Did Vintage Ruin Fashion, Power Couples & Making Your Own Name With Alexia Ioannou

Summary

Canal Street Dreams – Episode Summary

Episode: Did Vintage Ruin Fashion, Power Couples & Making Your Own Name With Alexia Ioannou
Date: May 5, 2026
Hosts: Eddie Huang & Natashia Perrotti
Guest: Alexia (Lexi) Ioannou

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Episode Overview

This episode of Canal Street Dreams features an insightful and candid conversation with footwear designer and creative entrepreneur, Alexia Ioannou. The discussion ranges widely: from the complicated embrace of cultural identity and the transformation of vintage fashion, to building an authentic creative brand and the highs and lows of running a company (and a relationship) with your partner. The trio delves into the nature of partnership, growing beyond reality TV roots, and the challenge of maintaining artistic integrity in a monetized creative world.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Embracing and Reclaiming Heritage

• Lexi’s Cultural Disconnect and Reconnection

  • Growing up, Lexi was embarrassed by her Greek heritage and pushed back against learning the language or embracing traditions.
  • Now, as an adult, she regrets that and actively finds ways to incorporate her heritage—her brand even carries her Greek name to "rebuild the bridge" to her background.
  • “I just wanted to be, like, a white girl from New Jersey. … Now I’m connected enough [through my brand].” — Lexi (02:08)

• Host Reflections on Immigrant Identity

  • Eddie and Natashia reflect on similar themes from their Chinese and Greek-Italian backgrounds, noting how the current climate makes embracing immigrant stories a "flex" compared to the past.
  • “Now, I think America has evolved to a point where … everyone recognizes … the value of immigrant.” — Eddie (01:15)

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The State of Vintage and the Birth of Lexi’s Brand

• Transition from Jewelry to Footwear, via Vintage

  • Lexi recounts the start of her business in LA out of necessity, selling Greek evil eye jewelry before a pivot to vintage shoes.
  • She describes the escalation of vintage prices, the competitive atmosphere, and how it was stripping away the magic of finding unique, quality items.
  • “It took the magic away from it.” — Lexi (04:22)
  • “With vintage, it’s at its cap. … I didn’t feel right selling things at those prices, … I was like, this is getting gross.” — Lexi (03:52)

• Pivoting to Create New Products, and Community Power

  • Lexi’s move into designing her own shoes came out of boredom with the vintage market.
  • A viral TikTok led to connecting with a customer who helped her find ethical production in Portugal.
  • “I just started making my own shoes. I had no idea what I was doing … and here I am a year later with a full footwear [line].” — Lexi (04:47)

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Limitations of the Current Fashion Landscape & Collectibility

• Vintage Obsession and the Lack of Newness

  • The group discusses how contemporary fashion overvalues the past, leading to stagnation in creative risk-taking.
  • Streetwear is cited as an example, with sneaker culture losing soul as it became a speculative commodity.
  • “Do you think just being so vintage obsessed … has prevented people from making new shit?” — Chris (06:06)

• Lexi’s Philosophy on Scarcity and Design Integrity

  • Her limited-edition shoe releases replicate the thrill and exclusivity of vintage, applying it to new, collectible footwear.
  • Lexi acknowledges she’s left money on the table by refusing mass production, but prizes creative legacy over profit.
  • “Everytime, there’s always a choice: save money and make more money, or choose legacy, my imprint.” — Chris (38:48)
  • “I’ve left so much money on the table… but like, when we sell out, and that’s just it, people are begging for it.” — Lexi (39:06)

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Power Couples & The Reality of Working Together

• Navigating Romantic and Professional Partnerships

  • Rich, honest talk about the turbulence and the power of working with one’s partner, with Lexi seeking advice from Eddie & Natashia.
  • They discuss the inevitability of arguments, the importance of intentionally checking in, and balancing creative collaboration with romantic needs.
  • “If we were never fighting, that would be a bad sign to me… there’s no romantic tension.” — Natashia (10:01)
  • “You need to have oil changes… park the car every two weeks, check in intentionally: how are you doing?” — Chris (12:51)

• Domestic Dynamics and Accepting Differences

  • Lighthearted back-and-forth about messiness, OCD tendencies, division of labor, and how these habits intersect with creativity and stress.
  • “There’s always one dirty one in the relationship.” — Lexi (14:40)
  • “I am very affected by the environment I'm in. If I am in chaos … I can't function.” — Natashia (13:49)

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Building A Brand and Personal Identity Beyond Reality TV

• Breaking Out of the “Housewives Kid” Mold
  • Lexi discusses her struggles to be recognized for her work rather than her background on Real Housewives of New Jersey.
  • “I had to claw my way out of being personified as that… fully. …Even when I went to college, it was like, my mom was on Housewives again… and I was so identified by something I wasn’t, and it pissed me the fuck off.” — Lexi (35:12)
  • “I just hate being identified for it. I want to be identified for my work, truly.” — Lexi (36:10)
  • Hosts offer reassurance: “In another year, I don’t think anyone’s going to be looking at you [as] that girl from Housewives. Your work speaks for itself.” — Natashia (37:04)

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Artistic Integrity, Agencies, and Managerial Realities

• Choosing Personal Vision Over Mass Appeal

  • Eddie and Lexi express aversion to doing repetitive or derivative work, despite industry pressure for commercialism.
  • Great artists’ works that speak most to them often aren’t their most lucrative or widely loved.
  • “Sometimes the fewer people appreciate it, it’s almost … the opposite validation.” — Chris (25:43)
  • “That the magic of certain things is only meant for certain people and not everything should be consumed by everyone everywhere.” — Lexi quoting Chris (24:19)

• The Ups and Downs of Representation

  • Lexi’s experience signing with a manager who is also a friend, and the balancing act between trust and industry know-how.
  • Eddie shares personal stories about the need for emotional support (over “business contacts”) early in his career.
  • “I think the wounds when you have, like, personal family identity wounds, becoming a known person is hard.” — Chris (31:09)

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Miscellaneous Notable Moments

• Talking Astrology and Star Sign Dynamics (11:00–12:00)

  • Playful insights into how sign matches (Pisces, Aquarius, Virgo) shape personality and creative working dynamics.

