A Super Smiley Adventure

The Bond Between Humans and Pets: "And when that happens, they come to this particular place where they teach you back, give you moments of joy and moments of gratitude, and their love is unconditional." — Louis Gossett Jr.

BIO:

Born May 27, 1936 in Brooklyn, NY, Lou has a flair for projecting quiet authority and has scored well personally in a string of diverse and occasionally challenging roles.

The aspiring actor caught a break at his first Broadway audition for “Take A Giant Step” (1953), where, beating out 400 other candidates, the then 16-year-old landed the lead.

His acting career soon flourished and his work in the stage and film versions of the groundbreaking drama about African-American family life in Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” (1961) proved a watershed. This led to numerous appearances on network series in the 1960s and 70s culminating in 1977, when he picked up an Emmy for his eloquent portrayal of Fiddler in the landmark ABC miniseries “Roots”.

Meanwhile, his big screen reputation grew with critically acclaimed work in such comedies as “The Landlord” (1970) ”The Skin Game”(1971) with James Garner, “Travels with My Aunt” (1972) and the film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning drama “The River Niger” (1975). A riveting performance as a drug-dealing cutthroat stalking Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bisset in “The Deep” (1977) catapulted him to wider popularity, but the tough by-the-book drill sergeant in “An Officer and a Gentleman” (1982) won him a Best Supporting Oscar that consolidated his place in the Hollywood hierarchy.

Following his Oscar, he made numerous big screen and television appearances ,being singled out for his work as Egyptian president Anwar Sadat in “Sadat”(1983), the sci-fi adventure “Enemy Mine” (1985) where his lizard-like makeup won kudos, and in the action adventure series “Iron Eagle” (1985,1986,1992,1995) which introduced him to a whole new generation of moviegoers.

Still going strong, Lou’s trendsetting bald head and imposing six-foot-four physique served him well in “Diggstown” (1991) where he played a down-and-out boxer, a heroic headmaster in “Toy Soldiers” (1991).

Lou’s well thought out and nuanced performances also managed to give credibility to socially themed projects such as “To Dance with Olivia” (1997), and the critically acclaimed “Jasper, Texas” (2003)

The recipient of every known acting accolade, including multiple Golden Globes, Emmys, and People’s Choice Awards, Lou’s performance has connected him with his fans on a global scale.  Organizations such as the NAACP, CARE, and the United States Armed Forces have used his likeness to add validity and integrity to their causes.

Recently, Lou was the new lead on the popular science fiction series “Stargate SG-1” introducing him to a new generation of fans worldwide.  Lou has also developed the Eracism Foundation, a nonprofit organization aimed at creating entertainment that helps bring awareness and education to issues such as racism, ignorance, and societal apathy.

Transcript:

Megan Blake [00:00:00]:
Woof and super smiles. Welcome to a Super Smiley adventure on pet Life radio, the largest pet radio network in the world. I'm Megan Blake, the pet lifestyle coach, here with my sidekick, Super Smiley, the national spokes dog for the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards. On a Super Smiley adventure, we explore adventures where animals lead. They can be journeys for animal advocacy, for adventure, and they almost always lead to paths of inter discovery and greater bonding with our pets. And our guest today has led a life of adventure advocacy and of inner discovery. Louis Gossett Junior is a true icon and light in the world, having starred in groundbreaking projects like roots, some of the most popular and acclaimed television series like Boardwalk Empire, and touched by an angel. He began his career on the path as a game changer opposite Sidney Poitier in the classic film A Raisin in the sun.

Megan Blake [00:00:54]:
He's played the voice of God and he's won an Academy Award for his so focused role as drill Sergeant Emil Foley and an officer and a gentleman. Please welcome Louis Gossett Junior to a Super Smiley adventure. Hi, Lou.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:01:08]:
Fine. As I say in my best voice.

Megan Blake [00:01:14]:
I love that Lou and Smiley likes that, too. You might hear Smiley and Angel. They are playing in the background here. So, Lou, first of all, thank you so much for joining us today and congratulations on your amazing body of work.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:01:27]:
Oh, thank you very much. I'm very blessed.

