The Eric Metaxas Show - Dru Hammer

Episode Date: August 1, 2024

Dru Hammer shares her memoir "Hammered" in which she relates never-before-told details about what it was like marrying into the Dr. Armand Hammer dynasty. She writes exclusively about the emotional pain she endured through a difficult divorce and how she came through it as a more faith-filled person. More at https://druville.com/products/hammeredbook

Welcome to the Eric Metaxus show. Would you consider yourself smart, insightful, precocious, astute, clever, wise beyond your years, and good at checking a caesaurus for synonyms? Well, then you've come to the right place. Here now is the handsome, attractive, striking, gorgeous, and quite frankly, breathtaking, Eric Mattaxas! Hey there, folks, welcome back. As you know, right now, we're doing our annual campaign with food.

for the poor. They are heroes. They are feeding hungry children. They're getting clean drinking water to people who do not have that. Try to imagine that. It's hard for us sometimes to imagine that. So I thought maybe if I bring on somebody from food for the poor, she could help us. Anitara Parmali is my guest. Anita, welcome. Thank you so much for having me. And you're exactly right. It's hard when for us, somebody challenged me and said, can you count the ways that you could get drinkable water just within a couple steps. I mean, I'm in South Florida. So with hurricanes, I know I could literally drink from my toilet tank if necessary.

So the tub, the ice maker of my refrigerator, the faucets, the garden spicket outside, all of them provide me access to water. But when you travel to Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, you recognize that that is not the reality for so many of these families. Water is muddy and bacteria infested, and it's also often a mile walk away. I mean, these young girls, and usually women, are traveling hours every day just to carry water

that they know is going to make them sick, but they have no alternative until you. Your gift is going to change that. I mean, again, I have to say, folks, I hope this pulls at your heartstrings because this is, it's real. Imagine having a young daughter who has to walk very, very far. We're not talking, you know, 100 feet. We're talking a mile, two miles, like to walk far to bring back water.

Water is heavy. I happen to know it's eight pounds a gallon. So just five gallons is 40 pounds. How do you carry that? This is what we're talking about. It's unbelievable poverty in our own hemisphere. And the only good news is you can do something about it, which is why we partner with food for the poor. I say to everybody, go to metaxis talk.com.

You'll see the banner. You can give monthly. If you give monthly, maybe that's easier for you. But I always, everybody knows we got to do something doing a little bit. Food for the poor is such a reputable organization. That's why we partner with them. So the easiest way is just to go to metaxistococon.com. But Anitra, talk about the food situation.

Again, it's hard for us who we all have too much food. We're dieting in America. We can't imagine. What would it be like? I can't feed my kids. I mean, it's very hard for us to imagine it. And I love what Mariah said. She says, I give out of gratitude, not out of guilt.

This is not an either or. We're excited for the blessings that you have. we're just inviting you to share some of them. I mean, the reality is devastating. I mean, you've traveled, you have stood in front of these families, and we're hearing stories of mothers boiling rocks. And when you see the pan innocently, we asked, oh, so what are you cooking? And shamefacedly, she said, I don't have anything.

I'm praying that my children fall to sleep before they realize there's no food. I mean, that's the reality. These are our mothers that are giving their children twigs, not because they're abusive, but to silence the hunger pangs. And that could be devastating if we left it there. But today you can make it an ordinary day, extraordinary, a one-time gift of $50 because of a match, meal for meal, by a generous donor to food for the poor,

the impact of your gift is going twice as far. $50, right? now provides a child food for a year. I mean, imagine telling a mother whose children haven't eaten for one, two, three days, you're going to have food security for the next 365 days. And it helps a community gain access to water. I mean, that the impact is transformational. Well, this is a great opportunity, as I say, for my listeners, because I think a lot of times people feel hopeless, what can I do? What can I do?

Folks, the reason we have done the work of finding food for the poor, we work with them every year because they know how to do this and they do this. And when you hear these stories, when you realize that you could do very little and it goes a long way. So because of the matching gift, $50 is $100 suddenly, right? And $100 can feed a family for like a year. This is now this is because food for the poor gets. donations, they do all kinds of stuff. But to get the food to the kids and to the families,

to just deal with that stuff, it takes money. But it doesn't take a lot of money, which is why I'm shameless in saying you got to do something. Because the little bit you do will go a long way. Again, the easiest way is just go to metaxis talk.com. You'll see the banner there, give life. If you listen to my show on your app, on your phone, it'll come up there, the give life banner, But also, the easiest thing probably is you can text Eric, my name, E.RIC, to 51555. That's probably the easiest. Text Eric to 51555. You'll see something will pop up when you text Eric to 51555.

