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Podcast Summary: Literally! With Rob Lowe - Episode: Sheryl Lowe Returns!
Episode Overview In this episode of "Literally!" with Rob Lowe, the host welcomes back his wife, Sheryl Lowe, for a candid and heartwarming conversation centered around love, marriage, and personal reflections. They delve into their relationship dynamics, parenting, and their experiences growing up in Los Angeles, all while maintaining a light-hearted and humorous tone.
Key Themes and Discussions
Relationship Dynamics
- Communication in Marriage:
- Sheryl emphasizes the importance of clear communication and not taking each other for granted.
- They discuss how assumptions can lead to misunderstandings and stress the value of sharing feelings openly.
- Punctuality and Time Management:
- A playful debate on their differing views on punctuality arises, highlighting how these small issues are common in relationships.
Growing Up in Los Angeles
- Cultural Context:
- Sheryl shares anecdotes from her childhood in the San Fernando Valley during the 1970s, a time characterized by a vibrant cultural scene.
- The couple reflects on how their backgrounds shaped their teenage experiences and the social norms of their youth.
- Generational Differences:
- They discuss the differing timelines for marriage and family between their generation and today's youth, noting the societal shifts in views on relationships.
Parenting and Family
- Reflections on Their Children:
- As their sons navigate adulthood, Sheryl shares her hopes for them, emphasizing that there are no strict rules for their life choices.
- The couple FaceTimes with their sons during the episode, adding a personal touch and showcasing their close family bond.
Love and Personal Growth
- Defining Love:
- The conversation frequently circles back to love, with Sheryl expressing how she feels seen and appreciated by Rob.
- They explore the concept of being supportive partners, highlighting the importance of recognizing and nurturing each other's needs.
- Self-Improvement:
- Sheryl discusses her journey towards self-awareness and personal growth, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and balance in life.
Key Takeaways
- Communication is Key: Open dialogue about feelings and expectations is crucial in maintaining a healthy relationship.
- Value of Memories: Reflecting on past experiences can provide insight into current dynamics and future aspirations.
- Parenting Philosophy: Allowing children to find their paths without pressure can lead to healthier and more fulfilling lives.
- Embrace Love: Acknowledging and expressing love can strengthen bonds and foster deeper connections.
Conclusion This episode of "Literally!" offers a blend of humor, warmth, and insightful reflections on love and relationships. Rob and Sheryl Lowe's candid and playful interaction not only entertains but also provides listeners with relatable lessons about marriage, family, and personal growth. Their chemistry and genuine affection for one another shine through, making for an engaging and heartfelt conversation.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00There's so many layers to you, and that's why for 37 years, I'm still in love and interested in you.
0:19hey everybody welcome to literally um fan favorite back a popular demand and always a bit of a handful and as it turns out hard to wrangle into the studio as it turns out cheryl low
0:41If you're married or if you have a girlfriend or a boyfriend, do you ever fight about time? What time are we supposed to be here today? You said 11, but your schedule is not as busy as mine. Tell me on an average day, what? Okay, when you say you're busy. First of all, this is supposed to be fun. It is fun. It's going to be really fun. Okay, I know. But talking about being late, I don't know. I feel like shouldn't we do that somewhere else, like, you know, later down the line? No. I think, okay, fine. No. I can do it. So would you describe me as right now? I'm edgy about it, right?
1:28You could be edgy about a lot of things. And if that's what this is right now, okay, great. We'll talk about it. I sure I'm open. I think that's about you. You're in charge of how you feel, not me. For sure. For sure. I mean, that's just my, I'm punctual. I'm super punctual. So you know what you do when things like this happen. If you're feeling you weren't appreciated or having some moment about what this late meant to you, then you bring it up to me at a time when it can be really dealt with. But why would you bring it up now? Because to me, that feels like, you know, it can't really be given any attention.
2:10So do you really, is it really an issue for you? It's really an issue for me, but I realize that we're not likely to solve it in the middle of a podcast. Okay. But you just want to share with others that these things happen in relationships. Yes. Okay. I hear that. 100%. It's like, it's, um, how long have we been married? 34 years? Yes. We've been dating. I think we've been together. I don't know, like over 35 for sure. And you've always been late. You've always been tardy. That's your, that's your relationship with time. I think I, I think I, your, you have a, what's the word? You have a different relationship with, with, with time than, than I've never been late to work.
2:57That's true. You know what? That's absolutely, I take it back. That's a big thing. Because that's a big thing. No, no, really. That's really true. It's true. You're never late to work. No, never. And see, this is, but this is work for me. Right. Right. So this, I know you feel like you're coming here to talk to me. It's like, we're just hanging out, which we are. No, you told me I would have fun. You're not having fun? It's always fun with you, honey. How about this? Do you realize you're a fan favorite? That's so cool. I'm happy to hear that. Yeah, you are. You're a fan. We get the lowdown line.
3:33People want more Cheryl. So they just want the skinny from me, right? No, I think they like you as I do. I think they see why you've captured my attention. By the way, you look very pretty today. Thanks, honey. And you can be late as much as you want. Jesus Christ. No, that's just not true. Now you're being disingenuous. I'm going to take a deep breath. If you rub your eyes, can I fix your hair, please? Why? I think it's a little like bubbly on top and it's like I know you get annoyed but I think can I just fix it? yes please hang on I'm leaving she was in makeup and hair amazing makeup and hair but not hair that's why what's happening?
