Rolexes, blind dates & building a brand with the Jonas brothers
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So officially...

Will you please be our child's godparents in case we die? You guys got a nice little investor list over there, huh? No comment. But what is it like working with them? The brothers, as you call them. Welcome back to another episode of Just Alex. Hi, Harrison. Hi, Alex. How are you? I'm sunburned, which is not great. I'm good.

Yeah, sorry. No, I was just saying you're wearing your baby shower hat. I'm wearing my baby shower hat? Uh-huh. Big fan of the hats. Yeah, what else is going on in life? For the audio listeners, Alex's friend makes these cool trucker hats that they get at the baby shower and they put patches on them. And so the patches that they put on mine are different places that I've lived. So it's got... Vancouver. New York. A joint...

Canada, US flag and a Texas flag. Yeah, Texas flag. I can't see it because I'm wearing it. Okay, so we're going to do a riffing episode again. So we have a list of topics.

And we're just going to talk about them. And the first topic is working out dash treadmill. I, so Harrison's training, like we're on two different, totally different working out paths right now. Harrison's training for a race called high rocks, but it's not H I it's, it's H Y R O X high rocks. And it's in Dallas and it's in November, which is really cute because we're going to take a little baby girl to Dallas when he does the race.

But you're just on a different fitness trajectory than I am. Like the other night at 10 p.m., I could hear him in the basement and something was like, I was like, who's he talking to? And you were talking to a guy delivering a rower.

Yeah, we ordered a rower. We? You keep saying we ordered, like, we got the Yetis. Well, for the baby, because it's good. We got the rower with the water in it so that hearing the water is good for putting the baby to sleep. You've got to stop. You keep justifying these purchases for the kid. Everything for the kid. Needs to have a healthy dad. The Yeti is for the kid. I kind of did that with the treadmill. I was like, I need the treadmill so I can stay home.

And walk on the treadmill. I'm at about a 2.2 pace today. Very nice. Not to brag. You got your medicine balls. You're working out outside in the 105 degree heat. Yeah, I'm getting back into it. That's nice. It's really fun to watch. I'm supportive of your race. I'm jealous, if you can't tell. Yeah, well, I think that you're on your path right now. And when the child comes, you'll decide what path to take.

You go on post-birth. Yeah, it's, um, I could not be able to walk, some people say, you know, like it could be like four weeks down, six weeks down. So come with that what may, no problem. You also, I mean, eight weeks ago you probably couldn't have walked. No, I couldn't have. But we put the crib together today. That was really exciting.

Yeah, I was like, you know, I just got the drill out and put all the pieces. It just, I crushed that. I put that together so good. You did. His name was Alexi. We've talked about him before. Do you know that I, I posted a photo of the table that we got in this girl. I went to high school with Brianna. She messaged me. She was like, is that Alexi?

And I was like, do you use Alexi? Like, I think she lives in New York. And she was like, no, you said it on the podcast. So I guess I've said Alexi's name before. So Alexi was over this morning and he put together the crib. That's our guy. He's on the trust program. He's at the house by himself today. Yeah, I have a lot of people on the trust program. You're like a little less trusting than I am. But I'm pretty like...

like faithful in humanity when it comes to leaving people at the house. Cause here's the thing, you know, if something novel goes missing, I don't even know what that would be. Do you know what this feels like? What kind of pivoting and cutting you off is like just, and I think it's why I like filming these either like Friday, Saturday or Sunday when it's more, it feels like if we were sitting on a patio, just like talking and shooting shit about what's going on in our lives and

It's taking that moment in interaction and bringing it in the studio and having a microphone. This conversation about the crib, it's taking it from...

outside and bringing it in yeah and I do and I do definitely agree with that and for the listener let me just say so Harrison and I were on a boat this morning and I was texting Julie and I was like we're not prepping for the podcast we're out boating and she was like that's the point of this kind of podcasting and it's like it's my favorite kind right it's not like

you know, so topic layered. It's just like getting in there and I call it riffing and I really love it. So thank you for allowing us to arrive to this stage of Just Alex. We'll see how it keeps going. We'll see how it evolves. Okay, since you're looking at that watch of yours, that Apple watch of yours, what are you checking on? Are you getting a text or time? No, just probably bored of listening to you talk. So on our first date,

the watch came up. Okay. Because I think I sent a photo of you. Yes, I did because on our first date came over because I was so nervous. She came over beforehand and helped, helped me get ready and was like hanging out at the house. Yeah. And then we walked down together and we both went and greeted you together.

