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Being STRONG is more than just how much weight you can lift.
The Strong New York Podcast is dedicated to inspiring you to become your strongest self- in the gym, in business, in relationships and in life.
Join Kenny as he sits down with his strong as fuck buddies and shoots the shit on what it takes to be strong willed, strong minded and physically strong. Season one features everyone from entrepreneurs and local business owners to doctors and industry leaders in the fitness and wellness space.
With over a decade of experience, Kenny Santucci has made himself known as one of New York City’s top trainers and a thought leader in the health and wellness industry. After transforming his life at 15 years old through fitness, Kenny made it his mission to transform the lives of those around him.
Kenny has trained some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Jon Bon Jovi, Liev Schreiber, and Frank Ocean, and has been tapped as a fitness expert sharing his training approach with Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Runner's World, SHAPE, Well+Good, among other publications.
Kenny is the creator of STRONG New York, NYC's only Health and Fitness Expo. Strong New York is an immersive day of workouts, wellness experiences, panel discussions, and inspiring conversations with the best in-class wellness professionals, industry leaders, and change makers who are sharing their expertise on today's hottest wellness trends and first-hand experiences on how to optimize your overall health and life.
You can find Kenny at The Strength Club, his private training and group strength training facility in the heart of Manhattan located on 28th and 5th Ave in New York City.
This episode is powered by Celsius. Now, whether you're in the gym or you're on the run, or hey, you're just doing a podcast, grab yourself a can of Celsius and live fit. So this is a shameless pitch for strong New York. September 27th, right at the Glass House on 48th and 12th Avenue, we are throwing the biggest fitness and wellness event this city has ever seen.
Every year it gets bigger and bigger. This year we'll have 5,000 people, 80 plus brands, and you will be there. So make sure you get your tickets@strongnewyork.com. It's that simple. Remy, are you ready? Kristi, are you ready? Ready. Aisha, are you ready? Ready. Here we go for another episode of Strong New York podcast.
I'm your host, Kenny Santucci. And today we have a friend of mine who has been, uh, you know, in and around the fitness scene, but when it comes to curating events, I think she's just top topnotch. She's introduced me to so many people. And now I want to introduce my audience to my friend who doesn't need to be living in LA anymore.
She needs to move to New York. New York. We need to get you here full time. Aisha, how are you doing? I'm so great. I literally think I see you more than like LA friends. Good. You guys like two weeks ago. That's a good thing. That's a good thing. Well, yeah, it's like I live here. Well, you're, you are. You have a very interesting story and I.
Love the fact that you were one of the first kind of younger people in my, uh, ecosystem. Mm-hmm. That has just been so driven the whole time you were doing the coffee. Uh, the coffee. Coffee and good vibe, coffee and good vibes thing, you know, pre pandemic. Mm-hmm. You know, 2018. Yeah. Or 2019 I started it.
Yeah. But you started already kind of cultivating those communities and now everyone's doing it. Everyone is, I literally, before you guys got here, I got a voice note and I read the transcription and it was an event pitch, like to get my help curating the group founder focused. Same thing. Yeah. So that leads me to my first segment of the show, which is three things that piss me off.
Yes. What are three things that just fucking annoy you? Because for me, I have so many, and that's why I could make this a segment on the show because I could just ramp about everything that bothers me. Um, but I want to hear three things that absolutely bother you in the business world because. You are doing a great job of what you're doing, but do you start to see people watering down what you've built for yourself?
I definitely think it makes it harder when you're pitching sponsors for what you're doing. 'cause if you're like, oh, I'm hosting this like founder dinner or founder, they put you in a bucket before they can like, they're like, yeah, you and everybody else are fucking founder dinners. But then I'm just like, just get me in the room.
Get me on a call. Because the second I can get on a phone call with them or in the room with them with my energy and just how I position it, yeah, it helps a lot. But I will say like when they come to an event, so proof of concept, right? Yeah. It's like you've been doing strong New York. People come to it and they experience it and then they're like, shit, this is different.
But they gotta come. And then the other thing I'm just really hard on my team about is the content. So all these brands that we re-pitch and like that we reach out to, they um, they definitely will then like see the videos. But the one caveat around all these events, watering it down, is that. When you hit up, uh, you know, these like bigger brands that have the budget, they're like, oh, we actually put budget into so and so event series.
Yeah. And it's like, not as good as mine. I know. No, but what happens, what I've been noticing is happening is that we did a very grassroots, like you own your business. Yeah. I own my business. I started this from the ground up. Mm-hmm. It takes a lot longer when you don't have investment money. A lot of these brands, and we meet with them all the time.
A lot of these, you know, we'll do collaborations with some of these other companies because I don't want to do everything. I'm the gym guy, I'm the workout guy. I want to do that. I'll outsource the coal plunge shit. I'll outsource the, uh, kind of DJ stuff. I don't wanna be the guy who's, I don't wanna be DJing.
I don't wanna be the mc. I don't wanna be the, the guy on the floor doing the workout. Like you have to outsource a lot of work. Yeah. And since we started, we've like, we made money, we put it back in, we made money, we put it back in. So it takes a lot longer to climb. Whereas like I meet a lot of these young founders, which, uh, it's very impressive, but they're like, oh yeah, I just got 2 million in funding, or 3 million in funding.
And I'm like, Hmm, I never got that because it wasn't really a thing when we started, like pre pandemic. Mm-hmm. Like nobody gave a fuck about doing a lot of these events. Yeah. I feel like post pandemic, I was just talking about it with the podcast I was just on and she was saying the same thing. Yeah. Like post pandemic.
All brands across the board wanna be active in community. Oh my God. They all of a sudden wanna be building in person. Like every brand that we know is like going to the Hamptons, spinning an arm and a leg. Yeah. Hotels, car companies, facial creams. Yeah. Fucking supplement brands. Everybody we're, you know, gathering up people for strong New York.
Don't forget September 27th. Put it on your calendar now. Um, you know, we, uh, we we'll pitch brands and they're like, are you guys doing anything in the Hamptons? Everybody wants to do something in the Hamptons. Mm-hmm I'm like, do you realize like most of the time people don't show up to shit in the Hampton?
I was gonna say, I have this like thesis I say to brands all the time, brands pick my brand all the time in this space. And I say, your events are only as good as your guest list. Yeah. What is the point? You know how much money it costs to buy out a space and and pay for everything. Even these contractors, like I have like seven videographers I will contract 'cause we do like the panels and then there's an audio engineer and then there's the UGC editor.
And then I have like a girl who will just do vertical video on the iPhone for TikTok. Like there's so many people and parties involved and if you do an event that's like a little bit hard to get to and someone's not going to the Hamptons, like they're going all the third weekend of July and your weekend's the fourth, they're not going back.
I know. That's what people don't understand. Yeah. Like the Hamptons isn't as easily accessible as if you did something right here in the city, in the city. So we were talking about that because the gurneys had asked us to do something. Mm-hmm. And she's like, do you think we should do it? I'm like, it's so hard to position, especially when they're like, oh, you could do end of July, beginning of August.
And I'm like, unless you're on one of the holiday weekends, it's gonna be very hard to get a lot of people. Yeah. And then the logistically it's a pain in the ass to go out there, because now we're spending triple on what, you know, hotels and all that shit. Yeah. So it, it's very hard. I know, I think it really depends on like, how this deal is structured, right?
