Tom (3:29)

Come on.

Tom Schwartz (3:30)

Okay. You didn't see that movie. Well, you're missing out. How about under the Tuscan Sun? Diane Lane, husband's cheating on you. Get divorced, escape to Italy, buy a villa in Tuscany. Rebuild your life. Okay, yeah, sign me up. Be all cozy, romantic Rebirth vibes. Or maybe just fuck.

Tom (3:53)

I don't know.

Tom Schwartz (3:54)

Maybe your back is aching from trying to pull yourself up by the proverbial bootstraps, chasing that American dream that just for so many, seems less and less attainable. Like, you guys. Come on. Don't tell me, eat, pray, Love didn't seep into your psyche at some point? Come on, you know it did. You feel guilty because you are American. You don't know how to enjoy yourself.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (4:23)

I beg your pardon?

Tom Schwartz (4:25)

Americans, you work too hard, you get burned out. Then you come home and spend the whole weekend in your pajamas in front of the tv. I feel attacked. He got our asses. I mean, I love doing that, don't get me wrong. But, like, how about a little Dolce Far Niente? The sweetness of doing nothing. Or maybe, yeah, maybe you guys are in full hustle and flow mode and you want to grind it out as a digital nomad that's just as beautiful. It floats your boat. But, like, listen, no matter how much you love our country, even with its many imperfections, and I do love our country, isn't there a little part of you that ever fantasize or just wondered, what if I just sold everything and moved somewhere exotic where I'm not so constantly stressed about the rat race, about money? Just pack up all your shit and move to Bali. What if. Our guest today, J.T. jarrett Thomas, you might know him from Southern Charm. He did just that. He's doing that. He's 18 days in, and we're gonna check in with him in Bali. But, yeah, if you're here with me in America, you know, the cost of living in the States can be brutal. Depending on where you live, rent, house mortgage, prices soaring, pay raises aren't in many cases. Yeah, man. By the way, stay tuned until the end. If you or anyone you know is about to move and could use a little breathing room for that first and last month's rent, security deposit, or maybe just going through a rough patch in your life could use a few months to float just to lighten the load, I want to introduce a service. I've talked about this before. Rent now, pay later. Okay? Provide a little breathing room. We'll come back to that. But listen, realistically, most people can't just up and leave. Sell everything. Start a new. You're anchored by your job, your family, your loved ones who depend on you. Or maybe just fear of loneliness, culture shock, fear of the great unknown. But, like, listen, JT did it, so let's go see what it's like firsthand. From someone who liquidated their whole existence. He essentially flipped Uncle Sam the peace sign.

Tom (6:56)

He said deuces.

Tom Schwartz (6:59)

And made a move to the other side of the world. We're gonna go check in with JT In Bali. Here we go.

Tom (7:10)

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Tom Schwartz (7:12)

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Tom (7:54)

Okay, you guys, I'm here with jt, AKA Jared Thomas. Jared, thank you for taking time out of your gorgeous day in Bali to sit down with me. I feel like you've sparked the curiosity of a lot of people, including myself. What's up, brother?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (8:11)

It's good to be here with you, man.

Tom (8:12)

Yes. By the way, in case you don't follow JT on social media, he recently moved to Bali.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (8:17)

Yeah.

Tom (8:18)

And he's been doing a series called Retiring in Bali Because My Country Is Imploding. And, yeah, I think it struck a chord with a lot of people. I see the interaction online has been crazy, sparked a lot of curiosity. But first of all, I need to know, and for the people who we don't have video, this is the first time I've seen you in a shirt since you moved to Bali. So you did bring shirts to Bali?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (8:43)

Yeah. I mean, I thought we were going to. I didn't want to just come on your podcast and just be shirtless, so I felt like I would be, you know? But now that I know we're not going to be video, I may just take it off. That's cool with you.

Tom (8:55)

No, of course. I just.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (8:56)

I love.

Tom (8:57)

Like, I've been. I've been following your journey so far, and, like, one of the. One of the recurring comments I see is, did you bring shirts to Bali?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (9:04)

Oh, I got. I got. I got to be honest with you, because it's a. It's kind of. I think it's interesting. But so in part of this story that I'm telling on, on my social media, I mentioned that I sold everything I owned in the US and basically just fled because our country's imploding. So I sold everything and I, I, I packed the clothes that weighed 50 pounds in my toiletries and that's all I brought. So you'll notice, like, I'm not wearing a shirt a lot of the time because then I have to go to the laundromat more often, which is a pain in the ass. But I literally have pretty much all that I own in a suitcase, living in a secret garden, a villa in Bali. And I honestly just, it's so simple and I just couldn't be happier about it.

Tom (9:49)

I love that. So it's kind of, well, first of all, it's freeing, it's liberating, but it's also reflective of your new. You're kind of, kind of a little rebirth. It's like reflective of your kind of new, more minimalistic lifestyle. Yeah. Fair to say.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (10:03)

Yeah. I mean, for 40 years, I sort of did the American dream thing. And part of the American dream thing is just accumulate, accumulate, accumulate, Go make money. And it's like you're on this, in this rat race, seeking happiness through accumulation. And it's a great, it's a great. The American dream is, I mean, it's dope. I mean, it's the greatest human experiment, I think, in history. And it worked well for me. But then at some point you just go, how much do I really need? And what really makes me happy is not the dopamine from all the, all the stuff. It's the serotonin from being happy, being healthy, eating clean food, working out, like getting vitamin D on a shirtless upper body. I mean, every day I wake up to a rooster that lives behind my secret garden. I don't have an alarm clock, like, so I've been here for like 17 or 18 days and just re acclimating to, as you mentioned, not a. It's a rebirth away from the American dream model and more just like eastern civilization. Eat, Love, pray. Serotonin turbo booster model. And I gotta say, so far I, I feel, I feel pretty good about it. And I'm pretty excited to stay here for as long as I possibly can't.

