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Tom Schwartz
Foreign for your weekly detox with Tom Schwartz. Niet huda biez de bra. There's no misfortune without a blessing in it. Every cloud has a silver lining, man. I hope so. The last two years really put me to the test. I was flailing, floundering, trying to be flourishing. But here we are now. The summation of our life choices, the consequences of our actions. Good, bad, everything in between. Somewhere, a little butterfly flapped its wings. And now I'm here, about to go to the banya with Jesse Lally. Would we have been where we are now without a few misfortunes along the way? Would we be sipping chilled vodka? Would I be lashing Lali's back with soaked birch leaves in the steam room if things went differently? I don't know, H. Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It's the courage to continue that counts. Yes. Thank you, Winston Churchill. To honor your wisdom, I think maybe we'll drink some gin in a bathtub. No, no, actually, instead of that, how about vodka in Abanya? Or maybe at least vodka style potatoes at the bar. The Vodo Spa bar. We're gonna treat ourselves. Yep. Have we earned it? I don't know, but we're gonna do it. We're gonna treat ourselves. I'm thinking we go to my favorite spa in West Hollywood. Photo spa with a dear friend, Mr. Jesse Lally. I'm thinking robes, massages, facials, cold tubs, hot tubs, full bar, fresh juice bar. This feels very detox Retox. This place has it all. Awesome staff, but we're gonna treat ourselves today. Yes. Have you been to a banya? Banyas are deeply embedded in Russian culture. A typical banya has a steam room with wooden benches, a washing area, and then a cold plunge alongside of it. Or maybe buckets of cold water. The intense heat, it boosts circulation, detoxifies your skin. It can ease sore muscles, sore egos, and hopefully, well, at least for me, it melts the stress away. Like butter. It melts the stress away. And then afterwards, a cold plunge, a nice pleasant shock to the system that sharpens your mind, boosts your immunity. Maybe if you're lucky, wakes up your soul. My soul's awake. Well, not yet. It's about to be. But yeah, supposedly they boost your immune system. Going, you know, from the extreme temperature changes from the steam room, the sauna, to the cold plunge. Yeah. And you sweat a lot out. It feels cleansing. It feels purifying. You hear people say, go sweat out your toxins. And listen, I know we talked about this in prior episodes. Our organs do most of the heavy lifting. The liver and the kidneys are the real MVPs. Shout out to my liver, my kidney. But most of what we sweat on is just water and electrolytes. But still, being in a sauna, steam room, then a cold plunge, it's soothing. Also, I don't want to ruin the romance of detoxification. We are detoxing, baby. For me, detoxing is just trying to level up, trying to better yourself. It's not a rejection of indulgence, but like a nice little return to clarity. And it's one of my favorite little rituals. It's investing in yourself. So, yeah, banyas, like I said, deeply rooted in Russian culture, they can promote healthy circulation. They can make your skin nice and glowy. Sports skin health. They can reduce inflammation. They can let the endorphins flow maybe a little bit. Mental clarity and epiphany help you feel just chiller, calmer all around, more grounded. When I get done with a good banya session, a good spa session, I don't know, man. I just. I start sounding like Matthew McConaughey. You just gotta keep on living, man. L I V I n. And that's what we're about to do. So I hope you guys come along, because we're hitting the Banya Voda Spa, my favorite spot in West Hollywood, with an old buddy, Jesse Lally. We're gonna live, laugh, love. Okay. Are you guys down? Thank you for joining me. Harmony, check. Yes. Zazadorvia. Vamos. Wrong language. Okay, let's pick back up in the spa.
Jesse Lally
Jesse Lally from the Valley live Vota Spa with Tom Schwartz in West Hollywood. I'm excited to be here.
Tom Schwartz
What are we wearing?
Jesse Lally
We are dressed in the finest linen robes, courtesy of Vota Spa.
Tom Schwartz
We are at my favorite spa in La Voda Spa, traditionally a Russian spa. And we have two glasses of chilled beluga vodka. Doubles as the Russians do.
Jesse Lally
Doubles.
Tom Schwartz
So can we do a little toast?
Jesse Lally
Let's do a toast.
Tom Schwartz
Zazadorvia. Zazadorvia. Oh, that's Russian for good health.
Jesse Lally
Oh, yeah. I don't know what nostrovia means, but my girlfriend is, in fact, Russian, so.
Tom Schwartz
Lacy.
Jesse Lally
Yeah.
Tom Schwartz
Whoa. She's Russian. Y. I did not know that. Well, that is wild.
Jesse Lally
That is. It's not that wild. No, it's not, dude.
Tom Schwartz
By the way, it's really nice is to sit to.
Jesse Lally
Whoa.
Tom Schwartz
The. The vodka got me. It's nice to sit down with you. I've been coming here since, like, 2016.
Jesse Lally
Okay.
Tom Schwartz
When I You know, back in the day, I would come here with Katie a lot. This is one of our spots and, and one of my favorite things about this place. Are you digging it, by the way?
Jesse Lally
I love it.
Tom Schwartz
It's so nice. I don't know if you guys can hear the music, but one of my favorite things is you come here. There's so many great services. You can get a massage, a facial. There's the banya, which we'll talk about in a little bit. You can get a vinic, which we'll talk about. So many beautiful services. But they have a full bar.
Jesse Lally
I had no idea they have a full bar.
Tom Schwartz
And they have zakuskas, which is Russian for snacks.
Jesse Lally
Okay.
Tom Schwartz
Yeah, so we're gonna do the whole thing today.
Jesse Lally
I, I mean, I'm in a robe, ready to go.
Tom Schwartz
That's what I'm talking about right now. Jesse fucking Lally. But isn't for me. It's a great novelty to be able to drink in a spa.
Jesse Lally
I mean, I think it's. I'm coming back for sure.
Tom Schwartz
Have you ever had the great luxury of being able to imbibe in a spa like setting?
Jesse Lally
I mean, I, you know, I think there's a, there's a place I used to go to out in Riverside. It's a natural sp place and I forget what it was called, but yeah, I used to go there quite a bit. And it's a whole day experience. You know, the natural springs and the saunas and the bars and. Yeah, that was my, my first experience with that.
Tom Schwartz
That's what I'm talking about, by the way. Not the Blow up Vota spa spot, but a celebrity hot spot too. Justin, Justin Bieber comes here.
Jesse Lally
Tom Schwartz comes here.
Tom Schwartz
Jesse Lally now comes here. We saw, I remember me and Katie were chilling. We were doing the cold plunge, chilling in the hot tub. And one time we saw Colin Farrell. Do you know who that is? The actor?
Jesse Lally
Of course I know that.
Tom Schwartz
He's one of the most stunningly handsome humans I've ever laid eyes on in my life. So shout out to Colin Farrell if you listen to my podcast.
