President JOE BIDEN Speaks Out For The FIRST Time About His MENTAL HEALTH

Jay Shetty's podcast on purpose is the. number one health and wellness podcast. The president participated in an. interview with Jay Shetty, who you all. may know, to discuss the. administration's effort to tackle the. mental health crisis. Mr. President. How are you, man? Such a. pleasure. Good to see you. Thank you for. this honor. Thank you. Very, very. grateful. Day will come when you open that closet. door and you smell the fragrance of her. dresses or you walk going by that park. where you walked with your child or your.

or your wife or your husband. or the thing that reminds you. that for the longest time will just. bring a tear to your eye. But eventually. every once in a while will bring a smile. to your lips before bringing a tear to. your eye. When that happens. you know you're going to make it. Best-selling author and host. The number one health and wellness. podcast. On Purpose with Jay Shetty. I'm so grateful and honored that you're. here with me right now. Thank you so. much for all your love and all your. support for On Purpose. It's incredible.

what we've been creating together, what. we've been building together, and I'm so. excited to share some big news with you. This is an extremely special interview. today as I'm sitting down with the. President of the United States, Joe. Biden. This is only possible because of. all your love and support for the. podcast and making us a platform that. the President and his team felt was. right to talk about mental health. This. conversation is dedicated to the person. behind the podium. I always want to get.

to know the human behind the title, behind the position, behind what they do. in the world, and spotlight and shine a. light on mental health. We talk about so. many of the things that he's gone. through in his personal life. I'm so. grateful that I got to have this. conversation that we're going to share. with the world at large and make sure. that mental health is a mainstream. conversation because it's so integral to. all of our lives. I hope you enjoy this. conversation. Thank you for all your. love and support. Means the world to me.

Everyone, welcome back to On Purpose, the number one health and wellness. podcast in the world, thanks to each and. every one of you that come back every. week to learn, listen, and grow. Now, you know our mission here is to make the. world happier, healthier, and more. healed. And I believe that learning. about people's stories of healing, of. grief, of loss, of growth is a powerful. way to do that. And today, I've been. graciously invited to the White House,

and I'm sitting with Mr. President. And. I'm so grateful and honored to be here. and to have you on our platform and for. you to choose our platform to have this. conversation. I couldn't be more. honored. Thank you so much. Thank you. I'm flattered you'd want to. interview me. Absolutely. Well, let's. dive straight in. The first question I'd. like to ask you is. what is your earliest childhood memory. that you believe defines who you are. today and the person you've become?

The earliest memory I have is there's. two of them. One is there was a bully in the. neighborhood lived down the. in an area called the plot and we lived. up the hill. And I was out with my friends in the. alley behind our house and. my mother was at the pantry looking out. The tough guy in the neighborhood. smacked me as a couple years old and he. ran and I came in holding my face and. my grandfather was at the kitchen table.

and said, "What's the matter, Joey?" And. he said, "That's a shame." I walked in. and my mother said, "Joey, go back out. there.". So, go back out there. She said, "Walk. up to Wait till he walks up to you. As. soon as he does, smack him right in the. nose. In the nose." She said, "I'll give. you 50 cents if you do it.". I said, "Why, Mom?" She said, "You won't. be able to walk in that alley again if. you don't.". I was scared to death. I walked out, popped him in the nose, he bled, he ran, and I thought, "Huh.". It worked. It worked, but I think the.

lesson I learned the most though is I. used to stutter badly. And I would. talk like. like like like like that, and then I'd. catch my rhythm and then I'd be able to. And it was something that uh. I thought was the worst curse could. happen to me cuz everybody makes fun of. it. I had a similar experience with. being bullied. So, that resonates very. strongly with me. I think everybody. does. I was the runt of the litter.

