Habits and Hustle - Episode 158: Josh Peck – Actor, Comedian, Author of “Happy People Are Annoying”

Episode Date: March 15, 2022

Josh Peck is an Actor, Comedian, and now Author. Joining us for his new book “Happy People are Annoying” to discuss the highs and lows of his career and how he got to where he is. From being a child comedian working club to club in New York to movies and a spot on a Nickelodeon show, to his own show “Drake and Josh”, then over 100 lbs of weight loss, massive addiction problems, and now a blossoming career accompanied by his absolutely giant social media presence. If you think you know any part of Josh’s story, I promise, you don’t. Josh is the sweetest, he loves his mom, and he’s on an open book for us on this episode. Don’t miss it! Youtube Link to This Episode Josh Peck’s Instagram Josh Peck’s Youtube Channel  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Did you learn something from tuning in today? Please pay it forward and write us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. 📧If you have feedback for the show, please email [e-mail]  📙Get yourself a copy of Jennifer Cohen’s newest book from Habit Nest, Badass Body Goals Journal. ℹ️Habits & Hustle Website 📚Habit Nest Website 📱Follow Jennifer – Instagram – Facebook – Twitter – Jennifer’s Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Hi guys, it's Tony Robbins. You're listening to Habits in Hustle. Pressure. Tony Robbins, you're listening to Habits in Hustle. Fresh it. Today in the podcast, we have Josh Peck. Josh is one of the most recognizable faces of our generation. He is an actor, he's a writer, he's a stand-up comic. He's a super, super successful YouTuber, social media star. He's really done it all.

And he really rose to fame with his hit show on Nickelodeon called Drake and Josh, which had four seasons. He's done multiple other movies, TV shows, and his latest project is his first book called Happy People Are Knowing. And it was hilarious. It's basically just a combination of his years learning, growing how he broke into the show business,

the trials, the tribulations in a super honest, raw, hilarious way. I really wasn't expecting to love the book as much as I did, but I did. And I just really love Josh. He's super kind. He's really funny and so down to earth, which I love to see when someone has the type of success that he has. Hopefully you guys love the podcast. If not, please let me know and send me some type of comment. Either love, hate, I'm not sure. And leave a review. And with that, without further ado, here is the podcast. All right, you guys. So today on the podcast, we have Josh Peck.

Thank you for being here. Thank you. He wrote a new book called Happy People Are Annoying. And let me just tell you a little bit of a little background. Josh is, of course, a humongous child actor. I think probably one of the biggest, you had a huge show called Dracon Josh. Yes. And tons of others.

Amanda Bineshow, blah, blah, blah. He's also a standard comedian, a social media star, a YouTuber, blah. He's also a standard comedian, a social media star, a YouTuber, obviously, and obviously now just an overall actor. And we're going to get into his whole career. And I'm just so excited to have you because, like I said, you've done it all. And some of the things that I read in your book were so shocking to me. I really, like I said before we started, I love this book. It's really, really funny. You did a great job. Oh, man. Thank you. And I noticed also

that you thanked Ryan Holliday, who's also a big writer who's been on the podcast. Oh, wow. Yeah. Did he help you with the book or? Ryan was an advisor on the book. Oh, okay. And if you like it, it's probably because of Ryan. Oh, I don't think so. Well, maybe, maybe. I gotta give him all the credit in the sense of, you know, I'm lucky enough to be French with him for a long time and had him on my podcast and we knew each other even before he was sort of

this prolific author, modern day, stoic geniusity exam. Wow, that's a really nice thing to say about him. And you know, really bugs me is younger than me. I know, he's like 34, right? Yeah, I'll call him for advice. And I'll be like, I can't believe. But I feel like I'm talking to like some old sage. And I forget that I like, you're 87, aren't you?

I know he has an old soul it feels like, right? Yeah, I mean, how do you write about that and be so young and, you know, properly? And he's written like 100 books legit, like so many books. And like, so, like I think most of them are like best sellers. And he's so young. It's crazy, actually. Oh, he crushes it. Yeah. When I got this, this book, the L.I. I decided that I knew I wanted to write it myself.

And I didn't want to go strider. Right. I felt confident enough that I would get something, you know, quasi-okay out there. I didn't want to go strider. I felt confident enough that I would get something, quasi-okay out there, but I could only relate it to show business. And I was like, what's a producer in books? And I knew that I had this incredible editor

through Harper One who published the book, but I was like, I need someone I can bug more. Yeah. Totally, I get it. I get someone I can bug more. Yeah. Totally. I get it. I get it. And I, you know, I sit to Ryan. I was like, I need a producer. I need someone who can read my pages.

Give me notes. Tell me where I've sort of gone off track. And then I can take their notes and incorporate that. And he was like, yeah, I would love to help you. So he really, he read every chapter and then kind of read it once it was all done. Well, what's amazing is like, I feel like it yeah, I would love to help you. So he really, he read every chapter and then kind of read it once it was all done. Well, what's amazing is I feel like it was, like I don't know you, of course, I just met you now,

but it feels like I know you because it's written so I feel very honest and authentic and it's funny and it's weird because it's strangely related, even though like I'm much older than you are, I think it's relatable. You make it very relatable. Like, there's a couple of things or a bunch of stuff that you do talk about, when I'm going to talk about it on this podcast, then I'm like, oh my god, I totally understand

what he's saying. And your journey, to me, is very relatable. So you did a very good job if that's what you were trying to do to get people to resonate because a lot of times when people write a memoir from being an actor, it's so disconnected from other people's life and what they're going through. Sure. And you did the opposite in a way. So, thank you.

I welcome. I think that was what I learned at, you know, it only took me 35 years, sort of like, these challenges that I had gone through that I really, you know, from losing 100 pounds when I was 17, that was sort of the first thing that I noticed where I desperately wanted to rewrite my origin story. And I feel like we all sort of suffer from that where we go through our awkward teenage years and then we burn our yearbooks and swear our family to secrecy. So true.

My awkward teenage years are in reruns. Yes. So I couldn't get away from it. And then I also feel like I'm that last generation where celebrities were mysterious. And they would come out every 18 months to promote a film and do a talk show or something exciting. But they weren't on social media every day.

Exactly. And like, first of all, let's even't on social media every day. Exactly. And like, first of all, let's even back up. So we start this book and it sounds like you, obviously you and your mom are super close. You call it like a start, you guys are like a startup. Yeah. Okay, so there's two questions on my first two questions. Everyone, what made you decide because you are only 35 to write this book now and call it happy people? Why is a title happy people are annoying? And then I want you to go into your real like how

your mom and you were like a startup. I um yeah I would say writing a memoir at 35 is perhaps the most millennial thing I've ever done. I know, like my life's complete. Exactly. I, you know, it was reluctant memoir because I, what I felt was specific about me writing this and because I'm so obsessed with optimization and self-help and, you know, facing drugs and alcohol and food stuff and all these things that I really, these challenges that I had to completely humble myself to finally walk through. I knew that like other people that had perhaps dealt with that, but also went to your

point when you read something from a self-help person or a guru. Naturally or at least I found there is some separation and you think like this person is such a Buddha. Like how could they ever know like the pain that I'm going through? But I thought, well, they knew me. They saw my pain, right? Like I could qualify. I mean, like I was there. You saw it. You watched me every week. And like, even though I wasn't telling you at 21 or 25 that I was desperately and secure, there's a lot of evidence to support it. So I hope that if anyone could find some similarities

or reprieve in the book, it would be aided by the fact that it was someone who they grew up with. So they knew they weren't like being misled. But I talk about my mom. I never met my dad. She was a single mom. And I was her only child. And growing up, I would notice that friends' families

seemed more like a close corporation. And I was her only child, and growing up, I would notice that friends' families seemed more like a close corporation, and that the parents were upper management, and the kids were employees sort of being barked down orders. But my mom and I were like a startup. And you know, sometimes the CEO asked to sweep the floors, and other times the assistant gets to pitch the big clients. Like we were muddling through life together. We were co-captains, because we couldn't have that sort of

standard parental child setting just at a necessity. Right. Yeah. What was interesting also is that, and I couldn't believe that, that you did stand up at eight years old. Yeah. And I have to go back and read that again, because I have a kid who just turned nine and a kid that turned seven.

I can't even imagine that happening. So like, were you, like when you were like even smaller, what would you even, like how did that even happen? How did you even like get on the stage? Like that is insane to me. That's such a young age. Was your mother mother pushing you? What was the trajectory at such a small age? She even do that.

Well, you hear about, look, and you've worked with so many athletes, right? How many, it's perhaps not the best thing, but how many great athletes do we have today because of like, admonishing judgmental fathers who were too hard on them on the baseball field. It's a time. People like do their best work sometimes when you have a chip on your shoulder. That fuels you a lot of times. Was that kind of your thing?

Well, I would say not not in a negative sense, but I modeled myself or I was seeking value from what I grew up in my environment knowing there was value because we were like a musical theater family. My mom, my mom is 77, she had me at 43, so I would like, you know, she missed the great generation of music, I'd say like, oh man, like what was Woodstock? Like, and she'd like Woodstock, so muddy.

She's like, I was at a Barbara Streisand concert in Central Park, like it's more my speed. Absolutely. Like, all right, you know in Central Park, but it's more my speed. Absolutely. Like, all right, you know, much love, babs. Yeah. And also, like, a lot of your Jewish things about like the Jewish, like how you were like, fun to get the, at the table,

like how like people, your whole, I, this is what I related to, like how, you know, when we get to your food stuff, also, like, you don't leave the table until you finish your food and everything revolved around eating, right? Because that's like a whole other thing, which I found very resonates with me, obviously. Sure. But, sorry, so continue on with your eight-year-old stand-up comic situation.

