July 22, 2025 • 25 mins
Many of us, (of a certain age) know John Ratzenberger from his portrayal as Cliff Claven from Cheers, and many more of us (of a much younger age) know his voice from his Pixar characters; Hammy from Toy Story, Mack from Cars, and The Underminer from The Incredibles... But he's with us today to talk about a lesser known role, that of Mike, an angel, in an early Dallas Jenkins movie, "What if...".
"What if...", released several years before "The Chosen", was Dallas' first movie production. John says all his roles have been an angel of some sorts - he always plays the good guy - but only as Mike did he get to deck someone. lol Re-releasing on its 15th anniversary, "What if..." is in theaters August 5th and 7th only. Come spend some time with John and I and find out more!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Summertime is heating up? Are you staying cool? I sure?
Hope you have an air conditioned office or home to
escape to when the sun is high. If not, I
am so sorry. Growing up on the Oregon Coast, air
conditioning was absolutely unheard up. But then again, a hot
(00:26):
summer day in my hometown was considered. Anything above about
seventy degrees, That's when we'd put on our swimsuits, lather
ourselves in baby oil, and go broil ourself on a
river bank or down at the beach. Nowadays we know better,
or we should. We live, we learn? But what if?
(00:48):
What if? What if you could do a do over?
Fifteen years ago, before there was the Chosen, there was
Dallas jenkins first faith based film called what If? What If?
This August fifth and seventh, it returns to theaters for
(01:09):
a special Fathom event featuring a bonus cast reunion roundtable conversation.
This modern day, it's a wonderful life. What if? What
if you had taken a different path? What if you
had made a different choice. What if you had stayed
(01:29):
with your first true love? What if? The story follows
Ben Walker, a businessman who's walked away from his faith,
who walked away from his first love, walked away completely
away from his faith, from the plan he had for
his life. And then, one day, with the help from Mike,
(01:55):
an angel who gives him a glimpse into how his
life would have loved booked had he stayed the course,
had he followed his heart in the first place, Ben
wakes up to living the life that he was destined for.
He married his college sweetheart, he served as a small
(02:16):
town pastor. This film blends humor, heart and a powerful
family theme. It stars Kevin Sorbo, Christy Swanson, Debbie Ryan,
and John Ratzenberger as Mike the Angel. Today, our very
special guest is none other than John Ratzenberger. You know
(02:38):
him as the lovable know it all Cliffy Claven Cliff
from Cheers, or you probably know him as one of
his many, many, many voiceover roles in Disney's Pixar films.
He's the peg and Toy story. I love his work
in film. I also loved that he was involved with
(03:01):
creating a biodegradable packaging material made from one hundred percent
recycled paper called Sizzle pack. It was big news back
in the late eighties. John used to be my neighbor. Practically,
he lived in the Seattle area on an island just
(03:23):
about a mile from my home. From product innovation that
saves our planet to great character inventions, John is a
remarkable guy. Thanks to our generous sponsor, this is going
to be a fabulous conversation. Have you been looking for
a milk replacement because you have dairy allergies or sensitivities. Well,
(03:48):
I found one that's absolutely amazing. It's Sherry's Hazel Cream,
made from Oregon hazelnuts. This plant based milk stands out
from the competitors because it's designed for cooking and baking.
It all started because Sherry, who could no longer tolerate
dairy products, wanted to make gravy, but not gravy that
(04:12):
tasted like coconut or oatmeal. So by enlisting the help
of her engineer husband and a friend that's a food scientist,
and through much trial and error, Sherry's Hazel Cream was born.
Because of a special roasting process, It's very neutral and
taste and works with a large variety of recipes. It
(04:33):
comes sealed in shelf stable, easy to use, pre measured
portion pods that you place into your blender. Add varying
amounts of water to make milk cream or even condensed
milk for pies and other mouth watering desserts. It's delicious
and mashed potatoes and cakes, in creamy soups and even
(04:56):
casserole dishes. Visit Sherry's Hazel Cream dot com to learn
more about this product, to read Sherry's story, and to
place your order. It's at Sherry'shazelcream dot com. C h
e ri s Hazelcream dot com. Use code Love twenty
(05:17):
four for ten percent off your order. That's Sherry's Hazel
Cream and Love twenty four. John. Welcome to Love someone
with the LA Where are you at right now? Where?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Right now? I'm in southern California.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
We're gonna be talking about a lot of things today.
