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- [00:00]
Anna Kai
Dear old work platform.
- [00:02]
Hayden Cohen
It's not you, it's us. Actually, it is you. Endless onboarding, constant IT bottlenecks.
- [00:08]
Anna Kai
We've had enough. We need a platform that just gets us.
- [00:11]
Hayden Cohen
And to be honest, we've met someone new.
- [00:14]
Anna Kai
They're called Monday.com and it was love at first onboarding.
- [00:17]
Hayden Cohen
Their beautiful dashboards, their customizable workflows got us floating on a digital cloud nine. So no hard feelings, but we're moving on.
- [00:26]
Anna Kai
Monday.com, the first work platform you'll love to use. This episode is brought to you by Meundies. Underwear Drawers are like the Wild West.
- [00:35]
Hayden Cohen
You never know what you're gonna pull.
- [00:36]
Anna Kai
Out or what shape it's in. So upgrade your collection with the buttery, soft comfort of Meundies. Meundies signature fabric is as soft as a warm hug from your favorite sweater. Plus, it's breathable and, oh, so comfy, making it ideal for all day wear. Get 20% off your first order, plus free shipping at MeUndies.com Spotify with code Spotify. That's MeUndies.com Spotify code Spotify. Welcome to Brutally Anna, a podcast about finding love, losing love, and all the things we think about but don't talk about enough. I'm your host, Anna Kai, AKA maybe both across social media, here to remind you that life can be beautiful even when it's freaking brutal. If the old adage, you are what you eat rings true, then our guest today, influencer Hayden Cohen, AKA haters, is the epitome of you are what you make fun of. Since 2020, Hayden has been keeping us all laughing with his sometime too accurate impressions of the influencers we love to hate and reminding us all that life is so much better when we don't take ourselves too seriously. Hayden, thank you so much for being here today.
- [01:44]
Hayden Cohen
Oh, my God, thank you for having me. I feel honored. Privileged. I'm so excited to finally, like, meet you.
- [01:49]
Anna Kai
I know. Like, actually chat.
- [01:51]
Hayden Cohen
Oh, my God. Yeah.
- [01:51]
Anna Kai
Okay, so here's the thing. You have been. I've been watching you since the pandemic, so since 2020. You got me through some really dark days, but then when I was doing a deep dive of you, you actually have been sort of an influencer for a while since prior to 2020. Because I went back and I think your first partnership, correct me if I'm wrong, was like a chappy, happy partner partnership. Wait, I pulled. I took a screenshot. I was like, wait, you really dove.
- [02:20]
Hayden Cohen
Back into the archetype.
- [02:21]
Anna Kai
2017. Yeah, 2017.
- [02:23]
Hayden Cohen
Oh, my God. That was my mom taking me taking that picture on the beach. Yeah. So after I graduated college, I didn't have a job like most people after graduating college. And I was like. It was kind of like when the boom of the influencers was happening. This was, like, before TikTok. This was on, like, Instagram and, like, blog days when people had blogs, and I was like, oh, my God, this is so fun. This. I want to just start posting random shit like this. So my mom and I just, like, went to the beach every day and, like, took pictures with, like, different things. That was one of them, which is such a cringy picture. Like, I need to archive that. Like, what was I thinking?
- [02:56]
Anna Kai
No, you don't. It was part of your journey.
- [02:58]
Hayden Cohen
It was part of my journey. But then during all that, I was also working at. At a PR agency, like, working with influencers. And then when the pandemic hit, I was like, I need a creative outlet of, like, ways that I can, like, kind of shit on these influencers that I'm dealing with every day, because it was a lot, like, chaos.
- [03:15]
Anna Kai
Can you tell me, like, a few stories from your days on the other side as to some of the crazy stuff? No names, obviously, but what are some of the crazy things that you heard while you were working on the brand side?
- [03:30]
Hayden Cohen
Literally, like, everything and anything that you can think of. Like, there were. There were times where, like, just, like, well, influencers in general, like, make just. They just make so much money, and you're dealing with all of these, like, egos and people who, like, think that them having a couple hundred thousand followers equates them to being, like, a Kardashian. And they. There's just, like, all. All the times I would be, like, called and, like, yelled at for, like, you know, not negotiating a deal properly or. There was one. I don't know if I should say this, but I'm gonna. There was one time where this girl. I was at, like, a influencer event. I was working this influencer event, and she just, like, comes up to me and storms up, and she's like, do you know who I am? Like, this is crazy. Like, I need a private section. Like, I, like, went and I didn't know who she was, and I look. Go look at her followers, and it was like, she had, like, 10,000 followers. And I was like. I was like, this. I was like, why am I dealing with this right now? Like, I'm too fabulous for, like, that type of mindset. So that's when I was like, okay, like, there's so much material here that is just, like, nobody's, like, kind of shitting on influencers. And just like you said in the intro, which was so kind, by the way, like, bringing some, like, levity to this all. Like, this is a crazy industry that we, like, work in, and I feel like sometimes we need, like, a little bit of a gut check. Yeah. Where it's like, none of this is that serious. Like, you have to be able to, like, laugh at this, all that we're doing. Because, like, influencing is still in its infancy. So, like, we just need to, like, kind of take a break and, like, realize, like, none of this is that serious.
- [05:01]
Anna Kai
Here's the thing. It's like, you know, people are like, how do you manage being an influencer? And how do you deal with it? And I'm like, I am literally not saving lives at all. I give unsolicited dating and life advice online that is completely not licensed. Which I think there is, like, a very scary trend of influencers posing, I think, as, like, professionals. And I never want to come off like that. But that's the thing is it's like the ego sometimes tied in. You're like, can we all just take a step back and realize how much we're paid to do this amazing job?
- [05:42]
Hayden Cohen
We're so fortunate that. And. And it has its perks and its challenges, obviously. Every job does. But we're so fortunate that, like, we get to make our own schedule. I, like, don't take that for granted. And I feel like a lot of people just, like, take themselves too seriously and kind of need to be brought back down to earth with this stuff. Which is why I started posting these videos. Cause I was just like, they can't really think that they're this big of a deal.
- [06:07]
Anna Kai
They do.
- [06:08]
Hayden Cohen
They do. They do. And there still are people that I meet, and I'm like, you really think you are God's gift to earth?
- [06:15]
Anna Kai
Well, your first viral video I read was a video of you unboxing your newborn nephew in an Amazon prime box.
- [06:24]
Hayden Cohen
Yes. Yes.
- [06:26]
Anna Kai
What was that? And where did the idea for that come from?
- [06:30]
Hayden Cohen
Honestly, I was, like, watching. I was. It was during the pandemic. We were all, like, working from home, like, cooped up, and I was just consuming so much content, and I was seeing so many of these unboxings, which I personally don't like. Unboxings. Like, I get that they're a fun video to, like, film when you're getting all these cool things, but, like, it's kind of. Again, like, Reality check. Like, how fortunate are you to have, like a hundred boxes piled up at your front door? Like, that's so unrelatable to me. And I was watching all of these during the pandemic and my sister had just had her second baby and I was like, I wanna unbox my nephew. So I text my sister, I'm like, I need to unbox Rylan for a video. And she's like, come over and just filmed it. Literally, like, did it in, like one take and was like, you never think the things that take you that are that quick, that are like a split second idea, are gonna be the ones that, like, go viral when you're creating content. I always, like, they always are. It's always those videos. So that one was just. It took off. It really was like, oh, I need to do more of these mocking influencer videos because they resonate with people. People wanna see that type of thing. So then it kind of just brought me to where I am today, which is crazy.
- [07:47]
Anna Kai
Kept going with it.
- [07:48]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah.
- [07:48]
Anna Kai
And by the way, I still think there's not really a ton of influencers like you, obviously, because it's a little bit.
- [07:55]
Hayden Cohen
A little bit dicey.
- [07:57]
Anna Kai
There's actually one guy in the UK that I really. He's. He doesn't quite make fun of influencers. He just makes fun of posh people in general. Have you heard of Henry Rowley?
- [08:07]
Hayden Cohen
I've definitely seen his videos on TikTok.
- [08:09]
Anna Kai
Yeah, he's hilarious. And it's a very similar kind of style of humor where it's. But I think the thing is that has made you so relatable and so successful is that you're not mean. Yeah, I mean, I don't think you're mean. And I'm an influencer, so I'm sure there are some people. I know there's some people in your DMs that have reached out thinking that you are directly talking about them and you're like, I have no idea who you are, quite literally, but thank you for being a stereotype and calling yourself.
- [08:38]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah, I never want to, like, directly attack a person. Everything I do is more focused on, like, influencer culture in general. Like, it's never going. There are people that, like, I'll take inspiration from here and there, but I always have this rule of thumb that, like, if I see something three or four times, then I can, like, make a video about it from three or four different people I don't want to see. I don't ever want to have somebody, like, feel like I'm Singling them out because that feels like bullying to me, which I don't like.
- [09:05]
Anna Kai
Exactly. And I think what you're. I think my favorite videos that you do and some of your most successful ones are you are very of the moment. So you did one during the super bowl where you were making fun of these influencers. You're like, just had a quick little super bowl party. And I'm like, I ordered wings.
- [09:22]
Hayden Cohen
No. Right, Same.
- [09:23]
Anna Kai
And this. Some of these spreads, I'm like, snack.
- [09:26]
Hayden Cohen
Stadiums that are like these huge, like, kind of like middle school science fair projects with, like, Styrofoam. Like, it boggles my mind. I'm like, hats off to you for being able to do this. But, like, I would simply pass away, like, I could not handle it. I'm like, how do these people do these things? Like, I'm just like, ordering, like, McDonald's on Uber Eats for the Super Bowl. Like, that's my gourmet.
