De-Influenced with Dani + Jordan - Dani's "F-Boys", Jordan's Ex-Girls, and a Live Q&A

Episode Date: October 18, 2023

Did Dani meet an "F-Boy" or an "E-Boy" at Canes while hanging out with Post Malone? Did Jordan run into his ex on their family state fair trip? Is Jordan going to upset a bunch of christians because of his new "AI Bible Teacher" invention? Luckily this episode is full of answers, because we have so many questions! This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try atbetterhelp.com/DEINFLUENCED and get on your way to being your best self. We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go tohiyahealth.com/DANIAUSTIN. 

Hello and welcome back to your favorite podcast, D-influenced. I just had a spinach feta egg wrap. Wait, actually, is there an egg in that from Starbucks? And do we think it's real egg? No, because have you ever seen it? It's like the, it's like prison egg. What does that mean? Prison egg.

It's just like a, it's like a flab. It's like a flop of egg. Yeah, it's like, because like surely they're not like scrambling some eggs in the back of Starbucks. No, remember they just put it in the little oven thing. That's so gross if you really think about it. If you think about all of our foods, all of our processed foods. But the thing about that spinach fetter wrap is it makes me feel the healthiest.

I know, but it has an aoli on it. Did you know that? It's like a mayonnaise aoli. You'll never eat it again. I think it's a mayonnaise aoli, I assume. I don't think so. Yeah, you're right, it is. I don't want to talk about it.

I actually could bomb just think about it. I have a meophobia. Actually, a funny story. When I was asked to like homecoming, my freshman year of high school, here we go, back to a high school story, Danny. Read, plusha. No, he went to, my first boyfriend actually went to like an all-boys private school. Read. Yeah.

We met at a Kanye West concert and we started grinding on the first time we ever met. Wow. And he really couldn't let you go. Even his, literally, physically couldn't let me go. His, what's this called? all of his friends came over to our house. You ever told that story? Oh, yeah.

Okay, so my first boyfriend ever, Reed Plosier. He was actually a really good looking dude, and I was in like my most awkward phase. So I was like kind of a lucky gal at the time. But I think it's like 15, but I think it's because he went to an all-boy school. So they didn't never have any girls. He didn't get out much.

He didn't get out much. So I was like, I'm like there with my braces and I'm like, what all boys school do you go to? St. Marks. So, royalty. Yeah, so we met at a Kanye West concert. Actually, you know what's funny about this concert?

If I'm not mistaken, it was Rihanna and Kanye. Yeah. Yeah, and then John Mayer. Did that ever happen? I think it was like those three on tour together or something. Maybe. That sounds like some John Mayer would do. Yeah, yeah.

All John Mayer. Yeah, exactly. New John Bears were formed. Absolutely. Up in Montana. So anyway, he was my boyfriend, my freshman year, and we dated for like a year. You know, I was just like never really in love, but great guy, great guy. So I broke up with him after prom, literally the night of prom.

Because to be honest, I was always, I've always had the mentality, like if I'm going to have a boyfriend, like I want to marry them, even when I was 15. Yeah. I was like, I don't want to date someone that I'm not going to marry. And I just knew I wasn't going to marry him. I was very mature. Yeah. Well, you, you,

like, have so much going on that, like, you're like, I don't need no man. Like, I'm just, I'm busy.

Like, and if, like, I'm, this doesn't have a purpose for the long term. Yeah, like, it's not,

yeah, this is, I was like, I would rather just, like, us move on and not waste each other's time. Very mature for a 15-year-old

if you really think about it. Um, so anyway, yeah, we broke up when I was, like, 16, literally never spoke again.

And then like two years ago, I get this like email. And it's like, hey, Danny, just following up. And I'm like, who's following up? So I click on it. And this is like random guy. Let's just say his name is Michael. And he was following up from two years ago

when he had emailed me when I was in college. And this is like a weird fact about me and my boyfriends. All my boyfriends, every single one of them have written me songs. That's true. Me too. You did too. It is so weird. And not only have they written me songs,

they have performed them for me, and they have recorded them. Jordan actually didn't do this. But my other two... I recorded mine. You did? Yeah, we've talked about it. It's on SoundCloud somewhere.

That's right. I can't find it, though. That's right. Okay, so... If anyone can find A, B, mixtapes, that was the name of my solo act. Oh, gosh. So both, so my first boyfriend, he writes me this song and puts it on a CD.

And, you know, back then, that's like, you had to like burn CDs to like share music and stuff. We didn't have like the iPads and stuff. And so like always so sweet, but like his friends had emailed me while I was in college because they heard about it. And they wanted to make fun of him. So they asked me, he was like trying to connect with me when I was in college. I never saw the email. So two years later, after I'm out of college, he's like, hey, Danny, just following up, Reed is getting married and we're taking him on his bachelor trip and we want to play the song,

can we have it? And I'm like, I reply, I'm like, ha ha, this is so funny. Like, I have to be a part of this. And so, um, they actually come over and so funny, I still had the same car that I drove when I was 15 years old named Rodrigo Ladeau. Half of that was inspired. by Reed, plosh. Sorry, I shouldn't say the last name. Sorry, Reed, because he was, he's a good guy. Yeah, he was half, what, like French?

Is that French? Pletet. Yeah, it sounds pretty French. Yeah, so I did Rodrigo for Hispanic, because I was Hispanic, and then Laudot for, like, half French. Yeah. So anyway,

yeah, so his friends come over, and I cannot believe it, but I still had the CD in my white car that I drove, when I was 15 because I had never gotten a new car. So they were able to take the CD and play at a bachelor party. And he probably was shook. Yeah.

Well, it's so long ago. I know. It was so funny for him. He's like, how did you find the song? It was probably 11 years later if you think about it because I was probably like 26 whenever they reached out and he wrote me that when I was 15. That's such, those are good friends.

That's like a great inside joke. Really, really funny. So you know what's so funny about both of us is that I also was someone who did like to date unless we were going to get married. I know that. But because you told me on our first date that you wanted to marry me. I think I was like growing up, I was very much like a hopeless romantic. No, it's like the young life culture too.

It's like the Christian culture. I was never in young life though. This is like high school. So let me tell you something. I probably only had like three girlfriends and they were like long term girlfriends. Yeah, same. So, you know, we went to the state fair. something we took Stella. Yeah, who was that girl we ran into? Okay, I'm glad that you asked. And I was

shocked that you didn't ask. Oh, I did actually. You never asked. I was like, do you have any idea the significance of this moment? I knew that you were really into it because you're like, because usually you see people that you've known from your past and you're like, you're like, Danny, they're over there. I don't want to see them. But this girl, you're like, Danny, come meet her. Like, yeah. And you talked and talked and talked and I was like. Okay. This is like, you're going to have to follow me on the story. Okay. What was her name? Elizabeth. Yeah, we ran into a girl named Elizabeth at the state fair.

