Red Flag Love, Lebron Ruined Everything & Pole Dancing Samurais

Summary

Canal Street Dreams – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Red Flag Love, Lebron Ruined Everything & Pole Dancing Samurais
Hosts: Eddie Huang (A), Natashia Perrotti (B)
Release Date: May 26, 2026

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Overview

In this energetic and unfiltered episode, Eddie and Natashia dive deep into their professional and personal lives, riffing on creative process, authenticity in art, the economics of subculture, and parenting. They celebrate the upcoming release of Eddie’s new novel “Come Undone” and candidly explore the realities of creative risk-taking, modern love between self-proclaimed “red flags,” the money-driven evolution of subcultures and sports, and answer listener questions about everything from childcare to pole dancing and drug dealing. Throughout, the duo mixes vulnerability, humor, and social critique—all live and raw from Canal Street.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. “Come Undone”: Vulnerability, Artistic Risk, & the Genesis of the Novel

• Book Announcement & Personal Connection (00:00–03:29)

  • Eddie announces the hardcover release of his new novel, connecting its origins to the podcast and their relationship:
    • “I started writing the novel... to untangle my thoughts and feelings... why I think a relationship between two red flags works.” – Eddie (01:55)
  • Natashia adds the book is “the evolution of, like, how do I take the piss out of this cup?” referring to dealing with trauma in relationships.

• Exploring Emotional Unavailability (03:07–04:20)

  • Both hosts discuss how childhood trauma leads to emotional unavailability and how the book reflects adults choosing to risk vulnerability to find love.

• Writing About Real People: Risks and Rewards (04:44–08:28)

  • Eddie shares anxiety about how people portrayed in the book (albeit through fiction) might react, but ultimately stands by his artistic truth:
    • “It shoots the fair one at a lot of fictional characters that are based on real people in my life.” – Eddie (05:32)
    • “I don’t think I would write a character that would risk a real-life relationship that…was important to me.” – Eddie (08:18)

2. Art, Authenticity, and Integrity in Creative Careers

• Facing Industry Power & Ethics (08:56–15:22)

  • Eddie narrates a tense real-life exchange with Soroush Alvi (Vice founder) and reflects on not fearing burning bridges with people he doesn’t respect.
    • “I don’t really care what you think because I don’t think you’re a good dude.” – Eddie (10:03)
  • Natashia and Eddie critique Hollywood’s “don’t burn bridges” culture and how it enables bad actors, drawing parallels to industry-wide scandals.

• Compromises, Moral Choices, and Family Impact (13:43–15:09)

  • Eddie describes never making creative or ethical compromises except to consider the needs of Natashia and their child, Senna.
    • “The only people I apologize to are you and Senna.” – Eddie (13:43)
    • Natashia: “…I would much rather be financially struggling because you made a sound moral decision than…you being cancelled for something you did.”

3. Subculture, Commercialization, and the LeBron Parallel

• LeBron, Private Equity, and the Death of Subculture (15:22–24:42)

  • Eddie and Natashia use the NBA’s evolution—with LeBron as a symbol—to discuss how mainstream business priorities have swallowed up subcultures, creativity, and risk-taking.
    • “The way LeBron played basketball is the way the Ellisons are consolidating Hollywood…if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” – Eddie (17:22)
    • “Private equity has swallowed up our entire country and made it a bad business…to have an opinion.” – Eddie (18:19)
    • Natashia: “Now every party is branded, every bar…is Instagrammable but lacks soul.”

• Nepo Babies & Class Barriers (19:53–23:55)

  • They argue that class—more than ever—determines who can access creative professions and sports.
    • “Allen Iverson…to me is, is just culturally the greatest basketball player of all time. But you don't get AIs anymore.” – Eddie (20:38)
  • Natashia: “We just don’t have that same level of hunger to get there...it’s unfortunate and sad.”
  • Extending this analogy, they discuss how rich artists and “nepo babies” end up scaling and co-opting subcultures, likening it to private equity’s domination:
    • “You are literally buying up poor people’s subculture and then scaling it. And you’re, in many ways, as an artist, private equity.” – Eddie (23:05)

4. Q&A Segment: Pole Dancing, Drug Dealing, and Parenting

• Childcare & Day-to-Day Logistics (24:44–25:54)

  • The couple splits parenting and professional life, leveraging restaurant work for adult interaction and part-time childcare.

• Pole Dancing & “Pole Dancing Samurais” (25:54–28:59)

  • Natashia recounts her experience at a pole dancing class, comparing learning by experience (versus training) to the difference between on-the-job cooks and culinary graduates:
    • “If you’re just, go do it, you almost have a privilege...you haven’t had the time to freak the out about this, and you just have to do it.” – Natashia (28:04)
    • Eddie jokes: “It was very much like the Toychi, the blind swordsman. Like, oh, it looks like a blind crotchy. Oh, shit, it's a samurai.” (26:52)

• Drug Dealing vs. Government Jobs (29:05–30:56)

  • Humorous advice for a listener weighing drug dealing against a government job:
    • Natashia: “Keep drug dealing and deal more drugs.” (29:05, joking)
    • Eddie: “Best way to do it is be the fox guarding the hen house…shout out to you. I mean, don’t give up your job. You need that.” (30:56)

• Generational Change, Partying, and Youth Culture (31:03–32:29)

  • They discuss reduced drinking among today’s youth and wonder if new music (e.g., the latest Drake albums) is what's needed to bring party culture back.

• Repairing Relationship Fights (32:29–33:39)

  • Their approach to conflict: spend time together or communicate via podcast/emails rather than rehashing arguments.

• Becoming a “Baddie”: Nature vs. Nurture (33:42–34:46)

  • Natashia: “At any point in your life, you can decide, I’m going to be a baddie…And it has nothing to do with how you look or present.”

