- Welcome back everyone to the front line with Joe and Joe. Joe Bessilow and Joe Resinello, you're exactly right, Joe. - We work for the man upstairs as you do. - You're setting me up quite well. You just gave me an alley, you... - The greatest revolutionary act to commit right now is to open your mouth and speak the truth. - Whether you're an academic or you're a regular guy, you have to be fearless. - And once more, dear brothers and sisters, let us go into the breach. ♪♪♪ - Hello again everyone and welcome back to the front line with Joe and Joe. Joe Bessilow, as always, joined by Joe Resinello. And once more, dear brothers and sisters, let us go into the breach on the Veritas Catholic Radio Network, 1350 on your AM dial 103.9 on your FM dial, spreading the truth of the Catholic faith to the New York City metropolitan area. You know what I'm about to ask, download the app, share it with your friends. You'll have access to all of our station's content, not just the fantastic interviews that Joe and I do here on Veritas. And hey, if you like what we do, we go live Thursday nights, 9 o'clock Eastern time on social media. So if you see us there, whether it's this interview, whether it's our social media show, X Rumble, Facebook, YouTube, Facebook and YouTube, till they take us down, of course, which I'm sure is imminent. However, we're there at the moment. So if you see us, help us out. Today, we're very pleased and honored to be joined by Jonathan Cousins. And Jonathan is the director of something to stand for. So everybody out there, you might not be from it. Nobody's ever a lot of times Jonathan, you know, familiar with the producer/director, you know. You guys are just the guys that make everything happen. But Mike Rowe, who many people out there know, Mike presents something to stand for. And Jonathan is the director. And so this is going to be a great conversation. This is right up our alley here at the front line with Joe and Joe. Jonathan Cousins, for those who don't know, is an award-winning producer/director originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jonathan, correct me if I'm wrong. I believe you're still in Oklahoma, correct? I am. Yep, right here in the heartland. Doing everything with heart. There you go. There you go. So Jonathan's career encompasses national commercial advertising campaigns and nonprofit development. He's produced and directed campaigns for the largest nonprofits in the United States, including St. Jude, the American Red Cross, the United Nations, Shriners Hospital for Children. He has a unique understanding of inspirational broadcasting. You'll understand where we're going with that when we get into the conversation about this film. And he's produced and directed hundreds of television commercials, documentaries, multiple television shows, and worked with production companies across the U.S. and internationally. Jonathan Cousins, welcome to the front line with Joe and Joe, brother. Thank you guys so much for having me. Glad to be here. Absolutely. We're glad to have you. So with that, I'm going to hand it over to Joe. And like I said, we're going to have a great conversation. Jonathan, we always begin with a prayer. It's our custom in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and man. Remember, almost gracious Virgin Mary. Never was it known that anyone who sought your help or sought your intercession was left unaided, inspired by this confidence. We fly into you, a virgin, a virgin's our mother. To you, we come for you. We stand sinful and sorrowful. Oh, mother, the word in car night despised, not our petitions, but in your clemency here, an answer. I say, man, the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and man. Well, John, I'll be honest. Oklahoma, I've been there a few times. It's an interesting state and I liked it. I have some ties to Oklahoma, believe it or not. A guy that grew up with me down the street, Bobby Walton, played at Oklahoma State. He coached at Oral Roberts. And now he is the assistant coach at Oklahoma State and baseball. Do you know? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I was actually a track athlete at Oral Roberts University whenever I was in college, ran the, ran the 100, the 200 there. And so I'm familiar with Coach Walton. Absolutely. He grew up down the street from me. No lie. That's wild. That's crazy. Yeah. No lie. I mean, he's like one of, actually, Joe Passillo, his cousin and Bobby played on a team that won the 16 to 18 World Series, his cousin, Pat Passillo, played on the Olympics, and they played with Bobby. So like, that's crazy. Like, I haven't seen him. That's wild. I tell you what, we have some great baseball teams here in Oklahoma. Oh, are you Oral Roberts University? Oh, you owe us you. They're all always, always in the hunt last year. Oh, are you went to the College World Series? So Alma mater here, you know, got to be proud of that. I actually went up there to Omaha to watch. And it was, it was quite the experience. I encourage anybody. If you ever been, get a chance to go to the College World Series. It is a lot of fun right in the middle of America. It's an awesome, awesome experience. So awesome. So Jonathan, how, you know, again, you know, even in our prayer, we mentioned the word, you know, inspiration or to, you know, to be inspired. All right. So you got a micro, let's face it, the guy, you know, he's a regular dude. I don't care what anybody says. You could tell the difference between BS and an authentic guy. He's an authentic guy. And, you know, you made this, you know, made this movie here. So let's, let's start here. I think a good place to start is what interested you personally in making this film? Why is it, why is it something that you guys think is important for America to see? Especially at this time. Yeah. So something to stand for just for your audience to kind of know what it is. It is a road trip to DC. Mike visits all of the monuments and memorials that, you know, we all that are famous there in the city. And along the way, he tells nine short stories of famous Americans and really what made our country great. What inspired us to make the film is, you know, it is a love letter to America. And it's also a letter to the next generation. You know, we remind people where we came from. Look at our past. We look at all the great people that have built the country and what they did. And then it also reminds the next generation of, Hey, these people came behind you. Take something that you learn in this documentary and take it forward. So I think what really inspired me is that this movie is about sacrifice and hope. And I think if we look in our nation's past, those two virtues, those sacrifice and hope, that's kind of what this country was built on. You know, so I think it is a, it's a, like I said, it's a love letter to America and every great patriot should go and see it. Absolutely. Let me follow up just for a second. If you don't mind, Joe Russinello, something to stand for is the movie, we're talking about micro presents Jonathan cousins is with us. Jonathan, real quick, we'll mention it a few times during the, during