Episode 30 - GenZ Series: Nick Wucher - Co-Founder of YIFNO

[Music] Welcome to Gen X Adulting and today we have Nick with us. Thank you for joining us in the studio today. Thank you for having me. So the first question we always ask is what year were you born? 1997. Okay, so you're a Gen Z Zillennial. Do you know what a Zillennial is? I didn't know what a Zillennial was and then I heard that episode you guys had with Ben and I do know what it is. Okay, okay. So you know that and for any listeners who haven't listened yet to other the other episodes about Zillennials, but to sum it up, Zillennials kind of got the best of both worlds. You got most of your childhood old school before technology entered the picture. You were the generation of flip phones, Snapchat, Instagram, all that kind of entered your world high school. It started off in middle school. Middle school, okay. Towards the end of middle school. Okay, and then you actually did use Facebook, right? That was one of your socials that you guys would use? Oh yeah, Facebook. So it was Myspace in elementary school, but you weren't really allowed to have a Myspace. Okay, so you guys actually had exposure to Myspace? I can't say you guys. Yeah, I had a cousin that would make me a Myspace and I would go over my grandparents house and that's where I would operate the Myspace. Okay, okay. My parents house obviously not allowed to have a Myspace. I didn't have a cell phone in elementary school. Okay, yeah. So that makes sense. So if you could figure out a way, like if you had a connection of an older cousin sibling friend, you could kind of do the Myspace thing. You settled into social media. That was more like Facebook, I would assume. Facebook. And Instagram. Now, do you personally still use, like what platforms would you

kind of do the Myspace thing. You settled into social media. That was more like Facebook, I would assume. Facebook. And Instagram. Now, do you personally still use, like what platforms would you say for your personal life you still use? I use Instagram the most. Okay. TikTok, I try to get into, but I use it mostly for the brand. I'm looking to get back on Twitter X, however you want to call it, just because of how entertaining it is, honestly. You see some funny shit on there. Yeah. And Facebook is pretty outdated, to be honest. I think it's more Gen Xers, Boomers that are on there, maybe older millennials, but I don't think you're the Gen Z's are on there. I think the same people that are using Facebook as their main source of social media are the same people that utilize LinkedIn a lot. Oh, that's interesting. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, probably. Yeah, that's probably really true. So do you know anyone your age that still uses Snapchat regularly? Honestly, yeah. Most of my friends do. I don't use Snapchat as much as I used to because it used to be huge. Yeah. But now I just, I tried to stay off social media because of the amount of doom scrolling and stuff that I used to do. Right. Like I don't have any notifications on for any social media platforms. Okay. But I need to be on Instagram often and TikTok often for the business. Okay, but you try to unplug when you can. Yeah. And one of the ways is to not let notifications come through. Exactly. Do you find, do you still watch TV or use streaming services or has social, I guess you're not on social media as much you're saying. Like for some people, they're on TikTok more than they are watching Netflix or watching streaming services. It's become their form of entertainment.

you're not on social media as much you're saying. Like for some people, they're on TikTok more than they are watching Netflix or watching streaming services. It's become their form of entertainment. Would you say that's the case with you? I wouldn't say so. I would say I'm on Instagram a good amount. I'd be lying to say if I didn't, because I have a two-hour timer on my phone. Okay. Or let me know like, hey, you've reached two hours on Instagram, get off and I'll just ignore it. But it's, it's, I do take my time to watch certain TV shows because I mean, you need to turn off your brain sometimes. It's true. So I'll like, that'll be my dessert basically at night. Yeah. I'll throw in like an episode of a show or documentary or something that isn't related to what I'm doing at the moment. It's interesting to think about that because it used to be, at least when we were growing up, you watch too much TV and which is your brain. Like our parents would be like, don't watch so much TV. And now I feel like with social media, your, your brain is so engaged when you're scrolling that watching TV has become the relaxing thing. And it's, that just shows. Actually, it's an interesting concept. Yeah. I think it shows how I do that. Yeah. It's like, if I wanted to know now, I almost throw on TV, right? Which is crazy. But for at least Gen Xers, and I don't know about you growing up, but we were like, our parents literally would say it's going to ruin your brain. You're watching too much TV, all of that. But I think with social, I think that's true. A lot of fucked up stuff on TV, but yeah, but I mean, it was more like just constantly watching TV. That's what they met. They tell us too, if you're sitting too close to the TV, you're going to get, you

but I mean, it was more like just constantly watching TV. That's what they met. They tell us too, if you're sitting too close to the TV, you're going to get, you know, whatever that was. You get blind. You'll go blind. Yeah. Yeah. My parents wouldn't let me sit close to the TV. Yeah. Okay. So you'll go blind. Okay. So you, you heard that too, to some degree. And then you think about with social media, there's so much stimulation going on and your brain is always going. And it's so quick, quick, quick that when you want to chill, you put on television. Yeah. Curious on the Instagram, if you're on, say for a while, is it personal and pleasure? Like, are you doing research while you're on or kind of both, I guess. So yes, for the most part, it is research. But again, the algorithm, you're getting hit with everything that your brain wants to see. It's based on your preferences. Yeah. So I'll go to look on someone's page or another brand's page or something to educate me for the business. And then it's, if I swipe up and it's stuff about the Miami Dolphins, now I'm watching football videos for 30 minutes. Yeah. Right. And it'll go to like food videos and then it'll go to just whatever. Yeah. So yeah, it has a mind of its own, but it also is your preferences and what you enjoy to watch. Yeah, it's built for. Absolutely. So I think it's cool for you guys as millennials that you did get most of your childhood before all that was entrapped and trapped your brains because for the younger kid like our youngest, like they don't know a world without it. They're the social media generation, the younger Gen Z's. They're the young. You guys are the oldest. They're the youngest and just that span how your childhoods can be so different.

They're the social media generation, the younger Gen Z's. They're the young. You guys are the oldest. They're the youngest and just that span how your childhoods can be so different. Change pretty damn quick. Very quickly. So I think you guys are, you know, you just you really did get, I always say that the best of both worlds. So where were you born? I was born in Boca hospital actually. Oh, okay. But I grew up in Davy Weston. Technically Sunrise, but there's a road, Weston Road and it separates. So weird. It separates. Weston and Bono venture are on this side. And then on this side, you have a pocket of Sunrise, which really isn't Sunrise. Yeah, Davy. So then I grew up. Technically, I grew up in Weston. Okay. Sunrise, but Weston. I grew up in Weston. Okay. And did you grow up with your both your parents? I did, but they divorced when I was five. And do you know how they met? Yeah. So my dad was actually supposed to go on a date with my aunt. Oh, no way. And she got back with my uncle because they're still married to this day. Okay. And my aunt goes to my mom like really cute guy. He's cool. Whatever. You should go out with him. And then no way he showed up. She's like, hey, like I'm getting back with my boyfriend. Would you want to take my sister out? He's like, sure. No way. So he arrived thinking he was going to take out your aunt and she was in between making the state with him. She had gotten together back together with your uncle. Yeah, and then said take out my sister and he was like, all right, he just went with it. That's awesome. For the twins. No, so she is a year or two older than my mom. Okay. And then do you have siblings? I do have a little brother. Okay. So and what's the space there?

That's awesome. For the twins. No, so she is a year or two older than my mom. Okay. And then do you have siblings? I do have a little brother. Okay. So and what's the space there? He is 24, three years older than him. Okay. Are you guys so close? Oh, yeah, he's a partner in. Oh, nice. That's wonderful. So they divorced when you were five. Yeah. Do you have any memories of them of living with them together? Oh, yeah. We used to have a house in Coconut Creek. I remember, I mean, I was 12, I was five. So it was like I remember having a Star Wars birthday party. There. Remember, I thought the house was haunted. Why? You know, when you're a kid and you're going down like the stairs and you go down like you bump your butt down the stairs. I just I maybe my little kid brain, but something picked me up from one of the stairs and brought me to the bottom stairs and I that has stuck with me since. Why so loud? How old do you think you were? I had to have been four. So, you know what they say about children that they see spirits and 100% until they hit that age. It's true until they hit their consciousness shifts that they see spirits and and like they there's been children talking to spirits and they're two, three, four years old. So I believe you. I believe you 100%. I'm still sticking by my story. Yeah. I mean, it was real for you to still feel that way. I 100% think. Yeah. I mean, you seem pretty convinced. So, yeah, you know, it's pretty wild. That's cool. So but it sounds like it wasn't a negative haunting. It was more they were helping you out. Yeah. So do you have so when they got divorced, did you have one of the parents have primary custody or was it split? It was split custody. So how did they split it?

Yeah. So do you have so when they got divorced, did you have one of the parents have primary custody or was it split? It was split custody. So how did they split it? Did you do like three days? Three days, three days, three days. So it would be like three days. So be three days and two days during the weekdays and they alternate per week and then they would alternate weekends. And for both you guys both you and your brother. Yeah. How was that doing that? So we're super blessed that our parents weren't the type to always be arguing with each other or bring us into it. They always made sure that we didn't feel the effect of it. So it was more of like, oh cool. We have two houses now and we got to see, you know, both of the single-parent experiences. So my mother started her own company from like the ground up like didn't have much money. We always we didn't want for anything, but we weren't as rich as like the kids that were in Westin because there's a lot of money in that area. Yeah. Yeah. So we were we were like middle class and I watched her grow her business from zero to being one of the best interior designers in South Florida. Wow. That's cool. Yeah. So then I got to see the entrepreneur side like she wouldn't go to bed till 2 a.m. 3 a.m. Wake up 6 a.m. Back to it. Yeah, I remember waking up when I was like eight years old, nine years old. Can't don't know the exact age. Remember walking in to her office at 4 in the morning. I was like, why are you awake? Yeah, and she goes, plata no doerme, which is money doesn't sleep in Spanish from Peru. Okay. I was like, cool. That stuck with me for a long time. And then I had the other side of it, which was my father and he would go to work early, leave work late, didn't miss a

Okay. I was like, cool. That stuck with me for a long time. And then I had the other side of it, which was my father and he would go to work early, leave work late, didn't miss a football game, didn't miss a practice like always there for us, whatever we needed. We had it, but he went was more the corporate route. So it was cool seeing both sides and them figuring it out themselves and maneuvering through that and I didn't realize it at the time, but as I got older, I got to like, you know, put it in perspective. So it was cool to see both sides. So you got to learn from both of them. Yeah, and you were absorbing it even if you didn't realize it at the time. It's interesting when you get older and you can look back and you see everything so clearly and even absorbing it in your subconscious. It's almost like it wakes up once you hit a certain age. You're like, oh, okay, I get that now. That's really cool. I love what her saying is money doesn't sleep. Yeah, she's our money never sleeps money doesn't sleep money doesn't sleep. So she's from Peru. Yeah, she's from me to Florida. So in Lima, when did she come here? She came here when she was 16 or 17 to go to college. So she went to Nova Southeastern. Cool. Did she come just her? She came with my aunt. Okay, my aunt didn't go to school. She went to a culinary school. So she left her family. Your mom left her family except for her her aunt. Yeah, because Peru was pretty dangerous back then. So for example, my mom told me stories she her and my uncle worked at this hotel and they both took off that day and the day that they took off. Terrace went in and blew up the entire building seriously. Yeah. So what year with that? She was born in 71. So the 80s. I didn't realize that about Peru.

day that they took off. Terrace went in and blew up the entire building seriously. Yeah. So what year with that? She was born in 71. So the 80s. I didn't realize that about Peru. Did you? Not specifically, but I know South America was very dangerous back then for sure. So the day so was it her and her sister her and her aunt? No, my mom and her sister. So the day that they left. Oh, no, the two that came here my mom and my aunt, but my uncle and my mom worked there and then my uncle when helped like, you know, what happened. Right. Trying to find people and whatnot. But they did. Did they have family here that they came to live with or did they just went to America and made it happen? Yeah, and so but they had just to make sure I'm understanding like your mom had left and that happened after she left or she was there when that happened. Oh, she was there. She just had the day off. They took the day off. They took the day off. Oh my goodness. Very fortuitous, right? And that's a sign I would assume. Wow. Wow works there every day and the day that they took off it gets a terrorist attack. That's crazy. So how much longer after that happened? Did she come here? The next day. Yeah, I mean that I'm not sure of I just know that she came here like 1617 started college as they finished school earlier. And do you know where your grandparents both still alive when she came over here? Oh, yeah. Did she still see them a decent amount? Not as much but they were always writing letters back and forth and you know getting on a call when they can because it was different than really have cell phones. Did you know them growing up? Your grandparents? Yeah. Oh, yeah, but so on my mom's side. I'm the oldest of all the cousins.

it was different than really have cell phones. Did you know them growing up? Your grandparents? Yeah. Oh, yeah, but so on my mom's side. I'm the oldest of all the cousins. So I had the most time to spend with my my grandpa and my grandma. So my Nona is still alive. She lives in Peru right now still and she comes back and forth and she'll visit and stay with us for long periods of time with my mom or my aunt and then my grandpa passed away when I was so I pop up both passed away when I was in second but yeah, I got I got the most quality time with him. Like I remember watching him letting me watch The Matrix with him. That was cool. Second grade and my mom was livid. Yeah, she was pissed. That's actually though a movie that you have to think as you're watching it. You have to use. I feel like that movie uses your brain more than being an action bloody movie. I feel like you have to really pay attention. So yeah out of all the movies that one isn't the worst or a lot where we would be. We would like act out the fighting scenes. Well, there you go. And then I would like see these sports Illustrated bikini like yeah, look at that. There you go. There you go. There you go. And what about your grandparents on your dad's side grandparents on my dad's side? I super blessed to be with them for a long time. So my pop-up passed away when I was a sophomore think in college and then my Nana passed away. My fifth year in college. I think yeah, my fifth year. Okay, but amazing people like yeah stories that I the stories from both sides of my grandparents are insane. Like my mom's side of my grandpa my mom's side comes from like a little village in Peru like made his way up to being a doctor and opening a practice. Wow. Yeah, and he owned horses.

