More Life with Carl Radke - Kyle Cooke on a Decade of Friendship and Rebuilding Trust

Episode Date: January 27, 2026

In this episode of More Life, Carl sits down with longtime friend, 'Summer House' castmate, and Loverboy founder Kyle Cooke for a candid conversation years in the making. From becoming the “King of ...Summer” to building a business in the public eye, they reflect on a decade of friendship, sobriety, addiction, and the moments that tested their friendship. An honest look at growth, accountability, and choosing more life on and off camera. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:00 On his podcast Chasing Life, I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta. CNN's chief medical correspondent brings you the secrets of the happiest and healthiest people on the planet so that you can live your best life. Are some people just born happier than others? And what might they be doing that the rest of us aren't? Follow Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Apple, Spotify, IHeard Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, so before we get to our first episode, this conversation was recorded on January 3rd before Kyle and Amanda announced their decision to separate. We want to send them love, support, and positive vibes their way.
Starting point is 00:00:41 Hey guys, I'm Carl Radkeke and welcome to More Life. I'm coming live to you today with a very special guest. He is my best friend. He's an entrepreneur. He is the king of summer. Mr. Kyle Cook is coming in today. I cannot wait to talk to Kyle. As you guys have seen us on TV for 10 plus years, we've been through a lot.
Starting point is 00:00:59 But I want to spend some time getting to know Kyle more, and I think you guys are going to love him just as much as I do. So I hope you guys come check this out today, live here at Softbar in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Kyle Cook, welcome to More Life. My man, my brother. More Life. Good to see you. Good to see you here.
Starting point is 00:01:30 And as you know, this podcast is called More Life. And I'm very, very aware that you know where this comes from. And you were right there. But nonetheless, you know one of my favorite sayings is More Life in this podcast is about More Life. I'm surprised you didn't name your book more life. I thought about it. Actually, someone said, well, now you have a pod. I mean, you can't have a podcast and a book named the same thing.
Starting point is 00:01:50 Exactly. So it all worked out. We got it accomplished. But I ask all of my guests who come on, do you have a favorite saying that you like to live by? I think I know what it is. I think you might know it. I think it's pretty timeless. I think it's Send it.
Starting point is 00:02:02 Send it. I knew it. I knew it. I mean, a lot of people don't understand the origins of send it. It's from extreme sports. It's basically throwing your body into harm's way without giving two Fs. and I think we just kind of borrowed that for various other aspects of life, like partying, drinking, living in the moment.
Starting point is 00:02:20 Listen, man, you and I have been working together for a long time, best friends for a long time. But there's some things I just want to talk about. I mean, nothing like bad, but we've covered some ground. Something I said to you, and I want to make sure you hear from me, I mean, I've maybe told you this a few times, but you've been an incredible inspiration and support to me as a business person. I view you as almost like a mentor to me through a lot of my
Starting point is 00:02:45 entrepreneurial and just starting a business working right alongside you. I mean, I'll never forget just you on the phone with legal distributors, retailers, big ass alcohol companies. He was learning by doing. But it was always really amazing. Like you really brought me in. You gave me a lot of opportunity. You gave me a lot of support.
Starting point is 00:03:03 I appreciate it, man. I'm just really grateful for all that you've done. Well, all reciprocate because, you know, early on, sure, we all have our struggles, but you were always such a big supporter of me, Amanda, of lover boy. I remember you want to invest more than I'd let you because I was like Carl. Yeah, I remember. So when you were like swiping a credit card pretty freely. But I remember that was the first time the bug got in my ear.
Starting point is 00:03:26 And I remember being in the kitchen pretty wasted being like, I want to invest dude. And you were like, hold on, buddy. You don't even have the money right now. I had already kind of closed the round. You were really one of the last checks in. You've always been there for me. and look, I forget what chapter we're on. Is this Carl 5.0?
Starting point is 00:03:42 We're going to 0.0. You have been a huge inspiration as well. Like your transformation and just, I always knew the real Carl. You'd kind of camouflage yourself at times. I always knew there was like an incredible guy in there. And I feel like you just blossomed in this, you know, sobriety chapter.
Starting point is 00:04:00 So I appreciate it. I mean, I feel like you gave me a chance. I mean, if I'm really being honest back then, I was, I mean, on a roller coaster. I was on vendors left and right. I had been previously working for a tech startup that I got let go from that summer.
Starting point is 00:04:16 But you gave me a chance. Why did you give me a chance? I think it was multifaceted. You know, for one, I knew, like, if you put your mind to it, you're a good salesman. We needed a sales guy. We needed someone on,
Starting point is 00:04:32 kind of like from the inner circle. I figured kind of complete the story. You know, here we are. I was, a man was kind of tackling design. If you could help me tackle sales, we got this like little family affair going on. Well, I think I feel like my recollection a little bit was like I was on a trial period. Alcohol is tricky.
Starting point is 00:04:51 I mean, we were literally kind of learning as we go. And, you know, there were some things that would kind of get in the way from kind of being your best. I wanted to get into that little bit. Like, I think being a friend. Now that it's like long in the rear view, I think we can dive in. Can he talk to me a little bit about, like, being a friend, being a business owner and being my boss? Yeah, I mean, that's hard. One caveat, I don't think I truly understood how much you were using and, like, abusing.
Starting point is 00:05:18 I know a lot of people must think that's impossible because we were best friends, but. I want to say, though, I didn't, I would hide it from you because I was always embarrassed, because I knew you don't, you don't do drugs. Like, you don't. I literally, I know that very clearly about you, but. I'm the last guy who should be doing drugs. I have way too much energy as this. It just never been you.
Starting point is 00:05:35 You drank. You worked out. You were always very driven and always very like had a ton of energy, but like drugs was never your thing. But I just never could face like having to admit that to you or like you really knowing what was going on behind the scenes. I mean, look, I've dabbled and we probably dabbled way back in the day. But like I just had no clue. And it wasn't if I'm being honest. If it wasn't until we were working together and the relationship kind of ramped up where you were coming in more frequently during the week.
Starting point is 00:06:01 Hungover, fucked up. Yeah. And there would be times where I'm like, we're putting the business at. risk kind of giving you the keys and having you represent all of us you know that was kind of a constant give and take because you you were good when you were on point but you were a total liability when you were not and i remember pretty early on when we had launched the brand it was around july of 2019 brand was officially out in the market we were with tap room yeah back and we were at good housekeeping the day we pressed go live that's right yeah shout out the good house when we were early on at
Starting point is 00:06:35 Loverboy, you know, we would go and pitch different stores or pitch different venues or general managers and Common Ground gave us a shot. Yeah. But once we got in there, they didn't order enough product or what I thought we were supposed to be getting, I think. Yeah, we did like some event. And they ran out. They ran out.
