RFR Q&A #229: STAR WARS, Seattle, and Sickness
Added 2025-01-14 06:27:42 +0000 UTCThe Q&A returns! We're back for weekly eps in 2025! Kicking things off this year is a an old friend of the show, RFR V.I.P. Jeff Holland. It's been a while since we heard Jeff on the Q&A, and man, Jeff has been through a lot. Join us for a candid conversation about Jeff's recent bout with The Big C and his rollercoaster ride to recovery. Jeff also presents a most unusual list: "The Top 8 Worst Sicknesses, Diseases, and other Maladies in STAR WARS". And, we hear all about Jeff's trip to Seattle to visit the Museum of Pop Culture, featuring a few STAR WARS props and costumes, and a full report from seeing Metallica's final show of their tour from "The Snake Pit". Plus SKELETON CREW and more!
Comments
Thanks Brian!
Jeff Holland
2025-01-25 15:06:50 +0000 UTCExcellent episode. Thanks for sharing!
Brian Walters
2025-01-24 18:48:11 +0000 UTCMeh, you're never too late... I was SO behind on my Q&A's during my chemo and would try to listen to them/make a comment on the thread if I could. So, no worries. I've finally caught up over the holidays to all the RFR releases. :) Thank you so much for sharing your story about your friend! He sounds like an awesome dude. Sorry to hear he passed away. WOW - self published?!?!!? I wish I was THAT motivated. He sounds like he lived a good life, and HELL YEAH for coming back from cancer. My outlook on life has changed as a result too (although I have no delusions of publishing a book like your friend did! Still... like wow.) I just try and enjoy the little things in life and enjoy each day. Nothing like I MUST SEIZE THE DAY! But more enjoy the little things (like when I make my kids laugh, etc.) and just try (as best as I can) to let all the bullshit roll off my back and not worry about things that a) are out of my control and b) aren't really that important. Thanks again for all that you wrote. I will be on the lookout for your friend's book. I did see it on Amazon but as you said it's out of print. And btw, one of my friends is from the UP, so I understood your reference. ;)
Jeff Holland
2025-01-22 03:51:33 +0000 UTCThank you Dr. Jz! Strong and motivated in the Force I am. Thanks!
Jeff Holland
2025-01-22 03:45:45 +0000 UTCThanks again for sharing, Jeff! I'll be praying for you. So thankful you're on the road to recovery! Praise God for that!
Sean W. from Warsaw
2025-01-21 21:39:46 +0000 UTCComing to this a bit late, bit had to try to get to it sooner than later (this is doing pretty good for me). Thanks for sharing your story, man. I had a good friend in his late 50s, early 60s who had leukemia. Had to move several hundred miles away from his home to get treatment (he used to live in the wilderness of the UP of Michigan). He got the treatment, lost his hair, weight, the whole nine yards, and ended up in th hospital basically on his deathbed. While in this state, he said he had a dream or a vision of me (!) sitting by his side and just smiling at him in reassurance it would be alright. Later, his brother brought a rosary in and prayed for him. After all this, he was well enough to be sent back home for a slow recovery that eventually changed his whole outlook on life. One of these changes was he was motivated to write fictional short stories in blogs he used to email to his close friends, including myself. We all thought they were so good we recommended he publish them in a book of his own. I offered to be his editor and he took it seriously enough that he and I collaborated and made the book happen! He then went on to make his own publication brand, got his book self published, and made a full recovery. He eventually moved back to his hometown in the UP, got a second edition of his book published (this time with a short story of my own in it!), and he lived a peaceful life, and was always trying to promote his book, talk openly about his leukemia to encourage others, and started to get in touch with some professionals to get his book really out there to the broader public. Then one day he was found passed away, in his chair..... But his passing had nothing to do with leukemia or anything cancer related. Great friend and I miss him alot. I don't know if you can find his book out there anymore. It was a print on demand book. But you may get lucky! It was called "Trout Falls Chronicles: Easy Does It," by Gene Plankey. I think his videos he did for promoting himself and his book are still up on YouTube. Very inspirational man. Had such a great outlook on life that his motto was simply "Life Is Good." Had a real talent for writing, to boot, with a quiet, ironic kind of humor. Never let anything get him down.