No, I really was. I was a little guy and. uh. I was a relatively good athlete even. when I was a kid, but uh. I literally was the runt of the litter. Well, well, for me it was my weight. I. was overweight growing up, and it was. the color of my skin. I grew up in an. area where I wasn't surrounded by a lot. of Indian people, and so those were the. two reasons. Except my mother didn't. give me that advice. Sometimes I wish. she did. My mother did the opposite. She. actually came into my school and spoke. to the teachers, which was really.

embarrassing at that age, and you know, not helpful for my. No, I think maybe it is, you know. I I. had a similar thing. I when I was in. I went to Catholic grade school and high. school. And you sit in those days you sat in. alphabetical order. I was in the first. row, Biden, four people down. In reading. class everybody read a paragraph. I got. to my paragraph, and I remember what it. was because I used to try to memorize it. rather than have to look at the word. when I'm re-reading it, you know. It was. And it was said, "And he was a gentle man." And the And.

the teacher said, "What's that, Mr. Biden?" He wanted She wanted to say. gentleman. But it was easier to not. stutter and say gentle man. I said. gentle I said, "Mr. B-B-Biden, what is. that?" And I got up and walked out. and walked home, which is about 2 mi. My. mother was sitting there tapping the. table when I walked in. She said, "Get. in the car.". Went down in the car. We walked in, went. to the principal's office. Sat me outside the door. The door was. cracked, you know, it was one of those. opaque glasses glass windows and it.

didn't go to the ceiling. Anyway, to make a long story short, she. said, "I'd like to speak to the. teacher." My mother said. And she said, "Mrs. Biden, I'd like to. speak to the teacher." So, the teacher. walks in looked at me like, "You're in. trouble now, Biden.". Walked in, sat down. There was a crack. in the door. I'll never forget this. And my mother, Catherine Eugenia. Finnegan Biden, and she she looked and I. could see what what did you say to my. son? She said, "Did you say b-b-Biden?". She said, "I was just trying to make an. appointment, Mrs. Biden." She said, "If.

you ever do that again, I'll come back. and rip that bonnet off your head. You. understand me?" Swear to God. Wow. Get. up, walked out. Go back to class, Joey. But, you know, it's uh. everybody has something that is tough, particularly when you're younger. Mhm. And it makes such a difference when. when somebody reaches out. I'm sure you. had also had some experiences where. someone would say, "Come on." Mhm. Like, for example, there's a more than a. handful of.

young stutterers, they're not so young. anymore, that I still keep in touch with. them. One young kid uh he introduced me. when I ran for president. Took such. courage because he to talk talk. talk like like that. And he practiced he. practiced he practiced. But, it's had a. profound impact on his life. Another young man, when I was uh. vice president uh. uh he was I could tell you can tell a. stutterer. if you're a stutterer just by when. you're he was in line with his mom. It.

was in Tennessee and where I was doing a. thing for Al Gore. And uh. and she introduced her son and I could. see him go. his lips. I said I said, "Hey, I'm about. to finish my speech. Why don't you come. help me write it?". And the mother looked at me and he. looked at me and took a minute and I. showed him how I marked up my speeches. so that I could get a little cadence. with what I did. Did you ever see the movie The King's. Speech? Yes, of course. Well, the gentleman who. had that had a copy of The King's.

Speech, he did it sent me a copy. And I. don't know if I have my book with me, but there's a one of these days I'll. show you my speeches. I looked at it and. I marked it up the same way. Every. speech I mark up is the same way that I. think they might have it. See those. slash marks I put on? Yes. Well, this just to help me, but you. know, there were people who reached out. to me, too. Maybe that. impediment was the best thing ever. happened to me. It's incredible, isn't. it, how a challenge that you're going.

through actually helps you become more. compassionate and empathetic towards. other people? It's kind of human nature. for most people. When you understand the. pain someone's feeling, your first. instinct is. Look, we we have a expression in the family. from the time I was a kid. It's all about showing up. To just be in there. I mean, I imagine the times when you. were down because they're making fun of. your Indian heritage in an all white.

population. That having someone come up. and say, "Hey, come on. You and me, let's do boom.". It makes a difference. Absolutely. Yeah, I'll never forget. You've just reminded me. Ian Windass was. his name. He was the toughest kid in. school. And he had my back. That was. that person that reached out to me. So, if anyone had a problem with me, they. had a problem with him and he'd. he'd take care of it. I felt very safe. Felt very safe with Ian. Wow. It really is all about reaching. out, isn't it? I mean, for real. Think.

