first time he told me that, I laughed. But as you'll see in this episode, there's a lot of heart and thought behind that. And I love this journey. You're gonna love it too. Thank you for listening. Enjoy.

David (00:48)
you

This is the part that usually gets me when we're trying to hold together. That is Satan to me. All the time, dude, I feel like I'm like right there and Satan just goes, you don't belong. And I'm like, dude, I don't belong, man. You're right. know? Man, he got in my head. Like he's telling me I don't belong and I'm starting to believe it, you know? And dude, I can't tell you how often I'm like, bro, like I'm starting to believe it, you know?

Nole (01:57)
you

So we had an interesting conversation.

you and me, we're talking to Edward, right? My brother, Edward, your brother in Christ, Edward. you asked the question, I can't remember how you worded it. So maybe you can, do you remember the question where you asked about?

David (02:21)
I ask so many questions.

Nole (02:23)
Well,

you know where we're going. So I'll just try to paraphrase and you can correct me. You basically asked us what character from a book or a movie you identified with. Is that my wording that correctly?

David (02:33)
Can I, can I back up to how that whole thing started? Please. Okay. Okay. So Vanessa, Vanessa, I have a hard time saying her name back to back. Vanessa van Edwards. ⁓ I had seen a Tik Tok clip of her and she was in an interview and she was basically saying that your brain does not like small talk. like we just, as we go to parties and stuff, our brains are like, we don't want that. Hey, how's it going? Hey,

How's work? What do you do? You know, all the like the basic repetitive.

Nole (03:08)
Don't worry about that. That's my boys from Kingsbird Fire. They're fine. they're going to pick somebody above the ground. Old person fell down.

David (03:16)
Very important. ⁓ So they, your brain is like, I don't want that. But we don't know how to overcome that. Like it's just, that's just what we do. We just go to a party and hey, I was going good. And then you go, man, that party was pretty lame. I don't want to go to the next one. And that is definitely me. My wife is like, we're going to all the parties and I'm like,

Nole (03:37)
And you're talking like church function parties here. We're not talking about like drinking.

David (03:40)
Oh yeah, raves, no.

No, no drink, no drink. I'm talking like one year old birthday parties, which we just went to and it was actually more fun than I thought it was gonna be, so go to the party. But her thing was that you need to ask better questions. And she goes, and one of the questions you need to ask, and the video ended. And I was like, you got me. So I went back. I went back and I found the interview. It was like a four hour interview.

And it did got me big time. So I watched the video and it was like two hours into when they started talking about what I wanted to know. But it was all good. Basically, this girl studies people. She had a college project that she had to do a group project. And she's like one of those like nerd, super smart people and didn't want to do the group project. And she went to her professor and was like, hey, if you just like

I'll do it by myself, but I'll do four times the amount of work. Just let me work by myself. And the professor was like, you're missing the point. If you think about this project, how you think about science and you, you work with people, how you work with science, it might actually be fun for you. And so it like totally changed her life of how she thought about people. And she's like, this is like, can figure out why people are certain ways. her thing was like, I want to figure out why some people are

popular and some people aren't. What is it that they have? What's the difference? And one of the things was that the people that were liked, liked more people. They were like high fiving people in the hallway at school and those were the people that people liked. They acknowledged all, like everybody versus the, I don't know, the weird kid who's like.

Nole (05:30)
Right, quiet and keep it to himself.

David (05:33)
And then she got into the question thing and this is where it was like, and honestly, I've said this a couple of times and I feel dramatic saying it, but this question has honestly kind of changed my life of how I think about myself and what I want to do in life. So she said that the question that you ask is ⁓ if you could relate to a movie character or a book character or a TV show character, who do you relate to and why?

I thought it and she was like, this is a question that you ask at the party.

Nole (06:06)
in order to not have the boring talk.

David (06:10)
Yeah,

you want your and you want to know people, right? It's not it's not like I just don't want to have small talk. It's like I actually want to know who you are. Like I actually want to have a conversation that's meaningful to both of us. Right. And saying, how's your job today?

Nole (06:25)
No one cares. And it doesn't mean anything.

David (06:26)
And then there's nothing to follow up next time.

Nole (06:29)
Right.

Right. How's your job today?

David (06:32)
Yeah, it's

garbage. Cool. And the next time you're like, oh, is your job still garbage? And so she told the story about she was with her best friend and she's like, we were girls like we did everything together. She's like, this this girl has got four kids, a dope husband, a dope house like she's doing it. Like when when you look from the outside in like this girl is succeeding. Right. And she's like, like it's not like I only saw her.

Nole (06:36)
work going.

David (07:01)
everyone smiles. She's like, I want to have vacations with her. Like I, did life and she asked her that question and the friend immediately said, I feel like Katniss Everdeen. And she's like the girl from the hunger games. That's like fighting for her life. And her friend was explaining that every single day. She's like at every moment I feel like I'm fighting to survive. Like everything is trying to kill me. I am just like, I'm, just trying to survive. And

Vanessa was like at that moment I understood where she was at and I could actually help her. Like it wasn't like you got it all together. It was like ⁓ let me take the kids for a day so you can have a break. Let me bring you dinner so you don't have to cook that. Like there was like a ⁓ tangible like ⁓ I see where you're at. I don't want you to feel like that. Right. You know like me help you. ⁓ And so for me I was like man that's like a really cool question. Let me think about that because that naturally right. You're to ask somebody hey

Nole (07:55)
Yeah,

you gotta figure out how this works. Does this work?

David (07:58)
Yeah, and they're going to ask you. You're going to say, what do you think? And they're to go,

Nole (08:02)
We almost forgot to ask you by the way that to be fully transparent I'm just kidding. ⁓ I just knew that you were gonna tell us can I take back over for it? Because what happened next was interesting on multiple levels and we can't throw Edward under the bus because he's not here to defend himself But you forwarded that question you put it forward and we're in telegram, right? So we're talking via a messaging app. So some of it is text some of it is a voice

David (08:06)
But I was up and ready to go.

Yeah, absolutely, please do.

Nole (08:31)
We do a lot of voice texting in there so you can hear, least hear the other person's voice. But I was at work and I was kind of in the middle of working on, I don't remember if I was working on the podcast or something for the program. So I at work but I was doing personal stuff. So it's kind of a little bit busy and distracted. I didn't, it wasn't something anybody had ever asked me before. And I immediately had an answer.

But I was like, no, that's just what you want it to be. that doesn't, you've never thought this through. That doesn't make any sense. And then the more I thought about it, I was like, no, I think this is right. I think this is it. And so I gave you my version of my answer. And then Edward gave his, and again, he's not here to defend himself, but we both fought back hard against Edwards. We were like, no, that is not true. However, it's an interesting insight. The story you just shared of like, wait a minute, you, it doesn't matter what we think. You think that.

David (09:22)
And that, this question to me has been on so many different levels, like you're saying, like, I think that the immediate response in your brain is very important because your brain goes there for a reason. It's not like, I accidentally thought of whoever. It's like, you thought of that for a reason and then you can dig on that. And obviously, huge question, right? mean, there's so many movies out there and there's so much to characters and.

you know, character development, all these things and where you're at in life. And I think it can change on the force. So I think there's also value in after you sit down and you think about it for a week and you turn it in your brain like some rocks until it's smooth. And you're like, no, I think it's this. I think there's value in that, too, because then you're like, OK, I immediately thought this for these reasons. And then I sat and I thought about it for these reasons. And now you've got things to work with. And for me, that was like what it was is is the

Nole (09:55)
it would.

David (10:21)
in my brain and my heart of like, why do I think this? like, are there patterns to it? Am I am I getting like, am I wrong about it? Am I am I seeing things like is God using this to teach me? And I think to your point, when you have people around you that know you and you bring this up, because I started doing this with literally everybody like.

Nole (10:42)
You said this question changed your life. you are asking people this.

David (10:46)
A of people, and a lot of times it is, ⁓ I don't even, I can't even think of a movie. And I'm like, great, think about it, because you will think of something. There is something, and then you can, I really think it's one of those things that's like training, right? Like you're gonna get out of it, what you put into it. Like if you show up to training, which, I mean there are a lot of mandated trainings that I show up to that I'm like, get me out of this training, yeah. But if you, you.

If you go into it like, okay, I'm going to, and it's basic first day of CPR, whatever you're like, okay, but I can still learn something. You're to get out of it. What you, what you put into it. So I think that this question is, is a lot of that of, you can go as deep as you want. You know, I mean, you can, you can think of an expert, I feel like Mickey mouse next, you know, and you can not do anything with it. Right. And that's lame. You're lame. If you do that, think personally, but and

I've had friends come back and be like, I thought about it and this is what I came up with and that's interesting. You know, and I'm like, cool, let's talk about it. You know, like, and then it's a meaningful conversation rather than, ah, work sucks. You know what I mean? So this question for me has been big. You literally ask your wife, ask your friends, ask whoever. And then the people, when you tell them your answer, they can speak into that. Cause like you're saying with Edward, it was like that is not who you are, brother. So I think it's important.

Nole (12:04)
spoke into that heart.

David (12:09)
for you to talk with people and speak truth into either, yeah dude, I see that in you, run with that, or yes, I see that in you, let's pivot, you know, let's make it better, ⁓ or nah bro, like, this is who I see you as and this is why, here's the things that you need to look at. So this question for me has been, it's been the question.

Nole (12:33)
Yeah. So when you answered it, cause I answered it, Edward answered it. We went back and forth and I was just waiting for you to just volunteer. I, I have a hard time remembering a lot of stuff. My it's actually, I've been working on it and talking to God about it. I feel like it's getting better, but, but I do remember this. I remember not asking you and I was just waiting. I was like, of course he's going to volunteer, but you did not volunteer. Eventually had to ask, where's your answer. ⁓ And when you first,

David (12:37)
Here we

Nole (13:02)
When you first said it, I thought that it was just a joke because you said Lightning McQueen. Lightning McQueen. And my initial reaction was a chuckle and like, yeah, right. What's the real deal? And then you launched into this, this diatribe, this speech. Yeah, and we talked about it. You talked about it a lot. so.

David (13:23)
It's like a three day.

Nole (13:33)
You're one of these guys that Is always in the back of my head as a future podcast guest because we're good friends I know you pretty well at this point. We talk a lot about deep stuff. I know you've got good things to offer But then this was that thing where the unfortunate part of being a ⁓ podcast host as much as I can call myself that here Was such a ⁓ small show of awesome people that listen like we're but we're tiny but yeah

Anyway, I don't need to justify it. The people that listen are my friends and we're having fun doing it. But as a podcast host and producer, I have this curse where things happen in my life with my friends or people that I come in contact with. And that's one of my first thoughts is like, that would make a really good podcast. And I think that's good and it has value, but I also don't want to remove me from moments ⁓ where I'm literally in the middle of a conversation and that's

David (14:04)
Thank you.

Nole (14:31)
part of what my brain is thinking about of, man, this would be a really cool episode. There's value there because then now we can do this and other people can hear this conversation and learn and go ask the question and do the things. But I feel like it's also a curse because in that moment of hearing you talk about this, that is something that I'm thinking about. I just, I gotta be honest. I feel like sometimes it puts me in a position where I'm,

gonna use my friends like for the podcast, you know what I mean? And I don't feel like it, like I don't think that way, but I feel like that just kind of inadvertently happens. So I know, I know, but I just have to share that because it's the curse of being a host of the podcast. All right, so Lightning McQueen, your answer. And we've gotta go there. So repeat the question so that we're right back as, those of that, just hearing this for the first time, what's the question?

David (15:08)
I don't feel like that.

Lightning McQueen is

The question is if who if you could think of a movie character a TV show character a book character honestly, it doesn't even matter like just a character Who at this point would you relate to and why okay and this Good the why is is the work, right? Because it's super easy to be like lighten McQueen, right and then just be like cool, right and move on but I have I've literally put

Nole (15:38)
from a story of any kind.

David (15:57)
so much, like I drive to work and I'll think about this and I'll be like, and I have this weird thing I think that I'm learning that as I'm speaking to people, I'll do this with my wife, like we'll have a conversation and as I'm speaking I feel like the Lord is like revealing things to me. Which is like this weird thing. I can't even explain it because I feel like I'll say things I'm like I don't even know that like that's not even an idea I've ever had. There you go. And I think that every time that I

Nole (16:22)
Scott speaking.