• Shaping Children While Honoring Their Independence (34:52–37:26)

  • The hosts stress boundaries based on respect, manners, and safety, but avoid being authoritarian:
    • “It’s really about recognizing, like, committing to the fact that this is another human, not someone that works for you or has to listen to you.” – Eddie (36:05)

5. Movies, Emotions, & Culture

• The Last Movie That Made Them Cry (37:26–40:56)

  • Eddie: “Pretty Woman…to me, is the greatest rom com ever made.” (38:14)
  • Natashia mentions Blue Valentine, Manchester by the Sea, and shows like Closer that elicit powerful emotions.

• Underrated Greats: Denzel & Julia Roberts (40:56)

  • Eddie: “The male actor, I think is consistently underrated…Denzel. The woman underrated to me is Julia Roberts.”

6. Best Jobs for Raising a Family

• Alternatives to Restaurants & Romanticizing Family Businesses (41:03–44:46)
  • The best family businesses? Ones you love and where kids can be part of the environment—ideas include flower shops, boxing gyms, bookstores, creative studios.
    • Eddie: “If you love what you do, your child is going to enjoy growing up with you.” (44:27)
    • Natashia adds it’s the pride kids have seeing their parents in action, regardless of industry.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If I’m gonna find love in this world and in this life, I need to not be afraid of being hurt.” – Eddie (04:13)
• “The people that some of these [book] characters are inspired by will finally…be able to look at themselves. So in a way, like, the truth can set you free, but also them.” – Natashia & Eddie (08:13)
• “There’s so much money to be made…LeBron and his team treated it like a business, which is great…But…I dislike LeBron because I think he turned the NBA into much more of a business than a sport.” – Eddie (17:22)
• “You’re literally buying up poor people’s subculture and then scaling it. And you’re, in many ways, as an artist, private equity.” – Eddie (23:05)
• “The only people I apologize to are you and Senna.” – Eddie (13:43)
• “At any point in your life, you can decide, I’m going to be a baddie….it has everything to do with the energy that you bring into the space.” – Natashia (34:12)
• “If you love what you do, your child is going to enjoy growing up with you.” – Eddie (44:27)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |----------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Book Announcement & Genesis | 00:00–03:29 | | Emotional Unavailability & Relationships | 03:29–04:44 | | Artistic Risks, Fiction vs Real Life | 04:44–08:28 | | Hollywood, Vice Story, and Ethics | 08:56–15:22 | | LeBron, Commercialization, and Subculture | 15:22–24:42 | | The Nepo Baby Phenomenon, Class Barriers | 19:53–23:55 | | Q&A: Childcare & Family Logistics | 24:44–25:54 | | Pole Dancing, Learning By Doing | 25:54–28:59 | | Drug Dealing vs. Government Work | 29:05–30:56 | | Party Culture & Generational Differences | 31:03–32:29 | | Relationship Conflict & Repair | 32:29–33:39 | | Baddie Status: Nature vs. Nurture | 33:42–34:46 | | Parenting Boundaries & Independence | 34:52–37:26 | | Movies That Make You Cry | 37:26–40:56 | | Family Businesses & Kids in the Workplace | 41:03–44:46 |

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Tone and Style

Unfiltered, playful, introspective, and “neighborhood real”—Eddie and Natashia keep it raw and relatable, blending social critique with candid personal storytelling, irreverent humor, and a genuine love for their community, art, and each other.

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This summary captures all vital points and distinct voices in the episode while skipping ads, intros, and outros as requested.

Transcript

[A]

All right, Canal Street Dreams. Welcome back. Big drop day today. So last night, Drake dropped three albums, and I'm listening to Iceman, and I get a call from the man downstairs. I have a package. So I go downstairs and what else drops? The hardcover for Come Undone is available. It's here. It's in my house. If you guys want to pre order this book online, you could pre order at Penguin, Random House, Barnes and Noble, anywhere you buy books. Please support us, support our family, support wonderful writing. The book is coming soon, June 16th. But like I said, if you love us, the most helpful thing you can do is pre order this book because it counts towards New York Times bestseller the first week. You will receive the book the day it drops. And you could read along. So that's a big thing.

[B]

Totally. It's also a phenomenal book. It's not like you're doing buy the book. You will enjoy it. It's really good. It's phenomenal.

[A]

And I think the thing is, for people who listen to the pod, honestly, it's their book. Because this book, the genesis of it, happened alongside the podcast. Like, we started the pod after we got fake married in March 2023. The first trip I had to take after we got fake married was to do the London Bauhaus pop up. And on my flight back from London, there was a New York magazine article that was like, these are red flags. If your partner is doing this, they are a red flag. And I looked at and I was like, babe, I think we're both, like, straight up red flags. Like, full, full red flags.

[B]

We're both toxic. Or were, were.

[A]

And like, I was just like, but I love you. And I feel like this is a great relationship. So that's why I started writing the novel. Cause I was curious to like, untangle my thoughts and feelings and get it on paper of, like, why I think a relationship between two red flags work.

[B]

Yeah. I also think the novel kind of explores two people undoing that for each other, kind of recognizing their own red flags and recognizing they have a person in front of them that they love and that if they continue to act in certain ways or do certain things, that maybe they can't hold on to this person who is so special to them and this relationship who's so special to them. And it's the evolution of, like, how do I. How do I take the piss out of this cup? Like, like, you know, you have a cup of water and then you, like, throw piss in there, and that's a trauma. And you, like, half. You can just, like, throw a bunch of other in the cup, but you're not actually taking the bad stuff out. And it's just like, how do you take the bad stuff out?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Is my interpretation of it.

[A]

Yeah. And then what I realized as I was writing and, like, investigating the. The kind of source of our red flags, it's really emotional unavailability.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. Or. Yeah. And, like, a bit of anxious attachment or avoidant attachment that I think comes from family trauma. When you're young and you learn to cope in certain ways and maybe try to evade being vulnerable in your intimate relationships. I think that was present for both of us.