Okay, so the significance of the state fair for me is actually, do you know it's actually cursed for me? Did you date Elizabeth? No, I never dated Elizabeth. But I'll tell you why it's ironic that I ran into her in a second. Do you know that the state fair is cursed for me? And do you know why it's cursed for me? I think it's cursed for anybody that grew up in Texas.

Like, that's where all of the crap goes down with your boyfriend, girlfriend, same. Wait, really? Yeah, are you kidding me? Oh, I thought this was just me. No, honey. I thought everyone got to have like a great time. No, I was like, I, I wore eyeliner for the first time at the state fair because my friend Sarah Gardner put it on me. And I was going to meet a guy there and he saw me and said literally told me that I looked scary.

And then. Wow. Yeah, I was devastated. I don't think it's for everyone, Danny. Because all growing up, I would see everyone so happy with their girlfriends or their boyfriends at the state fair. and I was always like, why isn't that for me? Like, all I really wanted growing up was to have a steady girlfriend who wanted to be with me at the fair to ride the Ferris wheel.

And let me tell you why the State Fair is curse for me. It really is when I walk in, I mean, now I'm okay because, like, I'm married with kids. But like the first couple years, like, when we were dating and we went to Texas OU, like, I was actually truly concerned that we would break up at the State Fair. That's how deep this, like, PTSD goes. So the first year, my girlfriend with. Kendall Moore, okay? And Kendall Moore, she found this guy, his name was Jerry Kinsler, okay? And he was- Just dropping all the names. He was a skateboarder. And-

Oh, see, skateboarding was like a big thing for our generation. Yeah. Like we all had a skateboard phase. Right. Well, a skateboarder phase, like going after a skateboarder? Because I wasn't a skateboarder. No, like we pretended to be like I bought the Etneys. I'd wear hurly shirts. I bought a skateboarding. I was skateboarded in my neighborhood. Yeah, it's pretty weird. I don't know any girls that did that. No, that was like a phase for like girls in my in my school. Well, I wasn't alone. I knew no skateboarding girls.

That's okay. Rockwell versus Richardson, I guess. But anyway, okay, so Kendall, a couple days prior, had told me that she liked me again. So we had like broken up. She was like kind of dating Jerry. And then so I go into the state fair thinking like this is going to be it. Like I'm going to meet up with her. Like we're going to have our moment.

Our fair is to a moment. We're going to kiss on the Ferris wheel. And all of our friends are together. No tongue, of course, just kiss. All of our friends are together. And we hop into a Ferris wheel cart. There's probably like six of us. And I'm like, this is the moment that like Kendall's going to tell everyone that she's like wanting to come back to me.

And her and Jerry just start making out. In front of you? Yeah. And I couldn't get over at the entire fair time. It was very PTSD. Second year and this ties into Elizabeth. There were more stories. This happened like six times in a row.

I believe it. Fair day. But the most significant one was I had a girlfriend, Alex, in high school. And she was like two years older. So it was like, that was like my, my, my peak trophy girlfriend. And we had kind of like, she went to the school across town. And so we were like kind of like having issues. She was about to go to college, all this stuff. Yeah. No, it gets worse. So the two nights before I, we had talked and we were like, yeah, like we love each other. we're going to get married, like all this stuff. And I'm like totally bought in. I'm like, okay, I'll like see you at the fair. Day of the fair, she tells me she's not going. And I'm like, oh, okay. Like, man, that sucks. Like, should I go?

But I end up going with some friends. And it's like a movie. I like see her through the crowd. Yeah. And I'm like, oh my gosh, Alex came. And I run up and then suddenly as the crowd starts dispersing, I like look down in her hand and she's holding hands with this other guy. Who is it?

Taylor Lou. Taylor. Hold on. Hold on. That's not even the cliff note. She's holding hands of this guy, Taylor Lewis. Tall guy played poker for money. In high school? He was two years older than her. So four years older than me. He's in college. And suddenly I am so hurt in this moment that I walk up to Alex and I go, hey, I go, what are you doing? We talked two nights ago. And then all of a sudden his friends like get in front of Alex and like get in my face and her like, hey, like the better man one it looks like. And I swear, I'm not making this up. And Alex, like, it's like in slow mo.

She like turns, turns away and just like walks away. And this Taylor guy like looks back at me and is like, like, does a head nod. And I'm just like my friend Garin who is like my like bodyguard. He was like pretty big. He was just like, dude, you want to do anything? And I was like so distraught. And I like, you know that anxiety like hurt? Like the middle school hurt.

where you can't eat and drink and like you can't even like function that was me all day of the fair and I was like F the fair so okay so we go with our kids yeah so not 10 what 12 years later 12 years later 12 years later I'm sitting here I'm like man I've had a lot of bad memories here and through the crowd I see Elizabeth okay okay who's Elizabeth how does she to do with me of this? Elizabeth was just in our friend group okay she was just in our friend group growing up she was like an ally to me she wasn't friends with Taylor anything and I'm talking to her I'm like Elizabeth that's why I was so to see her because like we have so many memories of like our friend group growing up and I was like, oh my gosh, like, how's this? Do you keep in touch with anyone? And I was like, oh, so like, are you

married? Are you dating? She's like, I'm dating someone. And I go, oh, who are you dating? And she goes, Taylor Lewis. And I go, you were there. I go, you're kidding. I was like, you're kidding. I was like, you're kidding. I was like, you're kidding. And I was like, yeah. And I was like, Did she know the story? Yeah, that's why she said to me. She goes, yeah, I know it was like really hard. He wants, he wants you to know that he wasn't trying to big time you back then. I go, no, he absolutely was.

I was like, is he still playing poker? And she was like, yeah, he still played poker. I'm sure he's a great guy now, but like. Wow. We should have him on the podcast. No, I don't revisit my path. That's why I avoid people from my past because I don't look backwards. I look forwards.

Yeah, but sometimes you have to look backwards to heal some wounds. Well, that sounds like Taylor. made a huge impact in your life. No, honestly, like, it's all good. Like, I'm happily married. I want the best for everyone else. I forgive all of them, but it's just like the irony of the Texas. These are life-changing moments.

No, they really are. Like, if you ask what are the most, like, defining moments, it's my breakup with Kendall. Taylor Lewis at the fair. My breakup with Kendall Moore in eighth grade. My breakup with Alex Johnson in 10th grade and probably my breakup with Brooke later. Yeah.

It's just like because it, it, I feel like I had such low self-esteem. growing up. Yeah. And I like wanted this like fairy tale of like the nice guys. You wanted the girl. Nice guys don't finish last, you know? And it was like.

You wanted the girl to make you feel important. Totally. Yeah. To pull you out of that and to make you like the cool guy. Yeah. Exactly. That's what you wanted with your person too, quarterback guy. Yeah.

Kind of. Yeah, a little bit. You know, but so man, the Texas State Fair. Yeah. So now we're doing like a company like retreat on Friday. And Little phoma Or little PTSD

Like I'm not going I'm like why would I go to this thing We had a good time at the fair though Yeah it's so funny Like I didn't even ask about that Because I'm honestly like I was shocked you didn't ask Well I figured y'all had like dated in high school But I'm also like so secure in our relationship

I'm like I really don't care like I won No it was such a better story than us dating It was like I went by That's how I feel too Like sometimes, like your college friends or whatever. I think early on in our relationship, I'd have been like, who's that? You know? But now I'm like, oh.