And then as the day was progressing, I think she was like, how was the date? And so I like sent a photo of you and she was like, love it. Just don't know if I love the watch. And I was like, okay, thank you for saying what I'm thinking because traditionally, and I was thinking about this on the boat today. One thing I love about you is you change the way I think about a lot of things. Why your watch is one of them. I don't know, but you are just an Apple watch guy through and through.

And you're not planning to change that? Or what are your thoughts on watches? Because a lot of people have watches as their identity. So that's... Oh my God, you just took the words out. So I'm going to take a step back here. And my view on watches started... My view on watches started when I was working in finance. And...

I remember I went and I got my first bonus check and my plan was to go and get that classic Rolex starter. And around that period, so I was working on the trading floor, in sales and trading, covering hedge funds. And so I would have meetings with different hedge funds. And there was one particular fund that I worked very closely with and these guys were just like,

Like a movie should be made about them. Small group of guys managing billions of dollars, just so sharp and like walk the walk, talk the talk, look the look. Very private. So I wouldn't even say their name because they probably wouldn't wouldn't like that. But I remember as that period was going on, I was in their office.

And we were having a meeting and a handful of guys were in the room and all of them were wearing Timex's. And I was sitting there thinking like these, you know, I think there's actually three of them in the room. Guys that I really, really look up to who are each, you know,

on their own basis, standalone billionaires are wearing Timex watches. Like why, like why do I need to have a fancy watch and do they have like nice watches? I'm sure. But the point is like on a day-to-day basis, they, they weren't signaling. And so that like kind of changed my, my perception and view on them. Like I hadn't thought much about it beyond that. But I think what I've learned over time, like most of my friends are watch guys and,

And we just like agree to disagree on the whole watch thing. I think my point is you're signaling something that I don't necessarily agree

things should be signaled on a 24 seven basis. So I'm, I'm pro watches like for a special occasion and a big event, but I'm anti nice watches on a day to day basis. Cause I don't know why you'd want to signal that to every person you interact with. And then secondarily, like too many people I know who are watch people, like nice watches are their identities. And like, that's,

Pretty late. It's funny. If you ask yourself, why do you have a $10,000 watch on? It's not because it's telling the time any better than the Apple Watch is. Because they're both doing the same thing. They're both telling you the time, which so is your phone. So it is a piece of jewelry that's symbolizing something. Yeah, and you're signalizing that you're rich. You're signalizing that you have cash, which I don't think is...

Well, it's not your deal. You don't think – I just don't think it's your deal. I don't want to signal that 24-7. I think it's like a weird – I think it's like ostentatious. Well, here's the thing though. Here's the thing. Because there's a lot of people that I know that love their watches and it's their deal. It doesn't fit you as a person. Like if you had this watch, I'd be like this is so lopsided from the rest of your life. Yeah.

I think it's like weird to go get your copy and like walk around with the stamp on your forehead saying like I'm rich. I think that's fucking weird. Okay, so you don't like the nice watches in the everyday settings. But if it's like a black tie wedding, by all means, please throw in your watch because in that setting it is like a – it's a diamond necklace equivalent for a girl. It's like pearls. Yeah, which are beautiful. I think watches should be worn like pearls.

Okay. Yeah. Now we're getting somewhere. As you just said. Yeah, totally. Okay. Okay. I can, I can get behind that. Listen, I, I feel like I don't have an opinion on this matter, which is kind of driving me a little crazy, but I'm processing it because listen, like I've always just thought it was cool if somebody could go buy themselves that watch when, if they wanted it. When Jay and Jay's a friend of mine that everything I say about him, I say to his face, when I watched Jay bro out, um,

with another bro on their watches when we were out, I go to the bathroom and throw up. No, you don't actually throw up, but you probably do like go. It's, it's your equivalent of, I just go home. I just leave. No, listen, it's, it's a collector's item for a lot of people. Like it is, it's a car, you know, it's like car people talking about cars. So I have a question. Are we done with this? Can we move on? Moving right along. Um,

And this is like not in the note set. And so I don't even know if this will make it in. A derail. I have a question. Yes. We both have a lot of single friends. Uh-huh. Should we start profiling our single friends? Like every episode we profile one single friend and set them up. Are you saying that because I texted in the group text this morning with your single friend? Yes. A profile? And this guy is...