4:11I think it needs to be relaxed I feel so much better it's better? I don't know what do you see? look at it I can't see it in the monitor what do you can't see? oh shoot no that doesn't matter here I'll take a photo hang on let's just Modern technology. Oh. I really do. I really trust you. There we go, right? I don't care. Yeah, sure. Fix the sides here. I mean, this is a podcast. Okay. It's supposed to be. I love it. I love it. I know they put cameras in here. It's never, it's never, it's always something. It's like you do a podcast and they're like, oh, you ought to have cameras now. I'm like, aye, aye, aye.
4:49I'm so happy they do. Then you get to see people's expression. That's true. Kind of like, you know, their body language. That's very true. There's a lot to it than just the voice. That's true. So let me ask you this. We celebrated our 34th anniversary this summer. What advice do you have for young women, or not even get chronological, and forget gender, for anybody who is debating on if this person is the one in their life. Oh, there's so much packed into that. I first and foremost would like to inform you, Rob. I don't like to give anybody advice. I like to just see if I were to do it again, what I would do, or if somebody were to ask me what my elixir is for my success for today, it would be that in my relationship, I don't take for granted that you know what I'm feeling.
6:02You know what I mean by what I say. I really am careful to communicate and to talk about it in the format of, this is about me. This is how I'm feeling. And, you know, can we just talk about this and maybe you can help me through it or just to know where I'm at. And then the other thing is like looking you in the eyes. I always think it's really helpful for me when you look at me and you hear me and you're in the moment you're present. So I know I'm being seen and heard and tell you I love you. you know just I just think like as people get very used to one another they just assume the other person knows that oh I see so it's the you have to fight the familiarity the the downfalls of familiarity that's right and like getting complacent and you know and those are all that's all human condition and natural and we shouldn't feel bad about it I know I don't but when there would be times when I was younger that I would think about something and it would be in the back of my head.
7:09So it's like a fleeting moment. And I didn't give it its rightful place in my consciousness. And now when those little messages come, I take a minute, I take a beat and I think about them. Like the other day, I was reading somewhere the longevity elixir for relationships is, and they name like six or seven things on Instagram. I'm so obsessed with those. And of course, the algorithm for me, that's all I get now. And it's that, you know, it's a little touch to your partner. Touch, you know, hold their hand, tell them how they look. You know, I usually assume you know, I think you look so gorgeous.
7:54but I realized as I get more mature that saying it and reminding you and myself that that's how I feel. So articulating what you're feeling. Well, I mean, not really, not really. No, no, no, no, no, no. Don't kind of keep re-saying everything I'm saying in your way. Okay. So it's, I'm not saying articulate. I could just say it. It doesn't matter how it sounds. It's just hearing it and knowing it. That's not saying it. Just saying, like, acknowledging your feelings to the other person. I don't have to be so specific. It could just be a moment, like this morning in bed, when I said to you, when I woke up and I knew I was getting ready to go, I wanted to get my hair done for today.
8:33And I said to you, I just want you to know I love you. And you were like, oh. And I said, well, definitely. I felt like it was the middle of the night. Oh, it is. Was it the morning? You know, 6, 3 in the morning or 7 in the morning is the middle of the night for you. Because you usually sleep until noon if you could. I do like to sleep. No, that was very sweet. No, it's really true. Look, I think to summarize, it's really just about acknowledging your partner if you can. For me, it's acknowledging my partner. And it's recognizing that this is my friend. I care about this person. This person makes me feel a certain way at times.
9:11And I feel a certain way when I'm with this person. So I want to share that. with the boys you know now Matthew being engaged and Johnny navigating his dating life Johnny's gonna be 30 in November both our kids are in their 30s when we were in our 30s we were already married with a kid well Johnny's gonna be 30 Matthew's going to be 32 yeah We had Matthew at, I think I was 31. So they're close. Yeah. Well, I'm just saying they're there. All right. What's your feeling on that? What do you hope for them? Well, first I want to say that I don't believe there are any rules around when people should do anything.
10:03Also, I feel like it's a lot to do with certain generations. A lot of people these days are taking their time before they're rushing into marriage. and I remember my mom and, you know, and people in during that. How old was your mom when she... 19. Wait, wait, wait. So your mom was 19 when she married or had you? Had me. I mean, I know I know that, but then like hearing it... Isn't that just bananas? She was 19 when she had you. Yeah. And I thought my parents were young when they had me at 25. Yeah, that is so young. But my mom was a total hippie. Not that that relates to having a child at 19, but you know, when you live in the free spirit life, that'll happen.
10:47She used to take you to communes? No, you don't take someone to a commune. You either like live in what, you know. Did you live in a commune? I'm not going to describe that. Did you or did you not live in a commune? I did live in a commune for a short period of time. But she would take us to Griffith Park to all these lovins. I remember seeing Hendrix with her. You know, she would drag us to all these concerts, Led Zeppelin, and Jethro Tull. She's, I mean, I just, there's some really great ones. Where's my phone going off? That's where you got. Pink Floyd. And then like random, like Diana Ross, who I loved.
11:23I had Diana Ross's poster up in my bedroom. You wanted to be Diana Ross. Didn't you dress like Diana Ross at school? Yeah, totally. What was your outfit? I wore, was it a white, like fake leather jacket and like black patent leather go-go boots. Go-go boots. Oh, for sure. In sixth grade, fifth, sixth grade. Can you wear that same outfit for me later tonight? Absolutely not.
11:50I'm just saying. How dare you? How dare you? So, you are a true Southern California girl. I mean, most people in California have come from somewhere else. and there are very few like, you're a total Hollywood. What was that movie? Little Fox? What was the movie of all the girls growing up? With Jodie Foster. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Was that it? Little Fox? I don't remember the name of it. I think it was Little Foxes. Yeah, it was. That's your life story. You grew up in Hollywood proper. In Hollywood when I was young and then when I was in the sixth grade or fifth grade, in the fifth grade, I think around there, I moved to the Valley and then I was living in Sherman Oaks.
