Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen
Director Jon Turteltaub Explains Why Jay Shouldn’t Be Happy.
June 3, 2025 · 50 min
Why listen
A blockbuster director gets honest about luck, legacy, and why success does not equal happiness.
0:00––:––
Enjoy the episode?
Subscribe to Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen
In this episode
- What it is really like to grow up with a famous writer for a father
- How to direct big films without treating people badly
- Why being lucky matters more than most successful people admit
- The honest tension between outward success and inner contentment
About this episode
Jon and Jay talk about having writer dads, the pressure of trying to succeed as a second gen show biz kid, how to direct movies with being a jerk, being right, the value of being lucky, and the why Captain Crunch is better than Peanut Butter Crunch.Bio: Jon Turteltaub has been an elite producer and director of hit movies for the past 30 years. He is known for directing a series of hit films including 3 Ninjas, Cool Runnings, While You Were Sleeping, Phenomenon, National Treasure, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Last Vegas, The Meg and others that clearly weren’t such big hits but did okay. His last film was the worldwide blockbuster The Meg, grossing over $500 million worldwide. Jon has also produced and directed several television projects, including the smash hit "Jericho" on CBS and “From the Earth to the Moon” for HBO. Jon was born in New York and raised in Beverly Hills before attending Wesleyan University and USC film school. His father, Saul Turteltaub, is a legendary television writer and producer known for "The Carol Burnett Show", "That Girl", "Sanford and Son" “Love American Style” and "What's Happening!". Jon has been married to Amy Eldon since 2006 and together they work extensively with The Creative Visions Foundation, supporting artists and activists. Jon has also served on the DGA Western Directors Council, as advisor to Represent.Us, and on the board of the Inner-City Filmmakers program. Jon and Amy have spent considerable time in Africa where they fund an orphanage in Kenya and work to protect and rehabilitate child soldiers in Uganda. Jon and Amy have three young children and, therefore, no time for anything fun.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen
Don’t Be Alone with Jay Kogen is a comedy/advice podcast trying to fight the isolation of modern life. Each episode, Award winning TV writer/comedian/philosopher Jay Kogen has a conversation with a friend about how to solve the problems on Jay’s mind.
See all episodes →