So I knew, I love when Howard Stern talks about how his father was a radio engineer, so that was his introduction to radio. For me, it was similar. My mom and I would sneak into Broadway shows during this, you know, intermission. And we'd only see the second act, but we got to watch it for free. So, and, and being like a chubby kid growing up, there's very little, there are very few things that can allow you to rise to the level of adults, to get the respect, to get the eyes, the attention of room. And you could be a great musician or you could be a comedian. It's kind of it.

And so as soon as I saw that my mom had this natural proclivity for being funny and imagine being a woman and a business woman in the 70s and 80s, like what my mom had to contend with in the business world, she was like, oh, F this. I'm gonna need an arsenal to make sure that no one tries to run me over. So I would watch her go into rooms and just take them over and be like, the comedy's here, sit down and buckle up. And so as soon as I saw that at eight years old

that I could to possess that power, I was like, oh my gosh, this is what I've always been searching for. But obviously, people can say that funny is one of those things where either you're funny or you're not. Do you know what I mean? You can't, like, you're born that way and then you can, you can like, work on that craft and that skill, right? Yeah. But like, there are some people who no matter, like, you can recognize funny, but you just can't be funny. How did you even have that, like, how did you even hone that? It's such a small age even. Yeah, I don't know if there was anything inherent except that I come from funny people, but I think it was obviously a genetic. It thought

kind of you were, you were already had that gene to be funny. I think that, and it was also aided by sometimes I'll be around very attractive people and they'll try to go tit for tat with jokes or something. And in my mind, what I want to say is, I'm probably funnier than you, but I would have traded it all to have your face. Right. I traded all, like seriously.

But yeah, it's like an old saying, like funny people are usually funny for very unfunny reasons. Yeah, so. You said that in the book and I thought that was very stupid. And also, you say that, you know, you can, there's a lot of things you can be, but no one's ever too funny.

You never hear, oh my God, that person's just too funny. You think it can be too smart or, you know, too this or too that. But when you're funny and you talk about this, then it also could, you kind of lead the narrative. Like you can, if you are overweight and you're uncomfortable and secure to your point where you're saying,

like, people are usually very funny for very unfunny reasons. Like, you learn other ways to kind of, I build your arsenal, I guess, for people to like bully you at that age or any other reason. But so how, like, so, and then how did you end, tell people, because I didn't, it's in the book, but how did you end up

on a stage at eight? That was to me, this is what Hutzpah is, and it's real way. For those of you who don't know, Hutzpah is going to tell you, but how you did that at eight years old is truly a drive that most people at eight, seven don't only have, you know, it's one thing to be funny, where you driven by necessity also, because your mother was like a, like a single mom and you kind of had to figure it out. Like can you talk about that a little bit? Well, for any of our listeners who aren't totally familiar with Yiddish, which I'm sure is not a lot,

but for the couple out there, Hutspa is like balls. Yeah. And I, you know, it was a perfect storm. Like I was this only child and I was obsessed with TB and sitcoms. And so I was just watching them for my enjoyment, but through osmosis, I was learning the rhythms. And then I also had this defense mechanism because I was overweight and felt like I walked into every situation at a disadvantage.

And then I had to win you over because you made a snap judgment about me, the moment I walked in the room that I didn't deserve all your respect. Now maybe that was in my head and probably there was some evidence to support that especially at that time before the great sort of body positivity of the last sort of decade. So all those things combined mean me uniquely able to sort of hone this, this, for me, what was kind of like a superpower. And then I started doing like a

little bit of kids theater and I would excel at that just because I was like chubby and ambitious and willing to do anything. And then there was a magazine, I don't know if it's still in print called Backstage, which was like the actor's newspaper in New York. I don't know how I got my hands on it, but there was a classified section in the back and I was eight years old. My mom and I were struggling, like, didn't have a lot of money, didn't know what was gonna be next for us.

And all I saw was this ad for a kids talent management company called Sid Gold, it Gold Star Entertainment, shout out Sid Gold. It's amazing. And I met him and he was like, if you can get five minutes of standup together, I can get you booked at a club. Like, it's kind of my thing. And I was like, what a niche.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, again, so then you really, you went to the back of backstage. You called the sky yourself. I don't, I probably, probably. I mean, to again, this is like, this is not, this is very unusual at such a small age. I mean, that just shows again like, this is not, this is very unusual at such a small age. I mean, that just shows again, you already, you had the gumption and the drive, at such a small age, which is, again, is that an innate thing? Is that, because how do you learn that at such a small age,

which are, was your mother very aggressive because she was trying to make money to support you guys, so you saw that in her. And so it just kind of, through us Moses also, it happened that you were like that as well, like out of necessity, I guess. I think so, but the pressure was never on me, especially at eight or nine, like two. Right. That's to help, but I wanted to. Like I just knew, I didn't know it then, but it came pretty quickly, like around 12,

around 11 or 12 years old, where I was knew, I didn't know it then, but it came pretty quickly, around 11 or 12 years old, where I was like, oh, I've now got this unique thing, and it's one of the few things as a kid, where you can make adult money. I desperately wanted to feel security. My mom gave it to me, especially, could, but we were limited. I just remember specifically thinking, I don't know she just was it we were limited. Yeah. And so I just remember specifically thinking like I don't know if I was aware of it at eight but certainly if I like did a deep dive with my shrink you'd be like oh if you followed that if you if we really track this right you were seeking some sort of security but and my mom says this too and I think this is right. She said, if it was baseball, if it was Little League or the violin or academics, I would have supported you in that.

It just happened to be this, which is weird and brings on a lot of, can make you a public person at a really early age. I mean, no kidding, very young age. So then did you, so that, so Sid says you can create this five minute, you know, bit. So did you go home and like create a five minute bit? I did. I just, I basically like stole jokes from my mom that I'd heard her tell around the dinner table for years. I did impressions of my grandmother and made fun of kids at school. And, you know, it was like a tight five minutes and I'm sure I was getting some pity

You lapse at the novelty of this nine-year-old being up there But it started really working for me and I started doing it at clubs all over New York They'd sneak me in through the back so they wouldn't lose their liquor like right right and it's sort of culminated in doing You know rosy O'Donnell show the Cone no BrianBrien show, and becoming like a standup that's on late night and midday with Rosie. Right, yeah, yeah, yeah, but just, yeah, a wild sort of thing. And I solely like would move up as far as managers and agents went, sorry, Sid.

Right, of course, Sid. Were you even in me from Jumping? I think Sid's still crushing it. Really? Yeah, he's awesome. Oh my gosh, the way you leave Sid, if he was so great. I mean, I hope he'll take me back. I mean, he's awesome. Oh my gosh. Why did you leave Sid if he was so great? I mean, I hope he'll take me back. I mean, maybe he will. I don't know. You kind of you kind of left for a while there. It's been a small sabbatical. Yeah. But I've got I believe in Sid. He's a forgiving dude.

He must be old now. How old is Sid like? Yeah, I mean 70s, 80s. Wow. He's priced still crushing it. Amazing. I'm sure he's like like, now he has Julia Roberts. Oh, really? Okay. I was going to say, oh my gosh, well, yeah. Yeah. It's good. It's like, well, I found someone else too, and her name's Jennifer Lawrence. Right.

Exactly. So, you know, you're lost. Exactly. Blazing deals, boundless options. It's Hot Grill Summer at Whole Foods Market from June 14 through July 4. Fire up the grill with quality cuts at the best prices. We're talking animal welfare certified meat. Check out the sales on Bone-In-Rib-I beef kabobs and New York strip steak.

Round out your barbecue with plant-based proteins, slice cheese, soft buns, and all the condiments. Plus, sales on fresh strawberries, peaches, and more. Don't forget the pie, either. Get grilling at Whole Foods Market Terms Apply. So you're winding down with the podcast. Sounds like you have no plans to leave the couch tonight. Nope, you just want to unzip your jeans, slip on a pair of fuzzy slippers, and rip open

a bag of skinny pop popcorn. Because the only place you're going tonight is the bottom of this back of popcorn. So then, okay, so then you start doing that, then you get recognized on Conan and Rosie and all these other things. Is that when you decided to go to the school for the performing arts or like tell what how did that happen? Yeah, so I basically, you know, my mom, again, we were going through like a really challenging summer because most of our life was like fairly middle-classish,

but then as it goes with someone who's like a self-made business person the way my mom was, we would, we would hit some rough times, and remember we're in the little studio apartment and it was the end of summer and we'd sort of been displaced. So now I couldn't go to the middle school that was in my district. I didn't have a district anymore. All right. And so it was late August and she looked at me and said,

why don't you audition for that school, that performing arts school we've heard about? And I thought, why not? And I auditioned in 10 days later, I'm walking the halls of the school, and there's dancers from the Alvin Ailey school and instrumentalists and people belting out, like with some of the most impressive voices you've ever heard just walking down the hallway. And so I used to be a freak in a school of normal people, and now I was just like a freak amongst freaks.

Right, right, right. The musical theater kids, and then there were also these kids who were on Broadway or on television shows and movies. And suddenly I was like, Oh, like my Jewish relatives who up until now have always said like, this is a cute hobby. Like, but you're majoring in business. Right. Or you'd be a doctor or a lawyer. Right. Or you should be. Yeah. Yeah, you need a backup plan. And I say in the book, I'm like, when my boy scout backup plan,

suddenly I saw all these people who were doing the thing that I loved and making a living doing it. And I said, oh, I'm all in. Like I remember specifically a 12-beam, like no more, you know, keeping sort of like the breaks on. Right. And I fully gave myself to this thing and rather quickly, I kind of leveled up on a, on a, a success level.