Like my mom's side of my grandpa my mom's side comes from like a little village in Peru like made his way up to being a doctor and opening a practice. Wow. Yeah, and he owned horses. And whatnot so we would like go to the horse races out there. So I have pictures of all of us like in the winter circle or whatever and then my grandpa on my dad's side. He like I swear you could write a movie on this guy's life. So he was Al Capone's paper boy when he was a kid. No, wait, where was he from Chicago Chicago? No, when Al Capone moved to Miami, so he's from they're from North Miami. So your dad's side is from Miami North Miami. Yeah, North Miami Beach. He was his paper boy. So what did that entail? So like you like a little kid on a bicycle like going papers and he would come up and give Al Capone his paper Al Capone used to eat sandwiches with my great-grandpa at his grocery store almost every day when he lived here. No way. So yeah, it's their pictures. I have to ask I'm not that we need to see them. I'm just curious you should ask before he got killed. Yeah. Yeah, you should ask for sure. That's amazing. Yeah, and then after that. So he went in so he played like five sports and he got offers from UM Holy Cross when Holy Cross was good at sports a couple of different schools and then instead of taking any of those offers, he decided to go into the Navy and he was in the Vietnam War and he used to defuse bombs. Oh, wow. Wow. We would ask him like when we were kids, have you ever killed anyone? Yeah, and he would just like not say anything. When he talked about the experience at all or was he pretty much about it? Oh, no, you would tell us about the Navy like just funny stories because I mean he was on a ship. Yeah, yeah, and then he came

all or was he pretty much about it? Oh, no, you would tell us about the Navy like just funny stories because I mean he was on a ship. Yeah, yeah, and then he came back and to tie in back into the mob situation. So he's he would go and start fishing and he would like fish at this this one area and this guy wasn't catching any fish and he saw it. He goes. Hey, like I know spot come with me and like you'll actually catch some fish and whatever they start fishing together every other day whatnot. He goes up to my grandpa one day and he goes I want you to marry my daughter like and he's like I can't I actually have a wife. Yeah, so then fast forward. My grandpa is managing a boxer in Cuba. So this is when Cuba was like Las Vegas. Yeah, yeah before Castro. Yeah, so they're they have their boxer in bit and Cuba. Sorry and someone comes up to him like you need to grab your your other manager and you need to grab the fighter and you guys need to get out of here. And it was the guy that he was fishing with and the guy who he taught or showed him the fishing spot was actually one of the hit men for like a mob. Oh, wow. Yes. So was he the guy who told them to leave the guy that the hitman? Yeah. Yeah. So he hadn't seen the hitman in years, but then he saw him and the time he saw him he said you guys need to leave. Hey man recognized him went up to him and said hey, no, was there a hit hit the road? No, they they tipped him off because Castro was coming in the revolution started in Cuba. Yeah. Wow. So they left in time that just shows you always do good things do good deeds. You never know when it's going to come back around. Yeah, it just had so many good stories about my grandpa. I mean like and then also like, you know, how there was a lot

things do good deeds. You never know when it's going to come back around. Yeah, it just had so many good stories about my grandpa. I mean like and then also like, you know, how there was a lot of like racism back then and whatnot, but he had someone that worked for him and he would take him to Temple with him like they were boys. Just yeah, my grandpa would take me to Hebrew school and they were the ones that like they're the glue to the family basically. Okay. Okay. So are you half Peruvian? I'm half Peruvian half Jewish Jewish. Okay. So were you raised with as Jewish or were you raised Catholic? I assume they're so I had a bar mitzvah. Okay, but I was raised both. Okay, celebrate both holidays like when my parent when my mom will go to church. I'll go to church with her and my dad would go to Temple or take us Temple. Go to Temple with him. So you had a Christmas tree and you celebrate Hanukkah Christmas is the best holiday. It's kind of the best of both worlds right rules. Yeah, it's got it all. I have a couple friends like that who she's Jewish and he's I don't think I don't know what he is, but I'm not Jewish and they celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah and the kids love it. Like this is best. Yeah, it's like a month-long celebration of everything. Sounds like Chanukah. Yeah, our daughter's birthday that goes on for eight days. That's really cool. I'm still following that your grandpa gave up all these college offers. What a Patriot. It was it to go fight for his country. Yeah, so I guess that I mean, that's amazing. It was super patriotic. Yeah, yeah, especially back then. Those are some great opportunities and then somehow he was managing a boxer. I mean, I don't know. You're right. You can do a movie about

Yeah, yeah, especially back then. Those are some great opportunities and then somehow he was managing a boxer. I mean, I don't know. You're right. You can do a movie about this guy and even crazier one is that so my great-grandpa, you know, I said, yeah, what do you lunch with Gal Capone? Like corned beef sandwich, whatever specifics no matter, but they lived next door to the Grand Wizard of the KKK. Oh my God, Florida and their Jewish. Yeah, and the oh my God, the Grand Wizard liked my grandpa so much. He was like, hey, you're a good Jew. We we'd like to have you. No way and my grandpa was like kid in the KKK. He's like, I'm good. Like oh my God, thank you, but no. Wow, that is so that is too much. Okay, so you're a South Florida boy. Your roots are pretty much here like your family everybody. I have a question though. Yeah, you mentioned Christmas is a great holiday. Was it special when you're a kid? Like was it did your parents go overboard at all or because kind of always have our kids love Christmas. I'm curious if that was your. You're so yeah, Christmas. I wouldn't say they went overboard with presents. It was never we would never get like a crazy amount of presents, but it was just the fact that it was Christmas like I was obsessed with Santa Claus. Yeah, I made my mom even when I when people told me that Santa Claus wasn't real. Like I mean guess kind of embarrassing, but like middle school, I would literally tell him I'd go safe from Santa Claus if you guys if you guys give us gifts. Yeah, I want to feel the Christmas. You were going on to the magic. Yeah, I think all three of our kids were the last one like they held on to it until there was no denying is real. It's maybe not the guy who raised you, but the magic of Santa

Yeah, I think all three of our kids were the last one like they held on to it until there was no denying is real. It's maybe not the guy who raised you, but the magic of Santa is a hundred. Yeah, and you keep it going. Yeah. Yeah. So I had this realization this past week because Passover and also Easter obviously this Sunday, but every holiday is so much better when there's like kids involved in it. So now that like my cousins are having kids and whatnot. It's there. It's so much more fun because for example in Passover, there's Elijah. So Elijah the spirit that comes in and the kids get scarred from it because they'll see a cup of wine. You leave a cup of wine for Elijah and then he drinks it, but it just disappears. Yeah, the kids look at it and they think ghosts or something. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's almost scarring to them. Yeah. Yeah. But it's so hilarious. They bring all the magic back a hundred percent. You know, it's funny because when Dylan was born, Nathan was 13. So right as Nathan had been out of Santa for a while and then Kai was almost out of it. Dylan was born. So I think Nathan was 25 for that was the first time in his life. He didn't have to believe in Santa anymore for his siblings because we started it all over again when Dylan was born. I remember him thinking this is awesome. This is the first time I don't have to pretend that somebody's coming down into our house. You know, it was 25 years of that, but it's fun. You know when they're young, it's amazing because you get when you're a kid, there's the Santa tracker online. Yeah, yeah, where he's going and whatnot. I still pull it out. Yeah, we come back. We do mass and we do dinner and I pull up no rad and we all look, you know, and we talk about we play Uno and we watch

I still pull it out. Yeah, we come back. We do mass and we do dinner and I pull up no rad and we all look, you know, and we talk about we play Uno and we watch where's Santa? Yeah, it's just for fun. You know, it with the gift giving part. It's so funny. Some of the gifts that I look back on with my mom. So my dad was more like the gift card guy like yeah, like like heartfelt no all that and then my mom would give me I remember I really wanted a pair of Air Jordans. Like obviously like every kid. Yeah, and then I got me a pair of shacks thinking they were and then those are like Kmart shoes. Right, right, right. And I was still stoked about it. Oh, yeah, it's new fair shoes. Whatever. Yeah, I remember getting like a hundred dollars and I go like I could buy I fully was convinced I could buy a car with a hundred dollars like that's hilarious. I was like I can get a car now, right? Yeah, and then in middle school, I got in trouble. I got like suspended from school or something. And I remember my mom told all my family don't get them any gifts. The only thing I got that Christmas was a books and million gift card. Oh my gosh. Wait, what's books and million like the bookstores like a bookstore gift card a bookstore gift card. Yeah, so you could go into any bookstore and buy books with it or without a brand. That was a brand never even heard of that. Have you know, no, so I just had to read books those books. I had to buy books for my man. She's good. I don't know if I get a help. You ever get kicked out of school or suspended again. After that. No, okay, so we're going to get in trouble outside of school. So it worked. Okay. So when they got divorced and you guys are splitting time, I assume they both were in

After that. No, okay, so we're going to get in trouble outside of school. So it worked. Okay. So when they got divorced and you guys are splitting time, I assume they both were in the same school districts. So it didn't matter whose house you're at. For middle school, we used or for elementary school middle school use my mom's address. Okay, and then for high school use my dad's address so we go to cybers. So okay, so it was a little bit longer drive for one of them then I assume. Yeah, but it's Western. So it's like the longest drive you're going to make 15 minutes. Okay, so it didn't matter and then you and your brother what a couple grades separated three years apart. So he was a freshman when I was a senior. Were you always in the same school together then at some point? Well, yeah, except middle school. Okay, you never crossed. Yeah. Okay. Did you play any sports? Yeah, football my whole life. I was playing football. I started when I was seven years old and then till I was 18 and my senior year high school was there travel that did you travel football? Yeah, I mean for like little league football. So we played a YFL. So that's mostly all teams in Broward County. Okay, but then we would play a tournament in Panama City. Okay, and then for high school, obviously we travel to, you know, Miami Boca like everywhere just whoever was in our district or our class. Yeah. And did you play any other sports or was it just all football? I played a little basketball and like soccer when I was younger, but for most part was just football, football, football off season trained for football. Like that was my life. And was it just a natural love of the game or what did it get passed down to you from your dad or your grandfather?

football off season trained for football. Like that was my life. And was it just a natural love of the game or what did it get passed down to you from your dad or your grandfather? Definitely got passed down, but I loved the game immediately. Like I that's all I could think about and that's how I kind of got into, you know, starting to dress nice and stuff what because it originally started with dressing good for football. So remember my first and second year I was wearing the wackest cleats you could get like the most generic cleats and after that I started like looking at what NFL players were wearing and whatnot like getting the visors and everything. So look good play good feel good all that and then it transition to all right now like I want to pick what I want to wear and whatnot outside of football. Okay, so what age would you say that started that awareness of clothing and how you wanted to represent yourself through clothing? I would say when I was 10 so starting in like fifth grade. Yeah, like I would I would wear like I would start getting nice cleats. I would start getting like nice gloves like towel on the side whatever and then that's I always have a pair of white air forces like me and my friend, Santio Campo who's been my friend since I was five like first friend in kindergarten. That's awesome. He would get the all-black air forces and I would get the all-white ones and we would call ourselves like cookies and cream. I love her. Was there a specific player you were emulating like Deon Sanders kind of made fashion fashionable and football was there anyone like that that stands out. I was obsessed with Lydani and Tomlinson. Okay, like that was my guy that was yeah, that's the second LT. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

fashionable and football was there anyone like that that stands out. I was obsessed with Lydani and Tomlinson. Okay, like that was my guy that was yeah, that's the second LT. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I actually was the first LT. I'm a big Lawrence Taylor fan growing up as a in New York, but is that the first LT? Yeah, I'm a Giants fan. It's okay. I'm a Dolphins fan. We get a lot of false. Yeah. Yeah, pretty much. But so then did it evolve from what you're wearing playing football? You said it evolved into what you would wear to school. Yeah. So then after fifth grade is when middle school starts like middle school is when your hormones are running everywhere like it sucks. Yeah, you start getting into girls. Yeah, and like whatnot. So during that period of time there was a lot of rap culture was like insane. Like I was obsessed with it. And I would find brands like pink dolphin just very small brands that were up and coming that these rappers were wearing was like I want to wear that and then it was okay. Let me get a pair of Nike dunks and then let me get a pair of like bands. So it started just progressing from that and then yeah high school same thing like brands like Stucy started for me. Sucy had been around forever. They're like their OGs of streetwear. I remember that. I totally forgotten about Sucy and their skate and surf culture. That's their thing. Yeah, I completely because you're talking this would be what like the 2011 20 2010 2011 2012 2013 years. This is like. Yeah, how to have been like 2009 20 because I got into high school 2012. Okay, I want to say so. Yeah, I had to have been like 2009 to 2011. So middle school isn't known as being the easiest time for kids and it certainly isn't known for being the most accepting

Okay, I want to say so. Yeah, I had to have been like 2009 to 2011. So middle school isn't known as being the easiest time for kids and it certainly isn't known for being the most accepting time for kids who don't want to conform or want to be leaders or want to kind of create their own path. And so when you did that did you when you were doing that with fashion, how was that received or I guess did anyone tease you for giving a shit about what you were wearing? No, not really because like me and my group of friends that I mostly hung out with we didn't have like our parents didn't have a lot of money or whatever, but we would always figure out how to put together an outfit like I would only go to Marshalls my own only take in Marshalls. But we would figure out like okay, Marshalls has polo so we can find like these hidden gems put them together and still dress good. And then I was getting hand-me-downs for my cousin, which like my cousins like my older brother. So I looked up to him so anything he's wearing I think is fresh and he was always getting the best clothing from his parents. Yeah, but middle school in general was just so chaotic, especially the experience that I went through so like every Friday there would so this is pre-technology or like just getting into technology. I had a flip phone. Yeah, and people were getting people who had blackberries and razors were like, oh like yeah, they got it. Yeah. So but every Friday there was a fight in middle school. We would go to the Quested Trace Park watch a fight and then we would walk to McDonald's and just all hang out at McDonald's every Friday. Every Friday. So when you say a fight other students, I mean I got into okay. Yeah, I got into a fight my

we would walk to McDonald's and just all hang out at McDonald's every Friday. Every Friday. So when you say a fight other students, I mean I got into okay. Yeah, I got into a fight my first week in middle school because I thought that's what you had to do. Yeah, so let me ask you this when that happens because I know down here in Meisner. They have these things called fight night. Sometimes like on Fridays. Yeah. Yeah learn that well the difference to the film on the have right to me. Film on social media, but when that's happening, is it personal? Is it did something happen that week to be like we're fighting on Friday or is it just is it more like squaring up for the sport of it? I mean it definitely isn't the sport of it. Okay. I know how mine happened was it was like the first week of middle school seventh grader made your mom joke or something. Okay, and I mean he was like, okay, let's fight because I thought so that's what you had to do and he goes it was something straight out of a movie, right? He goes, okay Friday after school and we were the first fight of the school year. No way. So there was this patch of grass on the side of the bleachers and to question Trace Park. So there were so many students. I kid you not. There were probably over 150 kids. There's no doubt like surrounding us and there's kids in the bleat like side of the bleacher. So they see oh my gosh, and then we get into the fight. They break it up. Cops come obviously we all like scatter run and we find another part to go fight in scatter again and then walked McDonald's like nothing happened. And then the big day are you guys friends? Yeah, you go to McDonald's together after with that guy or Oh no. Oh no. So it's like it's like it's

then walked McDonald's like nothing happened. And then the big day are you guys friends? Yeah, you go to McDonald's together after with that guy or Oh no. Oh no. So it's like it's like it's not like we don't think okay. If you lose you're probably not walking to McDonald's. Okay. Okay, like calling it a day, but you went to McDonald's. I went to actually and then your friends are all like yo, good good shit. Like okay, and then you're good. So every Friday some altercation happened where someone said something or made it like it's almost like you're hoping someone says something so you can be like, okay, we're fighting. Yeah. I mean, it's just that's how it was. We were it was very we had we were hard time for our parents for sure. Like we would play pranks on on the staff which was kind of messed up. But I remember one time we had we so this is what the eighth graders playing. They're like everyone's going to go in the courtyard in the morning and do a circle like it's a fight and then we're going to bait the security guards to come break it up. Okay, so it happens security comes in the cop comes in the vice principal comes in get out of the way get out of the way move move move and they push the way through and in the circle. It's just an orange facing an apple. Oh my God. They're like get to class like but they had to laugh right. I would know I would think so not when they saw it their immediate reaction, but I feel like behind closed doors. You have to laugh. Pretty creative. Yes. Yes, because it can be so stressful in school, especially middle school. So to have something kind of then you can laugh about it. So sure. Yeah. So when you got suspended was that middle school? Yeah. What did you do? Do you want to share it?

