Dear Dr. Fantasy: episode 60, with Brian from BellTube

[@BrianBell7]

I can not thank you enough for having me on Dear Dr. Fantasy. You've truly gone from one of my favorite people to watch on BooKTube to someone I absolutely consider a terrific friend across the board. I'm looking forward to watching the whole episode in a little bit. A total privilege to be a guest which really means a lot to me.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@BrianBell7 It was a joy and an honor to chat with you, my friend! Let’s do it again!

[@BooksWithBenghisKahn]

“Life is all about growing up until you can’t anymore.” Amen! Loved waking up to this chat and Brian’s wonderful life-affirming energy!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’m in the same boat, Ben! We are lucky to have Brian around!

[@esmayrosalyne]

Brian never fails to boost my energy, I love his entire vibe and positive outlook on life! Also, we definitely do need a posh Allen and Rick Thunder crossover 🤣 Thanks for the fun!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@esmayrosalyne Brian is a boon to our community for his energy, his insights, and his kindness! Cheers, Esmay!

[@esmayrosalyne]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy He really is, we are blessed to be graced with his presence!!

[@ericF-17]

Love the music talk! This was a really exceptional episode.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ericF-17 I’m very glad you enjoyed this one so much, Eric! Cheers!

[@ChrisPJ_reads]

I've had similar experiences to Brian with teachers growing up, being quite dissuaded from interests in one way or another. As well hearing from friends about nasty comments they've received. It's great to listen to Brian about his experiences and see just how positive of a person he is. Always interesting hearing what people have as formative reads, I love you asking that question. Great chat.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ChrisPJ_reads Thank you, Chris! Some educators are devoted and inspiring, and others are bitter, but we should all realize that what we convey to students about them influences how they see themselves. All the best!

[@DoUnicornsRead]

Great conversation! As to be expected when two great people sit down to talk. So Brian is a fellow music education survivor. But it's great that he didn't stop playing. And yes, education is very messed up these days. Thank you for entertaining me for almost two hours, Philip!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It's a shame that education is something to be survived for so many. Here in the United States, in my opinion, many people don't really value education in the first place. It seems to be regarded as something that is, at best, a necessary evil. I think a starting point to fixing education (and the many burned out teachers who have stopped caring) is to actually value it -- to maintain that it's important and invest in it accordingly. Radical stuff! All the best, Angela!

[@DoUnicornsRead]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Unfortunately that not just the case in the US. It's not much different here. I think you have it right. I've actually lost count of how many rounds of cutbacks I've witnessed. Proper funding would be a good start especially as education is an investment into the future. Radical stuff, indeed! Take care, Philip!

[@thedrownedkingdomsaga7847]

What a great episode! Huge congrats on DEAR DR. FANTASY NUMBER 60 Philip! Another amazing milestone! And with one of my new favourite booktubers and people as your guest! Brian brings such an infectious energy, enthusiasm, and not to mention kindness that we all love about him! It's no wonder he's become so popular so quickly! It was great learning more about this wonderful human! Thanks so much for this!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@thedrownedkingdomsaga7847 Thank you, PL! You are one hundred percent right about Brian!

[@Johanna_reads]

I was fascinated by the nightclub therapy insight! Brian is one-of-a-kind in how he can be deep and thoughtful one moment and a jovial, life-of-the-party BookTuber the next. Excellent DDF!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@Johanna_reads I couldn’t agree more with you, Johanna! Brian is a wonderful presence here in our community!

[@Talking_Story]

Wonderful to catch up with some of my favs

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@Talking_Story Tough to beat your Dalinar thumbnail, though!

[@Talking_Story]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy 😂

[@MatthewLikesToRead]

Minnesota Legend Brian Bell!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@MatthewLikesToRead He is a legend!

[@elainedejong2806]

I have a lot of health issues and can not always leave the house, but I can always read. It’s great to be a lifelong learner. Thanks to both of you for sharing your experiences.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@elainedejong2806 I’m sorry to hear you have those health issues, Elaine, but I’m so glad that reading and learning provide you with such fulfillment. All the best!

[@MicahHarris-k9m]

The reason some turtles live so very long is because they never stop growing.My father said that when you stop learning, you're dead. Dad had to drop out of public school at an early age when the schoolhouse burned down during the Great Depression. He had to go to work in FDR's camps and then on to the Pacific theater of WW 2 and Iwo Jima. Then he learned a trade of being a barber before becoming a minister. He always intended for my brother and me to go to college. Dad himself remained a lifetime learner on his own. I came across in the old family dictionary where he had underlined the word "existentialism" from when he'd looked it up after coming across it in his studies. And I have a cherished little black and white candid photo of him from probably the 1960s, sitting outside in a lawn chair, reading.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

The quiet heroism of those who educate themselves step by step, book by book, is something to celebrate. Thank you for sharing this, Micah!