[A]

Yeah. Because, I mean, as kids, you don't know how not to be vulnerable. You're very vulnerable to everything your parents are doing. So it's like, mom, I need this. Dad, I need this. But if you get hurt by being open to your parents, if you feel, like, stabbed in the back by a parent or somebody really close, it could be a brother, sister, uncle, aunt, parent. If you get stabbed in the back by someone you were vulnerable to, that's where you start learning to be emotionally unavailable. And I really think that's what this book is about, is, like, two adults making the choice to no longer be emotionally unavailable, to not be emotionally handicapped and be like, if I'm gonna find love in this world and in this life, I need to not be afraid of being hurt.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know?

[B]

Absolutely. And how do you feel with this coming out? In a month, this will be available for everybody to read. Does that in Men? Does that make you feel vulnerable? That. I mean, is it. Is it like, when Fresh off the Boat came out for you, or is it a bit different in terms of memoir, verse, novel?

[A]

Dude, there. It's. It's interesting. Fresh off the Boat, when it was coming out, I had a lot of false confidence. I was like, yo, this book is fucking crazy. It's the shit. I'm 30 years old and I wrote a memoir. And, like, I didn't know what to, like, be anxious about. I didn't know what it was like to be reviewed. And I remember the day the New York Times review came out of Fresh off the Boat. I was like, yo, this dude's talking out the side of his mouth like Dwight Garner saying he's got gristle in his teeth reading this book. And Chris Jackson, my editor, literally stopped me from tweeting and was like, yo, this isn't incredible review. Like, the guy compares you to Jay Z and James Baldwin. Like, it's an incredible review. Shut the fuck up and put your computer away and like, you know, we could just put the book down now. But, you know, I. I didn't even know what it was going to be like to be reviewed. And I was so sensitive and I was so defensive and the shell I created was like a false confidence. This time I know there are people that are not going to like this book. I think I was most raw and vulnerable when I turned it in. And it was actually Chris Jackson and Sean Thor Conroe that read it. And they were like, are you sure about this ending? And I was like, should I not be sure about it? And they're like, bro, this ending goes bananas. Like, this ending is crazy. And I was like, but it, like, also mirrors reality and there's truth to it. It shoots the fair one at a lot of fictional characters that are based on real people in my life. And that shocked me and surprised me because I was like, why wouldn't I be sure about this? Like, that's what happened. Or like that's, you know, like I have experienced something similar to this. And they were just like, it works for the book, it totally works for the narrative. But, you know, in your real life, you may not be able to come back from this with those people. And that definitely made me scared. That definitely made me reconsider. But ultimately I stuck with the ending because it's what I felt and it was the truth. And

[B]

it.

[A]

It has been interesting to write a novel which is fiction. Like, I would say 85% of this novel is fiction, but all of the fictionalized settings and plots and characters are based on real people. Like, you can. You can see it's not too far under the surface, you know, for sure. But I think I was most raw then. And now with it coming out, I'm very much at peace. Like, I'm super cool with it.

[B]

And I guess I'm not a writer. So something I would be curious about is risking those real life relationships for your art. What does that feel like? How do you make those choices as an artist?

[A]

Yeah, I would not risk a relationship that matters to me. I actually think Chris and Sean were incorrect when they were like, yo. You may not be able to come back from that. I could see their perspective, but I actually think writing it and saying my true feelings, the people that some of these characters are inspired by will finally, I think, be able to look at themselves.

[B]

So in a way, like, the truth can set you free, but also them.

[A]

Yeah, that's how I feel. I don't think I would write a character that would risk a real life relationship that, like, was important to me.

[B]

Yeah. It's interesting because I. I feel as a writer, when you take inspiration from your real life or people that you know in your real life and these characters, there's always that inherent risk of, I guess, kind of portraying and projecting onto them, maybe the version of them that you see or are inspired by that maybe that person doesn't even know exists, you know? Yeah.

[A]

And funny enough, like, I went to Kareem Rama's, like, Subway takes premiere last night. Shout out, Kareem. Big congrats. Like, homies pioneering a lot of Internet media, and we love him.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But it was funny. I went. I did the step and repeat. I said, what's up? And I go to shake Kareem's hand. And who's standing next to him? Soroush Alvi, the founder of vice. And his face is all crunchy, just like. And obviously, like, I did the vice doc, so I can imagine he's crunchy. I was like, yo, why the long face, bro? That doc could have been a lot worse for you. I said to him, and he got mad. He's like, this. It's not that. It's not that. You know, you shouldn't have done that. And I was like, shouldn't have done what? Like, y' all with my money. Y' all with everybody's money. And, like, you turned this place upside down that, like, it wasn't just yours to fuck up. And I didn't regret it at all. It was cool to actually bump into Soroush and say to his face like, that doc could have been a lot worse for you.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, I heard a lot of worse things on background from people, so.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

You know, it was interesting because I think the initial reaction is always like, oh, I don't want to beef with people. I don't want people to not like me. And I'm like, I don't really care what you think because I don't think you're a good dude.

[B]

Yeah. Like, you don't care so much if Soroush likes you as a person because you don't like him. It's like, what are. Why am I fighting for your respect? I don't respect you.

[A]

Yeah. I got photos of that guy dressed up as, like, a Nazi for Halloween. You know? Like, I don't.

[B]

Yeah. Fair.

[A]

I don't know how much I care about that brother.

[B]

Yeah. I think that there's kind of this learned when you're working in Hollywood or you're working in these places where they're like, make sure that everybody likes you and you're good with everybody so you can continue to do business along the way and, like, don't burn the bridges. But I think that that's bullshit. And I think that they teach people that so that people can overlook bad behavior and compensate and that people can overcompensate for and be, oh, well, you know, he's a good guy. It's very much the whole vice doc. It's like, well, you know, Gavin founded the Proud Boys and was a Nazi and, you know, an anti Semite, but he was cool. He was so cool. And we liked hanging out with him, but it's like, he's also done horrible things. Horrible. So in effort to, like, it's just like, I don't care. I don't care if Gavin likes me. I don't care if, you know, these people like me. It's like, I'm sure how you feel. Like, I don't like you. Yeah, the. Do I care?