I just finished watching What F, which is what they
want me to talk about, but there's so many other things.
So before we get to what F, I have to
talk about packing peanuts.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Oh, packing peanuts.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Yeah, rumor has it like you contributed to saving our
planet by creating a biodegradable packing peanut? True or not? True?
Speaker 2 (06:03):
No, it's such. It's it's a misnomal there that it's
not the packing peanuts it's an actual product that's biodegradable.
But they aren't there peanuts.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
But they they're the little things that go in packages.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Yeah, yeah, you've packed things with it.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Yeah, okay, I just heard you were saving our planet
but deducing the plastics and the microplastics in our system
by inventing this way to pack products that doesn't doesn't
last for ten thousand years.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
No, it doesn't. Know you could use it. There's a
kiddy liner afterwards. I mean, it's just wonderful stuff. But
I sold that company a long time ago to a
company in Ohio, and I think they've sold it. It's
worldwide now. I think there's five factories worldwide.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
How did you go from Cliff Cleven to inventing a
way to save the planet now to to working with
Dallas turning your life has been.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
I wasn't doing anything that day.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
I'm not cooky every day, not every but your voice
is your accent.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Is well a little bit, yeah, I guess yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Are you not the pig in toy story?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
I am? I am? I am he having the.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Pig, Hammy the pig, same sweet accent that we all
know and love.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
And Mac the truck and the Underminer and Incredibles and
so holds of Pixar movies.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
I mean, yeah, Pixar loves you, and we love you
in the Pixar movies.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Oh well, thank you.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
I was describing you to my sister in law who
does not have children, and I'm naming you, know, Hammy
the Pig, and I'm talking about the truck, and I'm
delivering your lines, and she's looking at me very strangely,
and I go, oh, you haven't watched every Pixar movie
five hundred times like I have. How about how about
(08:11):
Cliffy Claven She's like, oh, cheers, Yeah, so she she
got that. But for those of us that have been
parenting for a long, long, long time, you are an icon.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
How many excids you have?
Speaker 1 (08:25):
I have fifteen thirteen that are still here on earth too,
that have gone to be with our Lord. And I
just was awarded custody of three of my grandkids, so
I'll be parenting until I'm a thousand and two into graduation.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Yeah, well tell them, I'll tell them to hand me.
The pig said, all.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
They're gonna they're gonna die, They're gonna they're not gonna
believe it. They're not gonna believe that I am talking
to Hanmy the Pig. Yeah, I'm going to move up
in the cool department like ten points when they find
out I personally know Hammi the Big.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Well, that's good. I'm glad I can help you out.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
So we're going to talk about the movie What If,
which came out what fifteen years ago?
Speaker 2 (09:15):
About that?
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah, yeah, Dallas jenkins first big movie.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Yeah, it was as a matter of fact.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Yeah, now he's a little bit famous for you know,
the Chosen and Shows. Yeah, phenomenon that God has blessed
a thousand times over.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Yeah, yeah, it's done pretty well. Still still's doing well.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
And What If is going to be in theaters for
two days, right, the fifth and the seventh.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Yeah, yeah, if you two.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Fathom Fathom Events.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Yeah, Fathom Events dot com, they'll show you the theaters
that it's appearing in near you.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
So I had not seen it the first time around.
I did not realize it's what a little treasure trove,
What a sweet little gym this movie is. It's kind
of what a modern day take of a wonderful life.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
That's right, Yeah, what if? What if? What if? You
have made this this decision fifteen, twenty years thirty years
ago have changed your life completely. I was living in
England for ten years prior to Cheers. Now, what would
have happened if I if I decided to stay in England,
(10:30):
not come to America and do Cheers? The a whole
different life.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
What were you doing in England?
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Well, I was doing the theater and doing my own
shows and whatnot, traveling around Europe.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
So what if is being re released and what is
the biggest takeaway for you after being the angel? Mike?
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Every part I do, I play an Angel's always somebody
who's good and the wants to do the best he can.