How hard is it to get into that school? I don't, I don't think terribly hard when I, I think she, well, like, Alicia Keys went there. A bunch of big people went there. Yeah, Claire Danes. Her Danes. Jesse Eisenberg. No, I think like, I mean, I started, it's excraved there. A bunch of big people went there. Yeah, Claire Danes. So Danes. Jesse Eisenberg. No, I think like, I mean, I started at 6th grade there.

So I think that I, you know, you had to audition and you had to have the right grades to get in. And it's probably really hard now. I think when I started, it was just early days in that school. Was it like, I'm as curious, do they do real like math and English? How does it break down like for kids? Like, is it, do you have a day full of regular subjects and then you have

performance in term? Like, how does it work? I'm just curious how those kind of schools even work. No, it's weird. So, you have a core curriculum for the first five periods of your days. You have math, science, a language, you go to to lunch, and then you'd have humanities, so English and social studies. And then at 115, you would go to your major. So if you were a dancer, you went to the Alvin Ailey School. If you were a drama or a vocalist, you'd do five days of drama or vocal. And then I was a musical theater major.

So it was two days drama, two days vocal, one day dance. And as you can tell, I excelled again. Yes, of course. I would expect nothing less, Josh, obviously. So there you are. So then you're auditioning all the time. You talk about it now. And then which is okay, then you, you got some movie, right, with Chevy Chase, which by the way, I love from vacation. But I mean, the best. And then this is the story that I think is very, people on this, for this podcast would appreciate,

because I talk about this a lot, and I did a whole TED talk on this, about asking for what you want in life. And you went and you barged up to the president of Nickelodeon and you basically said to him that you wanted, you know, put to put you on some hit show or something, right? Again, Hutzpah. I mean, the fact, like, how did, like, so, and by the way, like, in my, what I always say is you,

if you don't ask, you don't get, right? Like, you never know what can happen. Like, the worst he says is, like, you know, fuck off, kid. Like what can happen? Who kind of like prompted that? Where did that come from? And how that was in from the book, it seems. That changed the into that ask, changed the entire, like the whole trajectory of your entire career. And wasn't it?

Or? Absolutely. I mean, here I am doing this film, like never been out of the country. I remember my agent called my mom. I was sitting there eating chicken nuggets and she's like, he booked the movie and my mom was like, what do you mean? Like, the movie that he auditioned for, he got the part.

Like, you're leaving for Canada in five days. Hope you're passport too. Right. And my mom was like, we don't have passport. Right. And so, you know, we fly to Canada and I'm filming this film and, and Trevor Chase and Cresselia, Gene Smart, like real heavy hitter, incredibly talented people.

Was that movie a success by the way? It was. Okay. And it was with Nickelodeon. And I remember I'm like making this guy laugh one day, giving him my best sort of bits from stand up. And my mom sort of said, That you stole from your mom. Yeah, mostly her.

Your mom should have bought the show then. But anyway. I know, don't plant that in your head. I'm sure that you stole from your mom. Yeah, mostly her. Your mom should have bought the show then. But anyway. I know, don't play it that way. Yeah. I'm sure that's in the back of her mind for the last 20 years. But you know, she sidles up to me. She goes, you know who that is? That's the president of Nickelodeon,

and this guy Albi Hecht. And I said, great, she's like, you know, there's that show that you've been dying to be on your whole life, all that, which was like SNL for kids. Right. She told me, want to do it. I said, okay, and I don't know how I sum in the hoods, but except for the fact that I was 12, so I really had no amount of like insecurity and take over until another year

or two. Right. It's also like night, like night eventy, it's a real strength, right? Because you don't know, right? Like, your hair's like, you don't think about that. You're not overthinking that. Oh my God. He may right? Like, you care. Like, you don't think about that. You're not overthinking that. Oh my God. He may say, no, the failure.

People don't do things like that because they're so scared of the rejection of the failure. You don't have that. Also, the auditioning, you're so used to just being like, no, no, no. It kind of just didn't even occur to you that that would be something that was kind of outrageous for a 12 year old to ask. Yeah. The... David Mammon has this great quote where he says, like, the easily shamed will never learn.

Right. And I think that's true. Great one. I think it's really true. And so I mentioned it to him and, you know, I attribute albito, like, throughout life, you'll meet a lot of other people on boats who are sort of waiting the same storm that you are. But sometimes you meet the water. And when they rise, they lift you up with them.

And that was albiet. He was one of those rare people that had the power to really give you a shot. And he was willing to take that shot on me. So nine months later, we got a call from him. And he said, Josh, I want to tell you, you're going to go be on the Amanda show. And I'm going to move you we got a call from him. And he said, Josh, I want to tell you, you're going to go be on the Amanda show, and I'm going to move you and your mom out to California.

And it was the call that changed my life. And to my mom's credit, in addition to all the things she did for me, like I was sort of on the fence. Yeah. Because I was like, leave New York. We were on the fence. Because I had no comprehension of that.

I was like, things are going great now. Right. I love this school. We've got some money. Like, I did a movie. Like, and Amanda Schoen wasn't all that. I didn't know it well. So I was just kind of like,

and my mom sort of having the foresight, she said, listen, this is huge. She's like, try it. Let's try it for six months. If you hate it, we'll come back and we'll never have to do it again. And to her credit, whenever people say to her, as I already said, like,

like, did you know Joshua's gonna have success? She's like, no, I just knew it was like the only thing giving my chubby son confidence and joy. So I wanted to support him. That's amazing. I mean, so was Amanda big at that point? She was massive. She was really massive.

Because I can't, the chronological order. Like, what was she doing before? She did the Amanda Bines show, all that. So she was on that show. And so that's why they gave her this show. Yes. And then, wow. So in the nine months before, like after the snowy days movie,

and then I'm gonna tell you, I read your book. I know you don't believe me. I actually do. I was like, riveted by this. That between, and by the way, it's not just, I'm old and I'm in my forties and I liked it. So I'm just letting you know, people, okay? So between the nine months, between the snowy days movie

and that phone call, were you working, did you get any jobs between that or you're just a school? Yeah, I think I was doing some other jobs. Also just at that point it was like, I was, you know, I do a commercial, I did like a thing here and there, but the Oreo commercial, we know. No Oreo commercials. The Chubby Kids and Shoutout Oreos, shoutout in the Bisco. Yeah. But Chubby Kids were not allowed regularly in in junk food commercials, which is so unbelievable given what it is, but talk about false advertising. So then, all right, so then you get here, you're on the Amanda Ballin show and then what happens?

Did you like it? Would it nice to you? I mean, at every turn, whenever I've like, doubled down and sort of said, this is the level in which I want to play it, I don't know if I'm capable. I think, you know, I always have a suspicion, but it was like, when I went to perform in art school, I leveled up. And so I was forced to meet my peers

and take it really seriously. And then I had dreams of doing, comedy or broad sitcom comedy on this kids network which was like the mountain top. So when I arrived at the Amanda show, I was like, oh, it's time to level up again. And I watched people like Amanda who were so, you know, we're six months apart in age which was so far beyond my inability and skill. And I would just, you know, I talk about it, you know, they kind of iced me the first couple months I was there as far as like they didn't know who I was and I had sort of been pushed on them by this president of the network a little bit or like highly suggested that they cast me.

And so they were like, we got to get to know you. Like so, but instead of being resentful, like, why am I playing waiter number three in sketches? I would watch Amanda and people like that and try to reverse engineer what was their sparkle? What was she doing that made it so compelling and funny? And at this time, also, you're quite overweight. How much did you weigh back then? At that point. Probably, I don't know.

I think between 13 and 17, I went from 200 to 300 pounds. But I was also really, I wasn't this height. I was not holding it well. Yeah, I don't know everything. It wasn't kind of, it didn't like, it wasn't like balance based on the, yeah. No, I didn't look like I played, you know,

offensive tackle for Alabama. Right. I just looked like I was in a bad place, blood glucose wise. And that's, so you were, were you the only very overweight kid at that time frame like, were you always, yeah, were you, I was getting those roles? Was that, was that? It was a, were you always getting, yeah, were you always getting those roles? Was that, was that?

It was certainly a small pool of us. Yeah. But especially at that time, and I talk about it in the book, like, people would say to me, like, oh, you're, you're heavyweight or you're overweight and you want to be in, be an actor, like, oh, you're going to be like John Candy or, right. Farley or, or Belushi, which by the way was in certainly the greatest compliment ever because those guys are geniuses except that I knew that's not what they were saying. They were saying like, oh, if you're fat, you better be funny.

And it was like, it became, I say in the book, like, it's like a candy bar. It became almost Pavlovian, right, where you'd see a heavy set actor who was sort of in a comedic role. And they'd be like, I love this. I know this. I love this. And so this idea of playing anything other than the bully or the best friend as an actor or being the broad sketch comedy guy was off the table. I, you know, being the love interest or, you know, the superhero. It it was never gonna happen for me. So you're limiting your ability for acting roles because of kind of like you were getting typecasted

as like the best friend or totally, right? Or the bully or whatever. Sure. So when you got Drake and Josh, not Josh and Drake, right? Drake and Josh. That was, and that was like the big show that really catapulted you, right? Like that was like now you're, yeah,

it was like a fight, how long did it run for? I mean, it's still, it's still on and rerun to every day, but we made 60 episodes. We didn't make that much, but I think it's a bit of a misnomer or like it wasn't popular when it was on. It wasn't? No, but that's because it wasn't popular when it was on it. It wasn't? No. But that's because it was a kid show and a kid network.