[A]

And. And it was. It's. It's almost like when the Weinstein thing first happened in 2016, I remember the public reaction of normal, reasonable human beings is like, how the fuck did this happen? How did this guy get away with it? Well, it's because in this industry, and in pretty much every industry, you're indoctrinated by people who make money and depend on these terrible people. Yeah. So they prop them up and they protect them, and they, like, soften the edges of their image. And when they make mistakes, they, you know, force you to sign NDAs and they get you to be quiet because. Because it's like, it's not worth it. It's not worth fight. It's not worth being upset. And I'm like, no, I actually think a lot of things are worth saying and being upset about.

[B]

Yeah, you'll be gaslit and, like, Stockholm syndrome in a room with somebody who's explaining to you, like, why you misinterpreted what happened to you. And it's actually not that bad. Like, this is really not that bad. And it's just like, however many 50 years of people doing this now, and it's like, okay, no, we're gonna just address it and call it what it is. Is, like, foul behavior. Yeah. And I mean, I don't think that every single person needs to be like, we don't need to be punishing people on fucking Love island for, like, being weird, but, like, certain people do need to be punished.

[A]

They need to be Punished.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And it's also just like. It's so much. It's like brave new world. I think the thing that happens to a lot of people who end up making money is you're so comfortable making money and you remember how hard it was to get to that spot. That when things happen and you hit an intersection where the moral right thing to do is right in front of you, but could perhaps impact how you make money and could perhaps impact the comfort in your life, you're like, I don't know. And I actually know for sure it has impacted my career because I always say what needs to be said.

[B]

I was going to ask you if there's ever a point where you felt like you succumbed to that, but I think I know the answer and it's just no. Yeah. I don't think you ever felt like you made the wrong decision in a moment of weakness to preserve, like, comfort or financial stability. Like, I think that you're the type of person, you'll burn it all down. You'll risk it all. You're like, I don't give a fuck.

[A]

Yeah. The only people I apologize to you are you and Senna.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Is like, I never want to affect your stability in your life. And like, when you're in a relationship, those are the things you start to think about. Like with the movie thing over the summer, if I was single, I wouldn't have thought twice. I wouldn't felt bad at all. But that really affected our finances. It really affected a lot of the jobs we had in the pipeline. And you know what? I felt bad, but I knew I needed to do it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like.

[B]

No, I understand that. And I think that you explained it to me in a way that I could understand it and support you as well. And I had a lot of the same beliefs as you, but like you said, it's just when you're linked to somebody, I would much rather be financially struggling because you made a sound moral decision than like, you being canceled. For some, you did. Do you know what I mean? Like, I think that I can. I can make sense of that. That makes sense to me. Yeah. Versus the other end where it's like, you don't follow what feels right to you and in your heart, and then you end up doing something that feels bad and then you up opportunities because of that. Like, I think that is much worse.

[A]

Yeah. I. I would much rather be able to turn to you and Senna and been like, I never did anything. I never enabled wrongdoing to protect, like, our finances.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You Know, like, I think there's a lot of virtue signaling celebrities out there who then make very, very compromised choices. And they still hang out with people who are, like, are on record terrible.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because it's beneficial to their business. So. Yeah. And a lot of this book is about that. Like, you know, that character is really bummed out because of the things that he has to do for his job, the people he has to placate. And, you know, I miss the dude all the time, but Tony Bourdain was the one other person like I met in this business that never compromised. He always said what needed to be said. I think we really connected on that level. Both of us burned down business relationships multiple times because we were just like, we don't believe in that thing that you want me to do. I hope that shit comes back, man. I remember growing up looking up to people like Tony, and I just don't see that many these days. Why do you think that is? What do you think changed to make it that way? I think this subculture. There's not really much subculture in this country anymore. Like, things that were subcultural, like, let's say rap music. Right. Are mainstream now. There's so much money to be made. Basketball, NBA. Right. Like, back in the day, you know, not every player had, like, a trainer and a strength and conditioning coach from a young age. They weren't like, sponsored on an AAU team. Like, you know, I saw a huge difference with LeBron coming to the NBA because LeBron and his team treated it like a business, which is great. Like, I'm all for LeBron Black excellence. Like, he's playing with his son in the NBA. It is. He's kind of like the Jay Z of the NBA. He, like, feels figured out the business. But for the same reasons I at times dislike Jay z, I dislike LeBron because I think he turned the NBA into much more of a business than a sport. Like, those guys weren't fight. Him and Dwyane Wade joined up. They joined forces. It's like the way LeBron played basketball is the way the Ellisons are consolidating Hollywood. Like, he should have played against Dwyane Wade. You know, like, he created this culture of, like, if you can't beat him, join him. And I think that is what's happened in America, is that you don't stand up to things anymore. You're like, oh, you know what? That'd be a really tough battle. Let me just, like, join them. Let me. Let me just, like, be in the house. You Know like everybody's getting consolidated here. And around that same time, I remember there was like cool downtown subculture. Nike bought it all up. Beats bought it all up. It was just like now every party is branded, every single bar. You make more money doing branded than you do like just opening up to the public and being a neighborhood establishment. So I really think what it is, is private equity has swallowed up our entire country and made it a bad business, a bad life proposition to have a opinion. And that is why this country is.

[B]

I love the way you put it. I was just going to say private equity, but you really like nailed it. And I really like the NBA analogy too because it feels like right back in the, back in the day, 20, 30, 40 years ago in the NBA, like you were plucking talent out of low income neighborhoods. Like you didn't have to. The barrier to entry to be in the NBA was, wasn't as high as it is now. You didn't have to have money. It wasn't skiing, it wasn't snowboarding where your family had to like vacation and do these things. Like anybody had a basketball hoop and a ball and that's changed. The barrier to entry is much higher. It feels the barrier to entry on everything is much higher. So in a way, yes. It's like you, when you're young, you don't feel you have the opportunities or the moments in your life to form these opinions and carve out these lanes for yourself that are other. It's like if you want to make it, you have to join and you have to just shut the fuck up and get on board with like that maybe you don't agree on if you want to have a nice life or you're gonna struggle and face so much hardship. So yeah, I think that that's a, that's a interesting thing to explore with like the younger generations and how they navigate their lives. And just like I guess what is more important at this point in our country and like to serve, I mean just like baseline survival now is on unobtainable. Like yeah, we're romanticizing being able to pay for your groceries every week. Like people are financing their door dash orders. Like I'll pay in three installations for my Chipotle burrito. That's insane. That's not regular life.