Sean W. from Warsaw
2025-01-21 21:38:40 +0000 UTCHey Jeff, my brother in the force! Stay strong and motivated buddy. Will pray a rosary for you my friend.
Dr Jz
2025-01-21 21:20:02 +0000 UTCThank you Eric! Appreciate it very much. Ha ha! Everyone knows what the DS#2 looks like from its front - it's "good" side w/ its eye/laser, but no one knows what it's rear looks like.... and now we know why. Ha!
Jeff Holland
2025-01-20 14:20:00 +0000 UTCThank you Zillobeast! Sounds like you're raising your kids right - by watching The Wars with them. :) Blue Shadow Virus!!!! yah yah yah!!! hahaha.
Jeff Holland
2025-01-20 14:17:47 +0000 UTCYeah, we were neighbors for a while. I lived there about 10 years ago. Thanks again Kirk!
Jeff Holland
2025-01-20 14:16:17 +0000 UTCJeff, so great to have you back doing a Q and A. Andrea and I and our small group are praying for your continued recovery and for your family. Thank you for the great reminder for everyone to get their routine tests and doctor’s visits. I loved hearing about your adventures and the “butt of Death Star 2” was a classic moment.
Eric from Phoenix
2025-01-20 00:06:41 +0000 UTCJust caught up with this A great Star Wars pod But more importantly god bless you and your troubles you’ve been living with. I hope things pick up for you. Thank you for the advice re getting tested I’ve sent an email to myself. Re the top viruses we are on episode 2 of the blue shadow virus with Dr Nuvo vindi for the 20th time or so. We watch clone wars and rebels on conveyor belt. My son knows every word to every episode pretty much they all come up fresh to me though!!!! I have zero memory! But do love these 3 episodes. Once again I wish you all the best. Thanks for the q and a
zillobeast
2025-01-19 20:56:15 +0000 UTCWow! We were neighbors!? I’m in the Varina section of Henrico (east end). Thanks again for doing this important episode, and I’m so glad you’re doing well. I really wanna see Pantera (tribute), too! I saw them in 2023 headlining and I just saw Zakk Sabbath in Norfolk, VA. Cheers to you and MTFBWY
Kirk Leppert
2025-01-19 01:05:02 +0000 UTCKirk! Thank you for sharing your story. And HELL YEAH on your 9 yr anniversary! I used to live in Henrico County (near Staples Mill/Hungary Rd). Awesome, hope you do make it to the Metallica VT show. It's gonna be SO f'ing cool!
Jeff Holland
2025-01-18 20:40:44 +0000 UTCGreat to hear you back, Jeff! In 2016, at 32 years old, I got kidney cancer. Coming up on 9 years and happy and healthy! Health truly is the first wealth. I live in Richmond, and I’m going to try to make it to the VT Metallica show. I’m going to go “Solo”, so I’m waiting to see if I can get a cheap ticket once we get closer. I’m glad you’re healthy and thanks for the great episode!
Kirk Leppert
2025-01-18 18:38:05 +0000 UTCBStro - thank you for your kind words and for sharing your story. I can only imagine how hard it must have been to be a child with cancer. Hell yeah for kicking leukemia's ass! I have a friend who's daughter when through leukemia and she kicked it's ass and it a healthy young 20-something now. I love hearing how people listen to RFR - either on the drive to/from work, doing household chores, listening to during work hours, or whatever. I can relate to you regarding RFR help get you to/from work, several years ago I worked at a place that was 2 hours from my house. I only had to go into the office once/week, but it still sucked driving 4 hours round trip once/week. But I would listen to RFR on the way to and from work and it was the best part of my day. Thanks again for sharing! MTFBWY!
Jeff Holland
2025-01-17 13:28:42 +0000 UTCJust finished this episode and had to say thank you for sharing and May the Force Be With you as well as my Prayers for continued improvement and no cancer. I am a Leukemia Cancer survivor, diagnosed in 1987 as a 1 year old and remission at 4 years old. I have also been recently effected by friends of mine in their 40s receiving cancer diagnosis and it has encouraged me to continue getting my checkups but also to walk with them as we all need friends in this process. The RFR family is real and I think you all for getting me to and from work for the past 5 years!