Jesse Lally
Amazing.
Tom Schwartz
Do you think Colin Farrell listens to my podcast?
Jesse Lally
I think everybody listens to your podcast. Let's. Let's introduce the podcast first of all.
Tom Schwartz
Yeah, you guys. Detox Retox. So honored to have my dear friend and guest with me today in one of my favorite spots in all of la. This is my little Detox Retox temple.
Jesse Lally
I will say I've lived in the West Hollywood and Hollywood Hills area. For almost 20 years now. And it is my first time here at Voda Spa. So thank you for the invitation. Congratulations on your new endeavor here with Detox to Retox. I am, to be honest with you, a little excited to start getting royalties because I think I trademarked Detox to Retox when I was in my 20s.
Tom Schwartz
You are, you are a maestro, which I want to come back to later and talk about your early days in nyc living with Jax. Yeah, but yeah, man, are you more Detox or Retox? Not just today, but lately in general. Mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally.
Jesse Lally
You know, when I, when I lost 50 pounds to start modeling in New York back In the early 2000s, I remember meeting with an agent and they're like, oh, you're 21, you look a lot older. And I immediately went to gnc. I bought every hair, skin, nail supplement there was. And that was kind of the journey on my Detox. Like the smoothies and the juicing and the gallon of water a day and stuff like that. The last couple of years, unfortunately, with an ailing 45 year old body and a divorce that not many people know about, it's been a little bit more.
Tom Schwartz
That's sarcasm, folks.
Jesse Lally
It's a little bit more Retoxing than Detoxing.
Tom Schwartz
But by the way, before, before we move past that comment, I want to say, as an up and coming aspiring male model, one of the worst things you could possibly hear is you look.
Jesse Lally
Old for your hair as a 21 year old.
Tom Schwartz
Wait, that made me truly laugh. That was a gut laugh. Well, wait, actually, can we just talk about it now? Because you brought it up. Can we do a little time travel?
Jesse Lally
Jesse, I can't wait.
Tom Schwartz
Can we go back to your early days? You're just arriving in NYC. You're with the 16th street crew.
Jesse Lally
We're 16th between 7th and 8th.
Tom Schwartz
That's right. So what? Honestly, the moments before then, you grew up in Boston, you're well educated. What was the spark, the catalyst for saying, I'm going to move to New York and I'm going to be a model, A male model.
Jesse Lally
So I was out of college, I was a physics major and I got a job opportunity the end of my sophomore year at New York Life insurance to do estate planning. And you know, I got my Series 6 and, and 1 of my dear friends who went to business school in Boston went to New York and somebody was like, you should be a model. And he grew up in my hometown and he said, jesse, you should come, come with me. And I'm like, perfect New York life insurance in Boston. I'll just transfer to the New York office. So I had long hair. I'd go into the office with a suit on, with my hair in a bun, let it down. You know, we all wore. We all wore a tank top. You know, back then they were called wife beaters. I don't think we can call them that anymore. It's not political correct. Yeah, exactly. And, yeah, we used to just run around the city. And then the next morning I wake up, go to the office, grab my book, you know, put my hair. Put my hair down and go running around the city modeling.
Tom Schwartz
So did you. Was Jax your first roommate in New York?
Jesse Lally
Jax was my. No, so my. My friend from my hometown. Chris and Chris Whalen.
Tom Schwartz
Shout out to Chris.
Jesse Lally
Shout out to Chris Whalen. Chris And I got this apartment and, you know, I wish I kept it. It was a fifth floor walk up, amazing. Like back then. Chelsea, Meatpacking district. Hell's Kitchen was actual hell. And I wish I kept it. It was rent controlled. I think we paid $3,000 a month. And we're like, how are we going to afford this? So we found Jax. He was. He was with my agency. And the agent said, you know, this guy needs a place to stay. So we put him in the living room, which was also the kitchen, which was also the bathroom, which was. It was a one bedroom. It was tiny.
Tom Schwartz
And three dudes in a one bedroom.
Jesse Lally
Three dudes.
Tom Schwartz
Quintessential male model, New York City, early 2000s. Yeah.
Jesse Lally
Then you lived in the model house. You didn't get an apartment on 16th between 7th and 8th prime. Chelsea. Shout out, Chelsea. And yeah, it was so much fun. We found a. I remember Jax, Chris and I were walking down the street, and in New York back in those days, you're like, wow, that futon on the sidewalk. Somebody's throwing away a brand new futon. Let's carry it up the five stories to our apartment. And that's what Jack slept on was a street futon in the living room.
Tom Schwartz
And that's so funny, because I feel like in this day and age, we're so hyper online, hyper aware of everything going on in the world, for better or for less. But I imagine during Those romantic early 20s days as a male model working in New York, you weren't thinking there might be bed bugs.
Jesse Lally
Jussie Ignorance was a male model in the early 2000s. In your 20s, there were plenty of bugs going around. You didn't give a shit if they were bed bugs or any other bug. You just did what you did. I'll tell you, there were Some like the 2002 bug blackout in New York City. Incredible time.
Tom Schwartz
I was just going to ask you about that.
Jesse Lally
Yeah, we took all the furniture up under the roof, which wasn't a roof deck, it was a commercial grade roof. Carried it up and we had the most insane night. Wait, can we back it up a little bit?
Tom Schwartz
Cuz I, I, I, I heard all about. Can we tell. For the people who don't know who are listening, can we do a little story time about the 2002 or 3 New York City blackout?
Jesse Lally
Yes, I think it was, it was a crazy heat wave and the entire East Coast, New York, New Jersey, I think down Pennsylvania, I don't think up to Boston, but yeah, it was just like a power grid failure and it was. You would go to the liquor store and you would write an iou like credit cards didn't work. You know, there was a point where that night we were going crazy on our rooftop. We had a ton of people over and we were like, let's just walk around. We went to Times Square. They had mattresses all laid out in Times Square because the key cards for the hotels didn't work.
Tom Schwartz
That's right.
Jesse Lally
So people were like sleeping bags in Times Square. It was, it was an incredible, it was like a New York experience that I have never forgotten. You know, we went to, we ran into somebody that one, one of us knew and he was like a big promoter and he was renting the old Studio 54 after hours apartment. And it was like there were no windows. You know those little blocks like the, that you can't see through those like glass, thick blocks.
Tom Schwartz
Yeah, they're actually structurally sound. They're making a comeback right now. Okay.
Jesse Lally
But they were, they were, they were covering all the windows and it was the most like you could just run into somebody and they're like, follow us. We're go, we're going here. And you're like, all right. You know, the whole city's black. Imagine Times Square with not one electronic billboard playing, just black.