And so like every day I would do the show and have a great time doing it. And then I would go home to like my apartment complex and go over to my friend Lenshous and his mom would make us pizza and we'd watch hockey. Like there's no social media. Right. So I, some people will say that to me now, like what was it like to be on that show? And I say it's more, it's more famous now,

because of social media and people go up with it. But then what, like back then, would you remember those shows like, you know, now I could be wrong, but like the Amanda Bynes show or Hannah Montana, Those were massive shows. Was it that in the same timeframe as your show? I think Hannah Montana was later, a little bit later, but it was-

Is that Nickelodeon? Disney. That was Disney. But that's right. It was kind of a different thing. There was no social media, right? So when she was massive back then, she couldn't walk out of her house, because... No, she's super famous. But I'm saying it was the same

time frame. There was no social media. And that show, Hannah Montana, was like massive. I'm trying to think of another show like Lizzie McGuire, is that possible? Yeah, but I think Lizzie, like, I feel like we're getting into like the stats of kids shows. I'm Lizzie, like, I feel like we're getting into like the, the, um, stats of, of kids shows, like, I'm trying to remember, like, I think Lizzie and Drake and Josh were very similar. Like, we did, like, a couple seasons and it came and went, right? And then just Hillary being so great. Like, I'm on a show with her now, which is like a millennial, right.

It's millennials and minds are melting. They're like, what's Lizzie and Josh from Drake and Josh? I can imagine. You've been on a ton of shows though. She, yeah. I mean, she's awesome. But I just remember we were done with Drake and Josh when Hannah Montana was a kiddie in this stride.

And certainly like her or like Ariana Grande who came from the E lotion. I think when you have someone that's so undeniable, like Miley and Ariana was, like, they were easy, they easily sort of separated themselves from the pack, which was more like people like me, who are like, I'm an actor amongst actors and I don't want to be pigeonholed like this, but I also don't, I'm not also beautiful and incredibly talented singer actor and can do everything.

Right, right. So also a girl versus guy though too, right? Because they were singers and they did a whole album. Sure. So that was they were able to do a different vertical to kind of expand their business, right? People can buy it at the time. But they're just undeniable.

They're total stars. And I'm not taking anything away from me or someone else, but it just was so clear at an early age how different and elite they were compared to their peers. It was. It went back down. I think so. Because, again, to talk about this in the book and I said this to you before, I could not

... it amount of money that you people think that you're making as a kid star is so not accurate. I thought you guys making as a kid star is so not accurate. Like I thought you guys were making like a fortune. Sure. I think that's most people's assumption. And you know, you talk like you're making like nothing, nothing, but you're making something. But like you need to work. Like it's not like you're like having a $20 million house in the hills. No, it's certainly not. I mean, I had a very lovely two-bedroom apartment rented. Right.

Right. Yes. I had a, you know, a five-series BMW, which isn't the 30 series. Right. Right. Right. You released the lease. Right. The lease? Good. No. You were making a nice living. I was fine, but to your point, yeah, like when I was done with the show at 19, like I maybe had like point, yeah, like when I was done with the show at 19, like I maybe had like 18 months of runway left financially, like I had to work and I didn't live extravagantly. It just was the reality of what that paid at that time. So is that all Nickelodeon people, all Disney people make that kind of money? Everybody across the board? I don't know.

I can just speak for me and it wasn't a lot. It wasn't a lot. And there's no residuals in the case TV. I don't know I can just speak for me and it wasn't it wasn't a lot wasn't a lot and there's no residuals in Why I don't know there's no residual how how can that be? I don't know maybe you can maybe you get the listeners So I'm sure there's like some some yeah What do you do about listeners? I'm in the beast with it 35 I mean, I'm in peace with it. I'm 35. I'm kind of like reckoned with it. But then it was basically during your show

that you decided to lose all your weight though. Yes. What made you decide at 17, you know, this is enough, I wanna basically lose the weight and make that, what was kind of that turning point for you? I sort of come from big people, and so I had seen food be a bit of a menacing force to my kind, early on.

I kind of like, I just knew that this has been difficult for people in my family, and I've obviously inherited sort of the same proclivity for that, and I knew that I was always gonna be, because again, and I try to inherited sort of the same proclivity for that. And I knew that like, I was always gonna be, because again, like, and I try to stay in the book, I feel like people might think that I'm speaking in hyperbole or, you know, being mean to myself or I talk about being overweight,

but it's only because I want to properly illustrate the pain that I was in at that time. Which was specific to me. Like, there's plenty of guys I knew growing up who had a belly and would take their shirt off at the pool and I was like, oh my god, like, you're a superhero. And they don't care. Didn't care.

I just wasn't that way. And so... When you were eating, by the way, when you were doing all of this, in your head, were you thinking, oh my god, like, what am I doing to myself as you were eating so much when you were doing this? Or that wasn't a thought in your head? No, I don't think god, like what am I doing to myself as you were eating so much when you were doing this? Or that was in the thought in your head? No, I don't think I was that self-actualized at all.

I just was like this, you know, it's not great. Right. The people that love you, you know, especially like your Jewish yenta grandmother is like, or aunt and uncles are just kind of like, you know, you really need to, you know, watch it. Maybe you only, you really need to, you know, watch it. Maybe you only, you don't need thirds.

Yeah. Let's keep it to seconds. Let's keep it. But with that, like part of the Jewish culture, and that's why I said in the beginning of this podcast, is the fact that everything is around food, like you socialize around food. Everything is like, let's, you know,

when you're thinking for me, anyway, when I'm eating breakfast, I can't wait to think of what can I have for lunch, and then when I'm at lunch, when I'm hanging for dinner. Like part of that, like, become part of your psychosis, is that part of how it started for you, and it kind of just went from there? I don't know, yeah, I mean, I'd love to blame Judy

as a bad person. I do, I blame it all the time. I don't blame you. Yeah, I just think it's for those of you who are listening. Okay. Yeah. I am. But yeah, because like to your point, you're right.

And then yet, like, especially being in LA, which is such an incredible food city, and there's so many different, like, you know. But nobody eats. So I don't know, like my buddy said the other day, he's like, most of the country is 20 pounds over the overweight or 30 pounds overweight. Yeah.

I love you people are like 10 pounds overweight. But a lot of us are still overweight. Yeah, it's not a judge. I just mean it's like... Yeah, I feel like that's the... I feel like it's like, kind of... Maybe you're... I see the opposite.

I feel like everywhere else in the world, yeah, people have like their little more meaty here. I feel like people have two helping, like two like spoons of their food and like leave it. I'm here, I feel like people have two helping, like two like spoons of their food and like leave it. I'm like, how can you do that? Like it's like a, it like, like it's, it like kind of bothers my, the principle of it. Like I don't understand it. I find people here on the big scale are much thinner. Maybe you're right, maybe 10 pounds sometimes, but. But I mean, if you were ever going to be in a little bit more shape, it's probably, if you know, we're being a cell-A people.

Yes, we are. Right. And it's hot. It's always warm outside, so you're wearing less clothes, so people are much more tuned into that. Yes. But okay, so anyway, so I digress. So then you decide at 17.

So what was like, yeah, what was a turning point again? Like you're just like... Yeah, I think I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I tried it my own way so many times to poor results. And you did try a lot before that? Yeah, I think I was like the only 12 year old on Atkins. Oh, you were? For, no, I'm sure.

But like, yeah, by the way, poor doctor Atkins, right? You got a pretty rough rap considering it's like early keto, no? Oh, it is keto. Oh, and this is like, this is a whole podcast that we try to talk about, like how every diet is just repackaged by the same, like the keto that this, everything is the same just from before, right? Like keto is atkins.

Right. But maybe like true keto, you don't like do bacon and cheese burgers, where atkins was a little more liberal. Well, atkins was much more protein and fat, but with the keto diet that I think one difference is, you're not able to have that, you can't have that much protein, it's more about fat, less protein.

I don't know, but it is Atkins. A day is like Doni carbs, and that's basically our sugar. Yeah. Isn't it? And aren't they all kind of like that? You're right. There's no new ancient truths, right? There isn't. If you move a little more and eat a little less, you will wait.

We'll come off of you. Absolutely. People don't want to hear that though. They want to hear there's a magic pill. There's a new diet that they can because it's like not sexy to say, you know, eat less, move more. That doesn't seem to resonate a lot. So, big thing now is like intermittent fast. Are you an intermittent faster?

I am. Yeah. See? I know. You want to know about my window? Yes, I do. I know about your window. It is your window. It is your turn to six. It is your window? Yeah, and it's hard because I wake up in my sun sometimes. Like, when I was doing it when I was didn't have a child, I wake up eight-ish. Yeah. You know, and then I would just coast my way to, you know, 10. Right.

Like, now I can eat, I wasn't even hungry. But a lot of times, like this morning, I would go with my son at six. Uh-oh. So by like nine, I'm like, I'm in withdrawals. Yeah. Like, you need to eat. Yeah.