of all the young people today. Mhm. I think that there's more anxiety and. loneliness today than there's been in a. long, long time. Mhm. You know my. friend, I appointed him Admiral uh. McRaven. He was telling me about uh. you know, the percentage of young people today. who are feeling lonely, alone. And sometimes it's just just touching, just showing up. I used to get my deceased son, Beau,

who should be sitting here instead of. me, would always say, "Dad, you don't have. time to make that call. You don't I I'd. get in a plane and go home and because. someone had a. a serious problem, lost a wife, a. daughter, and I and I He said, "Dad, you don't. have time." When he passed away, the. hundreds of people told me how he. called, he showed up, he was there. And uh. because there are people who showed up. for me, too. And it just really matters. Yeah. You've been through You mentioned.

it there. You've been through. so much tragic loss in your life. As you. just mentioned there, you. didn't run for presidency in 2016. shortly after the loss of your son. You've lost your. first wife and daughter in a horrific. accident. I can't even begin to. understand how someone. has the courage to process that much. loss and grief, let alone move forward. in the way you have. It's truly. admirable. How How did you begin?

I had an overwhelming advantage in the. loss, and that was I had a. really close family that was there. For. example, when my uh. wife and daughter were killed, my first. wife, and my two boys were very badly. injured, a tractor trailer broadsided. them. I was not in was not in the accident. When I got home from the hospital, my sister and husband already gave up. their apartment and moved in, helped me. raise my kid. My brother we we lived in. a suburban area. It was more country. than suburban.

And there was a little barn on the. garage barn. My My brother came in and. he turned the loft of the barn into an. apartment for himself. They were there for me all the time. That was a gigantic difference. My best. friend in my life is my sister and my. brothers. And. And uh so I had an enormous advantage. and I think that. when you see people who are going. through something tough, it does matter. if you reach out.

I mean it does matter. Like for example, you know, you have a when you're a. senator for all the years I was in a. small state, you know so many people and. people would pass away and you'd show up. at the wake or the funeral. No matter. what was happening, I learned it early. on. People would stop and just come and. throw their arms around me. Because if they know you know the pain. they feel, they get some solace in it. It's not always easy, but it's uh. it just matters just to.

to just to reach out. Let people know. you see them. How did you allow yourself. to receive that help too? I feel like as. you were mentioning earlier, with the loneliness and the anxiety that. exists, a lot of people. either struggle to know what to say. I. think we live in a society where people. are like, "Well, what do I say if. they've gone through that?" And the. opposite end what you just said, being. able to be open enough to actually. receive help requires a certain amount. of courage and strength as well. Well, I.

was uh. raising a family for real, an extended. family, my grandparents as well. Where uh my dad had an expression, "Family is beginning, middle, and end.". There's a rule in the family growing up, not a joke. We didn't notice at the time, but. whenever you wanted to speak to your. mother or father, I mean they said, "Can we" you had a. problem. No matter what they were doing, they stopped. No matter what they were. doing. They stopped and heard her, listened to.

her. And I did the same with my children and. I they did the same with theirs. Because. it's a. it's a matter of them knowing that. you they are the most important thing in. your life. If they got a problem, you're. there to listen. I have a. seven grandkids uh. four of them all five of them old enough. to. talk on the phone. You know, every day I. you text them or call them. And as a matter of fact, during the. campaign, they were they were having a I didn't.

realize they're having an interview. on the the four oldest grandchildren. And I said and just at the time and they. said they call me pop. Pop calls us. every day or texts us every day. And I. called them the phone rang. While they're in the interview. Well, I I give my word. I had no idea. they were in the interview. But it's a look, I I just think. being there. is. is important and and makes such a. difference, I think. Knowing that someone's going to be there.

for you. Just to listen, just to. just to hold you, just to hug you. Yeah, I believe you're right. I I believe we. often over complicate things. We think. we have to say the perfect thing, we. have to have the solution, we have to be. able to fix our problems. But it's just half of just showing up. Mhm. Even people you don't know that. well, but you've met. The fact you call Mhm. and say. I'm thinking of you. I learned this from.