Megan Blake [00:01:30]:
Yes, yes, yes. We all are so blessed in this life that we have here, and we all want to know about your sweet, sweet dogs in your life. But first I have to ask, can you describe what it was like when you actually walked up on stage to accept your Academy award?

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:01:44]:
I had no idea what was going to happen. I used some of my experience. And over to my right was the great Robert Preston.

Megan Blake [00:01:50]:
Yes.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:01:51]:
And over to my left in front of me was James Mason in the first row. And then there was those two shoe ins, as far as I'm concerned. So I had made an adjustment. I'm so grateful to be in the top five. So my mind went there. My agent hit me in the chest and said, they called your name. I looked around and they did. So it took me a while to get up there on stage.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:02:09]:
I had nothing prepared. So I spoke from my heart. I guess it was okay.

Megan Blake [00:02:13]:
Oh, Lou, it was beautiful. And I actually watched the clip of when they called your name. And you're right, you do look very stunned. Then you had this beautiful, your charismatic smile and your speech. It was, it just seemed like it came right from your heart. And in your speech, you mentioned your spirit guides who had helped you, meaning your great grandmother and your parents? Yes. And your great grandmother was quite an influence on you, wasn't she? Tell us a little bit about her.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:02:39]:
Well, she, after the slaves were freed, all kinds of bibles and stuff and records of births and deaths and marriages and stuff get in the Bible. And her birth and death was not registered in the Bible. And she remembers kind of the day that the slaves were freed in Georgia. And she lost her finger in a wagon, so she lost half a finger. This is the exodus from the south to the north. And all the stuff was in the Bible but hers. And she was responsible as the matriarch of the family to raise all the children when anybody, like the butler and the help. Yes, they had their jobs.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:03:12]:
They did their jobs very well. And they brought all the money home and everybody sat around the table and we had the poor people's food that turned out to be quite delicious, like chicken feet. And it was delicious. And she was in charge of the whole thing. Her and her daughters, who are my grandmother parents, and her. She was the mess. She was the. So she didn't know how to write or read, but she saved her lives with her home remedies, so had too much of a whooping cough or polio.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:03:39]:
She did something and she sits on my shoulder.

Megan Blake [00:03:42]:
Oh, I love that. I love that.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:03:44]:
She must have been 110, 111.

Megan Blake [00:03:46]:
A hundred over 100 years old, 110 or eleven when she passed. Oh, my goodness. And in your book, an actor and a gentleman, you talk about all the great wisdom that she imparted to you, and she said that it's the journey, right? It's all about the journey.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:04:01]:
It's not the destination, because the destination, all of it, has always seems impossible. It's overwhelming, right? We're asked to go on the journey, face in the right direction, and that's the area where miracles happen.

Megan Blake [00:04:12]:
I love that. Face in the right direction. That's where the miracles happen. And just walk, walk in the right direction and you're going the right way. Right. I love that.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:04:20]:
With your face toward the sun.

Megan Blake [00:04:22]:
I love that. And Lou, Super Smiley, as I just mentioned. He's right here beside me. He wants to hear all about your sweet dogs, sarge and Bella, but we're going to do that right after this break. Smiley, can you wait? Give, boy. We're back on a Super Smiley adventure with Academy Award winner Louis Gossett junior. Lou, you and I first met at the Catholics and media awards, where you were given the lifetime achievement award. Now, many people in life, we work towards wisdom and towards becoming more compassionate.

Megan Blake [00:05:31]:
But each time I've been with you, to me, you seem to simply, actually embody wisdom and compassion.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:05:38]:
You can't talk about something that you don't have yourself.

Megan Blake [00:05:40]:
There you go. There you go. The wisdom and compassion, was that part of a learning process, or was it.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:05:45]:
More in need process from great grandmama?

Megan Blake [00:05:48]:
Oh, well, tell us a little bit more. Tell us something else that she shared with you. Give us one of her lessons.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:05:53]:
Well, one of the things she said, when I was 17 and I was starring on Broadway, I was taking care of my mother and my grandmother, paying here their rent, and I thought I was the best thing since shop Suey.