middle school. So to have something kind of then you can laugh about it. So sure. Yeah. So when you got suspended was that middle school? Yeah. What did you do? Do you want to share it? I mean, I got caught with weed. Okay. Okay. So I got caught with weed and then yeah, super super. So that's why your mom was like because she was she because of it was drugs. She was probably like screw this no Christmas presents. We're teaching a lesson. She's drawing a hard line. Yeah. She drew a hard line on that one. We were we were selling a little bit of weed. There you go. Yeah. In seventh grade. Oh my God. That's awesome. 7th grade or 8th grade. Yeah. And then I remember I had to get put on like a probation program. And we were watching I would have to meet with my probation officer and be like, what are you doing here? Like you're the smartest kid that's come through this program. Yeah, and then I was like, I didn't want to shop at Marshalls anymore. I wanted to get some nice stuff. I'm an entrepreneur. Yes, your entrepreneurial. That was your first business. Yeah. Opening experience though, because we were watching buses in Tamarack like as a part of our probation program, like how to get like, yeah, a visit every week from someone like it sucked and like it sucked for my parents. I'm sure. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But lesson learned. I think it's done in my growth. We yeah, you think so. Yeah. I was this height in middle school. Yeah, but that's you're not short. I know. I thought my doctor told me I was me 6 4. Okay. So what the hell is like I'm going straight to the NFL. Are your parents tall? My dad's my height and then my mom's like five seven. That's all for a woman. Mm-hmm. That's funny. My brother is 6 1.

straight to the NFL. Are your parents tall? My dad's my height and then my mom's like five seven. That's all for a woman. Mm-hmm. That's funny. My brother is 6 1. I love the fact though. You said you're in seventh grade and you had a probation office. That's amazing. It's pretty epic. That's hilarious. I mean, that's that's you definitely have. I don't know if this is just a gen X thing. Street cred. For sure. So but you kept okay. Actually, how were you in school? How did you do academically? I wasn't gifted my whole life and then but to say I was a straight A student would be lie. I would get like A's B's like a C here and there. Yeah, but I just wasn't. I wasn't really into school that much. Yeah, honest. I was just like I'll just get the work done that I needed to get done and sometimes I wouldn't if I had a late grade, I would get a late grade. Yeah, it wasn't the pattern frustrating my parents like my little brother's straight A student. Okay, so he was more academic for sure like engineer from Penn State all that. Okay. Okay. So did you continue with the fighting into high school or was that just a middle school thing? That was just like the fights that we get in high school would just be during football practice. Okay, like we didn't really need to fight but there was a lot of fights still for sure. But it's so interesting. There's there's so much. Is that normal for you too? There are Park right here is the fight zone. I guess it's right there all the time. Hit the hormones around everywhere like and we like had so we had a bunch of kids that we bust into like had friends that were not from like great neighborhoods and stuff. So I mean they would get into fights, but it was honestly mostly the suburban kids. That's interesting.

into like had friends that were not from like great neighborhoods and stuff. So I mean they would get into fights, but it was honestly mostly the suburban kids. That's interesting. Do you think the culture still like that there at the high school like? I honestly don't know. Yeah, like I don't know if you guys have any rivalries like here between two high schools that are really bad. We do. Yeah, like so we had Western was our rival high school for yeah, so Cyprus and Western which is like a 15-minute drive. Yeah, like I use my dad's address to go to Cyprus and then my mom's was known for Western, but I remember every single football game like slam to the brim like it was like real rivalry really bad blood. Yeah, and but we would go to like parties with them. They would come to our parties or whatnot and there would always be a fight somehow. Yeah, and then for basketball season is the craziest because you're literally confining in an arena a small arena and every single year that we played or every game that we played every year was there. They had to call SWAT team. No way. It literally looked like you know the scene. Have you guys seen Avengers when they charge each other or any warm army's charge each other after every basketball game? It looked like that. Oh my in a parking lot and it would just turn into like a melee like girls to or mainly guys. There was there was some girls involved was mostly guys. What now is Western seems fairly blue-collar to me compared to maybe West done. Is that true? Is there a financial divide there? Yeah, I mean it depends what part like every part has their nice areas. Yeah, Western entirely is just a nice area. Yeah, the people that it's like a plan community. That's very well planned. It's beautiful.

every part has their nice areas. Yeah, Western entirely is just a nice area. Yeah, the people that it's like a plan community. That's very well planned. It's beautiful. It's clean. It's it's nice. It's nice area the person the architect for Disney is the person who made okay, so that's why everything looks super like neat. Yeah, it's all one flows. Yeah, and then but then Davey the Davey like West Western area. There's like trailer parks and stuff like a little bit different a little bit more of a mixed crowd. Yeah, that's where I have a picture of Dylan probably four feet tall practicing lacrosse with these six foot tall guys and they're on this little patch of grass because kind of wasn't the nicest area and this part over here is flooded because of it rained over that picture. Yeah, that's from Western. Yeah, total blue-collar vibe. They switched their whole program. They're killing it right now. Yeah from what I see on the football front. So playing football in Broward County for people don't people that don't know this. Yeah, it's the football Mecca of the country. And so did you have that vibe when you were playing like were you guys pretty good and oh, so we were wearing 8a which is like one of the hardest classes because that's where it's the biggest schools. But we played st. Thomas every year. Wow, and they're always good st. Thomas like the year we played them. I played against Nick Bosa Jordan Scarlett like like I watched when American Heritage played against us on ESPN. I was a freshman. So I was on JV but my buddies played varsity and they had I think they had 12 players go to the NFL. Well, I stopped that team alone, which is insane. Yeah, it's not st. Thomas's powerhouse. Yeah, I miss the most historic high

varsity and they had I think they had 12 players go to the NFL. Well, I stopped that team alone, which is insane. Yeah, it's not st. Thomas's powerhouse. Yeah, I miss the most historic high school in the country for football. Yeah, we've actually gone down to games there. It's been a while, but we'll go down ESPN will come down. There's teams coming in from like Nevada or California or work. Texas is the real deal. It's legit. What position did you play? I played defensive end. I was bigger back. That's a good position. Yeah. We're going up against guys, right? I was yeah, I was going up against like left tackles, right tackles, like 300 pound. Yeah. Did you ever have your sights on playing in college? I did so to go back to middle school. I was a receiver for the whole time was in middle school when I was this height and I had like American Heritage come up to me and say like hey, you should come play with us. But I was like I'm gonna go to Cypress and play with my friends because Cypress was good at the time. Yeah, the States my freshman year. Yeah, but then when I realized I wasn't going to be growing anymore, I was like, all right, I'm just gonna stick the defense. Yeah, and I was like, okay, I could go play for maybe like a D2, D3 school and then I really thought about it my senior year. It's like, you know, I'm just gonna pass up my whole college experience because like reality sets in like I'm not going to the NFL. Right, right, right. So I was like, all right, you know what, I'm gonna go to college and have a traditional college experience. So I know you ended up going to Florida State. Did you always want to go there? So I am the only person in my family to go to Florida State. My dad's whole side is all Gators.

So I know you ended up going to Florida State. Did you always want to go there? So I am the only person in my family to go to Florida State. My dad's whole side is all Gators. No way from my grandma to my cousins. My grandpa went to UM but everyone went to Florida. So what happened there with you? So I didn't get accepted at first to any of them. I thought I was gonna get some like legacy acceptance at UF, but I had visited Orlando and Gainesville before. I never visited Tallahassee. I knew I was gonna do community college. I just had this feeling. I knew I didn't want to go to Orlando. Didn't remind me of college town. Like, yeah, yeah, it's like UCF. Yeah, it's cool. Yeah, my friend went to Valencia and then UF was cool. But the kids that were going weren't like, they're my friends, but they weren't like my really close friends at the time. And then I remember calling my buddy, Fino and my buddy G and Fino was playing JUCO in South Carolina, but he was, he had gotten injured or something and he was done. And then my other buddy that lived at Valencia or went to Valencia, I go, yeah, I'm really thinking of, you know, moving to Tallahassee and going to TCC and then to FSU. And they go, if you do that, we'll both leave where we're at right now and we'll go with you. Wow. Cool. So we did that. That was game over after that. We went straight to Tallahassee. I remember we got there like two weeks early before FSU started because TCC starts earlier. Yeah. And I was like, this is sick. Like, I can do whatever I want. Yeah. This is before any of the bars or anything were open. So I was like, already like, this is amazing. It's a cool town. Yeah. And then when it, when school started and we were going out and

This is before any of the bars or anything were open. So I was like, already like, this is amazing. It's a cool town. Yeah. And then when it, when school started and we were going out and stuff and then going through like the rush process for fraternity and everything like it's, it's like the American dream. Yeah. Yeah. So did you do the pathways, the TCC pathways to FSU where you go to TCC for like a year or something and then you transfer in? I did and then I did horrible my first year. So that's when I decided I was like, definitely doing a fifth year. Okay. Okay. 100% doing a fifth year. And then I took, I honestly took three years to get out of two and a half years to get out of TCC. You were in a frat. Yeah. Okay. I was in Phi Sigma Kappa. Did you hang out with Kappa Sigma? So how we started, like how all the other fraternities started like intermingling and stuff, like I had friends that joined other fraternities and whatnot, but it's really in the nightlife scene in Tallahassee. Like that's huge in the culture. And I was broke my first year of school and then like going into my second year and then I found out how much bartenders make, how much barbacks make and I go, I need to figure out how to get this job and my buddy, Tony Morassa was a bartender at Clyde's and he was like, this is how you do it. He said, you're going to get a promoter job first and you're going to just say the most outlandish shit on Facebook for your promos and you're going to get people out. And that's what I did. I ended up getting a job at Coliseum at the time before they closed it down and then I went to Baja's and I, after that Baja's, I became the manager of Baja's. And yeah, I mean, it was, it was sick.

the time before they closed it down and then I went to Baja's and I, after that Baja's, I became the manager of Baja's. And yeah, I mean, it was, it was sick. We were making crazy money every single weekend because of like how much kids go out in Tallahassee. Yeah. And I remember before that I was like eating out of a peanut butter jar and my friends would offer to spot me, but I was so prideful. I'd be like, nah, I'm good. I'm going to figure it out. Right. I stretched. I remember one time I stretched $5 and I wouldn't ask my parents for money because I was prideful and I stretched $5 in a week. I think I ate a McChicken once a day. Oh my gosh. Yeah. So I had money to get like a four local or something. Yeah. It's a drink. Yeah. Parties. So, so did you put yourself through school? No, I was blessed that I got Florida prepaid. Okay. Okay. My parents with that, that was the best blessing I ever got. Yeah. To like not have student debt. Absolutely. Did you, were they willing to send you money or able to send you money just to kind of individuated and say, I got this type of thing or Oh, for sure. Like the first year they would like, they paid my rent, all this, but then they're like, need to get a job. Right. Right. I understand. Like, cause I work, I worked all throughout high school and like, yeah, middle school. Right. Right. You know, what's funny is we, we know every place we've been to every place you just said. Yeah. Oh, sure. And I think Kaya when she was there, you were, cause Ali was working at Baja's when she was there. So that brings me back to what we were talking about. Yeah. So that's how I know the Kappa Cigs. Okay. Cause Ali started working with us and used a bar back at first and then

So that brings me back to what we were talking about. Yeah. So that's how I know the Kappa Cigs. Okay. Cause Ali started working with us and used a bar back at first and then he became a bartender and then he would just start hanging out with us more and then he would bring like Spencer around, like Nate around and like all the Kappa Cigs, like, yeah. And then we just, you just kind of like form a group when you're in that scene with people from different fraternities. So we would have friends that were like, and Pike people that were in Dell, people that were by six by toss, uh, Kappa six, it was just a mixed group of people was really just everyone that worked at nightlife. Yeah. Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah. So, so you're saying it took you, when did you land at FSU officially? Would you say like what year? Cause you were at TCC working towards to get into FSU. When did you officially transfer in? Um, 20. 19. So with that, what were you like a junior? Yeah. You're a junior. I was a junior, but you were living the tally FSU life. Sounds like from the start. Oh, for sure. There's kids that like didn't even go to school and we're still living that life. Like, yeah. And fraternities and stuff. There's people our age live in the tally life and they're kids not at school in France. Oh, that's right. Kids not at school in France. A hundred percent. Well, I don't know about the frats, but no. Yeah, for sure. Really? Really. That's amazing. That's a lie. But like you don't find out till years later, like when we graduated. Yeah. Well, I think like you're saying, it's the American dream. It's a college town. It's a party town. There is an academic side for sure. There's a state government side for sure. It's a party town. Yeah.