Mm-hmm. Like I, working with talent, if a, if a influencer I work with was gonna work with this brand and they were gonna pay them to go out there, put them in a really nice, like, what's it called? Um, the helicopter. We had a brand do that. The blade, yeah. Do everything. Then it's, I'm like, then do it for like Yeah.
Because then if you, you're not even in charge with the people showing up, but then like. 50 people or whatever the concept is. Yeah. Come at least it's an experience for you. And you get concept, it really depends. Right. Before the pandemic, we did an event, uh, what was that? 2018? 2019. Chris with C four. So we didn't C 4 20 18.
2018. C four hired me to this woman came in, not really know much about like the New York City fitness scene. Mm-hmm. She's like, we wanna do this event. The best event. Yeah. Wow. Only because one, they paid for everything. Two, they let me curate the guest list. They were like, we want you to, and then, then I, uh, mc the event.
Yeah. So I did everything and then they, you know, they paid us a nice chunk of change for it. It was a great event. We brought out all the equipment, we brought out all these trainers and stuff. It was. They bust everyone out, they bladed me out. That's what brands wanna, I have so many brands that will be like, I wanna do an event.
Can you, can your company do it? And when I even tell them the fees of like, that are associated just to put this event on, they're like, oh, we're not ready. That doesn't even include the event planner. Yeah. Like the talent, the host. Like we don't make anything off it. Um, when we host events. Most of the time with these smaller ones.
Two weeks ago, three weeks ago, we're out in Hoboken and we're on that pier and everybody's like, oh, that was such a great time. I had a great time. I'm like, I hope you had a great time. It cost me a fucking almost $10,000. Yep. Yeah. Every time I do one of my, like I, they're called industry nights in la everyone's like, when's your next like, LA industry night?
And I'm like, next year, like these things take me so time, like blood, sweat, and tears. And also because I'm a founder who's super involved and like I, and I'm involved in every piece of it, I am like burnt out from it. Well, but I think it's important to share the behind the scenes of it like you do, because people then value it more.
And brands appreciate that. And then people will, will not wanna miss like your September event. 'cause it's like if they miss it, then you gotta wait a whole year. One of the, one of our pitches that we always say every time we get a brand on the phone is. You probably don't need our help. However, how can we leverage what we've built to support your mission this year?
And that's what we always start with. I need to know that I'm in some way, shape or form, helping them drive the needle forward and move progress in whatever they're trying to do. I have a question for you after this shoot. Do brands ever give you the question for your event? Because it's different than like an Instagram post?
Yeah. What's the ROI? Because like on a digital social media For us or for them? Media. No, they say it. Yeah. They're like, okay, Kenny, we'll pay you this. Like. Fee for this tier partnership. Yeah. But what's the ROI or they ask you that's like a, a question they ask you in the process for, uh, like what's their return on investment?
Yeah. Uh, typically we say to them like, we are a more elevated experience when it comes to big expos. Um, so we're gonna have a lot of people who, not, who necessarily wouldn't go to other events mm-hmm. At the event, um, as well as a, an elevated clientele. So like our, our guest list is paying a premium.
They're paying anywhere from 150 to $500 for a ticket to the event. Mm-hmm. So they are health and wellness professionals. Mm-hmm. Uh, there are gym owners, trainers. It's just kind of like the people I've collected over the past 15, 20 years of being in the industry as well as like people who are now interested in like, oh, hey, well this is New York's really only one event, so we should go to this.
We should be out there. We should be, yeah. Involved somehow, like last year when we were there, we had so many like. The amount of influencers and social media personalities and stuff that we had there. And everybody's like, oh, did you see this one? I'm like, I don't even know who the fuck that is, but like, I'm happy they were there.
Yeah. It's access. Yeah. And it's your relationships that you built. And that's the thing that I always say is like the unique dif differentiator of like all these people trying to copy you is that they're not Kenny Santucci. Yeah. They haven't been building a brand. How long have you had like strong initially?
The, I mean, 2015. So almost 10 years. Yeah. But I mean, perfect example of that is like, look what Michael Rubin just did with uh mm-hmm. Fanatics Fest. Yeah. He's partners with Tom Brady, Jay-Z. Mm-hmm. And like all these people, uh, Bob Kraft. So he, it's, it's easy for him to call in these favors or he's got partnership.
These guys have skin in the game. Yeah. So they're coming to the event and they're, you know, they're making a, it, it's, it's beneficial for everyone because they're all making money off this. Mm-hmm. Um. It's impressive. I mean, what was it year or two this year that they've done that and it's massive. Like the amount of, like the brands that they have there, UFC, wwe, it's insane.
Um, you know, the MLB, the NBA, they have, I mean, you can't fit tops, you know, I guess he owns that Tops card company or something. Yeah. Um, but it's, yeah, it's, it's impressive. But, so, I mean, obviously like people stepping into your space is something that might annoy you a little bit. What else? I'm interested because it, I think it, I think it kind of pulls a little weight off your back when you start to talk about that, things that actually start to bother you, because I know it does for me, like anytime I could vent about some of the shit that bothers me.
Yeah. Like for instance, there are so many younger kids that tell me, oh, they're throwing events and they got two, $3 million worth of funding. I'm like, yeah. Fuck, we're so behind the eight ball. 'cause I've never taken investor money. Like I, I don't even, but then they have skin in the game of your company.
No, no, but like, I think it, I think it helps move it forward. Like look at all these people who are expanding so quickly because they have money. You know, when you have three, $4 million to play with, you could do a lot more. Um, you give up part of the business, but at the same time it's like you're finding the right partner and finding the right investor I think is so important.
But then you hear of those brands that are bootstrapped and they're killing it. Killing it. Yeah. Well, I mean, some of these people are like, oh, well we haven't spent any money in marketing and advertising. I'm like, well, that's a fucking impressive too. Yeah, because we spend a shit ton. I mean, I've probably, we've probably spent about 50, 60 grand already in advertising and marketing already for the, what do you guys use?
Like what's your main I, I hire marketing and advertising companies. I, and you guys will pay for ads on platforms? Uh, yeah. We'll have them help us develop ads for social. Um, as well as like doing, you know, kind of gorilla marketing mm-hmm. As well. Like we're gonna start doing gorilla marketing around the city, like putting up posters and shit like that.
Yeah. Yeah. I was thinking about, I really want to do a billboard. So many people are doing them right now in people wherever we're talking about that on my podcast. Yeah. Uh, in soho. Are they? Yeah. Yeah. I didn't know, like I didn't know they were real. I see so many people doing AI versions of it and shit.
Really? Yeah. I don't know how many Oh God are real. 'cause they're expensive as shit. Yeah, they are. But I do think you guys would really benefit from that for strong because of the placement, but not here. You should do it lower Manhattan. I want to, yeah. I wanna do like one day pay for it. I think it's like still like 20 grand for like a day.
People do them and then, but in Times Square, I don't think it, nobody's looking up and paying attention. And those are tourists, so like, yeah. Yeah. They're not your demo. They don't give No, we need, yeah, I would, I was thinking the same thing, like Soho NoHo area, doing a billboard down there. Yeah. Or I love this shit like a drink collab or something really cool like that, like blank Street, street Coffee is killing it and Maa Fool's doing it.
And all these brands like in, in my PR work, like that's what we do for our clients. We'll get them these smoothie clouds. My, one of my clients right now, they're doing one with Sun Life, currently active right now. Sun. Oh yeah. The, isn't that the drink? It's, it is Sun Life Organics. It's all over LA and like it's in Nashville, but like, it just came to New York.