• Lexi Announces Her Upcoming Podcast

  • Details her new show, co-hosted with a “super hot” 52-year-old Bostonian friend, embracing intergenerational women’s perspectives.
  • “Our dynamic is just like womanhood at its core.” — Lexi (21:32)
  • Quickly landing an iHeart deal by public Instagram request—“If I just ask for it…” (21:50)

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “Now it’s a flex. I’m like, my dad’s fresh off the boat… And I’m, like, pushing the culture even more on him now.” — Lexi (01:36)
• “It took the magic away from it.” — Lexi (04:22)
• “I just started making my own shoes. I had no idea what I was doing… an amazing customer reached out—she’s like, ‘I make shoes. I’ll give you my manufacturer.’ And here I am a year later with a full footwear [line].” — Lexi (04:47)
• "Do you think just being so vintage obsessed… has prevented people from making new shit?" — Chris (06:06)
• “I wanted to do the hardest shit… footwear… you prove yourself real quick.” — Lexi (07:42)
• “If we were never fighting, that would be a bad sign to me… there’s no romantic tension.” — Natashia (10:01)
• “You need to have oil changes… park the car every two weeks, check in intentionally: how are you doing?” — Chris (12:51)
• “There’s always one dirty one in the relationship.” — Lexi (14:40)
• “I just hate being identified for it. I want to be identified for my work, truly.” — Lexi (36:10)
• “Everytime, there’s always a choice: save money and make more money, or choose legacy, my imprint.” — Chris (38:48)
• “Sometimes the fewer people appreciate it, it’s almost … the opposite validation.” — Chris (25:43)
• “The magic of certain things is only meant for certain people and not everything should be consumed by everyone everywhere.” — Chris, quoted by Lexi (24:19)

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Highlighted Segments & Timestamps

• Introduction & Cultural Identity (00:00–02:28)
• Fashion & Vintage Evolution (02:44–06:44)
• Creating Original Work, Streetwear Parallels (04:19–07:23)
• On Power Couples & Romantic-Creative Collaborations (07:44–15:05)
• Living Environment & Domestic Balancing Acts (13:49–16:20)
• Parenthood, Business as a “Child” (17:16–17:54)
• New York vs. LA: Energy and Communication Styles (18:15–21:05)
• Launching Lexi’s Upcoming Podcast (21:04–23:08)
• Navigating Representation (29:00–33:42)
• Being Known for Your Work, Not Your Family or TV Past (34:14–36:32)
• Artistic Choices, Legacy over Profit (38:48–40:47)

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Conclusion

Dynamic, vulnerable, and full of creative wisdom, this episode is for anyone interested in honest portrayals of artistic life—how to build your name (not your parents’), create lasting work, and make the hard but right choices in both career and love. Lexi’s boldness and honesty inspire, and the hosts’ signature warmth and candor make this a standout conversation in Canal Street Dreams’ canon.

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Transcript

[Natasha]

Welcome back to Canal Street Dreams. We have a very special guest this week, Lexi Wanu. Thanks for her pronunciation.

[Lexi Wanu]

You crushed it on the pronunciation. Thank you.

[Natasha]

Amazing. Welcome. We're so happy to have you.

[Lexi Wanu]

I'm so happy to be here.

[Chris]

Welcome, welcome. With Greek, like, do you speak Greek?

[Lexi Wanu]

No.

[Chris]

And you don't.

[Natasha]

Mine's so bad. But that's what happens when you're, like, half Greek, half Italian, or half Greek, half something else. The just the. Like, the function of that language is not you're never gonna use it outside your family. Like, you don't use it in the world. I feel like if I was half Spanish, like, or Spanish speaking, I would speak that language.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yeah. My dad tried to push it on me, like, always growing up, and I was, like, so embarrassed of my culture. And now I'm, like, so regretful of having that attitude. Like, I just wanted to be, like, a white girl from New Jersey. I was like, no, no, no. Don't try to make me any different than, like, being baptized, even Greek Orthodox.

[Chris]

I wanted to be Omar Epps.

[Natasha]

You know, that was his job. He thought, like, we were like, who's your celebrity look? Or, like, his Omar apps.

[Chris]

Like, everyone wants to be Chinese now. I'm like, dang. Should have been more Chinese.

[Natasha]

Yeah, you should have leaned in.

[Lexi Wanu]

Always look back and wish we were.

[Chris]

We leaned in because growing up in that era, it was, like, embarrassing to be, like, a quote unquote, like, fob, you know? And you're like, wait, wait, my parents were on donkeys and, like, short horses. What? And like, now, I think America has evolved to a point where I think everyone recognizes, besides a few insane psychos, like, the value of immigrant.

[Lexi Wanu]

Oh, yeah. Now it's a flex. I'm like, my dad's fresh off the boat. He came when he was this age, and he's, like, trying to be so American. And I'm, like, pushing the culture even more on him now. I'm like, no, no, no.

[Natasha]

You know, my mom is the same. She's so, like, so American. Like, she refuses. She's like, no, I, like, don't go back to Greece. Like, why would I go there?

[Lexi Wanu]

And I'm like, amazing.

[Natasha]

Because it's a beautif. With beautiful food and, like, amazing. Like, your family's there. Like, I don't know. There's so many reasons to go. Yeah. But, yeah, she's very American. Did you go to Greek school or is that pushed on?

[Lexi Wanu]

You did, but I was just, you know, very against all of it growing up. I was just so Embarrassed. I don't know why I was so embarrassed. And that's what I mean. I look back and I wish that I, like, had a deeper connection to my culture now. Luckily, I named my brand after my Greek name, so I feel like I. Okay, now I'm connected enough.

[Chris]

Yeah, you're rebuilding the bridge. Rebuilding the bridge.

[Lexi Wanu]

Rebuilding the bridge. Exactly. I'm putting my Greek name all over the place.

[Chris]

I mean, no kid wants to be different and weird, you know, he's just like, I just want to not be made fun of. It's cool. That would be cool.

[Lexi Wanu]

Exactly.

[Chris]

It's like a very basic instinct.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yeah.

[Natasha]

Yeah, totally. But speaking of that, sorry to interrupt you. I feel like I've been a fan of the brand for so long and I've seen the evolutions. Like, I remember when you were doing jewelry.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yes.

[Natasha]

And you were doing evil eye stuff.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yes. That's how I started.

[Natasha]

Yes. And I found. I think it was tick tock or something. Somehow you came on my algorithm and I was like, I love this. Obviously, just like, fellow Greek girl, like, saw that you were doing that, Loved it, followed it from when you started doing, like, drops of vintage shoes and, like, the Dior little dice heels.

[Lexi Wanu]

You've been along for the whole ride.

[Natasha]

So tell us, like, how that all started and then, like, came to be. What new is now?

[Lexi Wanu]

So, I mean, you saw the whole evolution. I just moved to la and I was broke and I needed a side hustle. I was working a corporate job in fashion, so I just started selling jewelry. And I just leaned into the whole, like, Greek evil eye thing, because I feel like that is what felt most natural to me in terms of, like, what I like to wear protection from haters. And then it just evolved into vintage. Over Covid. I was like, you know, I gotta pivot. I gotta keep growing this because I was not inspired. And then last year, I don't know, obviously you shop in the vintage market a lot. I don't know about you, but, like, it's at its cap. The prices are out of control. I didn't feel right selling things at those prices, sourcing things at those prices, competing with other girls at those prices. I was like, this is getting gross.