So what'd you do, you ate? No, I had some black coffee and waited till 10. Oh, like, did you have anything in the black coffee or you won't even do that? No, because it breaks your fast. It breaks your fast. Yeah. Oh my God. So then is that, so when you did at a 17, did you obviously weren't intermittent fasting

at that point, right? When did you start this intermittent fasting? I mean, and when I say that, like, I'm not great at it. But it's like, I basically, what's truly allowed me to keep weight off for the last 15 or 20 years almost is I've become so adept at eyeballing calories. Yeah. And thank God, I've beaten myself into a place where I love working out. Yeah. And so if I can sort of eyeball what I'm eating throughout the day and know that if I have a dessert, then I can take it easy on dinner or like just make up for it throughout the day. And then if I had a dessert, then I can take it easy on dinner or just make up for it throughout the day.

And then if I had a workout in, there's a good chance that I will stay at the weight that I'm at. Right, right, right. So you kind of modify it as you go. Yeah. So then at the age of 17, though, what did you do? Did you do the Atkins diet?

Well, so basically what was the turning point and what we had talked about before, I wanted to do in this movie called Mean Creek, which was, which won the Sundance Film Festival, and I played a bully, but he was a real person. And he was like incredibly misunderstood, and had a learning disability, and it was the first time I really got to act and play a real human.

Right. And it's this heartbreaking movie, and you wind up hating this guy and then halfway through the movie your heart breaks for him And I remember like just the response was incredible and I was I was hooked on this idea of like I can't wait Ten years like there wasn't Judd Appetite at that time who was like making guys who were not sort of classic leading men famous Right, so I was like there's not gonna be another part like this for a really long time. So if I wanna get into that arena and really contend,

I need to be able to transform, and I can't do that at this weight. I'm just not comfortable. Right. So I just started, but it was the first time that instead of doing actins on a Monday, falling off on a Wednesday and eating poorly till the next Monday. Right. I said, I to move a little more and eat a little less.

And if I mess up one day and pound to my ice cream or something, like, I just have to start again the next day, like live to fight another day. More from our guest, but first a few words from our sponsor. Keep coming back. You got plenty of space. Oof, not how you would have done that. You like working with people you can rely on, like USAA, who has helped guide the military community for the past 100 years.

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professionals. So it was just more the desire for those, that was like the motivation, right? Like you wanted to play these other roles that were more meaningful. So you stayed on track. And if you didn't, you kind of just, it was, you were more consistent, basically. Yeah, I remember people were like, are you sure you want to do this? Like, because you kind of a niche, like carved out here. Yeah. And you know, you're going to be going up against, if you look normal, you're going to be, or I shouldn't say normal, but if you become like more of a typical, normal size, normal size, average size, you're going to be auditioning against Jake Gyllenhaal. Yeah. And I was like, Jake who, I know, cares, yeah, I got him. I got him.

And I'm glad things have worked out for Jake. Shout out Jake. Nice guy. But I just was like, if I could be a movie star and but I had to stay this way, I'd rather just not even do it. Well, not comfortable. Wow. And it was when I came to terms with that

that I really was able to spend the next two years, you know, losing about 120 pounds. How long did that take you? Two years. Wow. That's like unbelievable. Because that takes super dedication because it's super it's hard to even like it's hard to stay on past like that because you don't see the you don't see the the other side, right? Like you had it. So you, the desire to do the other stuff was so powerful for you. Is that when you, when did you start becoming a, like into drugs and becoming an addict and all that? Was that in the process of doing the, the weight loss? Was it helping you lose weight with like the cocaine or whatever else?

Like that's a great weight loss trick. You know, I'm to, that's going to be the next way. That's intermittent fasting with cocaine. And then trick. Yeah, you know, that's going to be the next way. That's intermittent fasting with cocaine. And then it'll let you know, yeah, that means you out for sure. The fasting is no longer intermittent. No, it's just all it's just fasting. It's just five day fast over and over and over again, relapsing it. I know, I mean, it kind of tracks in that I got down to the school weight and suddenly I was the same head in

a new body, right? So you weren't doing the drugs all in the middle of this all this? No. So when did you start the drugs? Like 18. It's right at the tail end of losing all that way. Oh, okay. And because you still were the same human being. Same human being. And you know, I sort of talk about the book and and the book, and I'm being specific about me, like me being at that weight was a byproduct of being deeply uncomfortable, and having like whether it was the not meeting my dad, or just being inherently insecure and feeling,

I mean, the book is called Happy People Are Knowing because I spent most of my life looking at what I thought were happy people like quarterbacks, and cheerleaders, and masters Jake Jellin Hall and like just masters of industry. And I always thought, oh, they must have received some sort of manual at birth that I was not privy to. Like because it seems like things tend to hurt me more. I'm too sensitive for this world and I think think too much, and I obsess, and all these things.

And I also was sort of born into this, you know, sort of different family structure. So at every turn, I'm like, I'm different, and I think different. And this is going to be rough. So I carried that on, and food was sort of my first sort of attempt at numbing and kind of quieting those thoughts. But then I thought I hit the finish line and then I would sit with this next wave of like, oh no, good job losing the weight,

but now we've got to deal with your head. Right. And when I discovered drugs in alcohol, I was like, oh, this is so much better. Yeah, it's easier for sure. So much more efficacious, so few calories. No calories, that's right. And this drinking has a lot of calories.

I wasn't a big drinker. You were, I was gonna say a lot of chews are not big drinkers. They were really more fault towards the drug side. I hate to say it, but so basically, what was the first, like, who got you into them? Like what made you start that besides the fact that what you were going through,

who was like, who kind of pushed it to you? I was just, you know, I don't tell me probably. My agent. I'm joking. Yes, exactly. I said, no. No, it was a girl. I was totally in love with.

And like, or I thought I was in love with, she was just very nice to me. And at 18, having restricted myself from parties and dating stuff, because I was just, you know, not- Did you date a lot at all? Did you date at all? People call, I was gonna say at all, between 16, 15, even though you were famous,

even though you don't think you were famous because kids shows are different, you didn't get girls. No, ever. I'm sure there were some lovely girls out there that totally would have thought I was adorable, but I was not capable. I was like, I had a governor on myself. Wow. And I would dream of the day. Like, I talk about this in the book. I'm like, I had lost all

this weight. And I was at the hot tub in my apartment complex because showbiz is pretty, you know, it's pretty cute. And I was living a pretty fancy life. Right. Same hockey with your neighbor. Yeah, why not? Yeah. You know, in my pre-fab apartment in the San Fernando Valley, and these kids, like these like 19 year old kids walked into the pool area, and I was like, and normally to that point, I would have waddled upstairs and like alphabetized my DVD. But true.

So funny me and about the day when I'm like, one day I'll go up to those kids and, you know, I'll go to the club with them But I was like well if I'm ever gonna do it It's now like I had lost the weight and I talked to these kids and we wound up going to like these house parties and I became a total cliche and And I was exposed to things I'd never been exposed to like drugs and a girl who I thought liked me and so when she offered it I just kind of said, why not? And what was the first drug?

Was it cocaine? Or was it, yeah. That was the first drug ever. I think I spoke some pop before. Okay, but that's like a big, that's a big leap, you know? Like, just a little bit of pot. I'll go to cocaine. Well, but I never seen it.

I was like, oh, that's from movies. That's so true. It was less than zero. But like, yeah, like I didn't realize, I had never seen drugs sort of in real life. And I just remember that when I decided to do it, like she had offered it to me before and I was an interested.

Yeah. And I, but I so badly wanted to be normal in typical or what I thought was typical. Right, and fit in and totally. And I was like, what could be more, like to this point, I have done, like I've fallen into no tropes of normal adolescence, right, like I've been working my tail off.

Right. And also feeling very limited just because of how insecure I was. So here I am, like this is what 18 year olds do. Right. They like hang out with girls and sometimes they do a little Okay, yeah, a little cooking exactly and I remember thinking like I have no interest in how this makes me feel right now I just hope she's watching right. Oh wow and You know she wound up kissing another guy at that party later that no way so good for her I hope they're still together.

Right. But I was like, and you became a drug addict. I was like, these drugs are very effective. Yeah, exactly. Which from that moment on that I didn't take a silver breath for four years. Wow. I overdo things.

Apparently. But I don't understand. You even talk about this in the book. And again, I totally agree. It's like, when you're funny though, you become a million times more attractive. So you think, and you had fame, I would think girls threw themselves at you at a young age. Like they're not threw themselves, but like there were girls that you could have gone out with or who wanted to go out with you that

you would meet, would recognize you or whatever. Never? No, I mean, here's what truth. You're probably 100% right. And this guy, this great guy that I knew that I met in sobriety would always say, somebody's going to have a good day today. It might as well be me. If you walk around with your head up your ass all day, opportunity's going to pass you by.

And that was me. OK. I wasn't capable of receiving. Right. So you weren't like you were kind of just not even present, even no? I was oblivious. Yeah, you're oblivious. So then sorry, I had to just go back to that because I was surprised.

So four years, how often are you doing it? Are you snorting coke all day all morning? What was your routine back then? I was managing, but I was functional. Function-ish, but I was totally like burning down, like, just burning. We're very professional over here Josh. Listen, I've been, I, no, I was just burning down my life

in the sense that I was just a cliche. Like, what I felt was sewing my wild oatsmith that I was just unreliable and in many instances unprepared and putting myself You know at risk and And I'm glad there weren't camera phones at that time because I feel very lucky that I'm the one right sort of outing myself Instead of like a bad mug shot right well because you were saying saying or like you were an addict between what 18 and 22-ish, 21. Yeah. Oh, 21. Like 17 to 21-ish. Because you're still ended at 19 and then you went right in, well, you did a few bad, like movies or whatever. Right. Not, nothing like to write

home about, like you talk about. That was more after that. I kind of got like a big movie right after that. Oh, which one did you get after that? The Jet Apatel one. Oh, that was a Jet Ap, okay. So I thought it was the other movies that you were like, you went to Subwear and you did one with like Chris Brown and all that. When were those?