So you, do you like matcha? I feel like I can't say I do because you literally went on a ramp before. No, I mean, it's perfectly okay if a woman owe a match. Uh, people love matcha like. I, I do love matcha. Yeah. It's grown on me. You know what, there's a place here that there's like 50 of 'em. Maa full? No, what is it?
Chacha Matcha. Chacha Matcha. Yeah. Those guys are fucking killing it. Uh, MAA Fool's killing it. You know how much a matcha costs? I I, $11 probably. Yeah. Is it, is that what it is? $11? No shit. Yeah. The, the one ones in New York. Yeah. What the fuck? Even is it, it's just like smashed up plants. It's green tea leaf, like, but then there's different grades, so now that matcha iss blown up.
Mm-hmm. There's like different grades of matcha and like, you wanna get ceremonial grade from Japan. Like, they're all different. So the fact that like the ma and the matcha is going, it's getting so popular that there's a world matcha shortage right now. Get outta here. Mm-hmm. Where do, where do you grow matcha In Japan.
That's the only place you, the farmers like, and so like Maa fool's not affected by the shortage. It's a whole thing. I was like. D, getting all the, like a lot of my friends from LA were like, can you bring me back? Matcha from matcha full because there's a shortage. So LA is not getting their, I've had so many brands send me so much matcha too.
Yeah. But it's probably like not the high quality, when you're a matcha drinker, you can taste the difference like from good coffee to shit coffee. Yeah. Like how, you know? Oh for sure. Whole flirt. Same, same thing. I am, I'm definitely a co, a coffee connoisseur. I was thinking about this this morning when I went to go Coffee connoisseur.
I love coffee. Coffee's a good vibe. Fellini Fellini has great fucking coffee. And when people talk about the flavor notes of a coffee, you could taste it in a really good coffee. Like it's almost like nut chocolate to Italy. Of course. Yeah. I've been there before. People that's also, I'd like to go back is like, they just go and they get different espresso in Italy and like you could go anywhere in Italy.
The airport has fucking good coffee. Yeah. Better coffee than you could get here. Know? Yeah, I know. Same thing with France though. Like when I was in the south of France, it was the same shit. Like they have an incredible. You know, pastries and fruit. Same with when I was in Columbia. Same thing. Yeah. I loved Columbia.
I love that about it. Um, no, I think you should try matcha. 'cause maybe you can open up some sponsorships after today. You get paid on it. After today I wanted to kick this kid in the back. It just, it really fucked, fucked up my, but if you go to like one of these matcha places to get it, they don't have to do that.
'cause usually they have them like whisk and like, you go to Chacha, we, we should just go to Chacha, take it like they had this gun and it like with an electric whisk. So it's really quick. Okay. Yeah. 'cause today I was just like, I, it's so fun losing my patience. I had to get a coffee as soon as I could to run down to my client and I thought I was gonna be the only person lying and up walks this, uh, I don't even wanna say it.
Um. Douche bag of a guy and he's like, ah, could I have a matcha? And I'm like, you had to fucking order this bullshit right before I got up to the line. So the fucking guys whisper it. Seven, 11 minutes later, you get your drink and I finally get my drink and I'm like, all they have to do is undo the tap, pour my coffee in and I could be on my way, but I had to wait till this fucking guy's stupid one.
Are you patient or no? Zero. Patience. You know when like zero patience things happen. Are you one of those people? I'm a New Yorker. Like things happen for me. I was watching this story yesterday and this girl who's, who's great you, I'll connect you guys actually. She's someone. You should know. Okay. They like sneaker influencer anyway.
She was saying like she was at the airport and there's delays. There's a lot of delays right now. I've never been delayed. I travel so much and I'm never delayed always. And then I've been like, I had the craziest travel day even coming here, but she was like, whenever I'm delayed or like I'm going through it.
And it was like a crazy delay, like all day. She always says, she asks like, what is this trying to show me? Is trying to gimme pa Like is it trying to make me slow down? Is it trying to, so she asked that question back. So it's like when someone is like taking their suite, maybe you're meant to like, I don't know, talk to the girl behind you in line, make a new con.
No, there was nobody in line, but only me. I was the only fucking idiot waiting for the coffee. But I will say this, I, I actually did come to yesterday, I was driving down to a wedding and I'm sitting in the car by myself and I actually didn't turn the music on the whole time I drove. How long? Yeah, I drove from Montauk to East Brunswick, New Jersey.
So if you know the area. It was like a two hour and 45 minute drive. Yeah. Yeah. It was a fucking long drive. Anyway, I was on the Bell Parkway. Everybody drives like absolute dog shit on there. Um, so I'm driving down and I go, one of the worst things that, the worst things that ever happened to me was getting canceled.
And I always thought to myself, I'm like, okay, if I actually did something wrong, this was a good way for me to reset, but it didn't. So I always think I go, why'd this fucking happen to me? I didn't do anything. What lesson was this supposed to teach me? Mm-hmm. And I was actually even telling my cousin this yesterday.
I go, had I have not gotten canceled, I would've probably still been on television. And I think I would just be kind of empty about it because I, I never found it fulfilling. I always wanted it to use it as like a stepping stone to do other shit. Mm-hmm. Um, so for me it made me uncomfortable, uh, in many different ways, but.
Uh, in one way was to like kind of build everything I've built up to this point. I feel like everything happens for you, not to you. Yeah. Yeah. It's like such a mindset shift of things For sure. Yeah. But it's, it's every like, pivot is redirection, right? Mm-hmm. Like there's that saying rejection is redirection.
Yeah. And I, I agree. I really believe that. That's why like the silence and the solitude is so important. Yeah. Because you can think Saturday night I was with my buddy, we stopped at this bar. This called what bar? Um, we were at the new Bagatelle, or no, was it the bag of No, we were at the something Hampton project or Yeah, I think it's called the Hampton Project.
So we went in there, um, we were meeting up with a bunch of other guys and this girl comes up to me start and she's like, Hey, so what do you do? And the conversation was just So she hit on you, like forward? Yeah. Yeah. Pretty, pretty forward. Um, and she wanted to like, just brag about being an attorney. And she's like, I'm an attorney.
I'm like, I, I don't give a fuck. So what, like, uh, there, that's not even, did you say that? It's not even a fun job? No. It, it just went, the conversation absolutely went nowhere. But I thought about that because I go, so many people like kind of walk into your life and it's funny how certain things stay in certain things don't.
Like it was just like the conversation was going nowhere and it was just like, all right, see you later. Oh my God. But I sat outside and I was sitting with this guy who ended up being some fucking local Yoel out there, and we just. Talked for about an hour, about absolute like politics and, you know, yeah.
Going to the gym and all this stuff, and I'm like, had the conversation have been good? I probably would've stayed and just talked to her. But I went outside and I had a great conversation. Yeah. And I got, I went home and I was telling Jim and my buddy Jimmy's like, what are you guys gonna bang after that or something?
I was like, no, we were just having a great conversation. I was like, I kinda liked the guy. He was fucking great. Did you connect with him after? No. We, I didn't, we didn't even exchange numbers or anything, but I, I literally had a better conversation with this guy than this. Yeah. This woman. Um, but yeah, you think about that, you're like, oh yeah, that'd be cool to.
Meet somebody like you. There's so many different steps in life that could lead to certain other things, but I think as long as you're like following what you're meant to do, you're always like led to that. Yeah. And I, I think always being true to who you are, I have a problem saying no to people and I end up really, oh my God, I'm surprised.