BStro from Texas
2025-01-17 05:02:47 +0000 UTCThank you Dr. Dom! Thank you for sharing your experience, knowledge and break down of how studies, stats, etc. are done in the medical world. My oncologist said I did very well (with the chemo) compared to most other patients. I would get my chemo done on Fridays and recover (as much as I could) over the weekend, and I was back to work on the following Monday (with the exception of the last 2-3 chemo sessions - I had to take multiple days off for those last sessions). During my chemo sessions, so many people looked way worse than me. And sadly almost all the other patients in the chemo ward were much older than me. I only saw a few that were younger (which is also very sad). I beat cancer once before, I'm ready to beat it again. Other than not exercising like I used to prior to having kids (I used to lift weights, run in half marathons, 10Ks, etc.) and maybe not eating as healthy as I should, I don't do any drugs and I definitely don't drink as much as I used to (my wife and I will literally want to go to bed after we have like 1 beer or 1 glass of wine. ha!). Thank you again for everything you said. Much appreciated Dr. Dom! PS - sorry to steal your thunder. :) You can still talk about SW sicknesses, etc. There's no rule saying RFR VIPs can't talk about the same stuff. And if you do talk about SW diseases, etc. you MUST talk about the Blue Shadow Virus....yah yah yah!!
Jeff Holland
2025-01-17 00:18:48 +0000 UTCbah i hit return. So ya, they just add the new stats to the old. So they still include the guys that died after 1 years in the 80s in the total stats. And, more important, there is almost no studies about sub groups. But my collegues are certain that the patients who beat the odds are usually those who take care of themselves. But as i said, the is not sub-stat, like "survival in 10 years if you continue smoking" or " survival according to exercice rate"... Bur they all agree: a healthy lifestyle really increases your odds, and puts you on an entire different scale. So the usual: no poisons (smoking, weed, alcool, fast-food), good food, exercice, healthy weight loss, serotononergic activities (like no benefit organisations, sport, laugh, love)... Now, let me put my RFR VIP cap: HEY! Watch out with your top 10! I record with Jimmy in february and i plan to try and explain Star Wars injuries and sickness! You stealing my thunder Jeff!! :P
Dominique Garant
2025-01-16 19:49:08 +0000 UTCHey Jeff! Let me put on my "Dr Dom" cap for a moment. I wanted to come here and post a long thing about my experience with my patients and cancer and screening and all that. But i'll keep it to 1 subject. «Never Tell Me the Odds» I know exactly what you mean when you say: don't google survival rates online. I know these numbers. But, in my 25 years as a practician, i have seen, over and over, people beat the odds. I spoke of this to my oncologist collegues. They told me this: First of all, these compiled stats are, of course, prespective. So, for exemple, if you look for the "10 years survival rate for cancer X", the most recent patients included were diagnosed in 2015, since it's a rate "after 10 years". The treatment of cancer is a field that evolves fast. Anyone with the latest treatment are thus not included. Second, a lot of stats are produced by association that are pro-screening, so they want to make the cancer look more deadly. They
Dominique Garant
2025-01-16 19:41:59 +0000 UTCJust wanted to say THANK YOU for everyone who's shared their story... shared words of encouragement on this thread and in the Skeleton Crew live show chat (from last night). They all hit home with me, more than you know. And thanks again to JMac for allowing me to tell my story on the Q&A. One of my favorite quotes is from a colon cancer survivor that I found online. She said, "I recognize that my diagnosis could change at any time, but instead of being anxious about what could be, I’m determined to enjoy every day as it comes. Because of my support network and excellent medical team, I know I’m in good hands, no matter what happens next." For those of you fighting whatever sickness, disease, etc. that you may have, will have or a loved one might have right now. Don't give up. Don't ever give up. Keep fighting. I know I will. Not to sound morbid or anything, but in the past year and a half I've thought about my own mortality. Having a wife and 2 young kids will make you do that. I know some LucasFilm employees (Sorry, I just can't let that go) want us middle aged SW fans to die off, but I ain't ready to be a Force Ghost just yet. I choose to live, damnit. As Maarva said in Andor, "Fuck the Empire!" (and in this case, the Empire is cancer.) Note: I refuse to capitalize cancer when I write it out. It doesn't deserve to have a capital c.) Thank you, Jeff
Jeff Holland
2025-01-16 14:48:21 +0000 UTCIf someone didn't make the "odds" joke after my setup, I would have been disappointed. This is a Star Wars community after all.