David (16:26)
say this whole spiel that is it is I mean I could talk about this for like two hours at this point but there's like a new layer every time yeah yeah I'm like I didn't think about that last time and so the more that I and it like I said it really comes from what I'm telling people right as they'll go what's your answer okay are you ready buckle up here we go for this and as I'm speaking I'm like I didn't even think about

Nole (16:49)
Also this that you've never thought before. This is, it's so interesting. We're going to get to Lightning McQueen. We're to talk about that before we go there. I got to, I got to comment on what you just said. So for me, my instant immediate reaction to the question was Boromir from Lord of the Rings. But then I hesitated hard because the why I was like, well, I love Boromir's character in the books, also in the movies, but, that's not enough, right? Just loving a character. There's a lot of characters that I love.

in just Lord of the Rings, right? But why that one? And then I went through the why and I was able to come up with a few reasons why it actually made sense, especially considering current recent past events, COVID especially. Not gonna go into that, cause that's not the point of this episode, but it made sense. And I felt like I could make the connections. But what you're talking about is the whole idea that if you really want to learn something, you should teach it, right? That's a known principle. It gets talked about a lot in the fire service in the military, I'm sure in law enforcement.

which we haven't touched on, but that's what you do. And it gets talked about all the time. And we've both personally experienced that, right? You know something, but then you start teaching it and then you really learn it. But with what you're talking about now, I think there's an added layer in that the more that you, that you talk about things, then God literally is there in your ear. If it's something that he's teaching you and he's teaching you as you're saying it. And there is something about stuff coming to your mind when you're talking about it, that is

It is supernatural. And you know, if you've done this and you've talked to someone about, talked to someone about something you're passionate about, you've experienced this happening. And you know it's not the way your brain works because you're aware of how your brain works and it feels different. It's like, where did that thought come from? And or how come I never thought of that before? All of that to say an encouragement to you. And something I've said on this podcast a lot is that I think everybody should have a podcast. And what I,

really at the deepest level mean by that is that it gives you the opportunity to have these conversations like what you're talking about with the question, which gives you the opportunity to walk through what is it that I actually believe? Why do I believe it? ⁓ What am I passionate about right now? Is that something that's worth my time? Do I even understand this issue? Like those types of things. It's really the long form conversation that is the value of the podcast in my opinion. ⁓ It's when it is work. ⁓

David (19:15)
It's work,

Nole (19:18)
Because of the nature of a podcast it allows you to have these conversations with people that maybe you wouldn't sit down across the table from Right you and I have talked a lot, but we've never sat down across the table from each other and I mean I guess there was that one time we were cleaning guns and having that trip and But that was different anyway, all right, so that's the question and that's the reason why it's asked yes, but I

David (19:42)
Think

is that all we get from yours?

Nole (19:45)
for Boromir, we might come back around to it. I really want to get to Lightning McQueen. That's what the people want to know about because that's the initial reaction to that is, yeah, okay, bro. What is it? Right. It can't be that. that's a Pixar movie.

David (19:50)
I don't know about that.

Cars trilogy, I have gotten so much crap for this. Cars 3, I think is probably my favorite movie of all time. And I think that the Cars trilogy, I know people right now are like, this guy does not know anything. The Cars 3 trilogy, think is epic. I think it's one of the best. So.

Lightning McQueen man. the more that I thought about it, so like I said earlier, I think the first initial gut reaction is important and I also think as you think about it more, it can change and I think that's important.

Nole (20:32)
So when you first heard this question in this podcast, is that the thing that you thought immediately? How old are your kids?

David (20:36)
I immediately thought Lightning McQueen.

My son is about to be six. My second is four, two, and then one.

Nole (20:45)
So you have watched this trilogy of movies approximately 250 times at this point. You're very familiar with them.

David (20:52)
Yeah, it kind of comes and goes, you know.

Nole (20:54)
Yeah, in

ways the kids get into it. Definitely. But you've seen it a few times. Okay. All right. that was your initial gut reaction.

David (21:00)
Lightning McQueen, the more I thought about it, the more I was like, still Lightning McQueen. And it honestly was like more revealed through that trilogy, I guess, of more ways that I was like, dude, again, I didn't think about that. So initially I was like, you know, lightning starts out as this super cocky kid, right? Comes in, guns blaze in, doesn't care about anybody. And I think...

For me in high school, was like, didn't matter to me who I hurt. I was going to win and I was dumb athletic. Like that's like what I had going for my soccer. But he like there was not sports for me to play. It was not like go play competitive soccer. Soccer was all of high school coed, you know, like everyone. Yeah, it was like a competitive. Yeah. We had broom hockey, which was dude, rockies.

Nole (21:44)
of kids up there to play sports.

go down the road with that.

David (21:59)
I love me some broom hockey. But I would play broom hockey and it was like, I loved it. I was just good at broom hockey. I can play some broom hockey, you know? at no expense, it didn't matter to me who you were. People would come up on the weekends and play and they're Joe Schmo, not padded up. I'm in like full kit, ready to go. And I'm like, get out of the way. I'm gonna win.

Like looking back at it now, I'm like, who cares? Broom hockey is nothing. But I think to me in the moment of playing Broom hockey, I'm like, this is going to be an Olympic sport. I'm going to play to you all the way. Broom hockey is epic. And so I think that was really hard for me of not having sports but being athletic. And I think that obviously, Lightning McQueen has racing. So he comes in and he's like,

just crushing everybody like he's like the guy and they end up tying good.

Nole (23:01)
I'm sorry.

Did this affect any of your... Because we're from different generations of Hume. Yeah. Right? We're a little bit...

David (23:09)
Yeah, I think you had left like I was gone. Yeah.

Nole (23:12)
You're hanging out with my brother Edward. But did this level of competition affect those few friendships at Hume? Because you don't have a ton of close friends at Hume growing up there as a kid. Did it impact some of those? Because I had a friend growing up that I was really close to that was also, it was just like this. Very good at everything, super competitive. And there were times when it was annoying to me.

who, I wanted to win and I'm competitive, but not to that level and also not skilled. So I wasn't skilled like my friend was. It's just at times it had hurt the relationship.

David (23:51)
think 100%. I mean, there's no way that it didn't. Honestly, like looking back at, and this is, it's interesting. We had to do, we were talking earlier about this class I'm taking at church. We had to sit down and he wanted us to write core memories from, he called it like the timeline, right? The core memories from birth to whatever I did to when I was like 25. And I cannot tell you how hard that was for me. Like I couldn't remember anything. Like I don't know.

That's right. I've like, yeah, 15 things written down over a 30 year life. You know what mean? I'm like, I don't I can't anything. But one of those memories, I had this sweatshirt when I moved up to him, I was 12 when I moved to him. I had this I can still picture it. I mean, it was epic, stupid, but it was epic. I had this yellow, bright yellow sweatshirt. And on the back, it had baseball bat, volleyball, soccer ball, football, like all the sports. And it said, I practice, practice, practice. Therefore, I am the best.

Nole (24:26)
There has to be more. ⁓

David (24:50)
And I wore it all the time, dude. was just like, this is like my sweatshirt. So stupid, dude. I don't even know, like, thanks, mom. But I think that, like, I desperately wanted to compete and be good at things. And I was skilled. Like, was, God gifted me athletically. Like, that was it for me. That's what I was gonna go do. ⁓ And there was a point where, I don't know, I didn't.

Nole (24:58)
Where did that even come from?

David (25:18)
Again, this was like super hard for me to think about. Like I don't have a moment to remember who said this to me, but like I just know that people like you're arrogant because of that sweatshirt. Like you have that sweatshirt and you're cocky and that's who you are. And like that, like to my core, was like, I don't want to be arrogant. I just want to be good at what I'm doing. I just want to compete. And so I think that has honestly, like as I've gotten older, looking back at that, like that has really shaped like

the hyper-sensitiveness to like, don't want to be arrogant. Like I am trying so hard not to be cocky. Like there are times at work where it's like, I just have to do this. Like I'm not being cocky to you. Like it's just part of my job. Don't get mad at me. Like I just, please don't think I'm arrogant. what mean? And so looking back at that, to your question, did that affect relationships? I am sure that my desire to compete did, but I mean, know how humans are so small. You don't have a choice. You know what mean?

Nole (26:15)
Right.

David (26:18)
those are the kids that you hang out with. it's like, you're just going to go throw rocks and trees by yourself. So I think I'm sure people, and Edward, I'm sure is like, dude, that guy was such a dork all the time, you know?

Nole (26:19)
you don't hang out with them, you're not hanging out with anybody.

think

Edward will listen to this episode? Yeah, I do. I know he will. He's so jealous he's not here right now. He's sitting in pictures. He's all sad. Poor guy. I'm sad for him. miss you, Edward. Yeah.

David (26:41)
But yeah, so I think that for me in high school, I think that there was a little bit of the like, here I am, I'm gonna win. Like I said, people would come up, especially summer staff, and we would play indoor soccer. And I was good at soccer. And these people would come up from like Cal Baptist, I think they're like a D1 soccer school. Like good soccer players would come up and they were like child's play. I'm like, dude, you guys aren't even good at soccer. know I mean? So I literally thought to myself, and again,

people are listening to like, this guy's cocky. I'm really not trying to be cocky. Like, that's just where I was at. Like, I was good at soccer. And so my thought process was when I leave Hume, I am going to walk on a soccer, whatever college, I don't care where, I'm gonna go play. And that is not at all what happened to me. So. ⁓

Nole (27:27)
You're going to walk on. You're going to end up on the team. Yeah.

David (27:35)
lightning's journey through that, know, and our pastor recently left our church and one of the things that he said, there was nothing scandalous. that's what people are always like, ah, dude, you cheated on his wife. That did not happen. was he, I have very rarely seen dudes be like, I'm going to sacrifice everything because I feel like the Lord is telling me to. that's essentially what happened him. But one of the things that he had said is the Lord revealed to him was that he had tried to do things in his own strength and he had hurt people along the way.

And looking back on my high school years and growing up at Hume, I can see that in myself of that drive to compete and the drive to be the best of... I know I hurt people. Like I said, can't pinpoint a moment and be like, I totally screwed that person over. But I know that people looked at me and they were like, man, I don't really want to play because he's playing. And that's lightning. They end up tying that first race.

There's going to be some crazy spoiler alerts if you guys haven't seen.

Nole (28:38)
At this point if people haven't seen it, I'm sorry. Don't worry about it.

David (28:41)
But he's like The the crew or whatever that does is tires and stuff. They're like, hey, you whatever like you suck Why are you being mean to me? And he's like, like I can't find anybody else to change my tires and fill me up with gas like right, know, they're like, dude I'm out like screw this guy, know, cuz he treats him like crap and I just know that people Saw how I acted and they it was not like dude that like that guy loved Jesus, you know, it was like he's

gonna walk on me to get what he wants. And so that honestly was the first initial for me of like, and again, I think because whatever that did to my soul when people were like, you're cocky, that was the first thing I thought of when I asked myself that question, was Lightning because he's cocky. And I was like, it's so crazy what that has done.

Like how many opportunities I've missed out on or how many conversations I haven't had because I've been like, I don't want to be perceived as cocky. So I'm not going to do it. So he gets, you know, he, they, end up doing the tie breaker race or whatever. Right. And so he ends up, they're driving to California. think it's California and he, he lightning falls out of the back of the, of Mac and he gets lost. Right. And there's,

Definitely like multiple points in the trilogy where like that's where lightning felt but when I left Hume that was 100 % where I was at. He was like, oh, I've got it, I've got it, I've got it, that's Mac. I've just got to catch up to Mac. Like I've just got to get to playing soccer. I've just got to play a sport, whatever it is. I just got to get right there and then I'll be good. And he realizes that it's not Mac when he catches him and he's like, I'm totally lost. And that was me.

Nole (30:26)
Yeah, where'd go?

David (30:29)
I left Hume and I went to a junior college, Reedley College, and it was literally like one of the hardest times of my life. Like I hated, I had zero friends. I hated the school. It was literally like doing high school again, but with people who smoked pot and were chumps. I actually, at that point I lived, I was dating my wife, but I lived with her dad and his friends.

Nole (30:51)
You

David (30:58)
her dad commuted up and down from Hume to do physical, he had a physical therapy. So one of the people that worked with him had a house down in Reedley. And so all three of us lived in the house when Peter would go up on the weekends to be with the family. But so, I mean, it was just such a weird time for me. Like I was just going to school to go to school. You like I didn't have like a, I'm gonna get GE done and go to this college.

Nole (31:13)
Yeah.

David (31:24)
I had no idea how to get on a soccer team. Like I tried to find out who the coach was, to go talk to him, to figure out. And there was all these like roadblocks where I was like, I don't know what to do. Like I'm like so lost. And that's what, you know, Lightning is like, pick away. Like he didn't know which way to go, you know? And ⁓ he ends up getting... ⁓

You know the sheriff whatever goes to pull him over because he's smashing down the road and doesn't have a headlights on or whatever right the sheriff's like you know shoot here we go and his back firing and lightning thinks he's shooting at him and No idea like totally no idea what's going on right and that was life. I'm like dude. What the heck is going on? and he ends up getting to radiator Springs, right and he Whatever he tears up the road breaks the road and that they they end up getting him and he feels like an idiot or he gets trapped up in the The wires or whatever and he's just hanging there and he's like ⁓

And the sheriff comes up and he's like, boy, you have no idea how much trouble you're in right now. That's how I felt, Just hanging on the strings, like, what the heck? What do I do? And his punishment is to then fix the road. In typical lightning fashion, he just is like, I'm going to work as fast as I can, as hard as I can, and I'm going to get the road done. And it's

garbage,

Nole (32:47)
He did it too fast.

David (33:12)
You know what mean? Like, cause there's a lot of things that I'm like head down charging. And again, I look up, I'm like, dude, that was so stupid. Like, what am I doing? You know what I mean? ⁓ like work harder, not work smarter, not harder is definitely not me. ⁓ and that's lightning, right? He's not, if he would have just been consistent and smooth and got it done, that would have been it, you know? And, and it was like, it's interesting.