Starting point is 00:06:52 They didn't carry it as they said they would. And yeah, you kind of got into a little bit of like a back and forth. And that wasn't the first time that I'd been in a company situation, kind of not representing the brand in the way that you guys had wanted. The biggest eye-opening moment, if you may or may not recall, you had come from a summer house interview. So this is like the green screen confessionals. And sure, you can have a couple drinks while you're in the hot seat,
Starting point is 00:07:18 but that's usually about it. And I remember I was meeting you at Mr. Purple, which is a rooftop venue. It's part of a bigger hospitality group. And we were meeting the owner. Oh, I was so fucking. And you'd come directly from the interview and you were on one. I don't know if you had slept there.
Starting point is 00:07:34 night before. I didn't. That was probably the first eye-opening experience for me because I was just like, you were crashing and burning right in front of the owner. I mean, my heart sinking a little because I forgot about that. I don't think I was even supposed to be there, but I could tell from your voice when I talked to you after
Starting point is 00:07:50 your interview, I was like, oh my God, he does not seem well. So I met you there and sure enough, I was not well. You were not well. And so, yeah, that was one of the aha moments where I was just like, damn, like, okay, I don't think I truly understood I was doing your, you know, use of whatever you're using at the time and, and also how that might impact lover boy, me, Summerhouse, our reputations, our business, you know, making sure people take us seriously, which believe it or not, in the early days was very challenging. People look at us as these TV reality guys that can't hold down a job. And meanwhile, we're like navigating this brand new industry. And yeah, we do need people to take us seriously. And that was, that was, yeah. I actually forgot about that.
Starting point is 00:08:34 We were pitching. I don't think you'd gone to bed the night before. I didn't. There was no... That was, I mean, to be completely honest, like when I would go out and party, you know, I would... I didn't want to stop.
Starting point is 00:08:45 I would go until my body physically shut down. And I just... That was always how I was. I'd never witnessed that. I would just see you on occasion the morning after where you're still, as we would say, on one.
Starting point is 00:08:57 I think we used to say that on Summerhouse, but I don't think I truly connected the dots where it's like, if Carl's on one, that means he literally... kind of plowed through the night and into the next day on zero sleep and lost of substance. Well, and the more life saying that night. Right, you had not going to bed.
Starting point is 00:09:14 We had to be at the house on that Friday, like a typical filming summer house weekend. You get in the car Friday morning, late morning, you're out to the Hamptons by two. I went out Thursday night. Me and a meet were supposed to drive out. I couldn't drive, of course, because I didn't go to sleep. This is day one of season two. I'm like packing up my my things for the house I'm trying to get a good night's sleep
Starting point is 00:09:37 I'm trying to like look like I'm ready for TV Carl Carl took a different approach I came in I was so okay that was actually the first time I've seen you yeah I was bad I make a meat drive
Starting point is 00:09:52 and the whole car ride I was just blasting music carrying on we stopped at a 7-Eleven I got a brown paper bag I think it might have been a twisted tea or something like that. I show up to the house. I don't remember, other than the clips that we are blessed with
Starting point is 00:10:09 from years later, but I don't really remember even like that night at all. That's just crazy. Which is insane that I would show up like that. I would kind of chalk it up to like, all right, maybe Carl is like stressed out. That's when you and Lauren
Starting point is 00:10:21 had this thing season one and then that bled into the spring when it aired and then there was a big question mark as to what season two. There's certain things that I would almost kind of just if I in my mind be like, ah, I mean, like, you know, he's probably stressed out or needing to blow off steam or is, you know.
Starting point is 00:10:40 I always feel like I had good excuses. But yeah, a lot of my behavior, I was always trying to hide things from you, truthfully, because I didn't want you to hate me or you were like the brother that I needed, but I was afraid to be honest because I knew if you found out, you'd be like, what the fuck, man? And like, I'd let you down or I'd disappoint you. And I never wanted to disappoint you. Even professionally, like. My biggest regret, you know, was kind of talking openly about, I mean, I think it was, I don't think you were there.
Starting point is 00:11:07 I wanted to ask you about it because I will say that, from my recollection in that weekend, me and Lindsay were at a wedding in L.A. You and I had been, I had handled a lot of our conversations pretty poorly and even just communication in general with you over that previous several months where I kind of stepped back. My communication was like when you and Lindsay were full on dating. and then like took a step, you took a step back from the business. Correct. And that summer, you and I, you know, just, it was. No, it was the first time we were in a weird place. It was awkward.
Starting point is 00:11:38 I had not handled the way I was feeling and communicating with you the right way. But it just like that, I think, was kind of snowballing between you and I. And then I went away the next weekend to a wedding. While we were gone, Danielle calls me. And she was like, Kyle just went off about you at the dinner table. I didn't hear it or know what you said, but she was like, it wasn't cool. So I didn't really know what you had said. until that episode actually aired, truthfully.
Starting point is 00:12:02 That must have been really, really hard for you as a friend and a person that really looked out for me to, you knew how at that point, some of the crazy shit I'd been doing, showing up to work really fucked up for getting my laptop. But you were protecting me in a way. Yeah, I don't think I really shed light on all those instances. I mean, like, look, we're an open book 99% of the time
Starting point is 00:12:25 when it comes to TV. But once I kind of started to understand, this is before you went sober, But once I started to understand some of the things you struggle with, I would try to find ways. And Nick, our COO, would try to find ways to kind of like keep you on the, you know, the right path. And you'd veer off. But we would, you know, we'd kind of try to get you back. And, you know, we valued you.
Starting point is 00:12:48 But it was, it was tough. And I think what came out in that moment for me was just built up frustrations because I just kind of felt. And I don't even remember the details about what was going on between us. But, you know, I wanted more money to do less. Yeah, I mean, basically, that's actually what you asked for. I think pretty much. And I was just like, Carl, like that's not happening. But looking back on it, I will say, I think I was clouded a little bit of my own judgment.
Starting point is 00:13:10 And something else that I think rings true for people that are sober out there is when you first get sober, you kind of think you got it all figured out almost. I'm sure you're having like this insane sense of clarity. Yeah, I was almost high and mighty a little bit. And like, oh, well, Kyle doesn't understand, you know. I think also Lindsay was, I love Lindsay, but I think she was also. in your year. She didn't understand our working relationship. And she was basically telling you you're undervalued and underpaid. And all it takes is one person in your corner for that to feel validated. And that was, you know, that was at a time where we were growing. And I had to bring in
Starting point is 00:13:45 people that had industry specific experience to kind of take what you had started and run with it. Totally. And your role had more evolved to kind of being a brand ambassador, helping us connect the dots between consumer, retail and wholesale, and not running the sales team. And Lindsay was like, you're responsible for all these sales. Like, why don't you get paid more? And I was like, it's not really what's happening. She was kind of this like voice in my ear, but she didn't actually get anything. I don't think anyone understood.
