Lion Tames Itself Through Therapy
On July 22nd, local TNR field correspondent Abby Rankin sat down with Charlie, a seven-year-old-male-barbary-lion-turned-author, to discuss his new upcoming book: Taming Myself From the Inside. This book explores topics such as the epidemic that men face with mental health. The following interview was recorded and transcribed for your reading pleasure.
RANKIN: Hey Charlie, thanks so much for sitting down with me today!
CHARLIE: No problem, thanks so much for having me. Also, thanks for the heads up about traffic in this area.
RANKIN: Of course! Didn’t want you to get stuck in the… stampede! If you know what I’m saying.
CHARLIE: I get it.
RANKIN: I’m referencing the movie–
CHARLIE: I said I get it.
RANKIN: Oh okay. Anyway… moving on. Charlie, this new book of yours is flying off every shelf in America. Can you tell us a little bit about it, and why you decided to dive into the topic of mental health?
CHARLIE: Yes, absolutely. I grew up with a lot of struggles. I didn’t get my first girlfriend until I was like six-years-old because I was super insecure. This book is about how I turned to therapy, and everything in my life changed for the better.
RANKIN: Inspiring. What’s one of the most notable things you learned through therapy?
CHARLIE: My insecurities often led me down to a path of no confidence whatsoever. My therapist has been giving me some helpful tips to let my inner beast match my outer beast.
RANKIN: (singing) “You’re gonna hear me roar! Louder! Louder than a lion–”
CHARLIE: Right, right.
RANKIN: The Katy Perry song!
CHARLIE: No, I know.
RANKIN: Are you alright, Charlie?
CHARLIE: Every day’s a struggle.
RANKIN: I get you. Next question: how did you celebrate pride month?
CHARLIE: Okay, I’m getting tired of this. Pride? Really? You’re clearly making a joke about what they call a group of lions, right?
RANKIN: I don’t know what you mean.
CHARLIE: Nevermind. Forget it. I um… went to a couple of drag shows in June.
RANKIN: Love that! Did you go by yourself?
(Pause.)
CHARLIE: No… I went with some friends.
RANKIN: Cool. Remind me, what do you do in a raft again?
CHARLIE: What?
RANKIN: I’m just having a brain fart. What do you do in a raft?
CHARLIE: Row? I guess?
RANKIN: That’s right! Thanks. And what do you use to row?
CHARLIE: An Oar?
RANKIN: Put those two words together.
CHARLIE: Row oar.
RANKIN: Woah there! Quiet down, cat boy! Inside voices please–
Before Rankin could finish that sentence, Charlie, the Barbary Lion, ate her and walked off set. Later, he was found down the street having a beer and crying. Support for men’s mental health awareness can be funded through TNR’s official Venmo (@abbyrankin1211). We thank you for your generosity.