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PEDRO CORREA: Vulnerability, Stoicism & The “Jenga Piece” Effect | EPISODE 17
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Pedro Correa: Vulnerability, Stoicism & Finding Strength in Imperfection | The BASIC Show w/ Viktorija Pashuta
In this episode of The BASIC Show, host Viktorija Pashuta sits down with actor, writer, and filmmaker Pedro Correa (My Dead Dad, TIFF 2025’s Swiped) for a raw and inspiring conversation about resilience, masculinity, and the messy path of chasing art.
Pedro opens up about:
💫 Growing up between Seattle, Whistler, and the Middle East—and how danger shaped him
🧠 Why bottling emotions backfires, and how stoicism helps turn setbacks into fuel
🎯 Losing his “dream role” but creating his own film (My Dead Dad) that sold to HBO Max
🌍 Reconciling with his estranged father after a near-death battle with lung cancer
⚡ The importance of doing things that scare you (“controlled danger” → yes to raves)
🏆 Balancing glossy craft with one intentional imperfection—the “Jenga piece” effect
This episode blends Hollywood grit, philosophy, and emotional honesty. If you’ve ever struggled with vulnerability, or wondered how to turn obstacles into opportunity, Pedro’s story will resonate deeply.
🎧 Listen now and share: What’s one fear you’ll face this week?
Chapters
1. Men have feelings too & Pedro’s childhood close calls (bear chase, graffiti, danger) (00:00:00)
2. Welcome to Season 4 “Dark Matter” + TIFF premiere of Swiped (00:01:01)
3. The Bumble founder film & discovering Stoicism (The Obstacle Is the Way) (00:03:36)
4. Losing a dream role → creating My Dead Dad → selling to HBO Max (00:06:06)
5. The real story behind My Dead Dad: parents’ divorce, dad’s illness & Peru (00:07:58)
6. Reconnecting with his estranged father after near-death (00:10:59)
7. Forgiveness, resentment & lessons from Stoicism (Marcus Aurelius) (00:13:26)
8. The danger of overusing Stoicism (numbing highs + lows) (00:18:53)
9. Celebrating small wins & the trap of perfectionism (00:22:25)
10. Modern masculinity, relationships & leadership roles (00:26:43)
11. Vulnerability in partnerships: listening vs. fixing (00:30:00)
12. Vulnerability in art: why embarrassment = creative truth (00:33:28)
13. Fake vulnerability online vs. real storytelling (00:35:52)
14. State of cinema: glossy craft vs. indie rawness (the Jenga piece idea) (00:37:45)
15. Using VHS & real childhood footage in My Dead Dad (00:41:10)
16. What makes Pedro feel alive now (danger, raves & controlled risk) (00:43:04)
17. Doing something that scares you daily → courage training (00:46:16)
18. Wrapping up: “Through the rave, you found the way” + film shoutouts (00:47:33)
18 episodes
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