I don't know how deep we want to get into family stuff, but my wife was talking to me other day about like a victim mentality and how that's something that she saw in me that I had that I've had to work really hard to overcome. And I think in thinking about this, like this is one of those new things that as I was saying this last time, I was like, oh shoot, like that's kind of lightning, right? Like he gets caught up in these things and he's trying to explain to them the whole time.

No, no, you don't get who I am. Right. Like I'm a race car, bro. I'm to win the Piston Cup. Like, let's go. And I think that a lot of times, that's where my brain defaults. Like, no, no, no. Like, you know, you're missing who I am. Like, that's not what I'm trying to do. Just let me do this. You know what mean? you're not going let me do that? Like, you just missed it. Like, it's your fault. You know, like, I couldn't have done anything wrong. I didn't tear up that road. Right. mean? ⁓ And so, you know, that

journey for him of turning the corner, of realizing like there's life outside of racing, right? And that's really what Radiator Springs did for him. Like he met Sally, they end up, spoiler alert, they're a thing. They end up being a thing.

Nole (34:50)
Yeah, for sure. I don't know if cars get married,

David (34:52)
Yeah, I don't either, if they do, he did. ⁓ But he realized, and for me, that was a big shift in my brain of going, there's more than sports. Sports is not all there is to life. And unfortunately, in a lot of culture, that's what parents are pushing. You need to be in all of the club stuff. You need to be in all the travel stuff. You're going to make it. This is how you're paying for college. Then you're going to make it big. You're to have a ton of money. This is your life as sports. ⁓

And honestly, as a kid, like I thought that, cause I didn't get that, I was like, that's what I'm going to give my kids is sports. Cause there's no way my kids are not going to be athletic. So I'm going to give them sports cause I didn't have it. And now that I have kids, I'm like, man, it's just not sports. You know what I mean? Like there's so much more, like I would rather you do. There's so many more meaningful things that you could do than kick a ball around. ⁓ and so radiator Springs for lightning was that, that shift for him of

I want to compete, but I get that there's more. And through that, this is one of the things that I feel like I didn't get, but I still like, I...

Lightning sees all the piston cups from from Doc. Yeah, and he's like what the heck? This is the Hudson Hornet like you're the guy and He immediately after you know, he's I mean to Doc's Not to fault him right lightning was a total chump. So it's like now you know who I am and you want to listen because he had tried to help and lightning was like Old man, you know like great total disrespect. So like I get it but once he figured out who he was in

Nole (36:23)
to talk to them.

David (36:33)
I think this is where it's almost like wisdom for him from from lightning of like he understood that doc had knowledge that he didn't have and he he wanted it right he's like I want to get it and you have the answer you have the keys will you teach it to me like that's basically he wanted a mentor right and lightning goes to doc he's like dude teach me everything and

He eventually does, but doc, takes that, you know, like, I tried to teach you, don't want to listen and turn left to go right, whatever. They go through this whole thing in the learning process, but the, the desire for somebody to pour into him of like, Hey, I've been there and I've done it. And for lightning to look at him and go, you've been where I want to go. Can you show me how to do it? Like do desperately man, like, especially as a kid, I was like, please somebody.

I don't care who, just give me an idea of what to do. And I feel like I didn't really, there's this guy, he's a firefighter, so I think he's a firefighter. I don't know if that's his name. He's super cool guy. He worked at Hume. I think I was.

I want to say like 14 or 15 when he was there. He was the the like activities guy. He's over all the waterfront Activities all that stuff and I worked for him. He was super cool. We'd hang out. He was probably like I Don't know. It's funny because looking back now when when I was that age I looked at him and I was like bro. He's got it together He was probably like 22

Nole (38:13)
Right.

but you were a kid. Yeah. ⁓

David (38:16)
But

I remember being that young and being like you're a guy that I can look at and say hey You're living in a way that I want to live. It seems like you've got it together And I was like, hey, can I talk to you? Like I'd like to hang out one day and we went and by the lake and he's like, what's up, dude? And I basically gave that spiel of like I like what you're doing. I don't know how to do it Will you be my mentor and as a 15 14 year old kid?

that's not an easy thing to do. You know what mean? That is not something that I was like, oh, this will be easy. I'll just walk up and ask for help. You know? And so I'm already like, I don't really want to do this, but I feel like this is something that I need in my life. And so I go, I ask him and he basically was like, sorry, bro, I don't have time for that. And I was just like, all right, thanks. And again, it's crazy to challenge dudes out there if that ever happens to you.

Like you need to understand that that is a huge moment for whoever asked you that because I remember that out of the 15 things that I remember, that is one of the things that I vividly remember and I never asked anyone again. I never went up to someone who was like, Hey, you're a dude that's doing it. Will you help me? You know what I mean?

Nole (39:31)
There's something really powerful in being vulnerable like that and asking for help like it's a really difficult thing for most of us to do and then the rejection That's a feeling that nobody wants to duplicate. Yeah, I was I Wasn't gonna bring this up. But now that you've brought it up again, I think it needs to be said and I don't know what the real answer is except for your challenge to

to guys out there of like, if you get asked a difficult thing by a young man or whoever, maybe take a pause and find out, talk to God about it. Like maybe that's the right answer. Maybe you don't have time, but maybe you should pray about it first. Maybe you should take a minute and go, why is this being asked of me? Is this something I need to engage in? Because it is so, it could potentially be so impactful. And when I was a kid at Hume, I had got it into my head that I was going to go be an army ranger, right? And I was.

12 years old, I was very quiet. was a homeschool kid. I was not your stereotypical, yeah, this kid's gonna go off and become this special operations guy. Like it's not gonna happen. And there was a specific guy that I worked with in maintenance that I had worked directly for for a couple of years. And it was years later that I had, I think I must've been probably 15 or 16 maybe. And I was talking about it.

And he just flat out told me that I wasn't going to be able to do it. He just said, you're not going to be able to, accomplish that and get there. And I know that in his heart, he was trying to help me. You know, he really believed that, that I wasn't going to be able to do it. And based on what he was, you know, seeing in me, he was probably right. That was the catalyst that made me go do it. Right. I wasn't, but, but it was part of it. Right. I remember that vividly. Yeah. And

David (41:17)
Obviously not.

Nole (41:26)
all of that to say, like, be careful, you know, how we speak to these young people, our own kids or others around us or anything, take a moment, take a pause. Because

David (41:36)
You cannot know what is going to be a core memory.

Nole (41:39)
Right. And you can't get that back.

That's, yeah, that's tragic. And God forbid like wherever in that situation, you know what I mean? And man, okay. So you get told no.

David (41:52)
Yeah, and I just want to say, dude, I have no hard feelings.

Nole (41:55)
Of

of course. In that moment, like from his perspective to play devil's advocate for a little bit, like I remember what it was like to be that kid at Hume. And I also remember when I was a little bit older, seeing those kids at Hume and they're kind of ubiquitous. They're everywhere. They're annoying because they own the place and they walk around and act like they own the place. ⁓ I know I was and I acted like I owned the place. And so from a, from like a staff perspective, it would be really easy to just go,

whatever. Yeah. Go talk to your dad or you know, whatever. but

David (42:31)
still didn't feel good. Feels real bad. So I think, but with lightning, right, he, he wanted it and he, had to fight a little bit cause doc was like, ⁓ which maybe that's just a little bit, but, ⁓ but that desire, right. And that's, dunno, I think that that's a cool, that's a cool relationship. That's a special relationship for two people to have.

Nole (42:32)
No, it feels bad.

It initially says no. Lesson there too.

Isn't there a verse in the Bible about going and asking for bread in the middle of the night and like you just don't stop bothering your neighbor until he gives you what you want so he just leave you alone? Like isn't there some sort of persistence? I don't know the reference but it's in there somewhere.

David (43:11)
Sorry. mean, persistence is definitely, endurance is a biblical trait for sure.

Nole (43:16)
So the guy's gotta say yes, but then when he says no, we have to keep pursuing.

David (43:20)
Well, and that's where I'm going to like I get in this like, okay, well, maybe that's not the deal. But I think to your point that it is not about no, you don't have a mentor. Right. I think you still seek that out. And that's definitely where I fell short on that. so anyway, the first one kind of it concludes at the at that race. Right. It's lightning chick and the king. And they all race and they come to the end and lightning.

Nole (43:25)
Maybe he wasn't the guy. maybe he was that.

David (43:50)
Doc had back up, Doc had not been able to race because he crashed, right? And the industry, they, whoever they is said, you're done. You're And lightning recognized that in the king, because the king crashes and he goes, shoot. The maturity in it, right, of that moment to be able to see what that moment for Doc, what that did for him for the rest of his life and to be able to see, I don't want that for somebody else and to sacrifice everything that he's worked for.

Right. The whole movie is and he even says it my whole life is for this moment. Like I'm going to win a Piston Cup and he's done it. He's passed everybody. He's about to win and he sees the king crash and he goes. But that's more important. Right. And that that is like just so epic to me. I'm like, dude, to grasp. The gravity of how you can change other people's lives. And that is what is what has started to shift for me of like.

Anyway, I'll keep going. So that movie ends. I think that that is like a really cool character development for lightning. Right. He's cocky kid to now sacrifices. And that was on stage for everybody. Right. That was like it's not like, ⁓ I missed a training to help somebody. It's like he gave up the whole race and everybody went. What? ⁓

Nole (45:16)
What you just do. Yeah.

David (45:18)
And like you're saying you don't get that back people don't like chick won that and and he Plays on that all the other movie and the third one. He's like, want to piss and cut I'd be lightning, you know, and everyone's like, well, I mean, yeah, it's sort of And lighting you know, they don't really play on that at all in any movies But he's got to deal with that. Could you imagine just an annoying person all the time? You're like I beat you I beat you And you're like

Nole (45:31)
Yeah.

David (45:45)
You didn't beat me. You did, but you know what mean? And then this is constant battle. So ⁓ the second one to me is like, I don't want to say a throwaway movie. It's just not my favorite. It's more about Mater. I think there is definitely still character development for Lightning. Maybe the Lord's still working on me with the second one, but I mean, there is definitely right. Mater does something and Lightning is like, get out of here. You know, I'm trying to win and you're messing me up.

And so then he's like, realizes through that, like I'd rather have my friends than win. And he's like, I need you to come back. Like I'm your best friend, whatever. And so cool. Character development again, kind of fell back into that racing of like, yeah. And I feel like every time I, honestly, every time I compete, I'm like, ah, dude, I just want to win. You know, and I like it, that is like a constant about like my wife, I'll tell you, we'll go play pickleball. And we'll be like.

Nole (46:28)
This is what matters.

David (46:42)
I won't get into that my wife would be like dude. She's so funny ⁓ We rarely play on the same team, but every time I'm like no we can do it. We're good I've matured I I've matured we can play on the same team. have not matured it is always there's always some some fight dude, which is I've definitely put pressure on her when we play because she is a Really good volleyball player. She's a really good setter and she will set other people dimes and they'll just crush the ball But she'll set me absolute

garbage and I think it's because like the pressure is like he's gonna be so mad

Nole (47:13)
He's gonna be

so mad when I don't do it right. I didn't do it right.

David (47:18)
Yeah, so that is definitely like an ongoing struggle for me, but.

Nole (47:24)
Dude, I was playing pickleball with a, I'm not a ball sports guy. I grew up like you, I played broom hockey and ice hockey, but I never played football. I never played baseball. Like we just didn't have enough. So I'm enough kids to play these things. So I just never got into that. And I've just was never gifted in those areas, ball sports. So I'm not good at pickleball, but firemen love pickleball. This was like two or three years ago. I'm working overtime at this station and these guys go to play pickleball. It's what they do.

David (47:44)
Boy, do they.

Nole (47:53)
They're like, hey, we gotta go play. Do you play? They ask me, cause they don't know me very well. And I go, I will go play with you because it's what the crew does. But I'm going to tell you right now, I am awful. I am terrible. I don't even understand the rules. Like I'm not good.

David (48:08)
about the kitchen and being in there.

Nole (48:10)
And they're like, whatever, come on, we're gonna, it's gonna be great. And the captain that day was really, really into it and very competitive. And that guy was a total dick to me because I was terrible at it. And I kept asking questions and I kept having to have like the, I mean, the rules aren't complicated, but at the time I had played maybe twice. And so I was still trying to understand. And he would just, he was just beside himself as a rule to explain that to you. Come on. a fire. So annoyed.

David (48:35)
Yeah, cool

Nole (48:38)
And the whole time I just felt like, dude, I'm out here trying to do you guys a favor. So you have enough people to play a proper game. Cause if I just say, no, I'm not going to play, then you don't have enough people treating me like anyway. So I'm on the other side of that spectrum, dude. was, yeah, I'm just no good.

David (48:49)
Go on and sit on the couch.

It feels

bad being the other person, you know? Especially when my wife afterwards is like, that wasn't fun. I'm like, that's my fault, sorry. Dude, so this is the movie,

Nole (48:59)
Yeah, like, ⁓

All right.