[Chris]

And it's just, like, not why you got into.

[Lexi Wanu]

Took the magic away from it.

[Chris]

For me as a dude, it was like the streetwear thing. Like sneakers. I loved sneakers as a kid. Like, obsessed since third grade. And then when it became a thing where people were just buying sneakers, they didn't even like to sit on it and flip It. And it was, like, a way to make money. And they didn't really get into the culture of it. They weren't wearing their sneakers. I, like, got out.

[Lexi Wanu]

It loses its magic.

[Natasha]

Yeah.

[Lexi Wanu]

So then a year ago, I was like, okay, I'm bored of this. Which means my customer is going to get bored of this. So I just started making my own shoes. I had no idea what I was doing. I just put a TikTok online, and I was like, does anyone know how to make shoes? Because, like, I want to make a shoe, but I don't know how. And an amazing customer reached out. She's like, yeah, I make shoes. I'll give you my manufacturer. And here I am a year later with a full footwear.

[Chris]

Amazing. Where's the manufacturer?

[Lexi Wanu]

Portugal.

[Chris]

Oh, wow. Very nice.

[Natasha]

Yes.

[Lexi Wanu]

Handmade in Portugal.

[Chris]

Very nice.

[Natasha]

That's amazing. And the shoes are stunning, by the way.

[Lexi Wanu]

Thank you.

[Natasha]

Like, I'm obsessed that you. I showed you a little bit this morning, but I like that you're. What you do with the limited drops where it's like, you can only get this now.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yes.

[Natasha]

Like with the zebra.

[Lexi Wanu]

And, like, they're very collectible.

[Natasha]

Yes, very collectible. Because I. Yeah. It's like, you don't always want to have to. What you're speaking, like, the vintage stuff.

[Lexi Wanu]

It's.

[Natasha]

Sometimes you're looking for a certain piece because you want something that isn't so Mass market isn't so fast fashion, like, Zara, I'm gonna be wearing this and 30 other girls wherever I'm eating dinner.

[Lexi Wanu]

That's why we shop vintage. Right. Because the fit's better, the quality is better. Not as many people have it. So I was like, I'm just gonna take those principles from vintage selling and apply it to footwear today. To your point about, like, street wear and sneakers, men are willing to line up and collect shoes. Why aren't women doing it?

[Chris]

Yeah. And you got. You have been now. And I feel like. Let me. I wanted to ask you a question, too. It's like, vintage. I've been into vintage shopping for most of my adult life. Even, like, adolescent life. I would go get, like, old basketball jerseys and collect like that. But I feel like it really peaked around, like, 2017, 2018. It became mass market, and people online that were never into fashion were, like, studying. Like, I know every season of Margiela now. Like, I know what a hoof shoe is. And I feel like. Do you think just being so vintage obsessed, like, as a. As a culture, has prevented people from making new shit?

[Lexi Wanu]

Well, when we see people making new shit, specifically online, which is the world that I live in with my brand, it's, like, always sweatshirts and, like, activewear. And I'm like, people, you gotta try harder. Like, think outside the box. Like, footwear is the most difficult thing to make. But I was like, fuck it. I'm just gonna try. Just try. Like, let's just try to make interesting things again. So, yeah, I think we're relying a lot on secondhand to, like, contribute, like, interesting pieces to our wardrobe, and nobody's really putting in the effort to make them. That's not at an insane price point anymore. That also is part of what I wanted to fill. Like, I'm not spending fourteen hundred dollars on a pair of shoes anymore.

[Chris]

And I love this mentality you have as a designer and as an artist and creator, is like, oh, I want to do the hardest shit footwear. Right? It's like us in the kitchen when chefs come, and we want to, like, impress them. Like, let's make tripe. Let's go smoke and boil tripe. Like, it's so nasty. Nobody wants it, but if you can make it delicious, it's like, yeah.

[Lexi Wanu]

Because you prove yourself real quickly.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Lexi Wanu]

You start to get respect Real, real, real quickly. Which when I wanted to do footwear, my mom was like, as your momager, which, by the way, she's not. She helps me with absolutely nothing. She's like, I can't tell you to do that. You need a partner. So I went out looking for partners. Like, I went to Steve Madden. I went to revolve. I'm like, somebody make a shoe with me. Nobody wanted to, so I just started doing it. I bootstrap it with my boyfriend, which is part of what I wanted to bring up today because I listened to your episode about working together, and I not feel any more aligned than everything you guys said just struck. So true. Yeah. It's really powerful to have a true partnership in everything that you're doing. Yeah, I really admire it.

[Natasha]

Yeah.

[Chris]

No, like, I was reading my Chinese astrology today. I was, like, obsessed. And it was saying, in your. In your relationships, I need a lot of personal, like, intellectual, isolated, like, meditation time to think and develop ideas. But that in my relationship, the greatest penultimate expression of my, like, love and, like, ardor for Natasha is to create something together.

[Lexi Wanu]

It's beautiful.

[Chris]

Whether it is the podcast, whether it is, like, the novel I wrote, like, everything's about her.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yeah.

[Natasha]

And, like, that's really sweet.

[Chris]

I need engagement, you know, like, and so, like, with you and your boyfriend, what's the dynamic, like, working together?

[Lexi Wanu]

Well, ironically, coming on the pod today, I was, like, telling him about the episode. He's. He goes, can you please ask them for advice? Please ask them, like, advice. Any secrets? Any tips?

[Chris]

For the record, we fight, like, every three weeks. Natasha tries to quit. She tries to quit every three weeks.

[Natasha]

No, I don't try to quit. But, like, we'll get in a fight and then it will always be around the time when something, like, very important is happening with the podcast. And then Chris will get, like, a very ominous, like.

[Chris]

And the restaurant.

[Natasha]

Yeah, and the restaurant. He'll get, like, this very, like, elusive text messages, like, we're breaking up. And then, like, we. We may or may not be filming tomorrow. But, like, it's always just so. I think at this point he, like, probably is rolling his eyes and he's like, okay, so in 48 hours, they're going to be.

[Chris]

I take it seriously every time ruins life.

[Lexi Wanu]

Do you feel a heart attack?

[Natasha]

No. Because at this point, like, I don't even take it seriously when we're fighting and we get to that point. I'm just like, okay, cool, we're going to. Like, I used to get, like, sick to my stomach if we would get in a fight like that. Like, now I'm just like, we're going to be fine. I really liked it. Like, it's not for the week.