my experience. The day will come. when you open that closet door and you. smell the fragrance of her dresses or. you're walk going by that park where you. where you where you walked with your. child or your or your wife or your. husband. or that thing that reminds you. and for the longest time will just bring. a tear to your eye. But eventually, every once in a while, it'll bring a smile to your lips before. it brings a tear to your eye. When that. happens, you know you're going to make.

it. That's the moment you know I made That. mean you still don't cry. Doesn't mean. the pain still isn't isn't real even. years later, but you know you can make. it. I think there's an advantage. sometimes if you have deep faith, whether you're. you know, Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, you know, whatever. My family, when they want to get an. important message to me, they tape it on the mirror of the.

bathroom. I'm serious, not a joke. wake up in the morning and. Yeah, no, it's on the mirror. I guess I. was down. early on and this is going to be 10. years ago. I was down or something. And uh. my daughter, Ashley, taped on my She's a. social worker. Taped on my mirror, "Happiness is something something to do, someone to love, and someone to look. forward to." You didn't. And "Dad, you have all those things.". Just remind you, you know. I think what.

you just said about the smile before the. tear is probably one of the realest. things I've ever heard, I think. We. often are trying to create a world in. which we only have smiles and we're. we put pressure on ourselves and the. people around us to be forever happy. And what you just said there was was. really really resonate with me, really. hit me, actually. The idea that you will. cry, it will happen, but that tiny smile. that you experience even through a loss, even through grief, you're fortunate.

that you got to have that experience. that allowed you to find that smile at. that time. And I feel like you've been. through so many obstacles in your life, but I'd love to know what you see as the. relationship between vulnerability and. strength, especially as a leader, because I think leaders have an. overarching pressure. to display strength in a certain way. I'll give you an example. I. coach several. CEOs and individuals, athletes, and.

others. And one of the CEOs who leads a large. organization called me a few months ago. and we were working through some things. together. And at one point I said to them, I said, "It would be really wonderful for you to. tell your. teams that you lead what you've been. going through and growing through.". And they said, "Jay, I don't know if I. can tell them. I don't I don't know if I. can tell them.". And I said, "Why?" And they said, "Well, because it will look like I'm weak.". And I said to them, "Well, no. You being.

vulnerable and sharing your growth is. the greatest strength. That's not a. weakness." But that was new because so. many leaders feel they have to portray a. certain type of strength. But even today. I can see there's a grace in the way. you're sharing. Well, I have I have a rule that I. thought that everybody in my. my staff knew. Because I I had when I was a senator for. a long time, at one point, I don't know. how they measured it, but I had the same. staff longer than anybody in in the in.

the Senate at the time. For example, we. were doing a very very important Supreme. Court hearing. I was chairman of the. Judiciary Committee. And we worked on very hard and did all. the research and you know, anyway. There's one young man who people say was. invaluable because he's the guy who knew. all the detail about certain things. And I found out that. he was having trouble at home. And I said, "I want you to go home.

Don't come to the hearing." Said, "I. can't. go home. Go home." And you know why? Because I. would go home. I have a thousand bosses, but only one, me. No one. And so I when I had crises at home. raising the boys or. I went home. Now, I don't know how many years ago it. was, but in this job and as vice. president. another person was having some trouble. at home. And I found out but I said, "Go home.".

They said, "No, no, I can't. I got I. said, "If you don't go home, I'm going. to fire you.". Go home. Your relationship is a hell a lot more. important than whatever you're doing for. me. So, that's a rule we have. Not a. joke. Absolutely not a and you never. have to tell me why. All you got to say is, "I'm not going to. be in.". I take it your word. If it turns out. you're playing games with me, I'll learn. but I know you too well. Take the time. because you're not going to be any. better than your relationship.

And that's a little bit what you were. just talking about. And you know, I. think. you'd have to ask my staff. I don't. know, but I think they. long as they know that's more important. more important than doing whatever. specific thing you're doing at that. moment for me. How do you apply that rule when it feels. like what they're all working on this. specific moment seems obviously to be. the most important thing in the world. How do you. Well, because there's only one advantage. of getting older.