12:33a complete valley girl. Valley girl. Yeah. Gag me with a spoon. So would you have paid any attention to me had you met me when I was 15 and living in... I wouldn't... I was never your type. Oh my God. I was just going to say absolutely not. Yeah, no. You wouldn't have anything to do with me. No, no, no, no. I'm like way too... What's the word I'm looking for? You were too earnest maybe and a little bit like... Too like a goody two-shoes? I shouldn't say too. I'm going to say like you were things that I didn't have around me enough to appreciate. So it wasn't what I understood or knew. Like I was very in the surf culture.
13:10I liked, you know, guys that were out surfing every, you know, there's like beach guys. Yeah, exactly. I was a theater, like a theater nerd. That would not have been my thing. No, you didn't. But it didn't stop you from a lot of other people having that be their thing. Yeah, no, no, for sure. yeah you like the rough and tumble not rough and tumble no no a little edgy let's just say a little edge yes I'm saying I was too wait Ernest you said it yeah I think you said that perfectly
13:52what was it like growing up in what was LA life tell me at the sugar shack oh my gosh growing up in the valley in 1977 it's like la was the best wasn't it the best i can't even describe it i was watching the documentary on netflix sunset strip and it was just i could have watched it three times in a row it was like you know throwback for me yeah it was like super experiential and i i just think growing up back then. Who was it that said in the interview that it was just a lot? It was like, you know, what? Sensory overload and anything goes. Anything goes. It was just anything goes. And I can say people weren't getting hurt over that.
14:43People get hurt over overindulgence all the time, but it was very commonplace. Let's also acknowledge that half of the people in the documentary interviewed are dead. Exactly. So, right. It didn't, it didn't end well for a lot of people, but that era that we grew up in and got to experience for the survivors. What's this we thing? I was, you didn't grow up in the Valley. You were in Malibu, like sheltered and making your little backyard movies. I don't really know if you experienced it until you were older and then understood that that's what went on like five years before you. 100 % that's true.
15:19100%. But you were doing it at like what? How old were you when you were sneaking into the Roxy and those clubs? Maybe 16. I had my learner's permit and I would take my mom's car. And I would go to like, I'd have a list of like four parties in the valley that I would, like I had just open parties. Like people would just have parties. How did we get the list of parties? It just got passed around. Right? But like everybody knew, but there was no social media. There was no... And then I was... How did you go where to go? I didn't even have my driver's license. I was so young. And my high school bestie, her name was Carrie Hayes at the time.
16:00She had this great house in Studio City. And we decided we were going to have a party and just have a bunch of friends over. Her parents were out of town. And we were left to watch the house with her brother. And it was complete and utter bedlam. Like people were showing up from everywhere. like when we would get the list. And you couldn't get up and down the street. There were, you know, it was so nuts. The police busted it. There were helicopters. The house was trashed. And boy, oh boy, boy, did we get in trouble. So great. It was so much fun. I remember somebody had a joint or something, and they were by me, and I didn't smoke pot, but they were.
16:41And then I saw them pass it to this woman, and it turned out to be, it was like Carrie's babysitter from earlier on. And she was house sitting, but we thought she was out, not going to be home or come to the next day. We weren't even sure she was. And when they passed her the joint, she was like, we'll be putting an end to this. So, you know, there's those stories. The Sugar Shack was an 18 and under club. And it was - An 18 and under nightclub? Yep. And - How did I miss the Sugar Shack when I was 18? You would have died over the Sugar Shack. Really, Rob. And what kind of music was it? It was when disco first came out.
17:18So 77, like 1977. Yeah, it was a disco nightclub. And it was like all like the surf scene and like North Hollywood High, Grant High School, people coming from Wooden Hills, people coming from over, you know, from everywhere. It was everybody. I mean, the Runaways would be in there. That's Sherry Curry and Joan Jett. Marie and Sherry and Joan Jett. And Joan Jett. Like everybody would hang out. I don't even want to talk about what will go on in there. Yeah, like, it feels like there was, there's a lot of, I remember. Lots of drugs. Yeah, when I moved to Malibu in eighth grade, I moved in beginning of seventh grade, but by the eighth grade, I remember going, getting invited to the cool chick's birthday in eighth grade, however old you are at the eighth grade.
18:05And like, the cool thing was that she, for her birthday, got a gram of coke. Oh my God. But that was going on. And I don't remember parents ever being around. Do you remember parents being around? Well, I know mine weren't. I don't know about other people's, but, you know, sounds... What were they doing? I'm sure there were plenty of parents around and there were like plenty of people that weren't in the scene that we're talking about. The scene being, for those that don't know that are listening, is just the, you know, nightlife culture for underage and, you know, lots of drugs and dancing and possibly early sex.
18:45I, you know, I don't know. But I mean, it wasn't like the kid that was really studying to get into, you know, like in high school studying to go to undergrad. That's another great thing is looking back on it now, it's so different than our kids in high school. Like our kids in high school, everybody has got their eye on where they're going to go to college and everything, every single thing they do is about that. And boy, I remember in Santa Monica High School, it was like, nobody even, I don't want to say that people didn't think about college and that there weren't people who were clearly going to college and working towards that.
19:26But like, it was not a part of daily discussions. Not in your group, but I think that we're being very narrow-minded and short-sighted here that Just because we were attracted to a certain type of culture didn't mean there was every single person in our time. There were plenty of people that went to school and have made huge differences in life from our era. That's true. And not just did that later. My two best friends, they went to college and stuff. But it's not like today. I think we're going to head towards all of the AI stuff coming. I don't know if anybody will go to college anymore. But I don't want to talk about AI.