Wait, you have to pause. Okay, alright. So the third film. We to take a little break because we're going Jocko Willink, not Jocko Willink. We're going Joe Rogan length right now on the podcast.

David (49:25)
Is it? How long has it been?

Nole (49:27)
Well, it

depends on if we include the 20 minutes of the pre that's laden with stuff that we can't publish. we that, then we're almost at two hours right now. Wow.

David (49:31)
⁓ yeah, I did. ⁓

What's the thing there?

Nole (49:44)
yeah, you go to the Patreon. I'm working on that. Actually, I'm working on that. We're going to be going over to Patreon, not in order. Well, we're not going as a week on that. Not right now, but we will have a Patreon basically. ⁓ I will tell you this. We're to go a little bit in the weeds right now already in, in the podcasting world, in the YouTube world, in that world of creating content, there's like things that everyone does and our best practices.

Like and subscribe there's things that everybody says so Everyone else has a patreon so we should have a patreon. That's just the way it goes Do we actually need one should we have one to our fans our friends that listen even want it? Probably not but we're gonna do it because everyone else is doing it

David (50:29)
Hey, I mean maybe dude, maybe that's what's next

Nole (50:35)
Yeah, the truth is I just want to be able to say like Sean Ryan does like we just thank our Patreon members and like there's this one guy he asked a question for our guest David Hartman today. Here's the question. I read it to you and then you compliment the guy who asked the question. That's the key. You compliment. That's a really good question.

David (50:55)
Yeah,

always. Do you know why people say that?

No. It's a time to think. You go, man, that is a really good question. But you're. And then you're like, I don't know what I'm going say. It might actually be a good question.

Nole (51:06)
Right, you may not immediately be

like Lightning McQueen. The answer to McQueen is in the 3.

David (51:12)
Exactly

movie movie three is I think the best movie ever You know, don't know people probably say like Top Gun or like

Nole (51:25)
Top Gun Maverick or the original Top Gun?

David (51:27)
I people would probably say the original. I liked Maverick.

Nole (51:30)
Have

you cried during a children's movie, an animated film? I have. So you're in safe waters. It's safe here.

David (51:40)
This is, it's interesting where I'm at in my life right now, what the Lord is doing to me. Because I am like, my daughter is just, she's at a point where she cries about everything. Absolutely everything. It's just like.

Nole (51:56)
Let me just let me just give you a little advice a little dad advice. I've had a daughter for almost 21 years That's not a face. It's just a girl thing, bro. Some girls just cry all the time. All right, go ahead

David (52:08)
So I, dude, it's honestly bad, it's bad for me because I'm like, are you crying about that? Like that's not it. That's not something to cry about. Like it's a bottle of water that you did nothing for. I'll get you another one. We've got two more pallets of them. Like we're good on the water. It's okay that Beckham had some of that. You don't want, you don't gotta cry, you know? ⁓ But in like the emotion side of things, like Hannah's always like, you know, it's not bad to cry. I'm like, well, yes, I agree with that. But in,

some scenarios and like, that's not it.

Nole (52:42)
In some scenarios it is bad to cry.

David (52:44)
We're not crying about water, spilled milk. Don't cry about it. Right. ⁓ But I recently the Lord has just softened my heart, I guess. And I cry about literally everything. Like I, I made a list of things that have made me cry. And it was like a Google keep note. I had to scroll.

Nole (53:05)
So it wasn't like the list of your memories. I also

David (53:08)
Yeah, very

different, very different. ⁓ So yes, honestly there are a lot of children's animated movies that hit me. And I'm like, I don't know why.

Nole (53:21)
Well, it's because they're really well written and executed, the ones that are good. Yeah, true. Especially the Pixar, the era of Pixar movies that the Cars movies came from. They were really doing a good job in the writing and the storytelling. And there were elements of truth in the stories, like what you're highlighting here with these, that resonated with real life and with the parents. So the kids liked them because the characters and the colors and the animation, blah, blah, but the parents are watching it and they're getting teary-eyed because, my gosh.

David (53:51)
That's it. This is it.

Nole (53:52)
And I feel like that era is largely over with those studios, but there were some amazing films and I have absolutely cried in children's movies.

David (54:04)
Yeah, cars got gets me like literally every time I watch it now. I know what's coming. I've seen them all multiple times and I will still be like. Every time. ⁓ So if I cry during this, I apologize because I most times that I tell this, I think I've I've talked about this like three times without crying and I'm I'm probably I'm probably in the 20s. I'm telling a story now. ⁓ Cars three is epic. The so it starts off.

Lightning kind of has his groove, right? And he's racing with his boys and they're all back and forth winning. It's just fun right there. They're joking with each other. I think that was kind of for me like just before being engaged and being engaged. I think that was just like a fun season. I felt like I hung out. That was like when Edward was still here. Bubba hung out with Bubba a ton. He's like another one of my brothers. So I don't know. It just like a fun time for me, right? And then

So he's just vibing doing his thing and then he gets passed by Jackson Storm, the guy, right? And he's like, who is that? His doors off. Yeah, like wasn't even trying to say this right past him. He's like, well, what the heck? And he's kind of like, whoa, who is that guy? You know, they're like, I think that's Jackson Storm. It's like nobody really knew who this kid was. And he's like, OK, weird. And it's it kind of like goes through the progression of these races of like

Nole (55:15)
this could come from.

David (55:36)
He starts losing and it's not a back-and-forth battle between him and his boys It's like everyone's fighting to try and beat storm like he is the guy and for me I think that that was just kind of life. You know, mean like I was just kind of like Just fighting and doing anything I could to figure it out and I was like I'd enlightening He didn't know to do different right and all his boys are starting to retire and they're like, you know my

My dad always told me you're gonna know like the young kids will tell you when it's time to retire. So they're all getting to this point where it's like they know in their brains they've given up the win, right? And that's why everyone's racing. You can't win anymore yet. Yeah, and they go, there's just no way that I can win. And it's so interesting to me that that concept, because lightning talks about it later. ⁓ The belief of these dudes is just gone. Right. And, I don't there's like a whole bunch of different tangents on that, but.

not for lightning, right? He's like, nah, like I'm going to win still. Like in his, his brain, he's like, no shot. This kid is better than me.

So he what does he do he tries really hard right and he he's dude that is like my go-to like let me just try harder and he's in the in the Last race of the season or whatever. He's like trying as hard as he can and like the exhaust is getting all hot and he's like I'm digging I'm digging I'm digging and he's fading back right and ends up blowing his tire or whatever and he flips and it's like this like

Nole (57:12)
Yeah.

David (57:14)
And hits the ground rolling and everyone's like, no lightning McQueen and it's that like that moment for him because then it cuts to him being like in a garage right and he's This is this is one of the things that the Lord told me last time. So this is new That moment for him was he sees Doc in himself, right? He goes shoot that might be it. I might be done

And his immediate reaction to that was to sit in a garage and do nothing. Right. Sally comes and she's like, Hey, it's been months. Are you going to do something? And that is my wife. Right. Like I, I like, my thing is like, I'll just go sleep. I'll just go, I'll just go take a nap. You know what I mean? Like I don't, when I'm like not locked into what it is and I'm like, I don't know what it is.

I would just go run to sleep and lightning ran and it's isolation is what it is. Right. We're running to being isolated. And so lightning is totally lost. He's like, I don't know who I am. I don't know Duke. Like, I don't think I can win anymore. You know, storm came in here and he's blown everyone's doors off. All my friends are gone. He's like, I don't have the means to beat him. Who am I now?

Like what now what and even with that support system, right? Like he has the friends he has radiator springs. He's got Sally. He's got Mater like he has his boy Mater and ⁓ he still is like that purpose because for him it was still racing while he recognized in you know throughout the movies that racing isn't everything that was still his purpose was still to race. He is a race car, which people I know that is like that's deep.

So. ⁓

I feel like a lot of times like that's where I'm at of like dude. I just don't quite I'm not quite there. Like what is the what is it? You know, and he's like searching and searching and searching and he finally decides like I'm gonna get around everybody I'm getting back in my with my people and I'm gonna do it. I'm race I'm going and everyone's like dude sick Like we're so glad that you didn't give up, you know, and I feel like again like my wife is like believes in me way more than I believe myself and like I've got people around me who are like

You know, I'm so glad you didn't quit. Great. Let's keep going. And then the whole movie, right? He meets Cruz.

Nole (59:56)
Wait a minute, hold on. Before we go into that part of the movie. What?

David (59:59)
I'm ready.

Nole (1:00:03)
There's a rule in interviews and podcasting that you only ask questions that you already know the answer to. But ⁓ it's not actually a true hard and fast rule. Well, you can't. Anyway, that's a stupid thing to say in the middle of this episode. There's no purpose. So if Jackson Storm for lightning is potentially the career ending, like you can't win anymore, everybody's retiring.

David (1:00:13)
Yeah, I don't think I'd live by that.

Nole (1:00:32)
that's not the phase of life that you're in, but you said in the story that for you, Jackson Storm is like just that's life. Now I do know some of the answers to this question, but are you, what are some of those things though that you feel like you're battling? Because you're not battling being at the end of a career. You're a young man or the end of a calling or something like that. So what are you battling right now? What is, what is, what is that term life encompass?

David (1:00:57)
Is

everything is that so?

Nole (1:01:00)
And this is, but it's helpful for the men listening if you elucidate a couple of those.

David (1:01:05)
So I think one, I say all the time if I get anything right in life, I wanna be a good dad, I wanna be good husband. And I think those two things are like, they are so difficult for me to consistently be a good example. Because it's so easy for me to like, actually you were saying it and I was so convicted by it. That like your kids came and they were complaining about their job or whatever and you were like, you guys have great jobs, you're young, this is awesome.

And then you're like, recognize that, like, that's what I do. They've seen me do that. And so that's what they do. And I was like, bro, that's all my kids see me do. As I come home, I'm like, dude, work just is garbage. Like, I hate the environment. I hate, like, the politics of it. And I'm like, that's all they hear me say. So they're going to grow up and they're going to think work is garbage. like, honestly, like, no, nothing against my dad at all. But I think my dad came home from work a lot of times and was just like,

you know, like I'm finally home. Like, ugh. And so, like, that's what I think. You know, now I come home from work, I'm like, ugh, dude, work is just...

Nole (1:02:06)
Yeah.

Because it is.

David (1:02:13)
Yeah,

but but you don't have to have that attitude right I mean and and that is like a Deep struggle for me of having a good attitude and things that I'm like, this is trash Work for me is like I I'm not loving work at all. Am I any stretch of the imagination? I'm not loving the work that I'm Like I said the politics of things how leadership runs things how I mean I had no idea and people probably think this is stupid about working for the government

Like I had no idea that it was like they don't care at all. Like there's no, I could literally do nothing and no one would care or I could do all of it and no one would care. And so there's no incentive either way. I don't know, just, work is super hard for me right now. I think that financially, you know, obviously life is expensive. Dude, finances are so hard. We're like scraping by, you know what I mean? Like it's a huge stressor, you know, especially

My wife is like, dude, we need groceries. And I'm like, how much did you spend? I'm like, this is psycho. And she's like, that's what it costs. What do want me to do? Church life is, there are things at church that are difficult. We're trying to get plugged in and involved and it feels like there's roadblock after roadblock after roadblock. And I think a lot of times people's natural tendency is like, oh, well, if church is hard, just go find another one.

Like we feel that we're like, that is not it. I think that there are things that we have left churches that we've brought, like we've gotten involved and told leadership like, hey, here are things that we see that are issues. Can we fix them? Can we have like, we're here. And they basically were like, is what it is. And so we're like, okay, this isn't the church, you know, but I don't think, I think in America right now, it is so easy to be like, like we're in.

sitting here, there's a church in every corner, right? You can just go pick a church. Yeah. And I think people that we're talking about endurance, right? The being able to say like we've been through the hard seasons of the church and we haven't gone and just given up. Like we want to stick through. We don't just want to find a church that's like, oh, we like everything. The pastor's super good with his words and the worship is just so nice. You know, like this is not right. That's not real life. So we're trying to be people that

see the problems and want to help fix the problems. Because I think that's, again, like a lot of the things that people are very quick to be like, that's the problem. This is the issue. You're the problem. Do it like this. And when it comes to actually doing it or having an idea, it's like, OK, well, then let's do it like that. Like, well, I don't want to do it. OK, what's the next idea? I don't know. I just know this sucks. It's like, well, you're kind of a part of the problem because you're

getting everyone else on board being like this sucks, this is stupid, this is bad. And then all of sudden the culture is like trash, you know? ⁓ So church, you know, it's not perfect. We like where we're at, but I mean, there are definitely hard things at church that we're trying to navigate of, we still, like I said, I don't know if it's in the podcast, the intro or whatever, but. Were we talking about it in the intro, the pastor?

Nole (1:05:27)
I don't know, I still don't know.

I don't remember. We've talked a lot today.

