Moon Unit Zappa | Stories from “Earth to Moon” | The Family Unit

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Moon Zappa:00:00:01

Like, I didn't even feel like I had a choice to,

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00:00 Moon Unit Zappa joins Story & Craft

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to not go into entertainment.

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And, and because while I was raised, where

my father was at the top of the pyramid,

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and I had to do everything in service

of my father, acting was very similar.

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Announcer: Welcome to Story Craft.

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Now, here's your host, Marc Preston.

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Okay, welcome

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Marc Preston: back.

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Another episode of Story Craft.

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How are ya?

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Good to have you here.

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My name is Marc Preston.

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If you're new to the show, glad to

have you checking out this episode

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as we sit down with Moon Unit Zappa.

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Of course, her father, the

legendary Frank Zappa, she had

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a wonderful career of her own.

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I remember her like many Gen X kids

with her brother Dweezil Zappa.

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They did the MTV thing

together for a while.

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00:45 Discussing the Memoir 'Earth to Moon'

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But right now she's got

a brand new memoir out.

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It is called Earth to Moon.

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It covers a lot of ground about

growing up in the Zappa household

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and kind of how those things continue

to affect her into adulthood.

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Some unique stories in there

and a really great storyteller.

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She did a wonderful job of just making it

Just interesting to read a real pleasure.

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Just head on over to storyandcraftpod.

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com.

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So I tell you what, let's get after

it today is Moon Unit Zappa Day,

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right here on Story and Craft.

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So where are you joining me from?

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From the East Coast.

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Thank you You grew up in the

LA area or how long have you

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been in on the East Coast?

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01:59 Growing Up in the Zappa Household

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Moon Zappa: This is a place where I

decided to finish my memoir, but I've

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been bouncing around between Los Angeles

and New Mexico and yeah, and New York and

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Connecticut and just jumping around trying

to figure out where, where to be next.

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Marc Preston: By the way, I just

got your, your wonderful memoir

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here just a couple of days ago.

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And I've been trying to read it,

but I'm laying in bed because I'm

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one of those people that cannot read

without it just putting me to sleep.

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So how does it feel to have it completed?

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And this out in the world

is a sense of relief.

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I didn't

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Moon Zappa: plan past just getting it

done and crossing that finish line.

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And so now this is the weird part

where the introvert has to go interact

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with people because writing is a

profession that that is right for

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my temperament, my nervous system

to retreat and just work by myself.

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So this part is.

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a little weird.

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People are asking me just

lighthearted questions about some

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of the most upsetting things.

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The set that they focus

on is also fascinating.

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Marc Preston: And I could see where

somebody would, you may run into or

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encounter folks who are just trying to

be a little bit flip considering your

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father was, they're just focusing on

the cultural aspect of things, not the

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actual what's happening in the home.

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And I just thought it was Charming's a

little bit of a reductive phrase, but how

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you talk about the home and the, and it

was not like y'all bounced around a lot.

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Y'all kind of planted roots and

this is where your home was.

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This was the epicenter.

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I haven't gotten far enough in,

but is that still a family home?

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Do y'all still have that home?

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We

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Moon Zappa: don't have that home.

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03:22 Family Dynamics and Personal Reflections

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And my mother was a

military kid and my father.

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His family moved around a lot, and

so I, I think that it's just natural

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to want to have one spot that's

your own, that you plant roots.

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The difference is that it was Gail Zappa

and Frank Zappa, who I was introduced

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to as Gail and Frank from birth.

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They both had these, Gail's sense of

whimsy and Frank's wildness that the

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space, there, there was a studio in the

house that started off as a two bedroom.

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Ranch style house.

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It just kept growing and

growing into a Robinson Crusoe.

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I forget the Winchester house where it's

like stairways that go to doors that

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don't open or doors onto brick walls.

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And it was under construction

Monday through Saturday.

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Honestly, my entire life, it was, uh,

it was anything that struck their fancy.

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Marc Preston: When you said it was two

bedroom, I, when I read that, I was

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like, how could you fit the entire family

in a recording studio and all that?

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Didn't.

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There was like a

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Moon Zappa: half floor.

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There was, Gail would go to old, to

salvage yards and get old submarine

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doors and submarine windows, and then

get stuff that was from Bali and India.

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And I called the house

style, Mediterranean.

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Because it was Tudor, it was

Mediterranean, it was everything.

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The jungle in the backyards.

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She, at one point, she had a spiral

staircase made with the cards you

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would use to, the ESP cards where

you'd practice remote viewing and

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sending and receiving psychic messages.

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She had those symbols

put on the staircase.

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Marc Preston: Take a look at the back

here of the book and you have Like you

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have Allegra Houston, Rosanna Arquette.

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I noticed like these are folks who have

families who are creatives around them.

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Was that kind of by design you wanted

to touch base with these folks?

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Moon Zappa: Creatives

spend time with creatives.

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It's it because we have a common

language of just we work in

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that arena in a state of play.

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Your emotions are paint colors.

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Your experiences are.

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Material for storytelling.

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It's that's it's just I'd love to make

other friends, but I don't meet them.

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Marc Preston: What was

your ecosystem growing up?

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You had the Zappa household.

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Who were you spending time

with other folks who whose

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families were in the industry?

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Or what was that like?

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Moon Zappa: The neighborhood where I grew

up didn't have sidewalks, so you didn't

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get a chance to know your neighbors

because you couldn't walk anywhere.

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You drive everywhere and then

people stayed in their houses.

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So The terrain of the area doesn't

really lend itself to getting

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to know people very easily.

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And it's not until you get

into school that you start

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to see who your community is.

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And early on, I went to public school,

rode the bus and, uh, really enjoyed.

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I didn't realize until later

that I actually am an academic.

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I have an academic mind.

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I love learning.

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I'm an autodidact.

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I dive into any subject.

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06:07 Navigating Fame and Personal Identity

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But in terms of growing up in

a famous household, I met so

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many of my heroes so early on.

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And so it made me feel like, Oh, that's

all it is at the end of the, you make

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it to the tippy top, you're just.

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Partying and, and having small talk.

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It was just, it just wasn't

that interesting to me.

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So yeah, it just, it, I think it's an

advantage because then it made me think

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beyond fame and beyond, uh, some of the

stuff that maybe other people aspire to.

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I

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Marc Preston: think you were 14.

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I think you did an episode of Letterman

and it's funny how you, that said

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the whole Valley girl thing was not

really designed to be something cute.

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It was like a social commentary on

the Valley, but did they push for

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like Normalcy for you to normal

friends are no way associated

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with the entertainment industry.

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Was that something they pushed forward?

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Was it where you left your own devices

to make the friends you make and whatnot?

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Moon Zappa: I, my, my parents were not

people that were necessarily very social.

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My father was just

committed to his creativity.

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So he.

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There was not really, we

didn't have sit down meals.

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The two meals we have that were sit

down were Christmas and Thanksgiving.

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He was just dedicated to his creativity.

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He would spend all his time either

touring seven to nine months out

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of a year or just creating, and he

didn't do drugs and he didn't drink.

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And so it was just, he didn't want any

obstacle between him and his creativity.

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And so this was passed on to all of us.

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I think we, we also have that

desire to just be in that,

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again, that pure expression.

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And, and then the inner landscape

is the unchartered territory.

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That's more interesting than again,

party small talk and this kind of thing.

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There was no, I don't think there was.

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I've got to stay famous.

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It was just like, I want to keep

being able to make my work and

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make a living from doing my work.

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He was a very hard worker.

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We

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Marc Preston: all

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Moon Zappa: are.

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Marc Preston: Yeah.

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I got that from reading.

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Uh, it seemed like he was very,

like you said, focused, he was

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very focused on what he was

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08:00 The Impact of Frank Zappa's Legacy

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Moon Zappa: doing.

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When he got cancer later in

his life, he was mad that he

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could only work 40 hours a week.

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He really was a, he just was, that's, that

was, that's where he got his dopamine hit.

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That's where that's the thing that,

that just was always moving through him.

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Marc Preston: As far as like

the impetus for writing this.

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Obviously we all have a story

we want to tell our story.

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We sometimes it's more for us.

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And I, in fact, the prologue of the

book, you said, this is for me also.

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Was this an effort to get all

of these pieces assembled?

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And what was the impetus for

writing this for the most part?

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08:32 Writing the Memoir: Motivations and Challenges

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Moon Zappa: The impetus was the events

that come later in the chapters, which

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if you haven't got to yet, but what

happened was at the end of Gail's

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life, I had come to understand that.

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We were just not naturally compatible,

shall we say, this is an understatement.

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And I had made peace with that fact.

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And I assumed that she had too,

but when she died, she left all

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the intellectual property to my two

younger siblings that I helped raise.

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And this was a shock to my nervous system.

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It was such a massive betrayal.

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It wasn't the stuff.

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It was the idea that she wished two

of us were not the other two, even

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though we were all her actual children.

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And as a parent, this is

an unimaginable idea to me.

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And so this was a real turning point

in my life where I had to go back and

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re evaluate what is family, what is

trust, what is connection, everything.

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I had to re look at my entire childhood,

all the things I thought were fun,

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happy, safe, whatever the list is.

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And so that was a, yeah,

that's, that was the journey.

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And so I guess, If I thought if I'm

struggling with this and I have resources,

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what is somebody else's experience in it?

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And they don't.

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So if you take away nothing else

from the book, love yourself.

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And if you're going to drop a will, make

it even Stevens, have a final loving

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offering, even if you don't get along with

the people in your life, it just, it just

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is, it's the kindest thing you can do.

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And another thing I really love is.

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I had a teacher that would say, it's

better to do a good thing very quickly

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and a bad thing very slowly, so slowly.

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In fact, that you hopefully never do it

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Marc Preston: with your folks.

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Uh, your mother in particular was

the relationship and your mind,

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uh, was it, uh, fraught, was it

difficult throughout your life to

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something that really was starting to

culminate towards the end of her life

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Moon Zappa: as I went back and

researched it and I, cause people

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would say, did you see it coming?

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And then when I went back and really

looked at my journals and looked at

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the events in my life, It all tracked.

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I just, for example, they were my,

both, both Gail and Frank were estranged

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from many of their family members.

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So there was the culture of

estrangement, but I just didn't

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think it would happen to me.

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I didn't think that there'd be that

kind of dismissal and that kind of,

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yeah, just that, that kind of erasure.

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It's, you just don't, you just

don't, it's, it was, again, as a

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parent, it's an unimaginable final.

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Say on a singular exit, you don't get a

second chance at making those corrections.

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And yeah, it's been a journey.

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And I get it.

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It's that's one of the, I think the

universal things about my book, even

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though some of the people are, they're

famous people that I'm learning my

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lessons, my life lessons opposite there.

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I'm still just learning life lessons.

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I could have just, it could have just

been somebody I went to school with.

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That's just same as anybody, but

they happen to be people that have

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recognizable names and careers.