[Chris]

It's not.

[Natasha]

But what I will say is that, like, though, it's. It would be insane to be in a relationship, just a relationship where two parties do not work together and they don't fight. So I'm like, adding on the fact that we live together, we parent together, we work together on the podcast. I work in the restaurant every single day at some capacity. Like, we are working together. And if we were never fighting, that would be a bad sign to me. That would be like, there's no romantic tension. There's no passion. There's no. Like, sometimes we fight because we didn't give each other enough, like, personal attention and it was too work related. And that's the source of where I think the tension comes. And, like, that's not necessarily. I'm not saying, like, I love fighting with you, but I'm like, that's not necessarily such a bad thing to me.

[Lexi Wanu]

If you guys started moving like the

[Chris]

Clintons, I'd be, yeah, like, that's weird.

[Natasha]

If I was like, it's totally fine that you're like, your intern. Like, that's never gonna be us. We're also Two Pisces. Like, we're so.

[Lexi Wanu]

We're fish. We're like, what are you guys? When I'm an Aquarius and he's a Virgo, so I'm laying into him all day long and he's just silent. Yeah, that's our dynamic.

[Natasha]

But that's just running numbers.

[Chris]

Cuz you're like intellectually like creative and like quirked up. You know, you got the ideas. But the Virgo is very precise.

[Lexi Wanu]

I'm also very sharp. Like I have a list in my head of like anyone that's wronged me and anyone that's right me. And also my to do list. Like I remember everything.

[Chris]

Yes, we have a lot of Aquarius homies.

[Natasha]

We do.

[Chris]

We have a lot of Aquarius and Taurus.

[Natasha]

Both have a lot of Aquarius in our chart as Pisces. Like we're both Aquarius, Mercury. And I do feel like every time I like am into astrology and I'm reading in that pocket. The reason that I can cut a so quick is my Aquarius Mercury. Like the Aquarius energy is just like, I will full read you down in two seconds. Like, don't try me.

[Lexi Wanu]

So tell me what it's like two Pisces together. Like, are you guys just crying all the time?

[Chris]

I would say every three weeks there's like a breakdown. And like my friends too will say, like my boxing coach Harold, who's also a novelist and like a Pisces, he'll, he'll just check in on me. Like last week he's like, hey, you doing all right? I was like, dude, I'm dying. I was like, how did you know? He goes, well, you and Natasha have been on a really good one for like say like six to eight weeks. His statistics were just like it was going to be bad. And you haven't texted me for a few days. You haven't come boxed. So I just knew something was bad. And I think that the thing is, is like all relationships are hard. I don't know who told anyone they were easy or they were perfect. But it's like intimacy is so hard and it just requires work. And I think when two people are doing so many things together, family, romance, work, you need to have like oil changes, so to speak. Like, yo, we need to like park the car once every two weeks. Check in intentionally. How are you doing?

[Lexi Wanu]

It's a good way to put it.

[Chris]

Yeah, what's, what's bothering you? Let's clean that up. And if you miss it every two weeks, you miss every three weeks. You get to that fifth or sixth week, if you have not talked about how you are feeling.

[Lexi Wanu]

The car is breaking down.

[Natasha]

Yeah.

[Chris]

Car is going to fall apart.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yeah.

[Chris]

It just is. It's statistics. If you don't take care of, your shit is going to fall apart. Like, then you got to go to the cobbler with your shoe. You know, the heel fell off. So it's just like.

[Lexi Wanu]

Especially when you're working together, there's layers. It's just like an undying commitment to making everything work. You just have to know the other person is, like, down to just figure it out with you. No matter what you say, no matter what you do, as long as you're like a good person to them, you figure it out.

[Chris]

And I think accepting and acknowledging what the other person needs, right? Because I think a lot of times your partners will be like, wait, that doesn't even make sense. It's like, wait, don't judge what that person just told you they needed. Like, for her, Natasha needs an esthetically appealing, comfortable living and working space.

[Natasha]

I feel you. I am very affected by the environment that I am in. If I am in chaos and there's, like, dirty clothes on the floor and the dishes aren't done, and like, every night I reset the cafe. I say, like, everything has to be, like, I have to wake up and everything is in order or I'm not.

[Lexi Wanu]

Are you messy?

[Chris]

I'm messy.

[Natasha]

I'm messy, but I'm a writer messy. Yes. Like, the first day, I think it was our first date, maybe our second date. He. I went to his house, and I think the first thing I said was, I can tell a writer lives here. It wasn't, like, messy. You're not dirty. You will never, like, have dirty things. It's just like your mind is splayed on everything.

[Chris]

You can see my mind manifest in this space, which is like, oh, my

[Natasha]

God, you're a writer and the tabs are open and you have a lot of things going on at one time, and that's fine.

[Chris]

There's books everywhere. There's writing.

[Lexi Wanu]

There's always one dirty one in the relationship.

[Natasha]

There has to.

[Chris]

Yeah, I'm messy. I'm messy.

[Lexi Wanu]

My boyfriend is messy. But also, like, I think what we have to work on is just accepting it.

[Natasha]

Yes.

[Lexi Wanu]

Because I'm neurotic and he's dirty. And I'm like, dirty's not even the right word because he's messy. But to me, it's. It's dirty because I just am neurotic. And when I'm Stressed. I have crazy ocd, and I'm like, there's coffee grounds on the counter.

[Natasha]

Oh, my God. I clean our coffee station every night.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yeah, to me, that's, like, filth in my head. Like, I can't function. Yeah.

[Natasha]

I spiral. I'm, like, outside, like, trying to have a conversation, but I can't stop thinking about it. I'm like, how? Who's gonna do the dishes? Like, how are they gonna get done? For some reason, like, if our house is not clean time, I go to sleep. I'm like, we've failed.

[Chris]

But I do make an excellent coffee for her every morning. I make an excellent cappuccino for her.

[Lexi Wanu]

You are my boyfriend. Literally the same exact thing. I love that we had this.

[Natasha]

We have the same system in place. It's called balance.

[Chris]

I'm of service, but there are, like, things that need to happen for me to be of service. Like, I'm a little messy. Like, I'll be watching the Nick game tonight, and she's, like, vacuuming and cleaning, and she's doing like, yo, can we just do it tomorrow? She's like, no, we cannot do this tomorrow. I'm like, the Nick. The Knicks are dead right now. Like, they're literally dying.

[Natasha]

You did say, though, the other day when you went and did the dishes, they came back.

[Chris]

They did.

[Natasha]

So.