Tom (11:28)

Oh, I love that spirit. And by the way, I think the American dream is dope too. Like, I've had the house, I still want a white picket fence. I want 2.4 kids, the nuclear family and stability. And I Want to grill and chill on Sundays. Like, I. I still love all of that. And I know you, from what you're saying, you still have a fond appreciation for that, but I don't know, you've tapped into something with me that just. I. I don't know, man. You got me thinking. You got me thinking crazy thoughts like, I want to pack my stuff up and just move across the country. And when you made this announcement, just as. Just as I would suspect from a provocative, you know, title like the country is Imploding, about half the comments were essentially Trump rules. You drool, don't let the door hit you on the way out. And the other half were like, super sweet, kind, and supportive, understanding. And I felt like it was the. I felt, jt. I felt like it was the perfect little microcosm of where our country stands, like, you know, seemingly divided with social, political, economic rifts. You know, it felt like it was split down the middle. 50, 50. Were you feeling that?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (12:36)

Yeah. You know, a big reason I. I told you I would tell you the truth before. Before we jumped on, and I'll just tell you the truth now. A big reason why I also left is that divide. That's. That sort of polarization and that you just mentioned and how. How broken and fractured our society feels right now. And I don't know if it was the algorithm on social media, but my phone, I just kept sort of doom scrolling in the US A lot and just watching it all, and I just didn't feel good inside my own mind. And I feel like a lot of people feel that way, but they can feel like they can't talk about it because it's a little bit dangerous to bring it up outside sort of your home or your close family and friends. But I know so many people are having these dark thoughts about polarization, about this country for, you know, just liberty and justice for all, and. And it can be very lonely in your own mind a lot of the time. So what I'm doing here is I'm obviously enjoying my life and my new journey, but also, you'll notice in my social media, I'm talking about, like, some of the injustices that I see and have seen back home, so that it's cathartic for me to get it out of my own mind as I'm seeing it in real time. But also the hope is that people will see it and go, okay, all right, I'm not alone with how I feel on this. And so in some ways, it's empowering for me and hopefully Empowering for others. That's kind of the goal of it.

Tom (14:08)

So it has been, it really has been. And I applaud your transparency and your willingness to be so open about your views and outspoken. I love that. I mean you pretty much just. Well, you almost start answered what I was going to ask you next. How much of it was like politically socially motivated versus just like economics, adventure, live, laugh, loving, eat, pray loving. Was it like a nice yin and a Yang? 50. 50 or. You don't have to give percentages here, but what would you say the breakdown is?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (14:35)

I'm trying to think about how, how analytical I want to answer this question. I guess, I guess just to keep maybe 30,000ft, I'll just let you into my mind and my soul. In the 1930s there was a lot of darkness in Europe. I don't need to dive into where I'm going with that, I guess. But I mean there was fascism, there was some, just some gnarly stuff, but there wasn't social media. So it would have just been propaganda through like newspaper releases controlled by government. And so what's different now, and what I think is actually kind of badass is like we're all in this together and we can communicate real time. So while it is like lighter fluid on a fire, it is, it's very powerful what we're experiencing right now as human beings. And so I would say to answer your question, it would be more like, do I love the fact that a Starbucks coffee in Charleston was $7? No, I don't love that. When it used to be like $3 five years ago. Do I like having lighter fluid hit my mind, body and soul. When I see things like pedophiles, cover ups and power interwoven through capitalism, democracy, congress, I see victims, women victims who are just want justice, but the people in power are not being held to account. It made me feel icky, made me feel sick to my stomach and I think it's just disgusting. And so it was sort of like this ebb and flow in my mind of do I really feel like it's a better deal for me to sit here in this toxic situation, at least temporarily, where I have my algorithm feeding me the most despicable, disgraceful nastiness on my cell phone and then I have to go get gouged at a grocery store or Starbucks to survive and eat when I could just fly around the world and get, you know, a cup of coffee for 75 cents and can do yoga twice a day and get a massage for 15 bucks and relax. And so it was more just sort of like the juxtaposition of how do I want to spend this great gift called life? Where do I want to spend this one in 450 trillion opportunity.

Tom (16:44)

Yes.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (16:45)

Called life.

Tom (16:46)

Yes.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (16:46)

Do I want to. Do I want to spend it? Whatever's left of it. I mean, hopefully it's 60 more years and I live to be 100. And the 40, the first 40 were, by and large, Utopia. But now it started to creep into dystopia. And so I said, just because this is the cards that have been dealt, these are the cards that have been dealt to me. I still am a human with control over my existence, and I'm going to go find Utopia again. And so that's the journey that I'm on. And I got to say, so far, after 18 days, it's. It's looked like a pretty good move.

Tom (17:18)

Dude, it looks good on you. I feel like you're glowing from within. And like you said, dude, I like that you acknowledge you had. You have led a charmed life, a fascinating life that I only know a little bit about. By the way, if you guys don't know, JT did a few seasons on Southern Charm, and you actually, you actually resigned on your own accord, right? You decided to step away, like, kind of towards like halfway through season 10, if I remember. No, nine. Season nine, yeah.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (17:46)

Season 10.