Starting point is 00:14:15 And that's why in that moment when we were filming and I made a fool myself, I kind of just blurted out what I said, like you showed up without your laptop. Because I kind of felt like people were already choosing sides with 1% of the information. And I'm just like, you have no idea what the last couple of years have been like. There's plenty of entrepreneurs in the world. Are they filming a TV show
Starting point is 00:14:38 and having like two or three full-time jobs at the same time? It is very challenging. And I just was like, I felt misunderstood. And listen, I remember you wrote me a really, really thoughtful text after that thing happened on TV and you and I, you know, I really appreciated that. And honestly, looking back, it was, I put you in some really difficult positions as a friend and a business owner.
Starting point is 00:15:01 And it's my responsibility to take accountability for that behavior. I mean, I did show up to work, I mean, more than once. I kind of started to figure that out because I remember looking over it. This is going to sound, hopefully you're okay with me sharing this. But when you did forget your laptop, I was sitting at my, standing at my desk. I remember. I looked over. I'm laughing because it's so fucked up.
Starting point is 00:15:23 And I was like, Carl, you're like fidgeting. Yeah. You used to repeat yourself. That was the tell-tale sign we knew you were on one because you start just repeating things. But I looked over it and you didn't know what to do with yourself and it dawned on me that you didn't have a laptop. I think I sat there for a few minutes going, okay.
Starting point is 00:15:42 Yeah. What am I going to do that? And I was just like, oh my God. Like I don't, I think that's when I had this like aha moment where I realized just kind of how messed up you were. And I don't think at that point in my life, I wasn't ready to be honest. about code.
Starting point is 00:15:56 We never, I mean, when I blurted it out, we had still never really addressed some things in the past. You had gone sober. We had that tough sit down where I came up to your apartment
Starting point is 00:16:06 and I said, you should never do drugs again. And the only reason we went back is because we were filming and friends started weighing in with none of the right information. And I think I just got to, you know,
Starting point is 00:16:17 I hit my breaking point. No, and listen, I'm so glad we can talk about it because I think at the end of day, those are things that, like, were difficult in the moment, but I don't know, it's brought us closer.
Starting point is 00:16:27 It's always. I mean, what a crazy experience. Because then we had to re-you know, we relive it all. You're learning every time how to relive some of these moments. And sometimes you're, like, I didn't know what you had said at the dinner table until it airs. And what people don't realize when they watch is a lot of us are learning about, and Amanda has said things about you and the dinner table when you're not there or whatever it is. I mean, like two-thirds of what you're watching, you weren't privy to.
Starting point is 00:16:51 Exactly. So I think that was more or less like the surprise or shock, like hearing you say, some of that but dude i put you in so many rough difficult spots as a friend and i'm genuinely sorry well and i know we've addressed that but address it and i'm sorry for talking about it in the way that i did but like you said it brought us closer we we kind of had to hash that stuff out it had gone on addressed and i think we're both better for it 100% and it's i think we were we don't get to see each other as often as we did but i felt like we've gone through so much that was a one of the turning points in our friendship.
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Starting point is 00:17:45 and lettuce you to actually pick yourself. Just leave a note for your shopper so they can get it right for you without having to ask. That way, you can get groceries just how you like. Download the Instacart app and shop today. Well, I mean, not to like get into some more difficult moments, but I do want to talk about some things that, you know, I'm very open about publicly. I mean, you were there the day I got the phone call when my brother had passed. I kind of vividly remember you and I had been working out a ton that summer because you ordered like a weight set.
Starting point is 00:18:13 I ordered like a weight set and the COVID summer. Can't go anywhere. Oh, a wild summer. I would on occasion work with like a virtual trainer. Oh, that's right. Well, on occasion, Carl would join me, and, you know, we'd wake up early because this would be like a 730 workout. We were like, I don't think we had worked out yet. We didn't work out yet, but what I remember was, you know, I was laying in bed, I got to call the nights.
Starting point is 00:18:40 My nightstand vibrated and I saw my mom's name. And I just knew. Like, I don't know why that happens, but I just had this feeling. It was about my brother. And I remember all I could think of is in that moment is I got to find Kyle. I got to find Kyle. Because I knew you and I were going to work out. So I ran upstairs, and I remember seeing you in the kitchen is my memory.
Starting point is 00:18:57 Yep. You were turning back from the fridge or something, because I think we were making like an electrolyte powder drink. And I remember hugging you and just crying. And I just want to thank you for being there for me that day. And I just want, I'm curious, like, what do you remember a bad day in just being there? Just seeing you walking up to me, I can still remember it, come up to the top of the stairs. And I could see your body language.
Starting point is 00:19:21 You're already crying. we'd kind of gone through some stuff related to your brother in previous summers where you know you were a little privy to some of my brother's challenges because there was a moment in season two of summer house where my brother had gone missing from like a music festival for like 48 hours I mean in the grand scheme and looking back it was like pretty typical him but at that point I was trying to be as helpful as I could because my brother's girlfriend at the time was contacting me to help right and and And I remember being drunk and coked up, like trying to deal with shit on the phone. And you were also trying to be helpful. But I don't think you really fully knew. If I can be honest, back then, right? We were still fairly new to film. This is season two.
Starting point is 00:20:03 I didn't know if you were, like, deflecting and, like, embellishing some family-related matter to kind of take the light off you. Well, and you said it perfectly there because that's something I even talk about in the book, which is early on in my TV stuff, I would use, like, my parents' divorce. my brother struggling with drugs and alcohol. Which are all real challenges, but it would be a little bit of a scapegoat. That would be like my ace in the hole. Oh, my parents are divorced, so I'm good. And you caught onto that, I think, big time. Yeah, and it's tough.
Starting point is 00:20:32 Look, I'm fortunate enough. My parents are still together. I haven't had to deal with, like, loss at that kind of level. I always felt weird questioning it. And so when you came up, I was just like, okay, this is real and raw. And then, like, within seconds, you kind of blurted it out. Those are the situations where you just kind of, it's almost like I blacked out. I was just trying to comfort you and be there for you.
Starting point is 00:20:57 And sometimes in those situations, it's like, where do you even find the right words? If I can be completely honest, I struggled with having to find out while we were filming. That could have been two months later, we were back in New York. I get the call. It wasn't a part of the show or on camera. But when I look back on it, two things. One, my brother at the end of the day always wanted to help people. And I really believe his story being the way it unfolded within our show and on camera.
Starting point is 00:21:27 Ultimately, he's going to help people. And secondly, I don't know, it was like it was important for me to like, it was a wake up call that I needed, but I needed it while being with my friends. Dude, if you weren't there that day. Well, that was the blessing of the COVID house. You were stuck with us. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have. of you. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:21:49 You would stop drinking for a little bit when COVID, you know, had kind of put us in lockdown. And then that summer season five, you, we come out with a couple new lover boy prize. That's when we launched our spritz. You drink a little bit, yeah. But nothing. But I will say at that time, you know how hard it was for me to drink?