You've had a lot of experience and uh. and you're going to apply a little bit. of wisdom. It's really critical. Yeah. And by the way, there's a selfish aspect to it because. when you have a problem. with someone you love or some problem. you you know, you got to deal with it. Yeah, and you can't even perform as. well. Exactly right. Yeah, absolutely. You've. every day for years had to make. difficult and stressful decisions.

High stakes, hugely impactful on so many. people. When you're making decisions, do you follow your head, your heart, your gut? How do you think about. decision-making? I don't know how to separate the three. Mhm. Many times my heart brings me to. the problem. And my gut. tells me what I think I want to do. But my head, meaning the research, the. back sometimes says that's the wrong.

answer. I think you're driven by a value set. You know what you value. You know what you think is important in. life. You know what you think is. consequential. And I think people who. know what they value, doesn't mean. they're better or what, but if you. follow your value set, to me. they're kind of basic things. My dad. used to have an expression, for real. He. said, "Joey, everyone's entitled to be. treated with dignity." Mhm. Everybody. Dignity was his word. Dignity.

And what I find myself looking through. the prism For example, I was at an event. the other day where I was talking and I. were talking about a problem. a mom was having providing for the. health and needs of a child, of actually. a teenager. I said, "All I can think of when hearing. about not being able to afford the. treatment. was how she's deprived of her dignity.". Mhm. Imagine being a parent.

and you can't do anything about it cuz. you don't have the financial wherewithal. because you don't have the connection, you don't know where to go. Mhm. It's a little bit like, you know, uh. I think the most dangerous, the most. hated word in English language and any. other language translated is cancer. You. have can- It just strikes fear in. everybody. Mhm. Well, it's one thing to get an analysis. by a great doctor, but you still need. someone to guide you through. It's complicated.

But there and there were we're we're. finding significant breakthroughs in. cancer. But you need someone to sort of lead you. through who knows about it. I think it's the same way with about any. problem people have. If there's a way. let people know there's an avenue. There's a way through. You know, I used. to have a friend named Bob Gold who uh. who died of a heart attack and I used to. say, "Bob, do you understand me?" He. said, "Joe, and I I understand you. I. overstand you.".

But you got to know how to know. And and that's why we can be so of. little things that can be of enormous. value. It's like. you know, you're walking across this an. intersection. They don't let me do that. anymore, but uh you walk across the. intersection and there's a. you know, an elderly man or woman. knowing they're waiting to see if they. have enough time. Mhm. Just grabbing their hand and walking. them across. It's a it's a little tiny thing, but it. the anxiety it relieves. Yeah, no, I.

that that resonates. The idea of. the more we're a part of the solution. the less the problem feels overwhelming. I think so. Now, I have to admit. when you've been through something. that's been particularly difficult. helping someone going through it again. forces you to relive your experience. Like for example, the people I admire. when we have. functions where we're trying to make a.

point uh how we can help someone with. health care or whatever it is. The people who've been through it who. show up. and supported. I always compliment them because it's. like it happened yesterday when you. start to focus on it. And it's hard. We underestimate. what we can do. Now, I don't I'm not I'm. not talking about being president. I. mean, just. what we can do in in of uh. dealing with people, I try to. understand.

what is motivating the other person when. I'm doing things internationally or when. I personally. Because if you can. understand what motivates them, there's. a shot. even with the bad guys, you can break. through and get something done. Mhm. There's a way. to expose the meanness. without causing direct conflict. For. example, I remember I went to a Catholic. grade school. We didn't often get. invited to the cotillion, which was the.

local school down the street, the Mount. Pleasant school. And so I got invited and I was going to. go. I was all excited about going. I. think it was ninth grade, maybe it was. eighth grade, and the little dance. And there was a guy who was a good. athlete. I was a relatively good athlete. and he was a good athlete from the. school in the other school, big guy. Became friends, but uh. so I'm getting dressed and I didn't have. a shirt to wear. So my mother got my uncle's shirt, who. was.