Megan Blake [00:06:05]:
Okay?

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:06:06]:
She told me quietly, she said, God was there before you got here. He's going to be here while you're here, and he's going to be here a long time after you're gone. So you may as well calm on down. When I remembered everything was all right, when I forgot, I got into trouble.

Megan Blake [00:06:19]:
That is so perfect. I love that. I love that. So I guess she did collect a lot of wisdom in her very, very long lived life and brought a lot of history with her and Lou. In my life, I'm surrounded by animals. I have my horses. They live with me. My dogs are here, and cats.

Megan Blake [00:06:36]:
And I believe that animals also can be healers and teachers. So tell us about your little sweeties, sarge and Belli. Tell us.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:06:43]:
And Bella, there's a thing that I learned. I've always had an animal of some sort, and so never too much time. If an animal, most of my animals, if they weren't killed by a car or a hawk or coyote, they live full life. Most of them live their full life with me. Dogs 17 1819 years long. What happens when we have these animals? We assume the responsibility of taking care of them. They come to them full selves. And it's the thing that's international that I have to remind people who have never been poor, who never had the initial lessons of, it's what you give, it's not what you get.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:07:16]:
So you wake up in the morning, you got to feed your dogs, you got all your cats, you walk your dogs, make sure they're all right. After they're fed, you love them unconditionally. When they get sick, you take them to the doctor, and we start in the habit of doing something for somebody else. I love that natural duty. And when that happens, they come to this particular place where they teach you back, give you moments of joy and moments of gratitude, and their love is unconditional.

Megan Blake [00:07:42]:
I love that. And I agree that we give to them, but then they also give back. And we teach them, meaning we train them, but they teach us.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:07:50]:
Right.

Megan Blake [00:07:51]:
They do. They do. They actually do. They're happy. I trained dog is a happy dog. But also they teach us right back. Have Sarge and Bella, have they taught you anything, these two little. First, tell everybody about your little dogs.

Megan Blake [00:08:03]:
I saw their pictures. They are.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:08:05]:
Sarge was the first one. He's a rescue.

Megan Blake [00:08:06]:
Okay.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:08:07]:
And I was looking at this combination husky malamute, all brown. Three or four different colors are brown. And he got shoulder level in a cage, and he started licking my fingers. And I had made this. It was him. And I kept getting this little tug on my pants and looked down, and here's this little guy, and he's half a mini cheddar woman and Chihuahua. And his look is a combination of Yoda and Don Knotts. So I sent you a picture.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:08:33]:
You'll see, you'll giggle again.

Megan Blake [00:08:35]:
He's adorable.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:08:36]:
And then. And then he was lonely, so I found another rescue. Came into the office, and it was a she. And she gave birth to six puppies. And she was only six months old, so the puppies were taken care of and I took care of her. Her name is Bella.

Megan Blake [00:08:51]:
Bella.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:08:52]:
They're the same age, inseparable. And they're looking at me right now.

Megan Blake [00:08:55]:
Oh, I love that. Well, then they're on our show, too. And smiley and angel here, they want to send out a doggy kiss to Sarge and Bella, too. So let's do that. And Sarge and Bella, have they taught you anything specific, these two dogs?

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:09:08]:
Well, they teach you about unconditional love, right? Unconditional. That should be infectious to when people are together, right? Governors are together, countries are together, unconditional respect for one another. So it's not about me. It's about them. And then they live in their lives about me.

Megan Blake [00:09:27]:
And they do. The dogs do make their entire lives about their people. I always see them as they have a pureness of spirit that teaches purely. And in your book, you mentioned, I think your grandmother mentioned this, actually. The education before the education, when you're preparing to go to school, and to me with the animals, they're almost like that education before the education, because they.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:09:48]:
I'm asking you, how should I ask? What are my limitations? What are my disciplines? What. How far can I get? What, you know, what can I do? Then they find out that there's certain things they can't do because there's certain consequences when they do it. And they stop.

