Missed Calls - Episode 03

In todays episode, Cori recalls the special Friday morning calls she shared with her dad during the pandemic, where they would catch up on life despite being across the globe. These conversations, often joined by Cori’s brother, were a cherished routine and a time to connect as a family. Cori opens up about the bittersweet emotions tied to these memories and the ongoing process of adjusting to life without her father.

Throughout the episode, Cori shares updates on her personal life, including her health reset, managing her mental well-being, and her work projects. She also reflects on how much her father inspired her journey and the sense of closeness she feels through continuing her creative work and building connections.

Listeners are invited into Cori’s world as she processes her grief, while simultaneously celebrating the growth and lessons she has gained.

Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] – Introduction to the third "Missed Calls" episode and reflections on weekly calls with dad during the pandemic.
  [00:01:00] – Sharing memories of a final family video call with dad and brother from different parts of the world.
  [00:02:00] – Reflections on grief and how those calls brought connection and joy.
  [00:02:17] – Voicemail from dad: “Hi, it’s Dan…”
  [00:02:25] – Cori’s voicemail begins: “Hey, Pops.”
  [00:03:00] – Sharing updates about friends and life in a place that shaped who Cori is today.
  [00:04:00] – Feeling good after a month of health reset, physical changes, and personal growth.
  [00:05:00] – Reflections on mental and physical health, and dealing with depression.
  [00:06:00] – Acknowledging how far Cori has come in personal growth and the lessons learned from dad.
  [00:07:00] – Financial stability, earthquakes, and navigating future uncertainties with a calm mindset.
  [00:08:00] – Sharing thoughts on the world today and feeling prepared for whatever comes.
  [00:09:00] – Upcoming travel plans to Vietnam and feeling grateful for a peaceful life.
  [00:10:00] – Expressing how much Cori misses dad and how he is always present in everyday life.
  [00:11:00] – New podcast projects inspired by dad and the connection with others.
  [00:12:00] – Closing thoughts: Upcoming Vietnam trip, holiday vibes, and gratitude for the listeners.

Stay Connected:

• Learn more about the podcast and how to submit your own voicemail or story about dan - https://coriorak.com/hey-pops-podcast
• Get involved and learn more about the Dan Culhane Memorial Fund - https://www.danculhanememorialfund.org/

Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports me in continuing to share these stories.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. See you next week for Episode 4 of "Hey Pops."

Transcript

Missed Calls Episode 3

[00:00:00] Cori: Hello, my loves and welcome to the. third missed call episode. I was just thinking about during the pandemic and in the beginning of 2021, I had weekly calls with my dad and it was something I always looked forward to, and it was a non negotiable. It was in the calendar and I wouldn't take any meetings or do anything during that time.

And It was my Friday morning so it was awesome to recap the week and let my dad know what's going on in my life and I got to hear what's going on in the States and how he's feeling and how everything's going and sometimes my brother would join and it was really cool to just have the three of us on the phone together.

And the last video call. that the three of us did together was so cool because my brother was in England, I was in Bali, and my dad was in Minneapolis. And what a cool thing for him to have his kids out there in the world, and for us to connect while spread out across the world. And I just, I can't believe that I [00:01:00] got to have.

that excuse of a horrible worldwide pandemic to have a standing weekly call with my dad. And we did that all the way up until I think the end of January. And then in February, we did more just texts and keeping in touch before, you know, um, before the, I don't know how to say that. I still feel weird saying it, but before he passed away.

Um, but anyways, this call made me feel that fun, exciting call feeling I had where No matter what I'm doing that day, it's still, it's something that's a priority for me. There's a little bit when I was really busy today when I thought, I'll just do it tomorrow. And it felt really bad, like as if I was missing the call with him today.

And so once I did call, it was so fun. And I love just being able to talk to my dad and put it out in the airwaves through this project. So, thank you all for listening. I think it's amazing that you listen to these episodes in [00:02:00] addition to the like, storytelling quote unquote real episodes, I guess. Um, but these are near and dear because it's like a lifeline to my dad.

And enjoy and thank you.

[00:02:17] Dad: Hi, it's Dan. I can't come to the phone right now, but if you leave a message, I'll call you right back. Thanks. 

[00:02:25] Cori: Hey, Pops.

At the end of my Monday,

day to day, I

was working on seeing[00:03:00] 

all my friends, and Joy

visited me and seen the place that I lived for a decade and continue to go [00:04:00] every year, and it's such a huge part of me and who I am, and it's so fucking cool. I know you really would have loved it, but I also know that you pushed me to take photos and videos. and share them all, and so you have been there along the way all year, I believe 20 years of it.