Yeah, it's like, whatever. Good times, good times. What else has been going on? Well, I still am just, I still replayed the day that we met post Malone. I like love him. He's a sweet baby. He's a sweet baby. Like, big sweet baby.

With a big sweet. soul. Just a big sweet man. I always like Post Malone because I really do like his music. It's so good. But, you know, sometimes I worry about him. I see videos and stuff on my Instagram where, you know, and who knows, like you never really know what's going on with someone's life.

But I always kind of, I assume it has to be so hard to go on tour and go from city to city, it's probably very lonely, even though you obviously have thousands, hundreds of thousands of people cheering you on throughout your tour. But, you know, after that, you go back, you rest, you get back in the bus, and you go to your next spot, you sleep for a couple days, and you just do it all over again. And it has to be very hard and very lonely, so I feel for him in that way. But he showed up, it was funny. So we got an email like the night before, and it was like, hey, Danny, do you want to go to Post Malone is launching a raising canes in Dallas, and it's a collaboration with the Cowboys, and he designed this raising canes. And the funny thing was the day before I got my hair highlighted,

and it was like the salon talk. Like all people could talk about at the salon was how Post Malone was opening this raising canes. So it was like super last minute is one of those things where like I probably would have like thought about it before, but because everybody was talking. And I was like, yeah, we have to go. Let's do it. So we just like dove right in. And we showed up and we were there all day. Okay?

Like, we were there. And here's the thing. So I was like, I was doing like a partnership with Raisin Cain's. But all I had to do was like one or two stories. Okay. But I was like, if we're going, we have to get a reel with personal one. Like you can't not. Right.

Well, we pull up and like I'm not like the only influencer there. I'm not like the only, there's no special. I mean, we did get to go inside with media, but besides that, there was a ton of media. So there's not, like, a lot of special treatment or anything, like, every man on their own, you know. So while we're inside waiting with media, there's, like, these three kids that come up. And they, like, obviously just look like cool kids. You know, they're, like, in their young 20s, maybe 22, 23 years old. But they got, like, face tats and tatted everywhere.

And then, like, this girl's in the crop top. And I'm like, these, I don't know who these people are, but they're TikTokers. They are 100% TikTokers. They are 100%. Like these are, like what's that F-boy? Huh? You know F-boy? Like the trend on, oh, yeah, yeah.

Have you ever heard of? Okay, so if you don't know what F-boys are, it's like the same thing for like when my generation, they were called like E-mo. Wait, wait, I think you're thinking of E-boys. Oh, are the E-boys? Yeah, F-boys like a. No, I think it is. I think it's E-boys, baby. The derogatory term, sorry.

Well, F-boys, like what a, I. No, call Jenny. What? Call Jenny, I'm serious. I think it's called F-boys. Okay, we do this lot. Honestly, these are fun segments when we have to phone a friend. Because we're just not young enough for cool. Wait, is Jenny the coolest person that we know?

No, she would know. She would know. Okay. Nikki might actually know, too. This is why it's nice to have younger people on your team. I know. We're starting to age. Let me ask her.

Hello. Hey, Jenny, you're on the podcast, so don't say anything bad. Oh, boy. Okay. Okay. So, you know, on TikTok, like the trend where the boys dress and they have like little earrings and they were like all black. Don't they call them F boys?

I'm trying to think there's another. It's E boys. I don't think it's F boys. I think it's like, oh, E boys. It's E boys. So I just had the wrong letter. I was one letter off.

And F boys like a, no, I know what a F boy is. It's like an F boy. Like, you know, you F him. No, that's not even what it is. It's like an F boy is like a like a like a slutty boy. I know. I'm saying.

Yeah. They just sleep with everything. everyone. Yeah. They F around. Yeah. They F around. Thank you, Jenny. Are we sure there's, I'm just, I was convinced if there was an F boy.

But maybe just Google it. Text us back if, if I was right in. Yeah, I'm like, sure it's E-boy. Okay, thank you for keeping this cool. Okay, bye. Okay, so anyway, some E-boys come in. So silly. Is that stupid?

So stupid. Okay, you go. I was literally one letter off. It's like, you're like, a bunch of F boys walk. And she had like her little crop top and they had like their face hats and they were just F boys. You're like a mom of two. No, it's like when my brother, I was telling landed because my brother went to like a private school, I was telling me about how we had like emo kids at my school.

And he goes, we don't have any emos at my school. Because he was so sheltered. And they had to wear uniforms. They had to wear uniforms and like. He went to like, oh my God, it's so funny. He's like, we don't have any emus at our school. Anyway, so we were hanging out with the E-boys. Oh, this is actually crazy.

So we're sitting there. And one of them's name ended up being, who's the guy? Jaden. Jaden Hossler. Hossler, yes. And the next day, so I started talking to him. He's telling me how he just got a rehab. He's been totally, his best friend died from a drug.

overdose like about a year ago. He went through a really hard time. He went to rehab. He's totally changing his life and how he signed with Travis Barker's label. And he's like now like my new music has so much more purpose. It's a lot more like pop. It's light. He's like, he's like, I'm not trying to be somebody that I'm not. The next day, I look on Justin Bieber's Instagram. They're hanging out. Justin Beaver and Jane. And like, meanwhile, I'm sitting with Jane. I'm like, what's your name again? I'm like type in. your Instagram. So anyway, I met him. He probably loved that though. Yeah, Jimmy, a guy named Jimmy and then a girl named Meg and they were all TikTokers. And so we talked a lot about like the differences with

our audiences and yeah. Were they fascinated by. Oh, they like love. I was like, they love the mommy blogger crew. They like, and I was like guys, if you want some like loyal people, it's like the mommy bloggers. The mommies are where it's at. Yeah. And they're like, yeah, he goes up with the mommy. They're like, but you know what else was really cute. They said yes, ma'am and no ma'am to me, which I thought was really sweet. So did Post. Yeah, but they were like that because Jayden's from Texas. And he's like, that's, he's like, if I didn't say yes, ma'am, no ma'am, like I got slapped.

Wow. So I always think that's really cool. But, yeah, Post Malone was so sweet. He looked everyone in the eye. If you asked for a picture, he would say, you know, I really appreciate that you took a picture with me, like a full sentence like that. And he was good at that. And then we took one picture and I took a bite.

of like a french fry and i got like sauce all over my face because i was so nervous and i go i said post i'm sorry i'm so nervous i'm such a mess he goes hey you know what i'm a mess all the time you are not alone in that and i was like oh thank you really like i was like love you um so anyway it was a good day i just love him i think that you guys it's it's one of those people that i think if you meet whether he was famous or not he would bless you just by his presence do you think he's happy You know, he lives in Salt Lake City. He moved out to... He moved out there.