Yeah. I feel like you say no. No, I, you know, listen, I do believe that like, there's been so many times I've said yes and so many times I did things that I didn't wanna do. Why? You're a people pleaser. I yes and no. Like, I, I always take it from my point of view. Like I never want people to say no to me.
Right? Like, I hate when I, we reach out to a brand or we're trying to do something and people are just so fucking cold and shitty and I'm like, the reason why I became a glorified gym teacher was because those who can't do teach, those who can't teach, teach gym. So that's what I do. Um, but I enjoy it and.
Part of the reason why I wanted to become a teacher when I was younger was because teachers were so fucking mean, like there was in my school. Mm-hmm. They were all like, I remember being so afraid of having this, uh, one nun who everybody hated. She was such a bitch. She was so angry all the fucking time.
And I'm like, oh my God, when I get to seventh grade, I hope I don't have this woman. And I just, I didn't understand fearing a teacher. Then when I was, I went, I joined my first gym when I was like 15, 16 years old, and the guy behind the desk was this like juiced up fucking loser, nineties looking gym rat, you know, like got like a buzz cut, you know?
And he was such a dick too. And I remember telling my brother, I'm like, go. I'm gonna, I'm gonna open up a gym and it's gonna be cool. Everybody's gonna have a good time, and people are gonna look forward to going because I fucking hate going there. 'cause that guy sucks. And then I felt the same way about school.
I'm like, I hated school. 'cause teachers were always mean, and it sucked. So I was like, I'm just gonna do what, how old old were you when you said that? Probably 15 or 16 years old. But I always felt like you don't have to be an asshole to people. You know, a teacher doesn't have to be an asshole to people.
Mm-hmm. You know? So I always said I want to get into that field so that I can make people feel good about it. So I never say no to people because I never want somebody to feel like rejected in a way, because I wouldn't want that. Yeah. So like when people are, Hey, could I come to the event? I mean, Christie gets pissed about it all the time.
Um, could I come? What about with dating? Are you like Yes. Well I've, yeah, I've been talked into dating, going out on that. I didn't want to go on for sure. Because you feel bad. Well, it's, it's twofold when you're a guy, right? I never want somebody to feel that shitty, that like, I'm too good for them. So I've, she could tell you I've taken out a pity.
Yeah. I've taken girls out on dates where I'm like, I, I wouldn't ask this girl out, but I'm like, sure. Yeah, we'll go out on date. I'll take you to dinner there. I don't want to name. No, you're, there's definitely you're gonna get all the girls gonna try that. I who way too long. Yeah. So who wasn't I telling?
Yeah, you were there the other day when I was talking about that one girl where we, I took this girl out to dinner like four or five times. Yeah. Because she And did she initiate? Um, yeah, she was the one who's like, after each one she's like, how come you never asked me out? And I'm like, what did you say?
I'm like, uh, I never thought it was an option. He is sure we'll go out. Like I didn't want, but were you actually interested in No, no, no. I really wasn't. Like I could, because you know that saying like, wanted, as a guy you're wanted always loyal. He would Yeah. But that's true. What if he wanted to, he would.
Right? Yeah. Yeah. And it, well, no, I, I think there's times where you're like intimidated and you don't wanna do it, or you don't want to feel rejected or whatever it is. But for the most part, I think, yeah, some guys are aggressive enough where mm-hmm. Especially New York guys, I feel like. Yeah. And there's, there's very few, um, you know, there's, I don't know, I think there's more opportunities here than anywhere else, but like, yes, there's very few times where you're like, oh, I really want to make this connection.
Mm-hmm. I, I'd probably say there's probably 10 times I could think of in the 15 years I've lived in New York where I'm like, oh, I should go up and talk to that girl. Really? Yeah. Yeah. It doesn't, it's not like I'm walking around all the time being like, oh, 'cause you're like out here trying to like numb, reject them, come up to you.
So this, so this girl, um, this is God, it's gotta be five or six years ago before the pandemic. Oh wow. Okay. And she's like, you never asked me out. And I'm like, well, okay, let's go out. And we went out on four or five dates and then It's a lot of dates. Yeah. Yeah. And we'd sit there and bullshit. She's kind of within the ecosystem of like the fitness industry.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. She's like into it, but not really. And on the fifth date we were leaving this restaurant and she's like, you never even tried to kiss me or do anything. And I'm like. Oh, fuck, man, I'm really getting pressured into this. I was like, I, I, at that point, like, you have to do it right. So I'm like, all right, I guess I'll fucking kiss her.
Oh my goodness. And then she's like, are you gonna invite me over? And I'm like, I knew you're gonna go there. Fucking God, this is getting crazy. I was like, I gotta be up so early tomorrow. I was like, but definitely let's do it again. And like after that, she texted me and she's like, you know what? This isn't working for me.
Oh my God. And I'm like, you, you're, you're dumping me. I was like, I didn't. So it, that's, yeah. I've had that happen a couple times where I, I really wasn't that interested, but I didn't wanna tell them. No. Yeah. So, and there's definitely time. I mean, there's definitely times with the event where people are like, can I speak?
Can I do this? And I'm like, uh, yeah. Talk to Christie. Yeah. I, I knew you were gonna say that. Everyone needs a Christie. Yeah. Yeah. I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah. We'll get you on for sure. I'd love to have you. And like, I genuinely I would if I had infinite amount of time and it didn't cost me fucking Yeah.
Literally it cost us probably. 15 to $20,000 an hour. So within that hour, I have to fucking come up with some shit that's gonna generate that much revenue. And there's a lot of people where I, I'm, I'm like, I'm genuinely asking you what do you, what do you want to talk about? Because I don't even know what the fuck you do.
You know, there's so many people who are like, well, I was thinking about starting this thing. I go, so you don't even have a thing. They wanna, but they wanna talk. Yeah. Yeah. Everybody wants to tell this story. Trust. I have a podcast. You should see my dms. Me too. I, yeah. It's like, oh, I'm sure. I, it's, it's, I, but I appreciate it so much and I think everyone should shoot their shot always.
So if you're listening Yes. Your shot. I agree. You out with Kenny if you wanna go out with him, 'cause he'll take it. Yeah. Which is, yeah. You'll at least get a free dinner out of it for sure. Um, careful what you wish for. You can get whatever you want. You just. Yeah, I've, I've definitely, uh, I've definitely been down that road too many times and I was just like, all right, sure.
I'll go, oh my God. You should do like a episode on, like the guideline. 'cause you're such a New Yorker on like dating in New York, the men's guide, because there's so many women who do it in New York and they crush. Everybody gets defended. Everything. I fucking say, I can never talk about dating. Like, really?
Why? Yeah. I, I don't even realize I'm, I'm being offensive. I grew up in a very Italian, New Jersey household where like everyone, my uncles, my mom, my, everybody would always be like, oh, that broad. I never even thought that was like a bad thing. I end up saying it sometime and I'm like, oh fuck. Somebody's gonna get offended by that.
But it's just like the limb. Have you ever brought a girl home to meet your family? Oh, of course. Yeah. Okay. So there, there's been like some good contenders. Oh. Well, because I'm like, I I, my family at growing up my house was like a publican. That's how my parents are. It's like my family, like I've come home, like they come visit in la They've had like my, all my friends over for dinner.
Yeah. Yeah. My house is, I didn't know who you're having people over my house. Oh, Christmas is big. Have anywhere to go. Yeah. I, oh, my parents are like that too though. Yeah. They're like, invite them over for Christmas if they don't. Christmas is like, I feel like all like acquaintances now. 'cause my sister will extend the invite to everyone.