If you prefer to call, there's a phone number that is 844-863-4673. I think that's 844-8663. Hope. I'm not sure. Usually it says it that way. 844. Is that right, Anitara? I can't think. Exactly. Okay. 844-863 Hope. Folks, please do this. And Anitra, you said that, you know, we don't want people giving out of guilt. You speak for yourself. I'm thrilled in people. Because you know what? People act like, oh, guilt is so terrible. No. When you realize how blessed you are and how little you might need to do to help some people, listen, folks, that's an appropriate response to say like that, that doesn't. feel I need to do something. I need to do something. Now, I want to be clear, this is a beautiful thing we're asking you to do. This is a beautiful, beautiful thing. And it comes out of my Christian conviction that God has blessed me to be a blessing. And so I am blessed. And so a little bit that I do

goes a very, very long way. So if you text Eric E.RIC to 5-1-55, a link will pop up. And you can see it there or you can go to metaxis talk.com. You'll see the banner there. I text Eric to 5-1-555.5. But we want you to do this. And I have also said many times, and I'll say it again, if there's anybody out there who can give $15,000, right, this is tax deductible. One thing I can give you is my very, very valuable time. My time has become preposterously valuable. But if anybody gives a gift to $15,000, I will make a way to have dinner with you. and your family or whatever group or whatever I get around the country. You could do it in New York.

We'll figure it out. But I want to put that out there because there may be somebody who says, I can do that. I want to do that. Maybe you would bless my friends to have an evening with Eric Metaxus. That's something I would happily do. Most of you cannot give $15,000. But you can give something. And that's what we're asking for.

If everybody would give the smallest bit, if you want to give monthly, it's a big deal. It is a very big deal. It goes a long way. And Anitra, you have met these families. That's what amazes me. Because for us, a lot of it is just, you know, it's this vague thing. But you have actually talked to these people. And as an empathetic person, people, my friends ask me, how are you able to travel and maintain any semblance of calm or of hope? And it's because I know standing there in front of a mother who's describing how her child, children haven't eaten for two days and she has no way to feed them today or tomorrow. I think of you. I feel like as food for the poor,

we're a bridge between your generosity and these families in need, there is no food for the poor without you. We're just a vehicle to get these generous gifts to those who need it most. And because I knew I would come back and quite simply, no hyperbole involved, tell you the story and invite you to. to step into that need. This isn't really for me. This is for me to pass on,

to transform the lives of a child, a family, a community. As you referenced, a one-time gift of $1,000 is 20 children. I mean, that's a virtual classroom for your children or grandchildren. That's the impact of your gift right now because there's a match available.

Go to metaxis talk.com or text Eric to 51555. text Eric to 51555.5. Please do it. Anita, thank you. Americans are tired and frustrated by a stalling economy, inflation, endless wars, and the relentless assault on our values. Thankfully, there are companies like Patriot Mobile that still believe in America and our Constitution. And I'm proud to partner with Patriot Mobile because they're on the front lines fighting for the First and Second Amendments, sanctity of life, and our military and first responder heroes. Take a stand for conservative causes and put America first by switching to Patriot Mobile today. You'll get the same nationwide coverage as the big providers because Patriot Mobile operates across all three major networks. Plus, they back their service with a coverage guarantee. Their 100% U.S.-based customer service team will find the best plan for your needs.

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Hey there. Hi, there. Ho there. I'm sorry. I meant to say, oh, hello. As I think I told you, my guest right now, that may be, that may be she laughing in the background, is Drew Hammer, who's written a book. titled Hammered. As far as I can tell, we've just kind of know each other, but she was married, I think, to MC Hammer. Drew Hammer, welcome to the program.

That means it's Hammer Time, right? If I was married to MC. Right, right? Or am I getting that wrong? Please educate us. My audience doesn't know you. I know you so I can joke around. But where do I start with you?

You're kind of complicated. Sometimes when I become friends with people, I never know how to describe it. I just think it's this really wonderful person, but we probably need to be more specific for the purposes of the interview, since you have written a book with the title, Hammered. Yes. Well, of course, it's a play on words because my name is Hammer, my last name.