the conversation. So at the moment, where can our audience members go and watch the movie? Yeah, so they can, it opens Thursday, June 27th, and it will be in theaters through July 4th. You can get tickets at something to stand for dot movie. It's going to be in basically every cinema, AMC and regal all across the country. So there will definitely be a showing near you and it's a great way to celebrate the 4th of July and Independence Day. So go out, watch the movie, especially opening weekend. You know, vote with your dollars as they say. So it'll be, it's a family movie. So go see it with your family. Couple of things real quick before I hand it over to Joe. Number one, Jonathan, at any point in this conversation. So Joe and I, we say all the time a couple of big mouth Italians, all right, but, but, so, but if you, if we don't want to give away the movie, want to talk about the movie, all right, and give people a little flavor. We don't want to give it away. So don't, don't feel bad if you say guys, no, no, I'm taking the fifth on that. Spoiler alert, spoiler alert, spoiler alert. So if you don't want to answer it, that's fine. The other thing is this, just going to ask your opinion on this is just a question that popped into my head. I think that, I think that no matter where you are, no matter what country you live in. Okay, if you want to find full with your nation's history, I mean, nobody's exempt from that. America is not perfect, but here's the thing, nor do we, nor do we expect perfection. Okay, America is just like just like any other institution, human institution is going to, is going to have its problems because you're dealing with people, sinful people. Okay, but we do have a lot to, to be proud of in our history. And I think right now, one of the things that's raging out there, Joe, I, some people call it the cultural war. Some people call it spiritual battle is that somehow, some way we're supposed to be perfect in America. We're exempt from, from fallen humanity somehow. And I don't think that's fair. And I think it's important that movies like yours comes out and say, oh, hold on, guys, hold on. We understand that we've had our issues in America. We had slavery for heaven's sake and other things. But we're, we're not a bad country. Okay. We're, we're a pretty good country, actually. And here's a reason to be inspired. I think you know where I'm going, Jonathan Cousins, your response to that. Yeah, I think we've always been under construction. You know, I mean, from the very beginning, we've tried to make something new, you know, the founding fathers, they were trying to make something better so they created the articles of confederation. And then that didn't work. So then they created the Constitution. So I think we've always been under construction. And so that continues even to this day. I think if we look to our past full of problems and realize which we've made some mistakes, I don't think anyone would not acknowledge that. But I think sometimes we focus on the problems way too much. I think there needs to be an effort in what our movie really does is look to the past with gratitude. You know, if we can look at the people that have come before us, recognize their problems, but also recognize their sacrifice, recognize their brilliance, recognize the hope that they gave us for the future. I think if we look to the past with gratitude, it will allow us to look to the future with optimism. And I think that's kind of where we've taken a little bit of a turn is we've forgotten how to be optimistic in this country. We've forgotten how to look to the future with great hope. And I think if we can allow the past to inspire us, which the movie really does, something to stand for. I mean, it's in the title. You know, hopefully we can give you something to remind you that our country is still worth standing for. And I think if we look at the past with gratitude, we can have a future of hope. Absolutely. John of the cousins joining us here at the front line with Joe and Joe, Mike Rowe presents something to stand for in theaters on the 27th. Jonathan will let us know the website again. You could go there and you can purchase tickets. Jonathan, the website, if you don't mind one more time. Something to stand for dot movie. Awesome. Joe, where do you want to go? I'm going to start with the title. Ultimately, it's in us as humans, all humans to be a part of something that's bigger than ourselves. That's why Joe and I do this. We don't get paid. We do it because we believe in God, we're Catholics, and we give of our times and our time and our gifts. Now, the title, something to stand for. We all want to stand for something. But what we see now, if you turn on the news, it's all like emotionally filled propaganda. That's kind of how I'm going to couch it. Now, I'm interested in your view on that as well as Joe Pacillo. Everyone's standing for something. But when you look at what you guys put together in this film, these were like eternal things, like deep, like virtue and like love of things that are greater, much greater. And then you look at what's going on now. People are standing for things that you're like, "Really? You're going to die on that hill? That's the hill you're going to die on?" Like, I'll be honest with you, I'm not dying on that hill. Talk about that. I'm running away from that. Yeah, exactly. I'm not going anywhere near that. But explore that, because I think all people have that desire, but we, like you said, we've drifted away from things that are foundational. Yeah. Well, I think that's a good point. I also think it's important to remember that propaganda isn't new. From the very beginning, it's, I mean, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay and James Madison, they wrote, they wrote the Federalist Papers in order to try to convince people to vote for the Constitution. So I don't think propaganda is new. I mean, the news media and the news outlets have always been used to push some sort of narrative. I think the question is, what stories are we telling? And are we telling the right stories that give people hope? I think we have kind of drifted away from telling hope-filled stories or inspirational stories. And I think our movie, Something to Stand For, it is not a right, a left, a Republican or a Democrat film. It's a patriotic film. And really, it's not filled with propaganda. What it's filled with, it's filled with stories of hope. It's filled with stories of determination, courage, grit. Those are the things that are timeless. And hopefully, you know, you can spend anything, Joe, Joe and Joe, you can spend anything. You can spend Cheerios. I mean, people are already spending Oreos, for goodness sake. The main thing is, we have to take a look at the stories that we're telling and making sure that we're giving people something to stand for and giving them a better option than stories filled with negativity, pessimism about our future. And really, that's what our movie does. Our movie tells a story of hope. John, because let me ask you a question, because I could hear people out there, okay? No, no. You guys are talking about