Bill Geist never had the talk with his son Willie. Yes, that talk.
That question is the basis of the new book from the pair of TV staples — Willie co-hosts “Today” and “Morning Joe” while Bill, 69, is a correspondent for “CBS Sunday Morning.” In stores now, “Good Talk, Dad: The Birds and the Bees . . . and Other Conversations We Forgot to Have” sees the two finally covering their bases.
The Post caught up with the Geists to find out what they did actually learn from each other over the years.
Don’t go into journalism.
“People always ask me, ‘Did you get into TV because of your dad?’ ” says Willie. “My dad suggested when I graduated maybe I should go talk to some guys on Wall Street. ‘They seem to be doing pretty well.’ Or ‘I noticed the plumber pulled up to the house in a Mercedes the other day.’ ”
A happy wife equals a happy life.
“Willie’s a very good husband and father, and he reminds me of the good points, just watching him,” says Bill. “From time to time, I take note and say [to myself], ‘You gotta spend more time on that.’ I’ve been married 44 years, so there have been some ups and downs.”
Get somebody else to worry about the money.
“Know your limitations [and] don’t try to manage your own funds because you’re only going to screw it up,” says Willie.
“I learned that from Willie,” says Bill. “[Before,] when I’d get a book advance, I’d usually spend it immediately.”
“My dad is like a rapper who got his first record contract,” quips Willie. “He just spends every nickel, not realizing half of it’s going to the government.”