20:08Yeah, yeah, no, no, no. Hopefully they will because we were talking with a friend the other night who was saying people still need to learn, you know, philosophy and things. They need to learn how to think. That's correct. They don't need to know how to learn to regurgitate information. That's right. And trades will always be such a great thing. You know, it's always... Did you take wood shop and metal shop? And plastic. What do you mean plastic? Where you like make all like the plastic thing. I don't remember, but like, I remember I did like a frame and then I shellacked it over and like, I don't, I had plastics.
20:40I mean, and I would make those, um, like they were like plastic. Um, they look like crystal, like, um, wands or whatever. I just made all those. I just remember making, I had plastics. Plastics. Yeah. I mean, don't make me remember back to junior high school. I just, it's just amazing to me. Like wood shop, metal shop. I loved wood shop. I loved cooking, cooking class, sewing class. Do they still have those? I don't think they do. Holy smokes. I still use my sewing techniques. I took home economics. Well, that didn't do you any good. I know. I failed. So let's not brag about that. I know my limitations.
21:20I know I've come to the realization that I do certain things very, very well, like top drawer and other things are not my lane. What's your top drawer? I'm not going to pat myself on the back. Take too long to think about it. No, no, no. That's for others to say. Oh, okay. But I can tell you, I know what I don't do well. What's that? Lift heavy, cumbersome objects. Right. That you easily could. Yeah, but what's the upside? I'm not going to talk about this right now. Because if I torque my back, right? Like everybody else, you go to Carp Rector then. Yeah. I'm happy. Like if I torque my back skiing, surfing, which is...
22:15So you have selective torque backing. Yeah. So you don't want to help me lift a table because that wouldn't want to be the way you want to put your back up. Would you rather do it? I don't love doing that kind of... Could that be a little narcissism? Well, I have huge narcissism. I don't need that to be. It's not my job to out you. No, no. This is a free fire. My people who listen to, they know I'm very open about my flaws. You are a lifting fool. You will like just grab. I mean, it's unbelievable. I'm a doer. You're a doer. You're a doer. Do you think, is there anything about, for example, this coffee table that's bothering you?
23:01Is there anything spatially, design-wise? This coffee table's great. I know how your mind works. Really? Your mind is like this. Like you can be like... Let me discuss... Hang on. There, there, that makes all the difference. My mind. This table works because this is someone's vision that they've put the effort in. And it is comfortable. You can sit around it without feeling cramped. And it's, yeah, this is great. The reason I say it is you have incredible design eye. I mean, the homes you design break real estate records when they get sold. Your jewelry is amazing. I'm wearing one of your rings and one of your bracelets today.
23:49Yay. And like anybody, our superpowers are also the things that, like, the downside of that is I have seen, like, like I'm saying, you'd be like, oh, hang on. No, no, I just remember a time I asked you to help me move a table and I had my side really well. You dropped your side and the glass broke on my foot and I needed stitches in which I promptly said to you, Rob, you need to go right now. My blood was like shooting out of my foot. I said, you need to go right now and get me something for my foot. You came back with a paper towel. I was in shock. Your foot. And it was also before I had played a lot of first responders.
24:35Yeah, that's true. I guess I'm right now. I would have had like a fucking badass tourniquet. I do not think so. Yes. Don't you know that the only way I learn anything is through the fucking movies and TV shows? Well, you read a lot, Rob. You read a lot. Let's. I do read a lot. Yeah. You read a lot. You listen. You're incredible. You source. But you don't like my me being on TikTok, do you? Absolutely not. Why not? think it corrupts the brain. TikTok corrupts the brain. Well, you know what? I want to be more specific. TikTok can be fun when used moderately, but for people that have addictions, it really does appeal to the compulsive part of those individuals.
25:26You're overstepping, I'm talking. They designed it that way. Honey, thank you. I just think that TikTok, it's cool. I get it, But it promotes this sort of like you start and then you got to have more and more and more. It's like you become insatiable. And that's what they want. Agreed. For sure. How great is that for our youth? How different is... Would you rather be an example? Yeah, but I get so much. I'm not going to... Stop using the eye form. No, because I don't want to tar anybody else with the brush. I, my personal experience is I get, yes, I get ridiculous, mindless, numbing, hilarious, like, check out entertainment.
26:18But, but, but, but, but, but yeah, that's the fun thing. But I also learn so much stuff that I would not get anywhere else. Well, I'm not getting it anywhere else. Do you feel comfortable when the kids were little and they would be gaming all the time? Didn't you set boundaries? Yeah, I hated it. So do you do that for yourself with TikTok?
26:42No, I know. Okay. I rest my case. Okay, so what would you... Set my case. So what do you think would be healthy boundaries? To set a certain amount of time during a day and then on some weeks... How much time? Hang on. How much time? You're... How much time? I think right now you just don't want to hear the answer. So you're pushing through this. I want specific. What do you mean? Okay, okay. Then I'm going to say it because I really, really, I just want this to be something that if our kids are listening, our men. They won't. Don't worry. They don't listen to it. They don't watch or listen to anything they do.
27:20Yes, they would if it's me. So I just want it to be that it's just, it becomes more random, less like as, okay. So right now it's every single day, certain amount of hours a day. What would be nice is to cut that hours, say like, well, you know what? This week I'm going to do. You think I'm on hours? This week I'm going to do five hours. So that maybe means two hours one day, one another. And then next week I'll do. So it's just like mixing it up, making it more normal versus more compulsive.
