
Summary
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
Theo Von sits down with legendary actor Josh Brolin for a wide-ranging, candid conversation about sobriety, chaotic childhoods, the film industry, and finding meaning later in life. Both openly discussing their past struggles with alcohol and addiction, the two explore how shared vulnerability and humor help them navigate life's pressures. Brolin shares wild anecdotes from growing up on a 230-acre ranch with a wildlife-activist mother who housed wolves and chimpanzees, his decades-long journey through the ups and downs of Hollywood, and his transition into day trading and day-to-day creative freedom. The conversation highlights the power of community, resilience, and approaching life as an open-ended experiment rather than being defined by past labels.
- Products that mimic the social rituals of drinking, such as water in 40-ounce-style cans, can help individuals in sobriety feel included without compromising their recovery. 2:58
- Treating personal history and past struggles as malleable clay rather than a fixed identity allows for continuous personal growth and reinvention. 1:24:48
- Intense personal drive and difficult backgrounds, when channeled with proper tools, can lead to a greater positive impact later in life. 1:31:17
Chapters
- 0:00Intro and Promo Announcements
Theo opens with a rapid-fire promo for upcoming shows, merch, and his new Netflix special.
- 2:09Guest Introduction and Alcoholic Identity
Josh Brolin joins, and the conversation turns to sobriety and the shared experience of being an alcoholic.
- 2:58Liquid Death Water Marketing Story
Brolin explains how Liquid Death’s cans appeal to sober people and the broader cultural shift away from alcohol.
- 5:15Cito Rats Origin and Surf Culture
They dive into the history of the Cito Rats, a surf‑skate crew from Montecito, and its influence on their lives.
- 7:47Survival Themes and Rat Metaphor
Both discuss resilience, comparing themselves to rats and exploring how that survival mindset shaped their paths.
- 9:44Family, Abuse, and Early Trauma
Brolin recounts his mother’s activism, animal encounters, and the violent, chaotic environment of his upbringing.
- 39:25Early Career Struggles and Auditions
They talk about the challenges of auditioning, the rejection they faced, and the pivotal moments that led to their first roles.
- 46:22Acting Struggles and Early Career
Theo recounts his early acting challenges, lack of guidance, and the pivotal role of the film "No Country" in changing his trajectory.
- 48:10Day Trading as a Parallel Career
The conversation shifts to Theo’s experience as a full‑time day trader, detailing his earnings and the decision to leave trading for acting.
- 49:14Influences from Film and Music
The hosts discuss influential movies, musicians, and the creative inspiration Theo draws from figures like Jeff Bridges and the film "Crazy Heart."
- 1:00:00Mentorship and Industry Connections
Theo shares stories of mentors, industry relationships, and how connections with people like Jeff Bridges and others have guided his career.
- 1:00:45Closing Thoughts and Sponsor Messages
The episode concludes with sponsor plugs for Quince and Chime, followed by a brief wrap‑up and final reflections on the podcast’s themes.
Highlights
- 2:58
Liquid Death and Sobrietyinsight
The guest explains how water canned to resemble 40-ounce beers helped kids at concerts feel included without having to drink alcohol.
- 5:10
Refurbishing Past Communitystrategy
The guest discusses taking over the trademark for the Cito Rats, his childhood surf group from Montecito, to transform a destructive past into a survivor brand.
- 14:21
Childhood Among Wild Animalsstory
The guest shares stories of growing up on a 230-acre ranch where his wildlife-activist mother housed wolves, mountain lions, and a chimpanzee named Reggie.
- 15:21
The guest recounts how their pet chimpanzee Reggie once grabbed a gun and held it up while a worker was fixing the chicken coop.
- 47:39
The guest reveals that he spent nearly five years working full-time as a stock day trader, making more money during that period than in twenty years of acting.
- 1:31:17
The Power of Alcoholic Driveinsight
Citing advice from Anthony Hopkins, the guest explains that individuals with intense, addictive drives can cause massive harm without tools, but enormous positive impact once grounded.
Quotes
“Rats can swim for up to, up to three days, right?”
Unnamed speaker · 7:40 “I think sometimes I'm like that. I think honestly, I didn't develop and I never thought about this. Sometimes I didn't really develop my own sense of feelings when I was growing up.”
Unnamed speaker · 9:12 “I just don't want the fucking drunk with it.”
Unnamed speaker · 3:46 “I love how you said that deadpan.”
Unnamed speaker · 11:25 “I did a little, I did a little bit of, uh, I did jail time.”
Unnamed speaker · 50:53 “I didn't really make hardly anything acting, you know, there was, I didn't, cause I wasn't really working.”
Unnamed speaker · 48:29 “I was a landscaper for a year.”
Unnamed speaker · 47:36 “And I was like, is that a good thing?”
Unnamed speaker · 1:31:00 “I have his typewriter. I have his pool table.”
Unnamed speaker · 1:32:31 “I like the whale stuff though. I like.”
Unnamed speaker · 1:36:28
Sponsored segments
- theovonstore.com 1:00–1:21
- Liquid Death 2:48–2:57
- Moonpay 30:45–31:36
- Manscaped 31:48–32:54
- Quince 1:00:00–1:00:57
- Chime 1:01:00–1:02:12
About this episode
Josh Brolin is an actor and writer. His new movie “Whalefall” is in theaters October 16th. Josh joins Theo to talk about the legacy of his old crew “the Cito Rats”, how his mom’s unique spirit impacted his life, and the times he thought he might not make it as an actor. Josh Brolin: https://www.instagram.com/joshbrolin ------------------------------------------------- Tour Dates! https://theovon.com/tour New Merch: https://www.theovonstore.com ------------------------------------------------- Sponsored By: Celsius: Go to the Celsius Amazon store to check out all of their flavors. #CELSIUSBrandPartner @CelsiusOfficial https://amzn.to/3HbAtPJ Moonpay: https://moonpay.onelink.me/O2ia/t34p5kxg Manscaped: Thanks to MANSCAPED® for sponsoring today’s episode! Get The Lawn Mower® Ultra Gen 6 for 15% OFF + Free Shipping with code THEO at http://Manscaped.com! Chime: Head to http://chime.com/theo and join the millions who are already banking fee free with America’s #1 Choice for Banking! Quince: Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to http://quince.com to get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns! ------------------------------------------------- Music: “Shine” by Bishop Gunn Bishop Gunn - Shine ------------------------------------------------ Submit your funny videos, TikToks, questions and topics you'd like to hear on the podcast to: [email protected] Hit the Hotline: 985-664-9503 Video Hotline for Theo Upload here: https://www.theovon.com/fan-upload Mail stuff to: ATTN: TPW PO BOX 40137 Nashville TN 37204 ------------------------------------------------ Find Theo: Website: https://theovon.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/theovon Facebook: https://facebook.com/theovon Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thispastweekend X: https://twitter.com/theovon YouTube: https://youtube.com/theovon Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheoVonClips Shorts Channel: https://bit.ly/3ClUj8z ------------------------------------------------ Producer: Zach https://www.instagram.com/zachdpowers Producer: Trevyn https://www.instagram.com/trevyn.s/ Producer: Nick https://www.instagram.com/realnickdavis/ Producer: Andrew https://www.instagram.com/bleachmediaofficial/ Producer: Halston https://www.instagram.com/halstonrays/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcript
19,537 words · 3 speakers
Topics
- Santa Barbara
- No Country
- Whale Fall
- Dune
- Tucson
- Sicario
- Marcus Welby
- Montauk
- Santa Rita
- Bread and Roses
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