He lives with his daughter out there. I don't know who his, like, baby mama is. Sorry, I don't know if that's, like, a bad term. But I don't think that they're married. And I don't know who that is. I think he's pretty secretive about it. I heard that it was maybe like his high school sweetheart, but I don't really know. I think that he apparently was really bullied growing up.

I had some friends that were friends. with him, like the girl that does my hair, one of the girls that does my hair, like, knew him in high school. And he was extremely bullied, like, really, really bullied. And so I think because he comes from, like, that kind of humble background, he never wants anyone to feel that way. So I think that he has, like, a lot of purpose with what he does. And I think that he makes, he knows that he changes a lot of people's lives. But I don't know if the pressure is too much for him. I don't know. I wonder if, um, if, like, movie. to a Salt Lake or like John Mayer moved to what like Montana or something.

I wonder if that like helps them with the pressure. Like do you think that John did that too from one direction. You've got to like you have to have some type of escape from like the craziness. Like there's no way. You know what I always think about is it's so interesting because we look at celebrities and sometimes like, you know, I can feel really bad for a celebrity. Like I can I can like see them being bombarded with like photos or. people wanting to be around them or using them or whatever it is. But then I look at all the other

celebrities out there that are so private and so secretive and you never know where they are. And they're living completely, you know, separate lives away from Los Angeles. And sometimes I just feel like people get like addicted to the game and addicted to the fame. And so they put themselves in these like bad environments where, you know, it really does wear on your mental health. And I think that there are very few, but some that are wise enough to discern that. And those are the ones that move away. Yeah. I think that there's people that like can't, they can't move away from it.

They just like want more and more and more. But those are the ones who end up in scandals and kind of like, you know, they end up as a wreck because we're not designed for that. Yeah. No one's designed to be worshipped like that. Yeah. So, you know, you look at people like, like Bradley Cooper. Where is he right now? Yeah.

Like, what's he doing right now? What's he doing? I don't know, but I can tell you exactly what Haley Bieber and Justin Bieber are doing right now. Right. I can tell you what Taylor Swift is doing right now. She's holding hands with Travis Kelsey. Yeah. Do you think that John Mayer, like, took a career hit by moving to Montana?

One million trillion percent. And that's why I think it's, like, so addicting because it's like there's always opportunity for these celebrities to do more and show up more and go to, like, another event or another photo shoot or another promotion or another event. whatever it is. And I think it's, it's really hard to, like, step away. But there's, like, think about,

if you think about it, Russell Crow, what's he doing? What's he doing? You don't know, because he's probably out there protecting his mental health trying to live the most normal life

that he can. And it's like, yeah, like, like he doesn't, just, like, swarming with paparazzi, like L.A. New York is.

So they know, they know where they need to go. That's just sometimes they don't go. What do you mean? Like, they know, they know that they need to get out

of these, environments, but they don't. Yeah. No, I mean, I feel like a lot of people can just like nitpick at these celebrities, but I kind of like, like you said, I feel like we have seen, we're like adjacent to it all, but like we've seen enough of it to be like, man, that's just like really hard. Yeah. When Post is sad, I'm like, I feel like I understand the nuance of why he's sad. Sometimes I feel like for the celebrities, even though maybe they have more resources, it's harder for them to get out of, out of their issues. Well, I think that the, the, the hamster wheel or the treadmill, like, gets so large and, like, so many people are dependent on it that to get out of it,

you feel like you're probably letting so many people down. Yeah. Oh, exactly. Like, I mean, thinking about when Justin Bieber had to cancel his concerts or Morgan Wallen. Yeah. I mean, that's like thousands of people. And so you just push and push and push. And you're like, I couldn't cancel Nashville. And that was like, I don't know, 300, 400, 400, people like I I can't imagine I know it's so hard you can't imagine I feel like you're kind of like going through this similar season yeah on a much smaller scale but feelings are feelings so they're probably all valid no that's yeah that's not what I'm saying is like one scale is bigger than the other but like you I think the reason that you empathize is because you're like going through this

literally yesterday yeah I don't know how these celebrities like prioritize what's important in their lives. We can move on just talking about Travis Kelsey if you want, but how's your heart? Oh, it's good. I feel like you guys would be very proud of me. Okay. I had a lot of important things I was supposed to do this week that I've canceled. Wow. One of them is like an important dinner I was supposed to go to tonight. Um, but instead I'm trying to meet up with like a mentor, you know, just like stuff like that. Trying to take care of myself like in that way. Or, um, um, I, like, didn't have my team come over today, which I know it sounds like a small thing, but it's like a big thing.

Just like little things. I don't know, little small steps. Like, I've really tried to look at my calendar and think, okay, okay, so this is actually helpful. I was talking to my friend, Janelle, about this. And I was telling her last night about how I have a hard time saying no to things because I'm such like an opportunist where some of the great. greatest things that have had in my life have been because I said yes to something that I didn't

even know something amazing was going to come out of it because I go to a lot of things and we're just like okay that was good yeah but I'd say yes to some things from just like wow that that changed my life and um so it makes me want to say yes to everything and go 100% for everything and I don't know how to say no and um you know we we talked to like different mentors and we You look at all these numbers and analytics, and you put pressure on yourself to do better. Let's just say, I'm just making this up. You know, we did, you do this for Q2. Okay, well, Q3, like it needs to be, you need to grow and you do this.

And I, I, that growth becomes like a religion to me where it's like every day, whether it's Dibby or whether it's, you know, an Instagram post or a brand deal or whatever it is an event. Like, it's like, to me, the next one has to be bigger and better. and that becomes like my religion. Like I'm like obsessed with it, you know? And I think I'm like chasing this thing. I'm like if that's better than the one that we just did or the one, the brand deal I did before and this is bigger and better,

I'm going to feel so much better about myself. And then I get it and then I feel nothing. Like when I made the Forbes lists, I made it for the second year in a row. And then I made the Forbes fashion list. When I tell you that I felt nothing inside. I got nothing. I felt nothing. You jumped 20 spots too.

Could not feel a thing. Like there was nothing in me that was like, you did it, Danny, let's celebrate. This is so exciting. In fact, I was like, I honestly more so felt overwhelmed because I was like, I have to do this again next year.

Like how am I going to keep on this list for next year? Like I just honestly feel like more anxiety whenever something like that happens. So anyway, we were playing out all these scenarios and I was like, but Jenna, like, if I don't do this, then I might not make the Forbes list next year. Or if I don't do this,

then we might not have a better Q3 than Q2. Or if I don't, if I don't show up to this event, then, you know, maybe my friends will be mad at me. And she's like, okay, so then, if then, if so, then what? Like, if so, then what?