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11:15 Reflections on Family and Personal Growth

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Marc Preston: And did you notice as

you got older, you start seeing things

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11:17 ,815 --> 00:11:20,575

through a different prism, especially

when you have a child or you have, like,

241

11:20 ,585 --> 00:11:23,634

when I had my children, I started going,

you start becoming a little bit more

242

11:23 ,634 --> 00:11:27,395

forgiving, uh, but at the same time, you

also become like a little bit more like

243

11:27 ,395 --> 00:11:29,155

critical of really, you didn't see this.

244

11:29 ,374 --> 00:11:32,225

You always think the grass is greener

when you're a kid and then you start

245

11:32 ,245 --> 00:11:36,475

knowing years later, decades later,

Oh, their life had stuff going on also.

246

11:36 ,475 --> 00:11:37,505

But your perception is.

247

11:37 ,845 --> 00:11:39,655

I got this weird thing going on here.

248

11:40 ,035 --> 00:11:41,275

Grass is greener over there.

249

11:41 ,275 --> 00:11:44,314

And I recognized that, like I said,

it's a little bit more forgiving, but

250

11:44 ,314 --> 00:11:47,865

at the same time, like you're a parent,

there's some things you need to do.

251

11:47 ,985 --> 00:11:51,144

Moon Zappa: I'm not somebody who

likes to go back and blame people.

252

11:51 ,144 --> 00:11:55,525

I'm definitely a solution based

person and I'm a, I try to create

253

11:55 ,764 --> 00:12:00,515

opportunities that, that, that are the

best situations for the most people.

254

12:00 ,515 --> 00:12:04,675

And I think that some people pride

themselves on being polite and never

255

12:04 ,675 --> 00:12:06,145

sharing what's really going on.

256

12:06 ,145 --> 00:12:06,214

Okay.

257

12:06 ,415 --> 00:12:10,824

And to me, those are some of the

most unsafe people because you're,

258

12:10 ,935 --> 00:12:14,734

there's so much room for projection

and thinking that things are one

259

12:14 ,734 --> 00:12:16,224

way when they are not that way.

260

12:16 ,234 --> 00:12:19,905

It's far riskier to really

say who you are, and when

261

12:19 ,905 --> 00:12:21,235

you're a kid, you, you can't.

262

12:21 ,285 --> 00:12:22,935

You're, you don't have that safety.

263

12:22 ,954 --> 00:12:25,395

You're just like reading the room

and trying to, what's the answer I

264

12:25 ,395 --> 00:12:26,584

say so that I still get the answer.

265

12:27 ,305 --> 00:12:30,435

Take you to school or I, I

have a roof over my head.

266

12:30 ,455 --> 00:12:37,785

And as you get older, um, in my

case, a little of me made Gail angry.

267

12:37 ,785 --> 00:12:42,795

So a lot of me, I didn't think was

ultimately safe, but that journey of,

268

12:43 ,374 --> 00:12:49,545

of coming into that real honoring of, we

didn't pick our eye color, our height,

269

12:49 ,555 --> 00:12:54,905

our, Responses to stimulus, we're, we're

just, we're a goodie bag of weirdness.

270

12:54 ,915 --> 00:12:58,994

And you have to make peace with all

parts of yourself and then decide, do

271

12:58 ,994 --> 00:13:03,334

I want to carry the bad wiring forward

or do I want to say it ends with me?

272

13:03 ,344 --> 00:13:07,554

And so those are some of the other

things that I address in the book.

273

13:07 ,904 --> 00:13:11,605

And I give the reader that

opportunity to try on how I think.

274

13:11 ,865 --> 00:13:13,064

And how big I love.

275

13:13 ,135 --> 00:13:16,344

And I hope that's some of the

stuff that is interesting.

276

13:16 ,344 --> 00:13:18,834

And it might read like science

fiction to some people.

277

13:19 ,035 --> 00:13:21,814

Marc Preston: Did you ever feel like when

you're going up that you had a, when you

278

13:21 ,814 --> 00:13:26,165

met kids or explaining what your family

dynamic is like, because for them that

279

13:26 ,165 --> 00:13:30,294

may feel completely foreign calling your

parents by their first name, did you, or

280

13:30 ,295 --> 00:13:31,685

do you just say, this is the way it is?

281

13:31 ,685 --> 00:13:34,644

Or did you have an inclination

to want to explain things at all?

282

13:34 ,814 --> 00:13:37,824

Moon Zappa: We were the go

to house because people felt.

283

13:38 ,150 --> 00:13:40,970

more free in my family's home.

284

13:40 ,970 --> 00:13:44,430

They could curse, they could

get dirty, they could play with

285

13:44 ,439 --> 00:13:46,630

art supplies and get messy.

286

13:46 ,650 --> 00:13:53,119

And, and so those kinds of things, I

moved forward into my own household.

287

13:53 ,120 --> 00:13:54,499

I love being the house that.

288

13:55 ,295 --> 00:14:01,745

Provides the, that kind of experience

for, for my kids friends and for my kid.

289

14:01 ,775 --> 00:14:07,425

So in terms of wanting to explain it to

anybody, no, I like that aspect of it,

290

14:07 ,425 --> 00:14:12,404

but I craved the normalcy of, um, soup

when you're sick or a hug when you're sad,

291

14:12 ,415 --> 00:14:17,965

or again, if you can cursing as much as

you want to me, wasn't as interesting as

292

14:18 ,375 --> 00:14:23,065

having the ability to have my feelings

with the people that I hear so much about.

293

14:23 ,065 --> 00:14:25,135

So that's, and in an artistic home.

294

14:25 ,609 --> 00:14:28,540

There's not really, there's

a momentum of chaos.

295

14:28 ,540 --> 00:14:30,650

That's just, that's moving

the creativity forward.

296

14:30 ,660 --> 00:14:34,609

And there's just, it's not a

great environment to, for people

297

14:34 ,609 --> 00:14:36,589

to get the, for the rest of the

family to get their needs met.

298

14:36 ,900 --> 00:14:39,100

Marc Preston: Going back when I

was watching that one episode of

299

14:39 ,270 --> 00:14:42,680

Letterman with you and your dad, it

was a, it was, I was like, you're

300

14:42 ,680 --> 00:14:45,529

only 14, but you seem very articulate.

301

14:45 ,579 --> 00:14:48,860

I would have been like nervous out of

my mind there sitting on stage with

302

14:48 ,860 --> 00:14:51,990

my dad on Letterman in New York and

where your folks like that they put a

303

14:51 ,990 --> 00:14:54,250

lot of value in you communicating and.

304

14:54 ,704 --> 00:14:57,545

Being able to articulate yourself

very well, because I was sitting

305

14:57 ,545 --> 00:14:59,105

there going, she's only 14.

306

14:59 ,125 --> 00:15:01,225

How can you feel that

seemingly comfortable?

307

15:01 ,475 --> 00:15:06,384

Moon Zappa: My father was ultimately

Sicilian, so I felt, he had the, he

308

15:06 ,384 --> 00:15:09,785

exuded the wattage of a mob boss.

309

15:09 ,815 --> 00:15:14,385

So, I felt somewhat protected in that

sense, if something went off the rails.

310

15:14 ,675 --> 00:15:18,350

And also, my, my both of,

Gail and Frank, they were very

311

15:18 ,350 --> 00:15:20,480

much, they were word people.

312

15:20 ,540 --> 00:15:24,640

And I, we all had gigantic vocabularies

by the time we were, I don't even

313

15:24 ,640 --> 00:15:28,149

know what age we could all quote the

Jabberwocky probably by age five.

314

15:28 ,470 --> 00:15:31,870

And because we had a famous father,

there was also this sense of we

315

15:31 ,870 --> 00:15:33,500

represent this person in public.

316

15:33 ,500 --> 00:15:37,990

There was that sense

that you have to be just.

317

15:38 ,324 --> 00:15:40,295

Respectful and professional.

318

15:47 ,295 --> 00:15:49,864

Marc Preston: What were you up to

besides going back to the growing up?

319

15:49 ,935 --> 00:15:52,595

I know it was happening around the house,

but where were your interests taking you?

320

15:52 ,625 --> 00:15:52,934

I don't know.

321

15:52 ,935 --> 00:15:53,715

I have hobbies.

322

15:53 ,725 --> 00:15:57,525

It's kind of a hobby and things you were

doing besides the Zappa family thing.

323

15:57 ,525 --> 00:15:59,025

The thing that you're starting

to carve out on your own.

324

15:59 The Influence of Music and Entertainment

15:59 ,365 --> 00:16:04,865

Moon Zappa: Again, early on in my life,

I, Frank's music was being pumped into

325

16:05 ,275 --> 00:16:07,285

the house through an intercom system.

326

16:07 ,285 --> 00:16:07,715

And so.

327

16:08 ,155 --> 00:16:16,465

Sound was very prominent in my life

and every sound was a potential,

328

16:16 ,535 --> 00:16:20,215

again, a paint color for what

my father called air sculpting.

329

16:20 ,494 --> 00:16:25,404

And I'm very auditory and I just had

a fascination with voices and cartoon

330

16:25 ,405 --> 00:16:29,625

voices and when I tell a story about

Getting to meet the original snow white

331

16:29 ,645 --> 00:16:33,985

and then being confused because she

was a person, but she was also the, and

332

16:33 ,985 --> 00:16:39,974

then later on getting to see Lily Tomlin

perform and watching her transform into

333

16:39 ,975 --> 00:16:41,515

all these different kinds of characters.

334

16:41 ,515 --> 00:16:47,135

And so I was, I think if you're

lucky, you do get exposed to things

335

16:47 ,135 --> 00:16:51,585

that kind of, that you come into this

world with these natural abilities

336

16:51 ,625 --> 00:16:54,184

and something catches this fire.

337

16:54 ,215 --> 00:16:55,975

A spark catches fire because you're.

338

16:56 ,395 --> 00:16:57,535

Interacting with that thing.

339

16:57 ,535 --> 00:17:01,595

And for whatever reason, Performing

sound, these kinds of things

340

17:01 ,595 --> 00:17:03,194

were very interesting to me.

341

17:03 ,225 --> 00:17:05,054

And I just have, I have an ear for that.

342

17:05 ,054 --> 00:17:08,704

And also because I was so hypervigilant,

I was just always just paying attention

343

17:08 ,704 --> 00:17:10,145

to absolutely everything around me.

344

17:10 ,214 --> 00:17:14,895

And then growing up in show business in

Los Angeles, California and Hollywood, it

345

17:14 ,925 --> 00:17:16,754

just seemed like the natural progression.

346

17:16 ,754 --> 00:17:19,815

Like I didn't even feel like I had a

choice to not go into entertainment.

347

17:20 ,175 --> 00:17:23,704

And because of how I was raised, where

my father was at the top of the pyramid.

348

17:24 ,034 --> 00:17:26,655

And I had to do everything

in service of my father.

349

17:27 ,185 --> 00:17:29,315

Acting was very similar.

350

17:29 ,395 --> 00:17:31,195

Somebody tells you where to stand.

351

17:31 ,475 --> 00:17:35,634

Somebody tells you the words to say,

somebody's deciding your clothing.

