Are You Garbage? – Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee)

Episode Date: September 15, 2025
Hosts: Kevin Ryan & H. Foley
Guest: Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee)

Episode Overview

In this entertaining episode, comedians H. Foley and Kevin Ryan dive deep with entrepreneur, media mogul, and "garbage baby" Gary Vaynerchuk. The Are You Garbage? lens is turned on Gary, who’s more than willing to dissect his immigrant roots, scrappy New Jersey upbringing, family quirks, and his transformation from Soviet Union refugee to multimillionaire. Along the way, Gary reveals the personal philosophies, “dirtbag” habits, and gratitude that fuel his success, in a conversation packed with humor, candor, and blue-collar sensibility.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gary Vee's Origin Story & Immigrant Roots

• Soviet Union Beginnings: Born in the USSR (1975), emigrated to Queens, NY as political asylum refugees in 1978 (02:23).
  • “Real immigrant shit. Born in the USSR in 1975… moved here in ‘78 to Queens.” (Gary, 02:23)
• Family Hardship: Lived in a packed studio apartment with extended family, parents worked menial jobs, both lost a parent young (03:19).
• Childhood Anxiety: Fear of losing parents shaped outlook:
  • “The fear of my parents dying was the soundtrack of my life. Which is why I am who I am.” (Gary, 03:59)
  • “For the last 30 years, I’ve been in full house money.” (04:13)

2. Soviet Mentality Meets Jersey Grit

• Extreme Adversity: Grew up in a tough mix of Soviet discipline at home and gritty, diverse, lower-middle-class New Jersey outside (05:50).
  • “Growing up in a Soviet household and then outside your door is lower middle class New Jersey in the 80s. That’s a tough like...” (Gary, 05:52)
• Immigration Trauma: USSR likened to North Korea in lack of freedoms; America was a shock (04:41–05:41).
• Cultural Melting Pot: Experienced racial, cultural, and economic mixing at Martin Luther King elementary. Early bullying, ball-busting were rites of passage (08:14, 09:09).
  • “My best bud...lived in like a ranch that was much more a trailer.” (07:44)

3. Early Entrepreneurship & Hustle

• “Garbage Baby” Sister: Nicknamed because her bassinet was literally a car seat found in the garbage (11:43).
• Lemonade Stand Mentality: Always hustling—shoveling snow, converting neighborhood snowball fights into side businesses (09:01).
  • “All my buddies are like, let’s throw snowballs...I was like, fuck that, let’s all get shovels, ring doorbells and make five bucks.” (Gary, 09:01)
• Influence of Comedy: Comedians shaped his presentation and hustle. "Keynotes" inspired by stand-up rhythms (09:24).

4. Family Climb Through Hard Work

• Father’s Grit: Started as a $2.25/hour stock boy in a liquor store; due to twists of fate and deregulation, eventually became part-owner (12:23–16:32).
  • “My dad catches that wave as the manager...and the business explodes.” (Gary, 16:20)
• True American Assimilation: Eventually, the family moved up to lower-middle, then middle-class, but vacations (Holiday Inn Orlando!) and treats were rare, and nothing was taken for granted (20:00–21:03).

5. Low Expectations, High Gratitude, & No-Frills Living

• Proud “Dirtbag” Roots: Red Lobster was fine dining (“wore a $10 Kmart suit to Red Lobster for my 10th birthday”—24:43), “warm Coke on the nightstand” was a treat (26:31).
• Life Philosophy: The hardship and lack of materialism breeds gratitude.
  • “This is literally why everything for me is gratitude…and I’m completely unaffected.” (Gary, 25:03–25:10)
  • “We now think a necessity is a $9 coffee and taking an Uber. A necessity—suck.” (Gary, 12:46)
• No Milk with Dinner: “Strictly for cereal. Cereal was religion. My mom’s one splurge—Frosted Flakes.” (13:13–13:27)

6. School, Social Life, and Adolescent Hustle

• Culture Shock in High School: Moved to rural Hunterdon County, NJ in 8th grade. “Stick kids” and deer season were new territory. Stacy Johnson, the “hottest girl in school,” crushes; rapid rise and fall in social standing as “late bloomer” (32:19–35:03).
• Teen Tycoon: By high school, was making “thousands” buying and selling baseball cards.
  • “I had $1,000 in cash in my pocket in high school, every day...it was as if I had a billion.” (36:16–36:30)
  • Mom’s Nancy Reagan-style parenting: Never tried drugs (36:41).
• Work Ethic: Started working weekends at dad’s store at 14, barely spoke to his father due to both working nonstop (37:35–38:19).