Tom Schwartz
It sounds beautifully apocalyptic, but it also maybe sounds like Peak Studio 54, VIP room. Like the sense of camaraderie and free spirit and like. And also coming fresh off of 9 11. I imagine there was a really strong sense of camaraderie. Right. Love camaraderie. Humanity in New York City in particular.
Jesse Lally
Yeah, New York City at that time. It's interesting. My first trip ever to New York City was 2001. Sorry, shots up.
Tom Schwartz
That's more vodka.
Jesse Lally
So 2001, September, my first trip with my girlfriend from Boston. I had my French Connection cut off, T shirt, my blond tips, you know, spiky hairdo. We go to New York City and we leave the morning of the 11th, September 11th. And I have a photograph on September 10th from the Empire State Building of the Twin Towers with the sun setting. And I dropped it off in the morning when I got back at Walgreens to print it up. And on the back of the photo it, it says 911 2001. And the time that they printed it and the towers were gone at that time that it said so I posted almost every single year. That was my first trip to New York. And then fast forward seven, eight months later I moved to New York City. And it was an interesting first year anniversary being in New York. September 2002, the camaraderie, the fire trucks, ambulances going down the streets, everybody would like clap and cheer and like, you know, for the most part things were back to, to normal as well as it could be.
Tom Schwartz
It might have been a, it might have been a high watermark for patriotism in the US not to sound bleak or anything, but really like the whole country felt like we were more unified.
Jesse Lally
Than ever, I think than, than ever, especially in New York City and, and you know, to be able to be in the position I am now to do. Watch what Happens Live. Last year for the first time I brought my brother, who's two time Iraq war veteran, now a fireman in Boston, to bring him to New York City to watch me on. Watch what Happens Live. To go to the 911 memorial site with him was an amazing experience, a full circle experience.
Tom Schwartz
Beautifully stated. That's a magical moment and man, it's my favorite city in the world. I don't know if I've ever told you that. It's tattooed on my arm. I love New York like I never loved another city in my life. But I'm not gonna make this about me. I've talked about it on the podcast already, but I love New York. Was there like so usually not to generalize, but like me, I didn't want to be famous, but I wanted to be like a working actor. Did you, did you have usually modeling, male modeling? Modeling in general is a stepping stone to get to the next level, usually acting or entertainment. Did you want to be an actor? Did you want to be famous? Jesse Lally, Are you a fame whore?
Jesse Lally
I'm a fan. No, I literally, I thought it was an amazing opportunity because I, since I was young Was always really into fashion when I went to college, went to college just below the Canadian border. And I used to go to Montreal all the time to party as a 19 year old. And I was like, God, look at, look at the way these people dress. And I really got into fashion when I had the opportunity to model. It was more about like, give me a Dolce and Gabbana Runway show and that'll be my dream. And then, you know, a couple things. I moved to Miami for a season and I started to find some like, real close friends. And when I got back to New York, I'm like, you know what? I'm gonna dive deep into studying acting. I got really into the theater world. I've read pretty much every play play imaginable. I think I actually started drinking scotch because of Long Day's Journey into Night. Eugene o'. Neill. So it was, yeah, it was an interesting experience because I got really obsessed with that world. I started in a two year Meisner program in New York. Amy Schumer was in my class for two years. And I just really enjoyed the experience. And you know, looking back from who I am today, I think I would have been a lot better if I was hadn't had such a huge ego. And I read like the Egoless Actor and I went to Bali for a summer to study dance and experience ego death.
Tom Schwartz
Yeah, maybe, maybe not.
Jesse Lally
Yeah, I mean, listen, I've done so much work that, you know, it was one of those things where, yeah, once you start getting into the world, you're like, oh, one day I'm going to, you know, be on the red carpet at the Oscars. You know, you have, you start to have those hopes and dreams and stuff like that. But being famous was never the goal. The goal was to work.
Tom Schwartz
Me too, man. I love that. I never wanted to be famous. I wanted to be on a procedural, I wanted to be on CSI Miami. I just wanted to be a working actor. I had no desire to ever be famous. Not to be Mr. Humble, because listen, it does have its perks. It's sometimes cool. How's it been for you being going down the street now and being recognized. People online, you know, criticizing your life for better or for worse, also praising parts of your aspect. How is it? I feel like, I mean, from my perspective, you were always an entertainer. You were just one of. You were kind of an undiscovered talent. Can I say that? Like you, in my opinion, you just always belonged on tv. And I'm not kissing your ass because you agreed to do my Podcast?
Jesse Lally
Yeah, you know, I've just. I have. I have very East Coast Boston, crass humor, sarcastic humor, a sad lack of social awareness. So, you know, sometimes the jokes fall a little flat because it's the wrong audience. But, you know, I just. For me, it was like, Jax brought this opportunity. Jax and Ryan brought this opportunity to me and Michelle, and we were excited for the idea. You know, we work in, know, luxury real estate. And. And I said to Michelle, we sat down, we talked about it, and we were like, what a great opportunity to get our name out there so we can talk about real estate. And we wanted to put ourself in a box like luxury real estate. We traveled all around the world. We have these experiences. We drink fine wine, and obviously, that didn't last very long, but, you know, for me, and. And dealing with the. The fame of it, quote, air quotes, you can't see that, but the fame of it. It was the first time somebody ever recognized us. Myself, I was walking on the beach in Newport, and somebody was like, oh, my God, Jesse. But before that, the first person in our family dynamic to get recognized was Isabella at the Grove with her mom. Somebody's like, you're the little girl from the show. And, you know, it's funny, I don't read, at least in season one. The last time I ever read Reddit was the day before the season one premiere. I made that rule for myself, and I haven't been on it since. And I read now in season two, a lot of comments, because when I started to read the comments in season one, I got a lot of people, men and women, reaching out, saying, hey, I'm going through something similar with the fall of my marriage, or, you know, this situation's happening with me, and. And I love to give my experience to them, to let them do with it what they will. And I've learned that sometimes when you get the most hateful of messages and you respond to them, they respond like, oh, my God, I never thought you would see this. I'm so sorry. And it's true. It's like people hurt, and they project their hurt onto somebody that maybe or maybe not will respond to them. And then when they do, they have a lot more questions than you would.
Tom Schwartz
You would expect and a lot more humanity. It's easy to chalk them up as trolls and dismiss them, which, you know.
Jesse Lally
I get if there's plenty.
Tom Schwartz
But obviously, we're a little bit older. We have more life experience, more empathy, more compassion as you get older, and you're like, yeah, I mean, there's times I want to really just go after them and just fucking roast them. But it feels good when you're like, hey, I see you. I kind of hurt. And they're just like, oh, my God, I am so sorry. I actually love the show. I'm like a huge fan of you and you have like this real connection that you don't always get when people are hiding behind the screen. But I love that you're. I love your take on it. I like your positivity.