Those were like after I got sober and that was like kind of no pay the bills. Okay, that was a pay the bill. Okay, so you got it. Fun movies, right? Exactly. You can so you got it. You got movies. Exactly. You can get one of it. It's called Battle of the Year, and it's a 3D dance movie I did with Chris Brown.

Wow. And I met my best friend, one of my best friends while doing the movie, so it's very worth it. Okay, well there you go. Oh yeah. I saw something out of it. So while this was going on, your show, and that's when you got the Judd Apatail movie, like right after that. Yeah, pretty soon. And you were like, let's talk about that the wholed Apatail movie, like right after that. Yeah, pretty soon.

And you were like, let's talk about that the whole thing because you were like a drug addict at that point. Yeah, I was sort of totally, I was in the throes of my disease and I, but more so, I was just a total cliche. And, but I felt like, the movie had you get the part, like talk about that part.

I auditioned for this movie. It was with Owen Wilson and Danny McBride and Judd being sort of like the oracle of funny people that he is. What's the big, what's it called? It's called Drobit Taylor. What is it called? Drobit, like a Drobit.

Drobit Taylor. Is it O? Yeah. Oh, did it do well? Yeah, I think it did fine. Oh, okay. Okay, I never remember that one, but go ahead. It was, yeah, I mean, it wasn't, it was an,

it was an, it wasn't his biggest pineapple express. Yeah, it wasn't, it was a pineapple express, okay. But it was, yeah, it was a really funny people and Seth Rogen wrote it and with a friend of mine and Seth was one of the writers, I should say. But yeah, I basically just like, I auditioned and I remember Judd saying to me like, you're not right for who you auditioned for. You're not right for this character, but you're funny. Like, he's like, so why don't I just write you in a small part,

but come hang out on set and like write jokes for other people. Just be around and we'll figure out ways to put you in scenes. And does that happen? It's so rare. And if Judd says that to you, you're like, it's sort of, yeah, you're being anointed a little bit. And now, and now you have to show up.

And I like, it wasn't anything like overly, it was just like a bunch of bad decisions in a row or bad behavior. It was just like being a little bad decisions in a row or bad behavior. It was just like being a little late, being kind of tuned out because I just was like, I had just finished the show. I was on for five years and I felt like I was making up for lost time. It's just being like an unreliable kid. Right.

I was just wasn't capable of being what he needed me to be at that point. So I basically just squandered what could have been an incredible opportunity because he really knows how to make like stars. Yeah, especially like funny Jewish guys, he's a master. That's as I was going to say, like you're like, you're like, perfect. You're prime for that position. He's such, I got to say like, Judd has always been, even then and still now, he's been incredibly good to me and like, a total class act. And so for years it haunted me. For sure. I got sober pretty soon after that.

And I was like, oh, and while I've totally made my peace with what came after that, it certainly was like high on my list of like people that I needed to properly like make right with. Cause he was so good to me and he's one of the best dudes. So that whole experience, so he told you to come on set and like just basically did you do you do you do utility player. Yeah, did you write any end of bringing any jokes for anybody? Did you like connect with Owen or did you do any of that stuff? Maybe a little, but certainly I didn't take advantage of it in the way I could.

Right. Yeah. You squander that opportunity. I think that's probably the best way to do it. And so by the way, since then, because that was when you were 19, 20, yeah, would you have you ever worked with him since? No, but like if I ever do get the chance, like I don't want it, because in a weird way, if I if I was working for him, I'd feel like he's yet again doing me a solid when I owe him. So like if you ever need someone to do extra craft service, or like hold the light for a boom, like I'll do it, whatever he needs for free. Like why not, right? I owe him. So you never, like, so you said that you've run into him recently or something,

but since then, before that, you never ran into him for all these years. No, we ran into each other a few times and I was able to apologize. And again, as our most things in our life, I feel like when something like that happens or we feel like we've really messed up, so much of it is like your poor deeds or your misgivings, it was heaviest on you. Right.

I don't think Jude's thought about me. I think that, exactly. I just think it was Right. I don't think Jude's thought about me. And he cares, exactly. I just think it was like, oh, he's not the guy I needed. So I'll move on to the next. But I'm glad that I've been able to make it right. So then what prompted you to end up becoming sober then? Was it that experience that you're like, oh shit, I screwed up that, I have to kind of get my app together.

What kind of... Yeah, there were so many moments like between ruining relationships and close calls and also just breaking my mom's heart like on a daily basis, which is corny, but it was totally silly. Because she knew that you were like in trouble. Yeah. And she tried to help and you just wouldn't let her or you just denied it or what like happened. Yeah. It was really close, it seems. So, I think she just kind of knew that she was powerless.

Like people are powerless. Totally true. With people who are addicted and, and I would say like, you know, we're in, in our disease like, you know, you become nuclear and you radiate everyone around you. And it's only the people who have the guts to walk away. But who can make that choice? I have a three year old son now. And I think about God forbid if you walk down that same road, like, how could I ever detach

myself, which is really the only thing you can do until that person finds some sort of kind of recovery. How can I detach myself from this kid? He's my best friend. I can even if he was totally self-savotaging himself, I would do everything in my power to save him, which might not be the healthiest way. I don't know if I've talked about this in any podcast yet, but I talk about it in the book.

So here I am and I'm 21 and these things have all sort of compounded over a years. And I wound up in that time doing one of the best movies I'd ever done, which was called The Whackness. And it's where it's Serben Kingsley and Method Man and it goes to Sundance again. And now I'm there and I'm thin. And I'm in this movie that I'm proud of.

And I'm not a fucking kid star anymore. I'm a proper actor. Like with a night, I'm acting with Gandhi. Like, oh my God, I've arrived. And I remember sitting there and like, and who, who do we mention? Or the Tarantino's at the screening. I'm like, the greatest of all time is here watching this thing that I'm in.

And I woke up the next morning and I was like, I got to get out of here because I just felt totally uncomfortable. It's like that Groucho Marx quote. Like I never want to be a part of a club that would have me as a member. Like here I was, I thought I'd arrived at the finish line and I was deeply uncomfortable and I was a get me out of here And it was one of those rare moments where You know people like me. I respond well to catastrophe, right? Which is why like if someone who you know gets a DIY God forbid or You know their wife leaves them or whatever. It's like a wake up call. And it wasn't catastrophe.

It was this wonderful moment, but it was that moment where I sit to myself, oh, you're bottomless. Like nothing will fill you. Like you tried it with food, you tried it with drugs and alcohol and now you have success and nothing is gonna fill you up. And I got sober two weeks later. That was like, I like acted. And I certainly had

I just like thrown that in the back of my mind. I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, maybe I just need to be a superhero now and that'll make me feel okay. Right, right, right. I could have kept going, but thankfully those rare wake up moments, if you take advantage of them, you can make a big change. Absolutely. You're going to be very cognizant of those moments though. Why aren't you playing a superhero? Was that the Chris Hensworth one? What was that called? That was just a big action movie.

Oh, that was a big action movie. Okay. So then how did you transition then? So then thankfully you got sober. What happened between that and then making the jump? Because you made it, you were very successful. You are very successful on YouTube or Vine. And like, how did you, because you didn't have that audience,

you didn't have those followers, because now what you said in the book also, like now, if you off a show, you have always followers who follow you to the next project or because you have your people. How did you kind of like make a name for yourself or kind of grow this huge following on social media? Well, I made you do it.

I think the fact that necessity, I guess, like everybody else. Well, to your point, like I think it was this perfect storm. And but we all have a version of a perfect storm in our life where we're uniquely able to take advantage of something that, you know, I think about so many times, there were so many moments where I would get, before I really sort of devoted myself to learning how to properly act and not just sort of leaning on the fact that I had some sort of natural comedic ability. There were so many times where the

feedback from an audition would be like he's too big to like sticky Yeah, broad sitcom comedy like that works for that and kind of only that right I was like well, it makes sense. It's where I learned exactly that's my whole career exactly but Social media and Vine video specifically being six seconds long like you I really benefited from that kind of sense of humor, because it was six seconds, it was really hard to be subtle. Right. You had to capture people quick by being big and funny,

and so I had had that training, and then I also just, I knew how to do a set up and a punchline in six seconds. Right. And comedy is economy, and no one ever says, oh, that joke was great, but it could have been a little more wordy. Yeah, you know, exactly. So it was perfect for you. The vine was like a perfect setup for what you're trained and know to do. So it went, so that was your first vine. And so how many followers did you have on vine?

So I started out really early on vine. I just did it for fun. And I was also in a unique place in my career where I'd just been having just did it for fun. And I was also in a unique place in my career where I'd just been having these natural ups and downs, and I'd have to do a big movie, and then I'd go over a year without that, and have to worry about how I was gonna pay my rent. Right, so I'd been at the mercy of the gatekeepers for 15 years now.

Totally. And it's maddening. I mean, I know so many actors like me who are in their 40s or 50s and eventually, and they go, I would have loved to have a wife and kids, but I never had the stability that I needed. Totally. And so at 24, when I set, or 25, when I started to have success

in this thing, and I was really lucky because I talk about it in the book, like I had this apostle in my buddy, Rami, who was really big in social media early on. And he said, whatever this thing is that you're doing, don't let anyone tell you what it is, because they don't know. He's like, I work for a social media company.