So I don't know if you've ever noticed that all
films made before let's say nineteen fifty seven, all films
(11:12):
had a Christian message. It was good against evil always
and good always won. All films had a Christian message,
had a message for the faithful, had bessers, were about good.
But it wasn't until the sixties, I think, where you
had the anti hero or the bad guy, you're supposed
(11:35):
to loose for the bad guys somehow. So it's it's
nice to get back to it.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Films like what If, what a sweet film. It was.
I got to tell you a funny story. I was
watching it with my kids and my grandkids. I have
two minor children still at home and then three minor
grandchildren and the other kids. You know, they can't really
sit still unless less it's for Hammy the pig. So
the three youngest peeled off, and my nine year old
(12:02):
and ten year old stayed with me this morning early
and watched it with me and my nine year old,
who tends to normally root for the bad guy. You
know what I'm saying, he's just got that little pisson
vinegar in him. He's watching it intently, and when the
(12:25):
main character has to go back to his original life,
I look at my son and he's got tears in
his eyes. I stop. You know, we're watching it on
my computer. I stopped it. I said, Paul, what's wrong.
And he says he shouldn't have to go back. He
learned and he's happy and he has a good life.
(12:49):
And nine year old got the whole message of the
movie of making good choices. And I said, well, let's
see how it ends up. Paul is visibly weeping. He
was like totally invested in this sweet little story and
(13:10):
I stopped it, and he said, no, no, let's just
let's just see how it plays out.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
I have to raise a riot.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
I try, God knows I try. I said, let's just
see how this plays out. Okay, we just can we
just watch it to the He wanted to stop it.
He couldn't handle like that disappointment. So we watched it
to the end, and he was so excited and he said, yes,
I knew he was going to make the right choice,
(13:40):
and the top on his bicycle and said, you should
do you should put your put your helmet on. Uh So,
from from my heart and from the heart of my
nine year old son, we appreciate the sweet, sweet, sweet story.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
It's it's a film or an angel is to knock
somebody out. Then once, yeah, which is what Yeah, I'll doink.
That's that's different.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
More than once you got to knock him out.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Yeah, it was once the truck.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
And then the other time when you said it'll be
a lot easier. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, so twice
and thean you got to knock out the knucklehead.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
It's a good thing to do, knock it out knuckleheads.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
So what are you doing now? They told me we
had to arrange this podcast around your schedule because you're
doing something now with Pixar.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Is all right, doing the preparing toy story.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Five Wow, three slaved me. It slayd me. I hadn't
watched four yet because three did me in. I was
ugly crying and number three and my kids are like,
this is embarrassing. Mom. We're in a theater and you
are crying.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Oh yeah, well five's coming up.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Five's coming up, okay, hammy. But in the meantime, if
somebody wants to go see a very tender, sweet, feel
good family.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
Movie, yeah what if? Yeah, that's a good one.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
August fifth and seventh, it'll be a Fathoms event. You
have to check to see if your theater is participating.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Iive and seven. There you go.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Do you have any stories you want to share with us?
What was it like working with Dallas and Kevin?
Speaker 2 (15:44):
I you know it was. It was long ago, fifteen
years ago. It's the location. I remember that. It was
way up in the Boons somewhere, and it was fun.
It was fun. I always have fun. I always enjoyed.
I enjoy the travel part of it. I enjoy going
to places at Gandhi, I was at Gandhi, I going
(16:07):
to India. Well, when I was living in London, i'd
go one film I did in Malta and Gozo and
you know Germany Munich. So I like the travel part
of the expedition the film, yeah, film film Spilm, But
(16:27):
I like the travel part of it.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
So do you get to go to infinity and beyond?
In uh in number five.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Infinity and Beyond? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Yeah. Hanging out today with the multi dimensional, unforgettable, multi
generation entertaining John Ratzenberger today. Are you enjoying this chat
as much as I am? I can't thank my podcast
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(16:58):
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(18:03):
the other ways you can get involved. That's Mercyships dot Org. John.
In addition to showing what if for two very special
days with the Fathoms events, Uh there at the end
of the movie, there's a Q and a a question
I think, correct me if I'm mistaken. But with with
(18:26):
the five leading actors.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Oh yeah, we just read Yeah, we just did that
recently in Texas.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Yeah, so it's you John, who else, h Kevin Christy?