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27:51That's really smart. That's a great observation. It's just not becoming where it's like a habit. So, you know, I mean, it's, I know what it is. It becomes a babysitter and a time. It's this thing people do when they don't feel like they have anything else to do when there is so much to do. So much more constructive things that you could do. You know, even spirituality wise, like, you know, even if it's like to pray or to look outside how beautiful it is out. Look at the sky. I mean, I know this really sounds cliche, but these are the things I think about. I'm like, even if it's two minutes, wouldn't you know the famous saying, stop and smell the roses?
28:31Cheryl, Cheryl, Cheryl. I know you get outside a lot, Rob, if that's what you're about to say. Yes. But that's... What? Yesterday, what? When you're outside, you're also doing things that continually busy you up. What did I ask you to do yesterday that you looked at me like... Like, are you crazy? I have time for that. Golf. No. Outside. You didn't ask... Tennis. play tennis. The tree. Maybe you didn't hear me. No, Rob, you didn't ask me to do anything. You held the tree and said, this tree has got so much incredible energy. Look, look at me holding this tree. It was all about looking at you next to the tree.
29:08No, I wanted you to, to, to, to experience this amazing tree. You didn't say that. But these are all things I love. This is not a complaint. By the way, I have no issue with that. Because I'm out all the time. Yes, I understand. But you're always busy in yourself. And you're not a person that really spends a lot of time in stillness. So when I'm out sitting... Actually, when you do TM. When I'm out there sitting at the Adirondack... TM is meditation. Yes, we're aware. When I'm out there looking at the sun going down on the mountains, and you're organizing your closet... I'm... Excuse me? Yeah.
29:49I am not organizing my closet. Sheryl Lowe. No. Cheryl Lowe. I think that sounds condescending. No, it's a statement of fact. How do you know it doesn't sound condescending? That's just how I'm feeling. It feels condescending to me, you say. Yes. Yes. By the way, how great is the phrase, what I make up is? Isn't that a great one? It's the best. We learned this phrase that you should say, but what I make up is, because it acknowledges that you don't know. You know what someone else is. So what I make up when you say you are busy, what I make up is that you don't really properly understand that I sit outside in my thoughts a lot.
30:36Wow. When you present it like that, that's super sweet. And sometime invite me out there and use your words. Honey, I'm sitting out here enjoying nature and our beautiful home. you know, would you come and join me? It would mean a lot to me. All right, you heard it here. I'm going to report back to the audience. Absolutely. See if that works. I'm an A student. You are an A student. You're definitely, definitely an A student.
31:15Tell me, more about me. tell me more about me. Tell me what your favorite podcast that you've listened to is. How many podcasts of mine do you listen to? Well, I learned my lesson the last time I was on and now you're my favorite podcast. What does that mean? That just means... That was a dodge. I think I... No, it's not. The truth is, last time I was on and I talked about podcasts, I had more time to do podcasts, but I was finishing building this house that we've since moved into and running my business, my jewelry design business, Sherlowe Designs, which I love and I'm super passionate about.
31:58But I also love doing our home. And in the final stretch, I knew it was going to require more time from me. There's a lot more answers, a lot of really incredibly time-sensitive decisions. And there's no complaints. I absolutely love it. So I didn't, I don't, you know, my extra time, I wasn't probably going to be listening to podcasts. I would rather read some poetry, you know, read books that fill up my soul a little bit. Because when I'm doing the other kind of work. You're not a podcast person. Not really, but I mean, I do enjoy them. And I, so I listened to yours because I love some of the people you're interviewing and I love like listening to what you're asking them and, you know, just, Instead of asking you when you get home, I took to listening to your podcast.
32:50Isn't that good enough just to hear that? I'm going to let that answer slide. I'm not going to dig deeper. Because at the end of the day... This podcast today is about love. Yeah. I decided just now. Oh, is that the theme of it? Yeah. It's about love. What do you want to say about that then? I think... I don't think anything. I feel so much love today in my life. Um, I have two sons that I'm so proud of and that I communicate well with and I feel so blessed every day, no matter whether I'm having a tough day or a great day. I feel blessed because I know that's part of the process and I'm happy and I just like to remember that when I'm feeling less than happy on any given day which I remind myself that's what's called being human being alive and I love being with you I love our friendship our relationship I take everything one day at a time I just love that you know, I really, I don't just live for today.
34:00That would be just, that just wouldn't be the truth. But what do you mean? I, you know, I think I've heard people say, you know, I just live for today. Well, it's like really, I mean, so you're saying you don't think about tomorrow at all. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know, I mean, we, most of us plan, we're going to have a dinner party Friday night. That's why the serenity prayer is, is the greatest thing ever. You know, You can only control what you can control and how do you know the difference between what you, you know, today and planning for, you know, it's finding that sweet spot. And part of recognizing love for me is quieting my soul, quieting the voices in my head, the pictures, you know, is I make, I really do make an effort to remind myself, okay, just slow it down, slow your dialogue down, Cheryl.
34:55I'm talking to me now. And, um, you know, these are my inner, this is the inner mantra. Yeah. Uh, and it really helps me be a better partner, more calming. Like when you're feeling anxiety, you know, I, I allow the stillness to seep out, you know, and I, I, I, I feel like we do that for each other. You're not as still, you know, I mean, but that part of what I love about you as your energy. And so that's what, so like I have girlfriends, I have a couple of really close girlfriends and their mantra is about love too. And we've attracted to one another in that way as we've gotten older. I'm not saying we're old, but as we've matured, we look for more loving environments and want to simplify things because there's only so much runway.