David (1:05:35)
Our, the head pastor that started the church in his living room two months ago, three months ago, stepped down. And so like, we're like, okay, do we stay? Do we go? Like we really liked him. So like that's a whole thing that we're trying to navigate through. Like kids sports, like just the business of life, right? Our van is a 2011 Honda Odyssey with 160,000 miles and I,

I'm just like every day. I'm like man every every time Hannah calls me. I'm like to the van So there's just I mean it's life right I mean it I say that it like blinkingly, but It really feels like any way that I look right now is like I'm getting punched in the face Mm-hmm, know, it's like okay. which punch do you want to take next? Yeah, you want to get punched financially? Do you want to get right punch relationally? Do you to get put like you you pick it? You know, it's your choice dealer choice. Oh

Nole (1:06:35)
Dude, it's really difficult to...

So much of the stuff that's a stressor in our household right now is financially based. And it's one of those things that we were raised that you don't talk about finances, right? You don't talk about it. And I think that in some sense, that's a good lesson. If you're like the Elon Musk's of the world, like the people who are doing really well, then yeah, you keep your mouth shut about it.

Like there's no reason to be talking about it. But from the context of what you and I are talking about, where there's struggles, it's really hard. And the thing that gets me, and I went and picked you up at your house today and you're in a fight with the local city government about a project.

David (1:07:24)
Another one sees is getting punched in the face by the local government, too ⁓

Nole (1:07:27)
Every

time I go home to my house, which is amazing, and God bless us with a home, right? It's safe and the kids can be in there and it's a home. It needs a lot of work. It needs a new roof. It leaks. When it rains, it leaks into my kids' room through the wall. The deck on the back is like falling apart and the deck is...

57 feet off the ground. So it feels really unsafe when you're out there. Like there's parts of this house that really need to be fixed and I don't have the money to do it. And so when I come home with whatever other life stress is going on, then as the man, as the husband, as a provider, there's those things constantly staring you in the face. And because my wife is the keeper of the home, she wants to have those things addressed and she wants to take care of that stuff. And she wants to,

David (1:08:05)
So

Nole (1:08:23)
you know, help and have that be a priority, but there's not money for it. Right. And every time we feel like, and I'm, sharing this because I'm commiserating with you and I know the situation that you're in and it's similar to mine. It's similar to a lot of guys listening to this episode. feel like every time I feel like we're about to get ahead, like I have a little bit of extra money and I'm like, Hey, I think we can do the floor project. A car breaks down a tire bursts or something happens. And then

Praise God I had that extra money to deal with that thing like he provided. now I can't do the floor project. now every time I come home I've got that extra added stressor. And I don't know what the answer to that is. I mean, I know that for me I've been trying to learn to be at peace about things. It's really difficult for me.

specifically my daughter's room leaking when it rains. And we just went through winter time. And I literally went up on my roof and like put a tarp down, put tarps on the back deck, like trying to figure out, that's the other problem is I don't know where the hell this leak is coming from. But it's leaking into my house and I just feel like a complete failure. there's almost nothing I can do because I just can't, I don't have the money. Like I literally just don't have it. And we get paid well working for where I work, but we also,

live in Southern California. And we have some debts from some things. And my wife stays at home and teaches the kids, which is amazing. And the only thing I want her doing, anyway. But last thing, and I'll let you keep going. It seems to me the way life works is that it's never just one stressor. It's never just one issue. That's why at the beginning of this, you said it's life in general. Like it's everything all at once. It's the job.

David (1:09:52)
Then you're ⁓

Yeah. ⁓

Nole (1:10:12)
is eating you alive. It's the finances. It's the fight with the local government. It's the church. It's never one thing at a time.

David (1:10:19)
And it's everywhere we go. Everywhere you look.

Nole (1:10:21)
Yeah.

David (1:10:24)
But I don't know, man, I think that a lot of times people go, ⁓ God's not gonna give you something that you can't handle, right? That's like the cliche. God's not gonna give you something you can't handle. But I don't know if I agree. I think that God gives us things that we can't handle and we need to turn to Him.

for the closeness of that relationship. You know what mean? I think that there are so many things that people just go, well, I can handle it. And then they're miserable doing it. it's like other people looking at it is like, you should stop doing that.

Nole (1:10:49)
I think 100%.

to have

a theologian sitting here with us, like perhaps my dad. Because in that moment, when you said that, thought, yeah, I don't agree with that either because I think a lot of life is God making us go through things that we can't handle so that we have to rely on him, which is exactly what you just said. Maybe perhaps what that is talking about is actually temptation, that he won't tempt us with something. I feel like that's right. So maybe it's more along those lines.

David (1:11:21)
It is biblical. He will provide a way out.

I think it's mis- I think it's misused.

Nole (1:11:30)
Yeah, not that he's gonna, because I've got this bracelet on. I have sons that have died. I can't, no. Like there are things that happen in life that you cannot, you can't handle. Like you cannot. So why would it say that? It's gotta be something else.

David (1:11:46)
Yeah.

Yeah, and I think that's one of those things that I don't know. It's like a call out. But like the people that say they're Christians that don't live like Christians, I think that that's the understanding of it. Well, I can do it. God's not going to give me something I can't handle. Right. But when you're in the thick of it, I think that's when you're like, I can't do this. I need to play. I need to turn. Yeah. Yeah, dude. That's good stuff. That is.

I wish I, I wish, it's again, it's one of those things we were talking about earlier. It is so easy to sit here and say that. It is so easy for me to be like, yeah, dude, just turn to God. Like, he's got you. Right.

Nole (1:12:23)
Right.

And I will say this too, because I bring this up. I have that.

I have that life experience of losing kids, which.

is one of those things in life where it's like, don't talk about it sometimes because I don't want to be like putting someone else in a position where it sounds like I'm saying to them.

What are you complaining about? I went through this. Right, that's garbage. Because in the more recent past, I've gone through things with my wife, with my family, with work, with whatever that have brought me so low that I could not do it by myself. And it wasn't the loss or death of family members, right? It was other life stuff. It was the types of things that we're talking about. So it really isn't, I don't think that it works that way where you can just sit there and go.

Well, you didn't survive, you you didn't have to go through the Holocaust and hide under a floor. Like we could go down that road, but there's no point to that except for maybe, maybe to say that, someone else has done something harder so you can endure this. But even then, I feel like that's a worthless lesson because they're a different person. The circumstances are different. You'll never know the whole thing.

David (1:13:38)
Definitely that doesn't feel good in the moment.

Nole (1:13:40)
It doesn't,

it's not helpful.

David (1:13:42)
You're

in the pits and they're like a buck up. Yeah, exactly. Yeah

Nole (1:13:49)
So who shows up?

⁓ Lightning McQueen has decided Lightning McQueen has decided that he's gonna go for it. It shows up.

David (1:13:59)
So he goes to, what does he do?

He goes, man. He goes, and I think that's like part of it, going, right? You gotta, you have to go try. Bro, and I definitely, that is another one of the things where I'm like, I have a really hard time going when I don't know.

Nole (1:14:06)
Yeah, go to the place that I will show you.

I will show you when you go. What? What does that mean? I can't go.

David (1:14:22)
Honestly, I think that there's a huge lesson in that Samuel who spoke with the Lord, right? Yeah, just conversation. ⁓ When Saul screws the pooch and the Lord is like, yeah, that is yeah. Sorry. It might have been blasphemous. don't know. No, no, no. He tells Samuel.

Nole (1:14:30)
yeah, yeah.

Is that the new King James translation?

David (1:14:51)
go to the house of Jesse and I will tell you who's next. Right. Paraphrasing. He does not say go and get the youngest kid and do this and do this and do this. Samuel had no idea. Right. Right. So in my brain, my little peanut hamster running around up there, I'm like, I just, I want to know the whole thing. Right. Just tell me the whole thing and I'll go do it. Right. And even biblically, a dude who literally spoke to the Lord.

Nole (1:15:04)
Just go here.

David (1:15:21)
didn't get the whole thing. And like, I've got to, like, you got to sit there and be like, all right, that's what it is. You don't get the whole thing.

Nole (1:15:30)
Yeah. Which is really difficult for you right now. We've talked about this a lot on the, on the, on the internet through the telegram, not, the Instagram, the telegram. You feel called to do something right now with your life and you don't know what to do. You don't know where to go. You don't know how to start. And so you're, you're fighting with all this. You don't have the resources. You don't have the time. don't know the direction to go. So you feel

David (1:15:40)
That is a difference.

Nole (1:15:59)
Cold but lost.

David (1:16:00)
Yeah, and I I I don't know if that's how the Lord works, you know, but when I look at dudes like Samuel even David, right? He think about David is the craziest story to me. This dude is like the guy That whole Goliath battle which I think is epic. He runs to the battle line All he has armies the king all these people being like bro. You're a shepherd boy. Yeah, what are you go back home and

Nole (1:16:27)
doing gold.

David (1:16:29)
Watch the sheep and he's like you're gonna let him talk to god like that like Bet, you know what I mean? And he literally runs to the battle line. Like this is the guy and Spends a majority of his life running Literally trying to like 3000 imagine 3000 dudes warriors Trying to kill you and you're just running around the desert

Like it's the craziest thing to me. Like I look at, I'm like, dude, I just, like, I want the heart of David, right? Like I want to have a heart after God's own heart. And he spent his life running and he wasn't like, man, he was like, nah, dude, I'm not gonna, he could have killed Saul multiple times and was like, that's God's anointed. God will deal with it. Like the trust in the, but, and then in the, it's so interesting to me that his story, because

Two times, right? He ends up in a cave. Him and his boys are hiding in a cave. And I just, can't even imagine what it was like. I've tried to in my head picture, like you've been in a cave. You're looking out at the cave, right? It's dark and you just see a light, right? It's super bright. So someone walking in is silhouetted, right? But they know it's So when he walks in, it's like, okay, this is clearly Saul. I can't even imagine them being like,

Nole (1:17:46)
and they can't see.

Yeah, he's... He's trying to kill you.

David (1:17:57)
We're about to just kill this dude and

then and then David being like Stopping them and being right. No, he cuts his his robe or whatever and they're like and he feels bad even about that I'm like dude, what the heck? So then Saul leaves and he's like, hey check it out. I could have killed you and so I was like, oh my bad Sorry and leaves and David's like, all right, I'm gonna keep running runs and they get to the camp They're all camped out again. It's all gets in his head. I'm gonna kill you

Nole (1:18:11)
Yeah

David (1:18:28)
David Lord the Lord puts all the people to sleep David goes down into the camp with his buddies, which I did that conversation now that has been like Alright, bro. I'm in you know like I came in bad walking into army of 3,000 dudes who are looking for you and He takes his spear whatever and he's like mocking the he's like hey, I got his spear What are you doing? not even doing your job? You know so the Lord very clearly and to me like being in that moment

Nole (1:18:43)
Looking for you, yeah.

David (1:18:57)
You know, there are things that happen, right? like you're saying you've got extra money, a tire blows out, you're like, oh, the Lord provided extra money. Great. Like those are things that it's like, I'm going to choose to believe that the Lord provided that for me.

Nole (1:19:08)
I don't. Full disclosure, I'm usually just pissed.

David (1:19:11)
Yeah, but I mean you can sit here now and be like the Lord provider Yeah, it's hard to say in the moment man, it's hard to believe it in the moment but putting an army to sleep is a very Tangible thing. Yeah, that is a very like the Lord. I can't put people to sleep. You know, I can make money Kind of sometimes but I can't put people to sleep. So looking at that from David's perspective of being like this is

Nole (1:19:14)
Yeah, you gotta say that kind of stuff on the podcast

it's different.

David (1:19:40)
2000 % the Lord. The next line after that, these two crazy events could have killed Saul, didn't could have killed Saul again, didn't all these dudes chasing you. The very next line David says, one of these days, Saul's going to get me. I'm going to run back to the people that I just killed. So he goes and runs to Goliath's people. The Philistines is who he goes and hangs out with.

What the heck? Dude, it's the craziest story to me that you have this dude who is literally the definition of epic, has these crazy, like you can very clearly see God and then immediately runs.

Nole (1:20:27)
If someone like David behaves that way, what are we trying to do? My wife and I were just talking about when Moses leads the Israelites out into the wilderness and he goes up on the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments.

David (1:20:30)
What? Yeah. Me. Right.

Nole (1:20:42)
She just, we're driving along and randomly she just asks, how long was it that Moses was on the mountain getting the 10 commandments when they made the golden calf? Like what, what's the timeframe? So she started doing some research and it was, he was on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights. I actually don't remember ever learning, but that's very fascinating for another time. And so we're just, we're thinking along these same lines, like 40 days.

Everything that just happened. Some of the most amazing signs in history, back to back to back to back to back. And so then the question was, well, how long had it been since they actually left Egypt, since they crossed the Red Sea? was about 40 days. So they're that, that's not a long time. They're that far removed from the most glorious, amazing, like I am your God. Here I am. This is real. And then Moses goes up on the mountain and they're like, man,

Hey, Aaron, why don't we ⁓ spin a little bit? Let's whip up a God. need something to what? Baffling. However, I think the lesson there is how, how short sighted, how weak, how much we need God to step in. Obviously we forget. And the fact also, I think buried deep in there, or maybe not, maybe it's right on the surface is just the fact that

David (1:21:57)
And how quickly forget what he does.