Jesse Lally
Yeah. So, yeah, I mean, listen, it's. I, it's sad to say, but we all say it. This is what's. What we signed up for. We put our life out there and the best way to do it is to. I don't do anything different than I do on a day to day basis. The only difference in this world is a situation arises. You're like, oh, you know what? Tom had, you know, 15 bottles of wine last night. I can't believe what he said. No big deal, right? But you're in a position now where you can't say no big deal, because for the audience it's, it is a big deal. So you have to address it. And you're constantly, it's like, people ask me like, did the show end your marriage? No. What it did is it opened up the doors that we had sealed shut and asked us to kind of look inside those doors or the dust that we swept under the rug. You lift up the rug and the dust is back in the air. And it's like, you have to address those things because number one rule is you can't say when somebody asks you a question, ah, I don't know. You have to tell the audience because you do know. You're just saying I don't know, to brush it under the rug. And that's the interesting thing about this world. It is real. Everything we're going through and talking about and feeling it is real. But human nature is to brush it under the rug and hope it'll figure itself out. And sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't.
Tom Schwartz
Jesse, that was beautifully stated, I gotta say, because people ask me all the time, and just like they're asking you now, it's like, what's it like to have your life under a magnifying glass? You know, do you think it had, do you think it was the reason or at least the, the, the catalyst for your divorce or yada yada? And I, I. Your answer was much more eloquent than mine has been. But no, I think it Just. Yeah, it shines a. Like, on a light, on some of the darker spots, and it forces you to confront issues that you would usually sweep under the rug. It's like. It's. I. I've said this a million times. It's like going to therapy, but in front of millions of people with feedback from the entire nation. I love Good Will Hunting. You're a Boston guy.
Jesse Lally
Yeah, I know the entire script by. By memory.
Tom Schwartz
All right, so remember the scene where they're on the park bench after Matt Damon looked at his painting and just ripped him apart? So he's on the bench and he's like, you looked at one painting and you ripped my life apart. That always resonated with. With me. Just like. Because you're seeing snippets of our lives which are very real, and I'm open and accepting to the criticism, but I. I just. That moment, I. I think of it all the time. You know what I mean? It's like, you saw a few scenes. You didn't see the nuances in my head, by the way, or to the shampoo bottle in the shower. I'm talking about this.
Jesse Lally
Yeah.
Tom Schwartz
My other therapist. I'm like, you. You saw two scenes and you ripped my relationship apart.
Jesse Lally
Right.
Tom Schwartz
You know what I mean? Yeah, it's. It's.
Jesse Lally
It's hard because you. You know, we shoot, let's say, 10 weeks, right. And I've been lucky enough that my schedule is we shoot five days a week. And I've. God, I could have two, three scenes in a day, five days a week for 10 weeks. But you don't see the before and after, and you don't see some resolutions and stuff like that. And, you know, it's just interesting to see how it all comes together. But that's what we signed up for. And we signed up for people to be able to judge the characters that we are on the show. It doesn't necessarily mean those are the characters we are in real life.
Tom Schwartz
You just. I attest. We attest that it is a privilege to be on a show. The good, the bad, the ugly, the praise, the hate. It is a privilege to be on a show.
Jesse Lally
I've had so many, so many incredible opportunities that, you know, I can reach out to certain people that. That I never was able to reach out to. I have access to certain people, and, you know, you can use that to really help. I mean, I. I wear a pair of sunglasses on the show, and thousands of people reach out to me, and I reach out to the company, and I'm like, hey, I'm just going to send this over and it's just an amazing opportunity. Opportunity for you to connect with people. I mean, your buddies on Summer House, like, I never in a million years thought I would run into Kyle in an event and we become buddy buddy and Carl buddy buddy and you know, so great to hear their stories and hang out with them when we, when we travel to the east coast and stuff like that. Like it's opened up doors that I mean we pay for it with, with our authenticity. But it's amazing and long term cathartic almost always.
Tom Schwartz
Even if it's painful in the moment. Right. It's long term cathartic.
Jesse Lally
Right. And I'm, listen, I'm grateful for the fact that Michelle and I were able to figure out our situation as a married couple when Isabella was young enough that it won't hurt as much. Like, what if we weren't on this show? What if we continued on for 10 more years? And you know it. Michelle's father sadly left when she was 13 and it's. And it really, really affected her. And I saw that she talked about it at length with me and it's, it's like we did the right thing for our daughter in the moment and it was because of this opportunity that we had.
Tom Schwartz
I love that. And you are. Well, when you met. You're both luxury real estate agents, right?
Jesse Lally
Yeah.
Tom Schwartz
Can we do a little state of the union address? What's it like to be a luxury real estate agent right now? How's the market? I know there's, listen, high interest rates, high prices, economic uncertainty. I don't know how inventory is, but like, what's it like, Jesse? What's it like being a real estate agent in L. A right now?
Jesse Lally
The real estate market is cyclical and it's defined, you know, primarily, most importantly, by supply and demand. And we were in a Plateau sort of 2019, beginning of 2020, where it was sort of declining and then Covid happened and it spiked like we've never seen in my career. Right now the, the state of it is 23 and 24 were really difficult and I think that has a lot to do. I've been through three elections cycles in real estate. This was, this was the first time I felt the election cycle along with, you know, like rising interest rates, which is interesting because we were also, we were also used to 2%, 3% interest rates.
Tom Schwartz
I was locked in at 2.98%. I refinanced our house with Katie and I was so proud of that.
Jesse Lally
Yeah, and I, and I think, honestly, I think the average interest rate since World War II is like 9%. So you guys were, I mean, that was an anomaly. And we're at 6% right now. And there was some uncertainty when it was, I mean, when I tried to buy my house, it was 9.875%. And it, you know, the election, the interest rates, the, the lack of supply. And then in la, the ULA tax that they coined the mansion tax, that barely passed, I think is one of the most horrific things to LA real estate. And we're desperately trying to end that because I think it affects so many people. They call it a mansion tax, but it affects the, the mom and pop who bought a house 30, 40 years ago, who, it's their nest egg to pass on either for their retirement or pass on for their children. And now they have to pay, pay what was a half a percent transfer tax. They're paying five and a half percent. And it really cuts in by hundreds of thousands of dollars. But everybody called it a mansion tax, so it was a rich tax, which it was not. And, you know, we're working, the entire real estate community is working to get rid of that. And you know, there's a, there's a, a lot of other factors. Development has been curbed by the city of la. It's just, it's a really tough time to build now with the tariffs and the cost of goods and workforce and.
Tom Schwartz
It'S the cost of just lumber.
