Jerrod Blandino on the $1.45 Billion Too Faced Sale He Never Planned to Make

Summary

Gloss Angeles Podcast Summary

Episode: Jerrod Blandino on the $1.45 Billion Too Faced Sale He Never Planned to Make

Hosts: Kirbie Johnson & Sara Tan
Guest: Jerrod Blandino (Co-founder, Too Faced & Polite Society)
Date: July 31, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the emotional and practical realities behind the $1.45 billion acquisition of Too Faced by Estée Lauder Companies—an acquisition that was, as co-founder Jerrod Blandino reveals, never part of his plan. Jerrod discusses the bittersweet aftermath of selling his beloved brand, the “acquisition affliction” observed in the beauty industry, and why he and partner Jeremy started their new venture, Polite Society. Drawing from candid anecdotes, Jerrod offers unfiltered advice for founders, lessons learned, and a behind-the-scenes look at what really happens when a beloved brand is absorbed by a global conglomerate.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Meaning Behind the Too Faced Acquisition

• Record-setting Sale: Too Faced was acquired by Estée Lauder in 2016 for $1.45 billion—their largest purchase at the time.
• Unplanned Exit: Jerrod shares that he never set out to sell Too Faced and did not expect the journey to end the way it did.
• Emotional Fallout: “It wasn't what I thought it was going to be. And I thought we were gonna get wings and we got weights. I don't know, knowing all that, if I would have made the same choices that I made.” (Jerrod Blandino, 01:09)

2. Life After Acquisition: The Aftermath

• Heartbreak Over Team Changes: Jerrod expresses deep sadness for his original team, many of whom were let go or relocated when Estée Lauder moved Too Faced to New York and streamlined the company.
• Sense of Responsibility: He admits to feeling partially responsible for the outcome.
  • “The most painful part is... the incredible people who... I raised, I worked with and brought up. And to think that in the most... callous, casual way have been minimized and made to believe they are disposable... It really bothers me.” (07:19)
• Loss of Brand Magic: Jerrod describes the difference between a founder-led brand and one run by a conglomerate—creative decisions driven by heart and art gradually replaced by cold, corporate value engineering.
  • “There was brought in something called value engineering and, and all of this bullshit that is anti productive to the creative process into the ultimate products that are developed.” (17:13)

3. The “Acquisition Affliction” and Founders’ Perspectives

• Corporate Culture Clash: Jerrod notes a cultural disconnect between creative entrepreneurs and the executives running large beauty conglomerates, arguing that the latter often fail to understand or nurture the “heartbeat” of acquired brands.
  • “Artists... have control. The heartbeat, the love, the passion for the product... There's a layer that... is not only threatened by that—doesn't understand it or respect it.” (16:20)
• Advice for Founders: Jerrod warns founders contemplating acquisition to:
  • Get “great lawyers and insulate your vision” (29:24)
  • Release the brand with love and avoid looking back: “Don’t look back, it’s going to be painful. They're going to do things you would never do.” (29:24)
• On the Acquisition Itself: The sale to Estée Lauder occurred under pressure from private equity backers—a deal that came together quickly and, ultimately, under duress.
  • "A year before we sold, we were courted by Estée Lauder... in a very heated, traumatic moment, I storm out of a Conference room... Then essentially, there was a deal made without us being involved that, had we not gone through with it, would have... been devastating to the brand and to me and my family." (09:03)

4. Jerrod’s Founding Philosophy and Polite Society

• Staying True to Artistic Roots: Jerrod emphasizes that for him, beauty is about creativity, empowerment, and positive energy—not just profit.
  • “Money does not motivate me... I have to sit within the art space because... I have to think of myself as a rebellious, creative artist and a gay best friend.” (22:18)
• Why Launch a New Brand?: The painful end at Too Faced fueled the desire to start again for the joy and community of beauty, not the money.
  • “I couldn’t let that be my last chapter. I was in such a dark place... it lit a fire under my ass and made me want to do this again.” (20:11)
• Innovating for Today’s Consumer:
  • Jerrod shares his creative process for new products, such as Polite Society’s mascara inspired by cheese puffs and ergonomic packaging for better application—showcasing innovation driven by playfulness and user experience. (35:59)
  • “Every product needs a TikTok... You need to see a demonstrative before and after... It has everything to do with it.” (37:12)