Tom (17:46)

I mean, 10. Yeah.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (17:47)

I did two seasons. And yeah, I mean, I don't need to tell you about. About reality television and the good, the bad, the ugly, but for me, my soul, for my mind, it was definitely a decision I felt like I needed to make and just sort of walk away. It wasn't healthy for me. And whenever I feel that, that icky, sort of nasty in my soul as we see here in Bali, I. I hit the eject button and I make sure I take care of my mind and I take care of my body, and that was the right decision for my reality TV trajectory.

Tom (18:19)

For what it's worth, I thought you were great on TV while it lasted, but I see some parallels between, you know what, your. Your decision to leave America and your decision to leave reality television. But can I just ask, while we're on the subject, do you have some fond memories of it? Like, do you still keep in touch with any of your cast members? Are you tight with anybody?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (18:39)

Yeah, man. I mean, I talked to Madison a couple days ago, and I will say this about the. The experience. And you know this because it's like, it is a badass experience. Like, I mean, look, when I was a little boy growing up, I would see people on TV and I was like, damn, if I could ever be on TV one day and be. Be famous, you know? And then, then the phone rings and then you get to go behind the curtain of. See how television's made and meet producers and like cameramen and all the many people that create this stuff, meet the famous people who are on it, and then like the fans at BravoCon. Like, dude, like, I would say that by and large, the majority of it was just absolutely dope. And I would 1000% go back and do the whole thing over again because it was such a. Not an honor and a privilege, but as a human being to have that experience and know what that feels like as part of the human experience. Man, like, that was badass. And, you know, I know you know that as hard as it is, it is badass.

Tom (19:38)

Well, you did. I mean, you opened up your life. You. You do bear a piece of your soul. Sometimes it comes at a toll, but I think it, for me, there's always been more good than bad. But sometimes when you're in the trenches, it can feel icky and kind of soul sucking. But I, I guess maybe I sugarcoat it in retrospect on a regular basis, but I always think long term, it's been cathartic and it's like kind of going to therapy in front of millions of people. But I love your outlook on. I love that you're not at all bitter or jaded. And man, I, I thought you were great on tv.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (20:13)

Well, I was gonna say, like, one thing that we both, other than the fact that we both did reality tv, you know, like, I, I did open my soul and I talked to my mother in one scene in season nine about my divorce. And I know you also are divorced and experience that on, so divorce as everyone. I don't need to mansplain now. Like, it's, it's, it's. It's about as painful as it gets. And then to then just have cameras around and then, I mean, your heart's pounding because you don't want to talk about it. It hurts. And then you just, you just, you rip it and you hope that it lands with people that also can relate to that kind of emotional pain to some way help with their, Their, Their journey. But man, it is, it was an experience for sure. But no, I'm optimistic or not. I'm, I'm glad that I did. I'm glad that I had the bravery and the courage to do it and Open up like I did, and obviously got a lot of haters, a lot of fans, but in the end, I hope that people just go, you know what? He was just being real. That's all you can do.

Tom (21:11)

Wherever it seems, wherever you go, you go with all your heart. And, yeah, you had a lot of heart on the show. Now you're at fucking Bali, making moves. A major move again, man. Like, you, really. I. I've been following all of your stories, your posts, and I'm just like. I'm fascinated by it.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (21:29)

Can I.

Tom (21:30)

Can I ask you. You pretty much described this. Was there, like, a key turning moment, a motivating factor aside from all the things? It's a. It sounds like it's a. It's a culmination of things that you've talked about, but there's like a key tipping point moment where you're like, I'm doing this like. Like the right before you decided, I'm gonna liquidate my assets and all that. The moments before, or was it just kind of like a snowball effect and an accumulation of everything you talked about before in terms of politics, lifestyle, rat race? Or was there like a. Was that a year? Was there one eureka moment?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (22:04)

Yeah, there was. So this actually ties into the reality TV stuff a little bit. So after season 10, after I sort of left reality TV and made my exit, I took a trip to Asia just to kind of go clear my head. I went to Japan for a few months, South Korea for a little while, Singapore came to Bali. And on that journey, just alone, just to be in my own thoughts and, like, my own little eat love prey 1.0. You know, I just started to feel this. This wave of just not just relaxation, but like a clarity that the indoctrination and the lifestyle of the west that there was more out there than just that. And then I started to kind of fall in love with this Eastern. I mean, Bali is a Hindu nation. They burn incense five times a day and pray before they get up or when they get up, go to work, get home. And you're like, man, like, I don't want to sound like a super hippie, because I'm not yet. But it's just that wave of relaxation coming off of such a desire to feel relaxed and at ease. I just fell in love with it.

Tom Schwartz (23:15)

And.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (23:16)

And then I said, all right, I'm going home after that. Eat, love, pray. 1.0. I'm gonna go home. I don't care how long it takes. And I'm gonna unjoin every gym membership and sell every asset, including my watch. Pack a suitcase and I'm gonna come back to paradise and make this home for as long as it feels right.

Tom (23:34)

Yeah, yeah. Can I just say it's really cool to catch you so early on in your new journey. Everything is shiny and new. Anything is possible and I hope it stays that way. I promised some of my friends I would ask you some practical stuff. Can we talk about visas? Did you get, did you have to get a. I think it's a B211. A visa or what's the, what's getting a visa look like? For the move?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (23:57)

Yeah. So you come here and then you go to the embassy and you can get a 60 day visa. If you don't have a job. If you have a job then, then there's different kind of work visas. But my plan is to not get a job just to live off my assets. So you go to the, the embassy, you get the 60 day, otherwise you can stay for 30 and then you just got to fly out and fly back. A lot of people will fly to Singapore, about a two hour flight for the, in the morning, grab some lunch and then fly back at night. And they've taken care of their, they can reroll another 30 days. But if you want to do 60 days because you don't want to fly to Singapore and stamp your passport, you get the 60 day. And, and then my plan is because I don't want to just be stationary, I want to see the world while I'm here. So yeah, I did not get the 60 day because I, I want to leave every 30 days that I have to go explore and see this amazing earth that we have. So my next, so my next. So I'll be my 30 days. My 30 days are up and I arrived on the first of the month so that I can keep track of the time otherwise I'll get a little confused. So I'm going to fly to Thailand and take a two week boxing class, Mai Thai in the mountains of Thailand for two weeks to learn that skill. And then I'm going to fly back to Bali for 30 days, restart my visa again or my tourist visa. And then after those 30 days I'm going to stamp my passport probably in New Zealand. I'm going to hike for at least two weeks where they film Lord of the Rings and just go, go do. So every 30 days I have a new, a new adventure. So that'll be kind of fun to clock too.