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Well it's Michael Scott Dallas. I think that was it.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
And so people will hear you answering questions about the movie,
about your faith, about.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
What I do. I guess the movie, don't. I don't
think I really talked that much because here's siting of
the other other actors, and they like to talk, so
you let them talk.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
What if? What's the biggest what if? For you?
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Well? What if? Yeah? What if I had to accepted
the job on Cheers and stayed in England, I would
have been a completely different life. I'd be living over there,
raising English children, having a I like gardening. I like gardens,
and I like English gardens. And you know over there,
you know, you know, there's all such was a front yard, backyard,
(19:31):
it's a front garden in the back garden. It's gardening.
Because during the war they had a razor own vegetables,
don't forget, so everybody had a garden. Everybody was raising produce.
So I like that. I like that. Everyone's got a
green thumb over there.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
So what if you had stayed in England, you would
be a master gardener by now.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
I think so. Yeah, I'd certainly have a dog. I
don't have one here. I used to have one.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
I used to Do you have a garden here? Do
you have a front garden a back garden?
Speaker 2 (20:05):
No? I don't. I travel so much, but I don't.
I don't have any pets, no garden, no pets, no garden,
no petal garden.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
No parsley sage rosemary in time. How about that you
come and visit my house. I have pets, I have
a dog, I have cats?
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Are you an organ?
Speaker 1 (20:30):
I am so. I now live in a ranch, a
cattle ranch, and work out of a barn. This is
he does. I raise vegetables and chickens.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Oh that's it. You're living a life good for you.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
A lot of chickens, a lot of vegetables, a lot
of fruit, a lot of horses, and I have at
least eight acres of gardens, all of it organic, no chemicals,
no pesticides, no herbicides. Same thing with the cattle, Same
thing with cattle.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Do you show your meat?
Speaker 1 (21:10):
We used to. We had to downsize a lot because
of my husband's health problems, so we have several freezer
full of meat and still fields full of cows.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
I'll just look it on the antiet where sure I
can order some good steaks and no antibiotics stuff.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
We even raise our own feed for them. We raise
our own fields with no pesticides, no herbicides. Wow, my
husband does. At seventy one years old, he still does
all the haying himself, cutting the hay, planning, the hay, harvesting,
the hay, bailing the hay.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
You know, when you're working a farm like that. Seventy
one is that old?
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Most of the time I I would say yes. But
this year, this year health issues kicked his butt, but
he still managed to do the Hey, he can't stand
up for thirty seconds, but he can sit in his tractor.
He loves to sit in his tractor.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
John, Oh, yeah, I used to love that. I had
a small well fruit enterprise up in Washington State years
and years ago, and my joy was shitting at the
back hoe.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
A anythiece of large equipment you can if you know
how to run, and we'll let you. I've got back hos,
I've got skin steer, a loader, a dump truck.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Well, that's enough to get me up there. See I
was a carpenter before it became an actor, so I've
got all that going on too, So I like all that.
I can't do that here. They don't allow me here.
And whether I am rancho miarage.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Well, you got to get a permit for everything. You
have to get up. Yeah, if you want to sport,
you can come and visit us and drive up my
husband's tractor. Okay, okay, thank you, thank you, thank you
for being with us.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
And thank you for me so gracious God bless you
nice Barney out there.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Thanks bye, bye bye. Thank you John for spending all
this time with us. I'm excited to send folks to
the theater to see what If If for no other
reason than to get out of this miserable heat and
final little inspiration. My family and I enjoyed watching it together,
and I know anybody listening that if they go with
(23:35):
their kids, they will love it. It's a great family film.
Before The Chosen became a global phenomenon, Dallas Jenkins introduced
audiences to What If. Now, fifteen years later, the story
is coming back to theaters with Fathom Entertainment for a
special two night anniversary event on August fifth and seventh.
(23:58):
Tickets for What If the fifteenth Anniversary are available now
at Fathom Entertainment dot com and at participating theater box offices.
What a great way to go beat the heat in
an air conditioned theater at all soda, a box of
I don't know what Jujub's. I like Mike and Ikes.
(24:20):
I like popcorn, I like lots of butter. What if
you had a chance, a second chance in life? What
if you could do a do over? What would you do?