352

17:35 ,635 --> 00:17:38,754

It was unfortunately a natural, I

sometimes wonder if I would have

353

17:38 ,814 --> 00:17:41,394

picked something else in another town.

354

17:41 ,914 --> 00:17:44,284

Marc Preston: What like musically,

what were you into when you were a kid?

355

17:44 ,284 --> 00:17:44,364

It

356

17:44 ,454 --> 00:17:45,274

Moon Zappa: depended on the age.

357

17:45 ,344 --> 00:17:49,975

I really loved heavy metal as a

teenager to my father's disappointment.

358

17:50 ,330 --> 00:17:52,660

But he would bring music

back from around the world.

359

17:52 ,720 --> 00:17:56,240

And so I was exposed to what they

call it at the time, world music.

360

17:56 ,240 --> 00:18:01,389

So the Bulgarian women's music choir

and the three Mustafa's and he brought

361

18:01 ,400 --> 00:18:07,730

back Lena Lovitch and Nina Hagen,

but also the Modets, but also Bach.

362

18:07 ,889 --> 00:18:11,300

And, and then he also brought

back the first B 52's album.

363

18:11 ,310 --> 00:18:14,409

So that was really thrilling

to get to hear that.

364

18:14 ,429 --> 00:18:18,339

And yeah, I just, I don't

have, I like, I don't know.

365

18:18 ,850 --> 00:18:20,680

Almost all forms of music.

366

18:20 ,680 --> 00:18:22,720

I, I, I just like it, it's

just interesting to see how

367

18:22 ,720 --> 00:18:23,770

people express themselves

368

18:24 ,250 --> 00:18:24,700

Marc Preston: with you.

369

18:24 ,700 --> 00:18:25,360

And Dweezil.

370

18:25 Experiences with MTV and Cultural Impact

18:25 ,360 --> 00:18:29,050

How did y'all end up on MTV, because

I have a recollection of that, but

371

18:29 ,110 --> 00:18:31,330

how often were you on MTV as a guest?

372

18:31 ,330 --> 00:18:33,400

VJs, I, which is a phrase, I don't know.

373

18:33 ,400 --> 00:18:35,145

I, my, I, I'm used a phrase, VJ and I,

374

18:35 ,335 --> 00:18:35,745

Moon Zappa: yeah, yeah.

375

18:36 ,160 --> 00:18:39,640

I think in, in the course of a

year, we probably did, I wanna

376

18:39 ,640 --> 00:18:41,500

say 18 weeks out of the year.

377

18:41 ,500 --> 00:18:45,670

So we would go to New York for two weeks

maybe, and then shoot a bunch of stuff.

378

18:46 ,205 --> 00:18:50,185

But yeah, I think they just, they

found us because we were at that time

379

18:50 ,185 --> 00:18:53,915

doing television appearances here

and there and, and yeah, they just,

380

18:53 ,925 --> 00:18:56,835

they, it just, we just got lucky.

381

18:57 ,295 --> 00:18:59,724

Marc Preston: I remember back when I

worked on the radio years and years

382

18:59 ,725 --> 00:19:04,925

ago, you had to watch MTV to know what

was going on culturally, pre internet,

383

19:04 ,925 --> 00:19:06,464

something I think my kids like.

384

19:06 ,905 --> 00:19:09,835

Completely oblivious to, but

moved starting West coast,

385

19:10 ,135 --> 00:19:11,345

started going East coast.

386

19:11 ,355 --> 00:19:13,505

And now everything's just

instantaneous everywhere.

387

19:13 ,885 --> 00:19:17,064

And everybody watched MTV

to know what was going on.

388

19:17 ,065 --> 00:19:17,935

And it's so weird.

389

19:17 ,945 --> 00:19:23,735

Now I'll try to explain to my kids what

MTV was like videos, but what was that

390

19:23 ,735 --> 00:19:25,604

like to be a part of what the, of the.

391

19:25 ,975 --> 00:19:29,024

I don't want to use the word zeitgeist

or whatever, but the MTV was plugged in.

392

19:29 ,034 --> 00:19:29,835

You were part of it.

393

19:29 ,865 --> 00:19:31,935

Did it, what was that experience like?

394

19:32 ,304 --> 00:19:33,145

Moon Zappa: I was a teenager.

395

19:33 ,145 --> 00:19:37,254

So it was amazing to be in the

middle of the most fun thing at the

396

19:37 ,254 --> 00:19:39,364

most fun age, at the most fun time.

397

19:39 ,374 --> 00:19:44,664

That was, that was really, that was again,

another way to meet some of my idols.

398

19:44 ,664 --> 00:19:46,024

What was so hilarious was.

399

19:46 ,404 --> 00:19:49,194

I had a massive crush on,

as a 19 year old, I had a

400

19:49 ,194 --> 00:19:50,975

massive crush on Spalding Gray.

401

19:51 ,294 --> 00:19:56,904

Again, these people that would perform

one person shows and tell stories.

402

19:56 ,904 --> 00:20:00,945

I guess I've always been interested

in every single form of storytelling.

403

20:01 ,145 --> 00:20:04,064

I remember when I heard Sinead

O'Connor and saw that video of

404

20:04 ,074 --> 00:20:06,685

her singing Nothing Compares to

You, which was written by Prince.

405

20:06 ,814 --> 00:20:10,384

I couldn't believe that somebody

else could write a song and she

406

20:10 ,384 --> 00:20:12,584

could bring it so fully to life.

407

20:12 ,919 --> 00:20:16,620

And really tell the story that I wouldn't

have heard had it just been a song like.

408

20:17 ,195 --> 00:20:22,135

She understood the material so

well that another, it elevated

409

20:22 ,135 --> 00:20:24,485

it to a stratospheric realm.

410

20:24 ,485 --> 00:20:27,584

And so, again, I just always

had my eyes and ears attuned

411

20:27 ,584 --> 00:20:30,355

to, does, is this thing a poem?

412

20:30 ,355 --> 00:20:31,595

Is this thing a song?

413

20:31 ,605 --> 00:20:35,934

Is this thing, what's the best way

to, to express the idea that's, that

414

20:35 ,934 --> 00:20:37,235

you catch in your butterfly net?

415

20:37 ,235 --> 00:20:37,554

By

416

20:39 ,635 --> 00:20:41,485

Marc Preston: the way, Priest, by,

if you hear it, a sound of my mind

417

20:41 ,485 --> 00:20:44,405

in the condo building here, my

neighbor's getting a new floor put in.

418

20:44 ,745 --> 00:20:45,505

It's just Gordon.

419

20:47 ,655 --> 00:20:49,915

So they said there was no

way to isolate that sound.

420

20:50 ,245 --> 00:20:54,035

One of the things I'm curious about is

and looking, uh, I had this discussion

421

20:54 ,035 --> 00:20:58,125

with one of my kids not too long ago,

but like, you can look at any decade,

422

20:58 ,165 --> 00:21:02,615

50, 60, 70, you can hear a song and,

and, and plugs you into that era.

423

21:02 ,865 --> 00:21:07,115

And I like to me that after

about the eighties, maybe part

424

21:07 ,115 --> 00:21:08,304

of the nineties, we really don't.

425

21:08 ,915 --> 00:21:12,145

It doesn't feel like we really

have that anymore, as much anymore.

426

21:12 ,175 --> 00:21:15,075

What do you think, and I'm asking

to go on a limb here, but what

427

21:15 ,075 --> 00:21:16,935

do you think your dad would feel?

428

21:17 ,215 --> 00:21:19,844

What do you think Frank would

feel about music industry now?

429

21:19 ,844 --> 00:21:20,785

What's coming out?

430

21:21 ,365 --> 00:21:24,354

Moon Zappa: Well, if you go with science

and objects in motion tend to stay

431

21:24 ,354 --> 00:21:27,935

in motion, then yeah, he would have

been a pioneer in every single realm.

432

21:27 ,954 --> 00:21:30,355

As something was developed,

he'd take it to another level.

433

21:30 ,545 --> 00:21:32,425

He was an out of the box

thinker and needle mover.

434

21:32 ,425 --> 00:21:33,085

I'm sure he would have.

435

21:33 ,705 --> 00:21:35,935

Uh, found another way to express himself.

436

21:36 ,165 --> 00:21:38,784

Now it's a really difficult time

because you could be canceled at any

437

21:38 ,784 --> 00:21:42,205

moment, but he had the temperament to

withstand that, that kind of an idea.

438

21:42 ,205 --> 00:21:45,655

And I remember hearing a story

about, uh, Richard Pryor.

439

21:46 ,025 --> 00:21:51,405

And how he would go, uh, to the, I think

it was the comedy store or something on

440

21:51 ,405 --> 00:21:58,455

a Monday, get booed and walkouts until

Thursday or Friday, then he'd get standing

441

21:58 ,455 --> 00:22:00,395

ovations and then he'd start again.

442

22:00 ,415 --> 00:22:03,565

And the people, the artists

that are around now.

443

22:03 ,840 --> 00:22:08,870

That have that ability to withstand

somebody with a, an iPhone or somebody

444

22:08 ,870 --> 00:22:12,400

recording something before you even

have a chance to develop something.

445

22:12 ,410 --> 00:22:14,059

It's a, it's just a trickier time.

446

22:14 ,059 --> 00:22:17,010

You have to be much

braver as an artist now.

447

22:17 ,309 --> 00:22:21,049

And I really appreciate when they take

your phones and your devices away.

448

22:21 ,049 --> 00:22:24,609

So number one, enjoy the

experience and not try to double

449

22:24 ,749 --> 00:22:26,739

experience it at the same time.

450

22:26 ,740 --> 00:22:29,780

And just that you give the artist

the freedom and then you have

451

22:29 ,780 --> 00:22:31,450

that intimacy that you would have.

452

22:31 ,950 --> 00:22:35,320

That moment won't come again, that

one singular, that's why seeing

453

22:35 ,340 --> 00:22:37,160

something live is so amazing.

454

22:37 Comedy and Storytelling Influences

22:37 ,460 --> 00:22:41,160

Marc Preston: It seems like comedians like

Pryor or Carlin or guys like that, that

455

22:41 ,180 --> 00:22:46,080

they having the commentary out there that

it was important, same thing with music.

456

22:46 ,830 --> 00:22:50,089

Were comedians, was that part of

the ecosystem as well growing up?

457

22:50 ,099 --> 00:22:53,885

Moon Zappa: Not in my house, but

certainly when I got Out into the

458

22:53 ,885 --> 00:22:58,365

world and on my own, my father's

humor was, was just, it was, he was

459

22:58 ,365 --> 00:22:59,625

just the funniest person I knew.

460

22:59 ,635 --> 00:23:05,585

So of course I was still craving

that kind of a level of quick wit

461

23:05 ,594 --> 00:23:10,565

and his insights and his, the things

he observed and reflect back as a

462

23:10 ,565 --> 00:23:12,114

sort of cultural anthropologist.

463

23:12 ,115 --> 00:23:17,225

And so then it made me again,

pursue the comedy world and see

464

23:17 ,585 --> 00:23:21,405

what are the different styles of

comedy, mean spirited comedy versus.

