The Eric Metaxas Show - #151 - Jon Erwin

Episode Date: July 3, 2026

Director Jon Erwin Debuts 'Young Washington' in Theaters This WeekendTICKETS: https://www.angel.com/tickets/young-w...⭐ ORDER NOW:Revolution: The Birth of the Greatest Nation in the History of the World📕: https://a.co/d/0ir3NlapTODAY'S SPONSORS:☀️ Honest, fast, and free Medicare plan guidance: https://askchapter.com/metaxas/🛏️ MyPillow — Save BIG with code ERIC: https://www.mypillow.com/- -LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE:    / @ericmetaxas  #EricMetaxas #TheEricMetaxasShow #News #PoliticsChapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

In Toronto, every arrival is a statement, and nothing says it better than this. Cadillac Optic was the number one selling luxury EV in Canada for 2025. Find your rhythm across a seamless 33-inch display and an immersive 19-speaker AKG surround audio system. This city demands agility, and Optic delivers with precision to make every drive extraordinary. Let's take the Cadillac. Find out more at Cadillac Canada.ca. Luxury sales claim based on S&P Global Mobility Canadian New Vehicle Total Registrations for calendar year 2025 for the Cadillac definition of luxury. Visit BetMGM casino and check out the newest exclusive. The Price is Right Fortune Pick.

BetMDM and GameSense remind you to play responsibly. 19 plus to wager. Ontario only. Please play responsibly. If you have questions or concerns about your gambling or someone close to you, please contact Connects Ontario at 1-866-531-2,600 to speak to an advisor. Free of charge. BetMGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming Ontario.

Hey, the folks, as I think I just told you, or whether I told you is, is meaningless. It doesn't matter because the point is I have as my guest right now, John Irwin. John Irwin, welcome back. Hey, man, it's always good to see it. And by the way, look what, look what I just got sent. I got sent these cool USA 250 things along with your book. It's right there, man. And you took the cover off.

I never see it with the cover taken off. It's beautiful. No, it's cool. I like to take the covers off books. and like if they're good. Like this is cool. This is a book to have with a cover or without a cover. But it's kind of got a classic look without the cover, don't you think?

Yeah, yes, it does. That was the idea. I didn't know you were interested in history. Fascinating. Yeah, we both share the obsession. Yeah, well, I'm glad you got a copy of it. And of course, this tips off the audience to the fact that I know something about the subject we will be discussing.

You, sir, have made yet another film. This one is called Young Washington. It's kind of a big deal. It's opening this weekend. And I, where do I start? I mean, let me ask you, before we get into the subject, because this weekend, we were just talking off the air, I am like flipped out crazy that this is the 250th anniversary.

This is it. Like, I've waited for this for many, many, many years. I'm old enough to remember the bicentennial. It was insane. The fact that this is it. it's just a big deal. So I'm very excited. My book, of course, was time to come out with it.

This spectacular movie, and boy, does it look spectacular. It's time to come out with it. Yeah, that's exactly right. Let me ask you the first question. So the film is Young Washington. So kind of the obvious question, why did you want to make a film about young Washington? Why not, you know, middle-aged Washington? Why not?

You know, this is funny. that when we were doing research for the film, I remember going Mount Vernon, and I think it was the gate attendant there. She was like, what are y'all working on? We're like a movie on The Young Life of George Washington called Young Washington. She's like, I guess he was young, wasn't he? You know, it just dawned on her.

You think of Washington is older and carved in granite. I love the exercise of whenever there's mythic characters, whether that's David in the Bible or Washington, to really ask the question, who's the man underneath the myth and how were those characteristics forged? And you come to these incredible, typically, moments of failure and hardship and risk and endurance

as being the things that make these characters who they are. And I think with Washington, there was this early coming of age hero's journey in his life that was relatively obscure that no one really knew about. But in my opinion, it's what shaped him as a leader, as the leader he would become. It was much more, he was much more of a man that was shaped by hardship and failure and overcoming odds than ease, you know. And so I thought, like you, the 250 is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. maybe we'll make it to 300.

We'll be very old. They'll cure aging, whatever. But, you know, it's this moment, and I wanted to write a love letter to the country, and I had gotten thoroughly obsessed with early American history in the Revolutionary War specifically, and read many books, your book, If You Can Keep It Among Them. And just the story was so unbelievable to be over the course of many years, not trying to make a movie while I was making other things.