Nole (1:22:08)
it's not anything that we can do. Like it's really all up to God and His grace because even somebody like David, who is a man after God's own heart, right? Out of his lineage comes Jesus.

even he is completely flawed and flips on a dime and goes, I'm going to go back over here and do this other thing that feels safer. Cause I can't in that moment, he's not verbally saying it, but he's literally saying, I can't trust the Lord.

David (1:22:38)
Which did.

Nole (1:22:40)
How

could you do that? But we do it all the time. I know I do it all the time.

David (1:22:44)
The, I don't know you've heard the fear, guilt and shame is Satan's, like that's what, like, I mean, there's a lot of things in David's life, like the whole Bastchie with you. I can't even imagine the shame that he felt for that, right? And the fear, it's to your point of this is David, like one of the guys and that's how he's living. I'm not David, I am David, but not like David.

Nole (1:23:11)
So I know what mean.

David (1:23:12)
I look at that and I'm like dude like I'm just some scrub man, and I'm trying to make it you know so and that dude is Feeling feeler fear guilt and shame right I'm like dude, so I wrestle with that all the time of like How do you how do you live in a life? That is just? Like a constant punch in the face and still Choose to look at the Lord and say you're good. know me I have like such like

a battle all the time of like, like I know logically you're good, but I sure don't feel it, man. Like I'm like, can you just like flip me a penny or something? Like, I mean, like give me a breadcrumb.

Nole (1:23:58)
when I'm trying to word this safely.

When I'm walking into a situation in my home where I know that for whatever reason My wife and kids are unhappy. It's it's dynamic we'll say at the house and I go into it with this idea that I'm gonna come in I'm gonna be dad. I'm gonna be positive. I'm gonna I'm gonna turn this thing around I'm gonna resolve the issues between my my children whatever they're having and I'm gonna cheer up my wife I'm gonna do all these things and I try to do it on my own strength. I last approximately five to seven minutes. Yeah

in like, I'm dad and I'm gonna solve this, I'm gonna do that. And then I'm sucked into that. And now I'm raising my voice. Now I'm yelling. Now I'm being rude to my wife or my daughter or my son or whatever. And it falls apart, right? Because I can't do it on my own strength. And I've done that a multitude of times just this year, right? And let alone the past 22 years we've been married.

And if I don't remember to take that to God. And that doesn't, that's the other hard part about all this. We got to get back to Lightning McQueen in movie three. But that's the hard thing about all this is that that doesn't make it easy going to God. It's still hard. It's still a fight, but it makes it at least not more possible, but it makes it possible that you're going to actually like get through it and do something right for a change.

David (1:25:26)
Yeah. I stopped,

Nole (1:25:29)
Do we have to break

now? Do we need to do a second episode later? We could leave it on a cliffhanger, but then you're going to have to figure out a way to record with me again. And yeah, who cares?

David (1:25:38)
Let's do it.

I mean, feel like, honestly, I feel like there's quite a bit. Still, but.

Nole (1:25:46)
Are you done? Do you need to eat?

David (1:25:48)
No, I'm not done. I'm good. I'm really good. All right. So he decides to basically train to keep going. Right. And he learns that the two dudes sold the company is Sterling. Starlings is like super futuristic dude that he's going to he's got like the new simulators and all this stuff. He's got a trainer is when this is this is like this is it for me right here. This this relationship.

But he meets Cruz, right? And Cruz is like a kind of, it's funny cause she's just like, I'm gonna say how it is. She's like, you're old and slow and like all the things that he doesn't want to hear. like you need friends like that that are gonna be like, hey, you suck, let's do better. And I think that that's like the differentiating factor is it's not you suck and move on. It's you suck.

Here's how we're gonna do it and she had all these things for him to do it and he thought they were stupid He's like taking naps and taking his tires. She's like you need to name all your tires and he's like wait lefty righty backy Whatever like she's like, know, he's like just going with the motions He's not trying to do it and he's like just he's like all I want to do is the simulator and he ends up breaking through the simulator and it's she's like we'll work you up to a work after and he's like no, know better I don't I'm gonna do it and I think a lot of times that's my ⁓

Personality is is I'll figure it out. I got it Just get me. Yeah, full speed, you know, I'll get there and So then Sterling is kind of like hey Like you might be done. I mean like I don't think you're gonna beat him anyway I just watch you on the simulator like your speeds not there You're done. You're gonna sell mud flaps and he's like No, I'm not. You know, mean like you know, that's not it and

Nole (1:27:21)
Let's go to the hunt. Let's go to 100 right now.

David (1:27:47)
Right before he talks her I say this all the time people don't I they probably just don't even know it but it's not that funny but the ⁓ lady that's like washing the floor. He's like you're washed up mcqueen. He's like, what did you say? She's like the floor's washed up and clean It's just like everything in him is just like ⁓

Nole (1:28:09)
Every angle. Yeah.

David (1:28:11)
Which I think that's life, right? We look every way when we hear all this garbage to us. for me, I am very focused on, not intentionally, but I'm very, the negative is just immediately glaring to me. I could have done this better. ⁓ That's dumb, we should do it like this. My brain is a pretty critical brain, which I think and how that's used can be a gift, but sometimes I'm a little extreme.

But so he has this conversation with Sterling and he basically tells him, he makes him a deal. If I win the first race, I get to decide when I'm done racing. And Sterling's like, but if you don't win, you're done and no argument. And Lightning's like, and I love because the belief in himself right there, he's like done. Like it wasn't even a question to him. It wasn't like a, I might not win the first race. Like he's like, I'm in, done. Like I'm going to decide when I'm done, I'm going to this first race.

And he's like, but I'm going to train my way. I'm to do my own thing. But he's like, Sterling's like, OK, but you're taking crews with you. And he's like, know, like this chick is annoying. I kind of want to bring her. So they start doing all this training and you don't realize it through like when you're watching it, but he is training her. Right. He is doing all these things to get himself there, but he's teaching her how to race and.

they end up going to ⁓ like a mud race, like just for fun. Cause he realized like, I just need to have some fun. And bro, am I at a point in my life where I'm like, I don't even know how to have fun. know, I'm like, I don't even, if fun hit me in the face, I would be like, what was that? You know what I mean? And he, but he recognizes that and he's like, I just need to go race and just have fun. And it'll be what it is. And they put mud on him and he's a, I'm in like a disguise so nobody knows who he is. And

She ends up, she has like the suit or whatever that can track his speed. She's like, I'm gonna track your speed from the infield. I'm not gonna race, but I'm gonna be on the inside. And ⁓ it's just like super redneck, know, just like good old boys. We're crunching each other up, you know, we're gonna crash and ends up being like a figure eight to the last car standing. And ⁓ they shut the gate and he's like, this isn't it, let me out.

is like, dude, I'm not a racer. Like, I don't race. Actually, I think before this is, I skipped a part that's like the meat, part of the meat of it. Right before they race this, no, it's after, I'm good. I'm doing it right. So they do this mud race. Whatever, long story short, it's like a five minute part. But she ends up winning. And it's totally not her fault at all. She's still doing the track and the water truck comes out and she, I think the movie's trying to make it like she cut it off, but.

Nole (1:30:45)
Okay.

David (1:31:01)
He's just a bad driver. Flips over and the water all spills on Lightning, right? And then the whole crowd sees who he is. And then they're all taking pictures and like, McQueen, It's like this huge deal and then it's all over the news. And he's heated because he looks like an idiot. And they already think he looks like an idiot. This is what happened in the first movie. He missed all the things and showed up and all the young guys were like, yeah, grandpa told me that this is what he did. You know what mean? They're talking mad trash and he's like...

Like this is exactly what I didn't want. So he's heated and she's just thrilled to be along with the ride. You know, she's like, woohoo. Like at least the trophy is like, I've never seen a trophy like this. And he's like, you just don't get it. You don't understand what's on the line for me. If I lose this race, I'm done. You don't get it because you're not a racer. And she's like, pull over the truck. I'm done.

She backs out and she's like, let me ask you a question. Do you think that I got up and I wanted to be a trainer? And he's like, I don't know, did you? And she's like, no, I didn't. I wanted to be a racer. And I wanted to be a racer because of you, which I can do. I can just imagine. Obviously this is like a fake movie, but like being in lightning spot where it's like you have influenced somebody to want to do something that you love to do. And you've now broken that. Right.

And she's like, I wanted to do it because of you, but now I'm done because of you. know, and like, just.

enlightening spot that was probably like the moment from where he was just like I'm not doing it right like this isn't whatever this is isn't it so she goes through this the whole you know like I got up before school every day to train and like I wanted to race and she's like my family would tell me like you're you can't do it which I'm like how many that's crazy to me but I feel like there's a lot of families that do that 100 % try and tell their kids hey don't do like to your point with the

the other dude is like, nah, you're not going to make it. Like the discouragement. think a lot of that is the fear on their side of things. Like I couldn't do it. So you can't do it. I don't want to get shown up. like that's just like being in in the perspective of Cruz, of where she's at in life and what she's come from, of like the family telling you you can't do it. But I trained anyway. And then I got to the line and I was going to race and I realized

I didn't have what it took. Like that the self doubt, bro, I have that in like everything, you know, like, and so this is the this is for me where like, as I started to dig into this, that I realized, like, there are a lot of pieces of crews that I have, and there are a lot of pieces of lightning that I have. And then together, like, that's the really cool story. That's why I like cars, three is because I can see both sides of it. And I'm like, I get it. And she asks lightning.

Like, how did you know that you could do it? And his response is, I just didn't think I couldn't. And there are a lot of things like sports to me that that is my brain. Right. I'm like, I'm the best. Like, there's just no way that I can't do it. Like, I you may outplay me one play, but now I've got that in my toolbox and it's never going to happen again. Like, I get that now. And there's also like. I mean, most of the time that I think like that and when I when I look at it, it's stuff that doesn't matter.

You know what mean? I'm like, who cares about soccer? Who cares about broom hockey? know, like most people don't even know what broom hockey is, but in my brain, I'm like, any place, anytime, let's go. You know what I mean? But then on that same point of cruise, it's just being like, you're right there about to race. You're about to do your thing. And you go, I just don't belong here. It's not my thing. Like, I don't think I have what it takes. I look around and everybody else is confident and everybody else,

knows that they can do it and I'm just not super sure so I'm not going to do it. know and like I man dude the amount of times that I've done that I've looked around a room and been like what am I doing here? Like I especially at work like I work with some dudes who who get after it and like their understanding of how to handle calls and how to do different things and I look at it and I'm like dude I'm not that guy like I don't I don't have it all together you know ⁓ and so

That I think is a huge piece of that movie of lightning understanding Cruz and Cruz understanding lightning and that like the bond that they they have later without that part of the movie they don't they don't have. So then lightning realizes again, hey, that was really dumb. My bad. I'm an idiot. And they go get her. And he's like, OK, I need to I need to kind of change what I'm doing here. I'm grinding and it's not working. I'm to go try and find.

the dude who trained Doc, which I think is like, again, pretty wisdom. A dude who's done it, who's been where I wanna go, teach me how to do it. ⁓ So then they both end up going to find Smokey. I think that's a cool part of the movie, too. You got the old time people like, dude, good old days. It's crazy in the law enforcement world how much the job has changed in such a short amount of time.

Like even 10 years ago, guys are like, ah, dude, it was such a fun job. Like it was so fun. Like me and the boys just went out and we got bad guys. Like we were chasing people every day. We were getting guns. Like so fun. And now it is 100 % not that. And I think that lightning in listening to them is like, dang dude, like I wish I had, like I wish I got to see Doc.

in his prime, like I wish I had to be a part of that, you know? And I think for me, like there are things that are like that, like this job where I'm like, dude, like I believe you. Like I think this job would have been so fun 10 years ago, or you know, like, I know, I think we got the glory days of Hume, you know, I think that that was like the era. But like going back and like talking about those days, I'm like, this is so fun, you know? And like, it kind of like sparks it for him, right? He's like, dude, it is fun. It is a fun thing.

Nole (1:37:12)
Undisputable.

David (1:37:23)
I think I'm waiting for that spark because there's a lot of things that I think dudes have talked about and I've been like, oh dude, that's cool. That's cool. I like that. I like that. I like that. But I'm not, I'm not like, let me go do it. You what I mean? So they start training different. They do like Smokey's way, whatever. And again, you don't realize it cause you're watching lightning try to win this race. Like the whole thing is lightning, but he's training Cruz. Cruz the whole time is getting all and she's watching everything. She's watching.

his attitude. She's watching the mistakes. She's watching the, this is how I get it. And she's doing it herself. ⁓ they're there throughout this part, they're doing like a, she has like a lap head start and he has to catch her in three laps. And like when it starts, it's like, he's like half a lot behind, you it's like not, not even close. And like, as it progresses, he's getting faster and it's getting closer and closer.

And it comes to the day of the race. And they're like, all right, this is it. Like do or die right here. And he's feeling good. They've done all the training. He's like, I've worked hard. I get it. Like we're going like the really, relationships are good. Me and Cruz are cool. Like I'm going to win this race. I'm going to have the confidence. I'm going to go do it. They start racing and it's, it's just fun for Cruz, right? Like she's never done this. It's just fun. so, uh, lightning passes her.