Then what happens? And I was like, well, if I don't make the Forbes list, then, you know, like, people probably won't think that, like, I'm legit anymore and I'm, like, dying off. and then I'm maybe not relevant anymore. Okay, so then what? Well, then I'm gonna like maybe lose some brand deals

and then like I won't be able to afford my house. I don't know, I'm just being extreme. Like, you know, and then like nobody's gonna like me or whatever. Okay, so then what? And then you get, you keep going back until the last thing points you to the Lord. So you just keep on going and then what, and then what? Until you get to the point where like,

okay, well then I'm gonna have to find my identity, in the Lord and not my next brand deal. Yeah. So it was like a good practice of just like going through these things and saying no to them and saying, okay, like what's the worst thing that can happen? Yeah. I totally. No, I mean, it's super. I think that's like a really good exercise for everyone.

I think for for me, when we were striving, we were newly married at the time, right? It's like we were a team and it was like we're going after these things together. But probably sometime like last year, year and a half. Like I think that that's when like my burnout set in. It was kind of like, what is the cost of striving for more? You know, and the cost became, especially after we had kids, the cost became so much higher than like what it was like actually worth. And then also like I think that this happens to a lot of people who come into success.

Like the peaks of like a win or like a trophy or an award or something, they just kind of like lose their luster to where you feel nothing. Yeah. And then you have to like. hit this bigger, grandiose goal to feel it again and to feel it again. And so it's like, I think a lot of people end up 60 or 70 years old. They've worked their whole life. Like, Warren Buffett even. Like, did you know that he's like a really bad dad? Oh no. He's a really bad dad. Like he's like, he was not great to his kids. He like separated from

his wife. Like he achieved all of these things because he probably like loved it. But at the expense of everything else. And so you end up in this place where a very very, Eventually you're probably going to realize it. Oh my gosh. Like none of this actually mattered. And so I think like the sooner that you realize it like the better. But I also don't think that the answer is to just like give up completely either to just be like, okay, not worth it anymore. So it's just balance.

I don't know. Yeah. And I think a lot of it for me personally goes back to like self-esteem because I don't think that I try to achieve these things for anything. Like I think I've already kind of realized that like, you know, money or possessions or materialist. things are like not going to make me happy. So I'm like, I'm kind of like over that. It's like maybe this will make me feel good about myself. And then I'm realizing like, no, it probably won't.

Do you think that people would be surprised that you have a low self-esteem? I don't know. What do you think? Maybe. Yeah. Yeah. Because do you feel like you do a pretty good job of like hiding the fact that you don't have a good self-esteem?

Yeah. Yeah. I'm good at that. I think a lot of sweat. Some would say a pro. I think a lot of celebrities, like, are really good at hiding it. Yeah. Like, really, really good at hiding it.

Like, or using busyness to distract from, like, facing their own inner demons, you know? Oh, yeah, yeah. I'm good at that, too. Someone would say. Well, I just want to say publicly on the record that I'm very proud of you. Thank you. And I feel like you're on a journey and a path that's like similar to Jaden. It's like, you know, it's going to bring a new purpose to everything that you do,

the more that you lean into figuring it out. Yeah. Hopefully I'll just still think I'm cool. I think that what you're going to be shocked by is a lot of the loops in your head were so silly in the first place. Yeah. Speaking of which, this is perfect timing. Dude, just sling it. This episode of D-influences brought to you by BetterHelp.

I'm so excited to bring on better help as a sponsor because Jordan and I are both believers in the power of therapy. As much as I sometimes dread it because it's hard, I think of it as exercising, which I also sometimes dread sometimes, but I feel so much better after. Well, I don't want to do it sometimes. I know I should and I always feel great once I'm done. Therapy helps you figure out what's holding you back. So you can work for yourself instead of against yourself. If you're thinking of starting therapy, give better help a try. It's entirely online, which allows you to go to therapy from the comfort of your home. When we started podcasting, I was adamant on having the studio in my house because I knew it would help me feel more comfortable chatting knowing I was in my own space. This is similar. You can just hop on while at home in your comfy clothing and feel safe and

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The first order comes with cute stickers. So Stella, of course, spent a ton of time decorating the bottle with all the fun stickers. Haya is a great brand that you can trust. So we've worked out a special deal with Haya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. That's that's right, 50% off. To claim this deal, you must go to Hayahealth.com slash de-influence. Moving on. Should we do our Q&A for today? I did ask people if they wanted to ask us some questions. Yeah, but can I ask you something? I had this idea and I want to run it by you. Okay. Okay. It's like simple, small, easy. So you know how I love chat GPT? Okay. So next year, one of my big 2024 goals is I want to read the whole Bible in a year.

Okay. But I want to do it alongside chat GPT because like if I'm reading Samuel, for example. Like, I want to understand. I don't really get what's going on. Yeah, I want to understand the historical context. Like, I want to understand, you know, when are these other characters referenced in different parts of the Bible? How does this connect to like a prophecy that was like fulfilled, etc?

Right. And so I want to do it with chat GBT, but the more that I thought about it, I've run this by a lot of people, especially at the Nashville event. A lot of ministry folks at the Nashville event. Yeah. They loved it. They said that half of Christian, is like AI's the devil, it's a demon.

And then the other half is like, yeah, it's like a great tool. Like it helps me. That's what they said about social media. Yeah, I'm obviously like the great tool. It's we should use it type of thing. And if anyone steals this idea, I would be so pissed off. But I want to create an app or like a web platform because like if I was reading through the Bible, I would have to ask all of these specific questions.

So I'd have to switch between my Bible and like chat, GPT. So I want to create an app that. that basically is like a pastor co-pilot, like a Bible co-pilot, to where it's like as I'm reading through Genesis, it will populate through like AI, like all of the historical information. Like I can ask specific questions, but it'll also like prompt things for me.

Yeah, like refer to this or do. Yeah. It would kind of be like, you know, I use this app called Glorify. Uh-huh. And it's like, you know, calm, that app that like makes you meditate every day. Yeah.

I was like, because like I'm not about meditating. But glorify is like the Christian version of that. And the only problem I have with glorify is that it gives you like these daily devotionals, but it's like so surface. It's like really great for like new believers, but it's like not fascinating or interesting enough for me. Totally.

And so I want to create a more like in depth glorify to where it's like every day you can read the Bible through a year for a year with the help of like chatGBT to create a more like illustrated view of the Bible. You know what this is kind of reminding me of though? But do you like the idea? Yeah, I love it. I feel like I don't know when you're going to have time to do this, but I love the idea. Yeah.

But you know, I just want to remind you that there is something kind of similar called the Bible project. And it is, it's not, you know, AI. Yeah, it's YouTube. But I will say, oh my gosh, it has saved me. So I've been going through this Bible study of Esther with my friends, with my friends. I don't know why I said that with my friends. Anyway, and when I'm reading it, a lot of times I'm just like, I don't really know what I just read. And it's so cool because the Bible project has, you know, they have these videos and illustrations that go with each book in the Bible.