Jesse Lally
Yeah, I mean, there was a time where, remember that time where lumber a year ago was, you know, it was, it was insane. And it's, it's like this, this country was built on real estate. Country was built on development, on growth. And I think the people who are trying to stunt the. That growth just don't understand what this country was built on.
Tom Schwartz
You're known for having a taste for the good life. Robin Leech. Champagne, caviar dreams. So maybe, maybe, maybe, at least for a while. It's Kirkland Sparkling Brute and maybe Lumpfish Row.
Jesse Lally
Well, I'm just kidding. Yeah, I mean, I'm kidding, dude.
Tom Schwartz
I mean, I'm talking for real estate agents in general, and that's to lighten it up a little bit.
Jesse Lally
Well, I'll tell you, 23 and 24 were catastrophic for me personally and for a lot of people in the real estate business, there were a lot of changes being made. And, you know, the horrible fires in January really changed where we were headed. And, you know, it was so devastating. And I was, I was, you Know, with this new platform, I was like, how I started, literally during the fires, I started, started tracking my analytics and realized what my click rate was on links that I posted. And then all of a sudden it was like, I'm posting where to bring your animals, where to donate clothes. And it really changed the landscape of the market in la. You know, the rental, I mean, there we had hundreds of people looking, thousands of people looking for rentals. And we were as a community, all brokerages across the entire community putting together lists, working for free, just trying to help displace families. And then when the dust settled to say, people all of a sudden were like, well, I want to still be in the community, I want to buy. And then the high end market went pretty, pretty crazy. So Q1, even the beginning of Q2 in the real estate market in LA was great.
Tom Schwartz
Two questions on that note. First of all, is it true that 90% of all real estate agents in LA are former actors and models? Sorry, sorry.
Jesse Lally
Yeah, you know, it's, it's a, I don't want to say it's a fallback career. I'll probably get some blowback for that because, you know, people, especially during COVID saw how much money people were making and they said, well, I can do that. And I remember during COVID I'd get in an Uber and the Uber driver would be like, oh, what's your, what business are you in? I'm like, oh, I'm in real estate. They're like, me too. I'm like, great. Like, they're like, do you have any off market listings? It's fickle, right?
Tom Schwartz
It's just like acting and modeling. It's fickle. I don't think it's a fallback career. I think it's a great way to transition into a different career.
Jesse Lally
Right.
Tom Schwartz
Both are fickle though. Right? Right.
Jesse Lally
I will tell you my. So when I lived in New York, I worked for a huge real estate agent as an assistant and I was like, God, I'll never be your friendly neighborhood realtor. Like, I could never do that. And then I moved to LA and I started meeting all these people and they're like, oh, I want to buy in New York. And I started referring them back to my friend and one of our friends who you know really well, Mark Cherry, he was looking at apartments in New York and I went back with him and we saw this one apartment and I was like, well, if you open this wall and you put like, this could be your writing desk and whatever. And he ended up buying the Apartment. And then I referred a few other other things back to my friend, few other clients back to my friend, and I was like, wait, if I could do design and architecture and like, if that is real estate and development is real estate, then I'm totally down because I love the creative aspect of it.
Tom Schwartz
Yeah, I love that. And by the way, for our listeners who are like, who the fuck is Mark Cherry? He's the creator, writer, producer of Desperate Housewives.
Jesse Lally
Desperate Housewives, Devious Maids, Shout Out.
Tom Schwartz
Mark Cherry without his jobs. When I first moved to la, when I was living with Tom Sandoval and Jax Taylor, I think me and Jax catered for him without his jobs, paid very well, and we did. Did private catering for his events.
Jesse Lally
Right.
Tom Schwartz
And they. They were instrumental.
Jesse Lally
Is that the event that they asked you to put your shirt back on? Oh, I listened to the Zach interview.
Tom Schwartz
Okay, well, that's not good. You got me on that one. No, but Mark was always so good to me. I wanted to give a. Mark, if you ever hear this, thank you. Thank you for always being so kind and generous. And just like every time I would come over there and I was catering, sometimes it would be through. It was through Love Catering.
Jesse Lally
Right.
Tom Schwartz
Who. Mark had a very good relationship with them, but he was instrumental on helping me stay afloat in some of the bleaker moments in my plight in la.
Jesse Lally
Yeah, we had an amazing sort of situation how we met. I was living down by lacma and I was walking my dog, and I ran into this, like, super fan who was telling me how lucky I was that I lived across the street from one of the actors who I knew from New York, lived across the street. And I reached out to him and I was like, dude, I've been living here for four months. I had no idea you lived across the street. And he's like, do you want to play poker? Come to this guy Mark Cherry's house. And I met Mark and. And yeah, it was a funny story how we got together, but, yeah, we've been friends now for almost 20 years.
Tom Schwartz
That's so cool. Wait, you know what you just reminded me of? How did you become friends with Anna Nicole Smith?
Jesse Lally
Okay.
Tom Schwartz
I don't know if you want it. We don't have to talk about it.
Jesse Lally
Oh, no, no. I. I'm just curious. Honestly, I think I was with Ford at the time, and I literally got a call that I was booked off my card to go to Miami. And we tell people what a card.
Tom Schwartz
Is because I feel like a lot of people are like, what the fuck's a card.
Jesse Lally
Now it's like a TikTok. So. So back in the day when you were modeling, you had a book with all your photos in it and you had to carry it around in a backpack, go from casting to casting. But in your agency, every single model had basically like a brochure. It was like your headshot on the front and then three or four editorial shots on the back with the agency's contact info. It was like a real estate flyer that you get in the mail and. Yeah, and they would send those out and they'd send him out like a. With a messenger, like a bike messenger in New York to the client. This is so analog. And they would flip through the cards and be like, boom, we want this guy. So I was booked off my card and flew to Miami and yeah, did this shoot with Anna Nicole that, that I remember I had a billboard in Times Square, which was insanely big and my first trip.
Tom Schwartz
Take a moment. Pause for appreciation. To have a billboard in like Sunset Boulevard, L.A. is iconic, but Times Square might be the most iconic place on the planet to have a billboard. Sorry, guys, I turned my volume down.
Jesse Lally
It was. It was wild and. And I have amazing photos of it. And then my first trip to la, I think all littered down Sunset were those billboards. And then outside of Saddle Ranch.
Tom Schwartz
Was it for her show?
Jesse Lally
No, it was. It was for Trim Spa.
Tom Schwartz
Oh, cool.
Jesse Lally
Yeah.
Tom Schwartz
Trim saw.
Jesse Lally
Yeah.
Tom Schwartz
By the way, if you guys don't know what I'm talking about, she had a show called the Anna Nicole Smith Show. Correct. A pioneer in shows not far from ours. It was one of my. I remember watching it and Loving in 2002. 3. Right. When you were living in New York.