Megan Blake [00:10:00]:
Exactly.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:10:01]:
And start with studying in their house. No, you go in the backyard. Eventually, if the door is closed, they ask you to open the door so they can go in the backyard and do. Right.

Megan Blake [00:10:08]:
That's right. They tell you what to do. They tell you.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:10:10]:
They tell you.

Megan Blake [00:10:11]:
Yes. Tell us about that. Tell us about the education before the education.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:10:15]:
There's the education that my great grandmother and my mother and my aunts that almost teach us before we go out the door, because we have to represent the family. Proper dress code, respect for the elder, and in respect for the opposite sex. Hygiene, physical fitness, spirituality. Have to believe in God. You have to know upon whose shoulders you stand. And you have to represent that when you go out the door. Foundation is to create a center called the shamba center. All these children of all ages and of all nationalities come in with cleverly prepared lessons from some of our brightest minds and how they need one another, both in sports and in actions and videos and speeches, so that they learn how to rely on one another.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:10:54]:
So by the time they get to school, that racism problem is not there. They haven't carried the negatives on. They've only carried positives.

Megan Blake [00:11:00]:
I love that. Yes.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:11:02]:
They get old enough to vote. The issues they vote about are a little bit more compassionate stuff that they're fighting about today. Like, everybody should be able to go to a doctor whether they can afford it or not. There should not be anything like a homeless veteran.

Megan Blake [00:11:14]:
Yes.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:11:15]:
Everybody should have clothes, a shelter, and food. If this is America and we read the stuff that they've written about us being one nation under God, certain things should have nothing to do with money, better care of ourselves and one another.

Megan Blake [00:11:27]:
Right. And I love that you're reaching out to kids. You're creating the shamba centers to do this. And I love that you say it's all emphasizing the positive. And, Lou, let me share with you that Smiley has a kindness program with inner city kids. Smiley's my dog. About the values that. Yes.

Megan Blake [00:11:43]:
And it's about the values that animals can teach, like kindness and respect. And his film kindness is Super Smiley doggumentary. It just screened in Malibu the day before your book signing. Yes. Yes. So next time we have a screen.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:11:57]:
Teaches patience, unconditional love.

Megan Blake [00:12:00]:
Yes.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:12:00]:
And they teach us what happens when you're nice to them.

Megan Blake [00:12:03]:
Yes. And respect. And it's amazing. But these little children, a lot of the kids, when Smiley and I worked with them, they're inner city kids. So a lot of the large dogs they see are actually fighting dogs or they're trained to be protection dogs, junkyard dogs, so to speak. And they had never even been around a large dog that was kind like Smiley. So it really was an education for them in kindness and in respect and in reading the animal's energy and then sharing that. And I love what you're doing as well.

Megan Blake [00:12:31]:
Yes.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:12:31]:
Well, so they pick up. The first thing they pick up has got to be our kindness.

Megan Blake [00:12:35]:
Right?

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:12:35]:
We pass our poisons onto them, then we have another generation of misunderstanding.

Megan Blake [00:12:39]:
Absolutely. And another thing I also say is that I've observed is animals show us how to connect on a deep level with them. So they remind us to connect with ourselves, to go back inside ourselves and see. Would you agree with that?

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:12:52]:
I agree with 100%. We started in this planet with a connection of the insects, the animals, and the people all around. We were together on that thing, and we interrupted that cycle, that cycle from insects, animals, and people. We've interrupted it, and the world is recoiling because of it. People think in those terms, but that's what it is. And then we've messed up our fresh air, and that's part of the cycle we've got to put back in place. We have to buy water out of a bottle.

Megan Blake [00:13:18]:
Right.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:13:18]:
The fish, this is the balance of the fish in the ocean is gone, so we have to buy fish from fish farms. And the weather, the storms are getting pretty large and pretty incredible, and only our being together can save it.

Megan Blake [00:13:31]:
Right. And going back into balance, I think that's a word, putting everything back into.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:13:35]:
Its proper natural, ecological balance.

Megan Blake [00:13:37]:
Yes, yes. I love that. And for me, animals teach living in the present and to be a part of that balance and emotionally connected. So when I do go out into the world, I feel like I prepared just simply by being with my horses, with my dogs. Dear dogs, tell us about that. With your dogs. Do they help ground you and balance you in a way?