Starting point is 00:22:10 Because like we had all those free, we had, we had spritzes, we had espresso martinis. Yeah. We had the teas. We had all the other booze. And I was like trying to moderate. And anybody who's trying to moderate and struggles, it's like really hard. And I was like shaking for the next drink, even though presenting to you guys, oh, I'm just drinking a little bit.
Starting point is 00:22:29 It almost kind of flipped my understanding of your relationship with alcohol and drugs on its head because I'm like, oh, he just went on this like multi-month-long break from booze leading up to the summer. He's dabbling, but he's not having any big, big nights. But then looking back, if you'd found out that your brother had passed and you were in a different environment, kind of left your own devices, that'd be scary. And that's, I think, I think about it a lot. And I think it makes me emotional. And I've even shared this with Sierra, too, because she was someone that really, everybody in the house that summer. Luke, Amanda, Sierra, Paige, Lindsay, even Hannah.
Starting point is 00:23:09 Like, people rallied around me. But I really believe, like, it all made sense. because I had I not been with you, I don't know what I would have done. And that's kind of when things went off the rails the fall, right? Like we kind of got out of the house.
Starting point is 00:23:26 Yeah. And New York started to kind of get a little more relaxed with COVID. You kind of go to a bar. If there was like an outdoor component. Yep. And then that was when I felt like things started to get bad again.
Starting point is 00:23:37 And that's what was so hard is because we had all this love and support and I went to my brother's funeral and I'll never forget coming back to the house. I can hear your voice. Sorry I made me cry I came to the house
Starting point is 00:23:52 And I walked out Because we were COVID And like quarantining So I couldn't directly like Come and hug you guys So I had to come up to the balcony Oh then you had to hang out in your room for a bit I can only wave to you guys
Starting point is 00:24:03 And just talk from the balcony And I came in You guys were doing something in the backyard The whole cast And I'd come up And you guys just screamed And cheered and like Damn
Starting point is 00:24:13 It was really special man and it's something I'll never forget the rest of my life because I felt so welcome and seen and just loved by people that for a period of time previous seasons was, I mean, season four was by far my ugliest, darkest season. And if anything, the moderation that I was trying to do was while season four was airing.
Starting point is 00:24:33 I deleted Twitter and I got off Instagram during season four airing because I was the jewels meltdown, which I've made amends with her. I've apologized immensely to her. I had things with Daniel. on Lindsay that were wild. It was like really bad season.
Starting point is 00:24:49 And honestly that season when it was airing, you're reliving at all. Yeah. I was like, I have to get sober now. I have to like stop drinking while this is airing because it was making me insane. I mean, you said something that like when that summer ended, I remember we packed up like Paige had a U-Haul. You had a ton of shit. I had a, or you had the U-Haul.
Starting point is 00:25:08 We basically moved out and moved back to New York City. And I remember thinking, okay, I'm going back to my fuck boy apartment. Soho. It's where I did my drugs, where I partied. I think I had Wesley Stripes or whatever. Come upstairs in the apartment. I'm like, as soon as I'm in that door, I'm like, it's back to old Carl. Damn.
Starting point is 00:25:24 And grieving the loss of my brother and preparing mentally for this is going to be an episode of television. My brother's passing. I couldn't like. I remember actually the morning, if I can go there. Yeah. You were supposed to come to work and you'd called up Nick or C-O-O. And Nick knew immediately that you were not well. I remember calling him and I could hear in his voice.
Starting point is 00:25:49 And it was like, just the embarrassment and shame because he knew. The reason I bring it up, because I can recall just how much stress, for lack of a better word, the fact that your brother passing was going to eventually be a TV episode. Because, you know, this is January of 21. Season 5 hadn't aired yet. Yep. You were back in your F-Boy apartment doing the things. And when I heard how bad you were that morning, it was clearly really bringing you down.
Starting point is 00:26:29 Yeah. It was eating me alive. Yeah. Because I didn't know, because I wasn't sober. Yeah. And my brother had passed away. It's maybe September in New York City. I had moved into Lindsay's building, which I remember you always said to me, you go, Carl.
Starting point is 00:26:44 So a lot of apartment buildings in New York City. And that's the one. My theory eventually, as I kind of understood your abuse patterns, I was like he needs like a safety net. He needs someone who knows him to kind of check in on him. Well, that's what was nice, like being close to Lindsay and living in her building. I love the building. We had a great friendship.
Starting point is 00:27:06 But I was like, COVID was still kind of weird. It's social. And I was like, okay, I'm going to be in the same building as one of my best girlfriends. Yeah. We're on the same show together. Like, this is great. What's interesting is like that apartment I said I'm not going to do drugs or drinking that lasted three days, you know, but I was getting all this Press around that time before the show started airing. It was like late 2020 December there was articles going
Starting point is 00:27:28 Fans praise Carl Radke for how he's handling his brother's passing literally while I'm reading it like this guilty conscience While I'm reading and I have coke dripping out of my nose and I was drinking and isolating and Doing all these things and I was getting it was like eating me alive because I was an imposter I was a liar. I was disingenuous. And I remember that that holiday, you on a couple different occasions, we talked, and I was just like, I was a disaster. Not well.
Starting point is 00:27:53 You and I had done a happy hour on Zoom for Lover Boy. It was January 6th. I'm drinking red wine. I turn on CNN, and I see what's going on in D.C. And it just like, it just kind of like, spiraling my brain. And I just drank, ordered Coke, drank, ordered Coke. That next morning.
Starting point is 00:28:12 That's the next morning. Yeah. You were kind of like trying to come up with any excuses to why you weren't. Yeah. I was trying to cover my tracks. Showing up. But then I just kept spiraling even more and I don't remember, but I called someone else. And then the next thing I know is like maybe 10 hours later, I woke up in my bed, like sweating and like a disaster.
Starting point is 00:28:31 But you came over to my apartment, I want to say like two days after that. And I'll never forget you coming in that. I was so scared of you because I knew you were going to, like I just was like this guy hates me. And he's like, I'm bringing my friend into this really difficult situation of like having to check on me. But the way you came over that day was like, for my recollection, it was like, it was the tough love I needed. Well, I kind of chalked it up as like, oh, let's watch some, you know, Sunday football together. Yeah, I thought Kyle wanted to come and hang out with me. He was come and have an intervention. Carl's like, this is not good. Look, if I'm going to be honest, it's crazy to think that you were like scared of me.
Starting point is 00:29:05 I was nervous because I was like, God, I don't know if I'm the right guy to confront him. about all this stuff. Like, I'm only privy to it because you're working with me. I would have no idea. Yeah. But it was at that point where I was convinced
Starting point is 00:29:22 that you were going to hurt yourself. And I was just like, I'll be Dan if I don't say something. I just, I don't know. I didn't know at the time if I was going to have the right words or if I could keep it positive and productive. But eventually,
Starting point is 00:29:38 I felt like we watched a little bit of TV and then I was like, all right, let me address the yellow. in the room here. I mean, I opened up a little bit about that in the book. Like, I, having suicidal ideation, like, I felt like that at times, honestly. Like, when you're in your dark, depressed, I'm grieving and I'm drunk and I'm coked. Like, it just was like all this shit. And I had moments where I, like, just was like, do I want to be here anymore? But that day, you came over to me.