465

23:21 ,830 --> 00:23:27,730

evergreen jokes that play in any room

versus alternative storytelling absurdist.

466

23:27 ,750 --> 00:23:29,470

There's all these different forms of it.

467

23:29 ,680 --> 00:23:33,189

And again, it's just, it's endlessly

interesting and all of it funny.

468

23:33 ,189 --> 00:23:35,119

I remember one, one act that I.

469

23:35 ,514 --> 00:23:36,345

Really enjoyed.

470

23:36 ,355 --> 00:23:40,735

It was two guys, Andy Secunda and I'm

spacing on my other friend's name.

471

23:40 ,754 --> 00:23:46,485

Andy, another Andy does a bonanza

bananas for bonanza podcast.

472

23:46 ,494 --> 00:23:53,254

Anyway, they did this bit and it was,

there were two vaudevillian characters

473

23:53 ,254 --> 00:23:56,394

that didn't get along anymore at so much.

474

23:56 ,395 --> 00:23:59,895

So that one had to come on by

himself and he would do some of the

475

23:59 ,905 --> 00:24:02,145

setups and some of the punchlines.

476

24:02 ,175 --> 00:24:04,935

And then he'd leave the stage and then

the other one would come on and do.

477

24:05 ,300 --> 00:24:07,750

Some of the punch lines

and some of the setups.

478

24:07 ,750 --> 00:24:11,550

And so you, as the audience member

had to imagine what those things stop.

479

24:11 ,770 --> 00:24:11,950

Marc Preston: Yeah.

480

24:12 ,300 --> 00:24:13,700

It's like a build your own comedy show.

481

24:14 ,059 --> 00:24:14,319

It

482

24:14 ,320 --> 00:24:17,540

Moon Zappa: was that combination of

just that high intelligence plus that

483

24:17 ,540 --> 00:24:19,989

absurdity, which again, I was raised with.

484

24:20 ,290 --> 00:24:20,999

I just, I.

485

24:21 ,395 --> 00:24:24,015

Yeah, that's one of the ways I refuel

and that's one of the ways I got

486

24:24 ,025 --> 00:24:28,105

through the difficulty of writing the

book was either watching revenge based

487

24:28 ,105 --> 00:24:29,805

movies or seeing a lot of comedy.

488

24:30 ,045 --> 00:24:33,545

Marc Preston: It seemed like that

your dad, with him touring, going

489

24:33 ,545 --> 00:24:37,115

out for long stretches, it would

just be you and the family at home.

490

24:37 ,295 --> 00:24:40,465

What was it like when you were, when

he was out on tour and it's now the

491

24:40 ,465 --> 00:24:43,235

family unit is now four, four of y'all?

492

24:43 ,335 --> 00:24:44,134

Five, five, five,

493

24:44 ,134 --> 00:24:44,405

Moon Zappa: five of us.

494

24:44 ,405 --> 00:24:44,665

Yeah.

495

24:44 ,665 --> 00:24:46,825

There's Amit, Dweezil, Diva.

496

24:47 ,465 --> 00:24:52,414

And me, I think in families, the

birth order, the gender, the, all of

497

24:52 ,414 --> 00:24:55,134

these things, again, universal ideas.

498

24:55 ,134 --> 00:24:59,354

And I tell my version of it, but,

and when I look back at all the

499

24:59 ,355 --> 00:25:04,324

memories, I realized that I saw

as the oldest, I saw my siblings

500

25:04 ,324 --> 00:25:05,875

as shoulder to shoulder with me.

501

25:06 ,270 --> 00:25:10,990

And they, they saw me as another

thing standing over them.

502

25:11 ,130 --> 00:25:14,120

And I didn't realize that until

I put myself in their shoes as I

503

25:14 ,120 --> 00:25:15,190

was writing some of these stories.

504

25:15 ,190 --> 00:25:20,890

Originally, I had, my dream was that we

write a, a shared memoir, uh, family.

505

25:21 ,029 --> 00:25:21,220

That'd be cool.

506

25:21 ,239 --> 00:25:22,679

I hadn't seen it done before.

507

25:22 ,679 --> 00:25:24,739

And I thought that'd be really

interesting because then we could,

508

25:25 ,760 --> 00:25:30,120

map it on a timeline and each one

of us could fill in some little

509

25:31 ,090 --> 00:25:34,560

gap there, but yeah, life changed.

510

25:34 ,590 --> 00:25:38,520

Uh, and, and in some ways they all got,

we all got different parents really.

511

25:39 ,610 --> 00:25:42,289

You grow a little bit and you

try different stuff and then

512

25:42 ,299 --> 00:25:45,219

the kids, everyone's born

with a different temperament.

513

25:45 ,219 --> 00:25:48,840

So then all these factors come

into play, but there, there is that

514

25:49 ,229 --> 00:25:54,020

common sense of humor, that common

intelligence, that common artistic side.

515

25:54 ,050 --> 00:25:56,209

So there is shared history there.

516

25:56 ,600 --> 00:26:00,150

That's, that's my middle name's

unit because we, I was the first

517

26:00 ,150 --> 00:26:01,540

born and we became a family unit.

518

26:01 ,540 --> 00:26:02,860

So family is huge.

519

26:02 ,900 --> 00:26:04,040

It's just hugely important to me.

520

26:04 ,480 --> 00:26:07,529

And I think anytime you're missing

something, you become an expert

521

26:07 ,540 --> 00:26:09,300

in how valuable that thing is.

522

26:09 ,769 --> 00:26:12,479

Marc Preston: You mentioned the

acrimony and just the way things

523

26:12 ,479 --> 00:26:15,929

materialized, uh, or devolved

with, with Gail towards the end.

524

26:16 ,360 --> 00:26:17,680

Did you pick up on any of that?

525

26:17 ,690 --> 00:26:21,010

Like when Frank was on tour and

just be the family together, I

526

26:21 ,010 --> 00:26:23,749

caught a note that you felt like

you were not a parent, but you were

527

26:23 ,750 --> 00:26:25,430

there helping raise your siblings.

528

26:25 ,754 --> 00:26:29,364

Were you ever upset that was being maybe

put upon you or did you embrace it?

529

26:29 ,364 --> 00:26:31,925

Like you dug the fact that you were able

to help out with a family like that.

530

26:32 ,034 --> 00:26:36,304

Moon Zappa: I, it depended on the

day, but overall, I definitely

531

26:36 ,354 --> 00:26:39,344

felt like I was robbed of a

childhood, but I felt like I was.

532

26:40 ,005 --> 00:26:44,745

Opposite two people who are also robbed of

a childhood and it keeps going and going.

533

26:44 ,745 --> 00:26:47,855

And so that's why I say

blame is not the interesting.

534

26:48 ,115 --> 00:26:49,405

It's not interesting to me.

535

26:49 ,465 --> 00:26:53,354

What is interesting is looking at a

dynamic and then saying, I'm not going

536

26:53 ,354 --> 00:26:57,504

to participate in this dynamic when

I am able to not participate in it.

537

26:57 ,514 --> 00:26:59,194

As a kid, you're stuck in there.

538

26:59 ,194 --> 00:27:00,665

And so you're just working

with those systems.

539

27:00 ,685 --> 00:27:03,625

But, but I, I just knew

there was another way.

540

27:03 ,695 --> 00:27:04,855

There was the combination of.

541

27:05 ,409 --> 00:27:09,159

The messaging from I Dream of Jeannie

on television and Bewitched, these

542

27:09 ,169 --> 00:27:13,080

messages that, that girls didn't,

they were just going to become nurses.

543

27:13 ,229 --> 00:27:14,589

There was that side of things.

544

27:14 ,589 --> 00:27:16,739

So, so being a caretaker.

545

27:17 ,100 --> 00:27:19,659

It was built in and also

my father was Italian.

546

27:19 ,659 --> 00:27:21,680

So the idea of being barefoot

and pregnant, there was

547

27:21 ,680 --> 00:27:22,570

some of that in the house.

548

27:22 ,570 --> 00:27:27,340

But there was also get out there and

make something of your art, your life.

549

27:27 ,340 --> 00:27:29,720

And so there were these,

again, these double messages.

550

27:29 ,740 --> 00:27:33,469

And, and so I remember hearing

that expression, it's never too

551

27:33 ,469 --> 00:27:34,659

late to have a happy childhood.

552

27:34 ,660 --> 00:27:36,710

And I thought that doesn't, I don't

even understand what that means.

553

27:36 ,710 --> 00:27:40,110

But as I get older, I realized,

yeah, there's you, there's

554

27:40 ,110 --> 00:27:41,180

certain times when you.

555

27:41 ,550 --> 00:27:45,639

When you can go back and move old

parts of yourself into present time

556

27:45 ,669 --> 00:27:49,180

and you can give yourself experiences

that you didn't that you didn't

557

27:49 ,180 --> 00:27:50,400

get to have when you were younger.

558

27:50 ,580 --> 00:27:55,000

And but there's no timeline on when

you can experience some of that stuff.

559

27:55 Parenting Insights and Influences

27:55 ,040 --> 00:27:55,449

You just

560

27:56 ,460 --> 00:27:57,220

Marc Preston: Becoming a mother.

561

27:57 ,220 --> 00:27:58,960

Did that kind of help facilitate that?

562

27:58 ,970 --> 00:28:01,770

Like you were maybe at the same time,

your daughter's experiencing something

563

28:01 ,770 --> 00:28:05,530

you together with her, you're diving

into that experience, creating things

564

28:05 ,530 --> 00:28:06,730

that you didn't have when you were a kid.

565

28:06 ,919 --> 00:28:10,419

Moon Zappa: And then because I

was such a hypervigilant dedicated

566

28:10 ,490 --> 00:28:13,739

learner, I read every parenting

book that I could get my hands on.

567

28:13 ,739 --> 00:28:17,699

And one, one really, a couple

made just, I love so much.

568

28:17 ,699 --> 00:28:21,209

One was Alfie Cohen's book on, I think

it's, I forget the name of it, but

569

28:21 ,209 --> 00:28:23,159

it's about empathy based parenting.

570

28:23 ,460 --> 00:28:28,860

Another one was Dan Siegel's book on brain

development and what you can really expect

571

28:28 ,860 --> 00:28:32,310

from somebody and somebody's brain isn't

even developed until they're 26 years old.

572

28:32 ,390 --> 00:28:36,780

And then the work of Marshall Rosenberg

was another person and that, that really

573

28:37 ,100 --> 00:28:41,879

helped me to understand just how not

fun my childhood was because one of

574

28:41 ,879 --> 00:28:44,180

the exercises was you stand on a chair.

575

28:44 ,575 --> 00:28:50,085

And you yell at an adult and you say,

you get a timeout and it's absurd, right?

576

28:50 ,085 --> 00:28:53,435

If you're standing over someone and

you're an adult standing on a chair and

577

28:53 ,565 --> 00:28:56,694

you're screaming at somebody to take

a timeout, that would never happen.