Tom (25:34)

I like that. For practical reasons, you, you, you have to go and explore like you said. And I love that you're fully embracing that. I think, jt, you might be slowly becoming the most interesting man in the world.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (25:47)

The back. The back. My back screen on my phone is James Bond. So I kind of embody a James Bond who. Not. I think that. I think that life is so short, man. And especially to be young and be able to do this while I have my mobility and my health, it's like, why not, man? You know?

Tom (26:07)

I love that. I love your mindset. I love waxing philosophical and spiritual with you. Can I ask you a few more practical things for a sec? Just like.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (26:14)

Well, ask away, bro.

Tom (26:15)

Thanks, bro. I appreciate it. Okay, wait. By the way, what part of Bali are you currently living in?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (26:20)

It's in the southwest region. It's an area in Bali called Uluwatu. U, L, U. I think it's U, L, U W. I don't even know how to spell where I live. That's kind of where I'm at right now. I feel good about that.

Tom (26:33)

It's kind of romantic.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (26:36)

Yeah, it's like. It's like an hour from the airport. I've got a driver. He's incredible. He's charges a practical question. He charges me US$50 for the entire day to drive anywhere on the island of Bali. And he's the nicest guy in the world. So he picks up the airport, takes me to my secret garden villa, and I call him when I need him.

Tom (26:55)

That's so cool. And so if. I don't know if you've talked, I haven't seen you talk about your cost of living. Are you comfortable talking about that? Like your monthly expenses and stuff? It's up to you. No pressure, dude.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (27:07)

There's literally nothing I won't. I mean, based on what I've been posting on my social media, like, there's nothing I won't talk about. So let's rip it.

Tom (27:14)

Yeah, I just want to just bought. What's your. What's your monthly rent?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (27:17)

My monthly rent is. So I pay in cash because they don't accept credit card. Where I live in my secret garden villa, my rent is 1400 US dollars a month. And that comes with a private yoga lab, which is a gazebo and a private pool and an amazing villa. So about 1400 US a month. That includes wi fi, water, all utilities. So out the door for shelter and a private garden, I'm at 1400. My gym membership is 138. So was that 1538? And then my cost to eat per day, I Budgeted, I can eat like a king. Whole foods only, no nutrition labels for under 50 US a day. That's not doing a dish, that's not cooking a meal. That's just essentially three meals a day. Top of the line food quality. That's another 1500 on food. So we're about. We're about 3000amonth out the door for everything. And that's my financial budget for Bali.

Tom (28:21)

Dude, thank you for your just transparency, by the way. That's about half my rent in Los Angeles, which is actually almost more than the mortgage I had in my beautiful home with a pool. But we're not going to go there right now. We're going to keep it positive. Can I ask you, dude, how did you find your current place? Like, what. What web? Like, I know Bali Live. I've heard of. How'd you find your. Your secret garden? Your little oasis?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (28:45)

Yeah, it's actually kind of a cool story. When I came here on Eat love Trade Journey 1.0, this now being 2.0, the driver that I mentioned a few minutes ago, I was staying on another part of Bali. When I was here, I got connected with him from a friend back in the US And I just really wasn't loving Bali, man. I mean, to me, like, the beach wasn't. It was just. It was kind of. It just wasn't what I had heard about. So I. I didn't want to offend him because he's lived here his whole life. I said, like, I hate to say this, but, like, is there. Is there a place that you could live anywhere on Bali? Like, where would you live? I mean, will you take me there? And he kind of said. He laughed. He said, yeah, I'll take you there. So the next morning we woke up, we get in his suv, we'd go down. We're driving and driving through these little one, like these tiny little roads, and we come across this little village. And it's just. I mean, like, I look around, everyone's beautiful girls, the. Sorry, the women, the men, the shops, the restaurants. Like, I'm like, this is different than where I've been on Bali or anywhere in Asia for that matter. I feel like I've just entered, like, a portal into some. Some oasis. And so I said to him, and I had a bunch of cash in my pocket. I said, can you let me out? He said, sure. Where do you want me to wait for you? I said, no, go back. Just go back to. You can go home now. He said, okay, where will you stay? I don't I said, I don't know yet, but it's somewhere around here. He said, okay. And it was like three or four in the afternoon, so I had to kind of move quickly. So I, you know, I'm walking around this little oasis village in Bali with some cash in my pocket and no plan. But I know that sometimes, you know, when you're in the jungle, you gotta survive. That's the best way. So I sort of walking around, walking around, and I come up to this, like, one little area. I see these giant hedgerows, these bushes, and, like, there's one door, and I see this really lovely looking woman, and she's holding this baby like an infant.