- [09:49]
Anna Kai
Which, by the way, that's actually. If you are going to order McDonald's on Uber Eats before the super bowl, you need to time it because I have ordered wings or anything, like, way too late. And they're like, you will have to wait until the super bowl is over. No, you're not going to get these wings because everyone else is strategic. Yes.
- [10:07]
Hayden Cohen
It's genuinely strategy.
- [10:08]
Anna Kai
So. Yes, that is a strategy, too. Ordering is also an effort on the Super Bowl.
- [10:12]
Hayden Cohen
Bowl. Oh, my God. Yeah.
- [10:13]
Anna Kai
Yeah. So just do something like Chinese takeout. Because, you know, can't go wrong with that. You can't go wrong. So it's funny because for as long as you've been around, there's actually. And you and I were talking about this earlier, I don't feel like there's a ton written about you online. People don't trash talk you on Reddit. And I try to do extensive research on all my guests to see what people are saying about that. I was like, people just like Hayden. So I guess I'll just have to, like, take him at his own word about himself. But I've always been so curious about your life because you share a lot of it, but it's in bits and pieces. And obviously you're gay. And so I'm very curious as to kind of what your childhood was like growing up. You grew up in the suburbs of Boston. My husband's also from the suburbs of Boston, so I'm very familiar with the area you grew up in. You 508 area code, shout out. You seem to have a very close relationship with your Family. Can you just walk us back and tell us about your childhood and who you are and how you came to be?
- [11:15]
Hayden Cohen
Of course, of course. I grew up in a small town outside of Boston. Like you said, very like tight knit community, everybody knows everybody type thing. I'm the youngest of four, my sister's the oldest and then two brothers and then me. And we're all, there's, we're all really, really close. It's four of us in five years. So my parents were getting after it. Like I always, I'm always like, I don't know how the hell you guys did four kids in five years. And me and my brother are like exactly a year apart.
- [11:41]
Anna Kai
So I'm like, are you Irish twins?
- [11:42]
Hayden Cohen
We're like five days apart from being Irish twins, which is like when my parents got the green light, they were like, go. I guess so like, I don't know how they did it, but yeah, I've always been like super close with my family. I always like, knew I was different. I never like, when you're young, you don't like have a title for it, like in terms of like knowing your sexuality. And this is like in the 90s, there weren't like as many like role models for like the coming out experience as there was now. Like, we didn't have social media, we didn't have tick tock and like YouTube where like people were coming out on YouTube and like, you know, remember that like era of like I'm gay on YouTube? It was, it was like a whole thing.
- [12:20]
Anna Kai
You were already well into your gayness by the time that happened.
- [12:24]
Hayden Cohen
I mean I was, I like walked out of my mom's vagina guy. Like, I was like, they knew from the instant that I could like speak, talk. Like I would walk around with like a blanket on my head and I would have to wear it to the supermarket and I would flip my hair. And you'll probably see in our conversation I have like these like isms you do. You slip your invisible hair and I tuck my hair behind my ear and it's genuinely because I would walk around with a blanket so much as a kid on my head that I like, it's just like something a tic that I do, which is so funny. So yeah, my parents always knew I was gay. I never had this dramatic coming out experience to anybody. The only one that I did have actually was with my mom, but she told me she knew I was gay. So it wasn't like me being like, I'm gay and this whole theatrical thing, it Was always just kind of like, Hayden's gay. So, like, there wasn't really anything like that I had to tell people or, like, it was just always known. And so it's kind of like a boring story, but it's also, like, such a beautiful story because everybody around me, it wasn't anything. And that's how it should be. Like, it shouldn't be anything. I always say, like, there's no. Why does everyone have to come out? Like, straight people don't have to come out.
- [13:35]
Anna Kai
That is true.
- [13:36]
Hayden Cohen
Like, I'm gay. Like, that's just a part of me. You know what I mean? It is what it is.
- [13:41]
Anna Kai
But it must resonate with you, especially now we talk about it so much, and there's a lot of fluidity in sexuality and genders now. And it's great that people are talking about. It must resonate with you how lucky you were to have parents and a family that was so supportive and knew before you did. It was almost like they were just waiting for you to be ready to come into terms with us.
- [14:04]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah. Yeah. Because there was. There obviously, like, growing up, there is times where you, like, don't want to admit that, like, you're different from other people because even though it's not really a difference, like, it doesn't. Like, it doesn't matter if I'm gay or if I'm straight. Like, I'm still the same person. But there are times where, like, I didn't want to admit it to myself. I didn't, like, officially, like, own my gayness until I was, like, 12 or 13, which is still really early on to, like, come out or, like, be out. I didn't have a coming out really. But yeah, no, I am so fortunate that one. I mean, I'm lucky to live in, like, Massachusetts is one of the most, like, liberal places. Like, everybody that knew I was gay, like, I never had, like, any type of, like, experiences where people were, like, against my. That's shyness.
- [14:50]
Anna Kai
You're a child of the 90s. And I just feel like most people who are of our age, I mean, think about Colton Underwood coming out and even how traumatizing that was for him.
- [15:01]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah, I'm very lucky in that sense. And I feel like a lot of people that I that follow me, I'll get, like, messages, Especially, like, it just being June, like, during pride month, I got so many messages from, like, moms from, like, all over the country that are like, I think my. I think my son or my daughter, you know, might be this, like, do you have any advice, like. And that is, like, so full circle for me, because it's like, that. How cool is that that I'm able to, like, be a public person that can. Somebody can see their, like, child in and, like, ask for my opinion on my advice? Because they know that, like, I'm close with my mom and, like, that type of thing. So it's really cool. But, yeah, no, I mean, luckily, I never had any type of experience where I felt. I mean, obviously, like, growing. There are places now that I've, like, traveled the world and stuff like that where, like, I don't necessarily feel as welcomed or, like, experiences that I've had that weren't the best. Now that I am, you know, in my 30s, like, you're always gonna find people that, like, don't like you for who you are. But growing up, I was idyllic. Like, I don't have any experiences where I was, like, targeted or somebody was against me or anything like that, which I'm very fortunate for.
- [16:12]
Anna Kai
Can you talk about some of those experiences that maybe made you realize that where you grew up and where you came from was not the norm? And that, unfortunately, there is still a lot of hate out there?
- [16:24]
Hayden Cohen
100%. I mean, I remember when I went to college, I went to college in Massachusetts, which is still really liberal, but one of my first experiences was, like, at a college frat party where, like, you know, the frat bros, the Chads, they're. They're doing their thing. They're standing at the door. And I was friends with, like, all these girls, and they were like, we're not going to let this fag it in, like, right in my face. Like, it's like one of my first nights of college, and I'm just sitting there, and I had never experienced anything like that before. And I was like, I just kind of was frozen. Cause growing up, like, I said nothing of that nature ever happened. So I was kind of just like. And luckily, I had my girl gang around me who was like, what the fuck? Where would I fucking kill you? Literally just start screaming at this guy. So I feel like I'm very fortunate experiences like that have happened where it's like some loser will say something, and I'm like, oh, shit. This actually chucks me back into reality a bit, because I've grown up in this bubble where it's like, everything's okay, and, like, nothing bad has happened. And then it's like, oh, there are still people that think, like, this. Like, how crazy is that?
- [17:27]
Anna Kai
That is wild. And that's just formative time. Freshman year of college, your first party, you're just trying to drink some jungle juice and get messed up and maybe hook up with some guys. And all of a sudden you're like, I have to deal with homophobia now.
- [17:44]
Hayden Cohen
Oh yeah, 100%. And you don't think it's going to happen like when you go to, when you go to school in like a liberal state or like a liberal college, but like there's always going to be some fuck boy there, there that is probably in the closet himself. That's what I tell myself.
- [17:59]
Anna Kai
That's the thing. I think the people who, because I don't know that many straight men who are super secure in who they are that feel the need to shit on gay men.
- [18:11]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah.
- [18:11]
Anna Kai
You know, so I always, there's always the hyper masculine men that I'm like, there's something wrong.
- [18:16]
Hayden Cohen
Like if you care that much about what gay people or trans people are doing, like, that's maybe do some inward thinking of like, why do I care this much? And like, why am I spending so much energy and time into like what they're doing?
- [18:30]
Anna Kai
Yeah. Like, you know, well, it's like the people that. I see that on men for doing makeup.
- [18:36]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah.
- [18:36]
Anna Kai
Because I follow a lot of men who do makeup.
- [18:38]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah.
- [18:39]
Anna Kai
Or trans women. And it's like, why do you care? Nobody's forcing you to wear eyeliner. Also, Pete Wentz did it before everyone else did. And everyone I know, my millennial babies, like, do we remember Pete Wentz and that insane eyeliner?
- [18:55]
Hayden Cohen
Like, come on, this isn't anything new.
- [18:57]
Anna Kai
I know.
- [18:58]
Hayden Cohen
That's the thing. It's like, I feel like social media has brought this whole new, this whole, this generation. Like with social media, like they are. Everyone's a keyboard warrior. So I feel like I can't imagine growing up in these times. I was like lucky to live in my bubble back then because if I hadn't, I would have been exposed to so much more hate so much earlier. You know, I feel like kids these days, like, I feel for them.
- [19:25]
Anna Kai
I do too.
- [19:26]
Hayden Cohen
Because I couldn't hang well.
- [19:27]
Anna Kai
There's so much to compare yourself to. And I think it's a double edged sword. Like we did not grow up with nearly as much representation.
- [19:36]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah.