I just got so obsessed with it. And then I just was like, you know, I want to do my part for the 250 and really make a movie that celebrates the country. It's crazy. It's the only movie in theaters nationwide this weekend that celebrates, you know, American history in any way. And so I just think that's insane. That right there is insane. And first of all. There were three on the 200. Because it's, well, I think that tells you something, John.

And I'm sure you already thought of this. But, I mean, we've drifted. The reason I wrote my book is we need to know this history. And I don't go into the Young Washington stuff. So I'm thrilled you do. Americans need to know all of this stuff. It's exciting. It's beautiful.

It's powerful. But it's kind of it is there's something lunatic that Hollywood has not been planning like five movies to come out this weekend. So God. We knew this revolution was coming. We knew this anniversary was coming for, I don't know, 250 years, you know, but. It is interesting to me. I think a lot of it is just that films, as they've gotten more expensive, you know, entertainment is America's second largest export behind agriculture.

And so I think a lot of people are thinking about worldwide box office and will it get a Chinese release and, you know, will it play in Latam and how will it play in Europe? And so I think the natural forces have diminished the American story in film and entertainment. And I just think our story matters. And America, imperfect as it is, is worth believing in and celebrating and rediscovering a new generation to generation. And we do House of David, the TV show I created for Amazon in Greece. And when you go over there, you realize, oh, America is new on the world stage still. And as cool of an anniversary as this is, this is still, 250 years is not a long time. And I describe America as the greatest idea in the history of nations.

and it's it's it's entrusted to us and when you really as you do in your book when you take the time to really study the the American Revolution you realize that the statistical odds of there being a country at all here are so incredibly low and and they're you know I love what Washington says in his first inaugural address something like you know these things weigh so heavily on his mind that he has to acknowledge the divine hand in our story and it's a miracle story It's an underdog story. It's an enthralling story. And boys, it were celebrating.

And I mean, the fact that people, there are people crazy enough to think that America could just come into being. That's like thinking that life could just pop into being like, oh, look, a single cell. How did that happen? Oh, it just happened, you know, through sloshing by the thermal vent, a single cell. It's impossible. And similarly, and, you know, I've been talking about this endlessly around my book revolution.

It's just not possible to get. liberty in the way that we have without God's hand. And Washington knew that. It's not like he was sort of on for the ride. He knew this. And I have to say that Americans need to understand that these men knew that God was centrally involved in this. Now, and before I ask you about the film itself, is this part of a trilogy? Or are you just doing like young Washington planning to do This is the big question that people have asked me. And so I finally am able to answer it. But, you know, our dream is to make more of these films and television shows and really

explore the American Revolution. I'm super passionate about the Bible with things like House of David and Old Stories, Moses and other films. But I've wanted to make films on American history for a long time. So we're working on a movie, on a script right now. to follow up this movie that will basically be the year 1776, you know, and I'm very passionate about that as a follow-up. But, you know, what I ask you the audience is I've often said, you know, your movie ticket is your vote. And so I'm asking everyone to celebrate America this

weekend by going to see a movie. And I really want to send a strong message that there's room for the American story and there's a need for the American story. And so we need this film to be successful. And yes, I would like to make an immediate follow-up movie. And I'd love to, I mean, I would love to spend a good portion of my career making these stories. You know, this is the first 250th anniversary, but they'll be, gosh, you would know better than me, 14 years of them, you know, all the way to the, to the, or more, you know, we're going to celebrate the first. Yeah, I mean, 1776 is 250 years ago, but... But then if you think about the...

Hey, y'all, it's Kelly Clarkson with Wayfair. Ever order furniture online and wonder, what if? Like, what if it doesn't hold up? That sofa was four days old. You should have ordered from Wayfair. With Wayfair, there's no what if. Just style you love and quality you can trust. Visit Wayfair.ca.

Wayfair, every style, every home. And the Bill of Rights and the first president, like, we're going to have these 250-year milestones over the course of time. Over the next decade and a half, half. And I would love to, I would love to commiserate those events with, with film and television. And I think so many of the problems that we have come from the fact that we don't know our, our true origin story.