And so it's like almost like watching like a quick like five minute movie recap of the whole situation. So then when I'm reading like it all connects. It's like I love the Bible project too. I met with those guys. But the problem with the Bible project and I told this them to the. their face because we were thinking about giving to the Bible project. And I was like, like, the reason I said no was like, I love what, you guys are such good content creators. They have like a whole studio, whole content house. But they're relying on YouTube for their

distribution. And like, I don't, I don't even think this is conspiracy anymore. Like YouTube is definitely throttling their views because they're Christian based. Oh, yeah. And so I told them, I was like, y'all's biggest problem is not your content, your distribution. And I had a kind of controversial idea for them, but I don't think they'll ever do it. Do you want to share with the class? Do you think I should? I don't know what it was. I told them that they should go to the Daily Wire, which is like that pretty right-leaning

conservative media platform. And I was like, they're, because they just launched a project that's like for kids' content. And I was like, but they don't have good content creation. So they're looking to like license kids content. I said, you guys need to do a deal between the Bible project and the Daily Wire because they have a ton of. of like hundreds of thousands, if not millions of users, and that would give the content that the Bible project is creating a better platform, you know, but then that might create controversy

for the Bible project because then they're like making it a political thing, but it's a great idea. Do, did they agree that their reviews were being throttled? Yeah. Oh. Okay. They still get a lot of views on their old video, but that, that's been raked up over time. Yeah.

But like, yeah, I think that, I think that they definitely agreed with me that, like, I don't know. I feel like a certain point it's like you don't have to be worried about the views. It's just like putting it out there. Right. But like they no totally and like I think that within that they're great. It's like people can find it. It's not like if you look for it. It's not going to like show up. Like they have a channel. Yeah. But I guess I'm just like why not reach as many people as you can. Yeah. I get it. So you like my idea basically. Yeah. I like your idea. But genuinely. Like is it a good idea like or is it like not good enough? No, I think it's a great idea.

It's just like, for me it's a little overwhelming. It sounds a little complicated, but. But that's the point is I would simplify it. Yes, yes, yes. Okay. I'm like, okay. Sure. Okay, that's about as much of buy it as I need.

I'm not against it. Okay, that's good. That's always a great start. Yeah, I'm for you. Okay. Are you ready for some Q&A? Let's do it. Jordan, do you drive in silence or do you listen to music or listen to a podcast?

I listen to a podcast usually. If the kids are in the car, I'll listen to it at 2x speed. If it's just me, I'll listen to it at 3x speed. Wait, why do you not listen to 3x speed around the children? I genuinely think about this a lot. I don't want to confuse their learning of English or Spanish. And you think that 2x speed is okay? Yeah, that's like pushing them to be smarter. 3x is like... Can you walk your phone and play something at 3X speed so everyone knows what I have to deal with on a daily basis?

I make him wear his headphones because my brain is going to explode. I'm like the person that listens to a podcast and I'm like, can we slow it down? Okay, here you go. This is 2.5. Let me put it to two years. Like, I am comprehending every single word of this. I can't even, I have no idea what's going on. Okay.

I don't even know what language they're speaking. Did you know? Let me see if you can hang at 2.5. No. No? Okay, let's go down to two. Yeah? Yeah, but it's just like not even enjoyable for me.

Like I, I want to just, I want to zone out. Like when that's playing in the background, I think if it is like white noise. I like, I know. I know. But I can tell like, I look back in the back seat sometimes. And Stratton's just like, you know, he's just hanging. But like Stella is like her eyes are wide.

And I can tell she's genuinely trying to understand. She's like, I didn't know. And I genuinely am like, I don't want to set her back developmentally by playing things at 3x speed. Or 2x speed. Honestly, you should be listening to those podcasts around them. You should be putting on Pompein, which is a Spanish song on Spotify that she loves her. Juan Paco Pedro de la Mavre. That's what we play.

But yeah, that's... What do you listen to? Oh, but it's just really fast. I have to tell you something that I don't think that I don't listen to the top 100 more. How dare you? I haven't listened to that in like months. You used to be pretty mainstream. I was.

I was. She'd be like, oh my gosh. Have you heard of Sean Mendez? You heard Katie Perry? Like really good music. No, I actually don't think I've ever told you this before. Oh, gosh. It was something bad.

Okay. But when I was in my freshman year of college, did you know that I was diagnosed with an auditory processing disorder? No. Why would you never tell me that? I went to, like, a specialist because I would sit in class and, like, try to listen to, like, the lectures in college. and I could not remember anything in the lectures, and I would have to write everything down that they would say, but then I wouldn't listen to what they're saying.

And so the only way I could ever process it is if I wrote it down. So I don't know if you notice, like whenever I'm in meetings with brands or something, I always have tons of notes. And I'm writing down the most random things. I wish some of your notes were in here. We literally, I'll look at her paper, and she'll be like,

like someone's just telling, a personal story about like a squash and danie would be like mhm, mm-hmm, squash. And I'll like look at her notes and it's like squash smiley face and I'm like, what are you going to do with that? Squash smiley face. No, so I, um, it like really became a problem for me because the thing was is I would have

to, uh, so I started recording all the lectures and then I would have to go home and then rewrite the lectures to process them or would have to go at home and reread the entire textbook because basically going to class for me was just a waste of time. Is this freshman of college or freshman of high school? College. Wow. So I was, so I went to like an expert like on campus and we did all these tests and like we ran all these tests and I wasn't like I didn't have any issues like with visual learning.

Like I'm very good with like visual learning. But basically when people spoke to me or like I had to listen to like a lecture or like a movie or something, like anything that they would say, it just went in one year out the other. Like I couldn't process, I couldn't take the information and process it and then make it make sense because the, just like the fact that I was like, I had to hear it first. And then I had to, like, it took too much time to process. By the time that I processed it, they would be like four sentences in and then I'm already behind.

I really wish you would have told me this early in our marriage because do you understand how much resentment I could have saved myself. Like have I, do you know how many times when you were looking at your phone texting, I've tried to tell you something? And it just is like, you're like, you either give me the finger like one second or. I can't like double task.

I'm like, I'm like, Danny, did you hear anything I just said? And you're like, I'm sorry, can you start over it? I'm like, I've been talking for two minutes.

Yeah, but I didn't want people to treat me differently. Well, okay, but you could have told your husband. It's something that I kind of just like shoved down. But I actually ended up. It was so great because there's other people that have this problem too.

And so the teachers are required to anyone that's like diagnosed with this disorder, this issue. They're required to give lecture notes to at the end of class. So you know like when you're in class, especially at a school like the University of Texas, I mean, you could have 300 people in your class, your class. Like, you know, and the teacher just got something. and talks, talks, talks, talks for like an hour and a half. And you're just sitting there, like, trying to type it all out. So whenever I was in class, I only had to listen and tried to process it.

I didn't have to write it at the same time. And then afterwards, the teacher would hand me the notes from class. Like the slide deck or like actual notes? Sometimes it was mainly used as a slide deck. Yeah. Wow. But to be fair, just so people don't think you skip the system, didn't we all get the slides decks?

It was like, it was, no. No, not everybody got the slide X. It was like, like notes. Yeah. It was like everything that they had said. Or they would let me like record the lectures, but I didn't skip the system. I mean, it's like dyslexia of the ears. So sorry.