And I am a small town girl from Tulsa, Oklahoma, raised in a Pentecostal family, and I never had a reason to rebel because my parents lived it, They were incredible people. And my dad actually ended up having a healing ministry. We traveled all over the world. And he prayed and asked the Lord to bless his business, so we never had to take an offering. So he sold a couple banks right after that.

And I spent years and years traveling the world. And my father would hold little healing services. Then I was on an airplane. I had graduated from Oklahoma State University. and my husband walked on the plane, Michael Hammer, who was the only grandson of Dr. Armant Hammer. Now, Dr. Armand Hammer, you have to tell the audience, because not everybody's tracking with this kind of stuff. Armand Hammer was a fabulously wealthy, famous person. Yes, and I didn't know that because there was not Google or the Internet back then.

I just met Michael Hammer on the airplane, and we were engaged in three weeks and married in four months, and I'm whisked away to L.A. And I had no idea. Well, of course, I soon found out who he was. He started Occidental Petroleum, and everyone thinks it's baking soda. So the funny part is, is his company ended up buying part of the Armand Hammer baking soda company. It was a subsidiary of what they used to, you know, in their chemical business. Could this be more confusing? I know I want my audience to be tracking.

I want them to be entertained, but also to be tracking. Okay. When we talk about you married into the family, into the Armand Hammer family, which is a huge, wealthy family. An Armand Hammer, you said, owned Occidental Petroleum. Well, he actually started. He bought it for $150,000 out of retirement. He was doing it as a tax write-off, which is really funny.

And Oxy had three employees, and he bought it for $150,000 and had never even seen an oil rig before in his life. So after he bought it, he had his chauffeur drive him out to Bakersfield and show him what an oil rig look like to actually see it being drilled. How funny is that? I could have just described it over the phone and saved him the trouble of the trip, but that's all right. So what year was this that he bought Occidental Petroleum? Oh, gosh. I believe it was in the 50s or 60s. I'm going to have to do my homework.

Back when $150,000 was a little bit of money. But he was very, very wealthy. And he, what you just said, because I just, I don't know where I saw this the other day. But so his name was Armand, A-R-M-A-N-D, Armand. Armand, and the last name is Hammer. So Armand Hammer, Armand Hammer. And then to complicate things, he bought the baking soda company called Arm and Hammer. Right?

I'm not making this up. Like almost this is true. You can not write this stuff. Right. Exactly. And here's the funny part is Armand was actually a doctor. That's why his name was Dr. Armand Hammer. He went to Columbia and he got his medical degree.

But his father's pharmaceutical company was going broke. So he took it over, never went to class, hired a friend to take exclusive notes for him, graduated magna cum laude, and ended up doing his medical residency in Russia because he thought there was a typhoid epidemic. He gets over there and realizes that people are starving to death. What are we talking about now? They're talking about 1922, I believe. Wow. So he goes over there. Lennon obviously was the head of Russia, premier of Russia, and he goes to Lennon and says,

I just sold a pharmaceutical company and I have $2 million in the bank in 1922 and says, your people are starving to death and we have a bumper crop in America and we are burning bushels of wheat and selling them for a dollar a bushel. So I will go and buy a million bushels of wheat, have it shipped over to Russia in exchange for the Russian Tsars, jewels, artwork, sables, and Faberges. And he was 23 years old at the time. And we haven't even begun to talk about your story. This is just absolutely crazy. So this is, well, look, it's the fun of talking to you, Drew, but this is the family you married into.

So you married the grandson. son of this fabulous figure, this fabled figure, Armand Hammer. And I want to talk about him more. But so let's tell your story. So you're raised, as you were saying, Pentecostal, your father had a healing ministry. What was your maiden name? M-O-B-L-E-Y. M-O-B-L-E-Y.

M-B-L-E-Y. Okay. So you meet this guy in a plane. He marries you, and then you find out, oh, it's the grandson. This is a kind of a wealthy guy. So as you said, it kind of led you into a world that, well, it was, it's at least interesting. But it didn't end so wonderfully because obviously you were divorced. Yes.

And when I'm married into the family, I didn't even know enough to be intimidated by the hammers. And Armand only had one child, Julian. And Julian had my husband, Michael. and then his sister Casey. So it was this, you know, five people in the entire family. And I went from two-stepping at Oklahoma State University, but I will say Garth Brooks was the local band. He played on our baseball team.