Park yourself in the shade in front of a fan,
grab a cold drink and tune into my radio program
every night where you can unwind and relax with heartfelt
(24:44):
stories and great company. And if you got a chance
at a what if, if you had a second chance,
call me on the radio. One eight eight eight six
three three five four five to two. Do me a favor.
Take some time out of your summer heat to slow
down and love someone m
Summertime is heating up? Are you staying cool? I sure?
Hope you have an air conditioned office or home to
escape to when the sun is high. If not, I
am so sorry. Growing up on the Oregon Coast, air
conditioning was absolutely unheard up. But then again, a hot
(00:26):
summer day in my hometown was considered. Anything above about
seventy degrees, That's when we'd put on our swimsuits, lather
ourselves in baby oil, and go broil ourself on a
river bank or down at the beach. Nowadays we know better,
or we should. We live, we learn? But what if?
(00:48):
What if? What if you could do a do over?
Fifteen years ago, before there was the Chosen, there was
Dallas jenkins first faith based film called what If? What If?
This August fifth and seventh, it returns to theaters for
(01:09):
a special Fathom event featuring a bonus cast reunion roundtable conversation.
This modern day, it's a wonderful life. What if? What
if you had taken a different path? What if you
had made a different choice. What if you had stayed
(01:29):
with your first true love? What if? The story follows
Ben Walker, a businessman who's walked away from his faith,
who walked away from his first love, walked away completely
away from his faith, from the plan he had for
his life. And then, one day, with the help from Mike,
(01:55):
an angel who gives him a glimpse into how his
life would have loved booked had he stayed the course,
had he followed his heart in the first place, Ben
wakes up to living the life that he was destined for.
He married his college sweetheart, he served as a small
(02:16):
town pastor. This film blends humor, heart and a powerful
family theme. It stars Kevin Sorbo, Christy Swanson, Debbie Ryan,
and John Ratzenberger as Mike the Angel. Today, our very
special guest is none other than John Ratzenberger. You know
(02:38):
him as the lovable know it all Cliffy Claven Cliff
from Cheers, or you probably know him as one of
his many, many, many voiceover roles in Disney's Pixar films.
He's the peg and Toy story. I love his work
in film. I also loved that he was involved with
(03:01):
creating a biodegradable packaging material made from one hundred percent
recycled paper called Sizzle pack. It was big news back
in the late eighties. John used to be my neighbor. Practically,
he lived in the Seattle area on an island just
(03:23):
about a mile from my home. From product innovation that
saves our planet to great character inventions, John is a
remarkable guy. Thanks to our generous sponsor, this is going
to be a fabulous conversation. Have you been looking for
a milk replacement because you have dairy allergies or sensitivities. Well,
(03:48):
I found one that's absolutely amazing. It's Sherry's Hazel Cream,
made from Oregon hazelnuts. This plant based milk stands out
from the competitors because it's designed for cooking and baking.
It all started because Sherry, who could no longer tolerate
dairy products, wanted to make gravy, but not gravy that
(04:12):
tasted like coconut or oatmeal. So by enlisting the help
of her engineer husband and a friend that's a food scientist,
and through much trial and error, Sherry's Hazel Cream was born.
Because of a special roasting process, It's very neutral and
taste and works with a large variety of recipes. It
(04:33):
comes sealed in shelf stable, easy to use, pre measured
portion pods that you place into your blender. Add varying
amounts of water to make milk cream or even condensed
milk for pies and other mouth watering desserts. It's delicious
and mashed potatoes and cakes, in creamy soups and even
(04:56):
casserole dishes. Visit Sherry's Hazel Cream dot com to learn
more about this product, to read Sherry's story, and to
place your order. It's at Sherry'shazelcream dot com. C h
e ri s Hazelcream dot com. Use code Love twenty
(05:17):
four for ten percent off your order. That's Sherry's Hazel
Cream and Love twenty four. John. Welcome to Love someone
with the LA Where are you at right now? Where?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Right now? I'm in southern California.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
We're gonna be talking about a lot of things today.
I just finished watching What F, which is what they
want me to talk about, but there's so many other things.
So before we get to what F, I have to
talk about packing peanuts.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Oh, packing peanuts.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Yeah, rumor has it like you contributed to saving our
planet by creating a biodegradable packing peanut? True or not? True?