saying, it's the American dream. It's a college town. It's a party town. There is an academic side for sure. There's a state government side for sure. It's a party town. Yeah. 100% and yeah. You're going every night. Isn't there like a special event every night almost you could go to? They like crack down now. Like they're very strict. They literally cut down from I think 20 fraternities. I think they only have like seven right now. Wow. That's a change in the Greek. Well, some shit went down. I'm not getting into it right. Yeah. It went down. So they tightened down the hatches. Yeah. And like culture shifted and everything like yeah. So what would you say your overall experience at FSU was all positive pretty much? It was. The one of the best experiences in my life just because of how tight knit that community is. I mean like I started if no there with my boy. Okay, so wait explain. So when did that happen? 2019 he would go around on Snapchat. Snapchat was very big and he would yell yo, it's fucking nice out everywhere and then it started catching fire and I was like we should put that on a shirt. But the phrase is too long. So we'll make an acronym. So he would just film himself on Snapchat walking around outside and be like yo, it's fucking nice out. Yeah, he would literally just like trolling basically but like yeah, like yelling it yelling it like every day was that just to get views just having a good time. Yeah, okay. So it's fun. Just yelling it and just doing that daily. Yeah, exactly. So then we did that that started FSU obviously and then COVID hits. We forget we forgot about it. This is like 2019. So we're like, all right, we did we sold 25 t-shirts. So you put the I'm sorry to

obviously and then COVID hits. We forget we forgot about it. This is like 2019. So we're like, all right, we did we sold 25 t-shirts. So you put the I'm sorry to interrupt but the acronym you put it on a shirt. Yeah on the ugliest shirt you'll ever see. And that's YIF know, right? Yo, it's fucking fucking nice. I want to make it clear. Yo, it's fucking nice out. That's YIF know you put it on a shirt and you sold them to your friends. Yeah, we sold like 25 of them to our friends and then we forget about it COVID hits. We're sitting at home doing nothing and then we're like, hey, let's try it out again. Like let's drop them online. So we created a website did two drops sold out on it. That's cool. And yeah, we went and blew all the money because we're like we're at home. We have nothing to do. Yeah, like we could get a hotel room just drink on the beach and we're like screw it. We'll do that for like a week and then end up getting a tattoo on my leg with with my boy. Is it YIF know? Yeah, that's awesome. That's our old logo. We just pull a sticker on her thigh. I really just do this. That's amazing. My mom was not happy about that. Obviously, especially being a Spanish mother. She hates that. I have any tattoos. Yeah, yeah, but and also Jewish too, right? Aren't you they're not big on tattoos. Yeah, that's not as big anymore. Okay, you can get admitted. It used to be where you couldn't you weren't allowed to be in a Jewish cemetery, but I know I know now that because of Holocaust or whatever, right? Yeah, so so but now I know that some cemeteries are allowing people that have gotten tattooed because you got to get with after that with the time. Yeah, with the times. Yeah, but yeah, then we did we did the drops whatever and

cemeteries are allowing people that have gotten tattooed because you got to get with after that with the time. Yeah, with the times. Yeah, but yeah, then we did we did the drops whatever and then we go back to school. I go back for my fifth year. Okay, and this is what I'm saying. Like how like FSU like we ride for each other anyone that's an alumni there 100% like you can meet in any industry and like if you say for him, if you're you have the FSU connection, you're good. Yeah, so we come I come back because my my boys had already graduated and I'm going to throw a pop-up. My friend had a vintage store that he was opening. So I tell everyone like the date that I'm throwing it and two weeks or a week before he goes. Hey, like I'm not going to open the store in time. Fuck already told everyone this. Yeah, so I go screw it. Like I'll throw it on my balcony. So I threw it on my balcony in college town. Well, like the no quarter. So right behind Sun stop in college town. Yeah, they they tore down the building but people were coming in and out of our apartment like we were dealing and then we would we would do it on Sundays because there was a pool party across the street at recess. So I would just all right. We're opening shop. You can go here at your balcony. So on some balcony. I have like a video of me like writing down who bought what if they cash app me like just running it like that just shirts at the time. Yeah, I was just t-shirts and then like some girl tops, but some women's tops, but yeah, that's cool. Though. How did you get brand awareness to get the drug dealer line? In the building? Just word of mouth. I guess. Yeah word of mouth. We promoted and like we were so we were in the bar. Scene. So we were able to I was

the drug dealer line? In the building? Just word of mouth. I guess. Yeah word of mouth. We promoted and like we were so we were in the bar. Scene. So we were able to I was able to so I work at Baja's. I was able to ask them to do let's say behind the DJ booth. They have that giant LED screen. I was like throw my logo up there for a little bit. Just cuz like yeah, they love me. So they're like, yeah, let's do it. And then I would go in and I would have friends that would all DJ. So I was like yo throwing a random tag like it's saying if no or whatever and like turn right before the beat drops. And that's that's brilliant and they would do that. Yeah, so then we were just building it like that. That's cool. She had a lot of support. Oh, yeah, like I'm super blessed. That's why I say FSU such a strong community. It is really like I mean you guys know what happened yesterday. Yeah. Yeah, like my heart prayers obviously go out to everyone. Yeah, like I know that FSU so like tighten it that whatever anyone needs like they'll be there and I made my best friends at FSU. You guys are tight. I've noticed that with Nathan especially he you guys are all tight. You know, like we've I feel like we've known all email for I don't know how long no eight. We know Ben back eight years, you know, all the all these people and they're all tight. Yeah, no, I mean are you still tight with a lot of your frat brothers? Oh, yeah, like yeah, I have a group chat that's going there. I heard Ben say this. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we have a group chat that's been going on since I was a soft Ben to yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, like it's it's an amazing community in any industry you're in you're going to meet someone that went to FSU and like all right cool like you know,

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, like it's it's an amazing community in any industry you're in you're going to meet someone that went to FSU and like all right cool like you know, someone that knows someone and everyone's usually willing to help out. Yeah, so you have you basically started your if no business in Tallahassee at Florida State and from the support of that community. Yeah, still supported from that. Yeah. Yeah. So then you graduate and where did you go? What happened next? So after I graduate I come down to well, I moved back home to Weston for like four months. I start my corporate job. Okay, and then from the beginning of my corporate job. I said I was going to I would be out here by the time I turned 28. So five years I gave myself five years and then I was like I'm really going to focus on my corporate job and still do if no, but I'm going to set myself up financially first because I don't want to be like having no money. Yeah. Yeah. So and especially if I need to fund the brand to yeah, just taking my money. Yeah. Yeah. So I really locked in on work and I mean I had a great experience but like the corporate I didn't want to be in corporate. Right. What were you doing? I was in logistics. So as a freight broker, so I was in sales for logistics company. Okay, and like I loved everyone I worked with their all cool people great company. I recently quit. So at the beginning of January, but after college. I was alright. How do I bring it down to South Florida with like the same amount of hype why not and I get connected with this guy and he puts me in contact with the guy that owns a bar and he said and they're asking me what do you think about throwing alumni watch parties? I was like down to do it, but I'm down.

guy and he puts me in contact with the guy that owns a bar and he said and they're asking me what do you think about throwing alumni watch parties? I was like down to do it, but I'm down. I'll only do it if you let me throw a pop-up during the summer before football season for my clothing brand. Okay, so I did that with a buddy. His name's Austin. Hi Duke. He had a brand called black palms. So we did a collaboration and we had the whole bar. We picked the DJs and we sold our clothes in there and then earlier that year. I remember I went to so two things that happened that had kind of re-inspired me went to Coachella. So you did I went to Coachella. I got my boy game free ticket. Whatever went out there. I was like screw it. I'll go and then I was like, you know what I'm I'm re-inspired or like creatively whatever I'm going to go back and really like put my foot on the gas went there and then we all went to the Belmont Stakes in New York, which is the horse race. Yeah, yeah, part of the Triple Crown. Yeah, yeah, I remember looking at my buddies and I was like, I'm going to throw a pop-up out here. Really? Are you nuts like what do you what do you define a pop-up? Best for listeners. What is a pop-up? So a pop-up is a pop-up shop. So you take over space. Let's say I can either rent a rent a space like a storefront turning into our own and it could last usually last only a day for us personally, but some brands will do it for like a week or like it'll take over space for a month. You could do a pop-up literally anywhere as long as you just like even a tent in the parking lot type of thing. Yeah, that's a pop-up. Yeah, like you know when we're at lacrosse tournaments and we buy goat stuff and they have a pop-up.

just like even a tent in the parking lot type of thing. Yeah, that's a pop-up. Yeah, like you know when we're at lacrosse tournaments and we buy goat stuff and they have a pop-up. Yeah, I know you know and I explain for listeners, but I think that what you just described is something that a lot of people can envision. Yes, you know, but the taking over the storefront. I think that's that's cool. Yeah, that's the next level. Yeah. So that's what I did instead before you take over a bar, which is what we did in Fort Lauderdale and then what a lot of people don't know is that you can make a deal with the bar and you can make money with the bar. So you can make money on top of the clothing and the bar sales. Wow, that's to get a piece of the tab because you're bringing your bringing people in there. You're bringing yeah, how do you display your stuff in a bar? You just get creative bringing clothing racks. Okay, you know random places, but in New York, I said that so it's my friends like you're crazy. Whatever. I was like, this is gonna be like a real test if I can do it and I remember I poured all my money into it. I negotiated for the storefront in Tribeca and it was like a white box storefront empty and I maxed out all my cards. I financed the spirit plate. Wow. And then when I got there, I was like, okay, what do I need to do? I didn't even know they had a Home Depot in New York to be honest found out they did got turf from Home Depot went back to the pop-up or the space that we rented out laid everything out and I was like, I break even a success. Yeah, and then we I profited off of it. Wow. How much merchandise did you bring? I brought I think oh like 88 pieces of clothing or 88 to 102 pieces of clothing in that range and then yeah, we like

Yeah, and then we I profited off of it. Wow. How much merchandise did you bring? I brought I think oh like 88 pieces of clothing or 88 to 102 pieces of clothing in that range and then yeah, we like profited off of it when and like but that again that just goes back to the FSU community too because a lot of my friends flew up for it. That's cool, which was like, all right. This is like and after that I was like I could do this. Yeah, and then how did you advertise for that? So I the person that I rented from was the man this guy named Affram. He had like a publicist and she put out something for it and then I would just we were already advertising on social media. So we like hammered social media with it different ways like different videos and whatnot. But yeah, then we threw we were throwing ones in Miami. We've done Miami a few times. Is that a brick and mortar building too, or is that more of like an outside tent pop-up or is that in a real in an actual building in Miami? Oh, we do pop-ups. It's like we'll take over the space. Oh, so you're always in yeah, like a building. I haven't done a market or anything. Okay. Okay. So you're you're setting up like an actual retail store environment. Yeah, like we'll do like house music events. We've done comedy shows because I got I was getting tired of only doing house music events and I saw this company called Kid Super which is like it creep the owner Kid Super is the man, calm Delane. He's a huge inspiration. But what they did was in Paris Fashion Week, they had all the comedians wearing their clothing head to toe, but that was the runway. They were doing sets like they were do their comedy set. Oh on the on the actual runway in their clothes. And set a runway show.

clothing head to toe, but that was the runway. They were doing sets like they were do their comedy set. Oh on the on the actual runway in their clothes. And set a runway show. It was just a comedy show. Okay, cool. Well, they were wearing very creative amazing. I was like, I could do that on a local level. Yeah, I just figured out how to crack into that. Have you have you ever done anything during Art Basil? During Art Basil. We know. Yeah, it's all good. Basil. Basil. I'm not from here. He's a Jersey boy. He's a Gen X, sir. I see shit wrong. Just the spirit. So we're planning on doing something this year. We don't have anything set in stone though, but to get a space during Art Basil is you got to have some point. Yeah, so and probably some connections. I would assume for sure. Yeah, you got to do like like if we did it, we would collaborate with other brands. Yeah, but then also, yes, we just did a pop-up method. We did a pop-up in London in October. You were in London. Yeah. That one happened. All these like kind of happen on just do this. Is it just Tumbleweed or Snowball where it just leads to the next one? Tumbleweed you dated yourself. I know. This is Snowball where the next one leads to the next one like stepping stones almost. I don't even know if it's stepping stones, maybe without even realizing it, but I remember a lot in the beginning last year. I reached out to a friend that's from London or lives in London. I was like, hey, like I want to tap into the community because first of all, fashion is really blowing up out there specifically like formal streetwear. Music is blowing up out here. They're coming into the States. I was like, do you know any up-and-coming artists, DJs, rappers that I should keep an

specifically like formal streetwear. Music is blowing up out here. They're coming into the States. I was like, do you know any up-and-coming artists, DJs, rappers that I should keep an eye on or I could send clothing to and so she sent me a few pages or of people. I looked through like some posts and I liked a post from this artist called Jack Marlowe and it was on a flat 22, which is a little record label and I liked it. Then I get a DM from flat 22 and they go, how do you know who we are? Like whatever I recognize if no. I was like, oh shit. I was like, let's get on a call. I get on a call and person who answered the phone goes, yo, what's up, bro? And I was like fully thought he's gonna have an English accent. Yeah, yeah. He's like, nah, ironically, his name's Nick too and he goes, I went to FSU too. I'm just a couple years younger than you, but I remember seeing if no, like my roommate had a flag in our apartment. Wow. Oh my gosh. And I was like awesome and like we had a great conversation. I was actually just talking to him earlier. He's in Brazil, but I was like, okay, I'll help you all throw an event with you in Miami because I have the connections in Miami. We're doing a five-year anniversary party like you can curate the lineup everything and it will be a collab event. But you got to help me throw an event London and he was like down. So he's an American in London. He's from Sarasota. Okay. Oh my gosh. And he went so his stories he went to London to study abroad and he loved the music scene so much out there that he just like started his record label. Wow. Quick sidetrack on that. Did you used to go to Nectar shows? Seattle. New Year's Eve. I wasn't a basshead. You weren't okay. I tried and I couldn't get into it.

Wow. Quick sidetrack on that. Did you used to go to Nectar shows? Seattle. New Year's Eve. I wasn't a basshead. You weren't okay. I tried and I couldn't get into it. I was more into house music. Okay. The reason I'm asking is I think it was the one in Atlanta. There were some DJs from the UK. They were awesome. And that's where I first learned about that UK kind of underground you went I did I used to go with me. Oh, yeah. I've been to like four or five. We went we actually went together a couple months ago to go in Miami. You're lying. Yeah. You went to Bay Center three times. Nathan and I our first one was Birmingham him Ben and I. Yeah, then we went to I think Atlanta and then Greensville. No Louisville Louisville. We went to Louisville Green Greensboro Greensboro. So they used to go. I love Nectar. He totally got into his weird shit. Yeah, the mute musically. Now. Yeah, I like it. That's like their King a hundred. Yeah. Yeah. So he started off just going with Nathan and the boys and then the last couple times I would go to and Dylan. Dylan was little and while they were at Bay Center, it was New Year's Eve. We Dylan and I would have a fancy dinner in the town we were in so we would have our fancy dinner while they're all at base because then Kaya started going his daughter. Yeah, and so it was like a tradition our New Year's Eve. What are you doing? Wherever base sector is the whole family's going and you have to edit out last name, but you'll have to remind me after this. I'm not going to tell the story. Yeah. I've got a funny one about Nathan and Ben up in Birmingham. Oh my God. A few months ago. He never told me this. Yeah. Yeah. And a few months ago, he was in Miami and so we went with New Year's and and yeah, no, we went not to that.