- [19:37]
Anna Kai
But on the same spectrum we were allowed to just be kids. And I don't feel like, you know, you've made parodies of this before where it's like me at 13 and we're on like MacBook photo booth just making weird funhouse faces and 13 year olds now are doing full on music video dances and wearing crop tops and shorts.
- [20:00]
Hayden Cohen
And they have like a full beat face.
- [20:02]
Anna Kai
Like, and they don't even look like 13 year olds.
- [20:04]
Hayden Cohen
No. It's crazy.
- [20:05]
Anna Kai
And I'm like, you do you. You are way more together than I ever was in my early teens and even college. I look at my college photos and I'm like, oh, God, no.
- [20:17]
Hayden Cohen
Same every, like a whole Facebook album of one night of a party. And I'm like, what were we doing at these parties? Like, why were we like in the corner doing like photo shoots, like, contorting our bodies. Like, we're like on a, like America's Next Top Model doing like a Tyra Banks challenge. Like, doing like, like, what am I doing? And this is at like a full like, party. I'm like, this is why that guy didn't let me in. I'm kidding.
- [20:39]
Anna Kai
You're like slightly justified, but still you're a homophobic hater.
- [20:43]
Hayden Cohen
Truly. Truly. But like, it's crazy just the way that kids these days are growing up. I like, it is such a double edged sword, like you said, because there's so much community online. That's what I've learned in like being in the space is like, there is so much community and like so much like togetherness, but there's also so much like hatred.
- [20:59]
Anna Kai
Right.
- [20:59]
Hayden Cohen
It's crazy.
- [21:00]
Anna Kai
What do you tell the people who reach out to you and say, hey, like, I might be gay or my son might be gay or my daughter might be gay? How do I deal with this with somebody?
- [21:08]
Hayden Cohen
I always say, like, just let them have their own journey and their own process. As corny as that sounds, don't out them. No, no, no. Literally, like I always say, like, I needed my mom to like, tell me that she knew. Cause I was like, oh, this is. It's gonna be okay. Like if my mom knows, like, that's all that matters. So I'd say, like, just let them have their process and like, don't force anybody out. Don't like, you can ask questions, you can like lead kind of like lead the witness. I say, like, that's always okay because like, sometimes there are people that like, want someone to know. Like, they just don't have the courage to say it themselves and like, bring up the conversation. But yeah, just like, let people have their own journey. I guess as corny as that sounds, like Bachelor. The bachelor, you get to be filming.
- [21:54]
Anna Kai
But did you realize you were gay because you were different and because you liked, quote unquote, maybe More feminine things. You related to women or was the first realization I'm attracted to a man Because I remember the first crush I had. It was definitively on a boy. And I was in kindergarten. It was very early and I didn't even. It wasn't like I was sexually attracted to. I was just like, I really want to be around this boy.
- [22:19]
Hayden Cohen
I think mine was more. The first realization was that I was doing more, like, girly things, hanging around more girls. I was like, the Little Mermaid was my favorite movie growing up. Like, I wanted to be Ariel. Like, and Prince Eric was like my first crush. So it was like, that was like, first celebrity crush. Yeah, first celebrity crush. Prince Eric, like, are you kidding? He's like, horrible. I look back, I still love the Little Mermaid, but I'm like, this is. Why was I watching this like 40 times a week? But yeah, no, that was kind of my realization. Where I was different was like, that I was doing more girly things, hanging around more girls, like, watching, like, Disney princesses, while, like, my brother, who's just a year older than me, was like, watching the Power Rangers. And when I did watch the Power Rangers, I was always the pink one or the yellow one because they were the girls. So, like, I kind of. That's where it came to. And then I did realize, like, pretty early on, like, I was more attracted. I was like, I was never like, like you said, like, it's not like a sexual attraction to a man when you're like 4 or 5 years old. It's just like more of like a inclination of like, oh, like, I like them, like a little crush. So, like, yeah, I definitely. I realized it pretty early on that, like, that was me and like, my parents did too. But yeah, I think it's. It's interesting to like, look back on and think about that because it's not something I think about that often. Like my childhood in terms of, like, when I realized I was different when.
- [23:43]
Anna Kai
It comes to grocery shopping and meal planning, I've got this problem. I don't have time to do it. Between running my business, moving and setting up our new house, and trying to maintain some sort of social and personal life, grocery shopping moves way down on the totem pole of priorities. However, that all changed thanks to hungryroot. It's the easiest way to eat healthy. Hungryroot is my personal shopper and nutritionist, saving me from the last minute takeout order because I yet again did not figure out what to make for dinner. They handle my weekly grocery shopping and offer delicious, healthy meals tailored to my nutrition preferences and health goals. With Hungryroot it's never been easier to eat high quality nutritious food and they offer a wide variety of meal plans tailored to your needs. Is like anti inflammatory or gut friendly or gluten free or dairy free or high protein. And if that wasn't enough, all of their meals can be made in 15 minutes or less because less stress is the name of a hungry roots game. I love how comprehensive their meal plans are with a delicious entree for dinner plus some healthy and nutritious snacks thrown in there because staying healthy doesn't mean I can't get my sweet treat every now and then. You're going to love hungryroot as much as I do. Take advantage of this exclusive offer because for a limited time get 40% off your first box plus a free item in every box for life. Go to hungryroot.com annakai and use code ANNAKAI that's hungryroot.com ANNAKAI code ANNAKAI to get 40% off your first box and a free item of your Choice for Life. Hungryroot.com Annakai code Annakai While some people like to unwind at the end of the night to their favorite Netflix show, I like to unwind by opening my favorite app, the Redfin app. Because for the last year and a half, Dave and I have been searching high and low in this crazy real estate market for our forever home and I am so happy to report that we found it finally via Redfin. We'll be moving in a few short weeks and it's all thanks to my love affair with Redfin and their easy to use app. The first step in finding our forever home was using Redfin's Open House search feature that lists all the open houses in our area for the upcoming weekend. We walked into this house's open house and voila, made an offer. And here we are. So whether you're looking to buy or rent your next place, you need the Redfin app. Redfin makes it fun to search all the homes and apartments in your neighborhood. And if you find a place you love, Redfin makes it easy to go see it in person. Just schedule a tour right from the app. Plus, if you're looking to sell, Redfin agents know how to get you the best price possible. Because they close twice as many deals as other agents and with a listing fee as low as 1%, Redfin's fees are half of what others often charge. So whether you're looking to buy, rent or sell, download the Redfin app To get started. Yeah, because it is. And it's so interesting hearing you talk about how natural of a progression it was, because I think there is this school of thought, unfortunately, that you can turn kids gay, which is crazy. It's wild to me. I'm like, why would you. I always thought this, too. Especially when being gay was far less socially acceptable. Even 10 years ago, I feel like it was still a little less socially acceptable than it is now. I always thought, why would somebody choose to make their life more difficult?
- [27:16]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah.
- [27:16]
Anna Kai
You know. Oh, I'm choosing to be.
- [27:19]
Hayden Cohen
Trust me, I would not have you. You want. You think I chose to like men? Like, it's a curse. It's a curse. Are you kidding me? Now? Now I'm thankful. Like, I've found my person. But, like, it was. It was hard out there in the streets. Okay. I. Like, I can't even imagine dealing with straight men. Like, the gay men are the best, but straight men. No, but, like, still, like, it's. It's. It's always boggles my mind when someone's like, you chose to be gay. It's like, I did not choose this. This was thrust upon me upon birth. Like, I. I personally am of the thought that, like, you're born gay. Like, you're born naked and the rest is drag, like RuPaul says. But, like, I was born. I know I was born gay. Like I said earlier, like, I walked out of my mom's vagina, like, strutting my stuff, like, flipping your invisible hair.
- [28:08]
Anna Kai
Does this mean you need to grow out your hair?
- [28:10]
Hayden Cohen
Oh, my God.
- [28:10]
Anna Kai
Have you ever thought you can't because.
- [28:12]
Hayden Cohen
It just grows out this way? Oh, it's the Jewish in me. It's just my Jew fro. So I've tried. Trust me. I'll show you pictures of myself when I was in, like, middle school and high school. And my juphro was absolutely insane.
- [28:27]
Anna Kai
It's interesting. Cause I wouldn't have guessed that from the way you have a cut, but that's.
- [28:30]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah. Probably why you've learned and I've grown. Thank God for that. That's why I didn't have a man for so long.
- [28:37]
Anna Kai
Who was your first boyfriend? Was it in high school or college?
- [28:40]
Hayden Cohen
No, Aaron is my first boyfriend I've ever had.
- [28:42]
Anna Kai
Oh, my gosh. Your current boyfriend, he's your first.
- [28:46]
Hayden Cohen
He's my first boyfriend.
- [28:47]
Anna Kai
Boyfriend, yeah.
- [28:48]
Hayden Cohen
And I was a ho back in the day, so, like, I was. It's not like it was like, first love, first thing. Like, first thing, whatever. Yeah, but he's my first, like, official boyfriend and will be my last.
- [29:01]
Anna Kai
Hopefully you guys bought a house together. So we.
- [29:03]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah, we're together.
- [29:05]
Anna Kai
You're together?
- [29:06]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah.
- [29:06]
Anna Kai
When did you start dating?
- [29:08]
Hayden Cohen
Aaron and I started dating, like, two and a half years, three years ago almost. We met at one of my best friend's birthday parties for her boyfriend. Friend who he know. Who he knows through people. And we just hit it off.
- [29:22]
Anna Kai
We've been together ever since. What was that first encounter? Like, do you remember at the point?