Yeah. I, I feel bad because I'm like, fuck that would, that would suck. Sitting home by yourself. Yeah. And I don't think some people look at it like that, but like, for me, I'm like, mm-hmm. Well, we're gonna have this huge meal and there's gonna be all these people, so do you want to come? Yeah. You know, because I, I've definitely been in situations where I was talking to somebody relatively new and they're like, yeah, I'm just gonna sit home on Christmas or like.
It's New York, everybody's Jewish and they're like, I wish I could celebrate Christmas. I'm like, do you wanna come to my house? Yeah. Like I felt like they were throwing it out there for me to say something. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So I'm like, well, you could come. I think you have a big soft spot. I think sometimes online, like people think you're way meaner than you.
You are. Yeah. I definitely, I definitely, uh, people definitely think this is a podcast that's exposing you. I'm getting exposed now. I need to be more of a fucking hard ass. I need to be more of a hard, no, I think, but my other side of that, I think with what you do in the space that you're in. I, I talk about this all the time with like influencers and they gotta be everyone's friend.
Um, Carl Radkey and I were just chatting about this 'cause he's like opened up Soft bar. Mm-hmm. Are you guys connected? Oh, I'm gonna connect you guys. Who's that? Carl Radkey from Summer House. Oh no, he's opening up. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I love, yeah, he's opening up some. He's such a nice guy. Yeah, he I was telling him about you.
Yeah. And I think there's a lot. You guys could, I love to connect. I'm gonna connect you guys, but, um, he is opening up Soft bar. Yeah. In Brook in Green Point. What's the guy you met with? Chris, right? Yeah. Yeah, Chris. So anyway, like it's such a cool spot. It's gonna be like a, not it's a mocktail, like not a bar, but like a social club.
Yeah. So it's like you go there. But anyway, when we were talking about like business stuff and like brands that I had for him and the numbers about it, he's like. That's where I like step aside. 'cause he likes to stay like bringing the connections in. So I think it's also a good thing 'cause then you attract a lot of different things that you can pass off to your team.
Yeah, no, I mean there's definitely some brands for sure that, like, people have asked me to put stuff up, they're like, Hey, I'd really appreciate if you'd put this picture up or this video for free. Yeah. This event. And I'm like, fuck, all right. Yeah, I'll do it. Yeah. Do a story. You know? But in a way, sometimes people look at your brand, but it, it's all the way you position yourself.
Like I'm, I always wanna support people. I genuinely do like seeing people win. Mm-hmm. I genuinely wanna make people happy. Like the event it, when people ask me what the best part of the event is, last year I took a second for myself, looked around and there were so many people smiling and having a good time.
And I go. Even if I lose every dollar, this was such a win. That's how I am with my events. Yeah. I'm like so burnt out and tired. Yeah. But like I, people are like, oh, I met like influencers that moved the needle for our brand. I met a co-founder. I met an investor. Yeah. 'cause of the cool quality of people we curate for sure.
I like, it was insane. Like my last event, I just did, 'cause we had the fires in LA in January, so my event was slated to be, uh, the state in January. That was like right during the fires. And it's like, you know, like you're planning this date, you have it, you're like September, like, you know what day it is and you're planning it.
And everyone's like, all the speakers were coordinated to come out, like all the like brands were set and then we had to move it 'cause of the fires and like, holy shit. Of course. It's like a. Everyone understands, but at the same time, so everyone understood, like I sent out like the professional email like, and then that was a whole thing too because I've never dealt with something like that before.
Like the brands I knew I was gonna move it when the fires were just like when they, when they started and I was like, fuck my event's in two weeks. Like this is not good. Mm-hmm. And it's wild because you have people who are just attending who are like waiting for my event. 'cause it does open up a lot. I have a lot of like really powerful people there.
Or they're aligned to come to LA that week, so they're stoked. Yeah. And then I've had, I had like not nice messages about like, oh, you're moving it. Like, you know, it was only it, like you'd be surprised. And then I had brands that every brand was understanding, but then you also had brands that are like, why didn't you put out a statement on your story or an email telling us?
I'm like. It's coming, but it like I had like 300 emails to do and coordination. It has to go out in like a professional way and it has to go to the top line first. Yeah. Then down and it's like, sorry, you're like at the bottom of the barrel. Yeah. But it was just wild dealing with it. And then I had to redo the whole event.
'cause it's like not every speaker could redo the day. I remember like Saha Bloom was flying in and that was like the week of his press week in LA and it all worked out. And then yeah, you lose your whole panel. I had a theme for the panel. Everything had to, all the brands had to reconsider if they were gonna fully pull out.
And you have to respect that 'cause of like it's a new date. Yeah. It was the most stressful thing to redo that event in like the span of three weeks. But after the event, I was so burnt out because of that. And I read the messages like I. Hundreds of messages of stories of people who met people. Mm-hmm.
That like changed the game. That's the best part. And then like, living in la I'm sure you find this in New York when you're walking around LA or New York after your event and you meet people who came. It's crazy. That's the best part. Do people come up to you in New York and are like, Hey, I went to Strong.
Like that was such a great event. Or like, do you get that? I got the craziest compliment this weekend. Wait, tell in the Hamptons. Yeah. I was sitting on the phone with Julian, who's one of my coaches. Um, I, my camera guy was sleeping in the car and I didn't wanna wake him up 'cause we were drove out from, um, where we were at post house and then we were going out to East Texas.
I wanna go there. It's great. It's great. Walter's awesome. Uh, and the, the, it was really cool experience. I went, I worked out there yesterday morning. I hung out with him for a little bit on Saturday, but we're gonna do a, a little popup out there by the end of the summer. Sick. So yesterday I'm sitting on FaceTime with him and I'm demoing moves to be like, all right, this is what's gonna be in the programming this week.
Yeah. Blah, blah, blah. And uh, these two girls are leaving the, they couldn't have been more than 35, and they were walking out of the, uh, the Cinderellas that I was sitting in and they go, Hey, we love your, your podcast and love following you online. I'm like, re, really? I was like, I didn't even think anybody listened to it, but it was cool.
I thought it was just like people I know listened to it, you know? That's the most motivating thing in the world. Yeah. And I'm like, I just gotta keep pumping out episodes. Then those things inspire me so much. When I got, when I was in New York two weeks ago, and it was like my first day, uh, in the city and I was like, going to get a match.
And this girl came up and she was like, looking at me and the, I was with like my videographer girl, and she was like, is that girl staring at you? And I was like, maybe we're like in her like, I don't know, like, I don't know if we're like in the way or we're being like, I don't know. And then she came over and she was like, I listen to your podcast.
I follow you online. And then I was really receiving that in a nice way. I was like so positive. Sure. Crying. It was That's great. It was, but it was like, I mean, really motivating. Yeah. Like, I was like sick, like, yeah, like keep going. I, I went through two phases of that. One when I was on television. You go somewhere and people are like, oh my God, I love this show, blah, blah, blah.
And I'm like, all right. Well, I, it's not like I wrote the fucking show. I'm there people, I in reality TV get that a lot though. I know. Which is so crazy to me because like coming from that world, doing it when it was just television. So it was, in my opinion, a bigger deal than it is now. Yeah. Because like most of these people are online.
Celebrities, basically like no one's watching. Yeah. 'cause you know how to leverage it. Yeah. Then you grow to the moon and it's cra But I think reality people are bigger than real celebrities now. Oh, a hundred percent. Right. It's so you're culturally relevant in the land of social media then you're like a celebrity.