But I went from that to literally being thrown in this crazy world in Beverly Hills. The next thing I know, I'm flying on Armands Private 727 to, you know, all over the world and sitting next to Gorbache. I mean, I have the most crazy stories in the world. Well, it sounds like you've written a book about some of them. Is that the case? Some of these crazy stories in the book? Yes, I just, yes.

And how many books have you written? Well, it depends how you count, but I've written 16 or 17 books. But that's just for adults. I've written 30 children's books also. And I sing. In any event, we are, we're talking about your book. called hammered. And this is not about, you know, one weekend you went out and you got really hammered. Your last name is Hammer. And so you're talking about other stuff. So you, so let me just ask you

the kind of the basic question, because you've had this amazing life and we've talked a little bit about it. But what made you decide to write a book about your life? At what point did you say I need to tell the story? Well, and that's kind of why I asked you. It's kind of a joke because Here I am. It took me 10 years to write this book. And it started right after my divorce. I was married for 25 years. And I tell everyone, I had a fabulous marriage. We never fought. We were best friends. Yada, yada, yada. And I just found out he was having a much better time than I was. And, you know, I was always a little arrogant about divorce. And I'm like, work it out. I'm not really quite sure what you mean by that. You mean he was having a much better time? with other women. It sounds like it.

Infidelity, yes. Is that wrong? Is that wrong? Turns out it is. Yeah. So that's what, so that's the story. Now, everything is fine until you find out. It's not that fine. Right. And here's what the book is about, basically, is everyone's heart has been hammered. And that's why I did the play on words for the title. Because I think if you're, You're older than three or four years old. I guarantee your heart has been hammered one time or another.

And I think I really have a platform with women going through divorce because you have to forgive. And I meet women who have been divorced 10 years. And they're still so bitter and eaten up that not only did their husbands hurt their present, but they continue to hurt their futures. And you have to let this stuff go. So I have a million different stories that I hope each chapter deals with different things that I went through in my life. Like I had a real estate business where I flipped over 40 properties.

And God gave me this career. So when I got divorced, I was able to move on and continue in my career. And now I've started a brand. It's called Drewville because when I renovated all those properties, My son's always joke and say they grew up in Whoville because I decorate with hot pinks and lime greens and lemon yellows. Yeah, this is your brand. I want to talk to you about that when we come back. Folks, I'm talking to Drew Hammer.

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Again, Neutrametics, N-U-T-R-A-M-E-D-I-X. Nutrametics.com, use the code Eric for 15% off. Folks, welcome back. I'm talking to Drew Hammer, and the title of the book is Hammered. So, Drew, you're telling us a story of how you got hammered through this divorce, and you said it took you 10 years to write this book because, first of all, there's all kinds of crazy, amazing stories in it. I want to touch on some of that.

But at the heart of it is forgiveness. And I think people misunderstand forgiveness. I remember, I don't know who it was. Donald Trump was at some national prayer breakfast probably, I don't know, six years ago. And somebody was talking about forgiveness. And I think people don't often explain it sufficiently. And Donald Trump was like, I don't get that. Like, what are you talking about?

And I mean, he's because he's honest. Because people make it sound like forgiving means saying like, in effect, oh, that's not so bad. I'm going to move on. It's like, no, something could be really wicked. You're not saying it wasn't wicked. But what you're doing is by the grace of God, you're saying, I will forgive it. But it doesn't mean it's like when Jesus forgives us for our sins, he doesn't say, well, it's no big deal. It is a big deal.

Your sins are a big deal. Wrong is a big deal. So to forgive it is a different kind of thing. And I just want to make that clear. Well, I think it reminds me of the story of the woman who was going to be stoned when she was caught in the act of adultery. And the one thing Jesus said is obviously, he who is without sin cast the first stone. And then he turns to the woman and says, woman, your sins are forgiven, but turn and sin no more. So, you know, that's where repentiveness comes in, which is 180 degree turns. But sometimes God doesn't fail us.

People fail us. And unfortunately, in my marriage, he didn't. He was repentive the first time, seven years into it. And then for 19 years, I thought everything was perfect. And I found out that the infidelities had continued. But here's the beauty is that's why I wrote this book. Because I didn't start out writing a book. I got a D in my first English paper in college.