Oh my God. A few months ago. He never told me this. Yeah. Yeah. And a few months ago, he was in Miami and so we went with New Year's and and yeah, no, we went not to that. I mean that we were there for New Year's and we were with all the boys like Ben and Nathan and a bunch of Colin and a bunch of kids. It's funny, right? Because when I would go, I'm the only I was the only dad, but to your point all those kids their kids to me right here. Guys are all kids to me. They're you know, they would give Nathan to share, you know, your dad. They're like, no, he's cool. He's cool. So I fit right in when we were there undercover. Every time I went there's about five guys there my age and the kids thought we were Narx and the cops all thought we were drug dealers. So it's like you're walking around, you know, yeah, it's funny because in the New Year's one, my solo, we actually had two kids come come up to us. A guy and a girl and they were like interviewing us like in a way like so why are you here? And did you just come here on your own like like we were lost. We're like, no, we enjoyed like is this your first time right now. So yeah, but so that was that was our exposure and you know, Nathan DJing. Yeah, for God so, you know, he exposed us to the DJ world, but he wasn't really into house music at least then so we had a lot of exposure to that. Although we did go to EDC and Universal or not Universal Orlando and there was there was a decent amount of house music at EDC. Oh, yeah, for sure. It's like half and half. I mean, I tried getting into that bass scene a little bit, but I just wasn't for me. Yeah, I like house music. It's sick. It's sick though. Don't get me wrong. Like I like I could take some of it but some of it's way too heavy.

but I just wasn't for me. Yeah, I like house music. It's sick. It's sick though. Don't get me wrong. Like I like I could take some of it but some of it's way too heavy. Yeah. Yeah. No, it for sure. For sure. Like one of my buddies, the one I started Yifne with Tony we went to his bachelor party in North Carolina and Nate and all them told him that this one DJ ruined everyone's time. Like everyone like got freaked out by this one DJ. I mean, but we're sitting there and we're having a nice dinner where like Bruce Chris or whatever. Yeah, like it's a bachelor party. So whatever. Yeah, he was I want to go to this. I was like why he just told you that his set ruin everyone's time. He's like, yeah, I want to freak out there. Like it's extra party. We'll go we went and it was insanely like bad. Oh, no, I thought it like for me personally and we were like him and our other boy. They're like we're gonna stay and and we're like you're sure you guys are gonna stay you. Yeah, you want us to stay is like no, no, you guys can go like I want to I want to sit through this. Oh my gosh, that's dedication. I have a question just to go back to your UK experience. What was the logistics there? How do you get your product there? How do you deal with the financial transaction part of it in converting money back or is it all cash? How do you do that? Mostly the product side. How do you get it there and deal with it? So I just had my manufacturer send it straight over to London to where my buddy was staying or live because then it would just be like a whole thing to do it from America to here. Yeah, I got samples before that were on point. So I was able to promote the product a little bit like tease it. Yeah, and then in terms of like

to do it from America to here. Yeah, I got samples before that were on point. So I was able to promote the product a little bit like tease it. Yeah, and then in terms of like collecting money and whatnot, there's Zelle cash app anything that but we also have card readers so they can just have to pay right there. Okay, so it's very it's a very seamless process. Yeah, but even though sometimes the when you want the tap to pay to work, it stops working. It happened to us. It's the worst of Billy's strength. Yeah, we were trying to buy something from someone and it stopped working for him and he was like, we're so ahead of their credit cards. Yeah, so not a really strange is like it sold out immediately. I remember I was buying tickets for my cousin. Oh, yeah, we love you know, we were in August for three days. My buddy's up in North Carolina right now. Yeah, so jealous. Yeah, so when you see you started you know, did you with your brother or with because I know you said he's a part of it who did Carl. Oh, so we'll edit that out. Yeah, it was your friend at FSU. So right the two of you or just yeah, it was just you first and then and what's his name Tony Marasa Tony. Okay, and then then did you acquire more partners in this business? No, like we had gotten offers from people like trying to invest like I was able to back it myself. Yeah, and like it's I think it gets messy when it's too many hands in the pool reason to yeah, exactly. Especially at that at the stage that we were at. Mm-hmm. So it was just us two and then he kind of didn't really want to do it anymore. So I was like, I'm gonna keep running with it. Yeah, and then my brother had his own brand in Penn State and then he was like, oh like I want to get more involved

to do it anymore. So I was like, I'm gonna keep running with it. Yeah, and then my brother had his own brand in Penn State and then he was like, oh like I want to get more involved with if no like kids like it out like here. Yeah. And when he graduated our first graduation gift, I gave him 5% equity. Wow. Like congratulations like graduate. Whatever and then he goes, okay, but I want to be a part of it. I want to like help you out. What not? I go. Yeah, let's do it. So he takes care of like the graphic design. I sit there will go over and we'll design everything together like he knows like the technical part of it like how to run Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Cool. I refuse to show myself. So it's the two of you two of us right now. So it's a family business. Yeah, but we have a team now. Okay, so and then he takes care of like the accounting and everything. Wow, because great because I hate that part. But we have Mika who does creative and styling and she does all our women's lines because we like we released a bikini line last year and her and this other girl Lily, but it's mostly me right now. And then we have my friend Fino the kid that I told you went from JUCO and moved in with me at FSC. He's been my friend since I was 11. Yeah, and he is the vibe engineer and he handles the logistics of our events. Okay, and also I throw him in the videos because he's actually a good actor. And then we have our videographer Gonzo. We work with a couple different videographers, but he's like my main guy and then my buddy Justice has done work for us in the past and he's like going to be one of the best directors ever. He's nasty. He does music videos and short films. Okay, and then we are launching a like radio station, but

in the past and he's like going to be one of the best directors ever. He's nasty. He does music videos and short films. Okay, and then we are launching a like radio station, but it's a playlist on Apple Music and Spotify and I have my friend Vince whose DJ name is Triz and he'll be curating the playlist. So we have that too. So we're doing different aspects. So you've created a culture. You're creating a culture. Yeah, we're world building. So like yeah, that's I'd like to think that yes, I'm building a brand and I'm building a business, but for the most part everything's been built on community. Like it is a fully a community of people like we have all DJs and creatives. We reuse like not reuse not a good word for it, but we work alongside with right. We collaborate with companies like it's just about you know, growing the community now like it's expanded from just being my group of friends buying the shirts right to people that don't even know who I am that are buying the shirts like I've had. I hear it. No. Is it that I don't know you heard that right the static. Yeah. Something with your phone. Okay. Sorry. You're saying like I've had oh, so so it's gotten to the point where people that don't even know who I am are buying the clothing like I remember I was at a festival at three points three years ago in Miami and I was walking with a couple of my buddies and some kids stopped me. And he goes where'd you get that? I was like, what do you mean? I was pretty drunk at this point. Yeah, and I go what do you mean? He's he goes I know I've never seen that that design before like no way and I was kind of like confused by the whole situation because and he goes yeah, like some kid at FSU started it and like started

never seen that that design before like no way and I was kind of like confused by the whole situation because and he goes yeah, like some kid at FSU started it and like started like talk like telling me my story. That's wow. Was he accurate? He was yeah, he's very accurate and I was like, oh I was like you know, so how do you how'd you get that? I was like, I made it like this is my it's my brand in my buddy's brand and he goes can we take a picture and I was like, yeah, and it was such a surreal moment. It was very inspiring that had to have been so surreal. I was shocked. I'm sure to have someone tell you about you. Yeah, and that they're they you've inspired them to the point where they are sharing about you and happen to be to you. That's that's amazing. And it's not like we're a huge brand. So I was like, I was like, yo, this is yeah, that was cool. My my buddy that was like dude, I'm kind of pissed that happening because your head is gonna get bigger than it already is. No, but you know, I think when there's a brand that's authentic and does good things people they they people aren't stupid and they see stuff for what it is, especially Gen Z and younger Millennials, you guys you don't put up with shit. And so if you see something that's fake, I think you can figure that out pretty fast. And so it makes sense that you've acquired such a strong following because you're coming from a place. It's real, you know, and I think that people feel that and see it, you know, whether it's to the clothing through the designs or through what you and your team represents. So I'm not surprised because usually with that people you have a loyal following obviously if he approached you like that. So cool. I mean, it's just you can tell when

you and your team represents. So I'm not surprised because usually with that people you have a loyal following obviously if he approached you like that. So cool. I mean, it's just you can tell when someone's not genuinely doing something. Yeah, and you can tell when these companies are trying to do cash grabs and whatnot, which a lot of companies do like there's brands that there's a hundreds of brands that came out of FSU. They're there today gone tomorrow. Yeah, your friends that you see on Instagram and if you're not pouring the money back into the brand or into the community, it's not like I'm here to give something here to create something. Yeah, then I'm able to like pass down to my kids. I have a question on that. So just your organizational structure. I know your brother has an equity stake, but is that are you the rest of it? Are you the owner with him? Yeah. All right. So what's cool? I mean you you spoke about your team and you get it already. You're a young guy. But you get it already the value of your team and being inclusive about them and recognize their importance. Pretty cool that you've got that already. I'm totally sure where I was going, but it feels like the entrepreneurial side of you you've got this worked out where you've recognized your your one piece your role. You've built some other roles around you. How'd you kind of figure that out? Did you how did you see stumble into that or how did that evolve and how long did it take you to get from A to B like to really get to this point? Would you say well honestly, I'm still figuring out so it took it took a long time for me. I'm not a long time. We've been around for five years or years really taking it serious, but it took a long time for me to like trust people

I'm still figuring out so it took it took a long time for me. I'm not a long time. We've been around for five years or years really taking it serious, but it took a long time for me to like trust people with the brand because at the end of the day, it's my baby. Mm-hmm, but I'm a firm believer that like people really want to help you ask someone for help. They're going to help you and like people were just openly wanting to help like for example, like I met Mika and she's dating my cousin, but before she was dating my cousin, she is cousins with one of my friends from FSU. So we're there at a Super Bowl party and then I just see like oh she does she's really good with clothing. She's good with styling. I was like, oh like would you be open to like being part of the team and then Fino is my best friend. So I'm obviously like, yo, I want you I want you to figure out a role for you. I'm gonna go out roll for him. My brother's my brother obviously Gonzo. I met two years ago on a video because his business partner couldn't do it. I've noticed business partner since high school Matt Liebman and he did a shoe with me and we clicked like that. So we're like, all right cool. You're on the team Vince who's doing the if no FM. I've known Vince since I was I want to say a freshman in high school. Maybe maybe we crossed paths in middle school, but I've always wanted to do work with him. Like I only work with good people like I refuse to like I've turned down collaborations. I've turned down opportunities where I could have made a good amount of money just because I didn't like like the vibe of what was going on and it didn't feel authentic. I think that's a I think there's a balance of finding out. Yes, you should take these opportunities, but there is a

didn't like like the vibe of what was going on and it didn't feel authentic. I think that's a I think there's a balance of finding out. Yes, you should take these opportunities, but there is a lot of opportunities that you shouldn't take because in the long run, it's going to hurt. Yeah, yes, you can make the money right now or you can let it marinate let it grow and like key to your authentic vision. It's a it's an interesting thing because we've had some opportunities and we're in that where we started this like a year ago, like we're talking right and and and it just happens and then you start here and now you're here and and it's it's gone pretty well. I think you know better than if we ever anticipated or imagined and there's those opportunities since your point were like, okay, it's got to fit and it's got to feel right and feel good or else it's just not going to happen. So it sounds like you're applying that same logic. You know, it's almost a gut in a sense. Yeah, 100% and this is your guys's baby. I'm sure like yeah in a sense. I mean other than our three babies. Yes, exactly. But like this is like your guys. This is your thing. We're we've created. Yes. Yeah. So and you want it to go in the direction you wanted to go to. Yeah. I mean, we've done like for if no, it's been a lot of development. So I can I have the first shirt we ever made to shirts that we haven't released yet and it's night and day. Yeah. Yeah. So and the brand it used to be more like I mean Friday if you want to say lack of a better word, but as we're getting older, like those don't align those values don't align with what I want. So I can't be fake and promote something like I remember when I first moved down here from college. I was getting offers from

like those don't align those values don't align with what I want. So I can't be fake and promote something like I remember when I first moved down here from college. I was getting offers from people to throw events for spring break. I said no every single time because I didn't want to be a college brand. I want to yeah, like I wanted to be a household name. I don't necessarily want it to be like I don't want it to be the biggest brand in the world. If it happens, it happens, but I want it to stay authentic to who I am and who the team is and who our community is. How with that approach, how are you scaling it like operationally and say marketing wise? What's your strategy there to scale? For so we don't take any money out of it. Like the only time we'll take money out of is to pay the people that are actually working on projects that we need to pay but we'll just continue to snowball and roll it into the next collection. So let's say one collection sells X amount will put it into the next collection and that collection is going to sell more than the last one because there's more money into it. So that's how we've been scaling. I mean down the line at some point, I mean, I listen to hit the lotto or something. We're gonna have to get an investor. Yeah, yeah, but I've always been weary of it. The only way I would take an investor. I think is if it was a strategic investor, like it needs to be someone that can teach me something about growing the business. Yeah, yeah, 100% because right now. Still figuring out the operation still figuring out like fine-tuning certain things. Yeah, like getting everything down pack and that's why at like last year's when we really started like building a team up because at the end of the day, yes, I can figure out how

Yeah, like getting everything down pack and that's why at like last year's when we really started like building a team up because at the end of the day, yes, I can figure out how to do everything but for me to do everything it's not going to be all great, but I can get great people and put them in the position to do those jobs. Yeah, you can't scale it if you're doing everything. Yeah, I don't have the bandwidth. I don't have time in the day to think one is and your team. You've been able to vet all of them. Some of them you've known since you were 11. So that's a nice way to but it sounds like the people you've surrounded yourself with are you can't 100% trust and you can go you can go back to where you've met them and it was in a real and authentic way and the relationship is real and authentic and being able to trust people around you in this situation. I'm as priceless. I would assume you know, because people get screwed over all the time in business 100%. I mean my people know that our on my team. Once we get to that level everybody's going to yeah 100% and we've been blessed with opportunity like I like we are. Me as a person and we as a brand are extremely resourceful because of like people we know that that goes back to people are willing to help. Yeah, like one of my friends. We did a photo shoot or a video shoot on an airboat in the Everlades my buddy. That's my buddy Matt is older brother owned the airboat and he let us use it for the shoot. That's cool. So like people think we have these crazy budgets for shoots, but it's like we're getting blessed. Yeah, like really like people are just letting us use their space letting letting us use like props and whatnot and like one you could have a hundred thousand dollar budget