No, when I was on television, you were a second class citizen, it was like, oh yeah, you're reality. People go over there, you know? And, but now it's like, they're, they're a big deal. They get invited to fucking huge events and stuff. Um, my friend who does it now, it's like he's bigger than he ever was in the past.
But regardless, I think there's, uh, there's definitely a beauty to, um, you know, having a presence and affecting people's lives. Mm-hmm. In that way. I mean, I. Now I feel so much better about it because it's something I created that's something I care about. That's something I put so much time and effort into.
Whereas when I was on tv, I'm like, I was a kid. I was just being a jerk off on television. It's, yeah, there I wasn't really like, oh my God, this is so cool. Like it was fun to do it, but it's not like something I curated like your brand and your events and the things you do are you, like, that's you and people are falling in love with you.
At that point, they were ju they were falling, they liked the show. It didn't matter who the fuck the guy is. I find that when people meet you in person too, and whether that be like they follow you online and they meet you or they come to your events and they get to like be in your energy and your presence and see what you curate.
It makes them a forever follower co community member of your brand. Yeah. Well, I, I, again, I, it's insane what it does see. I always feel the, I'm always a. Uh, look on the opposite side of it, where I think that like, when people meet me, they're gonna be disappointed. They're gonna be like, uh, no, I think they was, that was uneventful.
He's such a teddy bear. It's so nice. I'm, I'm always think, I always think like they're gonna be like, oh, that sucked. That wasn't when I thought it, because I've actually had that experience with people when you're like, you're so excited to meet them. And then you're like, that was, yeah, but not with like, you, I hope not.
Some people I could see that if they're not like what they preach online. So Yes. And there I definitely have, uh, somebody that I looked, you know, kind of was into, and then when I met them I'm like, ah, jerk guy's. A jerk off. Anyway. Founder, influencer founder. Yeah. Yeah. Big business. But anyway, um, with what we do, throwing events, doing all this stuff, if you can work alongside one person and throw an event at a, a singular place with this person.
Who would it be and where would it be? Anywhere. Anywhere. Anywhere on the planet. Oh my God. Do you want me to like with who dream big, or do you want me to just go like business brain? Because in my business brain, I'd be like, okay, I wanna do a hotspot city like la, New York or Miami. Mm-hmm. And I would do it with someone who's like a great person to work with.
And I know their energy, I know their vibe. But are we like, yeah, like, I mean, it could be anybody. Like you're, you're gonna do a coffee. Coffee and a good vibe coffee and a good vibe with someone. And are they like a partner in it? Like they're gonna, they're helping you push it like, Hey, come see us live.
Oh my gosh, this is a good question. I feel like most of us don't have an answer for like these things where it's like if somebody hand does, um, yeah. Because I don't like to put anyone on a pedestal. Yeah. That's like my thing. I, I mean, I, I think there's certain people who put themselves on a pedestal.
Yeah, yeah. And we all kind of be like, yeah, that makes sense. They've done enough shit in the space where yeah, we deserve it. Well, I think there's like really cool people who curate events really well. And I think what I've, I don't know. I met Jay Shetty once, but for example, actually no, you went to the show.
I heard that. I did. Um, a lot of my friends went to the show and the way he like spoke, everyone left with something where they felt something. Yeah. And to make people feel something like, I think there's a type of person who can do that. So it would be really cool to curate something epic with someone like that.
But even from a brand perspective, I think like there's brands in the space that. You know, they do an event and every, every like line, like every.is like hit, you know, like it's amazing. And I think Teza, I don't know if you know Teza, the app, they do such crazy events in LA for their own app, and the girl's name is Teza.
She's an influencer. Every girl listening to this probably knows the app. It like this influencer, Tessa, she's passionate about photography, started this app. I like went down the rabbit hole, listening to her on podcast. She bootstrapped it and it's worth like 10 million or $20 million now. Go for it. And it's just an app.
Well it's not just an app, but it's like an app that helps you edit your photos and videos. But like the, the presets are insane. Like they're so good. A lot of every like big influencer. I know when you ask them like, what do you use? They use Teza And Chris, do you know what that is? Yes. Yeah. See, every girl, she, this motherfucker's got a finger on the pulse of everything.
Yeah. I could throw a name out there. And she's like, yeah, of course I know who that is. I'm like, how? Why do you know all this shit? And the other, and she like the girl, like her brand, like her events that she curates, like the around launches are so well done. Pardon? I didn't even know she did it. Like they're not, uh, events, like, we do like community events.
They're events for like a-list talent. Like she'll, she'll do like a, a dinner around like launching something and it's like, it does the press move. Like, you know, there's a time and place for that. Summer Fridays an amazing brand that curates events really well. It's like a-list talent. The reality TV stars who are culturally, culturally relevant are there, it's like select people and then it's a beautiful event and they all post, and then that's how that brand like will highlight a certain like campaign drop.
Mm-hmm. There's like different types of events. Yeah. No, I agree. I, I mean, listen, working alongside a. That will, you know, and we talk about this all the time when we, we try to sell strong to people, we're like, man, if we just have one brand to help us pay for like all the big lift heavy shit, a headline.
Yeah. Don't you guys usually have a headline partner? Yeah, we do, but not like, it's not enough. We, we've never gotten, like, I've talked to some founders and some people within the space who are like, yeah, we got 150 or 200 plan from somebody. And like, I mean, our space costs 125,000, so like our event costs a lot.
Mm-hmm. You know, so if I had somebody help me with that, then I'd go bigger with marketing and advertising and different shit, and then like I could pay some people to come. Um, so yeah, like, but I think that's the whole beauty of a brand. It's like when you scale your brand as a thought leader, as a influencer, as a podcast host, then you don't have to pay for that access.
Like, mm. El she's the Tesa example. Right. You see her like dinners when she does them. And it's every big talent you'd love to get in the room with. That probably charges like six figures for a campaign. Yeah. And they're her, like become her friends and that's what you're building. Yeah. I don't, I mean, I don't know if I'm ever gonna be sitting at Tessa's table.
I'd love to. I mean, that'd be cool, but put it out there. Yeah, I'm, I'm putting it out there. I feel like it could happen for you. Easy Teza with a z te two Z's. Yeah. Teza. I'm available for any of these dinners that you wanna put me on. I feel like the only guy there. What are some brands that you haven't worked with yet that you'd like to Ooh, I think any brand, right?
Any brand. Could be any, could be fucking, oh my God, I love it's heavy, sporty, and rich. Sporty and Oh my God. You have to know sporty and rich because you are in New York. It's a New York. Brands, really? Soho been in there sweatshirt. They do everything right. Okay. You should go, you don't leave this area.
Right? Minta in the store. I mean, I travel, walk over to Soho and go get like go see what all the cool brands are doing. Yeah. I mean, well I've been trying to, I've been trying to see like what people think is cool 'cause I'm not cool anymore. Yeah. Sporty and rich, all these brands I'm about to name is my favorite.
Sporty and rich. Who else? Um, form, you know the girls? Yeah. Yeah. I love those girls. Yeah, me too. I don't know. Fuck all about them. I've been wearing their shit form. Sammy's ran. Yeah, so I saw them before I came. So my friend Josh, you know Josh who owns Energy? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So he had them at his space.