35:47There's only so much bandwidth. And so now I choose to spend that on individuals. I love being around places. I like being at ideas and things I like to hopefully try to make a change or speak out about. Um, and I'm very careful about that. You know, everybody has an opinion and not everybody wants to hear it. Hallelujah to that. Right. Yeah, for sure. So I want to be around people where I also feel loved and feel appreciated and that have patience with me and add more like are, you know, less judgmental because also as I get mature, I realize judgment is just a tough road. You know, it can, I recognize, where am I feeling that?
36:38Where am I feeling my weirdness right now? And I'll look like, is it my stomach? Is it my chest? You're big on that. You're big on like where... Where's that coming from in your body? That's right. Yeah. You know, there's certain emotions based on parts of the body. Right. And it's not my job to educate right now on your podcast about that because I'm learning. No, I'm a student. I'm not a teacher. Well, I mean, I'm a teacher. Well, you know, I would say emotions probably in the chest or I would, I don't know. For me, if I'm angry, I'm just trying to think of where I feel it. I think it's probably different for different places.
37:14By the way, can I have some of your water? What's wrong with your water? It's too cold. I love it. There's something about the aesthetic of this. Plus there's lemon in it. I knew it. I don't mind sharing. I knew it. But now I took my sip first. In the old days, I would have given it to you first and then had my sip. You learned to take care of yourself? Is that what you're saying? Mm-hmm. Yes. Okay, well, don't drink at all.
37:47thank you right back on the thing um oh you don't want it here that's your i'm just trying to put it back on the thing that's called a coaster i'm trying not to okay hang on what's that thing it's a coaster thank you i'm just trying not to trigger your um what is it don't say it um when you everything has to be in the right place that is true do what's amazing about you You have the ability, among other things, like my favorite Sheryl Lowe parlor trick is your mind is like a Tetris game. I love puzzles. I really do. I know you do. And you're like, you can look at a piece of art or a piece of furniture and be like, yeah, that will fit perfectly in the such and such and such and such.
38:36And you'll get it home. And it literally does. You have the ability to Tetris. Okay, well. It's amazing. The thing about me is that I am trying to preserve certain parts of myself that as you get older, go away. So I'm trying to be preemptive and a little proactive versus reactive on that. And so I'm doing these games where it works your memory. and instead of like playing my slot machines online, I'm now doing these like matching games and doing things for memory and my really great friend Maria, she's like, oh, it's Maria Shriver, we can say. Yeah, she's like great influence on like, you know, memory games and brain benders and, you know, she's brought intellectual behavior into my life many years ago.
39:31I mean, I have, you know, I have other best friends. I mean, you know, my friend Gwyneth It brings wellness into my life. My friend Ava, you know, brings opportunity and physical activity into my life. You know, so I mean, like, and I'm sure in their life, I bring laughter and love and consistency and loyalty. You are also a complete, unique, unicorn, energetic spirit that is a true one-off. A true, look, everybody is a one-off. And then there are one-offs. And you are that. I have to say on that, I really appreciate it. And there was a time in which I would have been like, oh, I don't want, you know, I didn't want to hear any compliments.
40:26But now I don't look at them as compliments. I look at them as love letters. Yeah, for sure. Love language. And I really love that you see me and you feel that way about me. And that my friends, you know, feel loved by me. and that my boys feel really taken care of by me as they're growing into finding women, wives, to do that with them, is that I just remember as a young girl, really young, and then as a teenager, and then in my late teens and my dating phase, that I realized I was always really outspoken, but I would do it in a way where I had no edit button. And so sometimes I would hurt people's feelings and it wasn't until a friend of mine had mentioned to me, he's like, you know that, you have a sharp tongue.
41:18It can be really hard on people. And I was so young, but I remember it sitting with me. And so I didn't fix it or at least attempt to work on it until later. So now I haven't changed that part of myself. I haven't suppressed anything, but I'm careful that just because I'm feeling something doesn't mean it's true about that person or whatever in the universe. And so I don't need to vocalize, verbalize exactly what I'm thinking at that moment. It just can't come right out of my mouth. But I definitely express myself and I'm always about my truth. I really am. And if I make a mistake because I'm human on that, I try to come back around to it or work.
42:05I love this part of life being with you, Rob. And that is you love to work spiritually to improve and become a better person. And you have shared that with me. And I definitely started it before you. I think, like I said, I read poetry as a young girl and I love that. It just really quieted my soul. It made me think. It helped me as an artist. You did. I remember when we were just dating and I was a crazy man still. what were the two books you gave me? One was... I don't remember. Jonathan Livingston Siegel. Right. That sounds so dated. It's important. I love that book. And then there was another one.
42:47When we went to... We were going to Fiji in Australia. There were two... Krishnamurti. I can't remember what it was. I wish it was. But like, yeah, you were on the path... What was it? Way before. Was it like there was these books that used to be like We and She and... I don't know what it was. It's driving me crazy. It was like self-help way before self-help. It was like a mixture of philosophy, self-help, and poetry. Just reading like spy magazines. It was just spiritualism. You were reading that. Should we check in with the boys? That's what it's fun to do. Hold on. Yeah, let's call Johnny.
43:24Johnny? You want to call Johnny? Or you want to call Matty? He's just at work, though. I think Johnny doesn't have a job yet. Yeah, Matthew's at work. Try him. Let's try him. He's at first. He's the oldest. Yeah, we should give him the proper respect. Matthew's newly engaged, everyone. I know. It's very exciting. Super exciting. His sweet girlfriend, now fiance, Emily. We're on the podcast right now, but we just wanted to check in with you right now. Did you FaceTime him? No, but I didn't. What? FaceTime him. There, I'm FaceTiming you. All right. I'll pay you to FaceTime. Wait, what did you just say?