[Chris]

So I started to do this. I was just like, all right, this means a lot to her, the clean stuff. The Knicks are dying. And I was like, I think God is watching. So when the Knicks are down, I just start cleaning furiously. Furiously cleaning. And they come back.

[Lexi Wanu]

That's a hack.

[Chris]

Yeah, they come back.

[Lexi Wanu]

I got to tell my boyfriend about that.

[Natasha]

Tell him.

[Chris]

Is he a new fan?

[Lexi Wanu]

No, he's not. He's from Texas.

[Natasha]

Oh, okay.

[Lexi Wanu]

He's a whatever fan. I don't pay attention to any of that shit that he's involved in. That's his business, not mine.

[Chris]

Yeah, I'm involved in some. Some.

[Natasha]

I'm involved by proxy because there's usually an insane bet on the line. So I've also now pulled in.

[Lexi Wanu]

That's a reason to get involved.

[Natasha]

I'm in.

[Chris]

I'm like, are they longer gamble serious? I don't seriously gamble. I don't professionally gamble. I'm just, like, throwing a couple bucks.

[Lexi Wanu]

You've retired enough to get emotional about it.

[Chris]

Yeah, when I was young, I was really good, but once you have a kid, you just can't study enough, so I can't gamble professionally.

[Natasha]

That's also been a big thing for me in letting Go is like, we have a two and a half year old son who, like, definitely has an affinity for dinosaurs and has an affinity for collecting certain toys. And there's just. At a certain point it's out of my control, like, how our living space is going to be. And I think for him to have a happy childhood, I've let go. Like, it's fine. You can have a.

[Lexi Wanu]

That is so cute. I don't know if I have baby fever or something, but I want a little baby collecting dinosaurs around my house.

[Chris]

You and your boyfriend sound like it would. You guys, it would be. It would work.

[Lexi Wanu]

Not right now, if.

[Natasha]

Yeah, give yourself time. But I will say, if you're working on something, it is like, I feel like the podcast and everything we do, it is like another child.

[Lexi Wanu]

No, it literally. I gave birth last year to this business around the same time he moved to LA and he moved in with me. I'm like, you don't have a choice. You got to come in on this with me or else it's not going to happen.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Lexi Wanu]

And right now it's still just us two doing everything, so.

[Chris]

And you guys still live in la?

[Lexi Wanu]

Yes, we live in LA together. So once we have some employees.

[Natasha]

Yeah, I'll have a baby.

[Chris]

We're in la.

[Lexi Wanu]

I love that. West Hollywood.

[Chris]

Oh, word. Okay. Okay.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yes.

[Chris]

All right.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yes. Yeah.

[Chris]

You missed the East coast. Oh, sorry. I'm 44.

[Natasha]

32.

[Chris]

She's 17.

[Natasha]

Just turning 18 next year. No, 32.

[Lexi Wanu]

Do I miss the East Coast? Yes and no. I come back here, it's a shock to my nervous system. Like, I actually feel jarred. Like walking around the street, like, people pushing past me, I'm like, oh, my God, it's so, like, abrasive here. And I lived in New York for five years and I thought I was going to be here forever. No, I love la. I know you guys just moved back here, so are you feeling that. Well, what shock to your system?

[Chris]

Yeah, what you explained was that when we moved back, I had. It was the first time in my adult life I had been away from New York for more than like, eight months. And we moved back. And the first time back, I was just like, oh, my God, how did I used to have the energy for this? I immediately got sick. Like, the second day, I didn't have the energy. Like, it requires so much, like, cortisol and energy and adrenal to, like, do New York. But I belong here. I love New York. I don't belong here in the winter. I don't think anyone Belongs here in the winter. I need to be in, like, a warmer climate in the winter. But, like, I love New York. I need directness, I need bluntness. The way I communicate is like a full contact sport. I do well in New York.

[Lexi Wanu]

That. That I completely. That resonated with me. Yeah, I do miss that.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Natasha]

I used to say, when we lived in la, I would. I would literally say, I would give anything for somebody to, like, body check me on the subway right now. I came back, I'm home. Like, I love it. I do think that I'm much more exhausted every day, all the time. Like, my baseline is shot, but I'm so much happier. Like, I think I get so much more out of my days and just the ability to, for me, have everything at arm's reach. Like, I can go outside and walk and get a coffee. I don't have to, like, jump in the car. Like, every. That is just so special and sacred to me, especially with a young kid. I'm like, we can just go out and, like, I don't know what's gonna happen. I don't have to have a plan for us. Like, we don't need to do anything. We could just walk. Maybe we'll go to the park. Maybe we'll do this. Like, being back in New York, it's a special place.

[Lexi Wanu]

I just cannot handle it anymore. I've been through too much trauma.

[Chris]

You also grew up here, so you need, like, a little bit of time away. I did get time away.

[Natasha]

Yeah.

[Chris]

But, like, I would say the thing about la, now that I have space, I really didn't like it when I was there, but I. I admire that people in la, they communicate for an objective, I think, feel. When people are communicating with you in la, they want something, they're intentional. There's something to be done. In New York, I feel like people are just expressing their truth. Right.

[Lexi Wanu]

Which is so much better, by the way. Somebody always wants something from you in la. That's why I don't even go out.

[Natasha]

Yeah.

[Lexi Wanu]

Exhausting. But my best friend who. Did Simone tell you guys I'm doing a podcast.

[Natasha]

No. No.

[Chris]

Amazing.

[Lexi Wanu]

That's why I have Simone. I'm doing a podcast with my best friend, and she's 20 years older than me, and she's super hot and hilarious. She's 52 and I'm 30 and she's single and she's hot. She's like, 10 times hotter than me. Her body's sick. Everything about her is amazing. She's lived a million lives, too. And our dynamic is just like, womanhood at its core. Because anything I'm facing, she's been through it, like, and she's fudgeing. Hilarious. But she's from Boston.

[Natasha]

Oh, I love.

[Lexi Wanu]

So that's why I'm like, oh, this will be good. Because we both just give it to each other so straight.

[Chris]

Yeah. You guys got Natasha on the pod?

[Natasha]

Oh, yeah, for sure. How did you guys meet? Like, how did that come together?

[Lexi Wanu]

Mutual friend. She also is, like, a very talented brow lamination artist, so I was going to her to get my eyebrows and my eyelashes done. But, like, I am able to accomplish anything that I want to if I just ask for it, which I think is that New York, New Jersey situation, which, you know, I just said. I wanted a podcast, so I put it on my Instagram story. I was like, I have a really hot friend. She's hilarious. She's older than me. Does anyone want to do a podcast with us? And I was able to get a deal with iheartradio.

[Natasha]

Amazing.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yeah. She's never even, like, been in the public eye before. Like, we're going to bring her out. She's going to really. She's going to be so famous.