Yeah, like really like people are just letting us use their space letting letting us use like props and whatnot and like one you could have a hundred thousand dollar budget and not know what to do with it. Yeah, you got to blow all the money or you could have a smaller budget like let's say like a $2,000 budget and that forces you to think on your feet and it unlocks that creativity with the side of you to figure it out. So as far as creativity because you there's got to be a feeling of pressure right to come up with the next thing the next thing or even the next video. What are we going to do the next line? Do you ever encounter blocks creative blocks with that? For sure. Like that was one of the biggest obstacles that had to learn to overcome but to overcome the creative block you need consistency. So you need to keep doing it, but I also do think you need to take a step back sometimes and like give yourself a little bit of a break because right like like yeah, hustle cultures is a real thing. And I think yes, you should be working on it as much as possible and put your full effort. But if you're just burnt out, you're going to give people half-ass product. Yeah, because you're not there fully. So sometimes you need to take a break not look at anything that goes back to like doom scrolling like if I'm doom scrolling, I'm looking at a bunch of other things and I get influenced by it. So I'll put my phone away not look at it and just write down start writing down ideas that are more original. So then we'll use that and that's usually when I do my best work. Do you ever get a break? Are you ever able to unplug from what you're doing? Football season. Yeah. Okay. So answer college or pro or both? I love both. I mean, you know how hard it

work. Do you ever get a break? Are you ever able to unplug from what you're doing? Football season. Yeah. Okay. So answer college or pro or both? I love both. I mean, you know how hard it was with FSU this year though. Yeah, yeah. But a football like I the first football Sunday every year falls on my birthday week. So that is literally my I work crazy in the off season so that I can enjoy Saturday and Sunday football. Yeah, because there's nothing better than waking up knowing you don't have shit to do. Yeah, and then you go to Publix you get all your junk food. You can talk to Nate. You see me a crazy amount of food. I've eaten probably 5,000 calories in front of it in a sitting and then sit there for seven hours of commercial free football until then going into the night game. Yeah, and then that is my full palate cleanse. I'm back on Monday. I'm back and I'm ready to get out. Yeah. So it's the off season now. All right. How much do you sleep and how much do you work? What's your balance? I probably work on you. If no, probably on average 10 hours a day 12 hours a day. Then you have to factor in working out eating. I've been better with my sleep. I used to only be able to sleep like five hours a night. Yeah, four or five hours a night sometimes six, but now my sleeps got better. So I've been sleeping seven hours. That's great. So six to seven is and then if eight I'm on like top tier level. Yeah, it's unreal. It's like you took a drug right. I get eight. I'm I'm dead. I've overslept if I don't get if I get less than I got to have six. That's it. Yeah, if I get six to eight, I'm on the ball. I wake up. I can get out of bed and just immediately start like start working. Yeah, but if I get like nine

less than I got to have six. That's it. Yeah, if I get six to eight, I'm on the ball. I wake up. I can get out of bed and just immediately start like start working. Yeah, but if I get like nine ten like you might stick with working like I'm done for the. Totally. Yeah. Yeah, it's tough. Eight feels like I can take on the world, honestly. So as you were building this brand, how did you get over not caring what others think? Like how did you continue to believe in yourself and believe in this dream and not get imposter syndrome or not be worried about what others might say and how did you judge you? I think it starts with not comparing yourself to other people, especially when it comes to the brand. For me, it wasn't really me comparing myself to other individuals. Like I've always had extreme confidence in myself, but yeah, there is moments where I had imposter syndrome. Like, oh, we would do a big event or it would be a success, but then it's like, yeah, but it didn't do this. So it started being like in my head a little bit, like, okay, what's the next thing? Which is a good thing and a bad thing. It's a blessing and a curse. It's like, okay, what's the next thing? How can we improve? But you need to really take a step back and be in the present moment, which is something I've learned over the past two, like year or two of just like, okay, I'm here. Yeah. This is sick. All my friends are here. I have so much support. I'm blessed to even be in the position that I am and it could always be worse. The thing that I think people lose sight of is, like caring is cool, especially if it's something that you love, like a brand, if you like tuning cars, like literally any anything, as long as you love it, and you care about it, it's cool.

like caring is cool, especially if it's something that you love, like a brand, if you like tuning cars, like literally any anything, as long as you love it, and you care about it, it's cool. There's a lot of people that will try to be like, there's like this whole nonchalant thing that's going on, which is like, all right, like you're too cool for school. Like I get it, but it's to a certain point. Like if you don't care about what you're doing, then who else will type of deal? Like people are gonna see right through that. If you're like just trying to, only some people can pull off the mysterious like, oh, I can drop a collection or I can drop a song every five years and it'll always be a hit and I'll have that like super strong like fan base community or whatnot. But for the majority of people, that's not how it is. Right, right. So are you saying that there's kind of this mystery trend in brands happening where people are trying to act, not trying to act, but are just acting like they really don't care and it's whatever? I think it's in general. I think people are like, yeah, I'm gonna be kind of like low key, like on purpose though. Okay. Not, because there's people that are just naturally like that. Oh, so you mean like in life, just having kind of a vibe of just like, whatever. Yeah, it's like brands that'll do it sometimes. Like when brands will say they don't wanna post, whatnot. Like yes, certain people have certain aesthetics, but I think a lot of times it's an excuse not to do it. Well, I think what you're describing is, I almost feel like you're saying there's some people that are just full of shit in there. I'm trying to be low key because it's my shtick and I'm full of shit. And then there's other people who just are that way

saying there's some people that are just full of shit in there. I'm trying to be low key because it's my shtick and I'm full of shit. And then there's other people who just are that way and it's genuine and it's authentic, right? In some ways they may be the creative genius who can pull that off and it's real. And it's like, wow, that's really cool. But then there's other people just full of shit and they're trying to do it and you can tell the difference. Yeah, like I can give an example of like a rapper. So there's rapper Playboy Cardi. Super, Nate definitely knows who Playboy Cardi is. Yeah, and so does- I feel like I've heard them. Yeah, and no, it's not a them, right? It's him. No, I mean the name. Yeah, our youngest 15 year old. For sure, let's see. Yeah, yeah. So he just released an album for the first time in five years, but he is like off the grid. No one knew where he was at. If you would pop up somewhere, you'd see a photo of it. But it was like very, very rare. And he has an extremely loyal fan base and he barely shows his face sometimes. But he's able to do that. That's creative genius. If you're able to do that, that's your thing. That's amazing. But there's a lot of people who will try to adopt that. And then they're just kind of shooting themselves in the foot because that's not who they really are. And then I see it a lot with, I guess I could kind of correlate it to, you know when you have friends and stuff that are starting companies or brands or anything and they seem like they're gonna take it serious, but then in reality, they just pick it up and put it down after a few months or whatever and they're not really taking it serious. So when we were starting out and even to this day, people were like, oh, let's collab on this

and put it down after a few months or whatever and they're not really taking it serious. So when we were starting out and even to this day, people were like, oh, let's collab on this or let's do this. And then it took time for me to be like, if you're not gonna take this as serious as I'm taking it, why would we work together? Like you're my friend still, I love you. But I'm only gonna be working with people that are taking what they're doing seriously. Right. Just as much as I am. Right. It's almost getting past yourself and your ego and not caring what others think and caring about your work and investing in your work and not giving a shit about anything else. Yeah, I mean, that's, because at the end of the day, like you're the person, you're the most, you're your biggest critic at the end of the day. Yeah. You're gonna judge yourself the most. So it's kind of getting over that hump. And I mean, I'm sure most people go through it. I definitely went through it. I could go through it sometimes still, like I'll be looking at a video that I post and I'll just sit there and the clip might be a second long and it takes me 20 minutes to post it because I'm like, the angle, right? Are people gonna look at this? No one's really diving that deep into that. Right, it's so true. And you can paralyze yourself with that. So you have to at some point be like, this is my creation or our creation. And it almost doesn't matter how it's received because we're proud of this work and it's coming from us. And our job is to put it out there and whoever it's supposed to resonate with, it will resonate with. And if it doesn't resonate with some, it wasn't meant for them. So we're trusting that it's going to end up in the right hands.

supposed to resonate with, it will resonate with. And if it doesn't resonate with some, it wasn't meant for them. So we're trusting that it's going to end up in the right hands. Yeah, you explained that beautifully. I just have a voice in my head that goes, stop being a bitch. Yeah. (laughing) Like honestly, like I've had in my whole life where it's like, you're being a bitch right now, just do it. Just do it, just trust the universe. It's going to end up where it's supposed to. Let me think that inner voice is what comes through. And then maybe it's quick, don't be a bitch. You just summed up in, don't be a bitch. What's that four or five words? But she took 50 words to say. Yes. But it's the same impact, I think. So you said you sold out, did you sell out of everything in New York when you went up there? No, but we profited. But you profited. Have you had a situation where you've sold out? Oh yeah, we've sold out on a collection like 24 hours before. No way. Yeah, but we've also had collections sell out in 24 hours and we've had a collection that we dropped and you sell three t-shirts. So it's like, okay, that's why if you're in it for the long haul, you're in it for the long haul. Like it sucks when you put that much work in and then it's like a couple of your friends bought it because they're your friends. I mean, obviously appreciate that more than anything, but then it's like, all right, how do we fine tune this and get it to where we're selling out in 24 hours or selling out in a week or selling out in two weeks or even a month? Like at the end of the day, this is the long game. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Can you think of what you would consider your biggest lesson so far or what you've, one lesson you've learned so far,

day, this is the long game. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Can you think of what you would consider your biggest lesson so far or what you've, one lesson you've learned so far, even if one's too big a couple? I would say perfectionism is the killer of progress. So if you're sitting there and overthinking, like what we just said, basically, that's gonna stop you from moving forward. That's one thing, like you're getting in your own way. It's not gonna be perfect. It's better if you put something out in the world rather than hold it back until you think it's perfect because it's never gonna be perfect. And then another lesson. That's a pretty good one. Thank you. I think my buddy told me this once. He said, "Sometimes you gotta dig yourself a hole to see if you can get out of it." So I think, yeah, you gotta, you have to keep messing up and you gotta be able to take losses because without those, you're not gonna win. You need to know what it feels to lose so you can know what it feels like to win. You can't have one without the other. And you only experience that if you are challenging yourself, if you're living an authentic life, if you're participating in life and not being an NPC, honestly. Because if you take the safe way always, you're never gonna really know what that true joy and accomplishment feels like if you're just kind of staying flat line. And there's huge risks there and there's downs and can get dark. But then like you said, you know when it's light, you know when you're up. And it's such a great feeling of accomplishment. You can't describe it to someone right until you're there. No, it's euphoric, honestly. Yeah, so when you sold out of collections, was that online? Yeah, so let's say, we'll always drop the collection online.

someone right until you're there. No, it's euphoric, honestly. Yeah, so when you sold out of collections, was that online? Yeah, so let's say, we'll always drop the collection online. And then if it's one of our major collections, like your spring, summer, or fall, winter, we'll tie an event to it. So we'll always give people that go to the events first dibs on it. And if we need to make more of it for the online, we'll make more of it for the online. But if we don't sell out at the event, then we'll push the stuff online as well. But we also do collections that are strictly online based. Okay, and besides your past t-shirts now, right? You have t-shirts, I call them t-shirts or shirts. What else, what other apparel? So we've released jackets, we've released work pants, like utility pants. We've done obviously hats, hoodies, sweaters, sweatpants, women's tops. We've done women's like, like sport dresses kind of deal. Like athleisure. Athleisure. And then we've also, now we're dipping into, for our new collection, we're gonna release like silk scarves, like silk bandanas. We've done bikinis. We're gonna do swim shorts for men, button downs. We're gonna start doing as well. And then-- Kind of like what, what about what you're wearing right now? Are you going to be releasing? This is just a blank. Okay. So like we may or may not do this, but we have one right now in the works that we're releasing short sleeve and long sleeve. And then, yeah, I mean, just keep-- It's amazing. Continuing to up the quality on everything. That's amazing, honestly. Important question here. Where can our listeners buy your product? Where can they find it? I'm gonna put it on the YouTube for sure. And we'll make sure to blast it out there, but where?

Important question here. Where can our listeners buy your product? Where can they find it? I'm gonna put it on the YouTube for sure. And we'll make sure to blast it out there, but where? Yifno.com. Yifno.com, all right. Y-I-N-F-O. Y-I-F-N-O. Yeah, sorry. Yo, it's fucking nice out. So you said you quit your job in January. That is, so you are ahead of your goal, right? Cause you said before you turned 28, you wanted to do that and you're 20, am I right there? 27, yeah. So you're ahead of the goal, which is congratulations on that. Thank you. But was that a little terrifying to make that decision or did you jump in with both feet? No problem. For sure, like it's less security. Yeah. So it's like, all right, like I had my job, but I mean, I was ready. When I went in, like it was a little nerve wracking, but I went in there, I looked at my manager, and my manager's a good, one of my boys, good people. He's like, damn, I thought I had you for like one more year. I was like, it's time brother. And then I just left and honestly, it was like a weight off my shoulder. Cause then you can completely devote all your time now to Yif now, right? Oh yeah, I mean, I was already basically doing it when I had my job. Like I would do everything I needed task-wise at work. And then I would just like start doing my thing. How is that though, now having all the time to devote to Yif now? Oh, it's amazing. Like I wake up every day, like I wake up every day regardless, happy that I woke up. But that the fact that I can go and have the freedom to do what I do now, it's insane. Like I'm moving to New York on May 5th. That's exciting. Why did you make that decision? I lived in Florida my whole life. I'm young. And then also to grow the

to do what I do now, it's insane. Like I'm moving to New York on May 5th. That's exciting. Why did you make that decision? I lived in Florida my whole life. I'm young. And then also to grow the brand, that's the next step. And I'm always gonna have to be back and forth between New York and Miami. New York and Miami because we can't just neglect our community down here. So we're still gonna throw events here. We're still gonna have a collections based in here. But then also we need to grow the seeds that are out in New York that we've already planted from the first time we did a pop-up out there. And then also the fashion capital of the world. Yeah. Like if you make it there, you're good. That's what the song says. It's true though. Have you done anything since that first pop-up up there? Have you done anything else up there? No, I haven't. But I have a lot of friends that do events down there. Like we're gonna do a pop-up at, I don't know if I should like, really, I'll give you guys an inside scoop. Yeah, we're gonna do a pop-up at my friend's restaurant at some point. Like, yeah, we're gonna do some cool things out there. Now is your whole team going up with you? No. Okay, so they're staying down here. Yeah, we don't have the funds to do that. Okay. So you got, obviously the world is now easy to work wherever you are. You guys will be able to still do everything you do together. And you said you'll still be down here as well. Going back and forth. Playing right away. Playing right away. So that's, and you have a community up there, friends already? Yeah, I have a good amount of people up there. And anyways, my brother lives in Boston. So we operate through like Google Meet and stuff. Okay, okay. Or when he comes to visit.

friends already? Yeah, I have a good amount of people up there. And anyways, my brother lives in Boston. So we operate through like Google Meet and stuff. Okay, okay. Or when he comes to visit. Yeah. So that's exciting. This is a huge moment for you. I'm very excited. You've quit your job. You're fully with the if no now and are moving to New York. That's amazing. Thank you. It's pivotal. And you're at the beginning of another phase of this business. It's exciting. Think about it. You were saying, you had to stretch five bucks or something like that and if it's you, now you've got this brand, it's on its way and you're heading to the fashion capital of the world. It's fucking awesome. Thank you. Yeah, you should be so proud of yourself, honestly. Cause this also required you to make some smart and probably tough decisions at times. And you did that as well. This doesn't just happen. So the people that you surrounded yourself with and taking risks and having the courage at times to not care what others think and just go for it. So hopefully you can be present in this moment and really see it for what it is. Cause it's a big deal. Yeah, for sure. I appreciate that first of all, but yeah, it's been soaking in. It's as the days get closer to it, I'm very, very excited. And I mean, again, we're gonna be back and forth. Maybe I'll be a snowbird. Yeah, just not an annoying one at Costco, please. No, no, I'm good. Get run into you getting free food. Yeah. Do you guys do any, are you involved with any charities, the business or with you personally? Yeah, so we host a charity basketball tournament every year, well, we're two years in now. We're gonna host our third one up in 2026, but it's named after my friend that