Like it's all my fault. I'm not trying to like skip the system. Like, you think I, I want to be this way? I would like to just be like every other kid. in class. It's not like something I was proud of. Did you, why even, why even go to class? Well, do you remember you used to get points for showing up?

That's right. That's right. But honestly, that's a good question. Because there were a lot of classes, like towards the end of my, like, my, like, my days in college where I would just do the math and be like, how many days do I actually have to go to this to, like, even pass? Once I decided I wasn't going to physical therapy school. I was like, I'm just trying to get, like, a passing grade. And so, like, I would do the math, and I'd be like, yeah, like,

I'm only going to, like, four classes this semester. So, so funny. That's great. I'm glad I, I mean, every, every podcast I learned something. You can ask my mom. No, I, no, babe, I believe you have dyslexia of the year. It's okay. I now found a new way to support you in life.

Okay. Does Jordan still do real estate? So silly. Yeah, I mean, sure. I don't do anything in particular. Like, I do the system. Like, I run the... So you work the system.

No, I run the, like, the enterprise of our family, which is like Danny, divvy, real estate, stocks, like, everything. Like, our... I guess the best way to put it would be that I run our family office. So, yes. Okay. What is something you found yourself pondering more than usual lately? I would say like how much of like the next like thing that we do is worth it, which I don't even know what it is.

But it's like I'm just so content with where we're at. Like I like love spending time with our kids. Like I love hanging out with you. Like I when it comes to striving in success, like it just would have to fit into a different set of parameters than I ever, like I ever have had before. Yeah. So I think about that a lot.

Like, like, okay, if, like, we're free now because of like, you know, CEO starting, like, what would next look like? And then I, it goes through like a series of pros and cons that is way different than when we were, like, newly married or when I was single. I get that. That's nice. What? What about you?

Something I ponder about lately. Mm-hmm. I have been pondering about all of those, like, inspirational quotes that people say to you that I actually don't believe. Okay. What? Which one in particular? Oh, there's so many quotes that people say where I'm just like... Just like word salad.

No, and they're beautiful in the moment. But I'm like, okay, you believe that for this situation? But, like, you know one of my least favorite quotes ever? there's no way I would guess this or like things that people say you're like like your yes is be yes and let your nose be no that is so annoying to me because I'm like no like sometimes I'm going to change my mind and that's okay that's pretty triggering because I think I said that to you like it's so annoying when people are like well you know what like you need to be like you need to be that person that's like let your yes is be yes and I'm like no because life changes and like

sometimes I'm going to say yes to something and then I'm going to have to have to say no last minute. Or sometimes I'm going to say no to something and I'm like, you know what? I actually do want to do that. I'm like, I think that's okay. But what about like if that person is depending on you for the yes and then you have to change last minute? Or what if your no requires everyone else to scramble.

Trust me. I mean, this is what I struggle with on a daily basis is like I think I let my yeses be yes and my nose be no too often. I think isn't that what everybody's been talking to you about is how. Okay, that's like a really interesting way of looking at it because basically what you're saying is like, hey, like I want to commit to this. And so I'm going to say yes. But if my spirit and my soul is not there for it, like I might have to back out and say no. I think that those should be the exceptions, not the rule. Are we on the same page about that? Yeah. Okay. So in order to make those the exceptions. So that's just life. Like that's always going to be the situation. There's always going to be maybe something that comes up. Like you can say yes to. a birthday party in two weeks and then like your kid gets sick and like you don't know that so aren't there going to be like a ton of exceptions yeah those are like reasonable exceptions but like i think that i just think quotes like that are stupid like it's like yeah just be a reliable person and like

when you like commit to something like try your best to make it but like you don't always have to have your yeses be yeses and your nose be nose like that's just so stupid okay but like the the core issue is not like okay remember when you like you like like went that one night you bought that new planner you told everyone about it and then you like looked a bigger picture and you were like oh i'm to be like really tired during this like you were able to like look bigger picture and be like okay based on the rhythm of i have this week two weeks before like i think that when when i personally say yes and yes and no is no it's like looking at the big picture looking at the big picture and it's more of like a time management

thing but yeah if you want to think the quote is stupid i can find is there a more appropriate way to say it just like try your best to be a reliable person okay yeah Danny, are you trying? Okay. It's so funny. I'm so like over quotes like that. I'm so over like cultural norms. I'm so over like just I'm so.

What's the why Danny? What happened? Because I just feel like there's so many like nuances for so many people. And it's like not fair to just put this like fair, this like general statement towards everyone in every situation and be like, let your yes is be yes. I feel like a lot of quotes like that or a lot of like sayings like that have been like manipulated against me, used against me to make me like, I don't know, to like get me to do what they want me to do. They're controlling me. Who is they? I can't tell you. No, I have some people in mind,

but am I going to say. Am I one of them? Because I definitely said that to you a week or two ago. No, but I mean maybe, but you actually weren't the person I was thinking about. Oh, okay. Yeah. Okay.

Let me see. Do you want to pick it? What's the last thing you Googled? Oh, my gosh. Oh. Like I should like. I googled last night. You remember that show that your mom?

told us to watch that one time. It was about like raising babies in different cultures. Yeah. And like how like in Japan they like let their two year olds like run errands to the grocery store. Yeah. Let them cross the street. I for the life of me could not figure out what that show was. And the best guest that I had was Google told me it was that show, that movie Babies.

So then I bought the movie Babies. Is it not? And honestly, like literally no words in this movie. It was just a bunch of babies being. raised in different cultures. And I watched it for an hour thinking like, okay, well, where's the toddler scene? All I wanted was to see how this. Have you ever seen that?

This toddler did errands. Ran errands. Have you seen that before? Well, no, only that show that your mom told us about. I know, but have you seen that scene before? Yes, your mom shows. And I wanted to watch the whole movie because, like, at the time, she was like, you just have to watch this scene.

But now that, like, Stella's like a toddler, I wanted to see it. I wanted to see how other cultures raise toddlers. Yeah. And then I downloaded this freaking babies movie. Have it all ever? bunch of breastfeeding and I was like, okay, that scene, was that a baby that was like being raised in Japan? They do in Japan.

I was going to say it was like Tokyo, right? Yeah. Okay. So there was like a toddler. They trained their toddlers like three or four years old to run errands for them. So literally it's like they're living in New York City. That's how the city, how Tokyo is kind of looks from that. I've never been there, but that's what it looks like from the outside.

And there's like little four-year-old like hops on the elevator, like, use it. a stick to close to like press the button on the elevator because the button's too high, waits on the elevator, gets out, knows exactly where to go, waits at the stop sign, crosses the street with the crowd, goes to the grocery store, pays for the groceries, walks back home. Like, it is insane to watch as like three or four year old run errands. So after I, halfway through this baby's movie, I realized that that wasn't what I was looking for, but it turns out they did a whole spinoff show on Netflix called Old Enough where it's literally just episodes of these toddlers taking trips on errands in Japan and you just watch

the whole thing. I didn't watch it. But I also just want to argue this point. I wonder if some of these like Japanese families, like if they lived in New York City or Chicago or Dallas, if they would do the same thing. Because Japan is very safe, like very low crime, like very clean, you know, I just wonder if in different environments like they would do the same thing. I know. That's a good question. No, I think it's just how, yeah, I think they're raised differently in different cultures. Because then you saw like these other toddlers that were like going out and helping their parents like hunt because like they needed to like put food on the table. And so yeah, it's different cultures and I don't think that that would be a good idea in New York City. The one thing I did feel peace about in this baby show though is that like babies no matter where they're raised, babies are just babies.