578

28:56 ,695 --> 00:29:01,184

So why would you do it to somebody who

is completely tiny, who you're just

579

29:01 ,235 --> 00:29:05,695

a wall of anger coming at somebody

who doesn't have any of the ability

580

29:05 ,715 --> 00:29:08,335

to like timeouts are literally.

581

29:08 ,680 --> 00:29:09,360

Ridiculous.

582

29:09 ,360 --> 00:29:12,240

They're, they're, you

wouldn't say that to an adult.

583

29:12 ,250 --> 00:29:15,530

So why would you say somebody who

cannot possibly comprehend the

584

29:15 ,530 --> 00:29:16,590

information you're trying to impart?

585

29:16 ,600 --> 00:29:17,739

It's just, it's awful.

586

29:18 ,510 --> 00:29:18,600

Marc Preston: Yeah.

587

29:18 ,600 --> 00:29:20,130

You said that your brain doesn't develop.

588

29:20 ,130 --> 00:29:23,189

I've, I remember like your frontal

cortex, something does develop till

589

29:23 ,189 --> 00:29:27,950

later, but your mother, she was 20, 21

when you were born, something like that.

590

29:27 ,990 --> 00:29:28,200

Yeah.

591

29:28 ,220 --> 00:29:28,920

Very young.

592

29:28 ,960 --> 00:29:29,500

And my dad was,

593

29:29 ,570 --> 00:29:30,790

Moon Zappa: maybe she was 21.

594

29:30 ,880 --> 00:29:31,100

Yeah.

595

29:31 ,100 --> 00:29:34,360

And my dad was having 25

yeah, they were still kids.

596

29:35 ,310 --> 00:29:37,670

Marc Preston: I'm enjoying getting into

the book, and I want to keep, I want

597

29:37 ,670 --> 00:29:38,980

to keep trucking, you know, through it.

598

29:39 ,070 --> 00:29:41,530

The interesting thing is when you

look back on your childhood through

599

29:41 ,530 --> 00:29:46,375

adult eyes, you just see things A

little differently, again, you forgive

600

29:46 ,375 --> 00:29:49,245

some things and, but you also make

decisions on how you're going to do

601

29:49 ,265 --> 00:29:50,935

things differently with your kids.

602

29:50 ,975 --> 00:29:54,015

And you recognize, even though you're

trying to do things differently, you

603

29:54 ,015 --> 00:29:57,925

can hear, feel those echoes of things

popping back up, those habits or whatever.

604

29:58 ,015 --> 00:30:01,255

Did you have any epiphanies when

you had your daughter that, like,

605

30:01 ,335 --> 00:30:03,324

Moon Zappa: Yeah, wherever

my parents fell short.

606

30:03 ,605 --> 00:30:06,595

I also didn't have a tool

for handling that situation.

607

30:06 ,645 --> 00:30:12,305

Even now as my kid's 20 now and, and

we're in some territory where I'm like,

608

30:12 ,305 --> 00:30:13,675

I didn't learn this lesson either.

609

30:13 ,675 --> 00:30:15,205

We're learning the same thing together.

610

30:15 ,555 --> 00:30:18,855

And, but it's the, the

difference is being able to say.

611

30:19 ,250 --> 00:30:23,960

I don't know, let's find somebody who can

help with that, or I don't know, but we'll

612

30:23 ,970 --> 00:30:27,930

walk each other all the way there, you

won't be alone in whatever you're going

613

30:27 ,930 --> 00:30:34,030

through, or saying sorry for an injury,

preparing a rupture, deepening intimacy

614

30:34 ,030 --> 00:30:38,910

and that connection when you do repair a

rupture, this kind of stuff, that wasn't,

615

30:38 ,950 --> 00:30:42,850

that didn't happen growing up, and for

whatever reason, I just had an interest

616

30:42 ,860 --> 00:30:49,735

in In creating more of that, again,

whenever you're missing, it's there's an

617

30:49 ,735 --> 00:30:51,915

opportunity to become an expert in it.

618

30:51 ,925 --> 00:30:57,515

And so alongside the Bewitched stuff,

there was also Nelson Mandela and

619

30:57 ,525 --> 00:31:02,405

Gandhi and Sister Helen Prejean

and these exemplary people that

620

31:02 ,425 --> 00:31:08,040

had just, They had a generosity

of spirit and a clarity of mind.

621

31:08 ,070 --> 00:31:11,740

I saw it out of teachers that had

that kind of that clear seeing.

622

31:11 ,960 --> 00:31:13,390

And so that I can,

623

31:14 ,060 --> 00:31:16,500

Marc Preston: right there where you said

you sought out teachers and you sought

624

31:16 ,500 --> 00:31:18,380

out like us mentors and things like that.

625

31:18 ,440 --> 00:31:21,680

So you saw the deficiency or almost

organically, you're trying to

626

31:21 ,690 --> 00:31:22,704

reach out and grab step by step.

627

31:22 ,925 --> 00:31:26,235

Did your daughter, what did she think

about the book or did she already

628

31:26 ,235 --> 00:31:27,645

know all these stories already?

629

31:27 ,645 --> 00:31:29,895

Or was this kind of new material for her?

630

31:29 ,995 --> 00:31:30,445

She's

631

31:30 ,515 --> 00:31:30,895

Moon Zappa: not going to

632

31:30 ,895 --> 00:31:31,055

Marc Preston: read

633

31:31 ,055 --> 00:31:32,395

Moon Zappa: the book, but that's fine.

634

31:32 ,615 --> 00:31:34,575

Who wants to read something

about their parents?

635

31:34 ,595 --> 00:31:37,665

Boring, but one, one funny story.

636

31:37 Memorable Stories and Lessons

31:37 ,665 --> 00:31:39,865

I don't think I, I don't think it

got in the book, but one of the

637

31:39 ,865 --> 00:31:43,835

first times my kid actually got like

a true taste of Gail was we were

638

31:43 ,835 --> 00:31:45,185

flying to Europe for the first time.

639

31:45 ,695 --> 00:31:50,695

And we were in, Gail bought fancy

business class seats for all of us.

640

31:50 ,715 --> 00:31:53,435

And I said, Oh, can

Matilda sit by the window?

641

31:53 ,915 --> 00:31:58,635

And Gail, uh, came nose to nose with

my kid and was like, What makes you

642

31:58 ,705 --> 00:32:00,445

think you deserve the window seat?

643

32:01 ,105 --> 00:32:02,465

And then, we hadn't taken off yet.

644

32:02 ,675 --> 00:32:03,975

And my kid just started screaming.

645

32:04 ,095 --> 00:32:07,115

And I just said, Cry as long

and as loud as you want.

646

32:07 ,125 --> 00:32:10,075

And all the people on the plane are

like, Why can't you shut that kid up?

647

32:10 ,075 --> 00:32:10,615

And I was like, Nope.

648

32:11 ,325 --> 00:32:11,645

Nope.

649

32:11 ,990 --> 00:32:14,990

Cause I wish somebody would have said,

cry as long and as loud as you want.

650

32:15 ,000 --> 00:32:16,360

Cause then you come into school.

651

32:16 ,440 --> 00:32:17,230

How old was she

652

32:17 ,230 --> 00:32:18,090

Marc Preston: when, when

y'all were doing it?

653

32:18 ,380 --> 00:32:18,470

Four!

654

32:18 ,680 --> 00:32:19,100

About four?

655

32:19 ,100 --> 00:32:19,480

Oh, okay.

656

32:19 ,480 --> 00:32:19,770

Okay.

657

32:19 ,770 --> 00:32:19,820

This is

658

32:19 ,960 --> 00:32:21,230

Moon Zappa: the first born grandkid.

659

32:21 ,230 --> 00:32:21,320

Yeah.

660

32:21 ,390 --> 00:32:22,780

Who says that to a kid?

661

32:22 ,820 --> 00:32:26,730

And then later in the flight, Gail walked

over and said, you can sit next to me now.

662

32:27 ,125 --> 00:32:29,065

And my kid said, no, thank you.

663

32:29 ,535 --> 00:32:31,375

Marc Preston: So she's got a

little chutzpah from an early age.

664

32:31 ,805 --> 00:32:34,985

So what is her, what's the arc of her

experience as far as what she's up to?

665

32:35 ,015 --> 00:32:38,715

Creatively, is she into anything

artistic kind of like you, or is she,

666

32:38 ,935 --> 00:32:41,865

do you see parts of you in her as

far as like how she likes to create?

667

32:42 ,065 --> 00:32:44,915

Moon Zappa: I hope I've created

an environment where there's that

668

32:44 ,935 --> 00:32:46,905

freedom to explore in any direction.

669

32:47 ,265 --> 00:32:51,665

I'll definitely a storyteller,

got my father's musical genes.

670

32:51 ,985 --> 00:32:55,755

That autodidact thing, that

perfectionism thing that we all have.

671

32:55 ,815 --> 00:32:56,185

Yeah.

672

32:56 ,295 --> 00:32:57,945

And we'll see what, where that takes her.

673

32:58 ,275 --> 00:33:01,295

Marc Preston: She has the same birthday

as your, as Frank, is that right?

674

33:01 ,295 --> 00:33:01,445

Yeah,

675

33:01 ,445 --> 00:33:03,115

Moon Zappa: that was just,

it was just so thrilling.

676

33:03 ,385 --> 00:33:04,845

That was just such a gift.

677

33:04 ,945 --> 00:33:06,205

It just made me so happy.

678

33:06 Writing Process and Inspirations

33:06 ,425 --> 00:33:09,415

Marc Preston: You had an experience

where you're, if nothing else,

679

33:09 ,425 --> 00:33:10,545

obviously the whole book's a memoir.

680

33:10 ,545 --> 00:33:11,665

You're doing a lot of reflection.

681

33:12 ,015 --> 00:33:13,905

And I can't imagine doing that.

682

33:13 ,945 --> 00:33:15,275

I wouldn't even know where to start.

683

33:15 ,275 --> 00:33:17,175

How did you know where to begin the story?

684

33:17 ,175 --> 00:33:18,089

Did you already have thoughts?

685

33:18 ,550 --> 00:33:21,390

Everything lined up in your

head or were you just grabbing

686

33:21 ,390 --> 00:33:22,880

your journals and just I did

687

33:22 ,880 --> 00:33:23,890

Moon Zappa: it in a

couple of different ways.

688

33:23 ,890 --> 00:33:26,670

One way was I had a friend who

was a documentary filmmaker.

689

33:26 ,670 --> 00:33:30,690

He did the film eat that question,

which is an amazing documentary about

690

33:30 ,690 --> 00:33:33,740

my father's classical music journey.

691

33:33 ,740 --> 00:33:37,090

And he took five years to find

interviews with my father.

692

33:37 ,090 --> 00:33:39,990

And so the whole movie is

just in my father's own voice.

693

33:40 ,000 --> 00:33:41,180

It's just a seamless.

694

33:41 ,615 --> 00:33:42,135

stories.

695

33:42 ,375 --> 00:33:44,355

Frank telling his own experiences.

696

33:44 ,385 --> 00:33:49,085

And so he suggested that I start

with gathering like a documentary

697

33:49 ,085 --> 00:33:51,055

filmmaker and just gather materials.