patriotism and things like that. No, it's a political movie. Now, correct me if I'm wrong. Micro starts out the movie by saying it ain't a political movie. Yeah, well, I think that's the whole thing. We've been so conditioned to look at every piece of media that's coming at us going, what are they trying to say? What are they doing? You know, what are they trying to spin me for today? And I think what we wanted to do at the very beginning of this film is kind of take that off the table. Say, hey, listen, we're not trying to persuade you. What we're trying to do is remind you. We're trying to remind you where we came from and give you something to look forward to in the future. I think whenever we whenever we're given any form of media, we're all skeptical of what is this person trying to persuade me to do or what what underlying spin are they trying to put on this. And Mike, right off the top, brilliantly says this isn't a political movie because he doesn't want you to be thinking of it in right, left, Republican or Democrat terms. We want you to be looking at this movie in American terms. We want you to be looking at this movie in universal themes, universal themes of sacrifice, universal themes of patriotism. You know, I don't know any, any person on the right or the left that isn't a fan of freedom. I mean, you know, you could argue that there are people trying to strip away our freedoms. But I could also argue that they believe that what they're doing is right. And I think what we're trying to do here is say, hey, let's all come underneath a banner of freedom. Let's all come underneath the banner of the foundation that was laid for us of our founding fathers sacrifice and look towards the future and go, how do we get back to there. And it's only by being reminded of what they did that we can move forward with hope and with optimism. Jonathan, I just want to say this and I'm going to hand it over to Joe. You know what I you know what I'd like to get back to in America. I'd like to get back to being able to go to a Jets game. All right, and the guy sitting next to me is wearing green and white and I'm wearing green and white, and I don't really give a crap at that moment what his politics are. That's that's it. I'm being honest, because I think I would venture to say we're talking a little bit about the Marine Corps in a bit. Okay, I would venture to say if Dave, you're fighting Nazis. Okay, or if you're, or you're fighting to Japanese during World War II, you're not exactly asking your buddy, who is either about to fight or is fighting with you and it may be about to die with you. Okay, what you know who we voted for. Okay, guys. And I think you know where I'm going. It's like, I think the I think the people that that really don't like America that would really like nothing more to either tear it down or transform it into something that all you could say is God knows what are those who want to inject politics into everything so that I can't go to that jet game. Yeah, I think I think I think I think there is a narrative of division. That's why this movie exists. This movie exists as a narrative of unison or it's an effort to unite the country under a shared value of the love of freedom, the love of courage, this determination in resilience that defined the American experience. You know this, this film is hopefully a tribute to what makes our nation, what makes our nation great. There's there's a lot of stories in this film of famous Americans that everyone knows, but there's stories that people don't know about them about how one of the most famous Americans in our history gotten to a duel with someone. And he ended up being one of the greatest Americans ever. So there, there is always going to be division, the question is what story are we telling. And can we bring, can we bring Americans underneath the umbrella of the love for freedom and I think that's really what something to stand for with micro really does and that's what we tried to do in the film. Micro presents something to stand for the films going to be out on June 27 please go on the website and go and buy tickets and we're with Jonathan cousins here and we're discussing the film. Yeah, I mean if we could even get back to something, you know, I mean it's almost like basic civics you learned it when you were in third grade e pluribus unum, you know, okay we're many we have different views, come from different religions and backgrounds but we have, we should have at least a few things that bind us as Americans and again like you said well hey, if it takes your movie Jonathan and a million more like it to try to hammer home to people that we were all we're doing is ripping each other apart rather than trying to come together. We're never going to move forward as a nation. I know it's an elo. Oh, please, please, please, I agree. I think, I think we have to change the narrative we have to change the stories we're telling. And the only way that people change that stories is if they say, hey, I like that story. I'm going to give my money to that story. And then more stories like that will be created. I know it's a selfish plug. I know it's a super selfish plug to say go see my movie if you want to change the country. But really, if you put dollars behind something that you believe in, then more of those things will be created. And I think that's really the hope for this country is by believing that we do have that we do come from a place of freedom and that freedom is still something that we all aspire to. Absolutely. Joe or Cinella, where do you want to go? Well Joe you segued very nicely into the Marine Corps and that was featured in the film my grandfather on my mother's side was a Marine and to my aunt's married Marines who fought in Korea. My grandfather was in World War II. I know about the Marines a little bit because of that. And I know right at the end of boot camp in Paris, Ireland, there's something called the crucible. It basically brings men together and they have to basically work together to get over like a trial. All types of men, they have all a job. And I think that's what we're lacking. Like we have to look at things as what we see in America is a trial and we all need to work together. We all have something to basically participate and contribute to that trial. But talk about the Marines as basically a model of excellence. You featured it very well. I don't want to give away how you did it but I thought it was masterful. For those who should be going out and seeing this film. Talk about the Marine Corps and talk a little bit about how you nuanced there. I guess contribution to America. Listen, the anyone who serves in our in our military is a hero. I mean we have a volunteer military service. That is that that in itself, all of those people who serve deserve our honor and deserve our gratitude. There's no other country in the history of the United States that that doesn't look to the men and women that serve as as heroes. One thing that I wanted to just say about the Marines is that we often forget that there are members that are sacrificing right now for our freedom. We look to the past and we