Like they just like cry and they like get frustrated and it's like that's a word right there It's same. Babies are babies. No, no, but like what I mean by that is like I think a lot of the times in America like we get really in our own heads about like like is my child throwing a temper tranchion because I did something wrong or like is should I've done something for my baby. No babies are babies. Babies are babies. Yeah. And I'm like, oh, this baby in like Nairobi is the same as like.

fighting with their sibling is still in Stradd's like yep yep they're just a baby it's comforted to know that all babies are babies all babies are just babies when you're feeling stressed out next time mom just remember babies are babies i honestly do think it's comforting yeah um what is your biggest challenge in managing people slash employees um wondering all the time if they're happy are you happy here do you like me are we so good. Are you happy? I would actually like, I think I stress about it in a different way, but I would say the same. Yeah, I mean, you're like, you feel responsible for the happiness, but you're not. And that's something I'm also working through is like, you know, if they're,

like work is work. Yeah. Like work is always going to just be work. And it's like, and then there's personal life. And so I think the best thing that we can do is just set the, the strict boundaries of like, this is work time and this is. But, you know, you know, I love it. good hang. Yeah. Like I'm such a hangar outer like with your employees. Oh yeah. Like I love the chill. I'm like so tell me what's going on like but I try not to get too personal like you know because I've learned that like I have to like their employees so you know talk about certain things but don't go like too you have to be professional still. So you know I'm always trying to toe the line of like being being like being buds but then also being like there for them but then also being like on schedule and

doing my job. And so. Yeah, sometimes I leave, I'm like, oh, I wonder if they're happy. That's definitely the hardest part. Yeah. And I would say, too, is like when you have a team that kind of outgrows you and you have so many different personalities, like let's just say you get 20 girls in a room. Like. Which you have it, David.

Yeah. Like there are going to be different personalities that some personalities are going to rub other personalities the wrong way. It's just part of the working environment. Luckily, on my team, it's so small. I feel like it's a lot easier to avoid. that type of tension. But like when you have 20 girls in a room, like, you know, there's going to be some drama.

But honestly, I wouldn't say that Divy has like a lot of like work drama. It's not like that. It's just that, you know, I just maintaining that culture of like, we do not gossip. Like when we have issues, we go directly to the source. Like we have and not allowing the culture to outgrow you to the point where like it sets like a toxic. work culture, which I do not feel like we have that whatsoever. I think we have like some of the most amazing people. But I think like sometimes you can just, it's just hard. There's just different personalities. And it's like you have to spend so much time with these people. So, so that's

something that always worries me is like being involved to an extent where I can always, like, feel things out. Yeah. No, I mean, it's hard. Zero to 10 at Divi was like employee zero to zero to 10 was like decently hard because it was like it was very different than your team who has four people. Yeah. But like zero to ten, it's like you really want to hire people on the basis of skill, but then also like the basis of are they going to work well with the previous nine that we hired? And so that was really easy zero to 10. And the saying we used to always say hiring for divvy back then was like hire for the

heart because you can train the hands, you know? And so it's like hiring more for. a cultural bent because you want like a team is stronger than an individual. But going from 10 to 20, that's where we started having to hire like skilled executives. And that had to flip a little bit, you know, but we said no to a lot of people that may have been more qualified for their roles because we knew that they weren't going to fit into the cultural system that we had built. But once you go above 10, you lose control. Like you can do your best to hire people that like each other. But like, you'll just never know. Yeah. You'll just never know.

You can't please everyone, but I mean, one of, like, we have a really great resource with our, with our HR. And so it's like, and I really love who like heads up our HR. So we always have that, that resource for them, like, if there ever is anything. But no, like, we're honestly, like, I'm genuinely saying this. Like, we're very, very blessed by our team and by the culture that, that we've created, that I do feel like kind of trickles down from the top, to be honest. Yeah.

You know, if I came in there and, like, I was toxic and I was like, tell me all the juice and da-da-da-da. Then I feel like it would just trickle on down to the rest of them. But, like, for me, like, I don't go there. I'm like, you know, if we're talking, we're keeping it positive and, like, real. And I'm like, if we have issues with someone, we go straight to them. And that's how I am in my everyday life, too. You know, I don't like, yeah. So anyway.

When do you feel the most like yourself? Is it when or where? When do you feel the most like myself when I'm like at home in my PJs? Oh, do you pay for your parents travel and trips when they go with you? Sometimes. Yeah, a lot of times. Or sometimes we'll pay for the hotel and they pay for flights. I think that like when it comes to, so back to the conversation of like, like, is success worth it?

I think you and I are both starting to feel like on the same page about this. Like the best thing about like having a little cushion from success. success is like being able to do things like that. Like I think a lot of the time our philosophy is like, hey, like if we're working this hard and like we can't all be together as a family in Chicago, like what's the point? Yeah. Like I think that that is one of the most favorite parts. It's like why not?

Why not? What's the big purchase that you guys made? We can tell you, but we will tell you very soon. Yeah. Let's wait until it's a little further along. Yeah. But it happened already. But it's actually really big.

Um, are you afraid that people will find out where you live and stalk you? Probably like, we should be more concerned. Yeah, I don't know. Like, I'm, I'm not really much of a, well, this is so funny. It's like I am a warrior, but I'm also not. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, like you worry about the appropriate things to worry about.

Yeah, no, I don't really worry about stuff like that because, but like, I also feel like I don't worry about it because, like, our security. It's like, you don't want to F of this. Oh, you're talking about day. Dave. Can't tell you guys. He patrols 24-7. You do not want to mess with Dave. Let me just tell you something. Also, like, I don't know if you notice this about our house, but like, if you walk up to our house, there's like a massive camera. It's just like right there. Like, do you know, this is so crazy, y'all, since we have moved here, we have not had one package stolen. We have

not had like anything like weird like that because I honestly think it's like our whole house is like glass. Like you cannot get away with anything. And we have cameras literally everywhere. Also, this is Texas. And if you know what I'm talking about, you know what I'm talking about. Yeah, and don't even try and spin it because I put no trespassing signs,

which means that you see them because they're visible. And so if you break into our house and then try and say it's our fault, there were no trespassing signs. So you can't sue us. Yeah. Anyway, I got to go because I have a meeting

at 12 and it's 1137. So we love you guys. Thanks for listening. Make sure you subscribe to our podcast. We're on Spotify, Apple, all of the streaming platforms. We love y'all. And we'll talk to you next week. Bye.