You're singing my song, brother. You are singing my song. It's why I wrote my book, people need to know this stuff. We used to know. What I say over and over is that if you stuck a microphone on anybody's face in Main Street, America in 1960, they knew all this stuff. They just knew it because it was part of the culture. And we've, drifted away from it. And because we've drifted away from it, we're in danger of losing our liberties. And so I really believe it's God's providence that this is the 250th and that we're going to see renewed interest in this. So I'm thrilled you've made this film. And I want to ask you just about the details of it. I mean, for people who don't know anything, of course I know

this stuff, but for people who don't know anything, you know, what happened? What has this? Yeah, that's what I love. I love. whether it's like the movie that my brother I made, I can only imagine or even the show House of David. I love something that's familiar, but you don't, you know the name of the song or you know David, David and Goliath, but you don't quite know the story. And that's fitting with the young life of George Washington. But nobody realizes that as a young man, he desperately wanted to become a British officer. And he wanted to join this elite class that he was constantly denied from. And he, and he He said yes to some things that he had no idea how to do. He caught some early breaks. Kelsey Grammer, who plays Lord Fairfax, let him survey his land in the Ohio Territory. Very, very dangerous, very difficult. And then Governor Dinwiddie, played by Sir Ben Kingsley in the film,

chose him to go lead 150 militia to confront the French and tell them to leave the Ohio territory. At the time, the Ohio territory, you know, which was kind of old. over the mountains from the colonies was contested between the British and the French. And so it was kind of two empires colliding in one frontier. And Washington, as a 22-year-old, got caught up in this and actually was responsible for a shot heard around the world that kind of ignited a global conflict. And at a place for necessity, he really failed. He failed profoundly in his first command. Well, that's the only surrender of life.

And I know this is what appeals to you about it, is that you want to know how did he get to be. George Washington, failure, that's how. Part of the failure and the misery of what he went through, the humiliation is part of his story. But I'm sure at the time, he didn't see it that way. He didn't know, you know, when he failed miserably that, oh, yeah, there'd be a city named after him and a 550-foot obelisk and on and on and on and on. He couldn't see that.

And obviously, it speaks to each of our stories. That's exactly right. That's one of the great themes of the movie. is that failure can be the great teacher if you let it. And failure doesn't have to define you. It can actually serve as a tool to refine you into who you're meant to be. If you don't give up, if you don't quit, if you embrace it, if you learn. And that's what Washington did.

And then in his, without giving way too much, with the way he responded to failure, humbled himself and became basically, you know, an aide to camp, much like Hamilton was to him under Braddock. That was the moment where he became Washington. And it's a famous battle where he was later told, which we portray in the film, that he was being fired directly at. There were bullet holes in his jacket. There was a bullet hole in his hat. And he behaved very heroically in that battle. And I think in studying the character, that's where he understood that leadership was not about his amynolds. ambition, leadership was about service. It was about serving the people underneath him and serving a

cause higher than himself. And so his path to greatness was through humility and courage. And that really is the shape of the movie. And so you understand at the end of the film, oh, yeah, I could see, you know, I could see that guy leaving our nation a couple decades later. And I could also see that there was a group of people that that, that, that, that crave. the American dream, this idea that anyone from anywhere can do anything, I think is such a great way to sum it up. And that was not the case then. It was a fixed class system. It was not fair. You were your birth. You were your status. You were, you know, and he and several other, you know, our founding fathers dreamed of a world where you could be anything you wanted to be if you weren't

hard enough. And so it's his first great adventures. I've often described the film. It's It's pride and prejudice meets the revenant. It's a fun movie. It's a fun adventure story. And, you know, as he was out on the frontier learning. I mean, look, it looks gorgeous. I have to say, it looks gorgeous. And for you to get, you know, Andrew Circus and Ben Kingsley, that's a big deal.

You know, not to mention Kelsey Grummer, Mary Louise Parker, but Andy Circus and Ben Kingsley, These are major actors, especially, my goodness, Ben Kingsley. And people watching right now don't know that I screen tested for the role. And he beat me out by like a millimeter. It was so much. It was your schedule. Your schedule was so packed. That we couldn't get you in.

And you were just too good looking for the role. So that was also a thing. That's true. Even the best makeup artists could not. We tried. We tried to age you down. But, you know, you just couldn't do it. It was just too chiseled.

But I have to know. He really. That's great. He's an incredible guy and an incredible, I mean, one of the great actors of his generation. And Joel Smallboat also for King Country, for King Country, joined the film. And that gave us the complete Egot cast. So we had, for the first time in my career, every award represented, you know, Sir Ben had the Academy Awards. Kelsey had the Emmys and Mary Louise Parker had the Tonys and so on.