And on the last lap, it's like one corner to go kind of thing. And you can see, like you can imagine being there of like, all of this work has come to this moment of like, can I beat Cruz, who's not even a race car, like doesn't race, to have the confidence to then go race. So this is like a huge moment for him of like, I'm going to do it. This training worked. And then Cruz passes him back in the last corner and he starts hearing the like, McQueen is fading.

He's fading fast. He's fading, you know, like, and it sinks in for him of like, there's the doubt. I might not be able to do it. I can't even be Cruz, you know, and he's like, you can just as well as they could do in a car. He's like, bumming. He's like, dang. And Cruz is just doing donuts because it was epic to her. It was a race because she is a racer. That is her thing. Right. Like she was built. I mean.

movie, but she was built to be a racer. Right. And she got to experience that and it was just fun for her. And like, and she realizes I just took lightning's confidence. Like I just totally. And she's like, I'm, I was just having fun. Like my bad. Right. And ⁓ so then lightning goes to race and he's, mean, you can imagine in that moment of just like, I did all this training, like this is probably the last time I'm going to race. Like I'm, I I'm probably not going to win this.

And, you know, people like, hey, win one for the old guys. Like there's all these reminders for him before the race of like, yeah, I'm not the guy. Yeah. You know, and I think like that is such a spot to be of like, this is the last time that I'm going to do my thing. What's next? You know, and I think I have seen in a lot of places, I think Hume, honestly, being one of the best examples of

people doing things that are really, really high level and then not having a bench or like, this is what's next and just leaving and then being like, I'm totally lost. know, like the new guy comes in and is like, what do I do? And I think lightning realizes that in that moment of like, I don't know what's next. Like I have nothing. This is all I've ever known. So he's

He gets in in racing right and he started he he missed all the qualifiers or whatever because he's gone and starts did last and he's like working his way up making progress and he's like he gets inside like top 20 or whatever and smoke he's like ain't gonna do it you know you're doing a good job and he's like I gotta go all the way like I've got to win so he gets inside the top 10 and he can hear sterling talking to Cruz and he's like get out of here like go back and start working on the next guy because lightning's done I need you to go get this guy ready

And Cruz is like, I've done all of this work. Like I want to watch him race. Like I, I want to watch. And he's like, I'm not going to ask you again, leave. Right. And it's her boss and she wants a job. Right. So she's like, all right, cause I'm going to leave. So she starts driving away and that is the moment for lightning. That is like the aha. I get it. And that's like, that is the moment for me. Like I, that is what I'm, I'm

Like I desperately am like, dude, that's so epic is that he realizes that it, everything that he did wasn't for him. It's for her. And he has a choice or this is his, Fork in the road, if you will. He can either decide I'm going to try and race and maybe lose, maybe win. He like, you know, he's still in that, like, I don't know. Maybe I could do it and still get to race or I can for sure lose.

but I can give her an opportunity to do what she is, to do her thing. Cause he realizes all those things start playing and like, you're not a racer. And she's like, I wanted to race and I didn't think I belonged. And it clicks for him. He sees in her, you are a racer. I know who you are. I get it. You are a racer. So I now have this opportunity to give you a chance to be who you are. And he chooses to do that, which is like,

I think that is like the coolest thing. So he's like, I get her back here, whatever. She comes back in there. He's like, fill her up, get the gas tires on her. And everyone's like, what are you talking about? And he's like, get her ready to race. Like this is it. You guys don't get it. I get it. Just trust me and do the thing. And then he has a conversation with her, right? I'm like, dude, you are a racer. I believe in you. I'm going to give you this opportunity. You have to believe in yourself. This is, this is your chance.

I've only got one chance to give you. So you either choose to do this or you don't, but I'm going to give it to you either way, which I think is like, again, I think that is so cool. So she goes, okay, I'm in starts racing and barely makes it out there. And he has to kind of walk her through how to race, right? Cause she's never been on a stage like this. Like this is like a real race with the fastest dudes. And, ⁓ which I think is like a cool, I think that's a cool.

Relationship to be like I'm gonna tell you what to do not out of arrogance I'm gonna tell you what to do to help you and you're gonna trust me in doing it right because I feel like there's people that tell me things and I'm like I Don't think I trust you. I think that you're iffy. I'm gonna listen to you, know, which there's wisdom in that but I think what a cool relationship to have that you've built along the way of all these things of like hey, you just need to listen I got you. I'm gonna help you. Yeah

Nole (1:44:32)
I've been there. Type of thing.

David (1:44:34)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think that that's that's so fun for crews, right? Cuz then it's like I just need to listen and do it like I know how to do it But I'm gonna listen to you and do better. So she starts climbing In doing it in the the pit crew of sterling starts going. Hey She's kind of doing it like you might want to be paying attention and he's like the costume girl That doesn't belong here. Like I'm not worried. Yeah, and then they're like, hey, she made it inside the top ten

And she's coming. so she's vibing, right? She's like, oh, this is racing. Like, I get it. And then Sterling or Storm goes, huh, and comes back to her and slows down and gets right up next to her and goes, hey, costume girl, you and I both know that you don't belong here. know, like you can pretend all you want. And the people here might think that you belong here, but on a deep level, you and me.

both know that you're not a racer. And dude, this is the part that usually gets me, I'm trying to hold it together. That is Satan to me. All the time, dude, I feel like I'm like right there and Satan just goes, you don't belong. And I'm like, dude, I don't belong, man, you're right. And she knows it too, right? She knows like, man, he got in my head.

Because lightning's like, what did he do? Did you see what he did? And she's like, yeah, yeah, he got in my head. I see what he did. Like, he's telling me I don't belong. And I'm starting to believe it, you know? And dude, I can't tell you how often I'm like, bro, like I'm starting to believe it, you know?

But she keeps going and lightning goes, look, you can't look at it like that. Like you have to change your view of not only what he said to you, but how you see yourself. And he says, I see it in you. Even he sees it in you. Now you have to see it in you. It's your choice. And I think that's what God does to us. Like.

I think he often is like, dude, I see it in you. I built you like this. Like I built you to succeed. Like I want you to win. And Satan goes, you don't belong here. You're not good enough. You know, like you can't run with these people. You don't, what do you bring to the table? You can't run this race. You can't, you know, you're not the guy. And then we, we, especially I think as dudes go, dang, I think you're right. You might be right.

But the thing is that Satan doesn't do that to people who aren't doing it. If you're sitting on the couch doing nothing, Satan's like, cool, stay there. I'm not worried about you. But the second that you start getting in the race and you're about to win, he's gonna come back and be like, hey bro, you don't belong here, dude. And so that moment for lightning to speak into Cruz and go, even Storm sees it in you.

You have to believe it in yourself. You are a racer. You have to believe it. And she goes, all right, I'm in. That is what, so they keep going, right? It's the last corner. And they're like, here they come around the corner. They're neck and neck. And she's just toying with Storm at this point. She's like, hey, call out our speeds. And he's like, you're pulling me off my line. She's like, oh, you're just mad. Totally in his head now.

And ⁓ he is like so dead set on her not winning the race that he's willing to cheat. And that dude again is 100 % Satan's game. dead set on me losing that he will do anything. He will twist God's words. He will twist what I believe about myself, even good things, right? Like there are things that like if you're good at it and it's like, I just know I'm good at this. He will twist that and be like, you're arrogant. Yeah.

Now you're not going to do it. And I'm like, dude, I'm arrogant. You're right. Like that's totally like, what am I doing? You know, like I don't want to be that. And he, he will twist your identity and who you are just enough so that you're like, I'm not going to do that. And then he wins. Right. So he's willing to cheat and jams cruise up against the wall and he's just like as hard as he can. I push her sparks everywhere. And he's like, you are not going to win this race.

You don't belong here and Cruz flips over him and is like, yes, I do. And in that moment, she believed in herself. It wasn't that lightning told her, Hey, this is your moment. wasn't that lightning said, Hey, you're a race car. wasn't that storm said anything to her. There was nothing that anybody else in that moment could have done to make her believe it. She believed it in herself. And that is the moment for me that I'm like, I want to give that to people. I want to create something that's like,

This is who God made you to be. I see it in you. All of these things in your life are happening. So Satan is attacking you. So Satan sees it in you. You have to believe it in yourself. Here's the opportunity to do it. And the whole. mean, again, I our story is epic, but the whole movie is the pinnacle of it is lightning realizing I have I can pass the baton.

I have these skills, have this understanding, have this talent, if you will, this opportunity that I can give to somebody else. And it's a sacrificial moment for him because he is giving up everything that he knows. All that stuff for him is still true. I still don't know who I'm gonna be without racing. I still don't know what's next. I still don't know any of that. But in that moment, he goes, but it's more valuable for me to give her the opportunity to be who she can be, who she is.

And he gets it and it's like epic. And they have that nod at the end. They both look at each other and they're like, well done. And both of them get it. Right. Lightning looks at at cruise and is like, well done. Like you get who you are. I'm glad that you won the race. That's so fun. But you get who you are now and no one can take that from you. You know what I mean? That for people to understand their identity and like God built me this way and to not stray from that.

is like the goal, right? And Cruz gives Lightning the nod because she recognizes, just sacrificed it all for me. You know what mean? like, what a cool moment for her to be like, dude, like that relationship lasts forever. And then, you know, obviously the chief, he, Lightning becomes her crew chief and they still work together and he still does whatever. But the baton passing and the understanding of both sides.

Like what a meaningful relationship for them to have of like, you didn't just give me like a job. You didn't just give me something fun to do. Lightning gave her who she was. And it wasn't, it's not like he built her to be a race car. He gave her an opportunity. I think that is like the pinnacle of like what we can do as people of like, Hey, I've got an opportunity.

for you to be who you are. Do you want it? You know, and I think that that's like the question for me a lot of times is God and I don't know what's next for me. I don't know what, like how to make these things happen. Like you, I've got these things that you already said that I don't know. But I think God goes, do you want it? Like I built you like this. I see you like this. Satan's attacking you. So he definitely sees you like this.

Do you see you like this? Do you want to do it? And a lot of times I'm like, but I don't belong. You know what mean? Like I don't, I think you got the wrong guy. And I don't and God's like, okay, we'll keep working. And then another time comes up and he's like, do you want it? And I'm like.

guy man you know so anyways that's cars three and I think cars three is mainly I think the point of cars three is identity and I think that that's where a lot I talked to a lot of dudes who don't know who they are and they're

life is going to work to make money and then coming home and trying to survive. And I, at a very deep level, believe that that is not what God has. Like, I don't think that God's like, let me build this earth and I'm going to send my son to die so that you can go to work for 40 hours and then you can come home and struggle through that too. Like, I think that there's more and I want to give that to people. just, man dude, that stuff fires me up. That's what gets me fired up.

cars three. But with all that said, I think that the more that you think about that question, because that has truly shaped how I think now about people and about opportunity. I think the more that you think about that question, the more God will use it to shape how you think about yourself. Because there are dudes like immediately were like way below, like their brain went subpar.

And I think that that's like, God's like, nah, bro, like I've got way more. Let me dig. Let me like, let me teach you. Let me use these guys to, to pour into you, you know? So that question for me is, is it's a big question. But I think for people to ask that question to a spouse that can then speak into it. Hannah has also helped me dig into some of the things of like, think about it like this.

Yeah, that's helped me Process it because I'm like I said, you know, I'm not like a crier I'm not like a emotion-feely kind of guy But the more that I dug into this the more I think the Lord is softening my heart to some of that stuff so I think that this question can be what you make of it like if you're gonna be like, I relate to Iron Man because he's the best Avenger, know, which is true Do you agree?

He is the best Avenger. Then that's what you're going to get out of it. You know what mean? But if you're going to dig, I know, you'll get two hours of a podcast.

Nole (1:55:27)
think it's so interesting when you were talking about looking around a room and feeling like you don't belong, right? You're in that moment where it's that Satan is lying to you. And he's getting in your head and saying, at these guys. What are you doing here?

I was standing in Georgia in a group of over 100 guys getting ready to go through the selection portion to get into Ranger Battalion. And I'm looking around the group and I am thinking that exact thing. And as the first few days of kind of the orientation before everything starts is going on, I'm already picking out the guys that are going to make it and knowing that I'm not one of those guys and that my only hope

This is what I thought at the time was to kind of attach myself to that group and kind of like let them ride me through. Right. And the thing that ended up happening was every single one of those guys that I identified at the beginning as being the guy, they all quit or failed out. And none of them were standing at the end. And the guys that I was standing there with were like me, not the people that you would have chosen out of the group to go, that is an army ranger.

David (1:56:23)
care.

Nole (1:56:46)
there's one over there. No, 100%. We got on a plane and flew back, me and a couple of buddies back to the West Coast. So we were on one of the legs of the flight and I was young, but I was intelligent enough at the time to know that no one on that plane thought anything about me and my two buddies that were on that plane. And we were army Rangers. We were the best. We thought, you know, we had all these ideas about who we were, most of which were false.