Harrison has an extremely eligible bachelor. I've got a few. And I'm in a group text with this eligible bachelor. And this morning I woke up and I was scrolling Instagram and there was this girl I know and I was just like, God, she's so cute. And then I was like, and he's so cute. And she just moved back to New York and he lives in New York. So I just texted the profile link because I, what I, and then I have the text typed up to her. Um, are you open for me to set you up on a date?

A lot of people don't like being set up on blind dates. However, Harrison and I were a blind date. Therefore, I always want to pay it forward because like I want to, we were a blind date and it was like such a success story. And I want to give that to somebody else. Like I want to be a good matchmaker for sure. And, and I like when you like, I think you have different when you friends and they're different like places in their life. And, you know, sometimes they're just looking to mess around or sometimes they're looking to get serious. Like,

This is a very eligible bachelor who like one is just a fun, hilarious guy, but to like checks all the boxes. And lastly, like, you know, he's looking to get serious, not in in a desperate way. So I don't know if there's any single ladies that want to know who this man is. What should they do? They should DM you.

Okay. And then I will... Are you going to look at their profile, though, and profile them? Are you going to vet them? What I'll do is we will... How do you want to do this? Because he told you some of his criteria. So they DM me. And then why don't we get it down to 10? Ooh. And then those 10 will send then his profile. Okay.

Okay. And then we'll send, we'll do like the profile and then we'll ask him to go on three dates. But are all these people, they're supposed to live in New York. They need to live in New York. They need to live in New York or be in New York. He's, he spends a lot of time in Austin. Okay. Yeah. He, the one thing he said though was he's fit. He liked, you know, he, he likes like a fitness type. Yeah.

And like we went to two workout classes with him. You went to a lot more in New York. But like I didn't know him that long because it was before he moved. And then he also wants somebody that's like taking their career pretty seriously. Because he's a career guy. Yep. And so those are the two things. He's got a big job. He's got a very good job. Yeah. This is a good one. Athlete. Tall. Good looking. Not a professional athlete. No, no, no. Has a very good professional job. Like played basketball.

Athletic build. Like college level sports. Athletic build. And has kept up with it. Has a big job. Yeah. Yeah. Like I would go on a date with this person if you gave me the profile and I was single. I would. I should break up with you and go on a date with him myself. Yeah. You would also go on a date with him. We go on mandates. Yeah. You do go on mandates with this guy. He's great. I like that. I really hope he doesn't make us cut this segment. No, I hope not. He didn't say his name, so. Did not say his name. Maybe we'll just like do a switcheroo if he disapproves.

Well, we'll just say it's not him. Okay. That's because I think he should stay in. Okay. The other, you know, what's on our topic list that is like sounding really good to me right now. So I can't get it off of my mind for some reason. And I haven't had it in like a year. Chipotle, because we drove by it the other day and I was like, oh man, it sounds so good, but gosh, it's fallen so far. And you said there's no, no fast food has fallen as far as Chipotle. Yeah. And I, I feel like that's a,

I feel like that's almost an old take. Like if you like now it's Chipotle is like an afterthought, like a show from like a disc, like disc men's were or Walkman's. Right. Walkman's iPods. Yeah. Like they're just so it's so far removed. But then what's crazy is right after we had that conversation, like within the past 48 to 72 hours, Starbucks. Yes. Fired their CEO.

and hired the Chipotle CEO, guess how much they paid him? Well, $75 million. $85 million. I read this this morning. I had it on my topic list for you to explain to me why did they pick him? The stock, the Starbucks stock on the news was up. It created billions of dollars of enterprise value. Wow.