5. Transparent Money Talk and Its Consequences

• Generational Wealth: Jerrod confirms he made “a lot” from the sale, enough to buy homes for family, but notes it comes with new problems:
  • “What's the one thing you can never do again? Not have people Google how much money you have. It's not only kind of, like, embarrassing, but it's dangerous.” (39:38)

6. Industry Evolution and Jerrod’s Key Lessons

• Support for Fellow Brands:
  • He urges founders to “pull each other up,” not criticize competitors: “You don't need to pull somebody down to lift yourself up. No one needs to lose for you to win.” (41:29)
• Conglomerates Need to “Stop Killing the Heartbeat”:
  • “If you could do what they did, you wouldn't be spending a billion and a half dollars on their shit. So respect it, appreciate it, protect it and love it.” (42:46)
• On New Brands:
  • Shouts out to Merit and Dr. Diamond’s "Medicine" brand as inspiring new voices in beauty. (45:07)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Selling Too Faced:
  • “I don't know, knowing all that, if I would have made the same choices that I made.” (01:09 – Jerrod)
• On the Creative Process Meeting Corporate Reality:
  • “You didn't buy me, you bought a Pantone and a logo. Sit the fuck down.” (19:22 – Jerrod)
• On Money:
  • “Money is just options, honey. And it’s a magnifying glass. Money will magnify cruel, mean, selfish people or [loving, generous people]... That's money. Right? It's not going to make you happy.” (26:24 – Jerrod)
• Advice to Founders About Acquisition:
  • “Don't look back... they're going to do things you would never do.” (29:24 – Jerrod)
• On the Bitter Side of Success:
  • “Not everyone's happy for you... It's a trip. Every phase of life, from not having money to having money and everything in between, there's lessons that you just learn and navigate through to realize people are the most important thing.” (27:58)
• On Industry Collaboration:
  • “Be a fan of other brands... It doesn’t diminish what you created.” (41:29 – Jerrod)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:09] – Jerrod on regret and surprise with the sale
• [07:19] – Heartbreak over layoffs and brand transition post-acquisition
• [09:03] – How the sale was forced due to private equity positioning
• [16:20] – On the Estée Lauder “curse” and corporate culture problems
• [17:13] – The rise of value engineering and undermining creativity
• [20:11] – Why Polite Society was born from heartbreak
• [22:18] – Jerrod on personal motivation and money
• [29:24] – Lessons for founders: get good legal advice, don’t look back
• [35:59] – Product innovation story: cheese puffs, ergonomic packaging
• [37:12] – TikTok and social media shaping product development
• [39:38] – Downsides of public wealth post-sale
• [41:29] – “Founders need to stop tearing each other down”
• [42:46] – “Conglomerates need to stop killing the heartbeat of brands”
• [45:07] – Brands Jerrod admires: Merit, Dr. Diamond (Medicine)

---

Jerrod’s Rapid Fire Insights

• How much did he make? “A lot. Generational wealth... I want to make sure it does good for a lot of people.” (39:15)
• On the myth of founding a category: Jerrod claims he invented glitter eyeshadow at retail, but is open to someone predating him—“if there is, I relinquish the crown and bravo.” (39:53–41:13)
• Best gift to bring a host? “Diamond Drunk... or a beautiful candle you use at home, or something edible from your own culture or a brand you love.” (45:53)
• Main message for brand founders: “Odds aren’t for you, they’re for other people. You be the one who makes it through and get it done.” (44:13)

---

Tone & Final Takeaway

Throughout, Jerrod is candid, warm, feisty, and passionate about artistry and the power of beauty to uplift and connect. He cautions that while acquisitions can bring fortune and opportunity, they often risk diluting the heart and soul of what made a brand beloved in the first place. Ultimately, his story is a cautionary (but inspiring) tale on retaining creative control, the value of artistic vision, and always putting people—and passion—above profit.

Endnote:
The hosts close by expressing gratitude for Jerrod’s honesty and legacy in beauty, with a promise to have him back (and for listeners to watch for his forthcoming book).

---

For practical lessons, beauty business truths, and a masterclass in resilience and reinvention—this episode is a must-listen for anyone aiming to turn their creative vision into a lasting legacy.