a smaller man than my dad, and French cuffs and rolled up the cuffs. so that it would look like it would fit. And I couldn't find my dad's We couldn't. find my dad's cufflinks. So my mom went. and got. a nut and a bolt. I wondered why she was down downstairs. in the laundry room looking for and put. them on. I said, "Mom, I can't do this. They'll make fun of me. I'll be. embarrassed.". She said, "Anybody comes up and says. anything to you, you look at them and. say" And here's the story I want to say. This guy, Frank, came up to me and said,

"Hey, look at Biden. Look what he's got. here. Hey." And I looked at him and. said, "You don't have a pair of these?". And he said, "Well, uh. uh. uh. yeah, yeah, I got a pair.". But I'm serious. How do you assess. people's motivations? Like you were just. saying that that when you can understand. someone's motivation, you can almost. disarm them without exposing them, which. is what you just gave that example of. now. How do How do we do that so that we. go to the root of it? I think often we. get so caught up in.

what someone's what we think someone's. thinking or what we think someone's. saying, but actually going to the heart. of it and the root of it. You know, it's. hard to explain how you credit for. these days for sort of holding an. international community together in the. I try to understand. what the circumstance the other world. leader is facing. And see if there's a way. what I would needs to be done. There's a.

way through that he doesn't or she. doesn't have to make a great sacrifice. to do what she's doing, but help make. the case why they're helping. others, but there's ways to do that. And. it doesn't require. the person if there's a if they have a. fundamental difference with you on a. subject. But if they're doing something. because they don't have the political. bandwidth to be able to do it at home, you can provide it. I will say to this leader sometimes, well, why don't you let me criticize you.

for this or thank you for that or more. And most of the time. Now, you don't do it off the top of your. head. You you got to know some of these. people. They'll go, "Okay.". Or why don't you Why Why don't you. criticize me? Why don't you criticize me. for my not doing something. And then. I'll respond and say, "Okay, then you. can do what you want to do.". It's just basic human nature, but I. think. I think trying to figure out.

what leeway. a person has. I don't expect everybody to uh. that I'm dealing with to appear in the. second edition of Profiles in Courage. Nor may I mean, it's hard. Mhm. But, there's ways you can. work through Not always, but you can. work through things where you can allow. the other person to save face and still. get to where you want to go. Yes. And sometimes it works with you working.

with two people. Yes. to get that done. Yeah. But, it's it's. just trying to figure out what is really. what impediments are in their way Mhm. to keep them from being able to do what. you know you feel in your your gut. you know they know they should do. That's a great perspective. I'm so happy. you shared that because so many of us. are fixated on what we want out of. something or where we want to get to or. what our challenges are. But, Mr. President, I'm so grateful for your.

graciousness and kindness in giving me. this time today. We end every On Purpose. interview with a final five. Uh-oh. Uh. and these final five questions uh. questions we ask every guest. Uh and. there are some some great ones in here. for you. So, the first question I'm. going to ask you is what is the best. advice you've ever received and what's. the worst advice you've ever received? I. guess the best advice I've ever received. is show up. Mhm. Just show up. Um be there and get up. My.

mother used to say, "Joey, get up.". Never bow, never bend, never get up. Just get up. And but showing up is just uh that's a. big part. Mhm. And I guess the worst. advice I've ever uh received was uh. holding a grudge. Because lots of times when people do. something that is really not good. it's because they were fearful and they. did it. Not a fearful of you, but their. circumstance.

And it gets you nowhere. And which means. people doubt when I'm really Irish. Um the joke inside was "Biden's really. Irish." But, all kidding aside. remembering is important, but holding a. grudge is uh. it's not helpful. Very true. Very true. First time for both of those answers. I. love it. Okay. Second question. A lot of Americans today are seeking. therapy as a form of support. Where does. the president seek support and guidance. in your own challenges and journey?

