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Todd and Cathy Adams

Zen POP is a podcast about understanding ourselves through the music, movies, and moments that shaped us. With a distinctly Gen X sensibility, we use pop culture as a mirror, reflecting our emotional patterns, relationships, blind spots, and where we’re still learning. Each episode starts with something we all know and love, then uses humor, memory, and shared reference points to go deeper into what we watch and listen to, what it reveals about us, and how those stories shape our relationships and our sense of self. We organize conversations into categories, themes, and “best of” lists because remembering together helps us understand ourselves more clearly. Listeners can also access Zen Parenting LIVE!, our premium podcast focused entirely on parenting and self-awareness, along with exclusive episodes and deeper connection with other Team Zen members. https://zenpopparenting.com/#team-zen

Zen Parenting Radio

Cathy and Todd discuss A Few Good Men, a courtroom drama set inside the military justice system about power, loyalty, and what happens when following orders starts to feel wrong. They go through their usual categories, talk about why the movie still works all these years later, and give props to Jo Galloway who was dismissed for being “too much,” yet was right all along. The share why this film hit so hard for people who grew up learning the rules and then had to decide when to question them. PLUS they spend the first 10 minutes discussing the Chicago Bears – Bear Down!

Some Ways to Support Us

 1. 

Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
Order Restoring our Girls
Join Team Zen
 2. 

Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

Avid Co • DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.

David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
MenLiving • – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements

Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Other Ways to Support Us

 • Follow us on social media 

Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
 • 

 • Buy and leave a review for 
Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World
 • Find everything ZPR on our 
Resources Page
 • Guys- Complete a 
MenLiving Connect profile

A Few Good Men Episode #851

Some Ways to Support Us

 1. 

Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
Order Restoring our Girls
Join Team Zen
 2. 

Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

Avid Co • DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.

David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
MenLiving • – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements

Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Other Ways to Support Us

 • Follow us on social media 

Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
 • 

 • Buy and leave a review for 
Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World
 • Find everything ZPR on our 
Resources Page
 • Guys- Complete a 
MenLiving Connect profile

Stranger Things Finale #850

We decided to re-run an old “Pop Culturing” Podcast in honor of the tragic death of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele. We will be creating 4 new Zen Pop Episodes based off of 4 other Rob Reiner films for the month of January. 

When Harry Met Sally… is a 1989 American romantic comedy film written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner. It stars Billy Crystal as Harry and Meg Ryan as Sally. The story follows the title characters from the time they meet in Chicago just before sharing a cross-country drive, through twelve years of chance encounters in New York City. The film raises the question “Can men and women ever just be friends?” and advances many ideas about relationships that became household concepts, such as “high-maintenance” and the “transitional person”.

Some Ways to Support Us

 1. 

Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
Order Restoring our Girls
Join Team Zen
 2. 

Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

Avid Co • DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.

David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
MenLiving • – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements

Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Other Ways to Support Us

 • Follow us on social media 

Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
 • 

 • Buy and leave a review for 
Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World
 • Find everything ZPR on our 
Resources Page
 • Guys- Complete a 
MenLiving Connect profile

When Harry Met Sally Episode #849

Cathy and Todd discuss Love Actually as part of their “Christmas movies that might not actually be Christmas movies” month. Released in November 2003 and written and directed by Richard Curtis, the film uses its London-at-Christmas setting, stacked ensemble cast, and interwoven stories of romantic, familial, awkward, and heartbreaking love to reflect a long-held worldview: messy humans and basic decency still matter. Cathy and Todd go through their categories, debate the storylines, and unpack why its message that “love is all around” became an annual ritual for so many—and what lands differently when we watch it now..

Some Ways to Support Us

 1. 

Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
Order Restoring our Girls
Join Team Zen
 2. 

Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

Avid Co • DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.