- [29:27]
Hayden Cohen
Drunken, Very drunken encounter. He bought me a drink, and then I think we did, like, a little make out at the bar. And then we were like, let's exchange numbers. And then went on a date and have never left each other's side. It's crazy. I still, like, remember our first date. It was at this, like, wine bar in Boston. And he was. He like, put so much effort into planning this. And then on that date, we actually bought tickets to a concert, like, the next week. And I was like, is this what. Like, this is like, what it feels like? Like, you just want to keep planning things together.
- [30:00]
Anna Kai
So he was very much courting you, or how does it work? Because obviously in heterosexual relationships, like, okay, the man.
- [30:06]
Hayden Cohen
It's a little bit of. It's a little bit of both. I mean, like, for us, like, at the beginning, I would say, like, he was more so courting me. And we were. We were really courting each other. Like, we would both, like, plan dates for each other and plan things for each other. We kind of, like, took turns doing that. But it was really natural, a natural progression into, like, okay, like, we're dating. We're taking this more seriously. Like, and it happened really fast. Like, we lived together after, I think, like, eight or nine months of dating, which, I mean, my parents were engaged after six months of dating. And, like, I feel like you don't hear those types of stories anymore. Cause, like, there's just such, like, such, like, strict rules that people set on themselves. Like, we have to date for a year, then we move in together for a year. Then we are like, Then we get engaged for a year. Like, then we have the wedding. Like, so it's just. It all happened really naturally, which, like, I always saw for myself. I always was like, I'm gonna marry the first person that, like, I date seriously. And my friends all said it, too.
- [31:05]
Anna Kai
You said that too.
- [31:06]
Hayden Cohen
My friends all were like, like, you've never had a boyfriend. And I'm like, stop rubbing it in. I get it. But I was like, they're like, you've never had a boyfriend. Like at this point I feel like the first person that you're is your boyfriend is going to be like your husband and like is the person that you're going to be with forever. And I was like, I totally see that for myself too. It ended up happening, which is crazy. Yeah.
- [31:24]
Anna Kai
So you had always dated people but you never got that serious with them?
- [31:28]
Hayden Cohen
Never, never got that serious with them. Like would always. I kind of was like would always do like the three date and then be like, eh. I don't see it for myself. Aaron was like the first person I just didn't get annoyed with I guess. Which is wild.
- [31:41]
Anna Kai
That is wild. And I think, I think that's a testament also to maybe how secure you are in yourself. Because I feel like a lot of people and I know I did and I speak from experience. I got into relationships with a lot of men that I probably shouldn't have because I was looking for validation. I was not secure in who I was in my 20s and I was like, well at least if I have a boyfriend, I'm secure in that. And you were like, bitch, I love my life and you are disturbing my peace.
- [32:10]
Hayden Cohen
Well, it's weird. I've always, I've like seen my siblings all go through different relationships and my friends too. Like all my girlfriends, I'm really close with them and have seen that like the trials and tribulations of their relationships and my relationship has just always been so easy and I'm like so lucky because about that, like I'm not a confrontational person. Like I Don't you see all these relationships on like TikTok and stuff that are like these like toxic situationships and like I just never saw myself having one of those or want Even when like I do bicker with Aaron, like if it's in front of people like I would. I like that like kills me. It irks me to my core. Like I'm like, I never want to be like one of those like couples that's like fighting at the bar and we never have been right. Like everything that every problem that we have I like we handle very like maturely and like have like a sit down conversation. Like a Barbara Walters special. The View. It's a whole roundtable. No, but like I've just never, I've just always seen myself like having that like sturdy relationship. I feel like it's because my parents have such have one that like it's just like all I saw was like their peace and their, the way that they talked with each other and, like, how they were kind of each other's, like, perfect fit. That, like, I just, like, saw that for myself too.
- [33:27]
Anna Kai
And you were like, I'm not going to settle for anything less than just peace. And I think what I love about you is that you live this life that's very online and you're very dramatic in your videos, but actually, when you look back and peel back at your life, you live a very kind of boring, almost nice suburban existence.
- [33:47]
Hayden Cohen
It is. It is funny because it's like, I kind of say, like, my online Persona is just like a drum, dramatic version of, like, me. Like, I'm. I am very, like, boring, like, in my everyday life. Like, I just, I. I wake up, I watch Real housewives, I eat McDonald's, I go to bed, like, all probably bad habits, but it's just. It is what it is. And I found, like, this little niche corner of the Internet that, like, relates to that in some way in a dramatic. In a dramaticized version of that. So I'm very lucky.
- [34:16]
Anna Kai
Okay, so in hetero relationships, there's this constant debate on social media about who should pay for dates and then who should pay for things in a relationship. Once you get into an ltr, what's your take on who should pay for things in a gay relationship? How do you and Aaron manage that? I feel like finances is a huge topic.
- [34:37]
Hayden Cohen
I think when you first start dating, it's. I. It's really hard because, like, in a gay. In a gay relationship, you're obviously, we're both men, and everyone's like, the man should pay. But we kind of went. Go through the mindset of, like, whoever plans the date pays for it. Whoever, like, thinks of doing the thing, or whoever, like, makes the reservation will pay for it. So we always kind of. We've kind of just been, like, grandfathered into that since, like, from when we first started dating to now. And we have. We don't really go on, like, a ton of dates. We do, like, a monthly date night just because our lives are kind of crazy right now with, like, everything. So we, like, make a conscious effort. Like, every other month, the other person chooses. So, like, this month I'll plan a date. Next month Aaron will plan a date, and then we'll just. Whoever plans that date pays for it. But I feel like it's hard in gay relationships because obviously there's always going to be wage disparity between people, between partners, unless you have the exact same job at the exact same company, which. Who does that. So I always am Just like, if you make more than me, like, you should be paying. I'm sorry. And vice versa. Like, if I make more than you, like I should be paying more sometimes. But we've kind of found this balance that works for us where it's like, if you plan it, it's yours, you own it, you pay for it. Which I feel like is a good way to also just like consciously plan dates for each other. Because when you're in a relationship for a long time, you kind of lose like wanting to go do those things. Like, trust me, I'd rather just stay in the house and do nothing and cuddle up with our dog and like watch bridesmaids for the 40th time. But it kind of forces us to be like, no, we need to have a date night and like keep things spicy and romantic and fun.
- [36:19]
Anna Kai
Yeah. Especially in a long term relationship. You, I think, sometimes do take each other for granted because you're so comfortable and so it's nice to kind of spice things up a little bit every now and then. How do you guys handle in terms of like the bigger picture stuff, like with a house and everything? And obviously you don't have to get into the nitty gritty details. But again, I think it's, it's such a huge topic on social media because women end up taking their lion's share of the unseen work in a relationship. So who does what? How do you guys figure out who pays for the mortgage and the taxes and all the fun, not fun stuff and then who does the laundry? Who does all of these things when you don't have the societal pressures of saying, well, you're the man and you're the woman. Yeah.
- [37:08]
Hayden Cohen
And you have to provide or whatever that is. We have always been like super open with each other about like every facet of our life. Which again, just like comes with like the comfort of like being in a relationship for a long time, I guess. But we've always kind of set aside like our own jobs that we have. Like, I am fine with taking out the trash and doing like the laundry. He's more of like the dishes and the cleaner, whereas I'm more of like a deep cleaner. He's more of like the everyday keeps it clean.
- [37:38]
Anna Kai
He's the organizer.
- [37:39]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah, he's like the organizer and the cleaner. And I'm like the more of like the bigger picture. And that's kind of how it trickles down into our finances too, where it's like, I'll do the bigger picture things, like the larger purchases where he will do more of the everyday. Go to the Target and get the trash bags and the sponges and all that stuff we need. Cause I just don't think of those things sometimes. And he is very thoughtful that like, he sees that, like the trash bag is like the last trash bag. I would just take it and put it in the trash bag and not think of it again.
- [38:09]
Anna Kai
You are my husband.
- [38:10]
Hayden Cohen
He's like, oh, no, like that's the last, last one. We need to have backstock of that and like, I'll go to Target to get those things for us. Whereas I'm like, oh, whoops, somebody bought new trash bags. Who was was Turk.
- [38:25]
Anna Kai
Obviously. It was the dog. It was the dog. So you're very complimentary in that way. Are you guys going to get married? Is that something that's important to you?
- [38:34]
Hayden Cohen
I definitely see ourselves, see us getting married in the future. It's not something that I'm like rushing into. It's something I see for myself. But I don't want to put any pressure on us. I feel like we're in the stage of life where every other weekend we either have a baby shower, a bridal shower, a wedding, an engagement party. All of our friends and close friends and family are in that stage too. So it's a lot to throw that in for us right now. But I think, like, in the future we'll definitely get engaged, get married, have kids, do the whole shebang. And it's kind of getting fast tracked with us, like moving to the burbs.
- [39:10]
Anna Kai
But you can live in the burbs and not have children. Speaking from experience, we moved to Connecticut four years ago, got our dog four years ago. We fully, by normal circumstances should have a child right now. We don't. In fact, we're thinking about freezing embryos so we can delay that process more. Because being married is actually great without kids. Yeah, because you just get to do what you want to do. But now you have the security of being married and not having to do the whole bullshit of finding your spouse.
- [39:43]
Hayden Cohen
Oh, my God.
- [39:43]
Anna Kai
Right?
- [39:44]
Hayden Cohen
Which was a full time job in itself.
- [39:46]
Anna Kai
Right. Wait, when you, before you met Aaron, how were you dating? Were you using the apps?