Speaker 2 (06:03):
No, it's such. It's it's a misnomal there that it's
not the packing peanuts it's an actual product that's biodegradable.
But they aren't there peanuts.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
But they they're the little things that go in packages.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Yeah, yeah, you've packed things with it.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Yeah, okay, I just heard you were saving our planet
but deducing the plastics and the microplastics in our system
by inventing this way to pack products that doesn't doesn't
last for ten thousand years.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
No, it doesn't. Know you could use it. There's a
kiddy liner afterwards. I mean, it's just wonderful stuff. But
I sold that company a long time ago to a
company in Ohio, and I think they've sold it. It's
worldwide now. I think there's five factories worldwide.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
How did you go from Cliff Cleven to inventing a
way to save the planet now to to working with
Dallas turning your life has been.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
I wasn't doing anything that day.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
I'm not cooky every day, not every but your voice
is your accent.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Is well a little bit, yeah, I guess yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Are you not the pig in toy story?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
I am? I am? I am he having the.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Pig, Hammy the pig, same sweet accent that we all
know and love.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
And Mac the truck and the Underminer and Incredibles and
so holds of Pixar movies.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
I mean, yeah, Pixar loves you, and we love you
in the Pixar movies.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Oh well, thank you.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
I was describing you to my sister in law who
does not have children, and I'm naming you, know, Hammy
the Pig, and I'm talking about the truck, and I'm
delivering your lines, and she's looking at me very strangely,
and I go, oh, you haven't watched every Pixar movie
five hundred times like I have. How about how about
(08:11):
Cliffy Claven She's like, oh, cheers, Yeah, so she she
got that. But for those of us that have been
parenting for a long, long, long time, you are an icon.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
How many excids you have?
Speaker 1 (08:25):
I have fifteen thirteen that are still here on earth too,
that have gone to be with our Lord. And I
just was awarded custody of three of my grandkids, so
I'll be parenting until I'm a thousand and two into graduation.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Yeah, well tell them, I'll tell them to hand me.
The pig said, all.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
They're gonna they're gonna die, They're gonna they're not gonna
believe it. They're not gonna believe that I am talking
to Hanmy the Pig. Yeah, I'm going to move up
in the cool department like ten points when they find
out I personally know Hammi the Big.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Well, that's good. I'm glad I can help you out.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
So we're going to talk about the movie What If,
which came out what fifteen years ago?
Speaker 2 (09:15):
About that?
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah, yeah, Dallas jenkins first big movie.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Yeah, it was as a matter of fact.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Yeah, now he's a little bit famous for you know,
the Chosen and Shows. Yeah, phenomenon that God has blessed
a thousand times over.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Yeah, yeah, it's done pretty well. Still still's doing well.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
And What If is going to be in theaters for
two days, right, the fifth and the seventh.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Yeah, yeah, if you two.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Fathom Fathom Events.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Yeah, Fathom Events dot com, they'll show you the theaters
that it's appearing in near you.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
So I had not seen it the first time around.
I did not realize it's what a little treasure trove,
What a sweet little gym this movie is. It's kind
of what a modern day take of a wonderful life.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
That's right, Yeah, what if? What if? What if? You
have made this this decision fifteen, twenty years thirty years
ago have changed your life completely. I was living in
England for ten years prior to Cheers. Now, what would
have happened if I if I decided to stay in England,
(10:30):
not come to America and do Cheers? The a whole
different life.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
What were you doing in England?
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Well, I was doing the theater and doing my own
shows and whatnot, traveling around Europe.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
So what if is being re released and what is
the biggest takeaway for you after being the angel? Mike?
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Every part I do, I play an Angel's always somebody
who's good and the wants to do the best he can.
So I don't know if you've ever noticed that all
films made before let's say nineteen fifty seven, all films
(11:12):
had a Christian message. It was good against evil always
and good always won. All films had a Christian message,
had a message for the faithful, had bessers, were about good.
But it wasn't until the sixties, I think, where you
had the anti hero or the bad guy, you're supposed
(11:35):
to loose for the bad guys somehow. So it's it's
nice to get back to it.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Films like what If, what a sweet film. It was.