And so it was the best cast I've ever worked with. and they surrounded, you know, we auditioned hundreds of people for Washington himself. And a new actor, William Franklin Miller, through his own right of passage and many, many auditions and chemistry reads and callbacks won the role and carries the film and does such a great job. But I'm very proud of the cast. And, you know, they're not only great actors in their own right with extraordinary careers. They completely dedicated themselves to the idea of the movie. This was a love letter to America, to the American dream, to our first founder. This was a reminder that there is so much that connects us and unifies us.

And, you know, I wanted to make a statement that America imperfect as it is is worth celebrating. You know, it's worth believing in. And we talk about it wonder, you know, telling stories that restore faith and things worth believing in. And I just think America is one of those things. And when you really take the time to understand the American story, I know you know this from your new book and even your book, if you can keep it, which is fantastic. You know, you can't feel disdain and gratitude at the same time.

Those emotions cancel each other out. And if you take the time to really learn the American story, it moves anyone that just takes the time to learn the real story. it will move you from cynicism to gratitude. Like you cannot help to be grateful that this nation exists at all, that we're a part of it, that it lasted, that it endured despite its problems. And for me, any cynicism just kind of, or disdain kind of falls away when you understand the magnitude of the story and the incredible effort of the people

that created this country. To your point, it did not just happen. Well, the thing is that, you know, you have a kind of a, a spectrum of, you know, forget about gratitude for a second. I mean, you have people who are on the other end utterly disdainful and tortured about America. To them, it's so flawed that they can't celebrate it. But then you have a lot of people that are just ignorant. They're just not aware of what a big deal it is that this country exists, that it came into being, that some of us actually get to live here. It is just not something that we should take for granted. We really should

be bursting with gratitude. I mean, it's part of why I wrote my book. We need to know these stories. And the story, I was going to say that the story of young Washington, I almost said young Frankenstein. I apologize. Also a worthy story, but I don't know as much about that one, but I'm sure it's great. I've got young Frankenstein on the brain. But no, but but, but the idea that what he did in that, you know, early part of his life, life triggers what we call the French and Indian War. Right. And that the French and Indian War is essentially the cause of the revolution, 20 years in the

future, that the debt, that the British, you know, they, they, they cost them a lot to win the French and Indian War. They double their empire, but they double their debt. And that leads them to tax the 13 colonies, which leads to the revolution. Who would dream, you know, Washington certainly wouldn't. dream when he is involved in these things, triggering this war that 20 years in the future, he would be leading the army in a war that came as a result. I mean, the whole thing has this It's almost like there's a divine hand, which is what he said, you know, there's a bit of poetry

to it, isn't there? It really does seem that way. And when you mentioned that, I mean, so many stories have been told of how they were firing at him. Here's this young man in the middle of everything and they're firing at him and they can't seem to hit him and I think I suspect there's no you know documentation but I suspect that Washington had a sense of destiny that that he he could sense that God I do I do believe that you know when you look at his faith and his beliefs and how they evolved over the course of his life I think in his young life it was was this first step to there is a providential aid in my story. And again, if you read his first inaugural dress,

there's so much of a mention of the divine hand of providence and that no people could really be as they need of being grateful for the divine hand as the American people. And again, what I love in his first inaugural is he says, I mean, these things are too heavy on my mind, basically, to not acknowledge them. And so it was almost like him saying, I wasn't, I didn't even want, I wasn't planning on talking about this, but I can't stop thinking about the fact that if this doesn't, or if this doesn't, or if there's not fog on the, you know, on the Delaware for that crossing. If there's not, you know, the story is just too wild to be, um, a story that happens by chance. And that was something that he was very passionate about and believed and wanted to communicate. And you see that first step in this movie where, he was being shot directly at there.

In fact, when Kelsey Grammer came to set, he came over for just a couple days to play Fairfax, and he loves this story, loves Washington. He got the first thing he says, like, are you guys doing the bullet in the hat? And I'm like, that's the third act of the movie, Celts. And he was literally being shot at, and it's like they could not hit him.

And he was told, it was actually a few years later, historically, but he was told that, a Native American chief was said we were instructed to fire right at you and we couldn't hit you and we believe that there's a there's a legend of a spirit of the creator protecting

like a spirit of protection and it's on your life and he was told that and so I think he was definitely going into the Revolutionary War he was aware of a divine hand of Providence and it started coming out in his conversations and his letters a lot more

as the pressure cooker of the war was on his shoulders. And I also, to your point about the war itself, he also really learned how to fight and win. He learned a new style of warfare in the French and Indian War. And a lot of people don't understand the revolution was a war of attrition or a war of posts where you're basically just waiting for this invoes, this invading force to get tired or run out of money and leap.