- [39:50]
Hayden Cohen
All the apps? I was doing. I was like consciously trying so hard to find a boyfriend and just like going on every date I could. Anytime anybody would ask me out, I'd be like, yep, I don't care what you look like. I genuinely was like, sure.
- [40:04]
Anna Kai
Are you breathing?
- [40:04]
Hayden Cohen
No. Like, do you have a pulse? I would have gone out with you and I Did.
- [40:10]
Anna Kai
So you had no standard?
- [40:12]
Hayden Cohen
No, Genuinely, none. I was just like. I was like, what is going on? At first, I was super, super picky and would care about their job and their height, and I wanted them to be taller than me and make more money than me. And xyz, like, check all these boxes. And then you just got, like, broken down over the years and was like, you know what? I gotta just let go and let God kind of thing. And it's so funny because everyone's like, they'll tell you when you're in a relationship or when you're single. People in relationships will tell you. Be like, I wasn't even looking. And I found my boyfriend. And I hate that. I couldn't tell you how many times I heard that. And that's how I ended up meeting Aaron. Is like. Like, I went out with my friends one night and I met him, and I'm like, those fucking bitches. Like, they were right. How dare they?
- [40:55]
Anna Kai
Well, it's like how you make fun of influencers, and now you are one. It's like. It's like you hated that.
- [41:01]
Hayden Cohen
No. Truly feeling.
- [41:02]
Anna Kai
And you're like, I have become that bitch.
- [41:04]
Hayden Cohen
No, I have become that bitch.
- [41:05]
Anna Kai
I am that bitch.
- [41:06]
Hayden Cohen
I manifested that bitch.
- [41:07]
Anna Kai
That is hilarious.
- [41:09]
Hayden Cohen
It's crazy.
- [41:09]
Anna Kai
The thing is, is, like, I was always looking, you know, and so in a way, you kind of were always looking. You just weren't looking on that night.
- [41:17]
Hayden Cohen
No. Yeah. Which is crazy. I was lucky, I guess, that night that I wasn't looking.
- [41:22]
Anna Kai
Did you have a favorite app before you met?
- [41:24]
Hayden Cohen
I loved Hinge.
- [41:26]
Anna Kai
Interesting.
- [41:26]
Hayden Cohen
I mean, gaze. We have a couple different levels of apps. There's Grindr, where you just go to hookup.
- [41:32]
Anna Kai
Is it strictly actually just hookups? There's no way.
- [41:34]
Hayden Cohen
I'm sure there are people that have met after hooking up and will met while hooking up. And we're like, oh, maybe we should go on a date, too. But strictly Hookup. Then there's Hinge and Bumble and all the ones that the girls have. And everybody has Bumble, Tinder. Hinge. Never was a fan of Bumble or Tinder. Always. If I was a fan of Hinge, I feel like Hinge, you can, like, show your personality a little bit more. So I. I preferred that. I feel like most of my friends prefer that right now that are single. Right. But yeah, I was on Hinge like crazy. Never stumbled upon Aaron there, though.
- [42:07]
Anna Kai
It's interesting that you said you cared about height, because I thought that was a strictly female thing. An evolution Thing. Why do you. You care about how you know you're not gonna have kids? No, I mean, you are gonna have kids.
- [42:20]
Hayden Cohen
I care about it. I cared about it in the sense that, like, I just wanted somebody taller than I wanted to, like, look up at somebody.
- [42:25]
Anna Kai
How tall are you?
- [42:26]
Hayden Cohen
I'm six feet. So, like, it's hard to find. It's hard to find somebody that's taller than me, especially just. I don't know. Aaron is taller than me. Luckily, he's 6 2, so I'm like. I ended up manifesting that too.
- [42:37]
Anna Kai
I guess I'm looking for a man in finance. 6 5.
- [42:41]
Hayden Cohen
He works in consulting, not finance. The.
- [42:42]
Anna Kai
Close, close, close.
- [42:44]
Hayden Cohen
So, yeah, I guess that's. That's.
- [42:46]
Anna Kai
You just wanted to look up at.
- [42:48]
Hayden Cohen
I just wanted to, like, look. I don't know why. I always just pictured, like, it's probably the Little Mermaid. Ariel looked up at Prince Eric, and that was, like, ingrained in my head.
- [42:58]
Anna Kai
That is the way it should be.
- [42:59]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah.
- [42:59]
Anna Kai
That is hilarious.
- [43:00]
Hayden Cohen
That's just how it was.
- [43:01]
Anna Kai
Have you guys talked about if you're going to have kids, which it does seem like you want kids. How is that going to happen for you guys? Are you going to go the surrogate? I mean, I guess you have to go the surrogate.
- [43:09]
Hayden Cohen
Either surrogacy or adoption. I would love to do both. It's. It's. I mean, it's all about, like, it's such an unsexy way to have kids when you're like, how are we gonna afford this? Like, it's like, oh. Like, it's not just like, I wish I could get knocked up. Like, are you kidding me? I would die for that. I could save so much money. But it's like, we have to start, and we also have to, like, plan it. We have to start, like, looking into, you know, how long it takes and how much. How much we have to save, what it's gonna cost. We definitely want kids in the future. Aaron's 1A3. I'm one of four. So, like, three or four would be amazing.
- [43:45]
Anna Kai
That's very expensive if you're doing that.
- [43:46]
Hayden Cohen
Very, very expensive if you're doing surrogacy for that. So I feel like we'll probably do a combination of, like, surrogacy and adoption.
- [43:54]
Anna Kai
You're gonna be like the Angelina Jolie.
- [43:56]
Hayden Cohen
Of Hingham, minus Brad Pitt, though. Minus the toxicity of their relationship. Angelina. Yes. No, Brad.
- [44:03]
Anna Kai
No Brad. Both of you are Angelina with the UN of children.
- [44:08]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah. Hopefully. Hopefully it works.
- [44:11]
Anna Kai
That is. Yeah. Yeah. But that is interesting that you have to. Because here's the thing though. Don't feel too bad. I do feel like heterosexual relationships. I have a lot of friends who have difficulty getting pregnant who want multiple kids. And because we're at the age where everyone's trying now, you see that just because it's a man and a woman does not guarantee that you will get knocked out.
- [44:33]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah, 100%. No, I, I, I have so many friends dealing with that too. Like are, are, you know, some of my siblings and extended family who are like having trouble getting pregnant. So I, I say it in more of like a way that like I would, I just wish I could get pregnant.
- [44:49]
Anna Kai
Right. Would you though? Because you would get pregnant.
- [44:54]
Hayden Cohen
I would if I could.
- [44:55]
Anna Kai
I do not want to be pregnant.
- [44:57]
Hayden Cohen
I would just love to experience it.
- [44:58]
Anna Kai
For a limited time you can get KFC chicken with the sweet heat of hot honey.
- [45:03]
Hayden Cohen
And after one bite you'll wonder how do bees make hot honey so hot? Are they special bees?
- [45:08]
Anna Kai
Does KFC have dragon bees? Fire breathing dragon bees that create spicy honey?
- [45:13]
Hayden Cohen
No, silly. There's no such thing.
- [45:15]
Anna Kai
KFC just partnered with Mike's Hot Honey to drizzle all over their crispy chicken.
- [45:19]
Hayden Cohen
But dragon bees would be so cool.
- [45:21]
Anna Kai
Try it now for only $7 or.
- [45:23]
Hayden Cohen
Share a box with friends for 25. Prices and participation vary while supplies last. Taxes, tips and fees extra.
- [45:29]
Anna Kai
I know that's why you are gay.
- [45:30]
Hayden Cohen
This is why I'm gay. This is why I came walked out of my mom's vagina. No. But yeah, I would love to. Experience would be so cool.
- [45:39]
Anna Kai
I cannot relate. I wish I could pay you to be my surrogate.
- [45:43]
Hayden Cohen
Oh my God. I'll take that job. All day.
- [45:47]
Anna Kai
That is. I feel like you'd be a very good surrogate. Like you wouldn't smoke or like do drugs. You know, you'd have to stop drinking for a while. But maybe, you know, that would be.
- [45:56]
Hayden Cohen
Maybe you can have a glass of wine every once in a while.
- [45:58]
Anna Kai
Apparently so that's like I know people who drank occasionally healthy to have a.
- [46:03]
Hayden Cohen
Glass of champagne while you're pregnant. Don't take my advice.
- [46:07]
Anna Kai
Eat sushi or raw.
- [46:08]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah, right. Of course. I can have a tuna roll. Something like that.
- [46:13]
Anna Kai
Do you want girls or boys or do you not care?
- [46:15]
Hayden Cohen
I don't care. I would. I'll have whatever I'm able to.
- [46:18]
Anna Kai
Whoever a they.
- [46:20]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah, anything, Anything under the sun. I just want happy, healthy babies.
- [46:25]
Anna Kai
I feel like you'd be a great girl, dad.
- [46:26]
Hayden Cohen
I could see that for myself. Yeah, it's like braiding their hair.
- [46:33]
Anna Kai
Giving them invisible hair that they would have to, like, flip back.
- [46:35]
Hayden Cohen
I know, right? I would. I. I would probably actually raise some, like, huge bitches, which, like, the world needs more. More of. More bitches.
- [46:42]
Anna Kai
No, but I think you would raise them with a sense of confidence.
- [46:46]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah.
- [46:47]
Anna Kai
And entitlement. And I mean that in a good way. That more people should have.
- [46:51]
Hayden Cohen
Oh, 100%.
- [46:52]
Anna Kai
Because you feel so. And correct me if I'm wrong, when I look at your content, I feel like you're very well adjusted. Like, I said this off the mic, but I feel like you're very. Just. If somebody were to say, hey, this is how you do life and not get traumatized by it, I would pick Hayden Cohen.