7. Domestic Habits & House “Garbage” Check

• Sleep Setup: California King, two pillows, snuggling with wife Mona; TV in room, but she prefers power/wifi off and scent-free everything (43:10–45:49).
• Dirtbag Tests:
  • Pees in the shower, brushes teeth there sometimes (44:34).
  • Eats in the car (55:35); used tires for his first car—a ‘76 Monte Carlo for $680 (50:16).
  • No trophy displays, not into bling—valuing time and utility (55:26–48:30).
  • White Castle obsession: “White Castle, eating six burgers quickly that make you shit your pants, I think is an American pastime.” (Gary, 55:58–56:04)
• Snacks & Food: Rotisserie chicken is a go-to. Vacation = doing “absolutely nothing” on a beach, eating three times a day instead of once. Loves coleslaw “all versions...even the $3 deli version” (53:00–54:50).
• Hygiene & Cleanliness: Scent-free home, organic everything; wife’s influence (45:35).
• Preferred Water: Only glass bottle, sparkling or still—plastic is banished (67:00).

8. Success, Money, and Showing Out

• Full-Time Driver: Believes it’s the best “rich guy” perk, way better than fancy watches/cars—“time is everything” (47:54–48:27).
• No Flashy Purchases: Mac Weldon t-shirts, no expensive bling, prefers simple, functional clothing (49:05).
• Wedding Gifts: “2-5K” in the envelope—knows his reputation depends on it (46:53).
• Restaurant Routine: Eats out every night for social/business (58:56), owns restaurants (Flyfish Club).

9. Humor, Attitude, and Lasting Lessons

• Comedic Influence: Grew up on Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Jerky Boys—attributes a lot to humor for survival and success (62:28–62:36).
• Humility and Legacy: Fame and success are fleeting; his self-worth is measured by character and how he treats people, not by his titles or wealth (62:08–62:59).
  • “I live with humility. I don’t think I’m anybody. I’m very proud of what I’ve accomplished, honestly.” (62:01–62:08)
  • "The shit that we're, you know, these followers, these dollars—it's not fucking real anyway." (62:47)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On House Money Mentality:
  “The fear of my parents dying was the soundtrack of my life...for the last 30 years, I've been in full house money.” (Gary, 03:59–04:13)

• On Soviet/Early American Adversity:
  “Between the Soviet shit...and then outside your door is lower middle class New Jersey in the 80s. I don’t know...what’s below G?” (Gary, 05:52–06:27)

• On Early Hustle:
  “It's not confusing, you understand?...the comedy thing was in you...some of the best comedians have told me my keynotes are like stand-up.” (09:26)

• On American Materialism:
  "We now think a necessity is a $9 coffee and taking an Uber...the poorest fucker you know has a Lexus." (12:46–13:13)

• On His First Car:
  “My first car...1976 Monte Carlo with a massive dent in it. For $680 at a garage sale.” (50:16)

• On Scent-Free Living:
  “I don't have a single scented item in our home...my deodorant...my wife transferred me to this new deodorant three years ago, I smelled like a fucking maniac for the first week.” (45:32–45:50)

• On Vacation:
  “Beach, doing nothing. That is a vacation for me.” (51:33)

• On Picking Up the Check:
  “I have picked up every check since I was 13...except for my father. He would deem it disrespectful.” (54:15–54:39)

• On Humility and Fame:
  “When Prince died...Richard Pryor…24 hours of love and everyone moves on…that shit isn’t real. This what? These followers, these dollars, it’s not fucking real anyway.” (62:28–62:47)

• On Belichick/Patriots Rivalry:
  “I hate Bill Belichick. And you know why? Because he hated me first—the way he treats Jet fans. Fuck him.” (59:46–60:26)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Gary’s Immigration/Early Life: 02:23–07:44
• Entrepreneurial Drive/Hustle: 09:01–09:47
• Materialism & Gratitude Philosophy: 12:35–13:30, 25:03–25:19
• First American “Luxuries": 20:00–21:03, 24:43–25:03
• High School Hustle, Social Life: 32:00–36:39
• Working in Liquor Store: 37:35–42:52
• Garbage Lifestyle Q&A: 43:10–50:59
• Full-Time Driver & Rich Guy Purchases: 47:54–49:11
• White Castle Love: 55:52–56:04
• Wedding Gifts & Money Etiquette: 46:53–47:19
• Humility, Fame, & Legacy: 62:01–62:59
• Water & Final Questions: 67:00–68:03

Final Takeaways

Gary Vee not only passed the "Are You Garbage?" test—he did it with flying colors, highlighting the gritty, resourceful, blue-collar roots that are foundational to his drive and humility. He mixes candid immigrant stories, raunchy honesty, and an appreciation for the simple things with the trappings of his modern wealth, always coming back to gratitude and hard work. Whether chugging warm Coke as a kid, running a baseball card business as a teen, or tipping hundreds at hotels, the “garbage” and gratitude both run deep.

Memorable Closeout:
“I like being a good guy...I really identify that I don’t think any of the things I’ve pulled off professionally or publicly mean anything...no one. Everyone else sucks too.” (Gary, 62:12–63:00)

Bottom Line:
This episode is a hysterical and heartfelt ride through Gary Vee’s “garbage” bona fides and entrepreneurial wisdom—a must-listen for fans of underdog stories, immigrant grit, and the comedy in everyday dirtbag behavior.