I'm the most least likely person in the world. But I started journaling. And I realized when I journaled, A, I hadn't truly forgiven because Joyce Meyer said to me one time, I sit on her board. And she said, have you totally forgiven, Michael? And I go, oh, for heaven's sakes, yes. Absolutely, of course I have. She said, well, you know that means you never say a bad word about them again.

And I was like, oh, oh, well, never mind. maybe I need to work on this. But as I was journaling, I realized I hadn't totally forgiven when I said I had. But as I was journaling, God allowed me. He started melting my heart. And that's really where forgiveness comes in. When we are not able to do it ourselves, that's when Jesus does his greatest work, is he helps us forgive.

And you wrote about Corey Tim Boom in your book on seven women and how she was able to take, the guard, the Nazi guard that had killed her sister and was able to take her hand in a meeting. And she said, God, I can't forgive her. He said, Corey, I'll forgive her. You put your hand out and lead her to me, and I will help you do that. And that's when we need Jesus, is when we cannot do it on our own. And not only that, but we became fabulous friends in the end. And I would crawl in his hotel.

I mean, I didn't crawl in his hotel room. I crawled in his hospital bed and I would, you know, wrap my arms around him and tell him how much I loved him. And I exonerated him for being such an incredible father to my children. And I would pray for him. That is forgiveness. Wow. Is he still with us? I don't understand when you said the hospital bed.

No. Unfortunately, he died just over a year ago from glioblastoma brain cancer. So it was a real tragedy. I didn't know that. So our family's been. through a lot in the last three or four years. Well, you also talk about your son and cancel culture and how that brought you closer to your son. Talk about that to the extent that you want to. Sure. Thank you for asking. Well, you know, my son, Army, obviously, it was kind of the perfect storm.

And I always laugh because in interviews, I'm always asked, well, you know, how did you feel when your son was called a cannibal? And I look at him and I say, it's so crazy. as a mother, even being able to have to answer that question because I'm like, do you know what it means to be a cannibal? No, wait. You have to tell the story because not everybody knows the story, myself included. Well, you know, it was a crazy time. It was the perfect storm.

People were locked up in their, you know, working from home. They were, you know, unhappy, lonely. And it was this feeding frenzy. and all the sudden my son is getting accused of rape and being a cannibal and all these crazy things. And I'm like, wait a minute, don't you have to eat people to be a cannibal? Are there women out there that have limbs missing? So it's just so ridiculous and funny. Well, it's not.

Well, what are we talking about? In other words, your son is a successful actor. Yes. So what are some of the films that he has been in, so just so people are tracking? Well, he was the Lone Ranger with Johnny Depp. Johnny Depp played Tonto. One of my favorite movies is Man from Uncle. They made the movie from the old TV series, and I just thought it was brilliant.

And he was in one of Clint Eastwood's movie, where he played Clyde Tolson's right-hand person. And his first breakout movie was Social Network. He played the two Winklevoss twins in that movie. but the one I'm most proud of is when he came to me and said, Mom, I want to be an actor. Well, you know, ever being the ever encouraging mother that I am, I'm like, that's a terrible occupation. I don't like their politics.

I don't like their morals. You know, it's so hard to make it in that industry. And then he ended up making it. But his first movie that he booked, he played Billy Graham. And it's called Billy the early year. and there's one scene. We all went to Nashville, and he literally gives a sermon

that Billy Graham had given and puts his arms out. He says, give your life to Christ. And I'm bawling going, oh my gosh, God, this really is what you have for him. We have to go to a break. We'll be right back. I'm talking to Drew Hammer.

The book is Hammered. Welcome back. I'm talking to the author of Hammered. Coincidentally, her name is Drew Hammer. So, Drew, you're telling us about your son, Army's career, very successful career, but at some point in the last few years, cancel culture came for him. So we don't need to get the details, but you're saying it brought you closer to your son.