Starting point is 00:30:02 And just the way you showed love, but like, tough love. Well, the thing that comforted me was, you I've already reached out to a sponsor. I was like, thank God. I thought I was going to have to convince you. I knew in my head if you were going to come over that day, I was like, I better have something. And I already needed it, but I was like, I had already spoken to someone funny enough.
Starting point is 00:30:22 I thought I was going to have to be like Googling stuff with you and just trying to like help initiate that first step. But you were like, I'm already talking to somebody. And I was just like, I think I had been like a day or two into talking to someone at that point. Hey, you took initiative. You knew it was the right thing to do. you also knew it was coming to your apartment.
Starting point is 00:30:41 Well, I just wanted to thank you because something that I always hold on to in a lot of different ways because it meant a lot to me, man. Well, I'm proud of you because you took that moment. It was tough, but you took it in stride and you never looked back. I feel like that was just the beginning of like some of the hard conversations. You and I have had that, you know, we've had tough conversations. But that was one that, honestly, I think, saved my life to some degree.
Starting point is 00:31:06 I really appreciate it. I'm glad I could be there for you. Because not everybody in those moments, it's hard to show up for someone who's struggling. I've been on the other side where I've been sober and I have friends now who've struggled and it's hard for me to show up for them still. So you just working through that and coming over, it's not easy. Again, it is this unique kind of series of events, right? I had this interesting perspective.
Starting point is 00:31:30 That's what's so crazy is like when you're really struggling, like you try to hide it from the people you love the most because you just can't deal with the thought of them hating you. I mean, honestly, if we weren't working together, I would have no idea. And that's what's so crazy. And what's so crazy is I'm sitting here at software right now. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you or a lover boy. Well, hey, a lot of hard work. You earned it.
Starting point is 00:31:50 Well, to switch a little bit of gears. I appreciate you being so open with me about stuff. I know it's emotional for me. It's obviously. 10 years here, man, or more. You met the summer of 2014, but then hung out in 2015. 15. I'll never forget the Equinox, bench press.
Starting point is 00:32:04 You were like, Mr. Startup, guys. and I was, I think you were at Zoc Doc. I was trying to help you negotiate. And then I'd see him like out at acne, like, literally having the most fun ever. And I was like, that guy's like at the gym at the morning. But then how would you say that my sobriety and some of that changed our dynamic? Did it change it, do you think? I mean, sure.
Starting point is 00:32:25 I mean, like, we were certainly like partners in crime. I wouldn't do all the crime. But I think that your first summer or two, completely sober. You were still kind of working through the kinks. We then had that point in time where you kind of stepped away from lover boy, which I think complicated things, right? Like, you're on your sobriety mission and whatever you want to call it. And I was excited for you. I wanted to be there for you. But then we were like dealing with all this like fallout, you know, between our working relationship. So it was like a weird dichotomy between me feeling proud about
Starting point is 00:33:01 how far you come, but also like bummed out that, you know, all the years of us kind of grinded out and just kind of have fell to the wayside. But has it changed the dynamic? Ultimately, it's just, if you're clear-headed, it's going to inspire me to be clear-headed and we have better quality time together. Right. Like it's, you know, when you're growing out with a friend in the city, particularly if they're single and they're drinking, like at a certain point in the night, it's like,
Starting point is 00:33:27 bye-bye. You know, and you're on a different mission. So having you, I think, just more in touch with like what. matters to you, what makes you happy. We don't see as much of each other because we're both busy. You've got your business. We're not as social as we once were, but we obviously don't work together on a daily basis. But I feel like the time that we do spend together is time well spent. I feel like that's a great thing to have at this juncture, you know? I mean, that makes me feel so good because that's exactly what I hope, you know, with the people
Starting point is 00:34:00 I spend my time with that it's genuine and quality. I'm present. I'm clear. and that's like the gift that I didn't realize I was getting by getting help and getting my shit together was that I can actually show up for the people that show up for me. And that's like a beautiful thing because I love being your friend. I love being supportive in your life. And it's been just awesome in the last few years being able to like return, not return the favor, but feeling like I can also be of value and support to you and all your things. And look, there's times where you've come out to support me or just keep me company.
Starting point is 00:34:32 and like if I'm DJing for example right like are we having tons of quality time no no I'm I'm up there trying to multitask but I'm not very good at it's like the friendship I love about with you is that it's like we're we're good no matter what I feel like it's yeah like we've had some some shit and there's I think a lot in this past summer we had a little some stuff but honestly like I feel like we almost needed that to get closer and get through some things yeah and then we'll obviously see that unfold in several months but yeah I think that One of the interesting things about TV is you are kind of forced to talk more than you naturally would. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:35:09 Well, you've always said this best. It forces you to have the tough conversations about yourself, your partner, your job. Yes. That you're not typically willing to really. And I thought you were insane. So I like to think of it as life, when you're filming, life feels like you're on fast forward, like 2x or 3X. Just because you're covering so much ground. You would probably have those conversations eventually.
Starting point is 00:35:31 Maybe not. but not as rapidly and in-depth and frequently as you would when you're when you're filming. And so I feel like even when we do butt heads, we just have to address it. Yeah. Practically in real time. It's like, I mean, I remember when we had that scuffle last summer, I felt like it was like practically minutes before I was like, all right, that was my bad. Well, and I feel misunderstood. People are understanding, like, where I'm coming from.
Starting point is 00:35:59 if it kind of like continues to build up inside. Like sometimes that's when I'll have like my emotional breaking point where I'm not doing a good job about communicating or I'm not doing a good job about helping people understand where I'm coming from. And then it just boils over. I think a lot of us are like that honestly. I mean, I think I have that feeling sometimes too. Maybe a male thing. Like we are just not good communicators. For sure.
Starting point is 00:36:22 For sure. Talk about you and I a lot, our friendship. But I'd love to focus on you. A little bit more about Casey. Kyle McKee. What's your middle name? McGill. McGill. McKeigh. Kyle McGill, Cook. I want to highlight something that I thought of when I was preparing for this with Annie, my producer.
Starting point is 00:36:39 You told me something about going to therapy at one point in your middle school or maybe seventh or eighth grade because you were... Yeah, ninth grade. You were getting bullied? No. I mean, it's a very weird series of events. Essentially, I went on a family vacation, the summer of eighth grade. In my hometown, back then it was junior high. So K through six, it was in between 8th and 9th grade, so I was going to high school.
Starting point is 00:37:04 And we went on vacation and someone broke into the house. So we get back. The only thing missing was all my money. And the only people that knew where I saved my money were my best friends. The only thing taken, the VCR, the TV, nothing was gone. Like my mom's jewelry, nothing was gone. It was like my money. You like a little piggy bank in your room?