But no one on that plane would have looked at us and gone, look at those Spec Ops guys. Not a chance. We were just dumb kids, right? And so we were there for different reasons. And it really is interesting that so much of our world.

is so focused on the external, the boats, the money, how you look, how you act, whatever, right? All that stuff. And because we're also humans and we live in the system, it's hard not to get sucked into that. And this is just a very tiny portion of responding to what you just said, right? This is not the main point that you were making, but it is really interesting.

If you think about some of the greatest stories, whether they're sports stories or stories like Lord of the Rings, we love the underdog, right? The guy who doesn't, doesn't deserve it, shouldn't be there, right? According to the world. And, he perseveres and works through the hardships and the embarrassments. And then in the end is the, is the great hero or the one who saves the day. And we, we tell those stories and we, we do that in our culture because that's what

God has done throughout history, not just in the biblical history that we have recorded, but just like, that's the story, that's truth, that's how he likes to work. Why does he like to work that way? I think it's because it gives him glory when the guys who don't fit, who shouldn't be there, who can't do it, when... ⁓

David (1:58:43)
there's no other explanation.

Nole (1:58:44)
doesn't

make any sense, right? Except for that God made you that way and he's going to use you in the way that he wants to, right? But it doesn't work apart from him. And it's very interesting to me, even though I know this and we've had this conversation, it's interesting to me listening to this whole saga of these stories. And at the very end, coming down to the point where you're not saying I identify with this movie because I want to be the champion, right? It's that, it's that end of that movie, the third movie where

In my heart, when I watched Cars 3, I was disappointed. I wanted Lightning McQueen to be the champion again, because I identify more with just like the old, the kind of the old guy, the washed up guy, like, yeah, I used to be an Army Ranger. That was 20 years ago, right? I can't live on that glory, quote unquote, anymore. I mean, I can.

I can certainly try, we know what that looks like. It's embarrassing and I'm trying really hard not to be that guy, even though I mention it all the time, right? Can't stop talking about it. But anyway, that's where I took that is just like, dude, why, why did they do that? And I didn't think about it. didn't, I mean, I knew it was good. It was still obviously cool and emotional, but still for me, I was like, man, lightning should have won. This is stupid. They did it wrong. They did it wrong, right? But, but I missed a lot of that because I wasn't thinking about it in that context and I wasn't.

where you're at. You've also probably seen it a few more times because that one, my kids are older and so I've only seen that one. I think I've only seen that movie maybe once.

David (2:00:16)
Cars 3, man.

Nole (2:00:18)
Anyway,

it's fascinating to me that at the end of all that, like that's your, your thing, your, you feel you're called to your identity is that you want to give that to other people. want to say, here's an opportunity to figure out why God made you, what he wants you to be doing in the world. And it's not go to work, come home and just exist. Right? That's not it.

what is it, and you want to give that to people, which is really, really compelling. It may be more compelling to me because we've had these other conversations in the background, but that is interesting to hear that and to know that it's not just like, I just want to be the champion at something.

David (2:01:04)
There was a day I just wanted to get your doors in with my friends. We now it's like I want to pass that that knowledge You know what I mean? Yeah, definitely for sure. I still would like to kick doors in my friends. I think that'd be fun

Nole (2:01:16)
Unfortunately, there may be a time when that becomes necessary. That's a conversation for another day.

David (2:01:20)
Amen

⁓

Nole (2:01:23)
This has been the Fire You Carry podcast.

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Take your microphone and turn it so that you're talking directly into the front of it. Yeah. And then make the boom go lower and since flare this out like this. So then it's not in your face. You see this, you see how I'm doing that because these microphones, there's, these are called dynamic microphones. it's picking up only from the front. if I'm talking

David (2:03:11)
Yeah.

Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah. Is that better?

Nole (2:03:31)
So the gentleman doing the vacuuming probably won't even pick that up in the microphone. Yeah. But if you talk. Yeah. And then that thing that we were talking about this morning, we're going to get back to where you were. But that thing that you were talking about this morning where Jocko goes, good, the closer you are to the microphone, the more bad ass you sound. Yeah. It doesn't matter, but it sounds better. It's called, it's called the, ⁓

David (2:03:57)
I can't remember

Nole (2:03:58)
It's

I came what it's called there's a name for it Anyway, wherever you decide to be while we're recording just stay there. Okay, so the less kind of movement you do the better But I will say this This is just a conversation between us as bros and it doesn't actually matter if your audio goes like this or if you touch the table if you mess with this

David (2:04:08)
Yeah, I'm a mover bro, so we'll see how that goes.

Yeah, you know why is honestly if you post that people like that, huh? People love that Cuz then it they love to like hey, I'm looking over here cuz and they think like they're part of the room

Nole (2:04:24)
They love this.

Yeah, it feels like you're part of the room, especially if you had video, but I didn't bring any video stuff.

David (2:04:32)
I don't need that for sure. Bro, I have a straight speech impediment. I cannot say s's correctly. And I did not know that until I started listening to body cam. Yeah. And so when I hear stuff like this, I'm like, bro, you sound like a child, dude. I can't even speak correctly.

Nole (2:04:49)
My wife jams me up all the time because I say salary like celery like I can't say those two words like I'm talking about making money and she's like you're saying celery and I'm like I'm saying sorry, it's like this problem and the thing that the podcast has done for me and When I first started podcasting and when I would go back I still do and edit every second of the podcast I Started to realize rapidly how often I said the word

which everyone does and in normal daily conversation, no one notices it because it's totally, it's just part of the conversation. But when you're recording and then listening back to yourself over and over and over again, starts to get really annoying. So I cleaned that up. I say it less now when I'm recording. It's a weird thing. Like my brain knows that I'm communicating differently. And so you'll hear me. I pause a lot in my

David (2:05:38)
to work.

Nole (2:05:44)
and I sound kind of broken like my cadence is weird, but it's because I'm not saying

David (2:05:48)
Yeah, I there you don't watch tick tock there's tick tock videos of people trying to remove that right of like, yeah, okay this video I'm trying to go two minutes without saying like without that's the So I have a me too I say I I I and I realized some of the videos that I've seen where people don't say that are edited like they edit out the Yes, so I'm like, okay, you guys are cheating. But okay, I don't know

Nole (2:05:59)
that I'm struggling with right now.

David (2:06:18)
There are times where if I'm saying they were like, I'm referring, I'm not using it as a filler. I'm using it as like this is like. I don't know how to, I don't think I'm educated enough to have the words to fix that.

Nole (2:06:35)
because we've been doing it for so long.

David (2:06:38)
As compared to... You know what mean? Like, I'm like...

Nole (2:06:42)
Right.

I literally just said like, it's hard. It's hard. And it doesn't really matter because in conversation, that's just how we communicate and it's fine. And you and I probably don't sound like the most educated gentlemen around.

David (2:06:45)
Yeah, twice.

I want to sound more educated. ⁓

Nole (2:07:00)
not really too concerned about it. Really? I I don't want to sound like an idiot, but I don't think that you do because you use the word like, we're going to try to start this actual podcast. Now. Are you ready? Don't be nervous.

David (2:07:02)
I like sounding like an idiot.

But on the surface he looks calm and ready to drop.

Nole (2:07:16)
Is that

David (2:07:19)
you

Nole (2:07:21)
All right, we're gonna do it. We're gonna do the official start.

David (2:07:25)
Do you always do you when you record with somebody do you always like okay? We're gonna officially start

Nole (2:07:32)
Mostly.

David (2:07:34)
Do that helps?

Nole (2:07:37)
You know what? I've been rethinking the way that we do this actually. Originally, and now that this is an interesting question, because I think we got into a habit of doing things a certain way for a certain specific reason that really doesn't exist anymore. We used to start the podcast with welcome back to the fire you carry podcast. This is Noel. sitting here with David Hartman.

We're in this church that's decorated for VBS. I'm looking at this giant praying mantis created by my buddy, Brandon. It's terrifying. It's going to be great. And then we were rolling with the conversation and that introduction was like, that was going to be the beginning of the podcast. Yeah. But now and actually never has that been just the beginning of the podcast. I always go in and record after we're done recording the intro and I play the music under it. it's really repetitive.

Cause I'm introducing the podcast and then Kevin, that's his role. always does exactly what I just did. So there's really no reason for it, but maybe we need to change it. Maybe we just need to start rolling into a conversation and then I just pick where we start and it just is where the podcast rolls. the music fades out, it's like there's a conversation going on and we're already in.

David (2:08:54)
This is my thing about family photos. You guys do family photos? Yeah. So my wife is deep about family. Like she loves them, which I have learned when we first got married, I was like, this is the worst thing ever. I hate this. Yeah. But I've learned to like it and to be able to have like the pictures on the walls and be like, dude, my kids were so little. Look at them now. know? So it's cool to go back. But in my opinion, and a lot of photographers don't do this and I don't, I kind of don't understand why.

I feel like the best pictures are the ones that are like when we're going from spot to spot and they're just clicking right and it's like the total organic. Yeah, like no one's like you're not. So I don't I feel like for the podcast it's like hey, we're just talking you click record and then whenever it starts like all right, we're in it, you know, because then it's organic. It's not like we're starting.

Nole (2:09:34)
Posing. Yeah. Right.

20

minute conversation we just had parts of which are unpublishable, right? Really good. It's really good content. Yeah I've put us in a really bad position right now and you're not you don't realize it but I'm over here and I'm having this internal conflict Yeah, because I turned the microphones on and I'm like we're gonna warm up and now we're into some some deep waters Yeah that I want to go into and my podcaster brain is just trying to figure out

David (2:09:50)
I disagree, but it's weird.

Nole (2:10:14)
How do I roll this into the meat of the episode? Because the beginning of this conversation is like not usable, but now we're into something that I want to talk about because it's been, it's been on my heart and mind. My wife and I were just talking about it, but.

David (2:10:26)
Yeah

Nole (2:10:34)
Maybe it's not for the podcast. Maybe it's just for you and me. So I think there's this, my wife and I were talking about resiliency.

We were driving, I can't remember why it came up, but somebody, I came here first heard me, one of us asked the question, like, can you be resilient if you've never been through like tough situations, like hard stuff? And is it learned through that or can you learn it like through reading or whatever? Obviously we believe that God could give that to you, right? If he wants to give that to you as like a gift.

But by and large, we feel like we're in this society where like this gentleman we're talking about. And like what you were talking about earlier when we were running, where people are just, they're just like not having a hard time. Like life is easy for them. You look at them, you meet them at your job. Like how are you living and functioning in life, the amount of people that I've gone on as a fireman?

and looked at the way they live and their life and the way they appear to be conducting themselves. And I cannot understand how they're still even alive, let alone living in a house and owning cars. This stuff is a struggle for me. How are these people accomplishing it? They're walnuts. They appear to be right.

David (2:11:57)
It's not a Miriam's brother walnuts and they're doing it and I don't really know all that

Nole (2:12:01)
understand because it's like I'm trying to do the best job that I can. So, so what is that? And I feel like back to the guy that you're talking about. I think we're in a time.

wife and I were just talking about this this morning before we came over here. But I think we're definitely in a time and we've talked about this, you, me and Edward and others about the whole, that quote that gets thrown around all the time.

hard times make good men. That quote, right? We're obviously in the point where we feel like it, where we're in the time where weak men have made hard times. Like it feels like that. And so we're surrounded by that.

David (2:12:29)
Yeah, yeah.

Nole (2:12:45)
So what do you do when you're in the middle of that time and you're literally dealing with people like that guy?

David (2:12:53)
Yeah.

Nole (2:12:55)
And you're not at that point, right? You're sitting there listening and saying, yeah, these are great truths. Like the, okay, yes, but these are truths that you've known. Like you're, that's the milk. You're ready, you want the meat, but that's not being provided wherever it is that you're going because by and large society around us isn't there. that, it's.

It's hard to say that without sounding like I'm like, oh, we've got it all figured out. I'm like, I'm better. Because I certainly don't. There's certainly things that I need to learn and relearn.

But it does feel like you're surrounded by people who are just like not either not really struggling like they think they are. Then the be this things that they're struggling with with stuff they're learning is like.

David (2:13:47)
What? Yeah, that was pretty a long time ago.

Nole (2:13:50)
And I have a hard time and you have a hard time with this too. And it's really related to your line of work, but it's hard to sympathize with those people.

David (2:13:59)
Bye-bye.

Nole (2:14:00)
It's hard not to just look at him and go, you know, just stop. Like just shut you sound like an idiot. Just shut up.

David (2:14:08)
I'll tell you where I have the hardest time with that.

Nole (2:14:12)
cause.

David (2:14:16)
forgot to click record.

Nole (2:14:18)
Dude, you just scared me so bad. ⁓

This has been...

The longest podcast recording that I think I've ever participated in. Except for one time when I did two episodes back to back. But even then, I think this has gone on longer, so. You got a record. We got wives trying to figure out where we're at and what we're doing for lunch and what are the kids doing. ⁓ We're just warming up right now. I'm not going to use any of this.

David (2:14:42)
Man, I got more to go if you want to keep going.

Anyways.

Don't don't care do whatever you want. I'm just talking. I'm just talking. Yes

Nole (2:14:59)
This is how we warm up.