Transcript

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

Most people don't realize how much of their personal information is being bought and sold every day. Data brokers are making billions, pulling details about you from public records and the Internet, then packaging and selling it, usually without your consent. That's how your information lands in the hands of scammers, spammers, even stalkers. It's why you get endless robocalls and why ads seem to follow you everywhere. That's where Aura comes in. Aura actively removes your data from broker sites and keeps it off. They also instantly alert you if your information shows up in a breach or on the dark web. But Aura goes beyond data protection. With one app, you get a vpn, antivirus, password manager, spam call protection, dark web monitoring, and even up to $5 million in identity theft insurance. All backed by 24, 7 US based fraud support. Other companies might sell just credit monitoring or just a vpn. Aura gives you all of it together at the same price. Competitors charge for just one service. So start your free trial [e-mail] safety. Protect yourself [e-mail] safety.

[Jared Blandino]

It wasn't what I thought it was going to be. And I thought we were gonna get wings and we got weights. I don't know, knowing all that, if I would have made the same choices that I made. Glam Los Angeles.

[Sarah]

Hi, Kirby. Hi, Sarah. Welcome to Los Angeles.

[Kirby]

Does $1.45 billion mean anything to you? Estee Lauder Companies bought too faced in 2016 for this amount, the company's largest acquisition at the time.

[Sarah]

The massive success of Too Faced is a result of co founder and former chief creative officer Jared Blandino. Jared and Jeremy, his co founder and partner left two faced in 2022, but they couldn't leave the industry forever. They're back with three year old brand Polite Society. And today Jared joins us to talk about what really happens when your brand is acquired and shares details he's never shared before about the reality of giving your brand to a conglomerate. And also his regrets.

[Kirby]

Oh my gosh. Almost 600 episodes. Seven years. Jared Blandino. You've never been on Los Angeles. Like I said earlier, it's a hate crime.

[Jared Blandino]

I know it's literally crazy because in my mind I have been.

[Sarah]

Well, yeah, in my mind you've been on many times.

[Jared Blandino]

How did this happen?

[Kirby]

Well, we just talk about you a lot. So you've been here in spirit?

[Jared Blandino]

Listen, I've had things burning on me, ears and otherwise. So I assume someone's been saying something.

[Kirby]

Here's another.

[Sarah]

You've also been very busy, so.

[Kirby]

Yeah, creating another brand Huge brand.

[Jared Blandino]

I know, guys. 24 hours after my non compete ended, I didn't even take a day off.

[Kirby]

Okay, absolutely love to hear some tea like that. Okay, before we get into all of the questions we have for you as a founder, we want to know what are the five most important things you use on a daily basis? And it doesn't have to be beauty related.

[Jared Blandino]

A sound machine. Because I honestly learned that I live on the ocean, actually, believe it or not. But having a consistent sound helps me because I'm not a good sleeper. I'm one of those people who like can fall asleep and then I wake up immediately and that's not a good thing. So let's say sound machine. My diamond drunk jewelry cleaner that I made for myself because I like to sparkle, but I also like to be clean. And I use that religiously every single day. I can't live without it. And the reason I even brought it to the market is because I want it to exist. Sunscreen. And I know there's a lot of controversy about that right now, but I absolutely believe in sunscreen. Especially when you're pale like I am and you know, it's more dangerous. My sister was diagnosed with four stage melanoma. It was like 22 years ago. She's a miracle. But I learned, you know, how dangerous the sun can be. So I'm religious about that. I floss, so I'm going to say my floss. I'm a flosser.

[Kirby]

Do you have a favorite?

[Jared Blandino]

I do. This is so basic, guys. And I've tried everything and it's so gross and basic, but I like the glide.

[Kirby]

Yeah.

[Jared Blandino]

You know, it works. It serves totally. Like sometimes you don't need all the fan. I've done it all.

[Kirby]

It's easy to get.

[Jared Blandino]

It's easy to get it. It totally delivers. And I'm going to say my French rose milk and. Oh, and my new Love it lip balm. Sorry, attitude. But there are two things that give me hydration, give me a glow, give me healthy skin, and. And of course I. This is my love it lip balm that I have right here. And I use it constantly. So the milk.

[Kirby]

Can you describe a little bit more about what that is and why you created it?

[Jared Blandino]

Yeah. Oh, there's other things. Can I. Can I have seven? I. My husband and I, Jeremy. Listen to Jesus calling every single day to get our day started. And we've done it for going on seven years.

[Kirby]

Wow.

[Jared Blandino]

Every single day.

[Kirby]

Why? What got you into that in the first place?