Tom (30:46)

Yeah.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (30:46)

And I said, hey. I said, I don't know where to stay in town, but I want to stay in this town. I just feel like my soul is saying, stay here. And she said, well, you can stay here then. Said where? She walks me through this. This doorway. Almost like lion, Witch in the wardrobe shit, you know? Yeah. Or like the secret garden. I'm like, so we walk in this garden and I'm like, what in the is this heavenly place? And she goes, this is my family. And they've had this. They've had this secret garden compound for, like, I don't know, hundreds of years. It's been in the family. It runs down through, like. She goes, you can stay here. I go, how much is this per night? Thinking it's gonna be like 500 a night. She goes, it's. It's, you know, I think it's like $48. She goes, 800,000. IDR. 40. 48 US a night. And I said, okay, I stay here. And then I ended up staying in that villa for a month and living in Bali, getting to know the town, the village, making. Making some acquaintances, figuring out where to, like, build my life out. And I'm like, I'm going home. I'm selling everything and I'm coming straight back here, bro.

Tom (31:53)

Wow, dude. That means it really spoke to your soul.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (31:57)

Yeah, man. I just got out of that car that day, and I was like, I am home. It was like, God was like, this is where you're supposed to be, so figure it the fuck out. And so I did.

Tom (32:12)

That's a good feeling, man. The last time I had that feeling is when I resigned from my job after college in Florida. And I drove across the country in my car to move to LA to chase dreams. And I arrived in West Hollywood and I was like, this is where I belong. Do I still feel that?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (32:27)

Yes.

Tom (32:28)

That feeling is fading.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (32:31)

The SLS hotel rooftop in West Hollywood is definitely another oasis and a place that I'm fond of.

Tom (32:38)

Yeah, I will, I will preach to that. That is a lovely place. But dude, I, I, I'm fascinated with so many parts of, of, of your new life and I think some of the things I've, I've enjoyed watching on your channel and, and, and when I went through a little crisis after Random Pump rules ended and my bar closed and I really like started doing research on moving to somewhere just like more short term, like three to six months to like either Bangkok or Bali. And one, I, I've been to Bangkok, I haven't been to Bali. But one thing I love is about just the food. How amazing you can get a world class meal in, in Bangkok or, or Bali for under $5 in my opinion. And they have these little things I think in Bali called war rungs. Am I pronouncing that right? The little family owned joints.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (33:27)

Yep.

Tom (33:28)

Do you, do you go to those a lot? Like is that, is that your go to or do you, I mean also on that note, like if you are feeling nostalgic and a little homesick and you wake up one day, can you, can you go get a bag of Doritos, a Mountain Dew, some Taco Bell, 100%.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (33:43)

I had a big night out the other night. I'm trying to make friends. Like that was to build community. Was first 30 days here, I was like I got to go make it. So I had a, I don't drink a lot but sometimes when you want to make friends you got to go, you know, let your hair down, get a little loose. So I had a big night out a few nights ago and I woke up with a bunch of rappers that would remind you of like a college dorm situation the next morning. And so yeah, you can still get your, you can still get your western hit if you need it but, but your western crack kit if you need it. But I try really hard to avoid it. The war. Yeah. Like the ability to go into a Warung or a family owned Balinese or any restaurant here for that matter. Tom. I mean I gotta be honest with like maybe it's because of the way that my mind is framed, but when I would pull out my credit card at a restaurant in Charleston, it was almost like every time I would do it I was feeling I was going to get pimp slapped.

Tom (34:39)

Yeah.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (34:39)

Like I was like bracing for what was going to be like 185meal that, you know, it's like one offs are fine. But like, if you're doing that five to 10 times a month, I mean, or a cup of coffee in the morning, it's like I'm just getting started in my day, and I got, you know, a $12 charge there, and it just. I. I kind of had started to get a little anxiety every time I would, like, go buy something, if that makes sense, which I'm not, like, struggling, but I just didn't like the feeling of going, oh, my God, I'm getting drilled every time I try to consume.

Tom (35:11)

Drilled.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (35:11)

So when I walk out, when I, when I walk out of my place here and I'm like, all right, I'm gonna get some coffee. And then the guy's like, all right, that's 90 cents. You're like, oh, God, thank you, Lord. I'm here, you know?

Tom (35:21)

Yeah, yeah. No, it feels good. It feels.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (35:24)

I.

Tom (35:24)

Like I said, I think we're both doing okay financially, but like, it, it, like after a while, I get tired of, like, for two people, every meal is 3, 4, $500 for a casual meal for two people every time in Los Angeles. And of course, you can go get great street food and stuff, but, like, most of the restaurants, Average cocktail in LA is 18. Between 18 and $22 if you want to go get like a. A nice tequila soda or a nice local beer. In Bali, about how much are we talking? Just generally speaking, a beer, maybe a dollar.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (35:58)

A cocktail, maybe maybe two. Like, a martini might be like. I went out for like, it would be like a, like a haka, like one of the nicest sushi restaurants and tons of sake, tons of martinis with some. Some ladies and some friends, some guys and girls from all over Europe. A couple of nights ago, that bill would have been 1500 to two grand for a party of six, eating and drinking like we, we did. And the Bill was like 300 US for a table of six, eating the, like, Michelin level sushi and drinking for hours.

Tom Schwartz (36:28)

Wow.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (36:29)

And you're like. It just sort of takes the financial anxiety out of, like, being social, if that makes sense anyway, so.

Tom (36:36)

No, yeah, you're speaking to some. I mean, so many bars and restaurants are struggling, especially in Los Angeles. Part of it's a culture shift, but like, a lot of it's just because it's so damn expensive to eat and drink and be merry, to live, laugh, love in Los Angeles. And yeah, man, it's, it's, it's, it's prohibitive. It costs prohibitive for a lot of people. So just like, just you hearing That I feel like it's going to inspire a lot of people. By the way, while we're on the, the subject of food, I don't know if this is a derogatory term, but have you ever gotten Bali belly?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (37:08)

I did on the first, the first time I came here on Eat, Love Pray one, I got Bali belly. And it was a feeling that. It's really hard to describe, but it's, it's just, it was not, it was.