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:13:59]:
You know, when I need a little friendship, a little love, they're the first ones. Absolutely the first ones there.

Megan Blake [00:14:06]:
Oh, I love that.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:14:08]:
Even if they're in pain. My last dog was a 135 pound black lab, but he lived 18 years. That's long died and was on location, and he held on until I got home.

Megan Blake [00:14:21]:
And they do know. No, they. They're very, very sensitive. They do know. And Lou, we're going to take a quick break, and when we come back, we want to hear more about your book, the great success of the Boardwalk empire. A racism too. Smiley, can you wait? Good. And we're back on a Super Smiley adventure with the amazing, iconic Louis Gossett Junior.

Megan Blake [00:15:23]:
Lou, we just were talking about your work with the children, and I love the name you created for your foundation, erasism. Tell us a little bit about that.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:15:32]:
Well, those are all day things that are stick stuck in our DNA. And it's not black and white, it's everything. Automatic assumptions that they are better off than somebody else and they call the shots.

Megan Blake [00:15:41]:
Okay.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:15:42]:
We've come to the end of that era, and some people accept it because of their sensitivity with animals and stuff. And other people are having a hard time with it because that's the way they were taught and raised for generations.

Megan Blake [00:15:52]:
Yes.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:15:53]:
So the people who were in charge are used to only that. That's the only thing they was taught. And the other people were under. Under the gun of people in charge. That's the only of way they know how to act. So I know at school, I get these young kids to know that there are different natural rules. And when you see a kid's eyes open and look at another kid, because they would have to be taught that separation. But when you see a kid in any kind of meeting or any kind of game, and it's happening in our sports now, where there's a connection and everything goes out the window, it's a wonderful connection, and then it's never over.

Megan Blake [00:16:23]:
Right. That's very interesting, the way you were just talking about prejudice. And please correct me if I restate this wrong, but I think you were saying that prejudice is something that. That is actually taught, that we come into the world as a clean taught.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:16:36]:
And now here recently, is in our DNA.

Megan Blake [00:16:38]:
Ah, interesting. Well, I have a very dear friend who works with the dogs in prison and the prison programs in Florida. And he uses this wonderful example. He will look at a person and say, you're a man, so you're prejudiced. You're, you know this, so you're prejudiced. You're a woman, so you're prejudiced because it's a way of looking at the world. But he says, when you look at this dog sitting here, this dog isn't prejudiced. He just sees, are you my person? Do you feed me? Do I trust you? Do I learn to respect you? And so that's another way.

Megan Blake [00:17:07]:
Again, I keep coming back to the animals because they are such great role models. When you open your eyes to this. Yes. They don't see the prejudice. They see a human being.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:17:18]:
Their DNA.

Megan Blake [00:17:19]:
Exactly. Exactly.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:17:21]:
They weren't taught. If you teach a dog how to be a killer, then he'll be a killer because he thinks that's where he get his love from.

Megan Blake [00:17:27]:
Exactly.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:17:27]:
No, those of us who are sensitive to that, our animals are not like that at all.

Megan Blake [00:17:32]:
Right.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:17:33]:
Except you got, you got to watch off aside, though, he's a woman.

Megan Blake [00:17:38]:
Well, I've got to tell you, the.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:17:40]:
House is right on the lab and if he had an accent, it would be French.

Megan Blake [00:17:44]:
That's so funny. Well, Smiley. Smiley is right there, too. Smiley's kind of a charmer and a flirt as well.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:17:50]:
So, baby, welcome to my home. I know that how you would speak.

Megan Blake [00:17:55]:
I think we have our hands full with our doggies here. I totally, totally. I'm with you. So cute. And, Lou, boardwalk Empire just wrapped and it's been getting major critical acclaim. And you've been getting so much acclaim for that as well. First of all, congratulations on that and tell us about working on that set. What an amazing project.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:18:13]:
That's the best of television.