[Natasha]

She's going to say this.

[Lexi Wanu]

She's hilarious.

[Natasha]

I'm really excited for this, and I just love, like, a Boston. Like, this is my girl.

[Lexi Wanu]

So fucked up.

[Chris]

Your first time doing entertainment stuff.

[Lexi Wanu]

I've been guests on podcasts, and I've always thought that, like, I don't really consume podcasts myself, so I wasn't interested in having one. And what am I going to do? Like your typical fashion podcast, where I'm talking about the same with the same people over and over and over again. So I knew if I wanted to do something, it had to be different, which we were talking about earlier. It's like, what you guys are doing is so conversational. It's so natural. You're not having people on to just, like, display something about themselves. We just hear the same thing from the same people over and over again.

[Chris]

But I fuck with you. Like, what's very consistent in this interview is, like, you haven't independent, original spirit. You don't. There's no part of you that wants to do something someone else has already done to make money or whatever. Like, you're just like, ew, it's been done. You. I'm the same way. And then, like, what's funny about managers and agents is there was like, you know what? That worked. And that person. You could do that, too. I'm like, no, that person did. Why?

[Natasha]

Why?

[Chris]

Just go to that. Go manage that person.

[Lexi Wanu]

I really appreciate you saying that. I actually watched your Vice documentary and first of all, I wanted to say your storytelling is so impressive. I have the attention span of like a walnut and I was locked in.

[Chris]

Oh, thank you.

[Lexi Wanu]

The whole time. Like, truly start to finish. Like, usually I'm on my phone, didn't even touch my phone. And my boyfriend and I just were like, so impressed with your ability to just take us through the whole story, because I didn't know anything about any of that. Obviously, I've consumed Vice media at some point in my life, but I. I wasn't. I didn't know the whole picture. But I wrote down a quote from you in my notes, which is, by the way, this is like giving teachers pet. This is not like me.

[Natasha]

This is really sweet.

[Lexi Wanu]

It was something about that the magic of certain things is only meant for certain people and not everything should be consumed by everyone everywhere.

[Chris]

Yes.

[Lexi Wanu]

And that really, like, struck a chord because when you're in a product based business and you just want to be on as many people and you're told to go into wholesale, go all these things, it's like, is that really what it's about? Out.

[Chris]

No.

[Natasha]

Yeah.

[Chris]

And thank you. It means a lot because I got. I. When I look at like the letterbox or things, there's people that like, this isn't like a documentary. This isn't a documentary. This, like, why didn't he make it like another documentary? And I'm like, because, dude, why? It wouldn't have been fun to, like, sit in a studio on stools and like, talk. Like, I wanted to do a documentary unlike other people, and I'm really glad it resonates with you. And for me, like, my most, I think, appreciated work is fresh off the boat, the show, which I literally cannot engage with. I don't watch it. I never liked it. I left it. It's everyone's favorite. It made the most money, and it's my one work that I could do without. I could never see that thing, and I would be fine. Vice is broke is probably the best thing I've ever done. And the novel, like, those are it, you know? And it's funny because you just have to do the one that, like, makes you happy. And sometimes the fewer people that appreciate it, it's almost like the opposite validation

[Lexi Wanu]

you could feel through watching that, that this was so personal and it was like a true form of work of your actual experience, which is so rare today. We're just Creating everything for everyone else.

[Chris]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it's detrimental to people. Like, if you share your truth, then people can finally see things in another way. If you keep feeding them and telling stories in a way they want to be told, then they don't learn anything.

[Lexi Wanu]

No. By the way, I'm not going to lie, like, scrolling through movie, because that's what I've been using lately. I'm a documentary person, and I saw that Vice doc come up a few times, and I didn't know you were associated with it. And I would just scroll past it because I'm like, it's going to be another, you know, thing about, like, the history of a media company. Like, who cares? And I was so pleasantly surprised. Everyone should go and watch it. Truly.

[Natasha]

Thank you.

[Lexi Wanu]

It's a. It's a really beautiful story to also watch through your perspective who has, like, your own core truth of, like, telling something. It's so rare.

[Chris]

Thanks.

[Lexi Wanu]

It's so rare. It's so refreshing.

[Chris]

Thank you.

[Lexi Wanu]

And like, you. They should pay. They need to pay you.

[Natasha]

They really do. They didn't pay anyone.

[Chris]

Anyone pay anyone. It's so sad, but I just. I want it as a cautionary tale because I feel like the young me would go find movies like that in a video store and be like, holy shit, this is so crazy. And it would inspire me to, like, create work myself. And that's what I do it for. Like, once I had a kid, I was just like, I want to talk to kids. I don't want to talk to other people my age. And, like, people trying to make money on this stuff. Like, the creativity should be, like, pure.

[Lexi Wanu]

That's really interesting.

[Chris]

I think your work is the same. It's like. It's just fun. It feels like you. No one else could make it.

[Natasha]

Yeah.

[Lexi Wanu]

I just love that you have such a clear perspective. Like, knowing who you want to talk to is so important.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Natasha]

And it's.

[Lexi Wanu]

Most people can't answer it.

[Chris]

And the worst years of my life was feeling guilty for having my clarity and perspective. Like, agents would make me feel bad for, like, what I wanted to make. And we're like, the market doesn't want it. These people don't want it.

[Natasha]

Yeah.

[Chris]

And when I started to question myself and doubt it, that's when I was the most off track.

[Natasha]

Yeah. Well, you're. It feels like that group of people, agents and managers celebrate somebody who wants to be. Who wants to be speaking to the masses regardless of if they lack integrity. And you're somebody who you're always Going to keep your, like, intact and you know who you are. And it's to your detriment to kind of know that maybe there's a group of people that won't seek this out.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Natasha]

But that's okay because it's so personal to you that there's so many other people that are going to enjoy it.

[Chris]

Yeah. I'm glad you're gonna be talking and, like, you're designing, but, like, you have a lot to say. It's. It's dope. Like, this is gonna be cool.

[Lexi Wanu]

I'm full of opinions.

[Chris]

Yeah. And it seems like your pod doesn't have, like, one theme, one direct. You're just like us. You're just talking.

[Lexi Wanu]

Exactly. You're just talking about the realities of being a woman. That's what our whole thing is about. And Lisa hates men. I love my boyfriend. He's so sweet and so great. So there's, like, a good dynamic here. We couldn't just have, like, a man hating podcast.

[Chris]

He sounds dope.

[Lexi Wanu]

No, he's so great. He's really great.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Lexi Wanu]

Okay, so I want to get into the manager conversation with you guys, because I know that I'm a young grasshopper when it comes to.