[A]

No, everything reflects what this government has done and what is happening with the American economy. Like there has never been a. And I will say sports is always such an accurate reflection of the world you live in. There's never been a time in the NBA NFL, MLB, where there, there have been more nepo children playing. LeBron is playing with his son on the same floor. Like you said, the barrier to entry to be competitive in youth basketball now is so high because the NBA players that have children, they spend so much money and these kids have such a head start. And I will say the most culturally impactful basketball player I think of all time is Allen Iverson.

[B]

Agreed.

[A]

Allen Iverson comes from nothing in Newport News. And I mean, like, he was everybody's hero growing up. He defied so many, you know, cultural boundaries. Discrimination, like AI to me is, is just culturally the greatest basketball player of all time. But you don't get AIs anymore.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

AI today, honestly doesn't have a chance. Like, he's way behind. And it's just, it's just a bummer that in so many industries and so many things in this country now, if your parents don't have money, they don't have childcare, they can't pay for like education and services for you, you really don't have a chance.

[B]

Yeah. Which is a bummer. I mean, we even see it in film and tv, right? Where every movie, every, every model even is in some way and Nepo baby. And it really not to say that these people are undeserving of the careers that they go on to have, but there's such a large talent pool of people like an AI, like people we've never heard of that exist, that never get the shot, they never get in the room, they never get the opportunity because we're flooded with people who their whole lives have been set up for them to be able to do this, or they have a cushion and they can take a risk. They can spend six to eight months to a year, to five years auditioning because their bills are paid. They don't have to like struggle and fight for it and like miss meals. It's just. Yeah, it's. Yeah, it's unfortunate and sad and like, we just don't have that same level of hunger to get there. And you see it on the court or you see it on the screen, or you see it at the restaurant that you go to. It's like, okay, cool, I'm at the corporate VC funded restaurant where everything is like Instagrammable but like lacks soul in every single way. Yeah.

[A]

And I think when people talk about appropriation, it's very, very race identity based, which is valid because I think so much of socioeconomics and class is unfortunately originating from racism and discrimination. But for the purposes of people listening so that they can, like, actually consider this. Let's remove the appropriation co optation conversation from identity. We'll detach it. Let's relate it to socioeconomics and class. When you're like, a rich model or you're a rich artist or a Nepo baby, you literally pay for people to be feeding you cool kid shit. You have a stylist that tells you what to wear. You have this producer who's from this place in London flowing you beats. You are literally buying up poor people's subculture and then scaling it. And you're, in many ways, as an artist, private equity.

[B]

Yeah. It's Dworth west doing Rolling Loud. It's like, dog, you're 12.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like. But of course, you have all the resources. Of course you have sick beats. Of course you know how to lay down a track. Of course you know all of these things. And that's not to take away from who she is as a person. She was born into that. And, like, I would never comment on a child, but that is the direction we're going, where that's just so regular and that's so normalized. Like, if I was growing up, like, I. I mean, for me, it was like Hannah Montana. I was like, this is crazy. This bitch is my age, and she's, like, touring the world. Like, I was sick to my stomach over it. Like, how. But now that's just, like, normal.

[A]

Yeah. And it's not Northwest Full. And I think a lot of the argument at times is like, well, like, there were white artists that did this. And it's like, but so we're doing the same thing, you know, like, it's not her fault.

[B]

It's not. It's never the fault of the child. It's just interesting that now it's Lord of the Rings.

[A]

Power corrupts money and power corrupts.

[B]

It is Lord of the Rings.

[A]

No one is. Is. Like, very few people have resistance to it. And like, yeah, once you have money and power, people and neighborhoods where the subcultures actually come from have no chance to actually make money and own or control their art or culture or identity.

[B]

They.

[A]

Because someone with a lot more money has already descended and taken it from them.

[B]

That's a bar.

[A]

Yeah. Questions?

[B]

Yeah, I was going to say this is a really good opportunity to segue into questions. Someone asked, how do we manage childcare in New York City? Do we have a nanny, babysitters, or daycare?

[A]

Okay. I mean, basically what we do is we pay for childcare three days a week, and you work at the restaurant. And that's how we pay for the childcare. And basically, you don't really get time off, but you get to. You get to hang out with adults and have adult conversations instead of going, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby.

[B]

I would say, yeah, I get. I get adult time through working at Bauhaus. But, you know, even just having that for my mental health, like 24 7, 365, stay at home moms. I feel you. That shit is crazy. Sometimes you don't converse with an adult human for days, and that can really take a toll on your mental health. Senna used to go to two days of Mandarin immersion school, which was like half days, 8:30 to 12:30. I would get some free time there, but that school is no longer available. This is a good question. Did Eddie start boxing again first or did the pole dancing come first? Was it run? Was it a run? Club response.

[A]

I know where that came from. Yo. No, I, I def. I think I've been boxing since I met Harold last year.

[B]

Yeah, you've always. Well, our first date ever was at a boxing gym. You've always been boxing. And I just so happened to be invited by a friend of mine to that event. And like, it was a work. It was for a workout set. Like Flor de Mall was doing full, like, matching sets and their choice of. It's a lingerie brand. So naturally they were like, the workout will be pole dancing, but I will be back and I will be continuing to pole dance because it's just truly such a fun experience, even if you suck at it. If you just, like, let yourself go and have fun and you don't think about it, you're going to have the best time of your life.