And so what do you want me to explain? Why did they pick him? So I guess while we're consumers who have thought that, you know, Chipotle was once a go to meal and now we stay away from I stay away from it because like they had all that chicken. What's the chicken poisoning thing called? Not called salmonella. Salmonella. OK. Like they had all that salmonella shit. They had it like.

six straight times. Like, well, I don't want to go eat their chicken and get sick. Right. And so I just like never really recovered from that. But I guess...

They implemented a whole bunch of initiatives and the Chipotle stock has done very well. So whatever the CEO has has done there in his time, he's created a lot of shareholder value, which is the opposite of what's happened on the Starbucks side, where that stock is down like 20 percent. And and I guess shareholders aren't happy with with what's going on. Oh, yeah.

So I guess like the way I describe it is like, it's funny. So often what we see is consumers versus what's happening on the business side is so different. And so like we're talking shit about Chipotle as consumers, but I guess on the business side, like maybe he's cut a bunch of costs or maybe he's, you know, increased same store sales or, or so on and so forth where he's creating value for shareholders. And so,

He gets an $85 million bag. Yeah, because if you said to me, Starbucks versus Chipotle, which stocks hire, which business is doing better? I'm like, Starbucks all day and it's not close. But I guess that goes to show, you know, no research being done there. I was like, I'm just guessing that based off of a consumer because I do see a lot of hate on Chipotle. But here's the thing about Chipotle, okay?

They really did nail, like, oh, my God, if I could eat it right now. Like, the bowl with the guac just topped on, like, just lumped on top of it with the beans and the rice and the chicken. Like, everybody wants that. But I had food poisoning from it twice. Like, you can't get me to go in there. When you describe that, I think food poisoning. Oh, but it's such a good meal. And so, like, I just wish it was, like, you know, there's not really another Taco Bell. Cava, Cava.

Kava does win, but they don't have guac. Kava's Mediterranean. Kava gives me Chipotle gets sick vibes. Do you know, I think Alex's largest stockholding is El Polo Loco. Alex's business partner, not me. Really? Yeah. I've never been to an El Polo Loco. I don't know. He's been trying to get me to buy it for like a long time. The crazy chicken? Oh, he loves it. Okay. I think that's what it's called. No, no. I think it, I can definitely see the sign. I've just never been to one. Is it a fast food restaurant? Do they do it like Chipotle? No.

No, I think it's like good chicken. Oh, well, we should try it, I guess. Yeah. Now we buy some shares for for a child. Yeah. For a little girl. She could have like her little her little portfolio. Actually, Alex, that's what we would like as a as a baby gift. We would like some shares of Apollo local, please. Speaking of dropping things on here, just telling people we were talking about godparents last night.

And, you know, I was afraid of godparents being one of those things that didn't transfer to Canada, but it turns out you have them. No, we don't. What? Yeah. Yes, you do. Stop. No. Godparents aren't a Jewish thing, I think. Oh, that makes sense. I don't think we have godparents in the Jewish religion. We have God. Yes. But we do have, like...

Next of kin. A next of kin. So if my sister and Dave's, if they passed, then I am the legal inheritor of their child. Parker goes to you. Yeah. I remember your sister texted you and was like, does Alex know that if something happens to Dave and I, that this is your child? What did you say back? I have no idea. You said something funny back.

But I was aware of that. And that's the cutest, cutest child ever. So like just God forbid something happened to them. But I'm just saying, you know, I'm speaking very tongue in cheek here. So we were talking about our kids. Godparent legal guardians, legal guardians should something happen to. But it has to happen to both of us. Yes. Right. Yeah.

Well, if something happened to me, you'd probably need some support from Haley and Dave. If something happened to me, you'd be a fish out of water, flailing, gasping for air, looking for anyone that would help you. Especially help you. What's one task that you couldn't do without me around? This is more difficult than I thought. Hang a painting at appropriate height. Horrible take. What? Yep. One thing you could not do without. Clean the fridge.