remember, oh yeah World War II or Korea or Vietnam. And we do that in our film. But what we also do in our film is we honor the military members that are serving today. And I think it's an important acknowledgement that we say thank you to those people that are out there on the front lines every day defending defending our freedom. We also visit Arlington in our film. We work closely with the US Army and the department of defense in order to get access to places that most people don't get access to. And as you're looking as you're standing in Arlington and you see all of the white tombstones just hill after hill, acre after acre. It's really hard, really, really hard to not be moved by the sacrifice that was made for us in our history. And I think it's important to keep that in the forefront of our mind. You know we are only guaranteed our freedom because of people that serve. And so if you if you want to say thank you, if I think people, you know I come from a commercial background where I did a lot of commercial work for some of the VSOs window warrior project disabled American veterans. And every single person that I met there's not one person that says, that says I wouldn't go back and do it again. After all the hell they've been through, they all say, I'd still go back and do it again. And those types of people, those are the people that deserve all the honor and all the credit that they should get for going out and serving on behalf of all of us here at home. You know, live in our everyday daily life doing our dirty job, if you will. You know, John, it's funny, like at my parish in the back of the parish there's a plaque of the people who served in World War II and died. And I'm always in the back because I have young kids and I always have to come in and out of church so you know my eyes kind of look around and I see this plaque. And I noticed that three brothers from the same family, the same surname all died, and they went to that parish at one time. And as a father I have five kids I think to my and I have three sons. I think to myself, Oh my Lord, this family lost three kids it's a blue collar town. That is like heart wrenching to lose a child, never mind three. I mean like people again you mentioned Arlington, how quick we forget the sacrifices of regular families they gave their son I mean it's just to be honest with you it's on you know you can't even wrap your mind around it. One thing that we're doing specifically, you know, what what I hate is just giving lip service to it, you know, like, and not really putting your actions behind the honoring one thing that we're doing. In the coming days, we're doing our first screening we're not doing a traditional red carpet. Everybody in Hollywood, they want to gratitude themselves and shake hands and get the press photo op we're not doing that for this movie. What we are doing is we're going to Camp Pendleton, just north of San Diego between San Diego and LA it's one of the largest marine bases on the West Coast. And what we're doing is we're showing our movie to the Marines. Why because we wanted to say thank you. This is a way to say hey we want to honor your sacrifice, grab some popcorn we'll pay for it, we'll take care of your drinks and your refreshments, but we just want to say thank you. We're not doing the red carpet thing that's a bunch of crap but what we are doing is we are honoring the military service members and, you know, again shameful plug, but if you want to honor those people vote with your dollars again go see the movie something to give that movie to get tickets. I want to, we only have like a couple minutes, Jonathan Cousins joining us here at the front line with Joe and Joe, writer and producer and director, excuse me, producer and director of micro present something to stand for. Let's stay on that for one second through this the last couple minutes before the break. Now again we said earlier, everybody should know this we all come from many Americans come from different backgrounds different religion and everything else, but then there does come a time where we have to unify around certain first principles. Okay, and I want your really want your opinion on this. One of those principles is sacrifice. Now some people sacrifice or people sacrifice on different levels. Most of the time for men sacrifice means getting married having kids. There's your built in sacrifice for life. Okay, because then you have to die to yourself for your, for your family. Okay. But if you can't get that right. I think that's one of our problems in our society is okay. Yes, we all cover it, but you have to be willing to sacrifice something and I just think too many people, again, not right left. You know, because we have played criticisms of both. One of them, we think is a lack of sacrifice or a willingness to do so. And I think we need to rally around that we have about a minute and a half Jonathan before the break. I want to throw that over to you see what you what you have to say about it. Yeah, one of my favorite stories, my favorite story in the whole movie is the very last story. And the core principle there is it talks about three different individuals, a doctor, a slave fighting for his freedom and two teenage boys. And without giving anything away, no spoilers, but all of them gave sacrifices and made huge sacrifices for a country in order to have hope for the future. If you look at what our founding fathers did. Well, while they were signing the Declaration of Independence, they were putting their lives on the line. They became traders immediately. Many of them were the top 1%ers in our nation uber wealthy men. They recognized that in order to have hope, they had to have sacrifice. And I think moving forward in our country today and something that our film wants to wants to make sure we tell the story of is that if we don't recognize that sacrifice is important, how can we have hope for the future. And, and I think as we go into the 4th of July weekend, you know, honoring all of our military service members who have sacrificed, just tying it back to the Marine Corps. You know, we have to we have to say thank you. We have to recognize their sacrifice because of them. And because of the people that have given their lives for our country in the past, that's the only reason that we have our freedom and that we have an optimistic outlook for the future. Absolutely. Jonathan Cousins, we're now once again, what's the website and any other social media that that that audience of America follow most importantly to go see the movie when it comes out. Yeah, go to something to stand for dot movie it's in theaters all over the country every AMC cinema can regal something to stand for dot movie it's going to only be in theaters for seven days June 27 through the 4th of July. So please, please, please vote with your dollars. Go see the movie something to stand for. Absolutely so Jonathan Cousins joining us here at the front line with Joe and Joe in the Veritas Catholic radio network 1350 on your am dial 103.9 on your FM dial spreading the truth of the Catholic faith to New York City matchup. We're so very honored