Yeah, so we host a charity basketball tournament every year, well, we're two years in now. We're gonna host our third one up in 2026, but it's named after my friend that passed away in 2020. His name is Gerard Reed. So we call it the G classic, Nick's name was G. So it's called the Gerard Reed Foundation. And we donate to the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County. That's wonderful. Yeah, so we donate to the boys and girls club. Is that something, is the foundation something you started or something his family started? I started it. You did. I started it with my friend, Fino, my buddy Anthony Palermo and Santio Campo. Where did you learn to give back like that? Because that's really mature, I think, seasoned, that not everybody does it. There's plenty of successful entrepreneurs that never get the concept of the community and giving back. Where did you get that? So throughout my entire life, even since I was a little kid, my mom was always involved with charity, mom and dad, but specifically my mom. So when I was three, four, five years old, she would take me to Peru and would go to orphanages and I would go and like give toys to kids and like play with the kids and stuff. So I was a baby too. And then when we moved over here, she was a part of the rotary. So they would do a bunch of charity programs and we would always be involved with that. And then when I was in college, she got involved with an organization called Anca de Suimido Sinaxion, so Angels United in Action, where they would give back to these really impoverished communities in Peru, like these little villages that didn't have clean water. So we would go out there. Well, I wouldn't go out there. You need to get military access to go out there

like these little villages that didn't have clean water. So we would go out there. Well, I wouldn't go out there. You need to get military access to go out there because of how bad it is. My mom went once and they give them all backpacks, school supplies, computer and like running water and irrigation systems. So there's a water tower in Peru that has like a giant, if no, no way. No way. Yeah, I have a picture of it. You slid it in there? That's amazing. Yeah, so we did that and we, every December, we'll donate like a big portion of our profits to their organization for the holidays, like for Christmas. You have no does? Yeah. So in addition to the charity basketball, you still are supporting in Peru as well. Yeah, right now it's a little bit difficult just because of like the political climate out there, but once it gets a little bit more cleared up, hopefully I can go out there. When you can. Yeah, I wanna go out there for sure. How proud is your mom of you and what you've accomplished? I think my mom and dad are pretty proud of me. Yeah, you should include your dad in it too. I was just thinking of her as the entrepreneur, but I bet your parents are super proud and supportive, right? Oh, extremely. Like I have the most supportive parents in the world. Like obviously they're a little, they don't, they want me to live out what I wanna do. They don't really, they're gonna be sad that I'm going to New York. Yes. For sure. Like I can tell what they're like, go like you need to go do this. If you feel like you need to go do this, then go do it. And they've supported me throughout my whole life. Like they're the people that built the confidence within me and my little brother. 100%. Yeah. Yeah. And I love that you and your

And they've supported me throughout my whole life. Like they're the people that built the confidence within me and my little brother. 100%. Yeah. Yeah. And I love that you and your brother are in it together. And I know they love that too. Oh yeah. Yeah, now that's cool. So is there a concept behind, besides yo, it's fucking nice out, but is there another concept behind the brand as far as, I thought something with the senses. Yes. So I think it's water. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Do you need to pour more for yourself? No, I'm good. Okay. Yeah. So the plan is we just came up with this plan this year actually is we wanna touch on, we're world building, right? Okay. So we're not, we're a brand, but a brand creates, a good brand creates a world. So the five senses, hearing, sight, smell, touch, Taste. And taste. So right now we're working with this company or this girl that makes candles. So we made our own scent. No way. So we're gonna start introducing that in all of our popups. And then at some point we'll release it to the public, but we want to relate the smell with the events. You won't smell that unless you're at the event. Brilliant. And then we're looking to partner with a wine company to do white wine because white wine is more of a daytime drink rather than red wine. I like red wine, don't get me wrong. But that's taste right there. Yeah. And then the touch is the touch of the clothing. Like the fat, the fat, studying over here. The fabrics we use is the touch. The sight or seeing is the icons we use, the graphics we use. And then for hearing, it's the curated playlist. Yeah, that's awesome. So that's the five senses right there. And then we like to say the phrase go outside, which is literal and figurative.

And then for hearing, it's the curated playlist. Yeah, that's awesome. So that's the five senses right there. And then we like to say the phrase go outside, which is literal and figurative. Because at the end of the day, yeah, you need to get outside, you need to touch grass. Because there's a lot of people that lock themselves in their houses and I think that is a gateway to depression right there. Yes. For sure. And then you need to go outside and meet people and whatnot. And then the figurative sense, you need to go outside and get out of your comfort zone. You need to go start that business you wanted to start, go start doing that hobby that you love, or teach yourself how to play the guitar. Yeah, challenge yourself. Yeah, exactly. So get outside of your comfort zone. Grow, it's all about grow. Grow, grow, grow, I love that. And again, I know you're saying you're world building, but to me, it's like you're creating a culture. It really feels that way. And I love that you are connecting all the senses back to your brand, because it's also brilliant marketing too. Business-wise, it's a brilliant concept, but it's all encompassing. So that's great, I love that. Yeah, it's really cool. It fits. Yeah. It just fits. Now I know when, sometimes when our youngest, you were talking about shoes in the beginning, and he went through this whole phase in middle school. Now those shoes though that they were all going to wear were like $600. Sneak your head. Yeah, it's crazy. Yeah, we would go on like StockX, and all that. And I would see resale, resale, resale. Have you ever seen anything like that with your stuff? Yeah, so just recently, I think it was a month or two ago, there's a site called Grailed, and a couple of our-- Grailed?

Have you ever seen anything like that with your stuff? Yeah, so just recently, I think it was a month or two ago, there's a site called Grailed, and a couple of our-- Grailed? Yeah, Grailed. Okay. And a couple of our shirts got put up on there. It's like StockX, it's like StockX, Grailed, and another one that they do all the resales in. And like three of our shirts were up there for 60, 70 bucks, and we sell them for 45. How did you find out they were up there? My buddy sent it to me, and then he showed, I posted a screenshot of it on our Instagram. He said it sold, like it actually sold. I was like that's-- That's awesome. That's sick. And then another buddy of mine was in Austin, Texas, and he was going through a thrift store, and someone had repurposed the, like originally if not sure, like one of the first ones we did, and like sewn like two different shirts onto it. But like the main one was different. So it was your shirt. Yeah. And then they took two other shirts and-- Yeah, it could have been our shirt, or they could have just printed the logo on it. But it was, he was like that's nuts, this is in Austin. That was a cool moment as well. Did he buy it? Yeah, and-- Yeah. No, no, he didn't buy it. No, I didn't want him to buy it. I wanted to just be there. Okay, he just wanted to be out there. Yeah, and I mean we've sent, like this sounds a little weird, but I was so happy when I saw some, I had to send two cease and desist. I was like this is like a good sign that something's working. Yeah. The other send went to some golf brand in 2021, 2022, and I didn't realize they were using our stuff, or using Gifno, till like a year later. So they had sold stuff with Gifno on it. Yeah, they were selling like club covers,

and I didn't realize they were using our stuff, or using Gifno, till like a year later. So they had sold stuff with Gifno on it. Yeah, they were selling like club covers, and like, and then another company was selling hats, and they literally did our description, and then I reached out to them, and I was like, yo, you know, you stopped doing that. Were they domestic or foreign? Domestic. And then the only, the foreign one was urban dictionary, but they're like, I don't know where they're based out of, but it was cool seeing our stuff on urban dictionary, because it's hilarious, like our generation grows up looking at our dictionary, because there's funny shit on it, and Gifno was on it. No way. But then you go to the merch section, they were selling like shirts and mugs, and I sent them cease and desist letter two. That is a huge compliment, though. Oh, I was stoked. Yeah. Yeah. Is your team, is there someone on your team that's kind of always watching out for that, though? Or do you just happen to, does someone happen to see it and alert you? No, so when I heard about SEO, so search engine optimization, I was like, what's that? And they were like, dude, just Google your name. So Google, Gifno, we own everything, but then when I saw an urban dictionary, I saw it, and then I saw at the bottom of the search, those two companies, I looked at their pages, and I was like-- That's interesting. I think technically speaking, you can set up alerts. So if something pops up, you'd probably be able to get in a proactive alert on it. Oh, no way. Yeah. I did, so we trademarked it in 2019. Like I trademarked it, and like my cousin told me I didn't have to, and he's a lawyer, and so he's like, you guys aren't like big enough for it. Yeah.

Yeah. I did, so we trademarked it in 2019. Like I trademarked it, and like my cousin told me I didn't have to, and he's a lawyer, and so he's like, you guys aren't like big enough for it. Yeah. But at some point we will be, and I'd rather just get it out the way now, and thank God I did. Yeah. Because we have the legal trademark of everything. Yeah, trademarking that is smart. I have the paper framed. That's cool. Good. So this has been five years in the making? Four years? Five years, we've been around since 2019. So all those years, 2019, 2020, 2021, 22, 23, 24, is there a year that stands out that was maybe the hardest or the best? Or both? Yeah, I think last year, I mean, it gets better every year. It's just, it gets tougher when it gets better because there's more challenges and more things you need to overcome, and then there's more of a bigger standard you need to go by, because you've already elevated the brand to a certain point. So it's like, all right, how do we make it bigger than before or whatnot? Obviously, things like happened in personal life, like my mom was going through health issues last year, so me and my little brother were literally making collections in a hospital, but people didn't know that. So we were like, all right, but it was the best year in terms of the quality of clothing we were making, the videos we were making, we were making short films that, like the short films we were making in 2023 were good, but like the ones that we're making the year after, when we learned how to be better at it, were put the other ones in the dust. But like, it was definitely last year and I made so many, met so many people. We did the pop-up in London, which is insane, like the fact that people even showed up to it. And yeah, just-

But like, it was definitely last year and I made so many, met so many people. We did the pop-up in London, which is insane, like the fact that people even showed up to it. And yeah, just- That is cool. It's, that's good. You had good problems. Yeah, good problems. Other than your mom being in the hospital, but good problems from the success. It might've been more stressful or whatever, but it's because of the success of the company. For sure. Yeah. It's such a blessing. Yeah. When did you make the video that's on the homepage? Cause that's pretty cool. So we made that video in November. Okay. So my buddy that I told you about, that's a director in LA right now, I grew up with him, played football with him, he was my neighbor, same Justice Silvera, and we did a three-part series. So it was called the pants series. And our manufacturer didn't get the pants to us in time for the shoot, for the, cause it was a three-part series, the first shoot, and we're trying to like workshop our way through, like, okay, we can't do this video now, cause he doesn't have pants. He has pants. Yeah. So we were like, all right, what if we do where he's running through the streets with no pants, looking for his pants. So he, part one was a, That's clever. My friend, he was running through Las Olas without any pants. That's hilarious. We were getting like live reactions of people, the video's in slow-mo so you can see people like looking. That's not naked, I assume. I see him in underwear on, right? No, he had underwear on. We were in China. We were in China. Yeah, we were in China. We're in China, we're not bail money right now. So then we did the second part and John couldn't do it, he couldn't make it to the shoot.

We were in China. Yeah, we were in China. We're in China, we're not bail money right now. So then we did the second part and John couldn't do it, he couldn't make it to the shoot. So I called, you know, and I was like, you know, like, I need you for the shoot. And it's kind of weird telling your friend cause we don't, I didn't tell him until he got there. I was like, listen, this is gonna sound super weird, but we're gonna need you to be in this video. You're gonna have to have your pants off. And they're like, all right, stop fucking with me, bro. Like, what are we doing? I'm like, no, like for the video, this is the plan. Give them the whole breakdown and thankfully they agree to do it. And then the third one, which is on the site, he finds his pants. The pants shut up, you guys got the pants. Kid Ramon did it and yeah, we've been, again, we've been super resourceful with like what we had, the Mercedes that's in that, the vintage Mercedes is a friend of mine, Nick Napoli. Thankful that you let us borrow it. Yeah. Sick car. It's a cool video, I like it. Thanks. Now up in New York, you'll have a brand new landscape to use. Yeah, for sure. That'll be really cool. So excited. Oh my gosh, it's limitless up there. The videos and the creative part is honestly my favorite part. Or one of my favorite parts of the business, to do that, to put together the video. Obviously the clothing and the collection being complete is in itself is amazing. But being able to make the video, especially with my friends, it's hilarious. Cause it's just, we don't take ourselves too serious. Like, yeah, we'll do like the cool guy post, like showing off the clothing, whatever. But at the end of the day, I don't want to, I don't want, it's

take ourselves too serious. Like, yeah, we'll do like the cool guy post, like showing off the clothing, whatever. But at the end of the day, I don't want to, I don't want, it's more, Yifno isn't a brand where we just take ourselves too seriously. Like you need to have fun with it. Yeah. Like, yeah. Cause that'll come through. 100%. Yeah, so when you guys have pop ups, is it just you and your team working the pop up or do you hire temporary employees during that time? It's usually me and my team, but as time goes on, like we're probably gonna hire someone for, we're doing a pop up April 27th. My buddy has a record label called Groovers Only, and it's gonna be at Mr. Baguette. So I'll probably hire someone for that, just because while the pop ups going on, I'm gonna have to be directing a video at the pop up to bring to life this recap video I want. Yeah. I'm not gonna give too much away cause I want it to be a surprise for people, but yeah. And it's gotten to a point where like, I shouldn't be the one that's, you know, taking like selling the product by hand. Right. Cause it's, I've done that. And I'm willing to do that obviously still if needed, but. That's part of scaling. Exactly. Yeah, got to scale. So this, that's the next step. Yeah. Right, no, that makes sense. That makes sense. I had a question, I forgot. So with all of this that you've been involved in and basically building your business for the last five years, and being a Gen Z Zilennial, how do you find time to date? Are you on the dating apps? No. Okay, so you're going old school. So I tried the dating apps. I've never been on like a hinge date or a tenor date, anything like that. I just, I think it's good for certain people. Also I'm not just X-ing it out, but just that it wasn't for me.