I need a word for just like how warped your perception of things you like you run the most disorganized fridge I've ever seen I run a great fridge a phenomenal fridge I want to do a vote I want to do your you take a picture of your fridge organized and then I do organize the fridge my side and explain it and we can let the the viewers vote okay but I get okay I'll go home and take a photo of it um

Well, okay. So what we, but we wanted to ask your sister in like a cute way to be her godparents, her sister and Dave. And then we were like, ah, she listens to the podcast. We'll just ask her on here. Yeah.

So this is our... I was thinking like a cute basket would have been nice to send, you know, like... But this is a virtual basket. This is a virtual basket. So officially... Haley and Dave, go. We'll finish each other's sentences. Will you please be our... Child's godparents. AKA legal guardian in case we die. Both of us have to die. Let me ask you this. On that note, hopefully they say yes. Okay. Growing up, I think my parents did this. They took separate flights...

My cousins definitely took separate flights to my brother's wedding, right? They took them on the way home, yep. Yeah, no, and there. Only thing is they didn't split up couples. They split up like the family. But do you think we'll fly separately when we have like a family, you know, like a larger family, like a family of three or four? Do you think you and I will take separate flights just in case one plane goes down? I think my parents took separate flights growing up. I think. I know my parents didn't.

And for the karma of the world, I'd rather just not answer that question. Here's the thing, though, about taking the several flights. We'll be in the car together all the time. You have like, I don't know the percentage, a lot larger chance of dying in a car wreck than you do a plane crash. Yeah. So we should probably just take the same flights and then call it a day. But I did always think that that was something interesting. Do you want to do our work week updates? Because I would love to hear yours. Oh.

What's going on with us? I can help you. Okay. Because I ate the whole rest of the bag yesterday. I saw it in the garbage. Yeah, man. I don't know. I just had a, like a hankering and I just dusted that bag right out of the Rob's rings. Rob's backstage rings. These rings are a better Funyun.

Well, thank you. Golf onions were good, but these rings, like somebody needed to come in and redo it. It's kind of like a Cheeto puff, but in ring form. Yeah, exactly. Oh my gosh. Made with avocado oil. So good for you. Yes, we launched that exclusively at Walmart pretty recently. And so-

You can find them in cheddar cheese and a spicy burnin' up flavor. Yeah, if you're a spice burnin' up. Do you know why it's called burnin' up? Yes, the song. Yeah. That's my favorite Jonas Brothers song. Can I just ask you one question about them? Because it's the number one question everybody always asks me about you. And you can glaze over this if you would like, but what is it like working with them? The brothers, as you call them. Um...

The brothers. They're great. Like they're true professionals. I think one of the coolest things about them is you see the, like the process that they take towards making music and,

They take that same process and bring it to brand building, which is really unique. Because at the end of the day, both creating music and creating a snack brand, the end consumer is the same and you are selling them a product.

And so the way they think about storytelling, branding, marketing, go to market, it's just like it's it's really thoughtful. And they're always drawing parallels between like, hey, this is what worked for.

for, you know, this tour, this is what worked in this situation. And do we think we can apply it there? Um, and, uh, yeah, like they're, they're rock stars for like a lot, like they are like they're fucking rock stars in the sense of like, you can tell they're, they're great. How many Jonas Brothers concerts have you been to? Um,

Like a lot, right? Before we started the brand or after we started the brand? Well... I'd never been to one before. So then after. So since we've started, oh, it has to be over 25. What? Yeah. Over 25? I would have guessed the number was 10. I would think. Do you have a favorite? Like a favorite city? Ooh, it's tough. Because like when they did Yankee Stadium, that was really special. Yeah.

As was Dodger Stadium because like, you know, they're Jersey guys. So kicking off their tour at a Mecca like Yankee Stadium was awesome. And just all of the people that were there and like it was a very emotional show you could tell from their end. And then L.A., Dodger Stadium, same thing because like that's been their home for so long.

But those are big stadiums and... Those are iconic. The more like intimate shows that I've seen. So like they do this Vegas residency, which like I don't know if they did it. I don't know if they'll ever do it again. That was like almost... That was probably the most fun I've had because it's just in a much smaller venue than the bigger stuff. But like they just... They know how to play...