[Chris]

You're so good at this.

[Natasha]

Yo.

[Chris]

Because we don't direct the conversation. We're just, like, chilling.

[Natasha]

I'm about to eat another.

[Chris]

You're like, let's get in. I'm like, yo, you should be here every week. Okay. Manager conversation. Okay. Do you have a manager now?

[Lexi Wanu]

I do.

[Chris]

Is this your first time with a manager?

[Lexi Wanu]

Yes. And she's my good friend, and she's at the Wahl Group, which. Nice is not necessarily, like, the perfect place for me, I don't think, because I'm not a stylist.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Lexi Wanu]

So I don't feel like my experience is typical to what most people have, because she's one of my, like, dear best friends also. So she's kind of just, like, working with a friend.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Lexi Wanu]

But I just signed with her, like, six months ago, and.

[Chris]

Okay.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yeah. I feel like she did me a big service by getting me some sort of representation for this I heart deal.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Lexi Wanu]

Because I had no idea what I was doing.

[Chris]

I mean, that's pretty big that she got you on base.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yeah.

[Chris]

And, like, you're moving towards it.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yes.

[Chris]

And my first manager was also my homie and, like, my best friend from law school. And, you know, I'll speak frankly about it. We're super cool. He's gonna come to lunch here tomorrow actually, and we had the most Productive years of my career for 10 years were with him. I struggled becoming like a known person. I really, really enjoyed, like, knowing who I was. And I did not do well with the initial audience interaction with me and myself. Like, when people would say what they thought about, like, what. What did you say? And I, My. I was actually like. I think having my best friend as a manager was really helpful because who he was managing was me as a person. Do I think I could have had a manager with a lot more contacts and could have managed my career better? Absolutely. Absolutely. And you know it, Rav. And I love him, but, like, what I needed at the time was someone who could manage me as a person and help me get through it because I was. I got really depressed, you know.

[Lexi Wanu]

How old were you?

[Chris]

I was 30. So I was a full adult and a big boy. And I should have done better. But, like, I. I don't have the best family situation. And so I think the wounds when you have, like those, like, personal family identity wounds, becoming a known person, it's like, hard. It's like, horrifying. I did not handle it that well for me personally. So my best friend was he. He was the best. You know, he, like, he took care of, like, Eddie and then it's so

[Lexi Wanu]

hard to find in management. That's part of the reason why I wanted to sign with her so badly is because I could trust her.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Lexi Wanu]

I know she's not going to put me in any situations that make me look like shit.

[Chris]

Yes. And I think she's smart because she's now gotten you, like, an agency.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yes.

[Chris]

And the agency is going to field your incoming business for you and the manager will manage you. And then it's about just making sure that they can create the 3 year, 5 year, 10 year blueprint plan for your work. And I think the most important thing is you have a manager at Wall. Their. Their specialty is not film and television. It's about them knowing when to ask for help.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yeah. And thank God they have WME with them and I was able to get Simone, who we all love.

[Chris]

Yeah. WME is the best at building a business like an empire.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yeah.

[Chris]

And especially when you're multidisciplinary. I think WME really builds. Like, they got like, Wahlburgers for Mark Wahlberg.

[Lexi Wanu]

You know, that's huge.

[Chris]

Yeah. Like the Rock. Yeah, they got the Rock. They got Wahlburgers. Like.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yeah.

[Chris]

You know, each agency has its specialty. CAA is like, for elite actors, the best place. People that want to say no to everything you Go to CAA and they say no for you. Right. And then UTA is like, really, I think, like, creative artist first and, you know, things like that. They have a lot of, like, technical people, too. They do podcasts really well, comedy really well. It's just, like, where you fit. But I think for you, you're a business owner. You're like, empire building.

[Lexi Wanu]

Well, that's what I was saying to him to begin with is like, I knew I wanted to do a podcast, but I didn't want to do any of the work. I'm not. I'm not, like, self funding this. I'm not self producing this. Like, I run a business. I barely can, like, survive the day, let alone add another, like, management project to my scope of work. So I'm so grateful to have, like, a media partner behind it that I can just show up and talk shit behind a mic. Yeah. And if I have to, like, give away a lot of my nut for it, I'll do it.

[Natasha]

Whatever.

[Chris]

What do you want to do? Like, so you're designing, you're doing podcasting. What else you want to do?

[Lexi Wanu]

Literally, I just want to be an amazing footwear designer. Like, that's all I want to be. No matter if the podcast explodes, no matter if. Whatever. That's truly what I love and all I care about. And people will ask me, like, if I'm going to evolve the brand into all these other things. Like, I think accessories is just where it's at for me. I wear a shit ton of belts, shoes, maybe bags, but, like, shoes. I need to. I've been doing this a year. I need to get really good at my shit and be respected.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Lexi Wanu]

Like, I can't be doing 10 million things for sure.

[Chris]

I really fuck with you. Like, the respect thing is.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yeah.

[Chris]

I always talk to the cooks about it. Like, samurai shit. Go in the cave, sharpen your sword, and do not come out until it's like, you know, like, you. You want the respect of the other people doing. Or yourself.

[Lexi Wanu]

Exactly.

[Chris]

You want the risk, your own respect of, like, doing this craft that you really appreciate.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yeah. It's something that I'm probably more neurotic about than most people because. Did you watch Housewives of New Jersey? Is that partially how you got me?

[Natasha]

Of course.

[Lexi Wanu]

Because coming from that background, it's really easy to just be written off as, like, a rich kid from New Jersey that was on reality TV and not have any respect and just be put in this, like, hole of being like, this is who you are, by the way. If you didn't know this is who

[Natasha]

you are for a while. Yeah. And you were young.

[Lexi Wanu]

I was 12.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Natasha]

This is it.

[Lexi Wanu]

Like, the branding was on my head of being, like, rich, entitled kid from New Jersey that was on reality tv. Loves drama. Like, I had to, like, claw my way out of being personified as that, like, fully. That's part of the reason why I moved to la, because people here just, like, knew me as that. Even when I went to college, it was like, my mom was on Housewives again when I went to college, and I was just, like, so identified by something that I wasn't, and it pissed me the fuck off. So I'm gonna move to la. I'm gonna get a real job. I'm gonna work nine to five. I'm gonna pay for all my own shit. And then now I'm a designer, but still, like, if I get any press, they always mention it. Shut the up.

[Chris]

No, it's annoying because your mom didn't do it to hurt you, but it's an unintentional affect of it. Is that, like, you don't control your identity.

[Lexi Wanu]

Exactly. Exactly. I mean, I look back now and I use it as inspiration and I think it's hilarious because it is an iconic part of television, especially, like, the early seasons.