I got to tell you a funny story. I was
watching it with my kids and my grandkids. I have
two minor children still at home and then three minor
grandchildren and the other kids. You know, they can't really
sit still unless less it's for Hammy the pig. So
the three youngest peeled off, and my nine year old
(12:02):
and ten year old stayed with me this morning early
and watched it with me and my nine year old,
who tends to normally root for the bad guy. You
know what I'm saying, he's just got that little pisson
vinegar in him. He's watching it intently, and when the
(12:25):
main character has to go back to his original life,
I look at my son and he's got tears in
his eyes. I stop. You know, we're watching it on
my computer. I stopped it. I said, Paul, what's wrong.
And he says he shouldn't have to go back. He
learned and he's happy and he has a good life.
(12:49):
And nine year old got the whole message of the
movie of making good choices. And I said, well, let's
see how it ends up. Paul is visibly weeping. He
was like totally invested in this sweet little story and
(13:10):
I stopped it, and he said, no, no, let's just
let's just see how it plays out.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
I have to raise a riot.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
I try, God knows I try. I said, let's just
see how this plays out. Okay, we just can we
just watch it to the He wanted to stop it.
He couldn't handle like that disappointment. So we watched it
to the end, and he was so excited and he said, yes,
I knew he was going to make the right choice,
(13:40):
and the top on his bicycle and said, you should
do you should put your put your helmet on. Uh So,
from from my heart and from the heart of my
nine year old son, we appreciate the sweet, sweet, sweet story.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
It's it's a film or an angel is to knock
somebody out. Then once, yeah, which is what Yeah, I'll doink.
That's that's different.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
More than once you got to knock him out.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Yeah, it was once the truck.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
And then the other time when you said it'll be
a lot easier. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, so twice
and thean you got to knock out the knucklehead.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
It's a good thing to do, knock it out knuckleheads.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
So what are you doing now? They told me we
had to arrange this podcast around your schedule because you're
doing something now with Pixar.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Is all right, doing the preparing toy story.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Five Wow, three slaved me. It slayd me. I hadn't
watched four yet because three did me in. I was
ugly crying and number three and my kids are like,
this is embarrassing. Mom. We're in a theater and you
are crying.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Oh yeah, well five's coming up.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Five's coming up, okay, hammy. But in the meantime, if
somebody wants to go see a very tender, sweet, feel
good family.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
Movie, yeah what if? Yeah, that's a good one.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
August fifth and seventh, it'll be a Fathoms event. You
have to check to see if your theater is participating.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Iive and seven. There you go.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Do you have any stories you want to share with us?
What was it like working with Dallas and Kevin?
Speaker 2 (15:44):
I you know it was. It was long ago, fifteen
years ago. It's the location. I remember that. It was
way up in the Boons somewhere, and it was fun.
It was fun. I always have fun. I always enjoyed.
I enjoy the travel part of it. I enjoy going
to places at Gandhi, I was at Gandhi, I going
(16:07):
to India. Well, when I was living in London, i'd
go one film I did in Malta and Gozo and
you know Germany Munich. So I like the travel part
of the expedition the film, yeah, film film Spilm, But
(16:27):
I like the travel part of it.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
So do you get to go to infinity and beyond?
In uh in number five.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Infinity and Beyond? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Yeah. Hanging out today with the multi dimensional, unforgettable, multi
generation entertaining John Ratzenberger today. Are you enjoying this chat
as much as I am? I can't thank my podcast
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(16:58):
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Vis A Mercyships dot org to give or learn about
(18:03):
the other ways you can get involved. That's Mercyships dot Org. John.
In addition to showing what if for two very special
days with the Fathoms events, Uh there at the end
of the movie, there's a Q and a a question
I think, correct me if I'm mistaken. But with with
(18:26):
the five leading actors.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Oh yeah, we just read Yeah, we just did that
recently in Texas.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Yeah, so it's you John, who else, h Kevin Christy?
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Well it's Michael Scott Dallas. I think that was it.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
And so people will hear you answering questions about the movie,
about your faith, about.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
What I do. I guess the movie, don't. I don't
think I really talked that much because here's siting of
the other other actors, and they like to talk, so
you let them talk.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
What if? What's the biggest what if? For you?