They've been doing it for so long. Yeah. They know how to play, like, how to play the arena that they're in. Oh, I'm sure. I mean, they're true, like, rock stars. Yeah. And they're fun and they're young and, like, they've got, you know, similar values. Like, they're family guys and... You can tell that. You can tell they're family guys. That is one thing. Yeah. They are, like... True family guys. They're true family guys. Yeah. Real life. Which I always like to hear that about people that are, you know, really famous because...

Sometimes I think, like Justin Bieber, I think you really hear he's like a real family guy. And I think that's cool. I think it's cool when somebody has like an up-close personal connect. We just want to know they're good people. So thanks for that. Do people even know why we're talking about this? I guess I have a brand. It's the number one question I get of people being like, what are the Jonas Brothers like? If you don't, I started a brand with the Jonas Brothers called Rob's Backstage Popcorn. And why is it called Rob's Backstage Popcorn? Because their guitarist father created the recipe. His name is Rob. And the guitarist, his name is Greg.

Is Greg in on the deal? The popcorn deal? As is Rob. As is Rob? Yeah. As are the brothers. As are the brothers. So it's a whole band. It's actually like a sick story. Like Rob created this recipe in the late 80s. Okay. Friends and family enjoyed it. Then Nick tried it after a rained out show in 2011. Yeah.

became the brothers go-to backstage snack for a decade backstage and we were all connected and we turned it into a brand a couple years ago and now it's at walmart cbs alverson's um a whole bunch of other places i was nervous to try it because i was like this isn't going to be that good and it's it is by far the best popcorn i've actually ever tasted so good for you guys like i can see how you would taste it and then be like oh shit this is good um

Julie just texted saying that I'm the only person that she knows that's been to more concerts than her. I didn't know up until that moment that you were a Jonas Brothers fan, Julie. Are you on? Julie's a big Jonas Brothers fan. Yeah, she's clearly on. She's never asked me a question about them. That is really good. Can you text how many you've been to, please, Julie? Seven is a lot.

Seven's a lot. So their fan base is like you see the same people at like they have the most loyal fans who like travel, who go to all three nights in Vegas. Their fans know. They give me Taylor Swift vibes. Like they know the words to every to every song. And it's so cool because you watch the brothers interact with the fans that are always there. Like they know them.

that's actually cool. Like we'll, we'll definitely go to a show next time. They're, um, they're on tour. Really? Oh yeah. I mean, you'll love it. Yeah. I mean, I think kind of figured me, but I guess I just, we kind of put a pause on like our whole life. So I forget that I can like go to outings pretty soon. Um, okay. I'm trying to think if I'm the listener, I think the favorite brothers is a question. Why is it called Rob's? If I think of more, I'll ask you. Um,

Why did they pick you guys to do the deal to do Rob's Popcorn? Did they interview a lot of people and they decided you'd be the one that would do it?

I think that when we were connected, we just had a like-minded vision as to the type of business that we wanted to build and the way we wanted to do it. I mean, we're all the same age. We care about a lot of the same things. And I think what's really cool about them is they know they're...

They know what they're really good at and they know where they should bring in partners that can help amplify their effect. And I think they saw what we've done with other brands that we've created and how it could be a good partnership. Okay, last question. When you guys do like the Kelly Clarkson bag, do they pick those people or do you? Are they like, these are our friends, these are who we're doing? Or do you guys say like suggested people? Okay, for the listener, we have... So the original flavor was created...

by Rob and that's the Jonas Brothers Sweet and Salty. But then all of our other flavors we've created with

friends of theirs. Priyanka, like we know where that came from. So we have a Priyanka Indian spice mix that we created with Priyanka. We have a barbecue flavor that we created with Kelly Clarkson. We have a white cheddar flavor that we created with Kygo. And all of those partners that we've created flavors with, they're all one, like longtime friends of the brothers. And two, they're partners in the popcorn as well beyond that.

I didn't know that. Yeah. Good for you guys. We've got a lot of partners in the popcorn, so. You guys got a nice little investor list over there, huh? No comment. Okay, cool. So now we'll move right along. He's checking in the Apple Watch. I can't believe you let me ask you that many questions. Good job. Way to stay, like, you really locked in there. Okay, so that's your update on work. What about you? Well, I think that, I actually think that my update is...