[A]

But it was also very funny because as soon as you started doing it, it was like the cat's out of the bag. Like, you're. You look like a professional.

[B]

You look like. I knew what I was doing.

[A]

Like, I had done that before, done that professional.

[B]

Like, I had maybe had some experience. It was my first go around the pole, per se.

[A]

It was very much like the Toychi, the blind swordsman. Like, oh, it looks like a blind crotchy. Oh, shit, it's a samurai.

[B]

I was chatting with the instructor before and I was like, how long have you been teaching pole? Like, blah, blah, blah. And she was so sweet. She's like, oh, like a backgr. Was like a D1 athlete. Blah, blah, blah. And she was like, don't. We're not. It won't be that hard. We're not like going to be climbing the pole today. And I was like, oh, thank God. And then I was like, can I, Can I go? Can I. Can I go do it? Can I go climb? Like, it was very.

[A]

That is like the NBA. Like, these women pay money to go learn pole dancing from, like, an instructor who's a professional athlete. Yeah. Do you want to? And it's like, you just got it out the mud.

[B]

Listen, I just rolled up one day and I was like, hey. And they were like, figure it out.

[A]

Yeah. It's like kids that go to culinary school and then kids who are just like, you're on the line.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You're on stage three.

[B]

Yeah. It's arguably just better every single time when you have to learn on the fly.

[A]

Yeah. And have the pressure of, like, making a living out of it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

There. You're not, like, in this bubble where it doesn't matter if you're good and you take your time and figure it out. It's like, nah, bro, you better make money today.

[B]

For sure. Like, I think if you're a doctor and a lawyer, education is super important. But I think if you do have creative pursuits like film or, you know, any culinary endeavor or anything, I think when you're just thrust into the situation, you almost, in a way, don't have that same, like, insecurity that's been seated in your brain for four to five, six, seven, eight years, however long you've been in school, where you're just, like, looking at it all the time. You're like, am I. Is my cooking great? Are my knife skills good? Can I work a camera? If you're just like, go do it. You almost have a privilege, in a way to, like, you haven't had the time to freak the out about this, and you just have to do it, and you have more to prove. And it. I don't know. That's like my romanticization of that.

[A]

No, it's when. When you're, like, a cook who learned by cooking or a stripper that learned by dancing, what it is is just like, you're not a correct answer person.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, like, you had to figure that shit out. And it shows in the performance.

[B]

Shows in the performance. Ladies and gentlemen, someone asked, should I go back to my government 9 to 5, or should I keep drug dealing? And my answer to that would be, keep drug dealing and deal more drugs.

[A]

Did we find out what this person's government 9 to 5 is?

[B]

No, but I think the drug dealing is probably better also.

[A]

Is this caduce?

[B]

No,

[A]

I'm not The only person I know with a government job. But yeah, I mean, I don't know. Honestly, when you do the mad, drug dealing is not that profitable unless this dude is, you know, like. Really? Yeah, he really has like a syndicate. No benefits. No benefits. And honestly, with the legalization of weed, a lot of dude, like, I know people with serves, they're not making as much money as they used to coke you. I mean, I think coke dealers are still making money and they stepping on the ship. But like, I mean, that's just. It's a lot of stress. I can't imagine the guy as a government. Well, maybe, I mean, maybe he's like really doing well. Maybe if he has a government job,

[B]

maybe he's like selling weed. Like, I don't think when people say drug dealing to me now, drug dealing to me has never been selling weed. I'm like, that's just selling weed. Like, drug dealing is like, you're like an actual drug.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, like if you work for

[A]

the Coast Guard and he's bringing it in, then like you kind of need your government job to also do your other job.

[B]

I actually like that. That's a, that's a really good kind of set up for you. I mean, aren't all the best drug dealers like cops? You know what I mean? Like, they're just getting the free anyways. They're like, oh, we're gonna arrest you and take all your. And then we're just gonna go flip it on the street. So it's like maybe he's a cop.

[A]

The best drug dealers, the people that I know making the most money are double agents.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like they, they're Coast Guard, their police.

[B]

I don't know any of these people, but I would imagine they're cleaning up.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. You know, like that's, that's kind of the best way to do it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because you're the fox guarding the hen house. So shout out to you. I mean, don't give up your job. You need that.

[B]

Yeah. Do you think the kids of today will be okay? Do you think partying culture is dead?

[A]

Oh, I think partying's up. I think parting's up. Like, at least with the kids that work in the restaurant here, like they party, they be talking to Arnold Crazy.

[B]

Yeah. I did just read a study though, that it was like the whatever. Like percentage of people drinking in this country is at an all time low.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

The lowest it's ever been. So that's interesting. Or like it was like college kids in general, like, just like Drinking is at the lowest it's ever been.

[A]

They do keep saying that. And, like, I know certain bars that, like, their sales are historically lower since the pandemic. Like, severely lower.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But I mean, I still see people going out and, like, you know, I do too.

[B]

But I think now, when I think about them, like, my friends are, I guess, older. We're in our 30s, 40s, so I'm like, oh, yeah. Like, we are the older generation now. We're not the younger generation. So I don't know what they're up to. But I do know there's.

[A]

I think they just needed a Drake album, honestly. How are you gonna get crunk without a Drake album? Yeah, good one. It's a good one. Big three good ones. Yeah. This. This gonna have people outside like, this isn't like reading a book. You know what I mean? Like, culture since, like, 2016 has been like, this is my treatise, you know? Like, what, bro? Write a book.

[B]

This is a good one. How do you and Eddie repair if and when the lines have been crossed in a fight? Love you all.

[A]

I mean, wouldn't you say we just. Pot. Potting has actually become the best way to repair. I would say potting and emails, but what about you?

[B]

Yeah, probably emails. I also think we just do this new thing now where it's just kind of. If the energy gets weird, I think we just, like, give each other a touch.

[A]

Yeah. Time spent.

[B]

Yeah. Time spent.

