Libsyn Directory

Cherry Pan-Ties, Safari Hijinks, and the Hidden Estate Planning Lessons of Blended

Release Date: 07/03/2025

Count on It: Guardianship, Fiduciaries, and Family Fallout in Rain Man

82 Toothpicks

🎙️ 82 Toothpicks | Estate Planning Meets the Movies What happens when an estranged son discovers his father left everything to a brother he didn’t know existed? In this episode of 82 Toothpicks, the team breaks down Rain Man—not just as a drama about family and connection, but as a surprisingly sharp case study in guardianship, fiduciary duty, and what happens when trust decisions leave emotional fallout. Ethan, Thad, and Joselyn explore the estate planning dynamics revealed through Charlie and Raymond’s journey, including the implications of Raymond’s placement in Walbrook...

Back to the Future: Time Travel, Trusts, and the Power of a Backup Plan

82 Toothpicks

Back to the Future isn’t just a sci-fi classic—it’s a blueprint for what happens when you fail to plan for the unexpected. In this episode of 82 Toothpicks, Ethan, Joselyn, and Thad take a DeLorean-deep dive into the estate planning lessons hidden in Marty McFly’s journey through time. From Marty’s handwritten letter to Doc (a surprising example of fiduciary communication) to the clock tower scene as a metaphor for contingency planning, the team unpacks real-world legal strategies behind the chaos. They examine how guardianship, informed consent, and powers of attorney play out when...

Black Flame Candles, Guardianship Gaps, and the Trouble with Undead Estate Plans: Estate Planning Lessons from Hocus Pocus

82 Toothpicks

Ready for a Halloween classic with a legal twist? In this episode of 82 Toothpicks, the team sinks their teeth into Hocus Pocus, unraveling the surprising estate planning lessons hiding among witches, spellbooks, and immortal cats. As Max lights the black flame candle and chaos breaks loose, the crew highlights how poor planning—and worse execution—can unleash real-world legal nightmares. Ethan, Joselyn, and Thad explore how the Sanderson sisters' return raises questions about capacity, consent, and durable powers of attorney, especially when adults are bewitched and unavailable....

Secondhand Lions: Informal Guardianship, Hidden Fortunes, and the Will to Do Better

82 Toothpicks

What if your eccentric uncles were millionaires, and they hid all their money under the barn floor? In this heartwarming episode of 82 Toothpicks, the team dives into the estate planning goldmine that is Secondhand Lions. Beneath its quirky charm lies a masterclass in what happens when you skip formal documents, legal guardianship, and financial planning. Amber, Joselyn, and Thad explore how young Walter’s informal placement with Hub and Garth highlights the critical need for guardianship and conservatorship planning. They unpack the brothers’ shotgun retirement strategy (literal and...

Good Will Hunting: Brilliance, Brokenness, and the Blueprint for Legacy

82 Toothpicks

“How do you like them apples?” While most remember Good Will Hunting for its iconic one-liners and emotional depth, this episode of 82 Toothpicks uncovers the powerful legacy and estate planning themes woven into the film’s heart. Ethan, Thad, and Joselyn explore how a story about trauma, talent, and trust reveals critical lessons about guardianship, inheritance, and planning for those we love. The team contrasts Will’s painful upbringing in the foster care system with Skylar’s carefully planned inheritance and educational trust. They dig into how guardianship decisions—or the lack...

When the American Dream Crashes: Estate Planning Lessons from Fun with Dick and Jane 🎬

82 Toothpicks

What happens when your career, house, and savings disappear overnight? In this hilarious yet painfully relatable episode of 82 Toothpicks, Thad, Ethan, and Joselyn dig into Fun with Dick and Jane (starring Jim Carrey and Téa Leoni) to uncover how a corporate collapse turns into an estate planning masterclass. 💸 From chaos to control: When Globodyne tanks, Dick and Jane spiral from comfort to crisis teaching hard truths about asset protection, emergency funds, and why beneficiary designations and durable powers of attorney matter before disaster strikes. 🏠 Protect what’s yours:...

The Notebook: Dementia, Devotion, and Durable Powers of Attorney

82 Toothpicks

"If I'm a bird, you're a bird," but what happens when one of them can no longer remember? This week, we're opening up the romantic classic The Notebook to reveal the heartbreaking lesson in elder law hidden beneath Noah and Allie's epic love story. 📖💔😥 While Noah reads to Allie to help her remember, we explore the critical importance of incapacity planning when facing cognitive decline. We discuss the immense challenges of long-term care, the emotional weight of nursing home decisions, and why having a durable power of attorney is non-negotiable. The team also examines how the...

Knives Out🔪💼 : Wills, Lies, and Donut-Shaped Plot Holes

82 Toothpicks

What do you get when you mix a murder mystery, a dysfunctional family, and one very unexpected heir? This week on 🎙 82 Toothpicks, Thad, Ethan, and Amber dissect Knives Out, a sharp-witted whodunit where the real mystery is buried in the estate plan. As Marta inherits everything from the late Harlan Thrombey, chaos erupts—and so does a conversation full of estate planning gold. From slayer statutes and will contests to disclaimers, trust fund babies, and “theatrical tax returns,” this episode dives deep into the legal twists and turns that drive the story forward. 🔍 Key...

The Grail Diary, Daddy Issues, and a Will That Cracks the Code📜🕵️‍♂️

82 Toothpicks

What if your dad’s lifelong obsession came with trapdoors, Nazis, and a leather-bound treasure map? In this week’s adventure-packed episode of 🎙 82 Toothpicks, Thad, Ethan, and Joselyn dive into Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade to uncover how one archaeologist’s quest becomes a masterclass in legacy, guardianship, and what we leave behind. From Henry Jones Sr.’s Grail Diary—a literal “will replacement” with high-stakes inheritance clues—to the emotional weight of unspoken words between father and son, this episode explores how estate planning isn’t just about...

“I Am Your Father”... and Your Executor? Estate Planning Lessons from The Empire Strikes Back 🌌⚔️

82 Toothpicks

What if one of the greatest plot twists in movie history was actually a massive estate planning failure? 💥 This week on 🎙 82 Toothpicks, Thad, Ethan, and special guest Mike dive headfirst into The Empire Strikes Back—the fan-favorite Star Wars film that’s secretly packed with galactic-level legacy drama. Join the crew as they unravel the Skywalker family’s succession problems, Vader’s attempt at a hostile business takeover (“We can rule the galaxy as father and son!”), and the legal mess of having unknown heirs like Luke and Leia floating around the galaxy. We also...

What can an Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore rom-com teach us about serious legal planning? In this episode, we find the surprising estate planning lessons hidden in the hilarious family chaos of the movie Blended.

Joined by special guest Jessica, the 82 Toothpicks team unpacks the very real challenges faced by the film's single parents. We explore the immense complexities of creating an estate plan for blended families, from navigating the expectations of children to ensuring a new spouse is protected. The conversation also touches on the critical importance of naming a guardian for minor children and how legacy planning is ultimately about honoring the memory of those we've lost, even amidst the laughter. Come for the movie quotes, stay for the legal insights!

Here's a look at what we cover:

💔 Espen's heartbreaking (and hilarious) conversations with her deceased mom's "ghost" and what it reveals about coping with loss.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The challenges of merging two families and how that translates to the difficult conversations needed for a solid financial future.

🎤 Lauren's touching "Over the Rainbow" lullaby and the moment the kids start to see her as a new maternal figure.

Ready to see your favorite movies in a whole new light? Follow 82 Toothpicks wherever you get your podcasts, check out Ethan's book series, It's Not Too Late, and subscribe on YouTube so you never miss an episode!