Well, uh. my best friend. is my wife. The woman who has probably had more to. do with my success than anyone is my. sister Valerie. And uh my brother Jim. And. I think that's the place where I go. most, but also. I have a great advantage. Over the years. I've I've I've grown to have some. great great relationships with people I.

work with and or one of my staff. Mhm. And I think most of my staff would tell. you the senior staff is I don't treat. them like they work for me. I treat them. as they are. They know Reason I hire. them, I want them to know more than I. know. Mhm. And there's some things that uh. that I seek advice from uh. from a religious perspective. Mhm. But that's really personal. Yeah. Beautiful. Okay. Third question. Uh.

I believe it's been said that you told. your first wife when you met her that. you wanted to be or you one day you. would be the president of the United. States. Is that true? No, it's not true. I love it. I read all. this What I did tell her Yeah. and I uh. and the same with No man deserves one. great love, let alone two. For real. The two women that I married, one passed. away. were women I knew when I went out with. them the first time I wanted to marry.

them. My first wife I I told her when I met. her, we went to. to I went to I had $89 tax return and. one of five guys down to. Florida and and I I don't drink so I was. bored with all of it. So I went to with. three of them went to Nassau. And for you could apply for 25 bucks. round trip. And I met my. my deceased wife and I told her when. when. when. I.

hung out with her for four days down. there on the beach and uh that I was. going to marry her and she looked at me. and said, "I think so.". And I started commuting every day every. weekend when I was I was a senior in. college. That's how I ended up at. Syracuse. She's a marine. And my present. wife. was uh. it was a blind date that my brother set. up for us. And I knew when I saw her. I I was on. that 10 most eligible bachelor's list. for five years. And it's not a fun thing.

Because there were a lot of and don't. get me wrong, a lot of nice people but I. had kind of given up on uh they think. you know I could have a and I got this. blind date. I'll never forget my brother. said, "You'll like her. She doesn't like. politics.". I'm glad I asked that question. Question. number four, this is very important to. social media. So, the question is there. are so many shows today based on the. presidency, the White House, mirroring. it shows on TV, streaming platforms.

Which one is the most accurate and which. one is the least accurate? Mission. Impossible. The most or least? Most. Um look. uh I uh. One of the problems I have is I don't. and I should I don't watch much. television. Now, and it's it's not. because I'm above it or anything like. that. It's just that. for example, for 36 years after the. accident occurred and I commuted every. day, 300 miles a day.

And uh and and the press actually I had. one I got to know all the conductors so. well. They became friends and one day as. vice president I was going home on the. train which the Secret Service didn't. like because there's so many. opportunities to interrupt the train. Um, and this particular I'm not going to. embarrass him and say his name company. grabbed me and she goes, "Joey, baby." I. thought they're going to shoot him. Anyway, I said, "No, no, he's right." He. said, "I just read in the paper you. traveled a million 100,000 miles on Air. Force planes." Because you have a list.

how many miles you travel on. And he said, "Big deal." He said, "Joey, we had a retirement dinner. So, you know. what? You figured out you know how many. miles you travel on Amtrak?" I said, "No.". He said, "A million 200,000 miles, 119. days a year, 300 day 300 miles round. trip, 36 years plus what?" I'm going, "What the heck?". My point was I was on a train lot. And, so when I get home there wasn't much to. watch. I mean, not it was to watch, but.

I'd I'd always make sure I think. and I think you know you every all your. guests know this that children need to. know that they're the most important. thing in your life. So, even if I got. home late, I'd climb in bed or my my two. boys at the time and just even if they. were asleep and get up in the morning. and it wasn't like Ozzie and Harriet. I. wasn't fixing their breakfast, but I'd. be there and have breakfast with them. They'd take off for school, I'd take off. for the train. So, I've been back and forth so much I.

haven't I just haven't watched. many pro- And by the way, there's a lot. of good stuff I'm sure. I mean, every. once in a while I'd turn on. And by the. way, they got a great advantage here. You got a movie theater. Inside. Yeah, and they they tell me I I get this. list what movies are in and we have the, uh, the the new one that's the, um, oh, the Oppenheimer? Oppenheimer, yeah. I haven't seen it yet. I haven't either, yeah. They're They're. They're the movies I see these days. I.