[A]

I think it's important, like, we can both feel when something's off, when someone feels away.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But instead of talking about it and rehashing old wounds and picking off scabs, it's. I really do think it's time spent.

[B]

True. Yeah.

[A]

Is our love language time spent?

[B]

No, mine's gift giving. It is. And, like, why am I going to. Why do I need to, like, change myself to be, like, accepted into society? It's gift giving.

[A]

The Birkin's working.

[B]

Somebody could literally do the most horrible thing to me and then give me a great gift, and I would be like, I actually know that you love me now. Like, mine is thoughtful gift giving. Down.

[A]

It just feels like cheating, but I'm down.

[B]

No, I'm a thoughtful gift giver.

[A]

I'll do it. Also, just didn't have any money to do it the last couple of years, but.

[B]

Cool. Are you born a baddie or do you become one? Both. I think you can be born a baddie. I think that there are certain people that were born baddies, but I also think it's just a state of mind. And at any point in your life, you can decide, I'm going to be a baddie. Boys, girls, men, women, anyone who identifies as anything, you can just say, no, I'm. I'm entering baddie state of mind, and I'm a baddie now.

[A]

I agree.

[B]

And it has nothing to do with how you look or present. And it has everything to do with the energy that you bring into the space.

[A]

I mean, like, I've been friends with Matty matheson for, like, 15 years. And, like, for the last two years, there are many, many dudes, especially, like, younger boys, that are like, I want to be like, Maddie, he's a baddie. I want his.

[B]

Yeah, you're a baddie, Maddie.

[A]

Maddie is a baddie.

[B]

Our son is a baddie. Like, he has batty energy, and I'm just like, you just. It's an energy. Like, Senna was born with it. I think I was probably born with it. Look, based on, like, my baby photos, like, I was just serving all the time. Yeah. No, it's a state of mind.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Anybody can enter. So never feel like it's too late to be a baddie. It's never too late.

[A]

I remember Maddie would just walk around with no shirt on. I'm like, he look at fly. This dude is looking fly.

[B]

How do you shape your child while still letting them be themselves?

[A]

Well, I mean, it's just boundaries. I think it's like, boundaries and then adjusting the boundaries. But, I mean, you would know better than me.

[B]

I think that I focus on a couple of things that are most important to me when I guess, quote unquote, like, shaping him, which are to have manners and to have respect. But outside of that, like, I try not to be a cop all the time. I mean, safety is also a big thing. So for me, it's just like, we're not going to do anything super dangerous. Like, we're not going to be, like, jumping off the couch next to the coffee table that's made of stone. I have boundaries there. And just, like, always using his manners, always being respectful. But I would never, like, force him to, like, give somebody a hug in our family that he didn't want to hug. I don't. I think it's like, his personality and who he is and what he gravitates towards. Like, he likes to watch these insane dinosaur races where the dinosaurs are getting blown up and there's, like, blood everywhere. And I'm like, he's two and a half. That's probably not a appropriate, but that's what he likes.

[A]

And that's what I want to watch.

[B]

And that's fine.

[A]

That's what he want to watch. And I think a big thing, too, is that we're never like, center. Don't do that.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

We explain to him why he can't do something.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Because then it wins him over. And he's like, oh, I'm in agreement. And then he understands. I think it's really about recognizing, like, committing to the fact that this is another human, not someone that works for you or has to listen to you. I mean, there are times where he really pushes you, and we have to be like, senna, you just, like, need to listen. Even if you disagree right now, you need to listen. But we try to help him understand why we're telling him to do something a certain way even though he's two and a half.

[B]

I agree with that. I try to really. If I say no, it really all goes back to safety, respect, manners. Like, I'll be like, we're not doing this because it's unsafe. We're not doing this because that's disrespectful. We're not doing that. We always say please, always say thank you. I think just as a parent, like, find the pillars that are the most important to you. It doesn't have to be the same, but whatever those are, stick to them. Don't ever waver on them, because kids can sense when they can beat you down, and they will every time. But if they know that those are the firm boundaries, they will start to fall in line with those things and just respect and abide by them. And then outside of that, I really, like, he's fine to do. Like, he eats gummy bears with red 40 in them when he comes here. Okay, fine. Pick your battles. And that is just a personal thing. You have to pick everyone that's going to be different for everyone. Last movie that made you cry.

[A]

Oh,

[B]

I cried everything. Now I'm such a.

[A]

Last movie that made me cry. Okay. I cannot. Oh, man. Yo, this is crazy. I ran back Pretty Woman like, three weeks ago.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I definitely. I don't know if I, like, full tear cried and cracked up. But, like, that movie is sad in points.

[B]

You had, like, something in your throat.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like.

[A]

Yeah. When George Costanza hits Vivian, it's like, yo. Yeah, yo, that. That really bothered me. Yeah, that really, really bothered me.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, there are. Yeah. That movie's kind of dark. Like, everyone's always like, oh, my God, Pretty Woman. But it's, like, dark.

[A]

Oh, it's dark. And when they, like, don't sell her the clothes at the store, like, yeah, I actually. I will stand on it. Pre Woman, to me, is the greatest rom com ever made. Like, that is my favorite rom com. It was the rom com of my childhood. But, like, I didn't understand it. I just thought, like, Vivian was incredible. And then, you know, you get older and you. You just, you know, you have friends that have daughters and things like that, and you watch that film, and it's a tough one.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But beautiful.

[B]

I agree. I can't even remember the last movie I watched.

[A]

Spider man across the Universe. You got kind of bummed out.

[B]

No. Did I? I didn't cry, though. But I love Spider man across the Universe. I'm really into, like, I never was a Marvel movie watcher. I never cared about that universe. But since having Santa, he's very into Spider Man. He's very into, like, Venom. He's into all of the characters. So I've been watching a lot of Marvel movies, but I think the last movie that I cried at, it wasn't. I don't have one. So I. I will say that I did watch this show with the redhead shiv from Succession and Dakota Fanning on Hulu. Cannot remember the name of it, but, like, the kid gets kidnapped by the nanny. Full sobbing. Full first episode, hyperventilating sobbing. I was like, how is this happening? But, like, movies that I will always cry at would be Blue Valentine for sure.