Todd Stewart
2025-01-16 13:53:20 +0000 UTCThank you Cameron! And good to hear you're going to get a colonoscopy especially it sounds like colon cancer (or at a minimum colon-related issues) run in your family. Remember folks - 45 (is the new 50) for colonoscopies, and 40 if it runs in your family.
Jeff Holland
2025-01-16 13:45:04 +0000 UTCThank you Brian. Onward and upward is what I say. :)
Jeff Holland
2025-01-16 13:43:34 +0000 UTCThank you Todd! And thank you for sharing your story. Glad to hear the thyroid cancer is way in your past, and I hope you caught your Crohn's early enough where it can be treated. And YES - early detection leads to much better odds. (Sorry Han, I WILL tell you the odds...especially if they are good odds. I know, bad joke. :)
Jeff Holland
2025-01-16 13:42:58 +0000 UTCI'm so glad that you shared your story with us. My grandfather had most of his colon removed when I was little and never got a good answer as to why that was. I also was under the assumption that you just did it at 50, but now I know that I should do it in three years due to that possibility. 🙏
Cameron Gore
2025-01-16 05:33:39 +0000 UTCBest wishes Jeff! Glad to hear you’re doing better, and it was great to hear you on the new podcast!
Brian
2025-01-16 01:41:42 +0000 UTCThank you Mr. Stein for your generous and kind words. Much appreciated!
Jeff Holland
2025-01-16 00:36:59 +0000 UTCThank you Cid from Upstate NY! MYTFBY too!
Jeff Holland
2025-01-16 00:35:02 +0000 UTCJeff, so glad you brought up your health and colonoscopies. My story is a little different. I had thyroid cancer at 25. (So I’m now 27 years out.). And a few years ago was diagnosed with Crohn’s during my colonoscopy. Get those screenings, friends. Early detection leads to much better odds.
Todd Stewart
2025-01-16 00:34:58 +0000 UTCHi Jeff, I was very moved by your Q&A. It sounds like you are doing all the right things to fight colon cancer, and thanks for the reminders to us to get screened for cancer. You have my full support and I'm sure the same is true for everyone in the RFR community. I enjoyed your list of Star Wars maladies, something I never thought of! I appreciate your interesting perspectives and takes on Star Wars.
Ben P. Stein
2025-01-16 00:03:33 +0000 UTCMuch Love too you Jeff & RFR from Upstate NY! May The Force Be With You Man ....have a great New Year!!!
Cid The Scientist
2025-01-15 23:36:36 +0000 UTCThank you PS Johnny! And may the Force be with you, as well.
Jeff Holland
2025-01-15 23:16:06 +0000 UTCSending Love 🫂 May the force be with you Jeff.
Pepper Spray Johnny
2025-01-15 22:31:25 +0000 UTCThanks RobO! Appreciate it. And yes, Fuck you, cancer!
Jeff Holland
2025-01-15 21:57:44 +0000 UTCThanks for sharing Jeff and glad you are on the mend. Fuck cancer. 💪🏼 👊
RobO from ChicagO
2025-01-15 21:37:35 +0000 UTCThat's awesome Kyle! So glad to hear that you're taking the steps to make sure everything is running smoothly. Gotta take care of our colons, prostate, "twig and berries", etc. I've had 3 colonoscopies in the past 1.5 years, so they're aren't too bad. My 1st one, I actually lost around 10 lbs... which leads me to believe at any given time I have 10 lbs of poop in me?!?! What the... Hahaha! Hope to meet you at a RFR event too!
Jeff Holland
2025-01-15 19:56:51 +0000 UTCGreat Q&A Jeff! Good to have you back for another one! I'm so happy to hear that you are cancer free and doing well! I'm 46 and haven't had a regular checkup in a few years now. Thanks to you I have just scheduled one and hope to get a colonoscopy scheduled soon. I have never had one yet and have been putting it off. Hopefully I'll be able to meet you at a future RFR meetup!
Kyle Burress
2025-01-15 19:30:06 +0000 UTCYou're so wizard! (also, I see what you did there. Nice!)
Jeff Holland
2025-01-15 19:28:19 +0000 UTCYip-eeeeee!
Tanya S
2025-01-15 18:55:00 +0000 UTCHaha, ah I see... You wrote 'Jeff U' and I thought you meant, "Jeff, you..." I knew someone with that last name, and I think you spelled it correctly.