Megan Blake [00:18:15]:
Yeah.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:18:15]:
The very best of art. And they pay attention and they make it perfect. And so it was a blessing to do it. If there's a way of me coming back to life, they'll figure it out because they didn't get a love scene, so I figured they thought about that in advance since there was no death scene, maybe all of us at the beginning of next year, I'll be sequestered somewhere recovering.

Megan Blake [00:18:33]:
Yes. Let's hope that that happens because we.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:18:36]:
Some of the critics have said that's what should happen, but it's from their mouth to God's ears. I'm very grateful for the experience. And I want another job.

Megan Blake [00:18:42]:
Absolutely. And we want to see you there. We want to see you there. Absolutely. And in your book, your book is so aptly titled. I love the title. An actor and a gentleman. And I read every single word.

Megan Blake [00:18:54]:
I want to recommend this to all of our listeners. It's a beautiful and intimate journey right along with you in your life. First of all, thank you, Lou, for sharing you with the world through your book.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:19:05]:
I don't mention names of anybody who did anything bad, but they were there and I listened and I made the decisions to go with them and that we're not the right place to go. But I feel that I was pretty kind.

Megan Blake [00:19:17]:
You were. I loved it. It shared lessons. It shared. It is walking with you through your journey, but the way you shared it is that we can take it in and sort of learn from your journey as well. Was that part of your thinking?

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:19:29]:
And in your book here.

Megan Blake [00:19:32]:
That's right. There you go. You are. Oh, and speaking of being still here, in your book, you actually mentioned a few near death experiences.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:19:40]:
Absolutely.

Megan Blake [00:19:41]:
And they tell us about that, tell our listeners, share our listeners.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:19:43]:
I got caught because of some of the things happened. I didn't know it, but I had called the Jackie Robinson syndrome, where you can't mess up, you can't speak against the injustices happening to you. I inherited high blood pressure and cancer. My body was breaking down a vital organ from vital organ. And I looked at the hospital one day after having a semi stroke, and the doctors had their backs turned, shaking their heads, and I walked through consciousness. And I remember what might have been my mind or whatever it was. I heard a voice saying, go back, it's not your turn.

Megan Blake [00:20:16]:
That's amazing.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:20:17]:
So what I did was a systematic, almost two years now, talking, finding friendly doctors, holistic ones, with some of my medicine. And it's one of the fights that our prison has had. There should be no one in this country, indeed, we knew this world. But in this country, where I cannot go to a doctor or a dentist.

Megan Blake [00:20:32]:
Because they don't have any money, right.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:20:34]:
And doctors are active. There's nurses and doctors and specialists who agree to that. So I finally found a couple. They looked at me and it was very ironic that each one of them came from a different country.

Megan Blake [00:20:45]:
Really? That is interesting. That's very.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:20:49]:
Yeah. What was wrong with me? Why was I going downhill? See, on the surface, but they were treating each individual thing instead of looking and seeing what's going on. Part of it obviously was attitude. But they found in an MRi machine, oh, at 15 different angles so they could look at it. They found a slow drip someplace. Maybe in the old days when I was playing sports or whatever, it was low drip that made my immune system all the way down where I would be the first one to get a cold, the first one to get cancer, the first one to get out. And that's how my body had no defense. So this is about a year ago.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:21:21]:
They put me on a table, they gave me 6 hours of intravenous iron.

Megan Blake [00:21:26]:
Wow. Wow.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:21:27]:
To extent, to stop the leak and give me 6 hours of intravenous blood. And all of a sudden I felt like I never felt since I was a child.

Megan Blake [00:21:35]:
Wow, lou. And you are looking so good. Whenever I see you, you just radiate life force, you radiate energy. You look so amazing. We're so glad that you're here and that the voice did say, it's not your time, you're going to come back.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:21:49]:
I'd feel this good. I'd taken off 50 pounds.

Megan Blake [00:21:52]:
You look so good, Lou. And with the near death experience, I mean, I don't even know how you could do more. You're so busy and I know that yesterday you were actually down in LA working with feeding the homeless. I mean, you completely give back. Tell us more about what you're doing.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:22:07]:
Well, 15,000 people a minimum, so this is the largest. Correct collection. Doing it again tomorrow with the mission. But now it's a lesson. It's called a program of example.