I've never been on like a hinge date or a tenor date, anything like that. I just, I think it's good for certain people. Also I'm not just X-ing it out, but just that it wasn't for me. Yeah. Like I didn't really, it didn't feel natural. That makes sense. But it does work for people. And I think, I mean, I'll probably end up on it for some time, check it out, maybe delete it again. Like who knows? That seems to be the pattern. Whenever I talk to, we say kids, but we know you guys are adults, but kids in your age, they download it, go on it, delete it. And it's a pattern because it's just, you're kind of hoping this time it'll be different. But it seems that everyone that we've talked to your age still really enjoys things that happen organically, old school, they really don't, the technology isn't working for them, which is ironic because you're involved in such a technologically based world. But when it comes to dating, you guys seem to still gravitate to, I'd like to just meet someone naturally. Yeah, it's, so what I will say is, social media is a good platform for that. So like if you know someone and you've met them before, and like you've talked to them, you think they're cute, or like you've had a good time with them, you could ask them on a date through the dating app. I'm not the dating app, you can ask them, swipe on their story and be like, hey, do you wanna grab drinks? Yeah. But at the same time, there's nothing that beats like the actual human connection, which is the reason we do, like not to get autophic, but there's a reason we do in-person events. Right. Like we, I think people were so cooped up during COVID and couldn't go outside or couldn't like mingle with their friends or meet different people,

we do in-person events. Right. Like we, I think people were so cooped up during COVID and couldn't go outside or couldn't like mingle with their friends or meet different people, that at the end of the day, we're humans, for what do you call it, social creatures. Yeah. So yeah, I think the traditional way is still the best way. And craving that, that connection. But I think the new traditional way is you meet someone and then you might swipe up on their story. I think you're right. That's like a hybrid approach. Yeah, it is. I think it's a combo. Yeah, so dating, I mean, I find time for dating, I'm very, very selective, especially now on who I spend my time with. Yeah. Because obviously like family, friends, like it's hard to balance it, but if it's the right person or someone I'm really interested in, I will like, Yeah. Be like, hey, let's go grab drinks, like let's go on a date. That happens as you get older too, no matter what's going on, you value your time more and who you spend it with. You know, it's just, because you only have so much time in the day, so if you're going, it really has to matter when you're giving your time away. Whether you're running a business or not, it just happens that you get older and you just don't have as much time. Things just have to fit. I say it all the time, it just has to fit. The music you listen to has to fit. The clothes in your choices has to fit. Who you're dating has to fit. You spend time with has to fit. You don't have as much time to, quote unquote, not waste, but it's just, you fill up your life and so, we only have such a short amount of time here. So it's like, all right, if I'm gonna go all in, it better be worth it. Absolutely. And I just am so happy for you

fill up your life and so, we only have such a short amount of time here. So it's like, all right, if I'm gonna go all in, it better be worth it. Absolutely. And I just am so happy for you that you started this at such a young age. The time you have to build this and grow it continually, there's so much of it for you because you discovered this at such a young age. And that's really exciting because in 10, 15, 20 years, where will this be? But it's there for you to take advantage of. You have the time to take advantage of that. It's a blessing. It is. It's a blessing of youth. 100%. I'm gonna knock on wood. 100%. I hope I have a bunch of time left. Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. So before I ask. I actually do have some questions. So you heard the Greenfield episode, right? Yeah. Or the Ben one. The Ben one. Yeah, sorry. The Nomad. He talked a little bit about the corporate stuff and how he was done with corporate. And on the socials, we had a lot of reaction to that and in his favor of corporates messed up and I don't wanna do it. And what advice would you have for say kids in a sense, younger than you, even other people for starting your own business or getting into it and maybe toe in the line you'd had your corporate job while you were growing this. You have any advice to offer any of our listeners? Cause it's a hot topic. People don't wanna do the corporate thing. They're looking for something else. I would say don't get sucked into the thought process that feeling bad for providing for yourself. So yes, corporate isn't for everyone but it is for a lot of people. People make careers out of it for a reason. But if it's not for you, but your business isn't making any money, you need to make money somehow.

but it is for a lot of people. People make careers out of it for a reason. But if it's not for you, but your business isn't making any money, you need to make money somehow. So you can, yes, you can go full throttle and just, hey, this is it or nothing. Or you can still do that and have that safety blanket of a corporate job. Whether it be a corporate job, whether it be working at McDonald's, it doesn't matter. You shouldn't feel ashamed to provide for yourself. Cause if your money's not right, then it's gonna transition to every or spill over transition to every single aspect of your life. And that goes for if you're starting a clothing brand, if you're doing music, you're doing anything creative and you're feeling like shit, cause you don't have, you can't provide. Yeah, you can't provide for yourself. That's gonna do one of two things. It's either gonna bring something out of you that you didn't know you had, which is best case scenario, or it's gonna make everything in your life worse than it already is. So I think my biggest advice when it's like toting that line of having your own business while working corporate is don't be ashamed to provide for yourself. It doesn't matter what you see on social media where it's like, I quit my nine to five to do this, but like, okay, you did that cause you had your business set up and you were able to provide for yourself or someone else was providing for you at the time. Like not everyone has that. I know I didn't have that. My parents cut me off like in college. They're like, you're gonna figure it out. So it's again, don't feel ashamed to be working a job and then do your business and get your business to where it needs to be where you can quit your job and just go full throttle, go balls to wall

So it's again, don't feel ashamed to be working a job and then do your business and get your business to where it needs to be where you can quit your job and just go full throttle, go balls to wall cause you have the time and the day to do it. It's the classic work your nine to five then you have your five to nine. Such great advice, especially for younger people like people getting out of college in their twenties and the FOMO and also the illusion that people create. I quit my job and I'm in Italy on a Tuesday and no one is sharing the behind the scenes of are they being funded by family or are they being funded by building up their business and now they can quit, but you're not sharing that. And it can be very misguiding to people. Yeah, it's all perception. There's no shame in people that have that. Yeah, yeah. That's amazing. Everyone has their own situation, but that's not your situation. That can be very misleading like you said. And it goes back to what we were talking about earlier. You start comparing yourself a lot if you're on social media like that and it's easy to compare yourself when you're seeing, you're at your corporate job, you're making only like 40K a year and you're scraping by and then you're going online and you're seeing these people are on like, yeah, it's in traveling in San Tropez. But at the end of the day, you gotta play with the cards you're dealt with. And it's up to you to figure that out. 100%. You know what's interesting is we've had guests from other generations in our Boomer, Lou. His answer was work, you gotta work. If you want a house with a nice backyard, you gotta work. Had another person on who was living in New York and it was really just, you gotta hustle. And hustling and

If you want a house with a nice backyard, you gotta work. Had another person on who was living in New York and it was really just, you gotta hustle. And hustling and working, you're saying kind of, same thing, different flavor in a sense. And that can be subjective for, I mean, you were building your dream while holding down your financial situation. That's work. You're like double work, triple work. So, but I love what you said. Don't be ashamed to provide for yourself. That's great advice. It's such great advice. So, did you-- Another question. Everything you're doing, directing videos, designing brands, collaborating and partnering, growing your community, trusting folks. What's your background education wise in terms of when you went to FSU, what's your degree in this? International affairs. I just wanted to get a degree in that out of there. If you want me to be honest with you, the reason I did international affairs because I liked going into philosophy classes. Because I love philosophy. I mean, I'm pretty big. I love reading about stoicism, like Marcus Aurelius, all that, I got really into that. Yeah. But yeah, I mean, I just needed to finish what I started. And especially for my parents, but also for myself. Because, I mean, I changed my major three times. I thought I wanted to be in finance because that's where the money's at. And I had friends that were in finance. And I was like, all right, clearly not that great with numbers. Let me go to Econ. It's like a more toned down version of finance, quote unquote. And then that didn't work out. So I was like, you know what? I'll do international affairs. If I could have done it differently in terms of the only thing I would have done different for school wise,

So I was like, you know what? I'll do international affairs. If I could have done it differently in terms of the only thing I would have done different for school wise, I would have majored in entrepreneurship. Like more of a business degree in that sense. But other than that, I have no regrets in the round I took. Because if I didn't take that fifth year, and I probably wouldn't be sitting here right now because that was when I started doing pop-ups. Yeah. And that was like an in-person experience. Yeah, yeah. Do you speak Spanish? I do. That's like my ace in the hole. So did your mom only speak Spanish in the house? Yeah, growing up, my dad would speak English and then my mom would speak Spanish to us. And then when I went to college, I lost a little bit of that Spanish. And now that I'm back, I make her only speak Spanish to me. Oh really? Yeah, because I was, it was showing that my Spanish was getting worse. I was like, I wanna take advantage for what, with what I have now. Because it's one of the biggest blessings to have. It's a gift. Yeah, it's an absolute gift. Like I understand everything perfectly. Like I've been in negotiations with people where they'll start, they'll sidebar and start talking Spanish. That's awesome. They come back, I'll start speaking Spanish to them. I love that. And they're like, that's hilarious. Oh, I'd love to witness that. I'd love to see that stuff. I look like I sing country or something. Yeah. (laughing) Yeah, you said something early on, very Spanish fluid. It was money doesn't sleep. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So and that'll help you near, it'll help you everywhere. Yeah. Oh yeah. It'll help you everywhere. So that is a gift your brother too. Yeah, my brother too. I definitely wanna

Yeah. Yeah. So and that'll help you near, it'll help you everywhere. Yeah. Oh yeah. It'll help you everywhere. So that is a gift your brother too. Yeah, my brother too. I definitely wanna learn a different language and it's good that they're all Latin derived. So you're able to pass by. They say once you've learned one, it's easier to learn the rest. Oh yeah, I worked at a retail store in Sawgrass and most of the clientele was Portuguese and Brazilian. So I would speak, they would speak Portuguese and we would negotiate and I could, I started picking up on it pretty quickly. And then when we went to Italy, I was able to like pick up on the words pretty quick. Yeah, that's great. That's great. Last thing I have. And it's really just so I don't forget, we can cut this out if we want. But in New York, if you go out the Lincoln Tunnel and you're heading out to Jersey, the first exit you go down, you could down the hill, take a right up to the top and it's a great spot for overseeing the city skyline and shooting a video. Oh, Weehawken. It's Weehawken, it's technically I think East New York is what they call it, but it's in the Jersey side. It's an absolute perfect view of downtown Manhattan. That's a great, yes. Is it in Jersey City? Well, no, like she's saying it's like Weehawken, Seacock, it's East New York, all these little towns roll together. You don't know where the hell you're at, to be honest with you. But that's why I say you come out of the Lincoln Tunnel, heading to Jersey, take the first exit, get to the bottom of the hill, take a right up to the top and it's, I'll keep this in so you can come back to it. But we'll also maybe get more specific and email, I'll get it to you. Because we used to take Nathan and Kai into the city

take a right up to the top and it's, I'll keep this in so you can come back to it. But we'll also maybe get more specific and email, I'll get it to you. Because we used to take Nathan and Kai into the city constantly when we lived there. And then when we would leave, that was our first stop. And we would stop and stare at the city and take pictures and just stare at the city. But you're right for videos. There's another one too, we'll give you the fast track offline on how to get to the top of the Empire State Building in 10 minutes instead of two hours. Yeah. What? Yeah, the one thing I will say is, I'm moving to New York not to have a good time or anything like that, because with it, I'm moving to New York to work, to blow this up. Yeah, you can incorporate the city into your work. For sure, this is the next level. Yeah, like even artistically and with all of it, it's amazing. Okay, so are you done? I think so. I always make sure before I ask my last question, because sometimes he's like, I had more questions. Yeah, I think I'm good. Okay, so my last question is always, where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself back in South Florida. I have my own home. I mean, ideally I would like a family, started a family, just starting a family. Yifno is a household name within the fashion industry, within the industry itself, whether it be music, fashion, just in the creative field. And I'm surrounded by the people that I'm surrounded by now. I don't think there's cooler people than my friends, at least I've met a good amount of people. And every time it's like, yeah, I could go chill with this person, but who's like decent sized name, but I have like Fino, Ali, Santi, all these kids, Kodo, people like that,

And every time it's like, yeah, I could go chill with this person, but who's like decent sized name, but I have like Fino, Ali, Santi, all these kids, Kodo, people like that, Korn, like Tony, the list goes on. I don't wanna leave any names out and then get yelled at, but I see myself in five years is just, the position I'm in now, just taken to like 10 fold, 100 fold. And then I wanna be able to travel all over the world whenever I want, when I want, wherever I want. And yeah, I mean, it's just like, have the American dream. Yeah. Really? I think those are all wonderful goals and I can see them all happening for you. Definitely. Thank you so much. And I think what you're doing with Yifno, well, especially the traveling, we'll give you that opportunity as well. You're not gonna be tied down to one place. So yeah, no, I'm personally very excited to see where you go with this. And again, I think this, you look back on this time and you'll see this was probably the beginning of this, whatever is about to happen, this was that moment right before it did. So I feel very honored that you're here sharing your story with us, your life story thus far. And you took the time to share it with us because it gave us a window into the Yifno world. And now we get to go along for the ride by standing on the sidelines and cheering you on. No, I appreciate you guys having me on. And I mean, if it doesn't happen five years, it could take 10 years, 20 years, it doesn't matter. It's happening. Yeah, I love it. It's too, it's gonna happen. Yeah, you're in it, it's happening. Not about if, it's about when. Exactly, and John Lennon, I'm sure you've heard this, life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans. It's happening, you're in it right now.

Not about if, it's about when. Exactly, and John Lennon, I'm sure you've heard this, life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans. It's happening, you're in it right now. So I think it's very exciting, very exciting. And I'm glad Nathan got a new hat, because that one was the... Yeah, that one was a little rough after all. So, no. Drop the name again, I won't fuck it up. Yifno, Y-I-F-N-O, yo, it's fucking nice out. Yifno.com, we will put everything in the description on the socials, but check out Yifno.com, it's awesome. It's a great clothing brand. And again, we... And you know, too, though, the extra plug, you heard the conversation about giving back to the community. So I think that's huge. When you buy and support a company, it's the right thing to do is to support companies that are here, that are local, and that support local causes and global causes. It's a good purchase. And I love the five senses concept. Yeah, totally. And I think that it's just so unique and original. And so I'm excited to see about the wine. Yeah, I'm gonna keep my eye on that one. We'll get you guys to see. Yeah, yeah. Maybe we'll start drinking it good. Yeah, yeah. Exactly. You're gonna get accused. Exactly, I'll drink that. But that's really exciting. But yes, to your point, this is a brand that's coming from an authentic place, a good place. These are good people. And I would be very proud to support your clothing brand. We wish you and your team all the luck. And we hope to have you back on when you have some time, maybe in three years, five years, whenever, to kind of chronicle where you're at now, when you come back. We gotta circle back. And I wanna give you guys your flowers. You guys are absolutely killing it. Oh, thank you.

to kind of chronicle where you're at now, when you come back. We gotta circle back. And I wanna give you guys your flowers. You guys are absolutely killing it. Oh, thank you. This was such a great, I wouldn't even call it an interview. It was a great conversation. That's our goal. Yeah, thank you. You guys made me so comfortable. It's ridiculous. I feel at home right now. Oh, that's wonderful. No, we are just so honored that you shared your story. So thank you for taking the time for that. And we can't wait to have you back. I'll be back. So to our listeners, please leave any comments or questions. And especially if you have any questions about Yifno, leave those and we'll make sure that Nick gets you answers or we'll get answers from Nick. And but keep your eyes open for yifno.com. Go check it out. And we will see you next. For your local pop-up. And yeah, and for your website will tell people when you're having pop-ups and stuff, right? Yeah, the best place to find everything is Instagram and TikTok for us. To follow you on Instagram and TikTok? For sure. Okay, yeah. We'll put it all up, but Instagram, TikTok, go check out Yifno. And we'll see you next time. Bye. (upbeat music) (upbeat music)