Jeff Holland
2025-01-15 15:32:06 +0000 UTCThank you Matt! it was a fun show and good to be back on the Q&A. It was very therapeutic for me. MTFBWY!
Jeff Holland
2025-01-15 15:18:16 +0000 UTCThank you Suds! I'm a hugger, so I gladly accept your virtual hug. Right back at ya! High Ground. ;)
Jeff Holland
2025-01-15 15:17:02 +0000 UTCJoe D! Thank you! A RFR VIP Q&A isn't a RFR VIP Q&A without mentioning Joe Dallas. (Kevin from The Office, "...and that is Dallas.") Also, high ground.
Jeff Holland
2025-01-15 15:15:53 +0000 UTCThank you Tanya! Appreciate it! As for the yips... hmmm, not 100% sure that would classify as one of the "Top 8 Worst Sicknesses, Diseases and other general Maladies in Star Wars". :) But, my list is a stretch anyways, so Crosshair's bad case of the yips made the list! ha! It's now the "Top 9 Worst Sicknesses, Diseases and other general Maladies in Star Wars".
Jeff Holland
2025-01-15 15:10:49 +0000 UTCJared - thank you so much for sharing your story. Your wife has been through SO much. After my surgery, my bowels, etc. aren't what they used to be (I have to watch what I eat, I'm pretty sure I'm lactose intolerant now, etc.), so I can only imagine what your wife goes through on a daily basis. I'm glad to hear she's on the other side of all that stuff. And yes, having kids - especially young kids (I have a 7 and 5 yr old) - makes it that more difficult. Towards the end of my chemo, my son said to my wife and I, "When is daddy gonna get better? I'm tired of him not going places with us." (and then he burst into tears). I'm sure you had moments like that too... man, that crushes your soul when your kids also experience what you're going through. But, we live and fight another day. As I mentioned on the Q&A, Metallica is my fav band. One of their songs, "Broken, Beat and Scarred", was my anthem during my chemo. One of the lines in the song is, "what doesn't kill ya, makes you more strong" which means a lot to me, and I repeated to myself during those days/weeks where I felt awful. It helped me. :) Thanks again Jared for sharing. Hope you and your fam continue to heal, and I'll try to do the same too.
Jeff Holland
2025-01-15 15:08:22 +0000 UTCGlad you’re doing better Jeff! Thanks for the great show! May the Force Be With You!!
Matt Motter
2025-01-15 13:38:17 +0000 UTCJeff, just started listening to this episode and I wanted to take a moment to tell you that I wanted to reach through my speakers and give you a big hug. I am so happy that you are cancer free right now and I know you’ve got a lot of fight in you. Love you my brother in the Force!! HIGH GROUND!!
Todd “Suds” Sedlacek
2025-01-15 13:07:37 +0000 UTCSorry. You can write a song too Jeff H. I meant Jeff Ulicny (sp) but I didn’t spell out his last name because I don’t know how to spell it.
Eric from Phoenix
2025-01-15 05:30:41 +0000 UTCVery very good show. I’m so glad you are doing well and this show will help people. Jimmy was right, I loved your list and I loved the shout out. High Ground!
Joe Dallas
2025-01-15 04:10:26 +0000 UTCJeff, you truly embody what it means to have the high ground! I wish you and your family all the best as you continue your healing journey. What are your thoughts on Crosshair's case of the yips? Can we add it to the list? Thank you for sharing your story! Cheers!
Tanya S
2025-01-15 03:18:20 +0000 UTCAll the best to you Jeff. A really important PSA. My wife had ulcerative colitis for years and nothing worked. Found out in Sept 2022 that she has stage 1 colon cancer. Whole colon showed dysplasia. She had total proctocolectomy with temporary ileostomy, which ended up being for near 2 years due to significant surgical complications. She's actually recouping right now from yet another surgery. Anyway, I know how hard this period has been on your family (I've got a 9 year old and an almost 3 yr old), so wishing you nothing but great health going forward
Jared Cantor
2025-01-15 01:47:59 +0000 UTCThank you Mr. Grando the Grand! Hope to be at the next RFR live event when/where-ever that may be this year.
Jeff Holland
2025-01-15 00:14:14 +0000 UTCThank you Alexander! Things are well right now, so no complaints from me (except for the Acolyte of course, haha! I kid, I kid...)