Um, but I'm just so, I'm feeling good. I spent this month just kind of like doing a bit of a health reset after such kind of rough times and I didn't really have I haven't had any alcohol this month and I worked out 6 days a week and I watched a little bit more of what I ate and just kind of did like a health reset after such a wild year and it feels so good and I am being, I can move better which feels great.[00:05:00] 

Waiting for that super loud motorbike. Um, all my joints were starting to like, seize up and, I don't know, probably atrophy because of my depression and lack of movement for so frickin long. But, I feel like myself again. I actually, I feel like I'm getting a bit of a rhythm, and balancing things out, and having productive days, and I, uh, am reading some really good books as well, that I wish, I wish I could share with you.

I always like to send you gifts. But yeah, I just, I've been thinking a lot about how far I've come in life in general and how incredible this life has been and how you pushed me to, you know, be myself and you always told me how proud of me you were of all the work I do, all [00:06:00] the hard work of therapy and courses and personal development and that means so much to me because I often, I felt all my life, like, I've been alone and living in a different world than everyone else has and I mean, I know you know this because you watched me grow up and play by myself 90 percent of the time and I just think, like, how when shitty things happen now, they don't knock me down as far as they used to and I've got, like, all these cool toolkits and all these great abilities now to Sort my shit out and manage it and you know things wild and scary at times like I'm I'm doing fine right now Financially, I'm fine.

I like I told you on my other call I took out a loan just to not be scared financially, but I'm okay Financially, and I am safe. [00:07:00] There's been a couple of earthquakes, big guys, but it's not too bad, but I'm safe. I'm healthy. I'm having like a little bit of future panic of not knowing if I get to keep my house past March of next year, but I'm prepared for everything.

I don't want to move cause nobody wants to move, especially if you like your house, but moving and finding houses is a real hush shit show, but the things that I'm worried about aren't as scary as everything. happened the past few years, and that's really refreshing. I literally sleep better at night, because even though the world is scary, even though, ugh, we're coming up on another election, you would be I mean, I don't have, I don't have words for what you'd be if you were watching me.

Is that idiotic? Trying to get elected again, the, the criminal, the felon, and, it's insane, but Kamala is up for presidency, like, you would have been, [00:08:00] you would have been so behind it, and helping the voters, and, watching Nancy, Walk through all of the, um, policies and everything with their highlighted documents, and Anyways, even though the world is frickin terrifying, I still feel like I'm gonna be okay, like I can handle it.

Like, I've gotten through everything to this point. I can get through everything, and I really enjoy, um, the stage of life and it's cool that I live in a place that I love. I have friends who are very kind and considerate and don't give up on inviting me places even though I rain check all the time and like I said, I'm going to go back to Vietnam, like I'm just going to bop a four hour flight over to Vietnam and see all my friends, eat all my favorite foods, and watch movies.

And I'm living the dream, and it's a, it's a small, [00:09:00] peaceful dream. And I'm so freaking excited for the future, and not scared. So, I don't have any, I don't have, I don't know what I'm trying to say. I thought initially when I make all these calls, I would need so much of your advice. And really, it's, I just want to talk to you.

When I really needed your advice was a lot of that America bullshit where I was trying to figure out how to build shit in my apartment and set up insurances and all these things, but I always figure it out. I always find a way. I always make it through. And more than anything, I just want to tell you everything.

I want, to know. I want to show you everything. I wish I could FaceTime and show you what my little desk looks like, uh, in the outside balcony area and think about all the times that you couldn't sleep and it was my daytime or I couldn't sleep and it was your daytime and we got to text or [00:10:00] email back and forth and I just really fucking miss you.

But, that being said, you're kinda everywhere. You're, you're everywhere. I think about you everyday. I have pictures of you around the house. I'm now doing something that I sit in front of a microphone or I'm sitting behind the audio editing software where I'm just, I feel like I'm with you, hanging out with you, co working with you.

But also, like, you keep finding me jobs. I just got a new, um,

We're going to set up her podcast and she came because of this podcast because her dad inspired her with the idea she has for her podcast and she loved hearing my first few episodes and we're going to start working together. I called with her this week and you would love her podcast. It's all about getting stories and storytelling from people You know, the generation of your parents, [00:11:00] around there, of the people that she doesn't feel, the host, doesn't feel, uh, gets their stories told enough, and, and it's exactly what you were doing with Nancy's mom, and I just think you'd love it, and I can't wait to play it for you.

Well, you'll hear it every time I play it back, and, yeah. Anyways, love you all have a good day. Love you all have a good week. I'm really excited that at this time next week, I'm gonna be fully clocked out, and like, getting my bag ready, and getting all set to go to Vietnam. Oh, I love that slip feeling right before a trip.

I'm even like, But I have a nice busy week to help pass the time before I get there. And then it's, I come home, and it's like the second week of October, and it's straight into holiday vibes. Oh, you. So, I love you, I miss you, um, I'll talk to you soon. Bye Dad.[00:12:00] 

Thank you all for listening. It means more than I could ever explain. The support has made me feel like I was on the right track with my career choice and also just connecting with people that love my dad as well has been incredible. And stay tuned, next week is a regular Hate Pops episode and then the following week I will be calling my dad from Vietnam.

So, stay tuned, stay safe, I love you all, and learn something.