I interviewed a girl here in Austin to do editing and I'm really excited about like building the Austin team. I'm also excited about like the podcast climate here in Austin because I went on two friend dates last week too. It's my, it's my last month of being pregnant sort of push is like,

get out and like go meet people. Cause like I finally randomly have like little bursts of energy. So I went on two coffee dates with two podcasters to just like adorable girls. They all said like the podcasting climate here in Austin is very collaborative, not competitive, which I love. And then one of them introduced me to an editor who we interviewed to edit, um, full time. And like, I just like, she was a little ray of sunshine. So that's just kind of my update is sort of figuring out the little Austin thing.

ecosystem we're going to build. Julie is moving here and she gets here next week. So it's like we're all going to be kind of boots on the ground just in time for me to have this baby. And then we'll get adjusted and then on the other side of it, it'll be nice because everyone will be here. So I'm excited about that. So do you know what I was thinking the other day? What? With this new format of episodes you're trying. Yes. When is Julie going to do an episode with you? You just like... She just...

jumped out of the building. I don't know. Maybe never. She doesn't like that stuff. I think... She's always invited. She seems to be such a big part of what you're doing. She absolutely is. I feel like the two of you would...

Where Julie needs to, you know, is like, she'd be so good. The way, I can't get over this. She's listening, by the way. But the way Julie... But she does not know that I was going to bring that up. And you didn't know that I was going to bring that up. I did not know that. That was an ambush. The way that Julie asked for a raise is something that I've long wanted to write. She just texted saying no lol. I know she didn't say no. Um...

But the way she asked for a raise was just so...

Listen, it's in a lot of textbooks, I think, the way you should do it. But she actually took it out of the textbook and presented it to me. And she's our chief of staff. And she's in a chief of staff support group or something where they all talk about chief of staff things. And she learned there really how you should present it, how you show your impact, how you directly correlate that to sales, blah, blah, blah. She did this whole thing. It was so impressive. And I think it'd be really helpful for people. So that would be a good area.

Awesome. Yeah, super awesome. Okay, but she said no. So there we go. But back to what you're saying. In person is awesome. Being in person. People being in person. I totally agree. I hope that you can build that. And it's definitely a piece that I'm missing here. And I hope they can get a couple people down for the naked market here. I think that I've got a shot.

I think Emmett is ripe for poaching. Yeah. I think I got Jake and Alex coming down here September 7th. Okay, remind me to like roll out every stop I have to them.

Because we moved to a really good place to make a good case for a CPG brand. Like, you know, there's so many CPG brands here. Consumer packaged goods, by the way. I didn't know what it was when we started dating. I googled it. So there's so many food brands that started here. So many startups are in Austin. Like, it's a really entrepreneurial place. So it would be a good spot. Also, tax breaks...

Yeah, I mean, but they got to love it and they love L.A. and we'll see. Yeah. We will see. Yeah, time will tell. Let's do a little baby update to wrap it on up here. The crib's put together. Her artwork's almost done. We are interviewing nannies next week, which we'll talk more about it like once that happens. But I will say we have like we do want our nanny to be bilingual. So we want the little one. I really wish I knew Spanish. Oh, yeah.

And I'm feeling good, but I did have a little temper tantrum the other day where, like, I just was inside of a five-year-old body. I mean, you kind of had one right before this episode started as well this morning. I'm just like, yeah, man.

The hormones just start to spiral and then I just like they get they get so far away from me. And then like two hours later, I can just like laugh. And I'm just like, I don't know why I do that. But I know when I'm in it, it's like I just they overtake me.

Anybody that's been pregnant will get it. My dad is here right now. Yeah. He's eating lunch outside. He likes eating outside. He's eating because he didn't want to make the kitchen messy. You broke the cardinal rule of relationships. Anyone that listens to this story will agree with me. I was downstairs. Okay, so my best friend's coming in town, right? And...