Unfortunately. Really? That's their popup spa. That was his, yeah, it's his spot. It's beautiful. Yeah. No, they did that. They did all the branding and stuff and I, I admire them. How much is that? How old are those girls? What are they're, uh, a year older than me. Yeah. 31. Okay. So I was so impressed by the branding, the way they put it all together, the marketing of it, the, what they put up on social.
I didn't know who they were from a, a fucking hole in the wall. Yeah, they're huge in la, but they put, and they have a cool brand, you know, obviously it's geared towards women, but I admire what they built for sure. I, and I didn't, what was that a month ago? They built that thing, or two months ago. And I was like, that's fucking cool.
Yeah, they did that really well. They had a great group of people. I think the one they had Jay Shetty there. Jay Shetty did it. Yeah. Yeah. They're friends. That's what you were friends with. People you have access. Relationships are everything. I lived in New York for 15 years. I don't have any famous friends.
Not that famous. Not like Jay shit, like you do. No, I'm friends with this guy. He's my boy. We're gonna eventually go grab a fucking matcha together. Oh, you gotta have matcha. Um, I think another then, like another brand would be a coffee brand. I love Alfred Coffee in LA. We, Josh, so I don't, I only know Alfred because it's in the airport in LA I love Alfred and they have in New York.
I like Blank Street. I see. I I, I think I've had blank street one or two times. It's not memorable to me. It's not memorable, but it's consistent. Yeah. And that's what I appreciate with coffee. I agree. I think, I think 'cause I get ice Americano so that shit can be off with the ratios of ice to, you know, that's another fucking chick thing that I'm an ice Americano girl doesn't.
And if I will fight with her all day long because if we're in a rush to go somewhere and she's like, she needs to have a fucking Americano, I go. Why? Because they need to make the espresso. Yeah. And then she needs to have extra ice in it. And I go, yeah, I asked for extra. Oh, it's I, you'll never meet a guy who asks for extra ice.
It's like. It's, it's just such a fucking chick thing. It annoys the fuck outta me because somebody else, I was somewhere else, we were doing an event and some girl goes, could you get me extra ice too? I go, what the fuck is with what's with the extra ice? It's gonna all melt. Anyway. I told Josh that the owner of Alfred when I met him, because he is so well, like hi, the Alfred that I walk to, they all know me.
They make my extra ice Americano every morning. It's like waiting for me. Where in LA is it? Uh, in West Hollywood. The one on Melrose Place is the OG one, and that's where the, their office is. So we met 'cause everyone's like, how do you not know I should in the CBG space? Anyway, when we met, they were, he, he was laughing that I asked for extra ice.
Yeah. He's like, we'll give you extra ice all day long. Yeah. Yeah. Because it like, she's another one. Fuck it. It drives me up a while. But, but wait, what were you gonna say about that brand way? It's like nails on a chalkboard for Well no, 'cause I stay at, when I go to, uh, Austin and I go pretty often, I stay at, um.
The Line Hotel and inside the line hotel they have in Alfred. No way. Yeah. I didn't know it was there. Yeah. And I love their coffee cups. They do the old school New York style coffee cup. Yeah. With the branding. And I like, I get my, I like black coffee. I either want black ice coffee or black coffee regular.
I don't need matcha. I don't need fucking, uh, iced Americanos. I just want black coffee. Wow. Um, can you taste the difference a thousand percent? Yeah. If you put it five coffees in front of me, I drank so much coffee that I could probably tell you where it's from. We should do that. Really? I would love to fill film that.
Yeah. I could taste like, yeah. Starbucks. I could tell you. I'm trying to, people ask me that for, um, coffee and a goodbye page. I do machos and coffees. People ask me, I think you were one of the first people to do like coffee and. And now every is a coffee and chill coffee. And Thank you. Two fives coffee in it.
Thank you. This needs to be a clip because everyone will send me coffee and chill. Yeah. And I No, sh I love it. I would love to them. They're a LA based friend. They should have you. That's what a lot of people say. Yeah. I'm very big though on like, I would, they're, I have his number. He's a really nice kid.
The kid who started, there's also a, it's in Toronto too. Oh, uh, coffee party. Yeah, we're working with them. No way. So I'm going to Toronto. Um, you're Toronto based. I'm from Toronto. Yeah. Yeah. There's this, you say that there's this Canadian invasion going on in New York right now. I fucking love it. Maybe that's why I'm like, I wanna stay here over LA but I'm going to Toronto.
I was gonna go at the end of this trip, but I'm gonna go like in like two weeks. But my sister works with me and my sister's like, we need to do stuff with them. So I'm gonna meet with them. I, I'm gonna put you on a text with Matt right after this, the Toronto one, Matt owns. Uh, the Coffee Pot. Oh my God. I love that.
And their whole thing is like DJs and stuff, and that's another thing that I want to outsource. Like we've never done an after party after Strong. And I was talking to him, I was like, would you guys want to do that? Mm-hmm. Um, and he's like, yeah, we'll do it. So they're gonna do like an after party and stuff, but, um, coffee's, everything.
Wait for my merch. I'm working on that right now. Oh. Another brand I love. And they, they're, I'm working with the founder. He's like helping me out on merch. Mad happy. You're gonna say, I don't know it go to soho. They just opened it. Soho. No, somebody's into this. Somebody at the gym wears that bullshit. Mad, happy, mad happy.
Yeah. Yeah. I don't, I mean, I'm not, and I'm a very big fan of all these, all these places. Forum did it. Sporty and Rich did it, and Mad Happy's doing it where they have a storefront, like in a, in a really trendy spot. Like they have soho and then they have a cafe. I love that. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Me too. I love years ago, I love when brands do.
Amy Leon, do I go there? Oh, I love who Amy Leon do. What the fuck is that? What is that? We need to go to soho right after this podcast. Amy Leon Dore. We need sculpt. You've seen this court, this one you've seen. I guarantee it's all, it's in New York. They did the Yankee score. Do you know what ki is? Yeah, of course I know what ki is.
Yeah. Ki did the ice cream though, right? Um, no. For me, years ago I had brought in probably five different plumbers into Solace when I was running that place. Yeah, to run plumbing up to the front. 'cause I wanted a coffee shop in the front, so bad. I love coffee. I drink fucking five cups a day. Yeah. And people are like, oh, you're gonna die.
I'm like, I'm gonna die of something. Might as well be something I like doing. Yeah. I that too with them. If it's coffee and cigars, I'm okay with dying from it and or dropping a barbell on my head or something. Yeah. Like that. That is a good, that is a glorious death for me. Um, so what do you have? What else do you have going on?
What are, what are you working on right now? Oh my gosh. So many things. So I'm working on our next event, which is, uh, it's our next LA industry event, but this one's exciting you guys. We need to chat about it. It's wellness theme. So it's gonna be like, usually our nights are like LA night cocktail nights, but I don't know if you've, if this is how it is in New York, but, and LA no one drinks, like we'll get a, I notice it.
We'll get an alcohol partner and we'll do the whole thing. 'cause we kinda have to, and also with hospitality partners for events, when you're buying it out, they're like, oh, like what's the alcohol like? That's a whole conversation. And what we do with our events is we'll get like. A big alcohol brand to take that placement.
So they'll take, do a takeover on the bar, like think like when you're at Coachella and you see like 8 1 8 takeover, a branded cocktail, the blood wise, whatever. And then everything's like mocktail version, I make sure, and then cocktail and it's so crazy. But every brand that will pay for that placement, the amount of alcohol, like we'll project and I'll give them like, oh, the, in the past, this is how many drinks were served of the night.