- [47:11]
Hayden Cohen
Oh, my God, that's so kind.
- [47:13]
Anna Kai
But what is your shit? Like, what do you struggle with? Because I think I look at your content and I'm like, he's so consistent. He's so chipper. And even when he's making fun of people, he's still very much in himself. I don't feel like there's a moment where I'm just like, oh, this guy is like. I know you say you're chaos, but it's very controlled chaos.
- [47:36]
Hayden Cohen
It is very controlled chaos. I think. I think part of my anxiety up here is, like, the OCD type of anxiety where, like, everything needs to be, like, organized and have a place. And like, that's just my work, though. Like, my work I am very organized with. The rest of the things that are going on are the chaos.
- [47:57]
Anna Kai
The trash bags.
- [47:57]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah, the trash bags. All that. Like, I feel like I just take a, like, took this job, like, super seriously as, like, like, okay. Like, if I'm gonna be doing this full time now, like, I kind of have to, like, have my together. Like, if I'm gonna be a content creator, an influencer, however, whatever you wanna call yourself, you need to have, like, an organizational system in place. So I kind of, like, that's where, like, most of my anxiety stems from, is like, that. And also, like, I struggle a lot with, like, money in terms of, like, becoming comfortable with the money that I'm now making when I haven't ever had this type of money, if that makes sense.
- [48:38]
Anna Kai
No.
- [48:38]
Hayden Cohen
100%. And, like, feeling weird guilt about that when this is a relatively easy job. Like, there are a lot of influences.
- [48:48]
Anna Kai
And you've done hard jobs, so you have something to compare it to.
- [48:51]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah, I've done hard jobs and, like, dealt with, like, annoying ass people. And like, now I'm just dealing with myself, who's also an annoying ass person. But. And it's like a weird juxtaposition of being comfortable and financially responsible for myself and for my family unit now, whatever. But also feeling guilty about it and feeling like teachers and nurses and all these people who are molding the future and changing lives and saving lives deserve to be making way more than what I am for posting some stupid ad or like, you know what I mean? Like, it's just.
- [49:33]
Anna Kai
I understand. But this is why you do such good stuff for the community. You do the. Clear the lists.
- [49:39]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah. You know, for like, teachers and stuff.
- [49:43]
Anna Kai
Yeah, for teachers.
- [49:43]
Hayden Cohen
Nurses Appreciation Week. Always trying to. I'm always trying to, like, give back and like, use the communities on social media that I've created to like, help in some small way. Because, like, I know that, that I'm not gonna change people's. I'm not gonna change the world by making fun of influencers. But, like, maybe I can, you know, give. You give. Give. Give away some money or like, have people raise money for like a good cause or a good person or something like that. That's like a small little thing that I can somehow try to help with, I guess.
- [50:15]
Anna Kai
Where do you think that guilt comes from? Is it because your parents were teachers or what did they do growing up? Like, where is that kind of innate goodness? Why are you such a good person is what I'm asking?
- [50:26]
Hayden Cohen
I am. I am not. I don't know where it comes from. Honestly. Like, I grew up. The town I grew up in was like a very wealthy, like, everybody was middle class town, like, and I kind of just like, didn't necessarily. I fit in in the way that like, I wasn't like going without, but like, I had friends that were driving like BMWs to school every day and like going and like playing tennis at like, the club and doing that. And my family was just never that. I kind of always was like, keeping up with the Joneses type thing. And so I always knew like, what. What I wanted for myself was like, to be the Joneses and like, to be comfortable enough in my life to like, provide that for my kids and my family, like, what I didn't have. And I. It wasn't a way that like, I went without. Like, I. It wasn't like I was like, on the street or struggling or like, like I got everything I had everything I needed. It's just like I always like, wanted more for myself, I guess. And it's so weird that now social media and like, just like posting things has like, Led me to being able to do that. And so I feel like. I feel, like, a weird, like, guilt about, like, not being, like, a doctor or, like, something like that, where, like, that's more of, like, a traditional route to, like, build that type of success for yourself. But, I mean, we're seeing it more and more with people like, like, my nephews are like, it's like, what do you want to be when you grow up? It's like a YouTuber or, like, influencer. Like, that's, like, the thing. Yeah, right. He got one of my nephew. My nephews, like, seven years old, and he came over to my house the other day, and he was like, well, you're the king of Instagram. And I was like, what are you? What the fuck are you?
- [52:02]
Anna Kai
You're like, no, actually, I'm the queen of Instagram.
- [52:05]
Hayden Cohen
Don't get it twisted.
- [52:06]
Anna Kai
Don't get it twisted, honey.
- [52:08]
Hayden Cohen
But, yeah, it's like, I've always just felt, like, this weird, like, guilt about it, if it makes sense.
- [52:13]
Anna Kai
But I understand and I empathize because I grew up outside of Philly in the suburbs, in a town very similar to Medfield where you grew up. And I went without with a lot of things. But then after a certain point, we were very solidly middle class and we were not homeless. But you were always aware, at least I was always aware, that I had less.
- [52:38]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah, 100%.
- [52:39]
Anna Kai
And I think during those very formative years, that does imprint on you, because it's when your relationship to money really forms, before you even know it, you're not really thinking about money. When you're in middle school and high school, you're thinking about how you feel in comparison to others.
- [52:56]
Hayden Cohen
Exactly.
- [52:57]
Anna Kai
And I always remember feeling a little less than.
- [52:59]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah. I was like, if I was wearing Aeropostale and everybody was wearing Abercrombie, I.
- [53:02]
Anna Kai
Was like, oh, my gosh.
- [53:04]
Hayden Cohen
I was like, ooh. I would, like, save my money from working and be like, I need to go to Abercrombie and, like, get a shirt with a mousse on it. And the moose needs to match the polo that's inside the inside polo. It's like, what the hell was I thinking? I know, but it's with this fro.
- [53:21]
Anna Kai
I need a photo of this Jew for a minute.
- [53:23]
Hayden Cohen
No, I need to find. I will send it.
- [53:24]
Anna Kai
Send one to me so I can edit it.
- [53:26]
Hayden Cohen
I will show it to you to.
- [53:28]
Anna Kai
See the glow up.
- [53:29]
Hayden Cohen
No, 100%.
- [53:30]
Anna Kai
But it is so funny, because when you're that age, all you want to do is fit in 100%. And what's interesting about our lives, at least, is that we've made a living and now we're able to buy the Abercrombie with the moose and whatever by not doing what everybody else is doing.
- [53:45]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah, it's so. It is weird to think about it.
- [53:47]
Anna Kai
The irony of that situation is that you've created this life for yourself that you can buy the things you are the Joneses, in a way, by being really fucking weird and different, which is great.
- [54:00]
Hayden Cohen
So it's so cool, like, to hear you say it like that because it does make sense and it's is kind of wild.
- [54:08]
Anna Kai
But I think that's like, for me, that's why I love my life now and why I'm. More people think I'm angry sometimes. Like, my trolls have to be like, you're so angry. I'm like, no, I'm just actually more myself. And I feel entitled to be angry about certain things. Not all the time, but I feel entitled to be who I am now because I made it here without having to answer to the masses, essentially. And I think that that's kind of what the world needs more of, is just people telling other people, go be yourself. And don't feel like you have to please other people in order to get the life that you want. I mean, did you go through a people pleasing phase?
- [54:47]
Hayden Cohen
Oh, I. I'm still in my people pleasing phase. I. I say yes to everything. Like, I need to. I'm. I'm learning as I get older to say no to more. Um, I feel like there's so much power in saying no.
- [54:59]
Anna Kai
Yes. Like, I mean, no, but. Yes.
- [55:01]
Hayden Cohen
Yes. No, but there is truly so much power just like saying no and like, protecting your peace. I feel like that's like the era I'm in, as like, corny as that is. Like, I'm like worrying about me and protecting my piece and like my unit's piece. Like, I've gone through phases of just like saying yes to everything, going to every event, you know, doing everything. And like, that burns you out so quickly. And like right now I'm like, I'm keeping it all. I'm keeping this all in.
- [55:29]
Anna Kai
So what do you do to keep your peace? Like, what does a nice weekend or a break from being haters look like for you?
- [55:39]
Hayden Cohen
Honestly, I. So I take the weekends off social media. I treat it like a job, kind of. Well, I do treat it like a job. Like I said, I have, like, I am very organized in like, my systems and stuff. But yeah, Saturday And Sunday, I don't post anything on social media. I kind of. I truly unplug and then just, like, surround myself with, like, my friends and my family. Like, I like. I mean, like, last night I was out, like, partying. Like, I love to, like, go out and have a wild night. I love to have, like a crazy, tame night in too. Like, it's. It's those, like, kind of just like recharge my battery so that I'm able to, you know, film all this wild, weird stuff during the week and not hate yourself and not be like, what the fuck am I doing? It's like, whoa, I get so just. I. Because, like, I don't ever want to be somebody that, like, people are like. Like, they're always on their phone or like. And I feel like I'm. My screen time is so high because. Excuse me. Because, like, I'm working eight hours a day on my phone and like, when I'm not working, like, I don't want to be working. I don't want to be on my phone, like, consuming content or filming content. So, like, I just try very consciously to, like, pick my time for myself and, like, have the weekends off of social media and, like, just recharge. Like I said. I feel like it's so important when you're working in social media.