And so it was a war of grit. and endurance and Washington's unique ability to hold that army together and endure and suffer at places like Valley Forge was so unique. I wanted to know where did these characteristics come from? And uncommon resilience and grit to endure that kind of work. Even that's putting it mildly. I mean, it's almost, almost unique. I mean, there are moments in the story, I mean, in the revolution where what he's

suffered what he went through. You know, there were other generals that were more qualified, really, in a military way than Washington, Charles Lee, Horatio Gates. Why didn't God choose them? Why didn't the Continental Congress choose them? Washington has a character that is almost unbelievable. I mean, he really is a figure that you just, you know, I was in awe, honestly, that you realize that he, by strength of will and character, he seems to have held the whole thing together. So when they call him the father tree, you go like, yeah. It's true. It's true. And one of the things that people don't realize is we didn't have a standing army. So large portions of his army every six months could just be like, see a George and go home. And it was his force of

character and his embodiment to the cause. And the fact that it like Valley Forge in situations like, like Valley Forge generals didn't stay with their army. They waited, you know, they waited the winter out. He was with them, and Martha was with him. And so I think that he so embodied the cause that he kept this sacred fire of liberty, as he called it together. And for a time before there was a national anthem, you know, a National Creed or an American flag, there was one person that galvanized this movement.

And, you know, the largest amphibious fleet in the history of the world filled with Heshen mercenaries, like professional soldiers were sent to crush our rebellion. And that unstoppable force ran into this immovable object that was George Washington. And so I think in his early life, you understand where this kind of grit and endurance and conviction and courage came from when you have this story. of this young man, full of ambition, as with any story of someone trying to make a name for himself, you know, and he basically, you know, learns over the course of the story what true leadership is, that it's not about you. It's about serving those underneath you and serving God-Tire than yourself. You say that. If you read my book, you'll see that the stories of Charles Lee, General Charles Lee,

and Horatio Gates, they really were kind of about, it's about me. And Washington is markedly different. And it's so fascinating because both of them, they're gunning for his job. There's tremendous drama. They're going to fail so that they can kind of step up and they're kind of, I mean, some of it's almost funny. And both of them, and I, you know, when I was doing my research, I almost couldn't believe it, that both of them get this humiliating comeuppance. It really is kind of amazing how that works out. And sometimes in history, we don't get to see it. We just have to trust God is a just God.

But with the story of Washington, what he suffered. But so to see his formation in the film that you have made, I think you're really, you're doing. God's work, John, because I do believe that we need these kinds of films. I mean, I've said this to you before at other times, but like we really need great filmmakers to make these kinds of films. And for you to say that Hollywood is not, you know, releasing three of these films this weekend, it just blows my mind, actually. And it tells me how a messed up Hollywood has become. Well, it's just a huge miss, in my opinion. And, you know, even without a signing motive, it's just like,

you know, it's a once-at-a-lifetime anniversary for many of us. And I just, I love these stories. There's another great one. It's actually streaming on Wonder Project on Prime Video right now, our channel, The Great Awakening,

I thought was really great. And you actually, and so I just, is it in your book that Washington and Benedict Arnold, I think, like took pieces of Whitfield's collar and wore it in the battle? I think I write about it in both books. I've never heard this story.

Well, this is why Christians need to write books because everybody else be like, nah, I'm not interested. That's incredible. I said, this is like unbelievable. It's macab. It's weird. It's fascinating. And it happened.

I'm pretty sure I write about it and if you can keep it, but I also write about it in the new book Revolution. And what does it tell you? It tells you the central role of faith in America. Because what do these officers want to do? They want to cut strips off. of the grave clothes of an evangelist. I mean, he was not a military hero.

This was an evangelist, and they looked at him like, this is the saint of America. It was his preaching that created our ability to cover the film. You can't. Here's my theory on the American Revolution. And I love studying, you know, why did the American Revolution go the way it went and the French Revolution go the way it went?

America, you have to understand the Great Awakening. And that at the time, there was incredible, spiritual fervor. And then you have to understand kind of the rights of man and the enlightenment. And so the American Revolution was this collision of faith and thought and destiny and purpose and reason. And those were the two colliding forces that made America work. So you have to, certainly when you read Jefferson, you know, we hold these truths to be self-evident and I'm going to create an equal. Yeah, that is definitely the, you know, this rights of man coming out of Europe. But also you've got to understand to your point in your book of

You can keep it in that idea of the triangle that you write about, that America requires this virtue in its people. And that virtue came from the Great Awakening. And America really did see itself. The people saw themselves in allegory, I think, as Israel, like out of bondage into the promised land to be a city on a hill. And that collided with kind of the Enlightenment and sort of the age of the rights of man and whatnot. And so you have to understand both. And you cannot extrapolate. you cannot

America, although the idea of a place where you could worship however you wanted was a crazy idea, that does not eradicate the divine in the American story.