I don't know. He's like, it's 2013. He's like, but having hundreds of thousands of people following you, telling you what they like is really powerful. So I would suggest you lean into this and don't be afraid. And I leaned in and three months later, I had, you know, nine million dollars in three months. And maybe not maybe like four or five, but within a year, I had nine million from like, when I started to mid 2014 year I had nine million from like when I started to mid 2014 I had nine million followers and then so when vine clothes or stopped or whatever closed You know, whatever. How do you say it just stopped being there? What was your next platform? Was it

TikTok or is it in Instagram or were you doing it all or what yeah? It's sort of like Having this big presence in one place allowed for it to sort of be, to, I guess you'd say like disseminate to all these different places. Right. So I wound up getting a nice, nice following on Instagram and Twitter. And then inevitably when Vine went away, I knew I had to make the leap to YouTube because that was where people like me could go to continue to make good money. Totally. And to also have some success. But again, it was doubling down on this thing

that at the time I was doing it, it was sort of looked at as you do this to become legitimate in TV and film. Is that crazy? You don't go backwards. It's reversed. It was exactly. Now it's the reverse.

That's why I said, I didn't necessity. Like you have 12, 13 million followers on Instagram. Sure. Like 8 million on TikTok. 3.67 on YouTube. I saw it all the rest of it. Right. I mean, like, so like now people will put you in a movie just because you have good stats. And then you can show people. And like people, like that's what they're doing with everything else. It's like not even about any, that's like, that's what people are looking at in terms of Well, can he he has the audience that will watch this movie or do this show? Yes, and they never had that before so now you have the power in a way, right? No, it certainly helps and it's you have to I mean you

The master of it is the rock like That's like a whole other. I mean, he's like, that's like, that's ridiculous. Switch to Boost Mobile and get the Ultra Smooth, Ultra Powerful iPhone 11 for 49.99. He didn't start up. See every angle with dual cameras. Making a double. All on America's largest 5G networks.

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See boost mobile.com for details. Well, I think this is coming out in March, but when we're recording this, it's a week after the Super Bowl. Do you think the rock did push-ups before he introduced the teams at the Super Bowl? Yeah, maybe a couple. He made pumps. Yeah, he looked really pumped.

Small waste, go for him. He looks, by the way, he, how does he, he's not a kid, he's about what, 45 years old now? Yeah. He looked, how does he have such tone on his muscles? Like, I cannot believe it. I think genetics don't suck. Gen... Sure. Genetics don't suck. Yeah. He looked, how does he have such tone on his muscles? Like, I cannot believe it. I think genetics don't suck.

Gen... For sure. Genetics don't suck. But he's the most disciplined dude, like, almost dissim, and the nicest. The nicest. The nicest. The big ones, the undeniable, huge ones always are.

It's the middle, it's people like me in the middle that are usually jerks. I was gonna say that actually. That's what makes you so impressive, actually. No, it's worth a thought. I know you're saying it as a joke, but like in my experiences, the ones who are like just massive like him

are so nice and kind. Is there people that are usually assholes long at times? Sure. And then the ones who are like the biggest like jerk offs are the ones who are like trying to be like the raw, or like they're like, they haven't gotten there quite yet, but they're kind of famous.

They're the worst. Oh yeah, but you're not, you're great. Well, thank you. I mean, I'm really, look, I'm really lucky. That's a backhand compliment on my hand. I didn't mean it that way. I, well, I took it as a fronthand. Okay, good.

So, I'll take it. Look, I talk about, I say this at the end of the book, I say, there are moments where I'm like, literally looking at my son, like, blissed at, like I'm having this bliss of like watching him, like do something as innocuous as playing like on a gymnasium floor. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And I'll say to my shrink who I've known for the last 20 years, I'll say like, because it works. Yes. I'll say like, I can't believe how good my life is. Like, I don't deserve this. And wholesale, I'm like, of course you do. Like, I'm known you for 20 years. I've watched you walk through this.

Yeah. You didn't cheat it. Like, you did the work and like, you deserve this. And while I am inclined to trust the clinician of his caliber and someone that I paid this much money to, I was gonna say. Like the clinician of his caliber and someone that I've paid this much money to, I've been in the same equivalent of a nice size midsize sedan. Oh, more than that probably. Probably for 20 years.

He has your house in the hills right now. Yeah, well, shout out, Sag insurance, who covers most of it. Oh, okay. Yeah, okay. Exactly. But I, but, and while I, I think it's important to accept that what he's saying, because I think he is right in many ways But secretly in the back of my head like I know who I am like I know where I came from

I know what my mom had to face to give someone like me an opportunity And I know like be it the food and then drugs and alcohol and just like my own ego stuff like Someone like me shouldn't have a life like this the way I'm built like at my core level and it's only by doing the right thing over and over again that I suddenly got like the life of a respectable dude. Yeah, I mean you say that but all jokes aside you you kind of like you said you've done all the what you do the work you show up you're very consistent but you also seem to be like you got you have a very good soul and heart. You seem like a very good human, you do.

And it's karma too, maybe, too. It does seem like things, everyone's life has ebbs and flows. I mean, you've just had more of them, maybe. But how much I ask you a couple more questions. I know I've been like talking and talking. So now that you're now on YouTube, and like are you now making so much more money than you ever did as like an actor because like that's where all the money is, right? Like now with all the ins, but now you have all these people like Instagram, social media, that's where

the money now starts to pour in, no? Certainly. I mean, that was like advertisers and brands and... Yeah, when I did my first, I remember I was on Vine and I'd been on it for over a year and I remember this random company hit me up to promote a dating app and they were like, we'll pay you $5,000 to promote the stating app. And I was like, okay. Like I knew that other people were like, you know, getting these deals, but I had never done that because truly for me, what I wanted to your point that you made from social media was like,

I knew I needed some leverage. I needed, because I didn't have some hot TV show and movie I was coming off of. Like I had been, you know, having highs and lows for a couple years. So in many cases, the feedback from my manager, from an audition would be, they think you're great, but like this guy is just coming off of way cooler project than you. Right. And so they're going to go with him.

So I thought, at least now I have a little leverage to be like, well, they they can you know, I can help promote the film or whatever it is totally But another byproduct was you know, I say like People aren't paying a 10x multiple on commercial ads for the Super Bowl for the love of the game No, it's for the eyeballs. It's all for the eyeball I mean, so are you also now doing a ton of for people who are listening? I mean geth that don, so are you also now doing a ton of, for people who are listening, I mean, yes, you also have access to a lot of other people who can help build each other's social media. Like, are you doing tons of collaborations? I mean, YouTube, I find to be, and I'm, you know, the YouTube is the one I find to be the most difficult. It's very hard to grow

on YouTube. The algorithms are very difficult. How are you doing it now? Like, are you doing it? Like, how do people do it? Are you doing it with tons of collaboration with friends who also have big followings? I haven't really posted on YouTube for the last two years. Give a team of people who help you. No, it's just me. No way. Yeah. You don't have a social media person who helps you. No. my wife tells me when stuff sucks That's it. Yeah get out with all those followers. You have nobody helping you. Yeah, I mean, I'm sorry for this So buy it. He did that's what to say. We're in my kid Josh and I are in my kitchen because my podcast area is being re-restigered and it now smells like paint. So you might die of poisoning

Hey, you know, I'll show over 14 years, I'll take a free. Oh, exactly. I'm just gonna say, you're gonna get high off the trees. I'm so sorry. No, no, go ahead. Yeah, I mean, I think it's probably why I have the following

that I do just because it's very honest. Super authentic. Well, you're authentic. But the thing is the amount of, I'm talking even just content-wise, the amount of content that you have to make. How much content are you making? Again, like now it's, you know, like two years ago, I wound up doing, I wound up doing

the show called Turner and Hoots for Disney Plus, which is still on, isn't it? Yeah, okay. So it took me to Vancouver for eight months and I kind of, but slowly, throughout, like, social media was great and at the height of it, I was, you know, doing better at that than I ever, financially, than I ever did as an actor, because it just was so, it just was this moment where I had attached myself at a really early time. How much do people make on this on social media when they have millions of followers like that? I don't, I mean, I don't know what other people, like, I mean, you hear these stories,

they just came out with a report that Mr. B's to like the biggest YouTuber made $55 million. Yeah, crazy. Such a nice guy too. Yeah, there you go. So lovely. He's lovely. I was gonna say, I'm gonna write that

on my little piece of paper, Mr. B's, I did read that by the way, and he did massive. You see? Yeah, are you friends with him? Yeah, but yeah, we're buddies. Okay, good. Will you make an intro for me? I don't know for that close.

Okay. Who need you? No, it's kidding. We're like the D'Amelio. It's like people, I mean, you hear of that's crazy. Unbelievable wealth that's achievable. But another one's Addison Ray who's making more money than God right now. Yeah, I think it's, you know, they're lucky to be really good at a time where their

abilities are rewarded on social media. Okay, you said the word abilities. What are these people really famous? You I get because you have, you are a comedian, you're an actor, you have talent. Some of these people, what are they famous for? I don't know. I see you don't know either. Most people don't, by the way.

I, you know, I try not to, I really just try to say in my lane when it comes that stuff. And I also like don't know, I don't want to be that grown up. And I find myself doing that at times where like, like, there was a great meme because I keep talking about the Super Bowl that was, if you're hyped about this year Super Bowl show, it's time for your colonoscopy. And I was like, that's awesome.