[Jared Blandino]

You know, I learned very Quickly through my life that I can't do this alone, and it's too heavy. And there are moments where I don't even know how I'm going to move to the next moment. And I learned to start just praying, say, like, God, I don't. I don't understand this, but I trust you. Let's just move to the next spot. Like, that's all I have to do is move to the next spot. It's about trust, and it really does help us set ourselves in the right headspace for the day so that I can also be of service to other people and the people who work for me and the people who buy our products and kind of keep my intention always kind of in focus.

[Kirby]

Okay. Love that. That was super deep. Now I'm going to ask you about the rose milk.

[Jared Blandino]

Yes. So French rose milk. So I became obsessed with, like, miss Sprays mist. But, like, five minutes after you put them on, I either felt dry or there was no effect. There was just, like, nothing. And I'm like, I can build a better product. So I went to Korea and really researched what bonds moisture to the skin, what, you know, what ingredients would allow me to get that hit of beautiful hydration, but then get a lasting, beautiful glazed effect. And through, you know, when you break a rose in the milk that comes out of it, nectar throughout. Through reverse engineering that and, you know, pulling out ingredients and biofermentary peptides, we were able to create this beautiful mist that smells like heaven but glazes your face. Almost like you've dipped your face in liquid cellophane gives you a beautiful look all day long. And. And I get compliments on my skin all the time. And that's why.

[Sarah]

Wow.

[Jared Blandino]

Yeah.

[Sarah]

Amazing. Okay, we need to start doing that.

[Jared Blandino]

You need to use French cellophane.

[Sarah]

Yes, please.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

Yes.

[Sarah]

Okay. So we mentioned. Obviously, we've been wanting to have you on for a very long time, but I feel like right now is truly the perfect time. When this news came out, Kirby and I were like, we have to have Jared. We've been wanting to have Jared on, but Jared needs to come on now.

[Jared Blandino]

Yeah.

[Sarah]

So last week, it was announced that Estee Lauder companies would not be selling too faced and instead skimming down the brand and moving it to New York out of its Orange county headquarters, which, by the way, the most fabulous headquarters of any beauty company ever.

[Jared Blandino]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

Amazing.

[Sarah]

I remember the first time we went,

[Kirby]

we were, like, running around like candy shops.

[Sarah]

Yeah. Is this literally a Candyland?

[Kirby]

Your office was to die for.

[Jared Blandino]

Thank you. I honestly Believe your surroundings have such a massive effect on you and your team. And to embody the heartbeat of the brand is so important. So thank you for saying that. I so appreciate that.

[Sarah]

Yeah, it's incredible. So after the news came out, you posted a video sharing your thoughts. Tell us how you're feeling about the situation, guys.

[Jared Blandino]

So thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here because I haven't honestly talked about this with anyone. Family and friends, of course. But I'm heartbroken. And I'm heartbroken for many reasons. But the most painful part is the incredible people who most of them, or a lot of them, let's say I raised, I worked with and brought up. And to think that in the most I have to find my words, callous, casual way have been minimized and made to believe they are disposable or replaceable and the exact opposite. Truth exists, is real. It really bothers me. And the entire journey of selling to 2. Sorry, selling 2 face to Estee Lauder did not turn it all out like I thought it would. And listen, this is emotional and it's difficult for me to talk. So you'll notice I can talk really well. But when I talk about things that are like, hurtful, I might not be as eloquent but partly responsible for the outcome because had I known, I probably wouldn't have done it. Even though I'm so grateful it happened and it changed my life. And we sold for a record amount. And that all exists. And it's all such a blessing. I don't know, knowing all that, if I would have made the same choices that I made.

[Sarah]

Wow. Okay.

[Jared Blandino]

I don't know.

[Sarah]

So when we had Janine Lobel on who she's from, Yep, she's old Stila. She told us that when she made the decision to sell, it was like not an emotional choice anymore because she was like, it's done. What's done is done. How? Yeah, how? Okay, how different.

[Jared Blandino]

You're going to get me in trouble.

[Kirby]

Okay.

[Sarah]

How different is your situation?