get to see them at night once in a. while. Okay, very nice. Amazing. All. right, our fifth and final question. We. ask this question to every guest who's. ever been on the show, but it truly is. unique asking you this question. If you. could create one law in the world that. everyone had to follow, what would it be? I don't think it's a matter of being. able to have any one law that could. change people's. attitudes. I think I'm optimistic. I. think we have. We're on the cusp We're in a time of. real change. And And we're at an.

inflection point in world history. Whether I'm president or not, things are. going to change drastically. And you see. it happening all around the world. And we have an enormous opportunity, but. the thing I want to. con- want to change. is American attitude that we can do. anything. We can do anything. There's nothing. we've ever set our mind to that we've. not been able to do we've done together. For real. And so, I laid out four things that I.

felt were critically important in my. State of the Union. One was to make a. fundamental change in cancer treatment. Mhm. We can cure a lot and that's why I. would put another $6 billion. I mean, pick the impossible thing. I have Caroline Kennedy gave me a copy. of uh. President Kennedy's part of President. Kennedy's uh. speech when about going to the moon. He. said, "Because we refuse to postpone.". We have to refuse to postpone anymore. There's so much we can do and I mean it.

I believe it with every fiber in my. being. I've been doing this a long time and. I've never been more optimistic about. our chances than now. And that's why when I ran, I said I ran. for three reasons. One, to restore the. soul of America, sense of decency, just. the way we talk to one another. Secondly, to build this country from the. middle out and the bottom up. The. wealthy still do very well, but everybody has a shot. And thirdly, to unite the country. And I think we can. do it. I really genuinely do.

And. but then again, as my often referred to, I'm a cockeyed. optimist, but but I really believe it. Mr. President, thank you so much for the. honor. So grateful. I have two tiny. requests for you. I'd love I'd love for. you, if you don't mind, to walk me. through what's here because I saw these. beautiful pictures when I walked in. And. I thought they looked really special and. I'd love for you to share them. This one. My dad was. was a real gentleman and a well-read. man. Never got a chance to go to.

college. And he always said, "Joey, never. explain, never complain.". And so we were having my. fourth re-election effort as a senator. in the late '90s. And my dad was over at. our house to. you know, to be there with me. And I was standing on this back porch. overlooking this pond. I built a smaller. home. when the home we had when everybody. moved out. But it sits on a pond, a. 10-acre pond. And I was saying my deceased wife, she.

lived in Lake Skaneateles in the Finger. Lakes, beautiful. She I said, "You know, I'm I I I wish Neilia could have seen. this." And so And my dad thought I was. going to feel sorry for myself. So he came he said, "I'll I'll be back.". And he took off and went up to the local. uh. Hallmark store. And came back with this cartoon. This is his philosophy of life. It's. Hagar the Horrible. Lightning strikes, his boat's going down. He's looking up.

to God in heaven and saying, "Why me?". The next frame, a voice from heaven. comes by, "Why not?". My dad always say, "What makes you so. special you don't have these problems?". I'll put it down here. The other ones there's a bunch there, but uh. Which one do you want to highlight? Well, one of my favorite ones is uh uh. of. that one of my son Beau. This is when he came home from being in. Iraq for a year. with his unit and uh.

this is his son, little Hunter. Got on his shoulders and wouldn't get. off his shoulders. Just would not I mean. for hours was on his shoulders. The others are my mom and dad, my. that's my daughter, the love of my life, the life of my love. And anyway, there's a lot up there. I'm. feeling I'm probably boring the hell out. of you. Not at all. Not at all. I I thought it. was wonderful to see them when I came. in, so thank you. Well, like I said, my. dad really was one of these guys and. and that was about and so was my. mother's side of the family. And family,

my dad would say is the beginning, the. middle, and the end. And I believe it is. I mean, I know what you're trying to do. is. all those folks out there that are. lonely and all those folks out there. that are feeling uneasy, all those folks out there that aren't. sure. I don't know. I just. just sometimes just reaching out makes a. difference. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. Thank you so much. You're doing good work for people. I. really mean it. Thank you. Thank you. That means the world coming from you and.

I look forward to many more. conversations. Thank you. Thank you. One, two, three. Great. Okay, amazing.