I decided that every year on my birthday, I'm going to release a

Host: The soft murmur of the evening sets a relaxed tone, with the world outside fading away into a quiet backdrop. Jack and Jeeny sit together, a sense of curiosity in the air as they reflect on the playful, yet intriguing quote from Shawn Crahan. The unexpected nature of the words seems to spark something deeper in both of them.

Jeeny: "Shawn Crahan once said, 'I decided that every year on my birthday, I’m going to release a new clown mask.' It’s such a bold and strange statement. But there’s something kind of liberating about it, right? The idea of releasing something new, something unexpected, every year. It’s like he’s marking his life, not just with the passing of time, but with an act of creativity and expression. What do you think he’s trying to say with that?"

Jack: He leans back, a small smile forming as he reflects. "I think it’s about embracing the unexpected and the unpredictable parts of life. A clown mask is something often tied to mystery and performance, and by releasing one every year, he’s creating this tradition of transformation—of constantly evolving and reinventing himself. It’s not just about celebrating another year, but about expressing his changing identity in a way that’s both personal and public. It’s a way of saying, ‘Here I am, and here’s something new about me.’" He chuckles lightly. "It’s a kind of rebellion against the idea of getting stuck in one identity or being defined by the same thing year after year."

Jeeny: "That’s an interesting point. It’s like each new mask is a way of showing the multiple facets of who he is. It’s almost like he’s saying that we don’t have to be one thing—we can be whatever we want, whenever we want. The idea of the clown mask is almost a way to embrace the absurdity of life, the chaos, and the unpredictability of who we are from year to year." She pauses, her eyes thoughtful. "It’s almost freeing to think that we can create and release new versions of ourselves without being bound by expectations. We get to redefine who we are on our own terms."

Jack: "Exactly. It’s a celebration of individuality, but also of the fluidity of life. Every year, we’re different from who we were before—experiencing new things, learning more, evolving. By releasing a new mask, Crahan is acknowledging that growth isn’t just about getting older—it’s about staying dynamic, staying true to the fact that we can always reinvent ourselves. And it’s not about hiding behind the mask—it’s about embracing the freedom to change and express yourself in a way that feels authentic." He grins slightly. "It’s a very creative way of marking his growth and celebrating his journey."

Jeeny: "I love the idea of using something as playful as a clown mask to symbolize something so deep. It’s as if he’s playfully challenging the world’s idea of what aging or growing up should look like. Instead of becoming more serious or confined by time, he’s embracing the weirdness, the chaos, and the creativity that life offers at every stage." She smiles, as if seeing something in a new light. "It makes you think about your own life—what kind of masks we wear, and how we might allow ourselves to be more playful, more authentic with who we are and how we express ourselves."

Host: The room seems to shift slightly, the playful idea of a clown mask taking on new layers of meaning. Jack and Jeeny sit in the quiet understanding that sometimes, we need to step back from the seriousness of life and embrace the unexpected, the creative, and the playful aspects of ourselves. Shawn Crahan’s words, though lighthearted, offer a profound reminder: that we can always reinvent, always evolve, and always celebrate the many layers of who we are.

As the evening deepens, the room feels full of possibility—the idea that we don’t have to be confined by past versions of ourselves, and that there’s always room to release something new, something bold, and something true to who we are at any given moment.