698

33:51 ,055 --> 00:33:54,155

And so then I went to friends and I said,

Hey, have I ever told you a story that

699

33:54 ,385 --> 00:33:57,805

you thought was weird or funny or that

you think somebody else would enjoy?

700

33:58 ,105 --> 00:33:59,835

And so then I would

write about those things.

701

33:59 ,835 --> 00:34:06,415

And then, and then I was again, Building

a timeline of when a moment I felt one

702

34:06 ,415 --> 00:34:11,785

way before the event and then another way

after the event and the way your brain

703

34:11 ,785 --> 00:34:17,375

works with trauma is you just the events

you'll loop on and loop on the memory

704

34:17 ,375 --> 00:34:19,305

just crystallizes around those events.

705

34:19 ,335 --> 00:34:22,225

I've been mapped those

on the timeline and.

706

34:22 ,440 --> 00:34:26,350

Yeah, and then I just tried to write

it like I was like, almost like a cold

707

34:26 ,350 --> 00:34:29,510

case or a mystery you're following,

or I don't know, I just tried to

708

34:29 ,510 --> 00:34:30,940

just tell it like a police report.

709

34:31 ,680 --> 00:34:34,060

Marc Preston: Even though there were

heavy things, for lack of a better way

710

34:34 ,060 --> 00:34:37,430

of putting it, going on around you, you

didn't write it in a very heavy way.

711

34:37 ,430 --> 00:34:41,280

There was a little levity, a little

humor to your own introspection.

712

34:41 ,280 --> 00:34:42,330

I thought it was charming.

713

34:42 ,330 --> 00:34:42,840

It was cool.

714

34:42 ,840 --> 00:34:44,040

I really enjoyed it.

715

34:44 ,210 --> 00:34:48,410

Moon Zappa: Another friend said to keep it

manageable, he said, it's just five pages.

716

34:49 ,135 --> 00:34:54,205

27 times, and so you can just break

it off into smaller pieces and, and

717

34:54 ,205 --> 00:34:55,555

then you treat it like it's a pancake.

718

34:55 ,595 --> 00:34:59,525

The first pancake always sticks to the

pan, in my experience, and so then you

719

34:59 ,525 --> 00:35:00,805

just keep refining and refining it.

720

35:00 ,855 --> 00:35:01,815

It's, it is true.

721

35:01 ,845 --> 00:35:03,085

Writing is rewriting.

722

35:03 Family Dynamics and Healing

35:03 ,235 --> 00:35:05,885

Marc Preston: How's the

relationship with your siblings now?

723

35:05 ,885 --> 00:35:09,815

Of course, you and Dweezil, the

way Gale kind of will or lack

724

35:09 ,815 --> 00:35:11,235

thereof, where he should have been.

725

35:11 ,555 --> 00:35:15,024

That drew a line between the

four of y'all that was that kind

726

35:15 ,025 --> 00:35:16,055

of been repaired a little bit.

727

35:16 ,745 --> 00:35:19,895

Moon Zappa: Definitely been repaired or

it's starting to be repaired with Amit.

728

35:19 ,925 --> 00:35:24,005

I just did his podcast called

Rocktails and that was a lot of fun.

729

35:24 ,015 --> 00:35:28,325

I, he read the book and it was

really fun to see his reactions.

730

35:28 ,325 --> 00:35:30,445

I won't say what he would,

what he talked about.

731

35:30 ,445 --> 00:35:33,475

You can watch the Rocktails thing,

but he, he really was a brother to me.

732

35:33 ,475 --> 00:35:34,445

He was like, I love this.

733

35:34 ,445 --> 00:35:34,835

I love this.

734

35:34 ,905 --> 00:35:36,035

But why did you talk about the.

735

35:37 ,160 --> 00:35:41,480

And, uh, and so that was really fun to

have him really behaving like a brother.

736

35:41 ,480 --> 00:35:47,860

But I think it, I think my goal was that

it would, it had the potential to, to

737

35:47 ,860 --> 00:35:51,940

create some healing there because I, I,

we have a shared history and I hope that

738

35:51 ,940 --> 00:35:55,590

I would have moments that were just,

I don't know, just the, that they all

739

35:55 ,600 --> 00:35:57,440

remember something about those times.

740

35:57 ,490 --> 00:35:59,470

They don't have to remember it the

way I remembered it, but maybe it

741

35:59 ,470 --> 00:36:02,835

would just spark A memory of their

own, or they'd see it another way.

742

36:03 ,385 --> 00:36:04,865

Marc Preston: Is Dweezil still performing?

743

36:04 ,905 --> 00:36:06,645

Is he still out

744

36:06 ,645 --> 00:36:07,635

Moon Zappa: there playing music?

745

36:07 ,665 --> 00:36:10,825

Dweezil will know our father

differently than any of us know

746

36:10 ,825 --> 00:36:12,025

him because he can play the music.

747

36:12 ,035 --> 00:36:14,305

And so few musicians

can even play the music.

748

36:14 ,305 --> 00:36:17,115

Dweezil's in a class by himself.

749

36:17 ,115 --> 00:36:20,745

He's in a league of his own, just

on just the musicianship level.

750

36:20 ,745 --> 00:36:23,355

And he's, he's just devoted to, to.

751

36:23 ,720 --> 00:36:27,740

The music getting out there

for the fans of Love My Father

752

36:27 ,740 --> 00:36:32,840

Forever and to introducing the

music to, to new audiences.

753

36:32 ,980 --> 00:36:33,740

So he's really,

754

36:34 ,160 --> 00:36:34,350

Marc Preston: he's

755

36:34 ,350 --> 00:36:34,850

Moon Zappa: dedicated.

756

36:35 ,335 --> 00:36:35,515

Marc Preston: Yeah.

757

36:35 ,515 --> 00:36:36,045

It's so funny.

758

36:36 Creative Pursuits and Personal Interests

36:36 ,045 --> 00:36:39,295

So the fans, how does it feel when people

come up to you and just, Oh my God.

759

36:39 ,295 --> 00:36:41,915

And they have their anecdotes about

growing up, listening to music.

760

36:41 ,965 --> 00:36:43,655

Is it something that you enjoy it?

761

36:43 ,785 --> 00:36:44,395

Of course.

762

36:44 ,395 --> 00:36:44,555

Yeah.

763

36:44 ,625 --> 00:36:44,905

It's

764

36:44 ,905 --> 00:36:46,435

Moon Zappa: another story about my father.

765

36:46 ,455 --> 00:36:48,915

It's, I just heard about some

interactions the other day.

766

36:48 ,915 --> 00:36:52,525

I heard a story about how my father

yelled at somebody and, and I wonder if

767

36:52 ,525 --> 00:36:53,654

he actually yelled, or if he just said.

768

36:54 ,095 --> 00:36:57,855

I had said something so, and so

directly that it felt like yelling.

769

36:58 ,315 --> 00:37:00,915

But yeah, my father never

raised his voice ever.

770

37:00 ,945 --> 00:37:04,895

He was the, he was always level

headed and never vindictive.

771

37:04 ,895 --> 00:37:06,135

And, but he was very clear.

772

37:06 ,145 --> 00:37:08,295

And so it's fun to hear

those kinds of stories.

773

37:08 ,335 --> 00:37:11,475

There's people that come up to me and

tell me about how wonderful Gail was.

774

37:11 ,505 --> 00:37:14,790

And, and I just say, I'm glad you had

a Positive experience with her, but

775

37:14 ,820 --> 00:37:17,610

it's everyone has different encounters.

776

37:17 ,610 --> 00:37:18,990

We are different to other people.

777

37:19 ,040 --> 00:37:22,210

We have, I'm sure you've got

mortal enemies and, and people

778

37:22 ,210 --> 00:37:23,120

that think you're wonderful.

779

37:23 ,460 --> 00:37:26,940

Marc Preston: Sometimes you have no idea

about where you set in people's minds.

780

37:27 ,370 --> 00:37:28,830

Moon Zappa: I read

something about CS Lewis.

781

37:28 ,830 --> 00:37:31,820

I think when he was talking about,

I think it was CS Lewis talking

782

37:31 ,820 --> 00:37:33,710

about the loss of a friend.

783

37:34 ,255 --> 00:37:37,025

And there was a group of friends

and they were all friends together.

784

37:37 ,025 --> 00:37:41,765

And when this particular friend died, they

all were grieving not just the friend,

785

37:41 ,785 --> 00:37:44,145

but who they were opposite that friend.

786

37:44 ,205 --> 00:37:45,725

And I thought that was

such an interesting.

787

37:46 ,310 --> 00:37:46,900

Idea.

788

37:46 ,910 --> 00:37:49,920

And then I read something recently

too, about in terms of storytelling,

789

37:49 ,940 --> 00:37:54,060

how we're all conditioned to the

Joseph Campbell model where it kind

790

37:54 ,060 --> 00:37:59,460

of all works out in the end, but grief

doesn't really follow those same rules

791

37:59 ,480 --> 00:38:03,620

and it's wrong to impose that kind

of expectation on a story like that.

792

38:03 ,620 --> 00:38:07,980

And so another aspect of my book is

I feel like I'm in the conversation

793

38:07 ,990 --> 00:38:12,080

about grief literacy, which

Mirabai Starr, that's that, that's

794

38:12 ,080 --> 00:38:13,900

that term that I heard from her.

795

38:14 ,340 --> 00:38:15,440

She's an amazing writer.

796

38:15 ,450 --> 00:38:19,500

And, and, and I think especially

in America, we, we don't know how

797

38:19 ,500 --> 00:38:21,800

to be with more difficult feelings.

798

38:21 ,800 --> 00:38:25,940

And I hope that this book,

people just feel a little bit.

799

38:26 ,625 --> 00:38:29,605

I don't know, more compassionate

towards themselves.

800

38:29 ,875 --> 00:38:32,595

Marc Preston: You said something is the

only way to get over it is go through it.

801

38:32 ,855 --> 00:38:35,275

I think I picked up something

with you and I agree with it.

802

38:35 ,285 --> 00:38:38,405

It's so funny that Alan Watts,

I, when I, we used to work on the

803

38:38 ,405 --> 00:38:39,995

radio in LA, I listened to him.

804

38:40 ,045 --> 00:38:43,585

It was interesting that we are not a

society that deals with kind of the

805

38:43 ,585 --> 00:38:47,485

grief thing and, and not like certain

Asian cultures, there's a process.

806

38:47 ,535 --> 00:38:49,275

Moon Zappa: I know there's,

I heard that expression.

807

38:49 ,275 --> 00:38:51,035

We're all just walking

each other home in the end.

808

38:51 ,035 --> 00:38:53,905

And, and I say, we're also

all growing each other up.

809

38:54 ,340 --> 00:38:58,910

And when they say hurtful, hurt

people, no, unwell hurt, people that

810

38:58 ,910 --> 00:39:02,260

are truly hurt don't want anyone else

to suffer what they've been through.

811

39:02 ,310 --> 00:39:04,910

They want people to not suffer.

