Gary Sinise Is Awesome, Will Make Tom Hanks Greet Him In A Special Way In Their Next Meeting
When you start a podcast like 95% of our population does in 2025, you make a list of your "white whale" guests that you want to get for the show. You figure to yourself, "Ok, if this thing gets going a little bit and we have a platform maybe we can have so and so join the show." You shoot for the moon at first but then as you gain traction you start to see that it becomes possible.
Over the years, we got to sit down with some very cool people and even knock off some of my personal white whales (Dale Dye, Coach K to name a couple.)
Way back in 2016 when ZBT started, the other name on that list was Gary Sinise. Even back in 2016, he had firmly planted himself in the military and Veteran community. Yes, we all knew him as Lieutenant Dan in Forest Gump...
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But it is remarkable what he's done since that role between 600 shows with the Lieutenant Dan Band, countless hospital visits, and the Gary Sinise Foundation. Arguably, he's given more to our communities than anyone from Hollywood. For that, I am grateful and the main reason I was so anxious to speak with the man.
He was an AWESOME guy to chat with on the show. Not every guest is easy and even fewer will be able to weave great stories into their responses. He made this one of the most enjoyable episodes I've ever been a part of and made me respect him even more.
The reason he joined the show was to talk about his most recent documentary, Brothers After War.
This is a continuation of another documentary he did 15 years ago about Soldiers and Marines who fought in Iraq. The doc catches up with everyone to see where they are now. SPOILER: It is not all sunshines and rainbows. It is incredibly moving and I suggest that you watch to gain a better understanding of what war can do to the men and women who sign up to serve this country.
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The most important nugget I pulled from this interview though? Gary Sinise will absolutely pull rank on Tom Hanks, regardless of his accomplishments.
I am so grateful to Gary for joining us but more so for everything he has done for so many men and women in uniform. I don't know how you repay someone who has given this level of themselves to our community.
P.S. This is the exact type of guest I would've called my dad about right after we finished chatting. He would've really enjoyed this episode.
P.P.S. I promise I am not going to make everything about my Dad going forward.