Jesse Lally
But sorry, no, probably it might have been 2000, because I did that shoot in 2003 and she had lost all that weight with Trim Spa. And yeah, we. To this day, that electronic billboard across from Saddle Ranch, which. Full circle. My first trip to la. They were playing my commercial with Anna Nicole. Fast forward. Driving to an event this year, playing the trailer for the Valley on that same billboard. Full circle 2022 year. Full circle, man. Yeah.
Tom Schwartz
Sometimes it's like. Feels faded, right? But that's so cool. I was just curious because I know you had a she. I. She seemed lovely to me. How was she in person? Not to. By the way, the late, great Anna Nicole Smith. She passed away, so rest in peace.
Jesse Lally
Anna was. She was so much fun. And I don't know if I've ever told the story. We. We were shooting in Miami and We go down to the beach and I pull under the water and everybody's freaking out because her hair is a mess, her eyelashes of falling off. And it was the scenes that they ended up using for the shoot. And then we're wrapped in towels and robes, not too dissimilar to how we are right now at Vodospa. And we. We're walking up the beach and she's like, oh, I hope I don't get sick. And I'm like, Well, I got 100 supplements for hair, skin and nails in my room. And she called me up. I went. I think I went down to the store and bought a bottle of wine. I was sitting there watching tv and she called me and she's like, do you want a couple's massage? Come over and bring some of those supplements. And that was the start of. It was a wonderful journey. The rest is history, actually. Funny full circle moment again. I'm at the bar. Jax and Britney's wedding. Kentucky. I thought it was called Versailles, but it was Versailles, I think. I guess that's what everybody said.
Tom Schwartz
That's how you pronounce it.
Jesse Lally
Yeah. We were at the wedding and her daughter's baby daddy came up to me and was like, Jesse Lally. And looking around and he's like, I have thousands of pictures of you and Anna in my garage and, like, trim spa bottles. And I'm like, can you please, please send those to me?
Tom Schwartz
Can you send those to us?
Jesse Lally
He still hasn't sent them to me.
Tom Schwartz
Jessica, you seem at peace. I know we're in a beautiful setting at Vota Spa, but you seem happy. Shout out to Lacey. By the way, how's things with Lacey?
Jesse Lally
Lacy's amazing. Lacy's one of the strongest women I've ever, ever met. You know, her infertility journey to having a beautiful daughter who's super funny. She's, you know, definitely going to end up being an actress and her struggles with autoimmune disease that she still struggles with. And, you know, she's so strong to fight through it. She's an amazing friend to all her friends and. And she holds my. My feet to the fire like no other woman I've ever met. So I'm. I'm kind of blessed to have that. And Isabella has, you know, her daughter as. As her friend, and we all get along so well, so I love that.
Tom Schwartz
And I know you love Isabella more than anything in the world. Yeah, I see you. You're a great father.
Jesse Lally
Thank you.
Tom Schwartz
I really do. I wanted to ask you something. Wait. I want to end on a positive note. This is a positive. But I wrote it down, you guys. I just googled it. We're both divorced. The average life expectancy for a male in the US is 75.8 years. Mean, you are lucky for stolen the front nine. My question to you is, how are you going to spend? How are you planning for your midlife crisis?
Jesse Lally
Oh, you know, hopefully a villa in Capri with a bottle of wine and, you know, my daughter and her family visiting every summer would be a great way to sail off into the sunset, but I think my midlife crisis was. If I don't stop drinking martinis, my midlife crisis might have been 15 years ago. So let's. Let's see how it all plays out, you guys.
Tom Schwartz
So we're chilling at the bar Voda Spa. Jesse's about to get a 50 minute massage a couple minutes from now. I want to ask you a few more things, if you're cool with it. By the way, they have a banya here, which I love. Do you know what a banya is?
Jesse Lally
Is that where you smash yourself with leaves?
Tom Schwartz
Yeah, that's actually called a Vinnie. You guys. Am I pronouncing it right? A vinic massage. So, yeah, you're gently slapping with a bundle of leafy oak or birch leaves, and you kind of. You kind of give it a little wrap. Tap. We can. Can we do that after your massage? If you have time.
Jesse Lally
I mean, go put some money in my meter. I'm down.
Tom Schwartz
Okay, I'll put money in your meter. He's. And then we're gonna do the banya, which is essentially a Russian way of saying you go from the steam. Steam room and then you go into the cold plunge. It like, boosts your immune system, releases those happy hormones, endorphins. Okay, I love them. Give me more of them. I'll take all of them, but yeah, this is one of my favorite spots. And I didn't realize that at one point you had a dream of becoming an actor. I did not realize that I had a dream. Can we do a little questionnaire?
Jesse Lally
Okay.
Tom Schwartz
Okay, let me pull it up. It says, take a second. So one of my favorite.
Jesse Lally
Wait, is this the questionnaire on how to get back to being an ally to the gay community that you did with Zach?
Tom Schwartz
No. By the way, he. Those are softballs. We're both huge advocates.
Jesse Lally
I had no idea what mother was.
Tom Schwartz
Wait, okay, so one of my favorite shows of all time, and I've been reserving this for Bravo Legends. I happen to think you might be One in the works. Boom. We're both former aspiring actors. I loved Inside the Actors Studio. So he would do this shout out to the late great James Lipton. He would do this questionnaire with Bernard Pivot. Did you watch Inside the Actors Studio? I love the questionnaire at the end. I put a little twist on it with a little Detox retox twist. Are you down before you get down Fresh.
Jesse Lally
Have you, have you watched the show?
Tom Schwartz
Jesse Lally, what is your favorite way to just detox and relax?
Jesse Lally
My favorite way to detox.
Tom Schwartz
Cleanse your relax, Cleanse your mind, body, soul. Just.
Jesse Lally
Yeah, you know, I'm torn between a sauna, cold plunge, maybe a steam experience or a morning glass of very nice champagne.
Tom Schwartz
Can we do if you had to pick one way, one vice for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Jesse Lally
Aged Bordeaux. Every day, all day long.
Tom Schwartz
Aged Bordeaux. That sounds fucking fabulous by the way. One wine that's within reason sub $200 that we should get or one wine to splurge on for the listeners.
Jesse Lally
I think you can find amazing wines under $50 all day. It depends on what you like in terms of varietal, in terms of age, whether you like new wine, old wine, whether you like French wine, Spanish wine.
Tom Schwartz
What about barefoot bubbly?
Jesse Lally
That is, that is a negative on that one. But if you ask me a question about wine, you better bring me on for another podcast.
Tom Schwartz
Okay, on that note, what was your favorite sip? No, no, excuse me. What was your first sip? Not your favorite. We'll talk. That's different. Podcast. My first sip of alcohol.