It no one drinks. So that our mocktails crush, because with our mocktails we'll do like really cool mocktail beverages that have like adaptogens and like euphoric and all those things. I love it. Those crush. Yeah. So this event I'm excited about. 'cause in LA also, no one works like a normal person. No shit.
So I'm gonna change the time up. I'm gonna make it like an earlier event. We're gonna have a huge panel like with some really heavy hitter names that are gonna fly in for it. Um, and it's, it's my next like baby coffee and a good vibe wellness event. And then at the same time. With the podcast. The podcast has been growing a lot.
We're working on like the merch, but I want my merch to be cool. So I'm collaborating with a cool like clothing brand and it's not about money to me. Yeah. It's about just having dope merch that like, I think is sick, that people love the quality. I think nowadays entrepreneurs like us are spending our like, I don't know about you.
I don't really take vacations. I'd rather take 10 grand No. Yeah. And dump it into my business. Oh my God. And do something cool. Like same in LA. I built like a podcast studio and now. My sister's, like we have this like area in the studio. My sister's like, oh, instead of doing that like aesthetic wall, you're thinking let's do a merch wall.
So people can come, they can get like the dad hats, they can get a crew neck, they can get, we wanna do like tumblers 'cause we're also like coffee in a good vibe. Tumblers and, and cool shit that people could take. 'cause that's brand material and I'd rather like put all the money in there so an influencer or a founder could come over and then wanna wear that sweater.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I mean that's my, one of my biggest problems is I love merch. I'm the type of guy, I can't go to a concert without buying a concert t-shirt. The only problem is I'm going to see bands that were cool in 1989 and it's not cool anymore. So all my shit has skulls and grim reapers and you know, it's kind of emulated in your strong New York brand though.
Yeah, and I think that's why like, I mean, I get a lot of shit from the ladies who work with me because they're like, your stuff's not cool. And I'm like. I think it's cool. Yeah. It's so you though. Yeah. It's so on brand for you. Yeah, but I need somebody, I need like, I thought you stuff was really cool. I think those girls Oh, you did think it's cool?
Oh my God. Yeah. Like, not for me, I'm not gonna wear that shit. But like for women, you know? Mm-hmm. Like, I don't think I'm their target demographic. Like, nobody's like, oh yeah, maybe we should make some cool stuff for 40-year-old fucking guys. Like, no. I mean, I think that the biggest consumers are women. 25 to 35.
You guys are fucking buying makeup and you know, clothing and so much shit. Yeah. Like, I, I thank God every day I'm not a woman because I wouldn't have wanna have to do all the maintenance. It's a lot to, to, to keep up with the Joneses, you know? As much as people are like, no, not every woman has to, if you wanna get fucking laid and you know, or you just ask Kenny.
No, but I mean like the amount of. Work that goes into being a woman is so much more like, I could, I might wear this same outfit tomorrow and nobody gives a shit. No one will notice either. No, no. It's like I've gone days without fucking grooming myself and everybody's like, ah, it's normal for a, it's like, you guys gotta shave everything.
You gotta take care of everything. You gotta fucking Botox everything. You know, like there are women in my gym and she could tell you like, there are the upkeep is like, it's gotta be hundreds of thousands of dollars. Right. What do you think she spends on all the upkeep? Oh, he knows. He's like thinking of someone in his head.
Yeah. He needs it all after this
a month. Easy. Yeah. And there's a bunch of, but even her, every time we gotta go somewhere, it's like, I gotta get my eyelashes done. I gotta get my eyebrows done. I got my, get my fucking Botox done. I'm like, I'm like, it's cra I gotta get my nails done. I'm like, oh, I gotta get a foot massage. I'm like, how are you?
Fuck. My, what about Nicole? One of my coaches in New Jersey. Every fucking time I need her to like, do something. She's like, oh, I'm going to, I'm going to tanning salon. I'm going to get my hair blown out, get my nails done. I go, how the fuck? Do you have enough money to pay for all this shit? It's business.
Write off though. When Oh my God. It's crazy. She's always doing something. Um, where could everybody find you? Oh, I love that. Uh, Instagram at Aisha, Sarah at coffee and a good vibe. I always say like, don't confuse, you lose like just direct to one place and it'll direct you everywhere. But coffee and a good vibe has been around for how long?
Seven years. Seven years? Mm-hmm. Og? Yeah. So long. Are you 30? 30 now? No, I turned 30. Like good on you. You were fucking young when you started that. We met when I was like 22, 23. Oh fuck. Don't remind me. I remember we met. Yeah. Um, we got connected through a friend and we met for coffee at, um, where was that? I re You're the gym?
Yeah. Oh my God, I remember it. 'cause it's, it's everywhere. Stump in. Yeah. Yeah. Some town. You don't Oh yeah. Stu Town on um, the one on 28th Street. Do, do you don't talk That's not in the rotation anymore. What Stumptown? Yeah. Ah, it was back then you were like, meet me here. It was like, this is my point. Yeah. I used to love Stumptown and then when there was a couple times I went and it was just like, it's just like these fucking angry, pissed off super leftist there that I'm just like, it's just offputting.
It's like I don't care if your fucking hair's purple and you hate fucking the male species, please just gimme my fucking coffee. So this is why you hate matcha? Yeah, I get it. No, like I don't give off shit. Like I live in New York 'cause I love diversity. I love people being themselves. I love art. Like all those.
But when you hate me because I don't look like you. Then it becomes a fucking issue. And it's like, no, I don't wanna go there because you're fucking pissed off that I'm a male and I stayed. So, no more stump in stump. I haven't been in a while. Yeah. Yeah. But that's where we met. Yeah. I used to be myself.
You were so New York too. Yeah. I hope we still am. No, you. Um, well listen, that's all the time we have, right? Re Okay. Yeah. Um, thank you as always. Thank you. You the best. You crushed my podcast. Everyone should, could listen to coffee in a good vibe. Yes. Coffee in a good vibe. Yeah. And it was the second time I was on it.
Yeah. And the second time it hit. Yeah. The girls love you. I wish, I wish they do. They My hair is thinning. Um, they loved your smasher pass. Oh yeah. Yeah. That's You do another one. Uh, next week I'll, I'll plan one, but I wanna do it all like dating. Okay. Yeah. For the girls. Yeah. I am. Listen, I, I was very, uh, I.
I'm very disenchanted with the whole idea of dating nowadays because it's like no one can, like when I think about dating shows that I wanna, if I wanted to watch that shit, I'd wanna know what like a bunch of hot 20 year olds are doing. Not a some old fucking guy. So they're young on the shows, but we'll see.
We'll see if people are interested in it. Guys, as always, thank you so much for tuning in. Uh, likes, share, subscribe, tell a friend about it. And do not forget, mark your calendars. September 27th, strong New York. It is the biggest fitness and wellness festival that New York has ever seen, and it only keeps getting better.
We have, uh, Ted talks from some of the, uh, smartest people in the business. Doctors, nutritionists, trainers, uh, longevity experts, you name it. We have a full expo floor with 80 plus brands. We will have workouts going on, 25 plus workouts going on all day long. Everything from puppy yoga to jiujitsu, to lifting weights to Pilates.
Um, and then we also have 5,000. God willing, keep our fingers crossed. 5,000 plus people joining us at the Glass House on 48th and 12th Avenue. So do not forget, share with a friend and keep drinking your Celsius 'cause they are our sponsor. Live fit. If I'm not drinking coffee, I'm drinking me. We're out.