Jonathan that you can't decide and agreed to come on the show to talk about this because Joe and I think this is a fantastic movie so we're going to encourage as much as we can for our audience members to go out there and everybody out there knows that I'm about to ask if you like this if you think it's a movie that you want to see, then share it because you're probably watching it on social media after it airs on the radio. Go and share it share it with your friends all right and because yeah I mean we need to be inspired I guess as a nation not just as individuals but as a nation because like you said Jonathan without sacrifice. There's no hope and obviously we're hopeful people that's one of the home heart of being an American. So we're going to take quick break to be right back in front line with Joe and Joe don't go anywhere. Catholic radio works and now we have it here in Connecticut and New York. It's been seen around the country that there's no better tool for evangelization where there's Catholic radio the folks who listen deep in their faith, families are strengthened, parishes and communities flourish. So let people know you're listening to Veritas tell your friends to tune in and let's make an impact here for Jesus and his church. This is Steve Lee for Veritas Catholic Network. Welcome back everyone to the front line with Joe and Joe Joe Priscilla and Joe Russinello and we are way in the breach on the Veritas Catholic radio network 1350 on your am dial 103.9 on your FM dials spreading the truth of the Catholic faith in the New York City metropolitan area. So if you're just joining us, we have Jonathan Cousins with us here today. We're discussing he is the producer and director of Mike Mike Rose new film something to stand for that's going to be in theaters on June 27 so you're going to want to go online Jonathan will give us the website address again. And buy tickets most importantly share this with your friends let's create a real buzz around this movie. Okay, and movies by the way Jonathan just throw it over to you. Movies lately that have a look how about we put it like this a little bit more of a traditional message or is that is it too political to use the word traditional. I don't know, but everything is political go everything right everything but movies that have a bit more of a traditional message lately. Just from a dollar dollars and cents free market perspective all right have been doing very very well. And you want to talk about hope and being encouraged that means that good solid traditional messaging or regardless of whether it's a documentary or a narrative film. It's getting out there and there's a market for it because I think people are getting tired a lot of the lot of the stuff that's out there. You know we're not bashing Hollywood or maybe we could a little bit if you want. But you know it's not that you know there's not the superficial about it. It actually runs a little deep your comments if you don't mind. Well you know first of all this isn't a writer left or conservative or Democrat film I think that this is a patriotic movie. But to your point I think traditional values have we've kind of the pendrums begun to swing back the other way saying people people are seeing people want something traditional. And I think our movie something to stand for we actually while we went to DC we made the majority of the movie right here where I'm from here in Oklahoma. We call it the heartland here in the middle of the country. And this movie's got a lot of heart. I mean we have stories of the founding fathers we have stories of men and women of our military service we have stories of people who fought in the civil rights era for their own freedoms. And so I think what we wanted what we want to communicate is if you want to vote with your dollars and see a traditional film that has your traditional values go see something to stand for over the 4th of July. It's only in theaters for seven days but it's really important that you go and make a statement that these are the types of stories that you want to see made and that's the only way that they're going to be made because somebody's going to make money off of it. And if nobody makes money off of it those stories don't get made let's be honest this is free market. I'm going to throw it over to Joe but unless I'm wrong or unless the news change my understanding is that Netflix who you know which I got rid of a while ago for a variety of reasons I won't get into a little bit of what we're talking about. Recently announced that they're going to pour quite a bit amount of money into what I think they're calling faith based films. Now and again and faith based films can mean specifically maybe Christian or whatever I take that as meaning maybe a little bit more traditional because I think they're seeing the writing on the wall too, because like you said to free market. And, but they're going to have to do a lot to get me to subscribe again Joe us and Ella. I'm going to talk about diplomacy you mentioned it earlier in the conversation and it's a theme that's kind of discussed in the movie. Diplomacy is where people have a conversation and sometimes in that conversation someone has an advantage that someone could even be stronger than the other person. They don't necessarily put forth that strength in an aggressive manner what I mean by that is throw fists or even use certain words. They leverage strength they have a conversation and many times they allow that other party to come to their own conclusion. I think you did a great job with that theme talk about that because I think we're lacking diplomacy we're lacking it in the media we're lacking in our conversations on our streets. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. That's what a man is by the way a gentle man a man has strength, but he puts that strength if you ask me behind like bars so to speak and he leverages that strength you did a great job with that in this film talk about diplomacy we're lacking it and we need it. Yeah I think there's always things that were closed fisted about right things that will go to bat for poor beliefs that will go to fight for and then there's other things that were open handed with things that we can compromise on or things that have negotiating things without without having those poor beliefs and things that you can fight for first you don't have the strength to back you up when you do want to go and act in a diplomatic manner and begin to make compromises I think throughout our nation's history being great men who have core central beliefs go to the table and defend what they believe but also do it in a way that is gentlemanly to your point diplomatically. I think today what we need what we want to see in the country is is men who have a backbone and defend defend not just their honor but the honor of the things that they believe. It's important that as we as we try to move forward we don't compromise our beliefs for a political for a quick political win or a quick or a quick result. We have to be long term in our thinking because the other side is definitely long term in theirs so I don't know if