The Daily

Can a Bad Man Be a Good Father?

June 21, 2026·46 min·5-min readnarrativecomedy
Podzilla Summary (5 min)
TLDR
Tom Junod's memoir-in-progress becomes a Father's Day meditation on his larger-than-life, deeply flawed father Lou, a man who sold handbags, seduced women, and taught his son how to live — even as he kept secrets that spanned decades and families. It’s a story about the messy inheritance

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Guest

T

Tom Junod

narrative on The Daily

Mentions

Books, people, and resources mentioned in this episode.

People

Tom JunodMichael BarbaroLou JunodNorman MailerKevin SpaceyTony Curtis

Books

In the Days of My Youth, I Was Told What It Means to Be a Manby Tom Junod

Topics

BooksCelebrityLong Form JournalismNonfictionPop Culture

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