[A]

Like, that's just Manchester by the Sea.

[B]

Yeah, for sure.

[A]

Those two are the two saddest films I think I've ever watched. Manchester by the Sea, Blue Valentine, and Woman under the Influence. Yeah, those are sad.

[B]

I would put in Closer for me as well. That's like a movie that I'll watch when I want to hurt myself. I'm like, oh, do you want to, like, feel all your feelings that you've ever felt in your Entire Life in 90 minutes? Closer with Natalie Portman and Julia Roberts. I love a Julia Roberts film. I'll just say that step stepmother. Like, you might as well, like, just stepmother is like talking to your, like, father who abandoned you.

[A]

Even Aaron Brockovich. You, like, get sad and cheer for her, you know?

[B]

She's so good. Every single one of her films. I mean, Notting Hill. Cool.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, she's just underrated.

[A]

Never on these, like, big actory lists, you know? And I'm like, julia Roberts is a monster.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, people always I to be Meryl Streep. Meryl Stre. I'm Like, I, I don't like. Cool, cool, cool.

[B]

What be Julia Roberts. Julia Roberts, she's like the range on her. I love Julia Roberts.

[A]

The, the male actor, I think is consistently underrated when talking about all time greats. Denzel. The woman underrated to me is Julia Roberts.

[B]

Those are my two interesting.

[A]

I think they're underrated. But. Last question, last question, last question.

[B]

Do you think that there's a better business to raise a family in other than a restaurant?

[A]

Oh, okay, look, all right, if we own Complete Play Place, that would be a cool business to have a child then also wouldn't be owned by someone who's gone to Epstein Island. So maybe Play Place.

[B]

I think that if you own a flower shop that is conjoined next to a lighting shop and your son who likes partying can marry the daughter of the man of the lighting shop and then you can knock the wall down and become a plant and light shop. But if you've ever seen the movie, what is it called?

[A]

Oh, Night at the Roxbury.

[B]

Yeah, that's the plot of Night of the Rox. They grew up in the flower shop. The girl that the son ends up marrying works in the lighting shop. And like. Yeah, it's, it's the whole thing. I mean. Yeah, that is funny. I think that if, I don't know, like, if you're a banker and like, how do you raise your kid in that? I don't know. But like, I think that there's some industries you just can't raise a child in. And a restaurant happens to be one that you can.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So that's cool.

[A]

But the ones that I would find cool is like, okay, you got a boxing gym.

[B]

Very cool.

[A]

Maybe skate shop.

[B]

Very cool.

[A]

You know, maybe you run to ymca, like bookstore.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Oh, bookstore is incredible.

[B]

Or you're like a professor and you get to, you know, be interacting or you're living on, on a college campus or something. Or like a, like Boston's a great city where like the industry is healthcare and education for the most part. So that's a cool environment if that's what your family does in a city like that.

[A]

Could be cool if your father is Steven Spielberg.

[B]

Yeah. Growing up in la, you grew up in entertainment. You're on a movie set. That's cool.

[A]

Okay, here's one. Here's a good one. I met a guy and his father was the first one to merchandise films. And so he got to grow up and like have private screenings of films like Goonies and things like that. And then his dad was Making the toy. So he got all the toys. That guy had an incredible childhood.

[B]

I will say I think fashion is really cool and, like, a very specific way. Like, there was, like, these pictures of Phoebe Philo's, like, daughter, like, with her friends, like, standing cross armed at this, like, fashion show that she was doing. I don't. I don't know if she was at Celine at this point or what it was, but her daughter was like, 12 years old. And I was like, that would be cool. Like, to just, like, watch your parent design a collection and then you get to, like, see stand at the side of the Runway while they're presenting that. I think that could be very cool. And then it could also probably suck in many ways as well.

[A]

These are all cool. And. But the funny thing is, I cannot see us raising Senna in a way. Besides, the restaurant works for him. He loves the restaurant.

[B]

And, like, that's for us, you know, like, it's just also, I think when it's generational at this point, three generations, we're raising the third generation. It's like, I. I couldn't imagine anything else. So I don't know if anything else could be cool or good. But then I also think of, like, Meadow Soprano being like, are you in the Mafia? And I'm like, that's sick, too.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, we asked our parents.

[B]

Yeah. So, yeah. I don't know. Like, I. I think it's what you make it. Whatever your kid grows up around. It's like the parts of that there's really awful in restaurant industries too. It's like, will shield him from that to an extent.

[A]

I think what it is, is if you love what you do, your child is going to enjoy growing up with you.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, he's got a lovely. Like, if Chris has a kid and kid gets to come on the set of podcasts, I mean, I don't see a better way.

[B]

Yeah, I think that they'll be in there.

[A]

They can be working.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. You know, handing out mics and then it's like, it's cool. It's just also cool as a kid to see your parents doing something, you know, like, as a kid, you think your. Your parents are these superheroes. Like, I remember my mom worked in sales and I would, like, go to her job, and I'm like, this is cool. Like, this is so sick. And like, whatever. I think it's just, you know, it's what you make of it.

[A]

My parents told me this story that my dad worked in a furniture store. My dad would sell furniture and I follow him around and watch him sell furniture to people and make deals and one day I just like sat down at his desk, at the chair behind his desk and my mom goes, what are you doing? And I go I'm a businessman, I'm going to sell you something. And kids just you love your parents, you want to do whatever your parent is doing. And I, I was like I'm going to be a businessman because I watched my dad sell furniture.

[B]

Full circle, homie. With a government 9 to 5. If you have kids, maybe stop selling drugs and keep the nine to five after because then your little ones are going to be like yeah, working for the government may be better than selling drugs.

[A]

At a certain point if you have kids you have to stop doing drugs and selling drugs. You just have to, absolutely have to. But great episode. Love this. This was fun.

[B]

Bye. Come undone.