812

39:11 The Seven Questions

39:11 ,860 --> 00:39:13,520

Marc Preston: Before we get

running, I always do something

813

39:13 ,520 --> 00:39:14,980

I call my seven questions.

814

39:14 ,980 --> 00:39:16,970

Just a little bit of fun

I like to do with folks.

815

39:16 ,980 --> 00:39:18,180

A little extra get to know ya.

816

39:18 ,540 --> 00:39:20,180

Fact that your family is Italian.

817

39:20 ,290 --> 00:39:21,300

I really want to know this one.

818

39:21 ,590 --> 00:39:24,030

What is your favorite comfort food?

819

39:24 ,100 --> 00:39:24,310

Moon Zappa: Tea.

820

39:24 ,690 --> 00:39:26,160

That's why I have a tea company.

821

39:26 ,220 --> 00:39:29,830

I have a tea company that

people can drink my tea.

822

39:29 ,830 --> 00:39:34,040

I, in fact, for my book, I made

a specialty cause you can smell a

823

39:34 ,040 --> 00:39:35,810

book and now you can taste a book.

824

39:36 ,060 --> 00:39:37,300

Marc Preston: What's wait, what's

the name of your tea company?

825

39:37 ,300 --> 00:39:37,470

Moon

826

39:37 ,470 --> 00:39:38,360

Moon Zappa: Unit Tea.

827

39:38 ,695 --> 00:39:39,755

You can get it on my website.

828

39:40 ,405 --> 00:39:40,775

Marc Preston: Okay.

829

39:40 ,775 --> 00:39:41,305

Very good.

830

39:41 ,495 --> 00:39:45,415

You know, you got me because I'm trying

to not have as much coffee, but I'm

831

39:45 ,415 --> 00:39:48,075

trying to integrate more tea into

my life here, but so tea, very good.

832

39:48 ,335 --> 00:39:52,075

Now you're going to talk story, have

coffee or tea with someone for three

833

39:52 ,075 --> 00:39:54,105

people for a few hours living or not.

834

39:54 ,115 --> 00:39:55,635

Who would those three people be?

835

39:55 ,900 --> 00:39:58,400

You would like to bring together,

sit down and talk story with,

836

39:58 ,750 --> 00:40:00,220

Moon Zappa: uh, bell hooks.

837

40:00 ,330 --> 00:40:04,460

She wrote amazing books about one

of the books was all about love.

838

40:04 ,480 --> 00:40:05,230

She's amazing.

839

40:05 ,320 --> 00:40:06,920

Clarissa Pinkola Estes.

840

40:07 ,000 --> 00:40:08,020

I'd like to sit down with her.

841

40:08 ,020 --> 00:40:08,900

She's still alive.

842

40:08 ,900 --> 00:40:10,320

She wrote women who run with the wolves.

843

40:12 ,120 --> 00:40:13,760

Marc Preston: You're the second

person to mention bell hooks.

844

40:13 ,790 --> 00:40:14,400

Oh, really?

845

40:14 ,410 --> 00:40:15,600

Um, yeah.

846

40:15 ,690 --> 00:40:15,850

Okay.

847

40:15 ,920 --> 00:40:16,480

It was Melissa.

848

40:16 ,550 --> 00:40:16,870

Okay.

849

40:16 ,900 --> 00:40:19,540

Now it's going to bug me now

because I, I can't remember.

850

40:19 ,540 --> 00:40:20,410

It's one of two people.

851

40:20 ,440 --> 00:40:21,240

Andy Daly.

852

40:21 ,270 --> 00:40:22,100

That was the other Andy.

853

40:22 ,100 --> 00:40:22,380

Moon Zappa: Sorry.

854

40:22 ,380 --> 00:40:22,710

Go ahead.

855

40:22 ,780 --> 00:40:23,450

Marc Preston: Kind of the same way.

856

40:23 ,450 --> 00:40:24,480

I'll remember something later.

857

40:24 ,680 --> 00:40:25,230

I was like, I got it.

858

40:25 ,380 --> 00:40:26,830

I triumphed over my memory.

859

40:27 ,180 --> 00:40:27,830

So very good.

860

40:27 ,830 --> 00:40:29,480

So I get to go check out bell hooks.

861

40:29 ,480 --> 00:40:32,130

Cause if you're the second person

who's mentioned a bell hooks, I've

862

40:32 ,130 --> 00:40:33,690

got to go do a little reading.

863

40:34 ,165 --> 00:40:38,205

Now, if we're going to go back

young, you first celebrity crush.

864

40:38 ,255 --> 00:40:39,255

Moon Zappa: Oh, Dennis Johnson.

865

40:39 ,255 --> 00:40:39,945

Can I have a fourth?

866

40:40 ,145 --> 00:40:41,285

I love his writing too.

867

40:41 ,495 --> 00:40:41,905

Okay, go ahead.

868

40:42 ,055 --> 00:40:42,585

Marc Preston: Sure.

869

40:42 ,635 --> 00:40:42,875

Go ahead.

870

40:42 ,875 --> 00:40:43,325

Absolutely.

871

40:43 ,325 --> 00:40:43,605

Question

872

40:43 ,605 --> 00:40:43,695

Moon Zappa: about

873

40:43 ,695 --> 00:40:44,125

Marc Preston: a crush.

874

40:44 ,155 --> 00:40:44,435

What?

875

40:44 ,625 --> 00:40:47,485

Your celebrity, first celebrity crush

when you were a kid, you're just

876

40:47 ,485 --> 00:40:49,565

infatuated with something about.

877

40:49 ,615 --> 00:40:55,365

Moon Zappa: Uh, I think Derek from the

Bay city rollers was before Sean Cassidy.

878

40:55 ,395 --> 00:40:59,355

I definitely always had a thing

for drummers and cleft in the chin.

879

40:59 ,375 --> 00:41:01,885

I was, I just thought that was

the dreamiest thing in the world.

880

41:01 ,885 --> 00:41:03,215

So I think that was.

881

41:03 ,725 --> 00:41:06,445

But I also liked the

redhead singer from ABBA.

882

41:06 ,475 --> 00:41:07,445

She also had a cleft.

883

41:07 ,445 --> 00:41:07,975

I think that's

884

41:08 ,970 --> 00:41:10,920

Marc Preston: Well, it begs the

question of what is it about the

885

41:10 ,930 --> 00:41:13,200

drummers that that's interesting?

886

41:13 ,200 --> 00:41:14,170

What drew you to the drummer?

887

41:14 ,180 --> 00:41:15,310

Moon Zappa: I don't know, but

it was definitely, it was my

888

41:15 ,310 --> 00:41:16,740

father's first instrument.

889

41:16 ,790 --> 00:41:20,200

I married a drummer that we divorced

when he became a guitar player.

890

41:20 ,260 --> 00:41:22,250

There's just something

about, about the drums.

891

41:22 ,280 --> 00:41:24,760

It just, it hits my body in

a way that I just love it.

892

41:24 ,900 --> 00:41:26,460

Marc Preston: He was a Matchbox 20, right?

893

41:26 ,460 --> 00:41:27,140

He still is.

894

41:27 ,140 --> 00:41:28,190

Yeah, he still is.

895

41:28 ,190 --> 00:41:30,960

But yeah, being on the radio

in my heyday was the nineties.

896

41:31 ,130 --> 00:41:32,810

At least one song per hour.

897

41:33 ,450 --> 00:41:35,270

I realized that's almost 30 years ago.

898

41:35 ,510 --> 00:41:38,650

Now, if you're going to be going to

an exotic island, somewhere you want

899

41:38 ,650 --> 00:41:42,500

to be, and it's like a resort, but

you're going to be somewhere a year,

900

41:42 ,520 --> 00:41:47,160

no internet streaming, nothing, you can

only bring one album, and you can only

901

41:47 ,160 --> 00:41:51,510

bring one movie or DVD, something you can

watch over and over again, and because

902

41:51 ,510 --> 00:41:54,830

I'm speaking with you, we can throw a

book in there as well, but something

903

41:54 ,830 --> 00:41:57,810

that You just are not going to tire of

904

41:58 ,040 --> 00:41:58,420

Moon Zappa: heaven.

905

41:58 ,420 --> 00:42:01,960

Can wait would be my movie or little

darlings, but probably haven't can wait.

906

42:02 ,060 --> 00:42:04,260

And the book, I probably bring

a journal that would help.

907

42:04 ,550 --> 00:42:08,010

And then for music, probably

Fiona Apple, something by Fiona.

908

42:08 ,430 --> 00:42:11,290

Marc Preston: The next question, if

you're a go from stem to stern, from

909

42:11 ,300 --> 00:42:14,450

the time you get up to the time you

go to bed, what are the component

910

42:14 ,510 --> 00:42:16,540

parts for you of a perfect day?

911

42:17 ,010 --> 00:42:21,510

Moon Zappa: Time in nature, tea,

a bath, connecting with somebody

912

42:21 ,510 --> 00:42:25,770

whose face lights up when they see

me and likewise time with my kid.

913

42:26 ,185 --> 00:42:27,495

Uh, maybe that's the same person.

914

42:27 ,505 --> 00:42:31,495

Hopefully making a home cooked

meal, five ingredients or less.

915

42:31 ,645 --> 00:42:33,765

Marc Preston: I don't follow

recipes, but if I got to follow a

916

42:33 ,765 --> 00:42:35,195

recipe, I'm just not going to do it.

917

42:35 ,195 --> 00:42:36,275

Just a few things through it.

918

42:36 ,305 --> 00:42:36,655

Yeah.

919

42:37 ,105 --> 00:42:40,695

Mike, my daughter, Emma was in, she

was studying in Spain and this past

920

42:40 ,695 --> 00:42:43,405

fall, she said, I just want to come

home and eat something out of a bowl.

921

42:43 ,455 --> 00:42:45,495

She was just loving the

food, but she, yeah.

922

42:45 ,785 --> 00:42:47,795

Moon Zappa: I didn't allow

the whole bowl meals.

923

42:47 ,795 --> 00:42:50,355

I, and I think I have

three plates to my name.

924

42:50 ,355 --> 00:42:51,105

Everything else is,

925

42:52 ,425 --> 00:42:52,525

Announcer: I just

926

42:52 ,635 --> 00:42:53,795

Moon Zappa: serve everything in the bowl.

927

42:53 ,795 --> 00:42:53,839

Okay.

928

42:54 ,200 --> 00:42:55,350

And I love a spoon.

929

42:55 ,380 --> 00:42:58,440

I love, especially a

soup spoon or a teaspoon.

930

42:58 ,440 --> 00:43:01,000

So at some point I'll be touching

something tactile and then probably

931

43:01 ,000 --> 00:43:02,260

just making some art at some point.

932

43:02 ,750 --> 00:43:03,840

Marc Preston: Okay, very good, very good.

933

43:03 ,840 --> 00:43:08,590

Now, if you weren't doing this, if you

do, as you're not doing just one thing,

934

43:08 ,600 --> 00:43:12,530

but if you were not predominantly doing

what you're doing now, where would you

935

43:12 ,530 --> 00:43:15,590

find joy as a vocation besides this?