that answers your question. I think it's spot on Jonathan Cousins join us here at the front line with Joe and Joe please go out and watch and go and see the film when it comes out on June 27. And it's only to me in theaters for seven days you want to make sure that lights up the theaters for those seven days micro presents something to stand for Jonathan one more time the website please. I think to stand for dot movie, or you can just go to micros social media micro everybody knows him from dirty jobs has been on television for 20 years. And this is his first film it's it's an amazing documentary mixed with blockbuster style reenactments so we tell nine short stories that Mike wrote. And we blow them out and blow them up in some cases so it's it's a really fun movie. Jonathan let me ask you this. I remember when I was a kid and let's say around 12 13 years old. You know everybody was talking at the time 1979. Everybody was talking about the Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan. And again I had some vague notion of who Ronald Reagan was just from listening to my father and my uncle's talk around the kitchen table with the cigarette smoke billowing all over the place. And and and Ronald Ronald Reagan won that election and then one again, not because of politics I've refused to believe that he offered a paradigm shift in America. Okay, because that's what I heard and then looking back on history he did America shifted at that point. Okay. And for the I like to think for the better not the Reagan was perfect but he did move the country and a lot of people's view in the right direction from a paradigmatic point of view not a political point of view. And I think that's what people miss I'm sorry to be long winded but I love your thoughts on Ronald Reagan and the thoughts you might have put into the movie about Ronald Reagan. Yeah absolutely I think Ronald Reagan was one of the greatest storytellers in American history. He changed the narrative by his words. I mean think about one of the greatest speeches of all time. Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall. There's no other way to tear down a wall that has been up for decades then with words who would have thought that someone would be able to tear down just with their words. And then on the domestic front, he was able to communicate his vision for America with his words he told the story that he wanted to see in America. And I think that's what we have to do today we have to change and that's probably what you guys are doing we're trying to do is change the story by using words. And that's what we're trying to do with our movie something to stand for is change the story using words using using using our nation's history to remind audiences that hey there's still something worth standing for. And taking that story and hopefully changing minds because that's really the only way that this culture and our history is preserved if we're able to keep that story of our history and values in front of people. And I think I'm going to hand it over to Joe Jonathan cousin joining us here the front line with Joe and Joe. I think the people that would let's just call them people that would tear down America. Okay. I think that's why they detest social media. We can actually come together now like I mean we're Joe and I have been doing this since 2018 just to give you an example right. We're in a market over on the east coast. Okay. Around New York City hopefully God willing our stations about to go into New York City right social media is growing but at the end of the day we're small fish in a rather large pond. We're not sitting here going well we don't have a million subscribers on Facebook. So what the hell no no no but we're supporting Jonathan cousins. We're supporting Mike Rowe. In other words we could come together on that and and and to me it's like taking all let's say some some larger pieces, some smaller pieces. Okay, bring them all together but putting those pieces together I think this is where where the movie is important is but but those pieces get put together on a foundation and the foundation is not in pieces foundation is solid. Okay, and I think that's what we need to get back to is recognizing we don't exist in a vacuum. America actually has a foundation and we need to get back to it that's my rant and I'm sticking to it. Did you have a comment on that John. Yeah I think I think that's what makes our nation so great. I mean look at the very, very beginning Boston Philadelphia the large markets if you will. They came together in Philadelphia, but they also took the same vote with South Carolina. So the small guy, the little guy with little population. I think if we use our voice. Whatever market or whatever share of people we have influence of and come together join with the big guys join with the small guys and say hey, we're going to say there is still something worth standing for there are values and freedoms that we cherish and hold together. Then I think our country continues to have hope and optimism as it looks to the future but it only happens whenever the big guys don't take the small guys for granted and the small guys are able to say hey, we're going to all come together under one big banner of freedom but something to stand for our movie does really well is communicate, you know, those values and freedoms here in the United States. So, absolutely, absolutely thank you for that Jonathan Joe Russinello where do you want to go. I want to talk about Ronald Reagan some more because he was a very significant figure. Ronald Reagan was from California he was a movie star grew up in Illinois. He was friends with Tip O'Neill was a big Irish guy from Massachusetts. They couldn't be different more different. They're different men. They have different backgrounds. They're different men yet. They went out and had beers. They were friends yet they disagreed. Why can't we do that. You see, I view there's a lot of disputes in the religious world, you know, what's ecumenicalism. Look at differences is simply this. Let's agree to disagree. I have friends who are Jewish. They're my friends. You don't believe in Christ. I do. And it's my job to show you that Christ is God by the way I live and you're my friend and I'll be your friend. Isn't that the way it's supposed to be. Do we have to just go berserk and hate people and beat them over the head? Can't we just be friends and where we don't agree? Just leave it there. Okay, I don't agree with you. I don't agree with you there. Let's go out. We'll talk about something else. Why don't we have a beer. Let's go to lunch. There's a lot of things we could talk about. Common things. This we know we don't agree. So let's not focus on that. Let's focus on what we agree on and let's grow it from there. Talk about what Reagan did with Tip O'Neill and talk about how I think we can do that. I really do, John. I don't think that we're trying to do something crazy here. Regular people. We do it on our street. When I mow the lawn, I talk to my neighbors. They don't all agree. I'm married to an African-American woman. I have five kids and I'm a practicing