43:56There you go. Did you come in? Good, good. Yeah. Okay. Are you there, Matthew? Hey. What's up? Sorry. Podcast and then FaceTime. That's it. Yeah. Oh, I was just saying we're doing the podcast, but we were talking about family. You what? We're doing the podcast right now, and we were talking about family, so we wanted to check in with you. Wait, Matthew, hold on. We can't FaceTime? Oh, nice. We can't FaceTime? That means you have the world's most requested guest back on? Yeah, she's a fan favorite. I was just telling her she's a fan favorite. Maybe not after today. No, it's fun. Yeah. Matthew. It's a good time.
44:33Did Johnny pick up or no? I know. You're our first call. We're going to call Johnny afterwards. What should I ask her in front of all of the listeners and watchers? It should be a competition on who picks up on what ring. What? What's that? I don't understand. What? It should be a competition. Who picked up quicker, me or him? No, Dad's asking you what he should ask me. Yeah, I'm asking. Not what I should ask. What you should ask mom. Sorry, it's a little bit bad service. I'm walking the streets of Beverly Hills to a lunch meeting. Well, pay attention. Don't just be on your phone. You know, that's how things happen that aren't great.
45:13I'm aware of my situations. Okay. You should ask her. I'm trying to think what's a great question that you can ask her. You can text me. Well, wait, I want to say this to Matthew on the air. So I'm on. I'll think of something. Because your last time, your guys' conversation was so natural. It was good. You guys were great. Well, we have known each other a long time. I was going to say, it takes 33 years. Okay, good. I'm glad you heard that. Maybe 36. But Matthew, I just want to say while you're on the phone in front of dad's podcast listeners. I would ask her how many more dogs is she planning on getting?
45:49Oh, that's a good one. Oh, no. I'm going to ask her which dog is her favorite. Okay. All right. We'll call you back. Love you. All right. Bye. What dog is your favorite? We have six dogs. I don't have a favorite. I'm not going to say that. I mean, I do, but I don't want to face that. I think you do. Was it Daisy? I think it's Daisy. But then my heart hurts when I see Oscar too. I'm so happy. And I love Bob T. And I love Owen. And Bella's getting so old. And she's so sweet. And then Olive, she's the sweetest. But she's just not given as much attention as a young girl her age should be getting. But Daisy's my girl.
46:28I know she looks at me like, Mommy, you're everything. Yeah, she's a good girl. And it's a daughter I never had. The daughter you never had. All right, speaking of not having a daughter, let's go. Oh, okay. What is it? We are going to go to Johnny and see if we can get him. Hey, Siri, FaceTime Johnny Lowe. You there? Yeah, hey, what's up? Can I call you back there or something up? Well, we're in the middle of the podcast and we wanted to talk to you on the podcast. I got your mom as my guest. What are you doing? Oh my God. What does that mean? I just know that I love you guys both and I don't get in your podcast with you guys right now.
47:14So I love you guys. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Where are you? Let me guess you're at Air One. What's that? Are you at Air One getting a smoothie? He's trying to make these. You're trying to make fun of me on the podcast. That's cool. I'm not joking. Even worse. Better yet. I'm with a friend, so can I not? Can we not do this? Just tell me this. Is it a friend or is it a friend in air quotes? This is really out of pocket. Okay, bye. Anyway. Oh, my God. Well, we have each other, Rob. We do have each other. We may not have. I mean, you know, it is what it is. We are so dull to them.
47:55You're a great mom. Such a great mom. You are a great dad and a great doggy dad. I mean, I think I want to digress. I want to go back to where you brought up the dogs and what my favorite dog is. And I want to say, do you have a favorite dog? It might be Daisy. You can't have my favorite dog be your own person. I know. It might be Daisy. No, Daisy's my dog. She loves you. She's chosen you. Shush. Bob's chosen me. Bob T. Bob T. We call Bob T because he, T stands for teeth because he has, looks like he had, he looks like one of those actors that went and got veneers and like shows up in the next movie.
48:34You're like, I didn't know that. Okay. I mean, I won't name names, but there are certain actors out there that all of a sudden get new teeth and you're like, whoa. Okay. I should have prepped for this and like brought like little pictures that everybody ate by tens of them. We'll put them in. We'll put them into the cut. Remind me, we'll put them in. We can do flash frames. But I. Bob has definitely has like. Like, yeah. I mean, I'm not telling tales out of school because he's talked about it. He's got the Ben Affleck teeth in Armageddon. Or no, Pearl Harbor. Sherry Bruckheimer made him get new teeth.
49:07I don't actually remember anything he does. I really love, and what do you think of the new beaded collars I made the dogs? You made them? Oh, you made them. The new beaded and gemstone with their names. That's very sweet. Aren't they so sweet? Daisy also has pearls. They're fake, of course. They should be. But she wears her pearl necklace, her beaded necklace. This is like when you know... That you love your dogs? You're on the cover of AARP. No, stop it. Don't. When you're talking about your dogs and your kids are out in the world and we're just old. We're not old. We are. I'm not going to have this conversation.
49:47Manifest destiny here. I don't feel old at all, actually. I feel better than I've ever felt in my life. And I think it's some sort of cosmic, psychic, practical joke that I'm at the age that I'm 61. Well, what do you appreciate most about our relationship? Oh, about you? Well, I didn't say about me. I just mean like, what is it you cherish and wake up and go, wow, this is a blessing? That I have somebody who understands me and who, well, the number one thing above all else is, and this was the reason that I, when I realized this, I think like I proposed to you in the next week was when I realized you would step in front of a train for me.
50:43And it's also the boys too, for sure. 100%. I feel the same about you. And the same. I think that you're misunderstood. I don't think people realize how sensitive and deep and full of love and just idealistic and like, you know, Midwestern values. There's, you know, they just think of the Rob Lowe that was famous from Young. And they just like that. But Rob Lowe, the man is really deep, complex.