I had the kitchen spotless for her. And then Harrison comes in kind of like a tornado. And I'm like, I really want the kitchen to be clean before she gets here. Okay. And Harrison's dad comes inside. You said it exactly like that too. You weren't yelling. You weren't screaming. You weren't stomping your feet. But Harrison's dad comes inside and he starts to slice the spread. And Harrison's like, oh, no, Alex just threw a fit about how messy the kitchen was. And I'm just saying they're like mortified. I'm like, no, no, no, no, no, not in front of your dad.

The reason why my family dynamic has, I'm very, for the list, I'm very, very close to my family, mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law. I look at the key to success in our relationship is transparency.

Well, we don't need to be transparent about that. I was throwing a fit in the kitchen. No, it's like I hate having one conversation and pretending like something is happening in one setting and then adjusting it when the other person walks in. If he walks down there and you're giving me shit about the kitchen being clean, I'm going to tell him right away.

I just don't agree with this because it just felt like it. We're an open communication family. Which is great. It works so fucking well. No, open communication is amazing. That's awesome. Everybody's going to applaud that all day long. But I do think when it comes to you and I being a couple, I do need to be able to have a safe space where I can treat you just like I'm freaking the F out about the kitchen and it's a little irrational. And then we can kind of...

monitor the way that that looks outwardly if you're freaking outwardly yes but with my family if you're freaking out on me it's i would rather them know that that's going on so that way they can adjust their you know he made his dad eat outside his father ate outside and i was like please eat in the house please like i was mortified but he he then like he just knew

He did say he did. Yeah, he was good. He was great. I mean, your family's always great with it, but I was just like, ah, sorry. We're open, open communication through and through. That's great. But listen, like, I also think that if you, it's one thing if you told me something in confidence, of course, I know that it's like, I want them to know, like,

She's mad about the kitchen. And I was. Kitchen, things with the baby, like all that. Very true about the baby. I mean, I do love it. They do get it all. And they are a safe space to say it to. I was just like, oh my gosh. And then I rolled my eyes. I rolled my eyes when I was shutting the refrigerator in here. So it goes, okay, now she's rolling her eyes. And I was like, no. And then I couldn't do anything else because I knew whatever I did, he was going to say out loud. And that kind of made me feel like a little boxed in.

Oh, I feel like I just got gaslit. Then you like go in the controlling angle. Sorry. That's so ridiculous. No, I was... That's a great response. I was keeping... I was like not...

You're really cute when I add these episodes, though, because like you did sit me down the other day and you took my plate away. Remove your food. You were like, I'm not going to give you this food back. And I was like, yeah, I deserve that. Like, thank you. And then you just give me a kiss on the forehead and you're like, OK, turn. Let's turn it around. I'm like, thank you. I just these hormones take me over like a wave.

In life. The wheels are off. I'm a believer. If you have something to say, say it to someone's face. But I don't even know what I wanted to say. I didn't want to say to your dad's face, eat outside. Like, please eat your meal. But that's how you were feeling. But I wasn't feeling that towards your dad. So you were okay with him making a mess, not me? Yeah.

Yeah, like, because he's a guest in the house. But he's a messy guy. Okay, irrelevant. He's a guest. Like, you are constantly messy. You know I'm a tornado? He is. But he was, like, he's a, please eat in the house. I'm happy to sweep the crumbs off. You show how messy he made the boat today with nothing. No, I didn't see it. I wasn't looking. I was so hot on the boat. What are you doing? Oh, okay. All right. We got to go because our times are wrapping up. Oh, darn.

I love these episodes with you. Like, I do. I love them so much. I think they're so much fun. He's checking his Apple Watch. The Apple Watch is the death of me. Listen, hey, the Apple Watch... You mentioned iPods on this, by the way. I wanted to tell you. Do you know where the word podcast comes from? Broadcast, obviously, but broadcasting on an iPod. Wow. Podcast. Who would have thought? Yeah, I listened to that on the toast the other day. They were talking about it, and I thought, no kidding. iPod.

Yeah. So there you go. A little fun fact. Okay, guys, we love you very much and we will see you next week. Okay, guys, thanks for listening to another episode of Just Alex powered by Just Media House. If you enjoyed the show, which I think you did because you made it this far, don't forget to like, subscribe, comment, rate, and review. All of those things are so important. Stay connected on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook at Just Alex Pod.

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