Murphy first appeared on this podcast seven years ago, in episode 121. He was 13 1/2 years old at that time, getting ready to swim across the river of adolescence. Seven years later, he’s experienced many of the things he was anticipating then. He’s every bit as thoughtful, kind, and insightful as I figured he’d become. If you sometimes feel despair about “kids these days,” people like Murphy can melt your cold, cold heart into a puddle of liquid hope. Murphy’s Instagram is
Really interesting to compare the development of Murphy in the two episodes. I noticed quite a lot of (maybe even a spoonful too much?) self-assurance in the Murphy at 21, which I think is really necessary for helping you get through your 20s (even if it's an illusion). I believed throughout my 20s that I had my shit together, that I had figured out my place in the world. But in my 30s, it has felt like a second puberty as I navigate it all over again.
To Chris: Great interview. I love how he is thinking about becoming an anthropologist. I also appreciate how you spoke to him with a nice balance of mutual respect but also sprinkled in with life lessons you have learned.
To Murphy: Go for it Murphy, anthropology is a broad enough field where you can easily find your passion and I have a feeling you will be great at it - in fact, I think you will be great at anything you set out to do.
Chris, I really really hope you and Craig Childs were able to meet up for an interview. Being able to listen in on a conversation between two of my favorite living writers would be a dream come true. I will be eagerly awaiting the next episode. Thank you for turning your listeners on to this amazing author.
Great episode Chris. It seemed surreal to have him back on. I like how Murphy nonchalantly dropped the fact that he lost his virginity in a threesome. Can you believe the kids these days...
Regarding people working via Zoom during the pandemic.
I'm an art model at Art Students League in NYC. A month or so after the school closed in Mar 2020 they started doing Zoom art classes. So I was employed art modeling as usual but I didn't have to leave home, all that getting to job site stuff, time, money and effort was gone but the $22 an hour remained. This was not unwelcome on my end of things.
Of course Zoom is a inadequate tool for art classes with its one, kind of low res, eye. It can't even do 3D.
With the same teachers who work at the school, I was employed more or less doing the same things as live. Portrait classes which repeat in future session of same pose, sometime just a head shot, but also full figure modeling for anatomy drawing teachers. It worked the same way, 20 minutes posing and 5 break. During the breaks the teacher would have to participants show their work and do demos.
Now that we are back inside they have retained some of the Zoom stuff. It kind of opens up a new income for the school which is very old and has since the 19th century in the same location in a building made by Carnegie and in a half block from Carnegie Hall on 57th St which is dominated by horrible billionaire towers, it's called "Billionaires Row" except it is doubtful anyone actually lives in the gleaming new tower of global investment money. (I'm preparing to walk up a lot of stairs after the whatever when they become Squats.) The point is, after the real estate rant, people from all over the world attend the Zoom Classes and pay for them.
Aging issues and all: I'm 50 years older than MP. Things keep happening. Of course I have aways been bohemian on the loose so it was interesting to get this new thing of modeling in my late 60s. It's goes on because have to work lacking adequate SS, and it's a situation filled with weirdo artists which is suitable. I can get acting work too, but this feels more wholesome and steady and I don't have to remember lines of be some serial killer, cop, or some other character in their endless heroic melodramas.
I wish you had asked him why he didn't want the van to keep in the conversation about passing things on.
The thing is, as a NYCer, initially BECAUSE of public transportation, I think the whole car, van, drive around the interstate is the last gasp of 20th Century consumerism and wanted noting to do with it. I don't want to have to worry about keeping an expensive machine running to look at views (sorry).
Of course CR in uncomfortable in cities, I hate NYC or any of them if I have to drive to get here and there. It's horrible they made us do that is all of the USA except these elderly cities build largely before to corporate heads thought, "Fuck this public transportation shit, we can make a shit load on money making and trashing a billion cars that they have to buy in order to participate in modern live. We can just send the military to secure the oil, no problem."
Holy shit, Chris. How in the hell has it been 7.5 years since Murphy was on? I remember it pretty vividly. I swear we're in a time warp now.
It was awesome to hear from Murphy again. You can easily tell he's the got the same characteristics, just more evolved. His insights and quick wit are so impressive for anyone, much less someone at 21 years old. Got so much needed inspiration from this one.
I look forward to seeing where he's at in 7 more years. 🍻
I love all the ways your conversation with him has changed and matured so much since the last podcast. Specifically hearing you two talk about relationships, traveling, what life might be like in the future, really gives me an idea of what elderhood (Chris is elder, man) really means. It means you see and move through different phases of peoples life with them, because you’ve been there yourself. It also means you’ve done the work of translating the bits of meaning we can obtain even from our roughest moments.
Also, damn I can’t believe Murphy’s dad left him on mount hood for weekends at a time hahaha that shit’s crazy.
I have iHeart radio on, the War station. Slave's "Slide" is playing while about 2 mins in I came to this page and hit play from earlier and suddenly before your and mine eyes I have become a sound engineer, music producer, dj...