Well, here's the beauty is I've been praying. All I care about is that my sons love and serve the Lord. And I think when you get caught up in the trappings of Hollywood and then you mix alcohol and drugs with it. You know, he went to rehab, but he actually got sober five months before he even went to rehab. And, you know, really, he will say

it's the best thing that has ever happened in his entire life. He said, I had to die to self. My career had to die. My money, you know, vanished. He went through a very difficult divorce. And now he said, I'm the happiest I've ever been in my entire life. And my other son, Victor, you know,

is with Morgan Stan. family and God is MBA, and to see your sons in such a happy place and loving the Lord. That's all I could ever asked for as a parent. I'm with you, sister. It's wonderful to hear you say that. So now, in the course of your extraordinary life, you mentioned meeting one big name after the other. You mentioned Gorbachev sitting next to Gorbachev on a plane. I assume that was a private plane. Yes, it was on Armin's plane. Because he's no longer riding Delta.

Yeah. But so what are some of these stories? I mean, when you find yourself suddenly married to somebody who's outrageously wealthy and you said you're pulled into this world, what were you thinking? I mean, were you were okay with that world, as you said? It was not like it's a world full of sin. you were raised in this obviously strongly Christian home? Well, I obviously had to get used to it because I was extremely intimidated.

And I'll tell you one story that really changed my life forever is I was seated at a black tie event because we were thrown into this crazy world. And being the only grandson, we are expected to show up at everything. And I was seated next to this elderly man in a wheelchair. And I just, you know, he introduced himself, I'm James. and I said, oh, I'm Drew Hammer. And he goes, oh, my gosh, Armand is one of my dearest friends. And he told me all about you.

And you're from Tulsa, Oklahoma. How did you meet Michael being from Tulsa? And I said, Jesus. And he said, what do you mean? I said, well, I'm from a Christian family. My parents prayed their whole lives for the right godly mates for their three daughters. And I said, the Lord spoke to me when he walked on the plane. And he found Jesus.

He got saved a week into meeting him. with the Holy Spirit. And I said it was just a God thing. And when I looked at him, tears started running down his eyes. And I said, oh, my gosh, did I offend you? And he said, not at all. And may I tell you a story? I said, yes, sir.

He said, my name is James Roosevelt. And I'm the oldest son of President Roosevelt. And I campaigned with my father. And back then, you campaigned on trains. And every stop, my dad would say, no, James, we need to kneel down and pray. and ask God for favor. And he said the night my father was elected, we went into the Oval Office, and he said, now James, we need to get on our knees and thank God. And tears are running down his eyes.

And he said, Drew, I have forgotten all about that. And I have not served the Lord's sins. And from this day forward, and I prayed with them right there. And he rededicated his life to Jesus. And right then, the Holy Spirit spoke to me. And he said, Drew, he didn't, I was so intimidated. I was like, I don't know how to dress. You know, these women, they're all blue bloods or they're from Harvard and Princeton. And, you know, I don't have any pedigrees. And the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, Drew, he didn't care what you were wearing. He didn't care what college you went to. He didn't care what kind of degree you have or what kind of background. You told him about me. And that's what I've sent you there to do. So because of that, I had the

privilege of leading Dr. Armandhammer and 91-year-old Russian Jew to Jesus five months before he passed away. God is faithful. Wow. I mean, that's, that is so beautiful. And I mean, when you talk about James Roosevelt, I didn't know that Franklin Roosevelt had any faith. That's, that's interesting. I mean, I wouldn't not. I certainly wouldn't think of him as a man of faith. Maybe he was more of a man of faith in 1932 when he first won the presidency that he would talk like that, because it sounds like that was his first term. Right. Yes, it was. It was his first term. Unbelievable. Well, I know. And I even had the privilege of sharing Jesus with Princess Die.

The Lord put me together with her three different times. Haven't we all, though? Seriously, just kidding. Are you kidding? You're not kidding. Well, how did you meet Princess? How did you mean, Princess? You just have to read it. Oh, there's a book. I don't have a copy here. Why don't you send me a copy?

I will send you a copy. No, seriously. I show that again. That's a beautiful book. That's beautiful. Show the cover. Right here. Is that you on the cover?

Just kidding. No, I said my sister. Obviously, that's you on the cover. No, that's a great book. And I love the branding. I love your pink and green branding. So let me ask you, just because you mentioned it, you spoke, in what context did you meet Princess Diana?

Well, Armand was actually good friends with Lord Mountbatten. And when he had passed away, Armand and Prince Charles started the United World Colleges together. So on many occasions, we flew out for those, went to the breakers in Palm Beach for a big fundraiser. And because we were about the same age and had children at the same time, they would, you know, us next to each other because at those events, they're usually much older than us. And we would just talk pleasantries.