Jeff Holland
2025-01-15 00:13:11 +0000 UTCLoved hearing from you Jeff! Glad you are feeling good in the moment and I look forward to our next hang!
Tyler Page
2025-01-14 23:00:41 +0000 UTCThanks for sharing with us, hope all continues to go well for you
Alexander Gates
2025-01-14 22:30:23 +0000 UTCHa, thanks but that sounds like it should be Puppet Lando's next song. Paging Puppet Lando...
Jeff Holland
2025-01-14 20:58:48 +0000 UTCThank I have now in Apple
zillobeast
2025-01-14 20:27:49 +0000 UTCJeff U needs to make a song out of that (Dagobah Swamp @@@ Flu).
Eric from Phoenix
2025-01-14 20:18:43 +0000 UTCI can confirm this worked for me. Thanks Jim!
Eric from Phoenix
2025-01-14 20:17:45 +0000 UTCThanks Tyler! Well, like I said in the Q&A, some of sicknesses, diseases, etc. were a *bit* of a stretch. :) I can see on one side Yoda passing because of natural causes/old age. But I included Yoda's passing because he said, "Sick I have become." And my list was a more TIC list. Although, living all those years on Dagobah, one could imagine what sicknesses you would get ("Dagobah Swamp Ass Flu"). :)
Jeff Holland
2025-01-14 19:30:27 +0000 UTCI had no idea Yoda died of a sickness. I thought he was the only character in Star Wars to ever die of natural causes. Thanks for the PSA Jeff.
Tyler Roeloffs
2025-01-14 19:22:13 +0000 UTCThere was a problem with this show hitting the RSS, but that appears to have been fixed. You should be able to see the show on your preferred podcast app now.
Rebel Force Radio
2025-01-14 18:41:09 +0000 UTCNot too much Ruescott, good advice. Probably should sip not gulp too. I will warn the BARFF!
Scott St. Louis
2025-01-14 17:18:36 +0000 UTCPatreon is working perfect so listening through the Patreon app.
Eric from Phoenix
2025-01-14 17:00:32 +0000 UTCSame I don’t have it anywhere. I’ve mentioned previously Apple and rfr don’t get on. I have to screen shot every time I pause for that period so I can then go back to where I was alternatively I have to scroll thru. I don’t get this on any other podcast
zillobeast
2025-01-14 16:09:19 +0000 UTCThanks Luke! Much appreciated. And HELL YEAH to more Q&A's!!!
Jeff Holland
2025-01-14 15:34:42 +0000 UTCGreat show guys! Jeff thanks for the message. Grateful you are here with us and sharing. Here’s to more Q&A’s from you
Luke
2025-01-14 15:23:07 +0000 UTCThanks Scott! Appreciate it. :') Don't put too much Ruescott in the Melshi! Haha! Oh, you know I'll be in the chat tomorrow night. Wouldn't miss it!
Jeff Holland
2025-01-14 15:22:16 +0000 UTCTreeto dobra! Thanks for keeping it alive Jeff. Welcome back to the show. You have been sorely missed. Great show and thank you for sharing your cancer journey. A reminder that RFR is all about Star Wars AND the people who love it too. Challenge accepted: going to make a Purple-Milk concoction with extra Ruescott and will call it the Melshi. Hope to catch you in the chat tomorrow night. Be well!
Scott St. Louis
2025-01-14 15:11:57 +0000 UTCNot sure why it isnt showing up. I’ll look into it.
Rebel Force Radio
2025-01-14 14:58:35 +0000 UTCLooks like I’m having the same issue using Apple Podcasts. I checked both played and unplayed and not there. Weird.
Eric from Phoenix
2025-01-14 12:57:29 +0000 UTCThanks for the kind words, Mr. Never Nicer Beisser.
Jeff Holland
2025-01-14 12:40:11 +0000 UTCA must listen. Even if you haven't talked with Jeff in the chat or listened to his previous episodes, you'll walk away with a life affirming message and see how the Wars fits in with it all. He's a great guy and this is a great Q&A.
Peter Beisser
2025-01-14 12:20:41 +0000 UTCThis isn't showing up on the podcast feed :(
Simon Yacoby
2025-01-14 09:33:40 +0000 UTC