Starting point is 00:37:27 Basically. But like as an eighth grader, I mean, three, four hundred bucks was everything. Yeah, it's tons. And I just felt violated. It was just so clearly like one of my friends. And look, my friends, I was like the popular kid that still was like playing the saxophone, playing sports, getting good grades.
Starting point is 00:37:45 I had a lot of friends that were not getting good grades, but we were a little wolf pack. And one of them decided to jack all my money. And I just felt, and none of them came clean. And I felt isolated, violated, and I went into ninth grade feeling like I had no friends. And this is coming from like, I was like, Mr. Popular. I was always like that confident, fun, extroverted guy. But I went from having really good friends to having no good friends. And I really struggled in ninth grade.
Starting point is 00:38:19 I slipped into like a deep, dark depression. I remember final day of freshman year. You know, all my friends at school were headed to a party. I had not hung out with a single kid outside of school the entire year. And I just went home and I remember crying. And it's not that I couldn't have gone. I just felt alone. So I,
Starting point is 00:38:43 do you ever get any closure from any of that? Oddly enough, no. I was kind of starting to open up to my parents about what's going on. And they're like, we're your friends. Like, what the heck happened? And I ended up in sophomore year, you know, working with a therapist.
Starting point is 00:38:57 I went on an antidepressant. and kind of, you know, it was a great example of like an antidepressing kind of doesn't do the work for you. It gives you a little nudge. It gives you a little boost of confidence. And I just kind of put myself out there, forge new friendships. My parents were like, listen, we're not condoning drinking, but if you need a ride to and from a party that you get invited to, we will take you. And I was like, because in ninth grade, I just felt like all my friends were breaking the rules at school. And I was just in this weird place, you know.
Starting point is 00:39:29 on an island by myself. And so ultimately, I kind of climbed out of that funk. I wish I knew to ask for help earlier as a ninth grader because that whole year I struggled. I think I was in therapy for four to six months maybe. Wow. And on antidepressants, up until I realized, ironically,
Starting point is 00:39:50 that antidepressants in alcohol don't mix. I had a couple instances where it's certainly magnitude. And I was just, you know, I was like the first couple times drinking, too. sophomore year. Did you ever have any kids at school, like give you a hard time because you were doing therapy? I didn't tell anybody. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:40:06 No one, at school I would present, like I was the same kid from eighth grade. No one knew that I just had no close friends that I would hang out with after school or on the weekends. Wow. And all that changed, sophomore year. I just forged entirely new friendships. I looked back at it and I was like, man, like, no one would have expected me to be struggling. And that's why I wanted to ask you about because, I mean, you, or one of the most confident, outgoing people I've ever met my entire life.
Starting point is 00:40:33 You don't seem like you have cracks in the armor for the most part. We've seen some cracks on the show, but I know you very well. But I mean, even like think back to the first handful of years on Summerhouse, or in the handful of years, you know, before Summer House, I'd go out to the Hamptons, be hanging with absolute hustlers and ballers, guys that just crushed in finance, hopping on a helicopter back. I'm practically hitchhiking.
Starting point is 00:40:57 Like, I'm the starving artist entrepreneur. Like when I came back to New York from business school, it wasn't necessarily cool just yet to be an entrepreneur. You're still in like the finance capital of the world. And so similar in ninth grade, I think, you know, 2013, 14, 15, 16 and so on. Like I would try to, I don't know if it was a facade, but I wouldn't let people know on the weekend
Starting point is 00:41:21 that my stress during the week is very real. And, you know, the idea that maybe I'm not, going to be successful. The fact, or my app that I was working on at the time wasn't going to, you know, launch and have potential. I mean, like, all those things were a struggle, right? Because people just know me for who I am. Would you say like New York's kind of like that, though? It's a little bit of like not fake it to you make it, but. Yes and no. I mean, it's tough to fake it in a city where there's real cost of living. It's very expensive. It's very easy to kind of present like everything's good and, you know, I'm successful if I'm confident and I am.
Starting point is 00:42:03 But, I mean, just going way back to high school. I mean, yeah, no one had a clue that I was like on any depressants, massively depressed. I mean, 2025 was the arguably the toughest year of my life just with the amount of responsibility, pressure, personal, professional, and relationship challenges that kind of got thrown. at me at all the same time. Yeah. And I mean, people will see the first episode, not to give too much away. You checked in on me as good friends do.
Starting point is 00:42:33 And I don't think anyone had asked me for God knows how long, how I'm doing. I had a couple of drinks to me. And I was like, not well. Sorry to laugh. I love you so. I don't remember how it, like, is that kind of accurate?
Starting point is 00:42:46 Kind of. Yeah, kind of. I mean, listen. You have a lot going on. You're a go-getter. You're an incredibly successful guy. You put a lot out there. But I think when you've done so much for so many people,
Starting point is 00:42:58 and sometimes people forget about, I think, like, just how is Kyle? Remove lover boy. People will, you'll see things online and sometimes, I'll be, but what about my happiness? Like, does that not, is that not in the cards? Doesn't matter. Yeah. Look, life is one long learning lesson.
Starting point is 00:43:16 I don't know if we'll have a chance to get there, but like, you'll never realize your dreams or ambitions or really get anywhere by saying no. I've always just said yes to things, even if it lands me in a heap of trouble, like us deciding to film. Total unknown. I never watched a Bravo show my life. Life is just got to not take it so seriously, and sometimes the opportunities find you, and you're never going to get anywhere saying no.
Starting point is 00:43:40 I like that. I mean, we talked a lot about mental health, and I know you've done therapy. You were doing therapy in seventh, eighth grade, ninth grade, which was at an unusual. I did therapy around fifth and sixth grade with family, but I didn't tell anybody about it. It was very, like, siloed. but like what is taking care of your mental health look like today so as things are you still doing therapy yes we're in a little bit of a hiatus due to some scheduling conflicts but i kind of want to pick it back up on a personal level i've done some personal work last couple years i think it helps
Starting point is 00:44:13 if you're busy which i'm always busy it's very easy to kind of get lost in the moment and not really make time for yourself but ironically it was that COVID season i started running because you can go to gym and that became therapy. Yeah. But you've found it recently. I was going to say the running has been something for me. It's, I don't know if I'd be sane this time of year right now without the running. Just because all the things we had going on.
Starting point is 00:44:36 When we leave here, I'm going for a run. A lot of people confuse physical exercise for physical benefits. And yes, there's obviously that. But I think equally important is the mental. Yeah. I don't care what it is. Being active, there's just ridiculous amounts of. of science about the benefits that physical activity
Starting point is 00:44:58 has on your mental health. And I've always known you to be that guy. I mean, you were Mr. I mean, you still are to a degree. I mean, you cared a lot about nutrition, cared a lot about the quality of the products you're putting your body, you cared about fitness and working out. People will watch an episode, we'll be out late.