Catholic. Let me just explain to you. On my street, that's not the common theme. Everyone's cool with me because I'm cool with everybody else and we all get along. Yeah, I think the phrase is common ground, finding the common ground that we can all stand on together. And like I said before, whether you're right, left, Republican Democrat, I think our common ground, if we choose it to be, is freedom and the value of freedom. And another common ground is recognizing the sacrifice of our military members that have given their lives for our freedom. That's what this movie does. If the very least thing that this movie is is common ground, that's the real reason to go out and see it. Because you can talk about it with your friends. It is a very big point whenever you say, "Hey, there are beliefs that I hold dear that I'm going to fight for." And then there are beliefs that we can talk about and discuss, but at the end of the day, I'm still going to shake your hand. So I'm a huge fan of being able to split the divide and say, "This is something for every American. This is something for every family." And they should go see the movie on June 27 through July 4th. Again, shameless plug, but there you go. No, no. Joe and I are all about shameless plugs. Don't even worry about it. We have our altars on here. Plug away as far as we're concerned. Hey, again, one more time. If you think you have something, don't worry. We talked about the marketplace, Jonathan, cousin joining us here, the front line with Joe and Joe. If the market doesn't like what you're doing, the market will let you know. But in the meantime, yeah, we're going to plug away. We think you have something to say. The altars we have on the show, other writers and editors of magazines and things like that. And yeah, I want everybody to know about this movie. I hope this movie makes $300 million in seven days. And you said something important, John. Nothing shameless about that plug. Vote with your money. I think sometimes we get out of context like what we could do as people. Vote with your money. This is a solid, solid film that's putting forth something positive, positive people. Vote with your money. You can do that. You control your money. There's so many things you can't control. You can't control what's going on in the Ukraine. You can't control what's going on in Israel. You can't control going to the movies around Fourth of July with your family and seeing something nice, seeing something good. This is what we can do. And to Joe's point, we all have something to do. Everybody has something to do, something to contribute to. That's my shameless plug, John. And that's what we do. That's great. That's great. I appreciate it. No, and that's a thing. So let me ask you, let's go. We have a few minutes left. Okay. Okay. All right. Figures prominently in this film. Okay. So what's, I mean, again, we don't want to, I don't want to give away too much. You know, Jonathan, because we don't want to give way too much. But how does he, how does he figure into the film? What are, let's say, some things you could talk about in terms of, in terms of MLK in the, in the context of this film. Yeah, I think, I think one thing that we wanted to highlight is that the dream is still alive, that they're, that we are always making progress that sometimes we look back in our history and we say, Oh, what about that? And that's ugly. Or what about that? We did that as Americans. But we're a nation that's constantly under construction and to recognize that and say, Hey, we're still making improvements, but let's celebrate the great men and women who have sacrificed so that we have that progress. You know, without giving away a bunch of spoilers, I will say that this movie is, is a, is a big part in making sure that that progress continues and that we recognize the sacrifice of those heroic people that have given their lives in the case of MLK for what they truly believe in that dream. Absolutely. Mike Rowe presents something to stand for the producer, director, Jonathan Cousins with us here at the front line with Joe and Joe. The movie is going to be out on the 27th, it's going to be out in theaters for seven days. So make sure to something, something to stand for. Dot movie, go buy tickets, Joe Russinello. You know, you mentioned something, and this was a reoccurring theme throughout this conversation. America is under construction. Mike Rowe talks about 30 jobs, rolling up his sleeves, getting dirty and working. Exile in return is a common theme amongst men. We go away from God and we return to God. And I think we have to look at that in the context of America to a degree as well. Exile and return. When we look at things like that, I think we see it from the long term perspective as opposed to what's happening right now. We're in a young nation compared to nations of the world. I mean, I think we lose focus and sometimes we throw up our hands. I throw up my hands. You could look at nations like France, Spain. Centuries, they've been around. Talk about the exile and return. Looking in a long term perspective, not getting down, being positive, because I think we learn when we're in exile. And when we return, we return better than ever. Yeah, I think it's a theme in the Bible, you know, to everything there is a season. There's sewing, there's reaping. So there is a seasonality, even to nations and even to politics. And so one thing that I think we highlight in our film is that we have to remember where we've come from in order to keep optimism and hope for our future. Where we're at, doesn't necessarily mean we're going to be here forever. And, and I think a lot of times because of the onslaught of 24 seven news, all of the media and what do they, what do they call it like all the, all the target retargeting on social media we think there's never going to be a way out. Well, there, there's always going to be tomorrow. And, and that was what our founders thought whenever they were in the middle of the war for independence. That is what the civil rights leaders thought whenever they were in the middle of the fight for civil rights. And their present time, they, they knew tomorrow had hope. And I think we have to keep that in mind. And that's what this movie does. It's saying, let's look at our past with gratitude, but let's look to the future with optimism. And I think that's what Reagan did to your point earlier. And that's a story worth telling and that's a story worth seeding the next generation with so that those seeds become a harvest. So, you know, one of the things I like about, about Mike Rowe is the fact that I never feel like he's talking down, even though I agree with him on the things that he says the ideas that he puts forth, whether I would be a liberal or a conservative or Democrat or a Republican. I say, I just a regular guy. Yeah. See, that's, that's one of the things I think that that's overlooked, particularly with the media, is that, you know, your larger audience are regular people. We, when we see elitism, we smell it. We know it. Mike Rowe's not that. The dude is grounded. Okay. And, and, and I think I speak for Joe too. That's