Megan Blake [00:22:17]:
I like that.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:22:18]:
I show up and it starts from the inside out and I'm going to be close to those homeless people and put a spoon on a plate and a fork on a plate and say, happy Thanksgiving.

Megan Blake [00:22:27]:
Oh, I love that.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:22:28]:
What I get out of that is maybe I don't know what God has in store, but he kept me alive so I could be in that position.

Megan Blake [00:22:34]:
That's right.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:22:34]:
So him bringing me back from death, I am not here on my time.

Megan Blake [00:22:37]:
Right. I know what that means. I understand. You're like animals.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:22:41]:
Yeah.

Megan Blake [00:22:42]:
Yes, yes. I love that we're talking about what you're talking about now, it seems to me, is a purpose in life. And one of your thoughts in your book is you actually say, how can I be of service? And that is, of course, selfless service.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:22:55]:
Selfless service.

Megan Blake [00:22:56]:
Selfless service.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:22:57]:
It's a natural way to be.

Megan Blake [00:22:58]:
Yes, yes. And that would be so great for all the people, all of us to embrace that. But I believe also, as you just mentioned, that animals in our lives also serve a great purpose. They comfort us, they love us, they help heal us. Yes, yes. So you believe that pets also can have a purpose in life, right?

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:23:16]:
Absolutely. They teach us back in the day when we were tribes, and I put that I use primitive advisingly for our survival. As soon as you was able to get up and walk, you had something to do, you had to go to gather the eggs and that was for the benefit of the whole tribe.

Megan Blake [00:23:31]:
I hear you, yes.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:23:32]:
As you got older, then you had to pin to the cattle or you plant the food and you got older, you reap the food and the women had to do certain things. You had to build stuff for our protection against weather and stuff. And the better we do that, the stronger the entire tribe came. That sounds kind of like democracy to me.

Megan Blake [00:23:48]:
It does. It absolutely does to me. And there's nobody to say what do I get out of this, right? Cause it's helping everyone. Everyone's helping.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:23:56]:
You help the whole. You make your contribution to the whole. And that's the natural way to go.

Megan Blake [00:24:01]:
I love that. And that's exactly the way you're living your life. And Lou, Smiley and I just presented the inspiration award at the Hero Dog awards. It was posthumously given to Farrah Fawcett, and the hero dogs who were there had saved lives as war dogs, service dogs, search and rescue dogs in so many ways. And I know that if we look deeply into our own dog's eyes, we will see our own personal hero dog or cat or bunny. And I know my dogs are my heroes. Would you agree with that?

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:24:29]:
Yes, I agree with that. I. Tell us a very cute story.

Megan Blake [00:24:32]:
Okay? Tell us, man.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:24:33]:
Come past a pet shop, and it says on the thing, it says, a talking dog, $5.

Megan Blake [00:24:39]:
Okay?

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:24:39]:
So he goes inside, says, you have a talking dog here? He says, yes, he's in the backyard. She goes in the backyard, and he says, are you a talking dog? And the dog says, I most certainly am. Tell me about yourself. He says, when I was a real puppy, I had to sniff out missing items in the house. And then later on, when the war started, I just sniff out for the troops, you know, where the dynamite was. And then when I came out of war, I worked for the police, and I could sniff out the drugs and stuff. But now I'm in retirement. He goes back to the owner, says, why is that dog only $5? The man says, because the dog is a liar.

Megan Blake [00:25:14]:
That is so funny. That is so funny. But, you know, oh, my gosh. That is so funny. I love that. But I have to tell you, I.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:25:25]:
Do all of that.

Megan Blake [00:25:26]:
All he does is talk. He just brags, it's so funny. But it does feel like when I'm with my animals, it's like I can feel what they're saying. They're so communicative. It's crazy. And, Lou, you are such an amazing inspiration. I want to thank you so much for sharing your light with the world and for joining us today on a Super Smiley adventure. I read your entire book, and I feel like I could just.