Starting point is 00:45:13 I pop up and go for run. People like, how does he do that? I'm like, trust me. It's the last thing I wanna do, but I know I will have a much better better day knowing that I checked that off the list. Yep. And if it was a rough night or filming was stressful or, you know, whatever it was, it's therapeutic.
Starting point is 00:45:33 I love that. I mean, if we can just talk about a few summer house things. Yeah. I guess like something I've always struggled with. And I remember actually going over to your original Nolita apartment, Prince. Prince Street, baby. You me and Amanda watched one of the episodes together or we watched the reunion together. I remember seeing Amanda because Amanda was going through some shit with the girls.
Starting point is 00:45:55 Oh my guy. Yeah, season two, our first reunion. How do you handle like watching episodes? Like some people watch it. Some people don't. I know Jacks and other people say they don't watch, which I find hard to believe. How do you handle watching episodes? Do you watch them alone?
Starting point is 00:46:10 Do you watch them with Amanda? Do you watch them with... For the first six or seven years, I forget when we stopped, but Amanda and I would always watch the episodes together. Now, sometimes that led to us to... literally having the same exact fight we just watched. It was almost like we picked up right where we left off. And I'm like, well, you know, here's why I felt that way.
Starting point is 00:46:29 Well, here's why I felt that way. I mean, it can be challenging. I think once we'd kind of gone through, I forget what summer it was, but whether it was six or seven, you know, where it was, it was a tough season to watch. I think that's kind of when Amanda was like, I'd rather not watch with you. And I was like, okay. I mean, for me, I'll watch just because, A, even if it's a tough episode, there's just so much I wasn't privy to you. I truly enjoy what we get to do. That's what I say to like anybody that asked me this.
Starting point is 00:47:04 I go, I'm a fan of our show too. Yeah, I love seeing for the first time everything that I wasn't a part of, even if people are literally talking shit about me. If your knee-jerk reaction is to, you know, immediately after the episode airs, check social. especially if you've had a tough one, I think that that can be a slippery slope. It's hard not to. I know so many people are like, just don't go on Instagram.
Starting point is 00:47:30 I'm like, I literally run two businesses and a personal brand and I DJ with the help of Instagram. How am I not going to go on Instagram? Yeah, it's hard to filter. I mean, it's probably a good argument to be made as to why I should, you know, make sure I do some personal work this.
Starting point is 00:47:47 Well, there's something you did that I wanted to ask if you still do. something you told me you were doing maybe two seasons ago because some of the some of these episodes are really hard to relive I mean you just said like you and Amanda can get into the same fight I remember when Lindsay and I were together I could hear her watching at another room and just like waiting for her to come over and talked about what just had been watched right it's really hard in a relationship to watch back but you were
Starting point is 00:48:10 weren't you running and watching episodes yeah I'll I'll take my phone I got a little sticky little suction cup thing I'll stick it on the treadmill. And you watch episode. I just have to try to find a treadmill without people around me. Because it's like, is this dude literally watching himself on his own TV show? I'm like, to be fair, hasn't aired yet. I'm doing my homework.
Starting point is 00:48:35 That is actually fun. But yeah, the day that someone actually snags a photo of me on the treadmill watching me is. That'll be epic. Have you ever had this happen flipping it, been on an airplane where someone's watching Summerhouse while you're like adjacent to them. I've had it. Just last night I was like trying to find. I was watching like an episode of Black Mirror,
Starting point is 00:48:55 but I opened up my TV. It's like a cool TV format. It's like suggested. Summerhouse. I'm like, are you really trying to suggest that I should watch the show that I'm on? Unbelievable.
Starting point is 00:49:06 That algorithm's got to get improved. You know. But there are any moments? Like I mean, I know there's been things of mine in the past that I like, of course, wish we're private on the show. Is there anything that stands out
Starting point is 00:49:15 that you just wish? Ask me that in like four or five months. the unsuspected parts of the show become either the comedic relief or the things that get talked about. Yeah. I mean, look, if you go way back to the very first episode, I know everyone found that hot tub scene to be hilarious, but the Vanderpump side, like, those fans were like, who's this guy? What a douche. Like, put him in his place, Stasi. They didn't realize that I was not really serious.
Starting point is 00:49:47 Yeah, we didn't have enough context to do where you were. The funniest comments were like, all right, now that I've watched the first season, I went back and watched the hot tub episode now that I know who Kyle is, and it's absolutely hilarious. I actually struggle to find it funny
Starting point is 00:50:00 because it was so embarrassing for me because we were drinking on an empty stomach that day. I think I blacked out at the clam bake. Yep. Blacked in in the hot tub. And I remember very little, and so when it aired, I'm just like, oh my God,
Starting point is 00:50:16 this is so. embarrassing. I'd watch it like three or four times. And man, I was like, even I find this funny. It is to this day, one of the probably the greatest debuts in reality TV show history. But I've tried to like live the whole like no regrets thing. So nothing like, honestly don't really have a any one particular moment. And I think that's what makes you so much fun. I mean, I love filming with you. I love doing all the things we've done. But you genuinely, I think really leave it all out there. Don't produce yourself. Bad and the ugly. Well, I think that's what makes the Summer House so beautiful.
Starting point is 00:50:50 We were blessed with a show that allowed us to just be ourselves. Again, it's not all, you know, peaches and gravy here. But the way we filmed just straight through the weekend, you can't script yourself. You can't get in your own head and figure out what you're going to say and what you're not, particularly if we're like drinking or things are just very fluid. There's just no time to think and then react. you're just reacting. It's all happening real time.
Starting point is 00:51:20 Oh, man. Well, I mean, I'm just so glad you came in today, man. I'm proud of you. I'm proud of you putting yourself out there, the book, the podcast, opening it up softbar. Well, it's not easy. And I think you've taught me a lot about just like, even like some of the stuff I've dealt with here. Like you, I remember early on when we launched Loverboy, you'd get a negative review. You'd get someone DMing you and Amanda saying this stuff is horrible.
Starting point is 00:51:42 Yeah. But those are comments and feedback that it's going to happen. but it's how you deal with that feedback and how you respond. And we've gotten people that have come here and say, it's not great. I've had people that come here and say it's the greatest thing ever. But you've dealt with a lot of publicity, some negativity, other competitor stuff.
Starting point is 00:52:00 So I don't know how you've done it because I stress, is there anything you can give me or give our audience, like how you really navigate all of this public? I think my only regret, if I'm going to be honest, not that you asked for my regrets, but I'll try to get the advice in a bit. I haven't had much time to truly enjoy the ride. Like sure, our summers are fun,
Starting point is 00:52:23 but I am working overtime every single day, every single week. You know, and I think that I'm going to look back and maybe regret having just pushed myself to the limit to the extent that I did. I wish I brought in like a partner to help us run Loverboy earlier. It's just such a challenging industry to navigate. I'm trying to, as I kind of head into 2026, just, kind of reflect on that. I think having a good work ethic is fundamental, and I'm not saying that I've struggled with balance,
Starting point is 00:52:53 but I think that just the amount of responsibility that's been on my play has been overwhelming at times, and I think people will see that season 10. I kind of like spontaneously combusted on multiple occasions. And it's just, I look back at season 10, and it was just like, it was kind of the perfect storm. Yeah. Well, guess what?