- [56:53]
Anna Kai
And one of the things you consistently make fun of, which I love, is the fact that you say, you know, influencers, anytime they take a break from social media, they're like, I know you guys have been dying as to no worrying this so much, but here is the perfect example. I never realized that you took breaks on the weekends because I just feel like you're always online, you always have stories, and now I'm gonna go look at your page on weekends and be like, is he actually following me?
- [57:19]
Hayden Cohen
What he's saying, Is there a circle up or.
- [57:21]
Anna Kai
No, but the people don't notice.
- [57:25]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah, they don't.
- [57:26]
Anna Kai
Because people are not nearly as invested in our lives as we think they are.
- [57:31]
Hayden Cohen
No, truly, truly. It's like, it's. There's so many influencers that are like. And maybe they have people that are really are as invested in their life, but I just, I don't. And I'm fine with that. Totally fine with it. Don't become invested.
- [57:48]
Anna Kai
Well, I ghost like. Like over the fourth of July. I just took a week of posting. I just needed to not be online.
- [57:56]
Hayden Cohen
And were people knocking at your door?
- [57:57]
Anna Kai
No, it was. Nobody asked where I was. I didn't ask where anybody else was. I Didn't really look at my phone. My carpal tunnel got better.
- [58:07]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah, right.
- [58:07]
Anna Kai
So it was just sort of this, you know, every time I think, oh my God, like, I'm not posting enough. I'm always. You're like the voice inside my head. I don't know, you're like some weird gay fairy godmother in my head.
- [58:18]
Hayden Cohen
Oh, my God. I'm honored.
- [58:19]
Anna Kai
I'm just like, honestly, knowing cares, like, it's fine. And there's something freeing about that.
- [58:24]
Hayden Cohen
Totally.
- [58:25]
Anna Kai
In a business where we are taught that everyone cares and we need to care about every little thing.
- [58:30]
Hayden Cohen
Post more, share more. Share link more.
- [58:33]
Anna Kai
It's okay to take a step back.
- [58:34]
Hayden Cohen
Oh, my God. Yeah. My whole thing is like, none of it's that serious. No, we're not doing brain surgery.
- [58:40]
Anna Kai
I mean, honestly, I just had surgery two days ago, which is actually was not like great timing. Thinking about like, you know, coming into the city.
- [58:47]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah, right.
- [58:48]
Anna Kai
Scheduling this podcast.
- [58:50]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah.
- [58:51]
Anna Kai
They did say my surgeon was like, you shouldn't travel for 10 days after.
- [58:54]
Hayden Cohen
You get in the car for a two hour drive.
- [58:57]
Anna Kai
But I was like, is it really traveling or is it just a commute? Yeah, like, let's be real.
- [59:01]
Hayden Cohen
Can I commute to. Can I not take. Can I not go to work?
- [59:03]
Anna Kai
Exactly. So I was like, this is totally fine. I took two Tylenol in the car on the way here. But I was thinking about this because my surgeon, first of all, surgeons are insane. Talk about a job that you should feel. I think surgeons should have egos.
- [59:20]
Hayden Cohen
Oh my gosh, 100%. They should have a superiority complex. Like, they're really in there.
- [59:25]
Anna Kai
You should really have. He started his day. I don't know when, but they had me get to the surgery center at 6:30am for a 7:30am surgery and I was at death's doorstep. I'm not a morning person and I'm there. I didn't shower, even though they told me to shower with. The pre op instructions were hilarious. They were like, please shower the morning of with dial. Or a similar antibacterial dial.
- [59:54]
Hayden Cohen
Like the dish soap.
- [59:55]
Anna Kai
No. Yeah, but they make.
- [59:57]
Hayden Cohen
Do they make body wash.
- [59:59]
Anna Kai
Body wash. Apparently.
- [60:00]
Hayden Cohen
That's really specific.
- [60:01]
Anna Kai
That's antibacterial.
- [60:03]
Hayden Cohen
Okay.
- [60:04]
Anna Kai
And I'm also the queen of not listening to pre op or post op questions.
- [60:10]
Hayden Cohen
The only fully tuning it out.
- [60:12]
Anna Kai
I listened to it. It just went in one ear and out the other. I was like, oh, yeah, totally. I'll do that. Didn't do that. Didn't shower the morning because I didn't have time. They said I could brush my teeth and spit, but no gum or mints. I didn't brush my teeth because I for some reason, thought they said I couldn't. And they also said, no Advil one week prior to the surgery because Advil apparently prevents your body from being able to clot more easily. It kind of.
- [60:40]
Hayden Cohen
Oh, okay.
- [60:41]
Anna Kai
It might make you bleed more, which is not great.
- [60:43]
Hayden Cohen
No, definitely not.
- [60:44]
Anna Kai
So I listened to that. I was like, no Advil. Okay, I'll stop taking. I mean, not that I was taking heavy Advil, you know, to begin with, an Advil, but I did go into the city to get Botox and a steroid injection in my knee right before the surgery. And I go home, and I was like. My husband's like, how was your day? I was like, okay. You know, I saw Dr. Schaefer, got my Botox, my masseters. You know, I'm trying to get rid of a scar on my knee, got a steroid injection. He was like, you're undergoing major surgery in four days, and they told you not to take Advil? Why are you getting all these things injected in your body? He was like, you need to call the nurse right now to see if you need to reschedule your surgery. And I was like, oh, my God.
- [61:26]
Hayden Cohen
I didn't even. That didn't even.
- [61:28]
Anna Kai
I was like, they told me no Advil, and I haven't taken Advil. I'm like, I'm like a child. You need to explain to me exactly.
- [61:33]
Hayden Cohen
What I can do every single day.
- [61:35]
Anna Kai
Brutal. They're like, don't drink. I was like, already? Don't do that. Don't take Advil. You know, I was like, okay, perfect.
- [61:41]
Hayden Cohen
Time to schedule my Botox, Botox and steroids.
- [61:44]
Anna Kai
Perfect. Luckily, apparently, for. For all of you listening, you can do Botox and steroids four days before the surgery.
- [61:51]
Hayden Cohen
Consult with your doctor. Of course.
- [61:52]
Anna Kai
Consult with your doctor. This is not medical advice. But because it wasn't at the site of where I'm getting surgery, they were fine with it. But I felt like a moron calling my surgeon up and being like, I'm so sorry. I am an influencer.
- [62:05]
Hayden Cohen
Honestly. That's hilarious, though.
- [62:07]
Anna Kai
I am the most vapid person alive. I had this schedule.
- [62:10]
Hayden Cohen
These things were necessary.
- [62:12]
Anna Kai
Yeah. And I was like, do I need to reschedule and use. No, you're fine. But I think you're good. He was like, you're an idiot.
- [62:19]
Hayden Cohen
Honestly, I love that.
- [62:20]
Anna Kai
But, yeah, But I literally. I went. And I was thinking I was disgusting the morning Of. I was grouchy, you know?
- [62:25]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah, of course.
- [62:25]
Anna Kai
And he, like, shows up. He's like, how's it going? And I was like, terrible, because this is not how I was like, I.
- [62:31]
Hayden Cohen
Don'T want to be here. I don't want to be doing this.
- [62:32]
Anna Kai
This is awful. But he is actually. I mean, this was a fairly minor surgery, I think, for him. This man, I specializes in hernias, and.
- [62:41]
Hayden Cohen
So he's doing, like, really complicated.
- [62:42]
Anna Kai
He's doing really complicated abdominal surgeries that take hours. This was, like a cakewalk for him, I'm sure. But I was like, you were opening up people on a daily basis, like. And I don't know how much you make, but if I'm making anywhere near what you're making, the world is not just.
- [62:58]
Hayden Cohen
No, True.
- [62:59]
Anna Kai
Sorry. At all.
- [63:00]
Hayden Cohen
At all.
- [63:01]
Anna Kai
You need to be paid more. No.
- [63:03]
Hayden Cohen
100%.
- [63:03]
Anna Kai
Yeah. I actually. I saw something online that was saying, like, to be a surgeon or a general surgeon at least, not like a plastic surgeon, you have to be kind of masochistic because you're just not paid enough to be dealing with the bullshit. You're dealing with, like, people who are, like, trauma surgeons and just on call all the time.
- [63:22]
Hayden Cohen
Couldn't be me.
- [63:23]
Anna Kai
Where do these people come from?
- [63:24]
Hayden Cohen
No, I don't know how they do it, how they function.
- [63:27]
Anna Kai
I'm like, why are you such a good person again? I asked you this before.
- [63:30]
Hayden Cohen
I.
- [63:30]
Anna Kai
Like, I should ask my surgeon this? Like, why are you such.
- [63:33]
Hayden Cohen
No, we should all ask our surgeons.
- [63:34]
Anna Kai
But, you know, he asked me in the. When I went to do a consultation with him. They're just trying to make you comfortable. And he was like, what do you do for work? And I was like, I'm an influencer.
- [63:44]
Hayden Cohen
It's always so awkward when you have to say that when you have to. Whenever somebody asks me that, I'm like, I'm an influencer.
- [63:50]
Anna Kai
Do you say that now with a straight face?
- [63:52]
Hayden Cohen
I usually say, like, I'm a content creator. Cause, like, I don't know.
- [63:54]
Anna Kai
Then they don't always know what that is, by the way.
- [63:56]
Hayden Cohen
That's the thing. They don't. So then I have to go and explain. It's like, I'm like, kind of like an influencer. Then people are like, oh, you're an influencer. And then I'm like, but I make fun of influencers. They're like, what? And then I'm like, just. Just follow me. Please help me pay my mortgage.
- [64:11]
Anna Kai
You're like, this is so awkward.
- [64:13]
Hayden Cohen
It's so. It's Always. And I don't know why you have again, it's like you carry this like weird feeling about like.