51:16Passionate. And smart. I mean, I'm not just like listing a bunch of cool adjectives, but I'm just like also saying that these are really truisms about you. You're not without your faults, which is what's so great. You know, there's so many layers to you and that's why for 37 years, I'm still in love and interested in you. It makes me really happy and thank you. And I think that you have always, seen me in a way that nobody else had ever seen me. That's the other thing. We were talking with one of the boys, with Johnny, about looking for a partner. And I was like, you will run up against somebody who sees you in a way that no one else has ever seen you.
52:13Now it's a common phrase. I feel seen. I mean, that's in the vernacular now. You know what? Just because a phrase resonates for a majority doesn't mean it's overused. Or what did you just say about it? Yeah, yeah. That's my fear was that it was overused. No. But you, to use an overused phrase, it isn't overused. You saw me. I see you. Yeah, and did. By the way, at a time where not only did you see me, but you saw where I would go, where I could be. I think for me in the beginning is I think about this because you love to talk about these stories of how we first met or how we first became. And we evolved.
52:51Because I think it's important. We evolved. The we and us. I understand. But I think it's important because... We evolved from a really strong friendship. And before that, we hung out in the same circle, sort of. And it kept growing more and more. So we... And we didn't see each other at first, but we were around atmospherically. And I said to you the other day that even early on, I had this weird feeling about you. But because you were so famous and iconic at the time and like a teen, not teen idol, but like, what would be the word? A phenomena, whatever. I would never have allowed myself to think of it like that because I wouldn't have, I'm like, ooh, I just didn't want to think, could that be it?
53:36I wasn't that kind of person and still am not. So I didn't give it life in any sense. I actually did what the opposite. it. He's too famous. I don't want to, I don't want, you know, but like subconsciously I had this connection weird. And I was dating and in relationships with not multiple people at a time, but other people. So I looked at you as a real true friend. I mean, I introduced you to some of my girlfriends. You were a great matchmaker. You were a great, when I would get the phone call, get over here. There's somebody you should meet. I'd be like, over there. You remain a great matchmaker.
54:17How many, I mean, at last count, how many, you introduced your sister to her husband. They've been married how many years? 36? No, like 40. 40 years and multiple others. You're a great matchmaker. But then I just think about the relationship I was in, especially like right before you wasn't even really a relationship, but it was like, I, I was in the sort of thick of being with one person because it was just easier, but not feeling about maybe that person and like maybe the one before that, whatever, you know, um, anything more than that day. Yeah. Like I just wasn't planning. I wasn't future tripping with it.
54:56And I was just like, it was a feel good kind of thing. Speaking of future, future tripping in the future. What do you hope for yourself and the family going forward in the next five years? Oh, I would say personally for me, underneath my layers of skin would be to continue to quiet my soul and to appreciate what's in front of me and not dwell on what's behind me or give too much attention to what's behind me. in front of me. And I really, how does that manifest itself into reality? It's like, just be happy for my boys as long as they're happy and not push too much of my own expectations on them.
55:47Yeah, makes sense. Create an environment where they can flourish and improve by what they see around them. be an honest and good partner to you and to our friendship and our love affair to be a good dog mom to be a great employer to the best of my ability and you know help mentor the young mostly women in my fashion business that you know that feel they learn from me try to do the best I can there without running from that. I feel like the other part of, I don't want to get too caught up in the future because all I can really control is what's in front of me today. But I can try to be a better person for tomorrow by focusing on creating the best day today.
56:41That doesn't make sense. It's really like how I'm trying to live my life because I tend to get, when I was young, like a lot of anxiety and I got to get like five things done now, immediate gratification. And so I'm just not saying that that part of me is gone because that's one of my elixirs to getting so many cool things done in our life. But I have to learn the word today. The most important thing to me right now is trying to strive for balance. I love that. I love it. I love you. Thank you for coming on the show. I'll come on any time. I love that in the beginning of this, I'm getting, I was sort of starting to get hammered about being late coming to this today, even though we were in the same car.
57:22I tried to leave you. You can't do that. I'm your interview. I know. No, I don't ever want you to feel angst about... I mean, I can't control whether you feel angst, but not over me, but who knows? And whatever. Let's just have fun. Yeah. All right. Love you, baby. You were fun. Love you. That was fun. Bye, everyone.
57:50Well, that was exactly, that didn't feel like an interview to me. That felt like, I mean, that's, I hope that was that you guys liked that because that was just like Cheryl and I talking and yet it was a podcast. So let's hope it works. I hope you'll be the judge of that. You'll let me know if you had a good time. But I always love spending time with my love bug. She's a good love bug. And thank you guys for always for being a part of Literally. It's a fun part of my life. I hope it's a fun part of yours. And I will see you next week right here on Literally. You've been listening to Literally with Rob Lowe, produced by me, Sean Doherty, with help from associate producer Sarah Begar and research by Alyssa Growl.
58:35Engineering and mixing by Joanna Samuel. Our executive producers are Rob Lowe for Low Profile, Nick Liao, Adam Sachs, and Jeff Ross for Team Coco, and Colin Anderson for Stitcher. Booking by Deirdre Dodd. Music by Devin Bryant. Special thanks to Hidden City Studios. Thanks for listening. We'll see you next time on Literally.
From the publisher
Sheryl Lowe returns to "Literally" for a very special conversation about, fittingly, love! Rob and his better half discuss their philosophy on marriage, her experience growing up in Los Angeles, whether they would have dated if they'd met as teenagers, and much more. Plus, they FaceTime their sons live on the air!
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