what I like about him is that I never feel like he's talking down to me. He's actually, he's actually trying to build me up. He gives enough. He gives a damn enough about my life. Okay. Maybe not directly, but my life and my well-being and the my well, the well-being of my wife and my son. Okay. That he gets out there into the breach. Like you said, is Joe and I are trying to do. But he, but he's the every man. Yeah. He's the every man. And that's the great part about him as a, forget about what his presentation him as a person that that's the, I think that's, that's great about him. Wow. You know, it's kind of funny. Mike is the same guy on TV as he is, you know, having beer and I can test that. I've been working with him for four years. And, and what I thought was going to be hilarious was, you know, in our movie, Mike goes to DC. He goes to the swamp. Okay. Now, we don't focus on the swamp at all. We don't focus on the problems of the swamp. Currently, we don't focus on the most current issues that are dividing our country. But what we focus on is the everyday ordinary Americans, just like he's done his entire career with dirty jobs that have changed our country for the better and have given us a hope and a future. And I think that's what will make this movie a success is that we're not talking about elitists. We're not talking about extremists on the right or the left. What we're talking about is everyday Americans who held tight to their core belief systems and fought for freedom and sacrifice for our country. And that's what makes this movie great for Independence Day is because it reminds our audience that we still have something we're standing for. There's still something great about our country and we still have a great future ahead of us. And that's the thing. I mean, I mean, just looking again, just from a regular blue collar point of view, that's the whole point. It's like, okay, you could disagree on our foreign policy, you could disagree on a lot of different things. I'm going to cut my throat because, you know, like, is that the nation we become is that got to walk down the street, got to worry about getting punched in the face because of a particular person you may or may not have voted for. That's not America. That's why the movies like this are supremely important to remind us to say, dudes, dudes, relax, you're out there trying to burn things down for no freaking reason. Okay, or maybe you have a reason, but it's somewhere in Bizarro world. Joe Recinello, I think we have about three minutes left with Jonathan Cousins. So let's see if we could squeeze in one more one more topic if you want to bring in. Just real quick, do you think tribalism is here to stay or going political tribalism. We all talked about it round about I like to think it's starting to wane. I like to think that we could kind of shy away from that and get to core beliefs. What do you think personally, John, is tribalism here to say, is it a phase, are we going to move past it. I think we've always had tribalism, Joe. I mean, if the only non tribalist was George Washington, the only non political party president in our history. So I think there will always be people on their sides of the aisle. But what I think what we're seeing happen is people recognizing that there is more common ground than what people have been told before. I think it points out the common ground. It points out the things in our past that give us something to stand for. I mean, it's the title of our movie, but those things, those values, that courage, the determination, the perseverance, the valor that our military service members display. Those are the things that make our country worth fighting for worth standing for. And I think if we recognize those and acknowledge those things where we do have common ground. And this movie isn't right left, Republican or Democrat, this movie is patriotic. And that's where common ground exists under patriotism under the firm belief that we are going to be better tomorrow than we are today, because we're looking through the future with hope and optimism, not looking to our past as problems, but looking at what our founders gave us in order to build our foundation on. And that's a great place to end it, Jonathan, you know, because at the end of the day, if we're going to survive as a nation, then, hey, look, Joe and I are very opinionated, guys, you might have caught that in the course of this interview. Okay. Just a little bit. Just a little bit. I know. But, but, but, but the idea is that, you know, we still recognize, you know, the reality and what our country's all about our founding principles, how we go about trying to make society. Hey, I have my views, you have yours. We vote on things. But if we're going to tear ourselves apart, I would say to people, well, then just think of your kids. Is this what you want for them. And we're so happy. Number one, we're very grateful, Jonathan, you came on the show to talk about this with our audience. Okay. And my, for those of you who might just be joining us, Mike Rowe presents something to stand for is the movie. So it's something, something to stand for dot movie. You can go there and buy the tickets. Jonathan, I'm sure there's like a geographic locator on there so people can find a theater near them. Oh yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. If you go to the website, something to stand for dot movie, click buy tickets, the movies and theaters all over the country, cinema, regal AMC. So I'm sure there's a theater near them. It's a great family movie. Go see it the weekend before the 4th of July so that way you can celebrate the 4th with your family out in fireworks. It's a, it's a unifying movie. Bring everybody, bring your family, bring your friends. It's a, it's something that I'm sure you'll leave laughing, crying and hopefully reflecting on what makes our nation so great. Maybe we should do a little bit more of that as a nation reflect. That's a great place to end the interview. Jonathan Cousins, thank you brother for coming on the show. We really appreciate anything you're doing. And no matter what it might be or you just want to come on and talk with a couple of loud mouth Italians from New Jersey. You are more than welcome here brother we really appreciate it. Thank you guys really appreciate it. Thank you so much for the time. Thank you and thank you all out there for joining us at the Veritas Catholic radio network 1350 on your am dial 103.9 on your FM dial spreading the truth of the Catholic faith to the New York City metropolitan area download the app share it with your friends. You can access to all of our stations content. Please follow Joe and I at the front line with Joe and Joe all across social media. So on X X and Rumble in particular, we're focusing there because we know the hammer is going to drop at some point from YouTube and Facebook. We'll leave that aside for now. And follow this film wherever you see it. So thanks once again and remember until the next time that our conversation gives your conversation and that conversation is going on everywhere. We'll talk to you soon. (upbeat music)