Yeah, that is awesome. And that's me. I literally was like, finally, something great. Yes. I'm sure there were 15 year olds that were like, where's DeBaby? Yeah. Like, in Juice World, well, RIP Juice World.

But like, of like, the music that they care about. And I don't even want to be that guy, because I grew up with those adults who were like, yeah, yeah, yeah. And it's so cute now to like tell millennials and Gen Z people to f off, because like, you have no taste. But I think we've been doing that through history. And we don't know, because we're not at,

we don't know, we don't know, too. You know what I mean? Obviously, something resonates, something's tracking. We don't know because we're not, we don't know, we don't know too, you know what I mean? Obviously something resonates, something's tracking. We don't know what it is. And I don't know what it is, but something obviously, because if 100 million people are legit following some of these people, it is insane. It's like we were sort of there

when Kim Kardashian came to think. If you make fun of Kim Kardashian, you're corny. Like if you can't respect her, and like her business acumen, her ability, like, and maybe because she didn't start out as a traditional ex or like, but she forged her own path, and she's like certainly doing it at a level I never could.

So while like I might not watch her reality show, like I can totally respect her as a bad as a businesswoman who's crushing it. Crushing is like an understatement. No one ever thought in a million years that they would have the longevity that they have. I mean, it's been like how many years have they been super famous? It's not even since then. Oh, and by the way, my wife and I met Yeah, since then. Oh, and by the way, my wife and I met Chris at a... She's a beast. Suarez.

Yeah. She was so nice. Really? Lovely. Lovely. She's, I mean, she's like a beast that woman. I mean, the whole family now have offspring that. They're going to be famous until like, you know,

like, 20, 99 plus plus plus plus plus. I mean, they're never going away. You know, they're crushing it. They are. Yes, unbelievable. So then how are you growing it now? What's your new, what's in it? What are you going to be doing now?

What's your next? I've sort of moved over to TikTok a little bit just because it's sort of vying done better. Yeah. Like strike me down, but it seems like they, you know, it's, we've seen this example throughout history, like there's the initial innovator and then there's someone who takes the idea and really knows how to, how to optimize it. Really, yeah.

And that's what happened with Vine and TikTok. So, and it's also much, you know, it's, it's not as heavy lifting and it allows me to like do how I met your father or Turner in Hooch or all the stuff. I'm going to go work on this thing for a couple of weeks in New Mexico next month so I can kind of do both. It's only when I'm doing one thing that I start to get uncomfortable. When I was just doing social media, I was like, what about this thing that I devoted my

whole life to? Then when I double down on that and was willing to go back to acting class and do the work that was required, I had great results. That's great. So you went to acting class after you had been an actor for many years. Yes. Why did you do that? Just to hone your skills and become better, just to kind of keep yourself sharp because

it's kind of hard to act. What if you're, what kind of yours would you look at them and say? Are you nuts if they said to you? I know you're sick be it code everyone needs a coach and all this stuff that too But like what if someone what if one of your clients said But I worked out in mid-December and you're gonna say that right? Yeah, you know, I totally agree nuts Exactly consistency and honing those skills and keeping them sharp Right. You know, I totally agree with you. Are you nuts? Exactly. It's consistency and honing those skills and keeping them sharp.

But you're right to say like, we look at actors because it's like, it's like, alchemy, right? Like when acting is good, you can't put your finger on it. Right. Right. It's like, you look at an athlete, you go like, oh, he must have worked the hardest. Like, had the most reps. Right.

Like, but you look at watching actor and you go like, wow, they must just be blessed. Totally true. And there is, of course and you're like, wow, they must just be blessed. Totally true. And there is, of course, to any great, at anything. There is that sort of intangible. But usually, it's the thing about Kovie, when or lose, he was doing free throws after the game. Totally. When ability meets obsession, it can be pretty awesome.

You just said it. The ability meets obsession. You have to be obsessed. No one's ever gonna reach greatness with like doing something like kind of sometimes. Yes. You have to have that obsession. I really do believe that myself.

So I understand that. So you're doing acting now, do you do it all the time? Are you back in class? Yeah, classes. Yeah, so like when I was doing this new Disney plus show and I was like the dude on it like Every Sunday night we would meet over a face. I'm my my co-chair and I and we go through the script and then everything I do now

I'll just kind of and sometimes it's it's a little and sometimes I'll play like this this part I'm playing on how I met your father is just kind of like a sweet funny funny dude. And I'm like, I kind of know this. Yeah, exactly. I think I can probably handle this. But most things where I'm like, I wanna challenge myself or tie to my wheelhouse, I love to get her take on things. That's amazing.

Now, what's your most, what's the role that you want the most? Like if you could have any role, what would be your next? I don't have it, you don't know because I use to have those dreams and then like, whatever the right thing, like whatever the next thing is, is the right thing. I just want to be challenged and I don't want to, I feel really lucky that I have these two things working for me or like, I'll write a book or social media or, or acting because like like I know that

if I was like the funny neighbor on a sitcom, I might feel soul crushed. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Because it's a lot of time too. And I don't mean to make light of it. It's a blessing that anyone who can make a living as an actor is really lucky. But I am lucky enough to say like, I don't know if I want to spend eight months a year away from my kid doing something that I don't think is great just to make a living and having that other sort of opportunities, I'm incredibly lucky.

Now, is there any kind of advice that you have that you've been given that you live by or I know you love Ben Kingsley. You know, allow a good life to be the result of good living. And you know, the good days, or what do I say, the bad days are here to teach us in the good days are here to remind us what we're fighting for. And I'm full of them. I'm full of, you know, plenty of recovery isms and like, or like slogans, but, um, oh, another thing I always like is, um, help your fellows boat across and your, or help your fellows boat to the other side and yours too will cross. I like that. You know, be of service service to other people. And I had a podcast for a while, and my friend Dylan Loey who... Not anymore.

I have another one called Male Models, a new one. Oh, I just thought it was brand new, right? Yeah, me and my buddy Joe. Yeah, I saw that. And when I interviewed Dylan who was a speech writer for President Biden, really impressive guy, and he's like, I asked him something similar. And he was like, my number one advice in life is do favors for people. He's like, because at the very least, just the good feeling you get is your instant repayment to like, you're instantly repaid. But also, secondly,

you're putting out goodwill into the world. And it will find you again when they have the opportunity to pass on something good. Totally, I agree with that. Who's that guy? Dylan Loewe. Oh, Dylan Loewe, okay. Yeah. And what is your podcast about?

Mail models, it's just me and my buddy Joe talking about the headlines and stories from our life for 30 minutes a week. Oh, that's fun. It's fun, just a comedy podcast. That's totally fun. I feel like I was there another, I feel like I didn't even look at my sheet one time,

that's because my printer wasn't working, but I feel like I've asked you like a crap ton of questions. Oh, this has been great. I've heard. Thank you for having me. No, you've been amazing. And like, I feel like if I have, did I forget anything?

He's like, will it's like, please wrap this already. Well, the book is called Happy People Are Annoying. It is, I really do, I recommend it no matter what age you are. It is a very good read, super well done, very funny. Oh, I know what I wanted to ask you, but now I forgot it again. But is there any, who are your favorite comedians? That's a simple question. Oh, man, I mean, I always say growing up

at like nine years old, my best friends were like, Jim Carrey, and it was, you know, my best friends were Billy Madison and Ace Ventura and like the fresh Prince of Bel Air. That's right, oh, yes. Those were my heroes, But now I mean, I really like my new favorite obsession is Chris DeStefano. He's got huge podcasts, huge community and crushing it, but he's he's pretty damn fun. Everyone loves

Sebastian. He's very fun. Sebastian is so crazy good. He's clean. Can you believe it? He's amazing. He's like the new Jerry Seinfeld and Cleanliness. He's so good. Or like Jim Gaffigan's amazing too. Yeah, they're all like those filmers and Jedi's, Bill Berzerginess. Beyond. Sebastian's so rich.

Oh, unbelievable. You know, he sells out Madison Square Garden twice a night. Oh, he's awesome. And he seems like a really good dude. Like beautiful family. I'm happy with you. He's amazing. He's a really good, he's awesome. And he seems like a really good dude. Like, beautiful family. I'm happy. He's amazing. He's a really good, he's one of my favorites.

And you hang out with a lot of different celebrities and actors, or do you have like a bunch of different friends? No, I like civilians. You like civilians? Yeah. OK, I love it. I love it. OK.

All right, well, this is the book. It's called, again, Happy People Are Knowing. Please pick it up if you want to laugh and hear a really, really good story. And if you don't follow Josh, you should. And where is it Josh? What is your? Um, at Chuapec on Instagram and then Josh Peck on everything.

Yeah. He's got bazillions of people following him. So he won't even notice if you follow him enough. But you are so delightful. Thank you again for coming on this podcast really. I wish you nothing but success and not this and happiness And I had to say that and again, thank you. This has been great. I appreciate it. Thank you Zagazan Bye Habits and hustle time to get it rolling stay up on the grind don't stop keep it going Five. This episode is brought to you by the YAP Media Podcast Network. I'm Holla Taha, CEO of the award-winning digital media empire YAP Media, and host of YAP

Young & Profiting Podcast, a number one entrepreneurship and self-improvement podcast where you can listen, learn, and profit. On Young & Profiting podcast, I interview the brightest minds in the world and I turn their wisdom into actionable advice that you can use in your daily life. Each week, we dive into a new topic like the art of side hustles, how to level up your influence and persuasion and goal setting. I interview A-list guests on Young and Profiting. I've got the best guest. Like the world's number one negotiation expert, Chris Voss, Shark, Damon John, serial

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