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Well? What if? Yeah? What if I had to accepted
the job on Cheers and stayed in England, I would
have been a completely different life. I'd be living over there,
raising English children, having a I like gardening. I like gardens,
and I like English gardens. And you know over there,
you know, you know, there's all such was a front yard, backyard,
(19:31):
it's a front garden in the back garden. It's gardening.
Because during the war they had a razor own vegetables,
don't forget, so everybody had a garden. Everybody was raising produce.
So I like that. I like that. Everyone's got a
green thumb over there.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
So what if you had stayed in England, you would
be a master gardener by now.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
I think so. Yeah, I'd certainly have a dog. I
don't have one here. I used to have one.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
I used to Do you have a garden here? Do
you have a front garden a back garden?
Speaker 2 (20:05):
No? I don't. I travel so much, but I don't.
I don't have any pets, no garden, no pets, no garden,
no petal garden.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
No parsley sage rosemary in time. How about that you
come and visit my house. I have pets, I have
a dog, I have cats?
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Are you an organ?
Speaker 1 (20:30):
I am so. I now live in a ranch, a
cattle ranch, and work out of a barn. This is
he does. I raise vegetables and chickens.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Oh that's it. You're living a life good for you.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
A lot of chickens, a lot of vegetables, a lot
of fruit, a lot of horses, and I have at
least eight acres of gardens, all of it organic, no chemicals,
no pesticides, no herbicides. Same thing with the cattle, Same
thing with cattle.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Do you show your meat?
Speaker 1 (21:10):
We used to. We had to downsize a lot because
of my husband's health problems, so we have several freezer
full of meat and still fields full of cows.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
I'll just look it on the antiet where sure I
can order some good steaks and no antibiotics stuff.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
We even raise our own feed for them. We raise
our own fields with no pesticides, no herbicides. Wow, my
husband does. At seventy one years old, he still does
all the haying himself, cutting the hay, planning, the hay, harvesting,
the hay, bailing the hay.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
You know, when you're working a farm like that. Seventy
one is that old?
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Most of the time I I would say yes. But
this year, this year health issues kicked his butt, but
he still managed to do the Hey, he can't stand
up for thirty seconds, but he can sit in his tractor.
He loves to sit in his tractor.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
John, Oh, yeah, I used to love that. I had
a small well fruit enterprise up in Washington State years
and years ago, and my joy was shitting at the
back hoe.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
A anythiece of large equipment you can if you know
how to run, and we'll let you. I've got back hos,
I've got skin steer, a loader, a dump truck.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Well, that's enough to get me up there. See I
was a carpenter before it became an actor, so I've
got all that going on too, So I like all that.
I can't do that here. They don't allow me here.
And whether I am rancho miarage.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Well, you got to get a permit for everything. You
have to get up. Yeah, if you want to sport,
you can come and visit us and drive up my
husband's tractor. Okay, okay, thank you, thank you, thank you
for being with us.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
And thank you for me so gracious God bless you
nice Barney out there.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Thanks bye, bye bye. Thank you John for spending all
this time with us. I'm excited to send folks to
the theater to see what If If for no other
reason than to get out of this miserable heat and
final little inspiration. My family and I enjoyed watching it together,
and I know anybody listening that if they go with
(23:35):
their kids, they will love it. It's a great family film.
Before The Chosen became a global phenomenon, Dallas Jenkins introduced
audiences to What If. Now, fifteen years later, the story
is coming back to theaters with Fathom Entertainment for a
special two night anniversary event on August fifth and seventh.
(23:58):
Tickets for What If the fifteenth Anniversary are available now
at Fathom Entertainment dot com and at participating theater box offices.
What a great way to go beat the heat in
an air conditioned theater at all soda, a box of
I don't know what Jujub's. I like Mike and Ikes.
(24:20):
I like popcorn, I like lots of butter. What if
you had a chance, a second chance in life? What
if you could do a do over? What would you do?
Park yourself in the shade in front of a fan,
grab a cold drink and tune into my radio program
every night where you can unwind and relax with heartfelt
(24:44):
stories and great company. And if you got a chance
at a what if, if you had a second chance,
call me on the radio. One eight eight eight six
three three five four five to two. Do me a favor.
Take some time out of your summer heat to slow
down and love someone m
Host
Delilah
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