Tom (37:19)

Not pleasant for the uninitiated. I had, I had, I've heard about this because I have lots of friends who have been there, but I didn't really know what it was. I guess it's a common name for travelers. Diarrhea, upset stomach caused by consuming some sort of contaminated food or water, some sort of virus or bacteria, something like that. It's kind of like travelers diarrhea, but worse.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (37:40)

Yeah, I mean it's like you, the thing that was, I mean we've all, we all know what nausea feels like, but the nausea was so intense that it was hard, hard to actually rise your torso out of the bed to like. It was just an absolute feeling of weakness. If that meant like almost like it was just the weakest I'd ever felt. And if I would try to even get up to go to the restroom to like do anything, I had to really kind of go a mental toughness place that I reserved for only the hardest of times. And so that was how it lasted for about a week. I was sort of bedridden and finally I went to the, the local, whatever it is, EMS or whatever you call it, urgent care. And they hooked me up with some, some IVs and gave me some Balinese sauce. And I was, I was better that later that day, but it was, it.

Tom (38:30)

Was, it was no bueno, Some Balinese sauce. I like the sound of that. By the way, did you get long term travelers insurance or did you get like a, so did you get a local or did you get international health care for your stay, for your new life?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (38:44)

You know, I, this is gonna sound not prepared, but I, I still have the, I guess Obamacare. So I pay like 5 or $600 for that per month and I'm gonna self insure on, on the other stuff. So like if I, I need to go get more IVs because of more Bali belly, I'll just go pay out of pocket and then if I have a major, major issue, I'll, I'll fly back to, to LA or San Francisco and take care of it using My u. S. Health coverage.

Tom (39:17)

So that's a solid plan. But from what I hear, they have pretty. They have, like, a pretty decent health system there. You know, if you're sick, standard ailments, minor surgeries. I haven't done deep research on this, but anything you want to add to that?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (39:33)

I have a Botox appointment in 10 days. I'm pretty excited about that.

Tom (39:38)

I love it.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (39:39)

I love it.

Tom (39:40)

We're in our 40s now.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (39:43)

I'm excited to see how much botox cost in comparison to back home.

Tom (39:48)

We're in our 40s. It's preventative, by the way. Don't judge us here in America. I did an episode on it with doc, the great Dr. Lakey of Beverly hills. It depends where you go, but I think when I did it in Miami, it was like 350, but I got, like, the lowest dose possible. So I'll be curious to know how much you pay in bali.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (40:09)

Well, you can. You'll definitely be. I will definitely be posting about that because I think people would find that interesting as well.

Tom (40:15)

Can I ask you just, like, right now, lady, how's your. How's your mindset? Like, I. I know you've been, what, 18 days?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (40:22)

In 18 days.

Tom (40:23)

In 18 days in. Have you ever had any moments of, like, doubt or just insecurity or, like, lonely? The loneliness, obviously, but you're. It sounds like you're building a community, but have you had any moments you're like, wait, what have I done? Holy shit, dude.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (40:39)

I cannot be more honest and transparent here. Like, absolutely zero.

Tom (40:43)

Wow.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (40:44)

Like, absolutely zero times. I've been like, this is like. I wake up, I look out my window at the garden, and when I put my head on my pillow, looking out that same window at night, looking at the moon, there is not one second of that day where I ever go, this was the wrong call. That's my mindset. And if that changes, you know, as well as I. Like, I'm not afraid to pull the. You know, pull the cord and rip it out of here. But right now, the feeling of just bliss and total happiness is undefeated.

Tom (41:13)

And that's downright poetic. It's like there's. Yeah, there's that, like, seductive pull to the softer life, Slower rhythm, warmer vibes, you know, we don't buy the beach, man. Just everything's a little cooler. Which is obviously very good for your mental health, your cortisol levels. Like you said, there's been bouts of loneliness.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (41:36)

Oh.

Tom (41:37)

I gotta ask on behalf of some people online, are you or are you not in Love with a mysterious Russian woman.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (41:47)

Yeah. So I got a funny story about the Russian woman who, by the way, I saw her. We went to the pool yesterday. She's so. She's so great. She is so wonderful in every single way. But. So I will say that my posting on Instagram has backfired, because at the pool yesterday, she said, hey, I. You know, I kind of. I saw that you were talking about. So I think there's a pretty good chance I may have blown myself up with the Russian because of my transparency. But I'm okay with that. I'm okay with that. I'd rather be transparent and lose. Lose than not share the truth with the audience.

Tom (42:27)

So better to do and ask for forgiveness later. Yeah.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (42:32)

So she. She texted me this morning and said that her and some of her Russian girlfriends are going to be going down to the beach. I wanted to know if I wanted to come, but it's like, to go there with a bunch of her friends. So I'm going to see if I can get my French buddy to come with me. So I have a wingman. I really. That's the one thing I'm like, if I could just build a group of guys here and that way. Because going out with. Just Going on dates and wining and dining and, you know, you got to have kind of your core boys. And I miss the fellas back home. I'll be honest. That's the one thing I'm like, damn, if I could just move you. If I can move the boys, just. Or just a couple of them. Because it's hard to build those trusted wingmen and trusted boys to golf with, go surf with. That's like. It's hard to find that. So we'll see.