- [64:17]
Anna Kai
Like it is imposter saying you're an influencer.
- [64:20]
Hayden Cohen
It's like, what?
- [64:21]
Anna Kai
Yeah, well, it's also. Especially when you're in the room with your surgeon who went to medical school.
- [64:25]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah.
- [64:26]
Anna Kai
I'm like, I'm an influencer. And he was so nice about it. He was like, oh, like Dr. Pimple Popper. I was like, sort of.
- [64:34]
Hayden Cohen
You're like, wow.
- [64:35]
Anna Kai
But not really because blood makes me feel weird.
- [64:39]
Hayden Cohen
No, definitely. We don't have that much in cob in me and Dr. Pimple Popper, other.
- [64:43]
Anna Kai
Than the fact that she has a social presence. Literally, she's an Asian woman. So there we go, identity politics. But I was like, thank you for trying to relate to me.
- [64:52]
Hayden Cohen
With you, it's always also like, what do you influence? Is always the question.
- [64:57]
Anna Kai
And then I'm like, what do you influence?
- [64:59]
Hayden Cohen
No, like, I don't know. I don't know. Do you know? I don't know what? I don't know. I don't know who I influence. I don't know.
- [65:05]
Anna Kai
It's the. One of my favorite videos you did, this was like last year or something. You said you rehearsing what to say to somebody when you're placing a takeout order on the phone with customer service and you're like, hi, I'm hated. I would like to place an order for, you know, this two piece chicken McNugget meal or whatever that's also a really non existent, sad meal.
- [65:27]
Hayden Cohen
Who gets two pieces nuggets. I feel bad for you.
- [65:33]
Anna Kai
But. And then you get on the phone with them and you're just like, oh.
- [65:37]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah, you just fully choke.
- [65:38]
Anna Kai
I died at that video because I was like, why is that so even.
- [65:42]
Hayden Cohen
Like rehearsing like how to order at a restaurant. It's like I look at the menu and I. When I see the wager. Wait, the server coming. And I'd say it in my head over and over again. I'm like, I want the chicken parmesan. I want the chicken. Can I get the chicken parmesan, please? I'm like, I do that in my head constantly. I'm like, why am I doing this? Can't I function like a normal human? Don't let me out. I need to be caged.
- [66:02]
Anna Kai
And then they come and you're like, I would like the.
- [66:05]
Hayden Cohen
No, genuinely. That's what happens all the time. They're like, who is this person? And they ask me what I Do. And I'm like, I'm an influencer. No, it's just like, it's chaos.
- [66:13]
Anna Kai
It is chaos. I hate that question at parties. You're just like, why can't I just. Sometimes when I don't want to feel. Feel like, can I just exist when I don't want to field additional questions? I just tell people I work in advertising.
- [66:24]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah.
- [66:24]
Anna Kai
Because it is very small.
- [66:25]
Hayden Cohen
Or I work in social media. Something like that.
- [66:27]
Anna Kai
Yeah, it's something very normal. So you, on your content. I feel like you feel very content. Like you sort of live this really nice, peaceful existence.
- [66:41]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah.
- [66:41]
Anna Kai
But I'm wondering, like, do you feel content in your life and do you feel like this is where you're supposed to be right now, or is there more?
- [66:52]
Hayden Cohen
I do feel very, very content with, like, everything. I feel like the puzzle pieces are all, like, fully together right now with me. And, like, with my content, obviously there's always, like, more I want to do. Like, you. You know, social media is always a numbers game. Like, you really. You always are wanting to, like, be growing your account and your social presence is not and stuff. And I talk about this all the time with, like, my manager and, like, you know, my friends and family and stuff or other people that are in the industry. I'm like, how do we grow? Like, what do we do? They're like, share more. Do more. And I'm like, I'm really happy with what I am sharing and I'm being, like, judicious with what I'm sharing about my life. And, you know, a lot of the content I do is, like, skits and stuff like that. And I'm like, I like that. Like, I'm gonna. I want to stay in here and, like, do this and, like, ride this wave. Cause, like, I don't wanna throw another hat in the ring. And, like.
- [67:41]
Anna Kai
Right. Cause I think that's a total pressure to be on every platform or to expand your.
- [67:47]
Hayden Cohen
And to be sharing and to be sharing, you know, you know, more about your personal life. And like, sometimes, like you said, you were like, I couldn't find anything about you. And I was like, there was no dirt to. That is on purpose. That is on purpose. And like, I feel like too, you know, a lot of times people will, like, pressure and people want influencers to, like, have influencer friends and, like, run in these influencer circles. Like, you see all these people on TikTok and on Instagram and they have this, like, this cult that they run with.
- [68:14]
Anna Kai
Right.
- [68:15]
Hayden Cohen
And it's like, that's never Gonna be me, like, ever. Because, like, I. I have, like, my people. Like, I always wonder about those people, like, who are just solely friends with influencers. I'm like, what are your. Before you became an influencer, you had this group of friends. Did you just ditch them? Like, where did they all go?
- [68:30]
Anna Kai
Right.
- [68:31]
Hayden Cohen
Like, what do they think now?
- [68:33]
Anna Kai
Well, I think also a lot of people become influencers, and then they move to LA or New York.
- [68:37]
Hayden Cohen
And you.
- [68:38]
Anna Kai
I've heard you say before, I'm never leaving Boston.
- [68:41]
Hayden Cohen
However, I will never leave my family. Never will leave Boston, ever.
- [68:46]
Anna Kai
Yeah. And now you moved even further. You technically don't even really live in Boston. You live an hour outside of Boston. I just bought a house in Hingham, which is this idyllic seaside town on the South Shore, which is even further.
- [69:00]
Hayden Cohen
My Nancy Myers life. That's all I want.
- [69:03]
Anna Kai
But that keeps you in. And I think, in a way, it's funny, because a lot of people, I think, bite the hand that feeds them, which is their audience.
- [69:09]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah.
- [69:10]
Anna Kai
They come up being relatable, and then they become not relatable, because all of a sudden, like you said, they have all these new friends and everything. You are like, this is what makes me happy. Being boring and living my life prior to haters.
- [69:24]
Hayden Cohen
And I'll be very content in that forever. Like, it's never gonna change.
- [69:27]
Anna Kai
Yeah. And I love that you're just like. Cause I think the. The push is, oh, I should be doing more 100%. I should have a podcast or a book or this or that. And speaking from somebody who is watching a podcast, I'm like, that is so nice that you're just like, I'm gonna do me. Like, I'm great.
- [69:46]
Hayden Cohen
Yeah. And hopefully it all works out. If it doesn't, we pivot again. It's not the end of the world. We're not curing cancer here. As much as I want to, I'm just making people laugh, and that's all I want to do. And I'm very happy in doing that until people get sick of me.
- [70:03]
Anna Kai
That is amazing. So, last question, but what's the best rejection you've ever had? A butterfly effect, so to speak. You know, people talk about that on social media. Like, I'm so glad this guy rejected me, or, I'm so glad this job rejected me.
- [70:17]
Hayden Cohen
I think for. I think it was my. The job I had before deciding to, like, go full time with social media and content creation. And I loved my job. I worked in, like, PR and social media and, like, the kind of the back end of, like, what we do, which, like, kind of helped me, like, get my. Get my footing in this industry. But it got to a point where, like, I was doing. I was growing on social media and I was doing that. It was like kind of like my side hustle. And I also had like a full time job and my boss, and I'm still friends with her and I love her. She kind of like, was like, you kind of need to choose, like, what you're gonna do. So this isn't really like a rejection, but it's kind of like this. She's like, you really neither need to like, fully be in your job that you have that I'm paying you for, or like, you need to kind of like go spread your wings and like, do this side work that you're doing.
- [71:06]
Anna Kai
She's kind of like, you kind of are not doing this job.
- [71:09]
Hayden Cohen
Literally. She's like, you kind of need to choose. And that was like the best thing that could have happened to me because I never would have left because I loved the company I was working at. I loved her. I would have.
- [71:18]
Anna Kai
And the security of having a paycheck, of course.
- [71:21]
Hayden Cohen
And she kind of forced me to be like, okay, like, I need to take this more seriously and, like, pursue this. Because, like, it is kind of like a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to do it. And so I was like, thanks for forcing my hand and kind of like making me quit in a way, because then it led me to so many opportunities and possibilities that I didn't even, like, see for myself. And now that was what, three years ago? And thank God for that. It wasn't necessarily a rejection, but it was kind of like a choice that, like, I had to make, right, that luckily she made for me because I can't make any decisions.
- [71:58]
Anna Kai
I hope you give her all the pr.
- [72:00]
Hayden Cohen
Oh, I do. Robin, hopefully you're listening to this. If you're watching this. Love you, girl.
- [72:05]
Anna Kai
That's amazing. Where can people find you?
- [72:07]
Hayden Cohen
They can find me on Instagram. Haters, TikTok. Hi, haters. Because the haters was taken.
- [72:12]
Anna Kai
What?
- [72:12]
Hayden Cohen
I know, it's so annoying. I've DM'd them to, like, if you're watching this.
- [72:16]
Anna Kai
Actually, my. My handle on TikTok was also taken, so I maybe both on Instagram, but I'm. It's maybe, yeah, give us these handles.
- [72:26]
Hayden Cohen
But that's all I. Where I am. You can find me on the south shore of Boston too, in my new suburban life.
- [72:31]
Anna Kai
I love it. Thank you so much for being here today.
- [72:34]
Hayden Cohen
Thank you for having me. This was fun.
- [72:37]
Anna Kai
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