Michael Arden

Um, moving on to somewhat more somber, um, questions.

Your father died when you were two years old.

Your mother struggled with drugs and alcohol.

As a result, when you were in fifth grade, you went to live with your grandparents, who provided you with safety and stability for the first time.

That's awfully young to have gone through so much trauma.

Well, you know, I think as kids, like, I never thought like, "Oh, my life is rough," or anything like that.

It was just like, it's just what it was.

Yeah.

You know? And I think-

It's amazing what we learn when we're older

...

it is amazing.

A- a- and, and then looking back, and you sort of have to be told, "That, that wasn't normal." But then again, like, what is normal? And I feel so lucky that the, the good things and the people who did show up for me, like my, my dad's parents, my grandparents.

Their names were Pat and Jim.

Moore.

Pat and Jim Moore.

My birth name is Michael Moore.

Uh, I changed it for obvious reasons.

But, uh, uh, yeah, I mean, I, I feel so-- For the amount of what could be considered as, like, hardship, the amount of unbelievable gifts I received shadows anything negative, I'd say.

What did you learn from watching how your grandparents moved through the world?

I learned some things that I w- I want to strive to do and some things that I was [laughs] want to strive to not do.

The good stuff would be to help people, to go above and beyond, and to assume responsibility even in moments when you might not feel like it's your obligation.

I think that's been something they taught me.

I mean, they didn't have to take me in.

They didn't have to take such care of me and provide for me, and they certainly did, and had that not happened, I wouldn't be where I am today.