A lame way of saying it sounds really cool with Funk and the Dr., telling a story as he does so well in the background.
Really interesting to compare the development of Murphy in the two episodes. I noticed quite a lot of (maybe even a spoonful too much?) self-assurance in the Murphy at 21, which I think is really necessary for helping you get through your 20s (even if it's an illusion). I believed throughout my 20s that I had my shit together, that I had figured out my place in the world. But in my 30s, it has felt like a second puberty as I navigate it all over again.
To Chris: Great interview. I love how he is thinking about becoming an anthropologist. I also appreciate how you spoke to him with a nice balance of mutual respect but also sprinkled in with life lessons you have learned.
To Murphy: Go for it Murphy, anthropology is a broad enough field where you can easily find your passion and I have a feeling you will be great at it - in fact, I think you will be great at anything you set out to do.
Chris, I really really hope you and Craig Childs were able to meet up for an interview. Being able to listen in on a conversation between two of my favorite living writers would be a dream come true. I will be eagerly awaiting the next episode. Thank you for turning your listeners on to this amazing author.
Nice to see Murphy has managed to keep a good head over his shoulders during the last seven and a half years.
Great episode Chris. It seemed surreal to have him back on. I like how Murphy nonchalantly dropped the fact that he lost his virginity in a threesome. Can you believe the kids these days...
Regarding people working via Zoom during the pandemic.
I'm an art model at Art Students League in NYC. A month or so after the school closed in Mar 2020 they started doing Zoom art classes. So I was employed art modeling as usual but I didn't have to leave home, all that getting to job site stuff, time, money and effort was gone but the $22 an hour remained. This was not unwelcome on my end of things.
Of course Zoom is a inadequate tool for art classes with its one, kind of low res, eye. It can't even do 3D.
With the same teachers who work at the school, I was employed more or less doing the same things as live. Portrait classes which repeat in future session of same pose, sometime just a head shot, but also full figure modeling for anatomy drawing teachers. It worked the same way, 20 minutes posing and 5 break. During the breaks the teacher would have to participants show their work and do demos.
Now that we are back inside they have retained some of the Zoom stuff. It kind of opens up a new income for the school which is very old and has since the 19th century in the same location in a building made by Carnegie and in a half block from Carnegie Hall on 57th St which is dominated by horrible billionaire towers, it's called "Billionaires Row" except it is doubtful anyone actually lives in the gleaming new tower of global investment money. (I'm preparing to walk up a lot of stairs after the whatever when they become Squats.) The point is, after the real estate rant, people from all over the world attend the Zoom Classes and pay for them.
Aging issues and all: I'm 50 years older than MP. Things keep happening. Of course I have aways been bohemian on the loose so it was interesting to get this new thing of modeling in my late 60s. It's goes on because have to work lacking adequate SS, and it's a situation filled with weirdo artists which is suitable. I can get acting work too, but this feels more wholesome and steady and I don't have to remember lines of be some serial killer, cop, or some other character in their endless heroic melodramas.
I wish you had asked him why he didn't want the van to keep in the conversation about passing things on.
The thing is, as a NYCer, initially BECAUSE of public transportation, I think the whole car, van, drive around the interstate is the last gasp of 20th Century consumerism and wanted noting to do with it. I don't want to have to worry about keeping an expensive machine running to look at views (sorry).
Of course CR in uncomfortable in cities, I hate NYC or any of them if I have to drive to get here and there. It's horrible they made us do that is all of the USA except these elderly cities build largely before to corporate heads thought, "Fuck this public transportation shit, we can make a shit load on money making and trashing a billion cars that they have to buy in order to participate in modern live. We can just send the military to secure the oil, no problem."
Holy shit, Chris. How in the hell has it been 7.5 years since Murphy was on? I remember it pretty vividly. I swear we're in a time warp now.
It was awesome to hear from Murphy again. You can easily tell he's the got the same characteristics, just more evolved. His insights and quick wit are so impressive for anyone, much less someone at 21 years old. Got so much needed inspiration from this one.
I look forward to seeing where he's at in 7 more years. 🍻
I love all the ways your conversation with him has changed and matured so much since the last podcast. Specifically hearing you two talk about relationships, traveling, what life might be like in the future, really gives me an idea of what elderhood (Chris is elder, man) really means. It means you see and move through different phases of peoples life with them, because you’ve been there yourself. It also means you’ve done the work of translating the bits of meaning we can obtain even from our roughest moments.
Also, damn I can’t believe Murphy’s dad left him on mount hood for weekends at a time hahaha that shit’s crazy.
Also, this guest music, I am digging.
I have iHeart radio on, the War station. Slave's "Slide" is playing while about 2 mins in I came to this page and hit play from earlier and suddenly before your and mine eyes I have become a sound engineer, music producer, dj...
A lame way of saying it sounds really cool with Funk and the Dr., telling a story as he does so well in the background.
Wow, I still remember where I was and where I was walking when I listened to Murphy's first.
Thanks for this, Chris.