Tom (43:16)

Yeah, man. I mean that. I was gonna ask you about that. Like, of all the things, all the creature comforts, I imagine you just miss your friends and your family. Just being close to them the most, I'm sure. Yes. FaceTime. All the. All the modern, cool technology we have, but nothing replaces the warm embrace of a friend, a loved one. A beer with your bro? Yeah, I'm like, my dogs are right next to me now, and I. I get. I get really sad if I don't see them for more than seven days. What do you. What are you missing the most? Just your family and friends.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (43:51)

Yeah. I mean, it's almost Thanksgiving, man. Like, I haven't missed the Thanksgiving in 40 years. That one's not going to be, you know, I'll FaceTime them, but there's something about the Warm cozy vibes of being with your, your family on Thanksgiving and, and Christmas for that matter. So it's, you know, just little stuff like being able to just go out with, play golf or like, just like you said, grab a beer with your boys. So it's only been 18 days. So like, that kind of stuff hasn't really sunk in yet. I think it probably will. So right now, in the meantime, I'm not going to sit around, sit around and wait for loneliness to, to win the battle. I'm going to go out there and so I go, I go to the gym, I try to make friends at the gym. I go to yoga, try to make friends at yoga. I go to community tables. I don't eat alone. I go to community tables and I sit down and I'm just like, I'm myself, I'm nice, I'm kind. Ask where people are from. And so 18 days in, you know, I got three or four different. I got some Argentinian guys that want to play paddle. I got some, a Brazilian, some Brazilian girls that like to go do live music stuff after dinner. I got some females from Madrid and Italy that like to go watch live music. So like live music at night, dinners with some. It's been 18 days. And so while I build out my, my build out my bros, like the Argentinian, Argentinian paddleball guys are the, the Frenchman who loves to smoke and eat steak. Like I'm doing okay, I think for 18 days.

Tom (45:21)

I know it sounds like you have a fascinating cast of characters and hopefully friends, obviously. Just seeing, just seeing. Which I've seen. For your very respectful, mindful, kind soul, you would never do anything to violate any local cultural norms. Like, apparently touching people's heads is a big.

Tom Schwartz (45:42)

No.

Tom (45:42)

No pointing your finger, showing outward signs of aggression. But have you ever had, have you ever felt like any, any resentment from the locals while you're there?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (45:53)

No, man, they're so kind. It's like, you know, when you go to like Europe and you're an American, it's like people kind of give you that side eye sometimes here it's like everyone's Hindu and everyone's just like. It's almost like a cultural taboo to be unkind, to show outward forms of stress. And my driver taught me that. My first time here. I was like, that guy just cut you off, like, why don't you like, give him a beep? And he laughed. He said, we don't do things, we don't do stressful things here. We don't do stress. I go, what do You. What does that mean? He goes, we don't get mad people in Bali, it's like in their cultural or DNA to just keep it chill. And so going from reality TV drama to a place where that's sort of outlawed is kind of a nice transition. I gotta be honest with you, Tom.

Tom (46:46)

I think it's. It's so beautiful and it's, again, speaking to my soul. But I. I will say that a Balinese reality show might be kind of boring based on what you've told me.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (47:00)

Yeah. That the ratings on that would not. They would not be viral.

Tom (47:05)

But, dude, it sounds like you're regimented, you're staying busy, you're doing everything right. I don't know if there is a. A playbook before it, but if there is, I feel like, yeah, man, you're just. You're doing everything right. And I, I think a lot of people are. Are going to be seduced by your story. Can I just ask you a basic question? Like, just some, Some advice for people who are on the cusp of doing what you just did. Any little words of wisdom or nuggets you could offer them besides, you know, like, just do it.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (47:37)

Yeah, I'll give you a d. I'll give you a soul answer. Oh, and this has always led me down, down the right path, which is. And I'm kind of a spiritual guy, more so every day that I'm here. But in life, I feel like if you listen to your gut, you listen to your soul. It, It'll. If you do what it says, things usually, they usually work out. You're. You very rarely lie to yourself. You kind of know deep down what the answers are. Just. It's hard to just listen and do it. So if people are out there and they're going, man, I'm not really loving my current situation. My circumstances. Take a minute, reflect, meditate, do some breath, work, and really listen to what, what you think the answer is. And that probably is the answer. And then just figure out how. And then just don't be afraid to just do it. Now you said don't say just do it, but, like, hear yourself. Your soul will speak to you. Listen to it, and then just figure out how. And then don't be afraid to just jump in because, man, it, It. It's like, it never fails when you do it that way. At least not for me.

Tom (48:45)

Yeah, I like that.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (48:45)

I.

Tom (48:46)

One of my favorite sayings is just better a life of oh, wells than what ifs. Like, if you're going to regret, if you're if you have an opportunity to do it and you don't, and you think you're going to regret it the, the rest of your life, just please do it. If you're listening right now, do it. Take your shot.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (49:00)

You.

Tom (49:01)

If it doesn't work out, then so be it. You took your shot. You can go back to your motherland, you can start over, but do the damn thing. Yeah.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (49:12)

Yeah. I would also say like, if you're like just on one, one last addendum to that, which is, you know, I think it's important to have for me, I wanted to make sure I had at least five years of my, my budget saved, right? At least five. So, you know, you want to give yourself ample time. So mine's always use five year plans whenever I'm going to do something new like that. So I, I put five years worth of monies aside and some safe stuff. And my plan is to do everything in my power to not only listen to my soul, but to also give my soul a chance to realize. To realize what it was to see, to make it happen. You got to manifest it, but then you also got to actually go create it.

Tom (49:51)

Yeah, man. Belief activates destiny.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (49:55)

Yeah, man.