[@MattonBooks]

Surprise surprise: two of the most interesting dudes on Booktube chat for 2 hours, and it’s interesting. 😜 Great chat guys, and get back on the Malazan train ASAP Brian!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@MattonBooks Brian is eventually going to be a big Malazan fan, even if he doesn’t know it yet. 😁 Cheers, Matt!

[@Edog1337]

As someone who has dual bachelors of science, MS, MD, post grad residency over a decade of my adult life at 4 separate university systems…makes me sad hearing about the educational journey. I honestly cannot think back to a positive adult learning experience in all my years of official academic education. My best teachers were in high school. All downhill after that. Re-finding my love of learning outside of academia has been one of the greatest things about just being a corporate worker nowadays. Podcasts, nonfiction, livestreams….so many resources. Tbh, faery stories, fantasy, and the hero’s journey can give one the courage and conviction to seek their dreams without real life encouragement. It did for me.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@Edog1337 Well said! Education here in the United States in general is in crisis. Interacting here in an online community of people who actually love reading and learning is such a breath of fresh air and something to be treasured, even if we have to create that community ourselves.

[@thatsci-firogue]

I was a Marvel kid too growing up. Spider-man, Daredevil, Moon Knight, X-men (especially Nightcrawler), Doctor Strange, Defenders, Luke Cage and Iron Fist, Fantastic Four just to name a few as my favourites. I recently finished GGK's Last Light of the Sun and Philip, I'd be very interested in what you'd have to say about it. Its under-represented amongst Kay's bibliography.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@thatsci-firogue Comics were an excellent way to foster our imaginations, I think. My big GGK read will begin late this year and continue throughout 2025 - I can’t wait!

[@thatsci-firogue]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy awesome, which GGK will you be picking up? I still have his Fionavar Tapestry, Ysabel, River of Stars and A Song for Arbonne left.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@thatsci-firogue I’m starting with a reread of Tigana but haven’t decided beyond that. I hope to read a lot of them!

[@thatsci-firogue]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Tigana is a wonderful read. I'd suggest Lions of Al-Rassan because draws of religious tensions in a world similar to Moorish Spain. I think you'd love Sarantine Mosaic, I think that might be Kay's best work.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@thatsci-firogue Those are near the top of my list - cheers!

[@DoUnicornsRead]

Earmarked this for later when I have the time to properly savour this.😊 Because you can't rush a DDF episode. That's a fact!😁

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Ha ha! Even Rick Thunder wouldn’t rush DDF! Cheers, Angela!

[@DoUnicornsRead]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy So true! 😂

[@masonmclaughlin7905]

For those comic book fans. Marvel put out a podcast series called wastelanders that is excellent it starts with starlord and works its way through alot of marvel heroes. Highly recommend it if you like audio drama

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@masonmclaughlin7905 Thank you for the tip!

[@TomOrange]

Loved the lifting comparison! Another great episode!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It’s a great metaphor! Thanks for watching, Tom!

[@Andrew.Downing]

Fantastic thumbnail! Love it!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you! Seemed appropriate for Brian since he’s a fan of Realm of the Elderlings. Thank you for watching!

[@TheJellicle1]

Obviously Brian is incredibly creative and he found his way and his place in the world but it breaks my heart that he got such discouragement from teachers. If we were already great at doing things we wouldn't need teaching. I was in school in the 70s and 80s and only kids with 'natural' talent got to take the cool classes where they just got to do thing (not necessarily be taught the thing) but those of us who weren't born with talent did not get taught. Public schools used the cookie cutter approach and if you didn't fit in the slots, you didn't get to try another approach. I grew up believing that lack of talent meant these things could not be learned. And yet, my Myers-Briggs test ALWAYS comes back with me being highly creative and artistic (the antithesis of my job). In my 40s I finally started trying to find ways I could exercise some creativity for my own personal satistfaction such as writing and photography. Then I branched out into coloring and drawing. I even got brave enough to share some of my results on instagram and it is so gratifying when someone (who isn't related to me) likes something I CREATED. I am getting ready to try watercolors and I think singing will next after that 😬

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@TheJellicle1 Thank you for this inspiring comment! It’s never too late to develop a talent and to foster your creativity. By far my best students over the years have been older students who are eager to learn and bring life experiences that enrich their studies. All the best!

[@SethPlato01]

1:39:00 and thats the lore... that's what AP fights against.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@SethPlato01 Ha ha! AP is actually the Grand Poobah of the Cabal. 😁