Starting point is 00:53:16 amid all the stress and reality of business and the challenges and the shortcomings, guess what, we still had to film a show. Yeah, which is like another, you know, you're a go-getter, you're driven, you have tons of energy, but sometimes just like taking a look around and like appreciating where you, you've, you know, how far you've come, where you've been, done some amazing stuff. I mean, like, looking back, like, what is our friendship taught you? A, I think that all good things in life should evolve. You know, I think that if you have a friend in your life
Starting point is 00:53:48 and you're doing the same exact thing as you were 10 years ago, I don't know. There's maybe some reason to question that. Are you talking to us? No, I'm not talking about filming. I'm just talking about. I really think our friendship has evolved quite nicely. Big time.
Starting point is 00:54:06 And we've done things that people would advise us not to do. Film a TV show. Work together. film us working together. Like, think about it. We basically bucked, you know, what is common sense on multiple occasions. I think that friendships evolve,
Starting point is 00:54:23 and you, I think, embrace that. Embrace the change. Embrace the change. Also, just don't underestimate what it's like to have someone in your corner supporting you through thick and thin. Like, I know I've done that for you. You've done it for me.
Starting point is 00:54:37 That is just not something to take for granted. And it's actually one of the hardest things to find. And also that's, you know, friendships where it's not just all pep talks, you can actually push back and kind of be that voice of reason. Yep. Right? Like there's things that you've done that upset me or I felt like wasn't in the best interest
Starting point is 00:55:04 of you, me, whoever, and vice versa. And I think that like it's not comfortable. But again, that kind of comes back to that discomfort. for, you know, like, trekking up to your apartment to talk to you after your final bender was insanely uncomfortable. But I knew how to do it. And I think that, like, sometimes you just have to kind of embrace that. I'm forever grateful you did, man. I got one last question for you.
Starting point is 00:55:29 We talked about the concept of more life. What gives you more life? You know, as I sometimes struggle to have downtime and, And just a moment to kind of look around and live in that moment. I think you just got to make sure you prioritize things that give you joy and happiness. Some people think it's crazy for me to be tacking on to my already busy schedule DJing. But as you know, music has been a big part of my life since I was a kid. This guy has been, it's not a surprise at all.
Starting point is 00:56:08 You love music. I'm still trying to find the right balance. but 2025, like, if I wasn't DJing and finding joy and passion through that, like, I would have it could have been really, really tough. Also, it was a bit of a social outlet. Like my social life in New York City kind of disintegrated just because of my, you know, my work schedule. And I love meeting new people.
Starting point is 00:56:32 I love kind of putting myself in uncomfortable situations where I'm like, I could be touching down in a city where I know nobody. And hopefully I make some new friends. And I think life's too short to kind of have that like no new friends mindset. I know that I know I need to make sure I prioritize my existing friendships. But putting myself out there has given me joy. And like for me, however this translates to people listening or to you, I think it's just like understanding and appreciating what does bring you joy will bring you more life.
Starting point is 00:57:03 And like that sometimes take a minute. You're like, wait, okay, that's a hobby. That's a job. that's it what what what what's actually making me happy yeah and sometimes it's not so obvious yeah it's not easy work yeah but i think just having to stop and question i mean this is a good time of year to do that you know you're starting a new year hopefully starting a new chapter you know and just prioritizing the things that matter to you to your loved ones i mean that's that's it baby i love it man kow thanks for having me love you brother thanks for being here thanks for success man where can our
Starting point is 00:57:39 fans and followers. I mean, you're pretty easy to find, but... Yeah. Hitting up at least like 15 plus cities in Q1. That also kind of allows me to bring Lover Boy to venues and fans that maybe not haven't had a chance to try just because distribution is not easy. We just came out with the Flower Boy starter pack for $23 bucks just to kind of limit that cost of entry so people can try it.
Starting point is 00:58:04 I feel like a lot of people are still very intimidated by THC. either because of a bad experience or just reputation. And I think that these functional beverages that not just have THC but have some other ingredients, they kind of give you a... Yeah, I just, I really encourage people to, hey, if it makes you uncomfortable to try something new, hey, guess what?
Starting point is 00:58:25 Try it with a friend, try it by yourself. But like, these things should not scare people. And then, of course, we have a new show coming out this year, which is, I keep forgetting. Dude, I love you, man. Literally. Thank you for having me. You've been such an amazing support in my life.
Starting point is 00:58:43 And everybody that I know that knows you loves you and cares you and adores you. Well, thank you. Because you're just a genuine, you're a good guy. I appreciate you, man. Hot damn. Thank you guys. A huge, huge thank you to Kyle Cook. He is an unbelievable guy.
Starting point is 00:58:58 I love the man. You know, he's given us so much entertainment over the years. But as my best friend, as a business partner, as an entrepreneur or mentor, He's done so much for me. And there were things we talked about today that, quite frankly, we needed to talk about and stuff that we just never really cleared the air on. I mean, him calling me out about my drugs on the show, which was a difficult position I put him in as a friend and a business owner.
Starting point is 00:59:21 He gave me a lot of grace and opportunity. There's so much more about Kyle Cook. I don't think you guys fully realize. And as his best friend, I just love this man. And I'm just so proud to call him my best friend. And he's been there for me through the thick and thin. And I'm trying to be there for him through his thick and thin. I really think you guys will learn a little bit more about Kyle Cook
Starting point is 00:59:39 and hopefully come to love him just as much as I do. So thank you guys for listening to MoreLife with Carl Radke. You can check us out anywhere where podcasts are distributed. I'm so excited that you guys are here today. So thanks again for being here. Rate, review, subscribe. And we'll catch you next time here at SoftBarr on More Life with Carl Radke. More Life is produced by Annie Siegel and executive produced by Adam Reynolds
Starting point is 01:00:17 of Denham Pictures. This episode was directed by Annie Siegel. edited by Mike U.R.T.s and recorded at Soft Bar Studios in Brooklyn, New York. More Life is a production of Sony Music Entertainment. From Sony, our executive producers are Chris Skinner and Joanna Clay. Original music by Function Adams. Set designed by Michael Ignacio. Publicity by Caitlin Healy.
Starting point is 01:00:40 Additional support from Abby Sharp. Special thanks to Allison Shano and Joanna Orland. New episodes drop every Tuesday. We'll see you next time. Frozen lasagna, medium power, 15 minutes. Sounds like Ojo time. Let's play. Feel the fun with Play-O-Jo.
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