Tom (49:56)

You're doing the damn thing. And I just wanted to give you a shout out and say bravo. Bravo for just making a leap and starting anew. Because it takes guts, it takes courage, some bravado, and I'm happy to see you thriving, brother.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (50:13)

I appreciate it, man. The truth will set you free. And this is my truth. And so it's, it's setting me free. I appreciate those words and like I said earlier on the call, man, like really would love to have a beer with some bros and if you can ever find a way to take, you know, a couple weeks away from la, I know you're busy with all the things you're doing. I got seven, seven other one bedroom villas here in my secret garden and I would love for you and any of your friends to come, come hang and surf and have a couple $1 beers down here by the beach in Uluwatu.

Tom (50:44)

JT, this is a bro that will come have a beer with you. Bali's way up on my list and I can't wait to pick up this conversation in person. Wait, one last thing. Best meal or local dish you've had so far that you get on a regular basis?

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (51:00)

I. This is going to be a lame answer because I'm on this strict diet, but I eat the same thing every day. I eat two medium rare steaks and vegetables every night at this little local steakhouse. I'm pretty comfortable with that order. I eat the same lunch, which is four eggs over easy, sauteed spinach, and a chicken breast with some homemade hot sauce at my gym every day. And then at breakfast, I go to the same breakfast place and I get bacon and eggs with some of the most amazing coffee. And I eat the same thing every single day because I'm trying to cure my diabetes, which I've had since I was 15. So I'm working on some, which I'm going to post about as well. But that's not a very sexy answer for people looking for some cool Balinese cuisine.

Tom (51:46)

But, no, it's cool.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (51:47)

That's my. That's my truth, bro.

Tom (51:49)

I respect it. You're nourishing. Not just your body, not just your soul, your mind, but your body, too. But I like that you're also allowing yourself to go out and have a nice, healthy party a little bit from time to time. Favorite way to, by the way. Oh, I should add, from what I understand, like, yes, you can get maybe some e. Some shrooms and Bali, but, like, they don't play around with drugs. They have a zero drug policy. Zero.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (52:18)

Yeah.

Tom (52:19)

Zero tolerance drug policy there and some of the strictest drug laws in the world, from what I understand. So maybe be careful if you do go and consume drugs in Bali, right? Or anywhere, for that matter.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (52:32)

Yeah, I think that that might be more universal. But yeah, especially I will say, like, if, like, that's not like, doing drugs and stuff. Like, look, I've partied in my life and my 30s and stuff, but I'm really. I'm really very much trying to, I mean, just. Just drink water. Like, that's the only thing I try to put in my body. Like, but loneliness is the. The one thing where I'm going, okay. Like, I'm not going to go, like, do an eight ball or, like go put acid on my tongue. But like, for example, like today I met some. Met some friends the other night, three girls from Madrid. And, you know, they want to. They said, can you reserve a paddle ball court for us on WhatsApp? And then we'll go out for dinner and then we're gonna go listen to some live music. Like, am I gonna sit there after paddle and like, rip, you know, club soda with lime and then go to the live. No, I'm gonna have some drinks. I'm gonna live. And I'm going to keep building the relationships and alcohol we know is toxic. But if you can Keep it under control and use it as sort of like a way to sort of let loose and have some fun with some, some ladies from Madrid who want to have a good time. Like, of course I'm going to do that.

Tom (53:50)

Yes. I'm an advocate in moderation and for. Certainly wasn't advocating for people to go to. But I know a lot of people do go to Bali, especially my friends from Australia, and they like to party there. I guess this is just a universal disclaimer. Like, they don't mess around, man. Lengthy, lengthy prison sentence is like, we, it can be life imprisonment, like, even death. It gets very serious there. Don't mess around with drugs in Indonesia, which is.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (54:15)

I'll say one thing. There is. There are a couple like world. There's one like world famous nightclub like a mile from the Secret Garden. And it's so tempting just like go there and just rip it. I'll be honest, because I'm a human. But it's called, it's called, it's called Savaya. You check out their Instagram. It is absolutely some guy. Anyways, I'm sure it's there. I don't go ask for it. I haven't been yet. There's probably a good chance I will go to this club at some point for a day party on Sunday. Universe has it a very high probability. But for right now, I'm trying to live that, that, that super clean yoga, stretching, go to the gym, water life as much as I can.

Tom (54:54)

I love that you sound like you're harmonizing a nice balance of detox retox, emphasis on the detox. But, brother, you're doing the damn thing. I just wanted to say one last time, it's nice chatting with you, bro.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (55:06)

Dude, it's always a pleasure. I've always loved your energy, man, every time I've met you in person. And like I said, man, I can't. I, I cannot emphasize, emphasize my invite to you and anybody you think could benefit in, in your world, Please come, please come have a beer or a glass of water with me here in Bali. Anytime I got. All you got to do is get the flight. I got the driver in the villa.

Tom (55:25)

Appreciate you, J.T. thank you so much, man. You're an inspiration. Jared Thomas, buddy. Thank you, brother.

J.T. Jarrett Thomas (55:31)

Take care, buddy. Thank you, bud. See you. Bye.

Tom Schwartz (55:36)

What do you guys think? I don't know, man. J.T. certainly he's inspired at least someone he's dealing with. So many of us have at least fantasy fantasized about doing. There's pros and Cons.

Tom (55:50)

I think I would get homesick pretty fast.

Tom Schwartz (55:53)

What are you guys thinking? You ready to eat? Pray, love. I don't know.

Tom (55:58)

I think I got a week in me.

Tom Schwartz (55:59)

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Tom (57:31)

Been there.

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J.T. Jarrett Thomas (58:13)

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