[Natasha]

Totally.

[Lexi Wanu]

But I just hate being identified for it. Like, I want to be identified for my work, truly.

[Chris]

Well, once you're happy with your work, it won't bother you anymore. Yeah, you know, that's. That's. It sucks. It's the struggle.

[Natasha]

Yeah.

[Chris]

It's just an arc.

[Lexi Wanu]

I love when somebody knows me just for my. My brand and not housewives. Like, that is the ultimate feeling in the world. Like, yeah, I made it out.

[Natasha]

Yeah. She was.

[Chris]

She liked the designs. And then.

[Natasha]

Yeah, I was just like, I love

[Lexi Wanu]

that you followed from the start.

[Natasha]

From the start. I was there because I was just like, this is good stuff. And I. Once you started doing, like, the vintage shoe drops, I mean, I was, like, setting an alarm because there's so few. I've always been into vintage and collecting. I didn't because I'm an eight and a half and, like, all the girlies are eight and a half.

[Lexi Wanu]

Were.

[Natasha]

I have been dying, but, like, I just. I'm the most popular size. It's a blessing and a curse. But, like, we go first. But true.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Natasha]

No, I've just always been a fan and I do think, like, you're a year into this. I tr. Like, in another year, I don't think anyone's going to be looking at you. Thinking, oh, this is that girl from Housewives. Like, your. Your work speaks for itself. Your work is really amazing. And you can just tell. Like, you just have an eye for it, you know, it's cool. You know, it works. Like, even the interchangeable jewels on the shoe, like, that's genius. Shit.

[Lexi Wanu]

I'm just a consumer. I know what I want, so I make it.

[Natasha]

That's what makes you so good. It's like, you know. You know what you want, and that happens to be resonate with so many people, which is amazing. And it's just. Yeah, I just. I think it's brilliant. I love all of it.

[Chris]

When you're determined you're gonna get there, there's a.

[Lexi Wanu]

Well, there's a way. But honestly, I really can't express how much it means to me that you have been following along for that long.

[Natasha]

Like, I feel like I'm writing.

[Lexi Wanu]

We're family. We know each other. I do.

[Natasha]

I really do.

[Chris]

This woman knows one thing. It is quality.

[Natasha]

I know. Literally, we were reading my Chinese astrology and it was like, you like good quality over quantity. And that is always been my thing. I'm like, I will buy one jacket for the year if that's the jacket. Like, I will just blow it all in one thing. It just has to be good quality. And that's what you're doing. That's what's so important. Because like you said, there's so many emerging brands coming out all the time, especially in the era we're in where, like, everything is kind of quick and fast and easy, and it's just none of that really nourishes your soul. Like, as a consumer, like, we look back, we're constantly looking at the past. We're constantly getting inspiration from the past, because what we're making presently, like, just doesn't have soul to it. And what you're doing does. And that's what sets you apart and makes it so special. And I think you can just. That always comes through.

[Lexi Wanu]

Thank you.

[Natasha]

You know, so it's there.

[Chris]

Caring to be a great designer. You're gonna every. There's always a choice to save money and make more money. And then there's a choice to be like, might legacy. My imprint.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yes.

[Chris]

The example I'm setting for people, and it feels like you always choose the choice design wise. It's like, no, this is the better design choice.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yeah. I've left so much money on the table, by the way, with the whole collectible aspect. I'm like, what the fuck did I do?

[Chris]

You're Gonna be happier.

[Lexi Wanu]

But, like, when we sell out, and that's just it. I'm like. And then I'm getting DMS for a year after begging. People are begging for it. Like, I wish I had that to sell right now. That would be pretty nice.

[Chris]

She's a big part of my. All of my. Ever since I met Natasha, Natasha has been part of my business. And for the first three years of our relationship, I feel like she was just like, oh, my God. Why did you make that choice? We are so broke now. We are so broke because you did that. You're an idiot. And then recently, I never changed. I always still made the choice that was, like, the best artistic choice. And recently, I've been so worried because we have a son who's two and a half, and I just don't want to let him down. And she's now the one that's like, no, do that. Do that. We're gonna be fine. We're gonna figure it out. We've already figured out the hardest stuff. Keep going that way.

[Natasha]

Yeah, totally.

[Lexi Wanu]

It'll pay off. It always.

[Natasha]

It does. It really does. And that's what I've learned just watching you work and being a part of your process is if you just stay true to who you are and you don't stray, the reward is so much bigger. Like, leaving the money on the table, whatever the reward you get, you might have to wait a little bit longer. It might be delayed, but. But it is so worth it. It's so worth it. And to just know, like, even you making vices broke, and that was a whole saga. There was a lot that happened even in that coming out a movie, which we've spoken about, we could talk about. But just you staying true to your morals and values paid off.

[Chris]

To me. Making money feels like being drunk.

[Natasha]

Yeah, I got some money.

[Chris]

When you stay true to yourself and you get the, like, validation for your work and your quality as an artist, as, like, an individual, that feeling feels like doing Bali.

[Lexi Wanu]

I love that so much. I'm gonna keep that in my toolbox. I'm gonna add that to my notes file. All of your sayings that I'm collecting now.

[Chris]

You. I mean, we're friends that you hit Natasha anytime. We'll FaceTime you, you know, but, like, it's just, like. It's really just like, that feeling is undefeatable. It's unstoppable.

[Natasha]

Like.

[Lexi Wanu]

Yeah.

[Chris]

It feels so much better.

[Lexi Wanu]

So true. So, so, so true.

[Chris]

Yeah. Please move back to New York. This is one of our favorite interviews.

[Natasha]

Closer to Portugal. Closer.

[Chris]

Portugal.

[Lexi Wanu]

I'll come back and visit anytime. I can't believe it even took this long. Like, I know I haven't been here since we emailed, and I know it's coming back. I'm like, I got to email her back. I remember it a year later.

[Natasha]

Well, this is the year anniversary of our pod. This is like, the year anniversary. We were talking about it last night. I was like, wow, it's been a. So this is our anniversary episode.

[Lexi Wanu]

Celebrate.

[Natasha]

We're going on a little date.

[Chris]

Yeah, we have a date tonight. It's a cute date night. We're going to Schmuck. Some Swedish chefs are cooking. It's gonna be fun, but. Yeah, no, you deserve it. This is dope. Yeah, we. We're really happy to have it because it's like, you know, you do things the hard way. Like, I really appreciate artists that do things the hard way.

[Lexi Wanu]

Thank you. Yeah, I really appreciate both of you guys. I think you're both so awesome, and I'm really happy to have met you both, honestly.

[Chris]

Tell your man you said hi.

[Natasha]

Yeah. Hi, Austin.