And I understand that because I'm sure a lot of people, you know, would sell articles to the press or whatever. And here I am writing about her in the book, but I believe she's in heaven now. And the last time I saw her was in Washington, D.C. for a big fundraiser there. And Armin's wife had just recently died. And she came up to me and she said, Drew. And I thought, that is so weird that Princess Die knows me by my first name after, you know. But anyway, that was kind of a like wow moment. But she said, I am so sorry to hear about Francis passing away.

I loved her. She was such a dear woman. And by the way, did you get the jewels? And I start laughing because I'm like, get the jewels. I said, Princess Die, you have a treasury of royal jewels. Are you kidding me? She goes, oh, no, nobody had jewels like Francis. So I said, hold on.

In show business, this is called the cliffhanger. When we come back, you're going to get to hear what Drew Hammer said to Princess Die. Don't go away. Welcome back. I'm talking to Drew Hammer, who is talking about talking to Princess Diana. So you're having a conversation with Princess Diana, and she's joking around, did you get the jewels because your grandfather in law, or was it father-in-law? grandfather-in-law had just

your grandmother-in-law had just passed away. So she asked you, did you get the jewels? And obviously, since you mentioned earlier, you know, the Tsar of Russia had some nice jewels, which seemed to have fallen into your family. Well, so I'm like, what?

Are you kidding me? You have the royal jewels. You probably have a vault of that stuff. And she said, oh, no, no one has jewels like France. And I said to her, I said, you know what's amazing? I said, she didn't take any of it with her. I said, do you know what she took with her? Is Francis and I had many talks and she knew and loved Jesus.

And we would pray together. So when she passed away, all she took with her was her relationship with Christ. And she will have an eternity in heaven because of that. And I just said to her quickly, you know, Diana, it's the easiest thing in the world. Just ask Jesus to come into your heart as your Lord and Savior. He wants a personal relationship with her. And then years later, it came out that there were infidelities in her marriage. And that's when I found out about infidelities in my marriage.

And she had had an eating disorder. And I think I was an exercise anorexic because I would run marathons and I was crazy about, you know, maintaining weight and the whole thing. And God kept prompting me to write her a letter. And I'm like, God, I'm not writing Princess Dial letter. I mean, she's not going to get it. But Florence, Armand's executive secretary, had her private address. And I thought, God, I can't call her and ask her for an address. But I didn't sleep for five days.

Finally, one night I woke up in the middle of the night, and I'm telling you, Eric, it just flowed. I can't even tell you what's in the letter. But I know that I laid out very clearly. I said I would never presume to say, I understand what you're going. through, but I do understand a smidgen on a much smaller basis, and it's not worldwide. And I said, I get it. And Jesus has been my safety net. And I laid out the plan of salvation for her. And I went to the post office and you have to buy, you know, overseas stamps. And I'm sure the man behind the postal, you know, counter says, oh, I'd probably look like a kid, you know,

trying to mail a letter to Santa Claus. He's probably going whatever. But I know she got it. that night I slept like a baby and the Lord would not let me sleep before that. So I did everything I could do and I believe and I'm not presuming that I'm the only one that shared Christ with her, but I know God did call me to do that because I was at least a face that was recognizable to her. Isn't that amazing? I mean, that is amazing. I know you got to share your faith with many others. We just have a minute left. Maybe you can mention a couple of them and tease the book for people, because I know it's going to be a great read. Well, I just pray that through this, that God gives me a platform to help women who have had their heartbroken and abused children. We've been through all these

things in our family, and also a platform for women to, you know, have some kind of a side career or something because none of us know God will never fail us, but people will fail us. So there's many chapters covering different things and the amazing life that God's given me. And when you write a book like that, you have to give the good, the bad, and the ugly. And that's why it took me 10 years is I kept putting it down. But you can find it on Drewville.com, and it's called Drewville, because I've renovated so many properties. You mentioned it.

I want to give my, we're going to go to, we're at the end of the hour here. Folks, that's DRUVille, V-I-L-L-E, Drewville.com, Drewville.com. I've been talking to Drew Hammer. The book is hammered. Drew Hammer, thank you so much. Thank you for having me. You can also get it on Amazon and Bards and Nobles too. So thank you for having me, Eric, and it's good to see you.

God bless you. Thank you, you too.