936

43:16 ,040 --> 00:43:18,370

Moon Zappa: Choreography

or lighting design.

937

43:18 ,550 --> 00:43:20,770

Yeah, those are two

areas that appeal to me.

938

43:21 ,135 --> 00:43:23,575

Marc Preston: The last question I got

for you, if you were to jump into that

939

43:23 ,575 --> 00:43:27,355

DeLorean and go back when you were 16

years old, let's say, and you got a

940

43:27 ,355 --> 00:43:30,995

piece of advice for yourself to either

make that moment better, or maybe put

941

43:30 ,995 --> 00:43:32,435

yourself a little bit different track.

942

43:32 ,950 --> 00:43:35,280

What would that piece of

advice be to 16 year old

943

43:35 ,280 --> 00:43:38,370

Moon Zappa: invest in yourself

and don't, yeah, don't worry

944

43:38 ,370 --> 00:43:39,550

so much about other people.

945

43:40 ,130 --> 00:43:43,060

But I think I'm like, just as an adult,

going back to that, it's actually

946

43:43 ,070 --> 00:43:43,920

like to have a happy childhood.

947

43:44 ,260 --> 00:43:46,400

I think I might try

being selfish for a year.

948

43:46 ,400 --> 00:43:50,580

I think I can probably get, knowing me,

I'll probably maybe get an hour a week.

949

43:50 ,760 --> 00:43:54,860

When I say selfish, that's a judgy label,

but the idea of just investing in, in,

950

43:54 ,950 --> 00:43:59,330

in myself and just listening to me,

that's, that's something that is, is,

951

43:59 ,890 --> 00:44:01,700

That again, it's a theme in the book.

952

44:01 ,800 --> 00:44:05,390

It's a portrait of what they're now

calling toxic femininity, where you

953

44:05 ,390 --> 00:44:06,820

just give and give and have no needs.

954

44:06 ,830 --> 00:44:06,980

Yeah.

955

44:07 ,350 --> 00:44:09,880

Breaking that pattern is

part of that story too.

956

44:09 ,880 --> 00:44:10,000

So.

957

44:10 ,535 --> 00:44:13,285

Marc Preston: I think especially once

you become a parent, then your mind is

958

44:13 ,285 --> 00:44:18,605

all automatically disorganically shifted

into focusing on needs of someone else.

959

44:18 ,605 --> 00:44:21,755

And I think unless you're good for

yourself, it's really difficult to

960

44:21 ,765 --> 00:44:24,195

maximize what you do for somebody else.

961

44:24 ,295 --> 00:44:24,485

Yeah.

962

44:24 ,485 --> 00:44:26,525

Muna, I appreciate you taking

time out with me today.

963

44:26 ,525 --> 00:44:27,105

This was.

964

44:27 ,410 --> 00:44:28,150

Very enjoyable.

965

44:28 ,210 --> 00:44:29,410

And I'm really enjoying.

966

44:29 ,410 --> 00:44:30,160

Thank you so much.

967

44:30 ,820 --> 00:44:32,300

I love writing screenplay types.

968

44:32 ,470 --> 00:44:33,350

One last question.

969

44:33 ,350 --> 00:44:35,070

Actually, is that something

you've thought about doing?

970

44:35 ,070 --> 00:44:35,750

Is writing a screenplay?

971

44:36 ,020 --> 00:44:36,920

Yeah, I actually

972

44:36 ,920 --> 00:44:38,090

Moon Zappa: do screenplay writing.

973

44:38 ,090 --> 00:44:42,840

I have, uh, two different writing partners

and it's that that's where I enjoy

974

44:42 ,880 --> 00:44:49,570

that back and forth, uh, um, experience

that collaboration, uh, uh, that time.

975

44:50 ,675 --> 00:44:50,885

Marc Preston: Yeah.

976

44:50 ,885 --> 00:44:52,195

Cause you mentioned the lighting design.

977

44:52 ,195 --> 00:44:55,344

So imagine in a screenplay, you're

thinking in a visual way as well.

978

44:55 ,345 --> 00:44:55,825

You're the

979

44:56 ,145 --> 00:44:57,005

Moon Zappa: set designer.

980

44:57 ,005 --> 00:44:59,035

You're the location scout.

981

44:59 ,045 --> 00:45:00,035

You're the actor.

982

45:00 ,035 --> 00:45:00,245

You're

983

45:00 ,345 --> 00:45:01,005

Marc Preston: casting director.

984

45:01 ,005 --> 00:45:01,265

Yeah.

985

45:01 ,485 --> 00:45:04,075

Whenever I'm writing, I'm always like,

uh, they say not to do it, but I'm

986

45:04 ,075 --> 00:45:06,695

always, when I'm writing, I'm like,

I've already cast it in my brain.

987

45:06 ,695 --> 00:45:08,815

I know you're not supposed

to do that, actually.

988

45:08 ,815 --> 00:45:09,365

Cause then you can

989

45:09 ,405 --> 00:45:11,215

Moon Zappa: tap into the voice

sooner, especially if that

990

45:11 ,215 --> 00:45:13,205

person has such a strong persona.

991

45:13 ,205 --> 00:45:13,925

Sometimes I just.

992

45:14 ,640 --> 00:45:16,190

A character is just Ricky Gervais.

993

45:16 ,220 --> 00:45:20,760

I just, I don't know why I couldn't

get to some humor with if I,

994

45:21 ,380 --> 00:45:24,040

Carl Pilkington or Ricky Gervais

995

45:24 ,040 --> 00:45:24,180

Marc Preston: in

996

45:24 ,180 --> 00:45:24,620

Moon Zappa: a role.

997

45:24 ,900 --> 00:45:27,560

Marc Preston: Again, I appreciate

your time and I cannot wait

998

45:27 ,560 --> 00:45:29,580

to tell folks about the book.

999

45:29 ,600 --> 00:45:33,860

I don't read as much as I probably should,

but I've really enjoyed getting into it.

Speaker:1000

45:33 ,860 --> 00:45:34,367

so

Speaker:1001

45:34 ,367 --> 00:45:34,874

Moon Zappa: much.

Speaker:1002

45:34 ,874 --> 00:45:35,381

Yeah.

Speaker:1003

45:35 ,381 --> 00:45:36,396

All right.

Speaker:1004

45:36 ,396 --> 00:45:37,918

Marc Preston: There you go.

Speaker:1005

45:37 ,918 --> 00:45:39,439

Moon unit Zappa.

Speaker:1006

45:39 ,540 --> 00:45:43,250

Great conversation, really enjoyed the

opportunity to go down memory lane a

Speaker:1007

45:43 ,250 --> 00:45:47,540

little bit, get a little insight and have

a chance to check out her new memoir.

Speaker:1008

45:47 ,560 --> 00:45:49,790

It is called Earth to Moon.

Speaker:1009

45:49 ,970 --> 00:45:50,450

Pick it up.

Speaker:1010

45:50 ,740 --> 00:45:56,100

Not only is it a great book, great

story, personal story, but she's a

Speaker:1011

45:56 ,100 --> 00:45:58,400

great storyteller, a cool point of view.

Speaker:1012

45:58 ,690 --> 00:46:02,150

So, uh, one other thing, make sure

to grab your phone, whatever device

Speaker:1013

46:02 ,150 --> 00:46:07,020

you use to listen to story and

craft, make sure to follow the show.

Speaker:1014

46:07 ,030 --> 00:46:10,480

That way you will find out, uh, get

a little notification every time

Speaker:1015

46:10 ,480 --> 00:46:13,724

there's a new episode, ring that

little bell, whatever your app is.

Speaker:1016

46:14 ,345 --> 00:46:16,045

Uh, a relievery view.

Speaker:1017

46:16 ,045 --> 00:46:17,085

That's always wonderful.

Speaker:1018

46:17 ,085 --> 00:46:18,105

Leave some stars.

Speaker:1019

46:18 ,425 --> 00:46:20,165

Whatever feels good, go for it.

Speaker:1020

46:20 ,495 --> 00:46:21,995

Just make sure to follow the show.

Speaker:1021

46:22 ,325 --> 00:46:25,545

It helps other folks discover the

mischief we have going on here.

Speaker:1022

46:25 ,885 --> 00:46:27,745

Also, storyandcraftpod.

Speaker:1023

46:28 ,975 --> 00:46:29,405

com.

Speaker:1024

46:29 ,415 --> 00:46:30,505

That is the website.

Speaker:1025

46:30 ,865 --> 00:46:34,205

Just go there, you can find out

about all past episodes, past guests.

Speaker:1026

46:34 ,215 --> 00:46:35,115

Send me a note.

Speaker:1027

46:35 ,350 --> 00:46:35,920

Whatever.

Speaker:1028

46:35 ,920 --> 00:46:36,990

It's always there for you.

Speaker:1029

46:37 ,010 --> 00:46:38,050

So go check it out.

Speaker:1030

46:38 ,330 --> 00:46:38,700

All right.

Speaker:1031

46:38 ,700 --> 00:46:41,690

So, uh, have a great rest of your

day or evening, week, weekend,

Speaker:1032

46:41 ,690 --> 00:46:42,670

whatever you got going on.

Speaker:1033

46:42 ,700 --> 00:46:43,910

Thank you for bringing me along.

Speaker:1034

46:43 ,910 --> 00:46:45,300

I appreciate it greatly.

Speaker:1035

46:45 ,300 --> 00:46:49,260

And, uh, we'll talk next time

right here on Story Craft.

Speaker:1036

46:49 ,540 --> 00:46:51,890

Announcer: That's it for

this episode of Story Craft.

Speaker:1037

46:52 ,180 --> 00:46:56,550

Join Marc next week for more

conversation right here on Story Craft.

Speaker:1038

46:57 ,000 --> 00:47:00,870

Story Craft is a presentation of

Marc Preston Productions, LLC.

Speaker:1039

47:01 ,810 --> 00:47:03,599

Executive Producer is Marc Preston.

Speaker:1040

47:03 ,690 --> 00:47:04,200

Preston.

Speaker:1041

47:04 ,610 --> 00:47:06,990

Associate producer is Zachary Holden.

Speaker:1042

47:07 ,400 --> 00:47:10,670

Please rate and review Story

Craft on Apple Podcasts.

Speaker:1043

47:10 ,960 --> 00:47:15,400

Don't forget to subscribe to the

show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,

Speaker:1044

47:15 ,400 --> 00:47:16,730

or your favorite podcast app.

Speaker:1045

47:17 ,080 --> 00:47:20,030

You can subscribe to show

updates and stay in the know.

Speaker:1046

47:20 ,180 --> 00:47:21,060

Just head to storyandcraftpod.

Speaker:1047

47:22 ,470 --> 00:47:24,300

com and sign up for the newsletter.

Speaker:1048

47:24 ,890 --> 00:47:25,720

I'm Emma Dylan.

Speaker:1049

47:26 ,180 --> 00:47:26,980

See you next time.

Speaker:1050

47:27 ,150 --> 00:47:29,540

And remember, keep telling your story.