Jesse Lally
First sip of alcohol.
Tom Schwartz
When and where? What?
Jesse Lally
Peach schnapps. When I was with a couple of my like, I don't know, 10 year olds. We got into the grandparents liquor cabinet. The one that ended my. My drinking was Goldschlager was the only time I ever actually drank with my friends in high school. Didn't drink again until I was 21.
Tom Schwartz
Love Goldgelagger, by the way. What was your first job?
Jesse Lally
My first job, I think I was 12 years old. I worked at the hockey rink in my hometown, Woburn, Massachusetts. I was literally, you know, in the summer season washing spit out of, out of the like cleaning the entire hockey rink and asked them to wait until the end of the the summer to pay me because I wanted to buy my first adult pair of golf clubs. Set of golf clubs.
Tom Schwartz
Well, maybe I already answered this with your last answer, but what was your worst job? Worst job. That sounds actually kind of fun. My worst job could be modeling.
Jesse Lally
Pre. Pre.
Tom Schwartz
Me too. Modeling in the male modeling industry.
Jesse Lally
No, that was so much. I mean, we had such a, like, you can't complain about modeling, no matter how wild it was.
Tom Schwartz
We need to do a whole nother episode on that.
Jesse Lally
I've never had a bad job because I just would have quit if it was that bad.
Tom Schwartz
Yeah, well, I love that.
Jesse Lally
I mean, the cater waitering, taking the train out to, you know, Long island from the city to, to make $400.
Tom Schwartz
I used to drive out with Tom or Jax all the way out to Las Vegas. 400 for the rate. And we would have to stay, stand in Prada or Miu Miu for eight hours with a tray of champagne in our hands and just hand them out, by the way, you guys are like, big deal. 400 bucks. I'd do that. Eight hours on your feet holding a glass of eight champagne glasses. It's hard.
Jesse Lally
I've done some cool ones. I did an event in the Upper east side for Dom Perignon. I still have the apron, but I could not hold the tray of flutes, so I smashed them all over the ground. I did want a Tom Ford's house. A private dinner at Tom Ford's house. Amazing. And the most iconic one ever. A bunch of us, three buses of models bused out to Calvin Klein's old Southampton house. We had to line up, and he went through and picked each person that he wanted to stay, put the rest on the bus with a, with a case of champagne, and sent him back to the city wild.
Tom Schwartz
That's a cold dose of reality.
Jesse Lally
Oh, I couldn't.
Tom Schwartz
Not really reality, but that reality.
Jesse Lally
Yeah.
Tom Schwartz
In that moment. Wait, who, When. Who's your first kiss? When, if you're okay with saying it, you don't have to say the name.
Jesse Lally
My first kiss, God, I was probably like five, you know, maybe seven at the latest. And it was all, it was all uphill ever since.
Tom Schwartz
All right, all right. This is more pure. What turns you on, Chris, creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?
Jesse Lally
I like, I like efficiency. I think I said that in an interview before. I like people that you know, and it's something my, my girlfriend Lacy says all the time. Solutions to a problem, not problems to a problem. You know, I, I, I'm not very great at it, but I love people that are like, all right, I got to get this done. I'm going to do it this way. I don't need help until I need help spiritually. I love somebody who, they, they're fine with themselves. The faults and the, and the positives. They're like, hey, Listen, it's. It's me, and I'm. I'm going to work on me and hopefully grow. But, you know, I. I'm working on it creatively. I love people who see things like, you know, I think I'm a very creative person. And then I hired somebody when I moved into my house, I was like, I just need somebody to style it. Like books and like, one of my good friends, he's an amazing designer. He could literally take two coffee table books, turn them a certain way, and I'm like, I never would have saw that. And there's. There's a way that people look that you think you're creative and then you see the next person and. And they just look at the world differently. And talent, for me, whether it's drawing, painting, singing, I think talent is one of the sexiest things ever. Somebody that's really, like, committed themselves to whatever craft it is, and you watch somebody up there and you're like, God, that voice coming out of their mouth. How is that possible? I love talent.
Tom Schwartz
Yeah, we could do a whole lot episode on that. Whether it's nature or nurture or a bit of both, or discipline, consistency. Okay. No, no, no. All right, we're back. What's your favorite? Well, first of all, what turns you off? Not sexually, but just what turns you off or makes you go, I don't like that.
Jesse Lally
I think people who. People who are inauthentic, who try too hard, who just want to fight for the fight, and I'm a fighter.
Tom Schwartz
But that's southy in you, right?
Jesse Lally
No, I'm from Woburn, but, yeah, just people who fight for the fight. And it's like, eventually your. Your piece would be better if you just meet in the middle or take the loss and move on to the next thing.
Tom Schwartz
What's your favorite curse word?
Jesse Lally
I mean, I say fuck all the time.
Tom Schwartz
Time.
Jesse Lally
And I. I think it was Isabella's first word, too.
Tom Schwartz
The most versatile curse word in the game. What sound or noise? Besides the spa music. What sound or noise relaxes you?
Jesse Lally
I. I think I might have mental issues because house music relaxes me, and something like Ray Lamontagne really works me up. Like something sad really gets me fired up. But you put on Rufus de Soul, which is pretty much exclusively what I listen to in my house, and yeah, I'm just chill all day.
Tom Schwartz
What sound or noise? What sound or noise do you not like? Do you hate? Hate's a strong word.
Jesse Lally
I don't know. I've never even thought of that. What. What sound like I.
Tom Schwartz
What can I give you? Can I give you an example? Oh, I love that.
Jesse Lally
Somebody bitching all the time.
Tom Schwartz
My worst. Like, the first thing that comes to mind is a fire alarm that needs the battery changed. It slowly drives me into a descent of madness. I cannot handle it. I can feel it in my bones, my spirit, my soul.
Jesse Lally
Well, that's. That's cuz you're not ocd. If I ever had a. Like a fire alarm with the. With the beeping battery low, I would find it within four seconds. Change the battery and it would be done.
Tom Schwartz
Okay. All right. What profession other than your own, would you like to attempt?
Jesse Lally
I would love to be one of the great architects of the world.
Tom Schwartz
Well, you still can.
Jesse Lally
I sketch all the time.
Tom Schwartz
Okay, that's beautiful. Okay, what profession would you not like to attempt?
Jesse Lally
I mean, some. Something that I have to get dirty. Like, I don't. I. I've done them. I. I did drilling and blasting when I was in high school. I've done construction. The dirt just never comes out under your nails, but there it is, guys.
Tom Schwartz
He was so relatable the whole episode. He finally. His true colors.
Jesse Lally
I mean, we're sitting here at Votus Spa about to get a massage. Maybe like a cold plunge. Yeah, I don't. I don't. I don't do dirty.