David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
MenLiving • – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements

Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Other Ways to Support Us

 • Follow us on social media 

Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
 • 

 • Buy and leave a review for 
Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World
 • Find everything ZPR on our 
Resources Page
 • Guys- Complete a 
MenLiving Connect profile

Love Actually – Messy Love Stories About Decent, Interconnected People Episode# 848

Cathy and Todd talk about The Family Stone and why it works so well as “a Christmas movie that isn’t really a Christmas movie”. They explore how it’s a story about family systems, grief, belonging, and what happens when someone new steps into a familiar and often fragile emotional ecosystem. They get into the best family movies, the most uncomfortable scenes, each character’s role, birth order patterns, sibling energy, and the tension Meredith brings into the house. They also look at why this messy and tender story is still such a holiday staple twenty years later.

Some Ways to Support Us

 1. 

Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
Order Restoring our Girls
Join Team Zen
 2. 

Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

Avid Co • DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.

David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
MenLiving • – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements

Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Other Ways to Support Us

 • Follow us on social media 

Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
 • 

 • Buy and leave a review for 
Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World
 • Find everything ZPR on our 
Resources Page
 • Guys- Complete a 
MenLiving Connect profile

The Family Stone: A Movie About Change, Loss, and Letting People In Episode# 847

Cathy and Todd discuss Trading Places for “Christmas movies that might not be Christmas movies” month. John Landis’ 1983 comedy-satire dropped the same year as Return of the Jedi, Flashdance, WarGames, and Risky Business, yet still became one of the biggest hits of the year. With Dan Aykroyd, a very young Eddie Murphy (only 21!), Jamie Lee Curtis, and a plot that dives deep into class and privilege, they discuss what the movie was saying about wealth, meritocracy, and who gets access, along with the complicated, messy, and very 80s parts that would never make it past a studio today.

Some Ways to Support Us

 1. 

Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
Order Restoring our Girls
Join Team Zen
 2. 

Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

Avid Co • DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.

David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
MenLiving • – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements

Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Other Ways to Support Us

 • Follow us on social media 

Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
 • 

 • Buy and leave a review for 
Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World
 • Find everything ZPR on our 
Resources Page
 • Guys- Complete a 
MenLiving Connect profile

Trading Places Episode# 846

Cathy and Todd discuss Die Hard, the 1988 action classic that redefined the genre, covering everything from its Christmas Eve plot and iconic Nakatomi Plaza setting to the film’s surprisingly heartfelt themes of family, reconciliation, and love. They discuss why so many (including Cathy) consider it a Christmas movie, break down the characters and casting surprises, highlight the film’s legacy and genre-shaping influence, and share the behind-the-scenes stories that made Bruce Willis’s hero an unexpected cultural icon. From Hans Gruber’s unforgettable villainy to the film’s “Die Hard in a ____” effect across decades of action films, it’s a nostalgic and big-hearted look at why this movie endures and why so many of us return to it every holiday season.

Some Ways to Support Us

 1. 

Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
Order Restoring our Girls
Join Team Zen
 2. 

Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

Avid Co • DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.

David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
MenLiving • – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements

Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Other Ways to Support Us

 • Follow us on social media 

Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
 • 

 • Buy and leave a review for 
Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World
 • Find everything ZPR on our 
Resources Page
 • Guys- Complete a 
MenLiving Connect profile

Die Hard: The Great Christmas-Movie Debate- Episode #845

Cathy and Todd discuss the making of Toy Story, the 1995 film that changed animation forever. They explore the film’s massive cultural impact and the introduction of emotionally complex heroes like Woody and Buzz, who grew up alongside their audience. They also look at the creative forces behind the movie, including John Lasseter’s rise and fall and the way Pixar rebuilt its culture in the wake of industry reckonings. They dive into the random facts, hidden jokes, emotional details, and psychological layers that make the movie endlessly rewatchable, from Randy Newman’s music to Sid’s misunderstood chaos.

Some Ways to Support Us

 1. 

Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
Order Restoring our Girls
Join Team Zen
 2. 

Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

Avid Co • DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.

David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
MenLiving • – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements

Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Other Ways to Support Us

 • Follow us on social media 

Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
 • 

 • Buy and leave a review for 
Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World
 • Find everything ZPR on our 
Resources Page
 • Guys- Complete a 
MenLiving Connect profile

Toy Story — The Psychology and Nostalgia That Made It a Classic- Episode #844

Cathy and Todd discuss Forrest Gump, a movie they’ve loved for years, one they even saw together when it first came out. They explore how this emotional epic serves as both parable and modern American myth, following Forrest’s innocence through some of the country’s most turbulent moments while Jenny’s life reflects a very different America marked by trauma, rebellion, and survival. They dig into the ongoing debate over whether Forrest Gump deserved to win Best Picture over Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption, and laugh about how many lines from the movie have become part of their everyday conversations. This is the third film in our Tom Hanks month – we’ve already covered Big and Cast Away, and next week we’ll wrap up with Toy Story.

Some Ways to Support Us

 1. 

Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
Order Restoring our Girls
Join Team Zen
 2. 

Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

Avid Co • DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.

David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
MenLiving • – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements

Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Other Ways to Support Us

 • Follow us on social media 

Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
 • 

 • Buy and leave a review for 
Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World
 • Find everything ZPR on our 
Resources Page
 • Guys- Complete a 
MenLiving Connect profile

Forrest Gump: A Paradoxical Parable- Episode #843

Cathy and Todd continue Tom Hanks Month with Cast Away, the 2000 classic that came out just as the world was speeding up with email, cell phones, and the dot-com boom. They talk about how this quiet, lonely movie made such an impact and why it hit so differently in an era obsessed with productivity and control. They go through their categories and favorite scenes to share what makes the movie so memorable, and then “roll in the deep” about what makes it so meaningful – from Chuck’s relationship with Wilson to his final crossroads, and what the story says about time, survival, and what it means to really be alive.

Some Ways to Support Us

 1. 

Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
Order Restoring our Girls
Join Team Zen
 2. 

Links shared in this episode:

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

This week’s sponsor(s):

Avid Co • DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.

David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780
MenLiving • – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements

Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Other Ways to Support Us

 • Follow us on social media 

Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
 • 

 • Buy and leave a review for 
Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World
 • Find everything ZPR on our 
Resources Page
 • Guys- Complete a 
MenLiving Connect profile

Cast Away: A Movie About Time, Control, and Surrender- Episode #842

Dr. John Duffy joins us as we take questions from Team Zen regarding teens experimenting with drugs and alcohol, lack of motivation, screen time, time management, and challenges with youth sports coaches.

For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com.

Some Ways to Support Us

 1. 

Attend ZenCon 25
 1. Pre-order Restoring our Girls

Join Team Zen
Sign up for Cathy’s Substack
 2. 

Time Stamps

(00:00:00) ZenCon25 Announcement

(00:12:00) 16 year old son experimenting with drugs/alcohol

(00:25:07) 20 year old son stuck and unmotivated

(00:34:23) ZenCon 25, Restoring Our Girls, Team Zen

(00:39:40) 17 year old daughter struggling with screentime and time management

(00:51:35) 14 year old son challenges with his baseball coach

(01:10:04) Painting and Remodeling Needs? Jeremy Kraft from Avid Painting and Remodeling 630-956-1800

Other Ways to Support Us

Ask Us Anything!
 • Follow us on social media 

Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
 • 

 • Buy and leave a review for 
Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World
 • Find everything ZPR on our 
Resources Page
 • Guys- Complete a 
MenLiving Connect profile

This week’s sponsor(s):

Avid Co • DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration.

MenLiving • – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements

Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys

Navigating Teen Turbulence- Experimentation, Lack of Motivation, & Technology Addiction- Episode # 783

Lyt når som helst, hvor som helst

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