And in fact, I think for every founding father, even for those that were deists like Jefferson, who famously, you know, when he cut out all the deity out of the Bible, to distill it because he thought

the teachings of Jesus were the greatest moral reset in the history of the world. You know, there was just great reverence, and great admiration and great recognition of God being a part of our story. And so I think that this film is another,

it's Washington's first step. I certainly believe that his faith got much more personal with Martha and probably desperate, almost like George Bailey in his wonderful life during the war because he was under so much pressure. But in his young life, you have to understand his faith and belief this first step of understanding

that I should not. not be alive if it weren't for a divine hand. And so this is a first chapter. My hope for the movie, and this is why I love this conversation, is that the amount of times that as we screened the movie all over the country, we just went to Mount Vernon and screen it and actually opened up his crypt and we got to put a wreath on his tomb. But basically when people see it, they stay up all night researching it. And they're like, did this happen?

Did that happen? So I love the idea that a movie can be your first step. but there are some incredible books that can be your second, third, fourth, and fifth, and I'm glad you're writing them and have now, too, that I think are fundamental. The point is America has to understand its origin story for us to function to get alongside each other. We're a nation bound by ideas and ideals, and to the extent we lose sight of them. We lose sight of the ties that bind.

So telling these stories are really important. And I'm glad we're both doing it in our own way. This spring, Denham gets a softer, lighter update. Introducing Old Navy's drapey denim wide leg, a new fit that moves with you. It's everything you want denim to feel like for summer. Easy, breathable, and effortlessly cool. With a fit that creates natural movement and a wide leg that feels modern, not overwhelming. Plus, that signature, wait, for this price, moment.

Old Navy's drapey denim wide leg. Yeah, you're singing my song. I mean, this is so important. That's why I'm just, I'm so thrilled that you're doing this, because it has to be done well. And it's obvious, you know, just from the cast that, you know, you're working at a really high level and it's important because we don't just want to speak to the choir or preach to the choir. We want to reach most of America and it needs to be done at a high level. And you're working at a superb level. It's just obvious that over the years, you know, you have learned your craft more and more and more and more.

So I'm excited about the future films, but I'm excited about this film. And again, the fact that it's coming out this weekend, this is a big deal. I just want to say congratulations to you. Is there going to be a premier particular premiere someplace? We actually chose to do a series of premieres all over the country, many at presidential libraries, all the way from Reagan to JFK's library. And then we did a premiere at Mount Vernon just a few days. days ago, as well as the National, the Portrait Gallery, which was amazing. And then we did a big

Angel Studios that's releasing the film theatrically did a big fan of it in Nashville and had 2,000 people there and they were all dressed up. That was the dare of the premiere. But we actually chose to just screen the film all over the country. And then now it releases nationwide. It's the most pre-sales of anything that I've ever been involved in. And I would say that your movie ticket is your vote. But it's, it's incredible. to release a movie like this against huge movies on the 4th of July, but we just felt like it had to be on the 4th of July, even if it's competitive.

It matters. It matters. We're at a time. John, I just want to say thank you for what you do. I'm very, very excited. A film like this gives me hope for America. So folks, you know you've got to see this film. John Irwin, God bless you. Thank you so much.

Thank you so much. Comes out as well. If you want a $3,000 a month payday for life, What would you feel free to do? Maybe take a long weekend, every weekend, or try a bunch of new hobbies? Would you feel free to upgrade and listen ad-free? Don't worry, we get it.

Every $20 ticket could win you $3,000 a month for life and supports life-saving cancer research at the Princess Margaret. Feel free to buy your payday-for-life ticket today. Raffle number 155-294. Please play responsibly. Spotify, it's Jay Shetty. Are you one of those media strategy people? scrolling through spreadsheets, searching for an audience that pays twice as much attention to your ads than they do on social, let me introduce you to fans.

And they're here with me on Spotify. Trust me, I know fans. They don't skip, they stay for hours. They don't move on. They manifest. They're not a demographic group. They're fans. Spotify advertising.

You're among fans. Take care.