Megan Blake [00:25:48]:
I mean, I know I could just talk to you for hours, but we're very respectful of your time, and thank you. Thank you so much.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:25:54]:
God bless you.

Megan Blake [00:25:55]:
God bless you. And would you please give Sarge and Bella a big kiss from Super Smiley and me? And from all of our listeners and from pet Life radio, thank you again to Mister Lou Gossett Junior. From all of us here on pet Life radio. Until next time, woof. And super smiles. Bye, Lou. Thank you.

Louis Gossett Jr. [00:26:11]:
Bye bye, honey.

Timestamped overview:

00:00 Super Smiley's pet adventure with Louis Gossett Jr.
03:12 Efficiently executed tasks; shared a humble meal.
06:43 Responsibility of caring for animals shapes character.
10:15 Family education, representation, values, community center initiative.
12:52 Agree on the need to restore balance.
15:53 People learn to act based on upbringing.
20:49 Realizing physical decline, discovering underlying health issues.
24:39 $5 talking dog turns out to be "liar".
25:26 Lou is an inspirational and communicative speaker.

Key topics and bullets

**Introduction to the Episode**
- Host Megan Blake introduces the guest, Louis Gossett Jr., and compliments his autobiography "An Actor and a Gentleman."
- The significance of sharing personal life stories through writing.
**Louis Gossett Jr.'s Autobiography**
- Gossett Jr.'s approach to writing his book, focusing on positive experiences and omitting negative influences.
- Decisions made during the writing process of his autobiography.
**Health and Recovery**
- Gossett Jr. discusses his near-death experiences related to his health issues.
- Recovery through holistic treatments and changes made in his lifestyle.
- His work to feed the homeless in Los Angeles.
**Purpose and Community Service**
- Exploration of life's purpose and the value of selfless service.
- The role of animals in offering comfort and companionship to humans.
- The concept of contributing to society's wellbeing.
- Importance of making positive contributions to the community.
**Environmental Impact and Generational Issues**
- The effect of environmental poisons on current and future generations.
- The interruption of the ecological balance involving insects, animals, and humans.
**Emotional Connection with Animals**
- Gossett Jr. shares personal experiences with his dogs and the emotional support they provide.
- Reflections on the grounding and healing power of animals.
**Prejudice and Society**
- Discussion on inherent societal prejudices contrasted with the unbiased nature of animal behavior.
- Louis Gossett Jr.'s Eracism foundation and its efforts to educate children on equality.
**Acting Career and Recognition**
- Gossett Jr.'s experience on "Boardwalk Empire" and his reflection on receiving an Academy Award and lifetime achievement accolades.
- The influence of his great grandmother on his life and philosophies.
**Animals as Healers**
- The therapeutic role of animals in human lives, featuring Gossett Jr.'s rescue dogs, Sarge and Bella.
- Life lessons learned from companion animals, such as unconditional love.
**Education and Values**
- The importance of imparting values like kindness and respect before formal education.
- Gossett Jr. discusses the values learned from his pets and their role in the community.
**Kindness Program for Inner City Kids**
- Megan Blake shares information about her dog Smiley’s program teaching kindness to kids.
- The impact of animals in fostering positive traits in children.
**Conclusion**
- Megan Blake extends gratitude to Louis Gossett Jr. for his participation in the show.
- They exchange blessings and well-wishes for their respective pets.

 

 

Search Pet Life Radio

•  

• This Week's Guest:

  
  

  
  

  Louis Gossett Jr.

  BIO

• RELATED LINKS:

  
  

  imdb

• Questions or Comments?

  Contact Megan HERE

Pet Life Radio
Official Merchandise

Get your paws on some really cool Pet Life Radio stuff -- T-shirts, pet bowls, mugs, water bottles, iPhone & iPod cases, calendars & more!

Shop Now >

Advertise on
Pet Life Radio!

There is no other pet related media that is as large and reaches more pet parents and pet lovers than Pet Life Radio! None. Not magazines, not newspapers, not other smaller radio stations or pet radio shows.

Learn More >

Social

• Twitter
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Google +