Tom Schwartz
Jesse Lally, if heaven exists, and I like to think it does, what would you like to see at the Pearly Gates for your first meal and your first drink upon your arrival?
Jesse Lally
Well, hopefully shout out to my Pomeranian. His birthday would have been today. Hopefully. He greets me with my great grandmother Bunny, who Isabella's middle name is. And then followed by a slightly dirty martini. I know my grandmother would have a Pinot Grigio in her hand. And from that point on, I mean, we're at the Pearly Gates. Do we need to eat food anymore? Can we just drink?
Tom Schwartz
I think we need some food. At least an appetizer to nosh on some Saduskis.
Jesse Lally
Okay, well, it's definitely French Fr. Fry. Chateau Marmont with mayonnaise. Boom.
Tom Schwartz
All right. I've already taken too much of his time. He's about to get a massage. And then if you have time, maybe we'll do a little banya after.
Jesse Lally
I'm. I'm down. I'm here. We're taking shots. Shout out to Beluga Caviar Vota Spa for having us in here. Beautiful place, first time.
Tom Schwartz
Thank you. Let's do the damn thing. We'll pick back up if Jesse has any energy after his massage. You guys, this has been nice.
Jesse Lally
Thanks, brother.
Tom Schwartz
You, too. I said, yeah. All right. He who does not take risks doesn't drink champagne. I love these Russian proverbs. I know Jesse Lynn loves champagne, so probably means he's taken a lot of risks in life. Anybody who's made the leap of faith to pursue modeling, acting, anything in the arts, New York, Louisiana, around the world, they are definitely not risk averse. But I really enjoyed our conversation. I feel like I took a risk today. The last time I did the vinique, if you guys remember, the vanique massage, where you take the bundle of soaked oak or birch leaves and sort of smack or rub the other person with them or yourself. It was awesome. Honestly, it was awesome. The first time I did it, they were not soaked and it was kind of itchy and scratchy and. Yeah, man, I think I was sweating out blood. But no, not this time. Vodospa does it right. I love that spot. Thank you, Jesse, for the conversation. It flowed like the salmon of Capistrano. Like champagne. Yeah, man. He's such a fascinating human being. Love him or hate him, I feel like there's more love lately. But, yeah, he is a rich, nuanced, layered human being who's led a very fascinating life. Check him out. Lally Estates. Go buy a house from him. All right, Jesse. Thank you, guys. It's been another episode of Detox. Retox heavy on the Detox. I love you, Vodus Bot. All right, I'm signing off. Thank you, guys.
Jesse Lally
Detoxification complete.
Detox Retox with Tom Schwartz: Spa Day & Venik Massage with Jesse Lally
Release Date: July 15, 2025
In this engaging episode of Detox Retox with Tom Schwartz, host Tom Schwartz welcomes longtime friend and multifaceted guest, Jesse Lally, for a rejuvenating day at the luxurious Voda Spa in West Hollywood. The episode seamlessly blends discussions on wellness, personal journeys, the intricacies of the real estate market, and lighthearted Q&A moments, offering listeners a deep dive into finding balance amidst life's contrasts.
Tom opens the episode by reflecting on life's challenges and the importance of resilience, quoting Winston Churchill: "Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It's the courage to continue that counts." He sets the stage for the day's activities, highlighting the significance of the Russian-inspired banya experience at Voda Spa.
Notable Quote:
Together, Tom and Jesse explore the benefits of the banya—ranging from improved circulation and skin detoxification to mental clarity and stress relief. They delve into the cultural roots of the banya, emphasizing its role in promoting holistic well-being.
The conversation shifts to Jesse's personal journey. Originally a physics major from Boston, Jesse transitioned to male modeling in New York City after a friend's suggestion. He shares anecdotes about his early days, including living arrangements with fellow models and the challenges of balancing a modeling career with personal aspirations.
Notable Quotes:
Jesse candidly discusses the highs and lows of the modeling industry, his brief foray into acting, and the lessons learned from dealing with fame and public perception. He touches upon the profound impact of personal experiences, such as moving to New York post-9/11, which fostered a sense of camaraderie and resilience.
As former public figures now immersed in luxury real estate, Tom and Jesse reflect on the challenges of having their lives scrutinized by the public. Jesse shares insights into maintaining authenticity amidst fame, dealing with both supportive and critical audiences, and the cathartic aspects of being on a show that exposes personal struggles.
Notable Quotes:
They discuss the balance between personal life and public persona, emphasizing the importance of addressing real issues rather than shying away from them. Jesse highlights how the platform has allowed him to connect with others facing similar challenges, fostering a community of support and empathy.
Shifting gears, Jesse provides an in-depth analysis of the current real estate market in Los Angeles. He outlines the cyclical nature of the market, the impact of rising interest rates, and recent legislative changes like the "mansion tax," which Jesse argues unfairly targets long-term homeowners rather than just the wealthy.
Notable Quotes:
Jesse also touches upon the challenges posed by construction costs, tariffs, and workforce shortages, painting a comprehensive picture of the industry's hurdles. He shares strategies his team employs to navigate these complexities, emphasizing the importance of creativity and adaptability in a fluctuating market.
Tom and Jesse reminisce about their modeling days, sharing humorous and memorable stories. From handling champagne trays for high-end brands to Jesse's experience working with Anna Nicole Smith, these anecdotes highlight the unpredictable and often glamorous nature of the industry.
Notable Quotes:
These stories not only entertain but also shed light on the perseverance required to succeed in modeling, reinforcing the episode's overarching themes of resilience and self-improvement.
Towards the end of the episode, Tom introduces a spirited questionnaire, reminiscent of the "Inside the Actors Studio" format, infusing the conversation with playful and revealing questions about personal preferences, habits, and dreams.
Notable Highlights:
These segments add a personal touch, allowing listeners to connect with Jesse on a deeper level and appreciate the multidimensional aspects of his character.
As the episode wraps up, Tom and Jesse reflect on the day's experiences at Voda Spa, expressing gratitude for their friendship and the opportunities they've shared. They hint at future episodes that may delve deeper into topics like the modeling industry and the balance between personal growth and public life.
Notable Quote:
The episode concludes on a positive note, celebrating friendship, personal growth, and the continuous journey towards finding harmony in life's contrasts.
Final Thoughts
This episode of Detox Retox with Tom Schwartz serves as a compelling blend of personal storytelling, professional insights, and lighthearted banter. By inviting Jesse Lally to share his multifaceted experiences—from modeling and acting to real estate—the podcast offers listeners a comprehensive look at navigating life's challenges while striving for balance and self-improvement. Whether you're a fan of wellness practices like the banya or interested in the dynamics of the LA real estate market, this episode provides valuable perspectives and entertaining anecdotes that resonate on multiple levels.