[Jared Blandino]

My situation is different. I have a husband who is a. Is a business genius. And throughout the 24 and a half years, I had two faced. We sold pieces of it four times over. That journey, which is unheard of and it's studied in private equity rooms across the world. He's a genius. But through those different sales, we got into bed with financial people. A year before we sold, we were courted by Estee Lauder and we went through the process and in a very heated, traumatic moment, I storm out of a Conference room and say, this is not going to happen. And I killed the deal. It was over the way somebody was disrespectfully speaking to somebody on my team. And I won't have that. I have, you know, we all have lines we won't cross and I will not have that. So kill the deal. Get into bed with another financial institution, private equity group, which we were very excited about. And we love the help. I love to learn, I love somebody always brings something new and leveling up, you know, to the point we essentially, there was a deal made without us being involved that had we not gone through with it, would have, could have and would have been devastating to the brand and to me and my family. So let's say reluctantly and with a lot of prayer, we, we followed it.

[Kirby]

Okay, so there was an impetus to this acquisition.

[Jared Blandino]

I got a call on a Sunday that this was being done. And if I don't go along with it and Jeremy and I don't go along with it, it will not be a comfortable situation.

[Kirby]

Interesting. Because the headlines around that acquisition, again, at the time the largest acquisition of her.

[Jared Blandino]

Because I've never told the story and I don't know if I'm even supposed to tell this story, so I'm nervous.

[Kirby]

But it's really interesting though, because so much fanfare around that.

[Jared Blandino]

Yeah. And by the way, I have to tell you, I was thrilled once I leaned into it and you know, I remember I was talking to my dad on the phone at like 10:30 at night and it was going to be released at midnight and we were still in this thing. And I, and I do believe, like God has a plan and it was all meant to happen this way and I'm grateful for it. So please hear that. I'm not like, I'm so grateful that it happened, but it didn't happen the way you thought and I didn't want. That wasn't my plan, Jeremy. I thought I would do 2Face forever. Forever.

[Kirby]

Oh, okay. This is, this makes more sense, at least to me, because we were telling your team earlier that you were one of the only founders who has had their brand acquired, who has really spoken out in a way that's never been negative or derogatory towards the larger company. Right. You know, you've talked about your love for Leonard Lauder.

[Jared Blandino]

Yes.

[Kirby]

But you also haven't been silent. And initially when you left, you know, two faced, you made a video and you were like, things were not what I thought they were. Which anybody that can read between the lines, especially in this Industry was like, huh. Okay. I think there's more to this story. So now I feel like you're telling a little bit more of this story and how this all transpired.

[Jared Blandino]

Yes.

[Kirby]

Wow.

[Jared Blandino]

So, yes, that happened. And for, like a year, it was great. And I remember I was communicating with Bobby Brown and she said, how's it going? And I'm like, it's great. And I remember her reaction to that, like, really? And I felt those little hairs, you know? And I thought, yeah, like, what does she know that I don't know? And very quickly, a wave of influencing the battle for control began.

[Kirby]

I wanted to ask you about the person that was talking to your employee that you didn't approve of the way that they were speaking. Oh, do you feel like that was a red flag?

[Jared Blandino]

Yes.

[Kirby]

Okay.

[Jared Blandino]

So we built two Faced. My last job was at the mall. Let's just say that I do not come from Fifth Avenue. I do not come from a corporate environment. We are like a garage band who ended out selling out stadiums and traveling the world. So that's who we are. And that's where our magic is, too. Faced was created out of a pure joy of artistic passion and the love and desire to elevate and inspire and instill self esteem into women. So I accidentally fell into the cosmetics department, worked my. I had one and only job at Estee Lauder and loved it. And they. And the ability to be someone's gay best friend for five minutes and give them the perfect foundation to be like, girl, who told you to do that with your blush? Get over here. And in a loving way, empower them. But people were taking makeup way too seriously in the late 90s, and I was like, why? This is so much more fun to be a girl. What do you do? Like, come on. So I kind of created glitter eyeshadow behind the counter and set off to. With. With complete naivety and. And. And just being so unaware of the rule.

[Kirby]

The rules of the world.

[Jared Blandino]

Jeremy and I created two Faced. And the rest is history, kind of.

[Kirby]

So that moment with the basis, the

[Jared Blandino]

heartbeat of the brand is empowerment, love. Reflecting God's light through the vehicle of beauty and celebrating you through the. Through the way you look at yourself on the outside and how that affects your inside. So when I'm in a conference room with a bunch of suits who I don't trust or appreciate, and one of them leans across the table and almost in the most aggressive way is screaming at someone who works for me in the Italian, rebellious, fuck you, gene pool that is running through this Body. My chair hit, you know, I stood up, the chair hit the wall, and I said, I don't care who the fuck you are, who you think you are. Get out. You'll never speak to me or anyone in my team like that or in the world. Guys, get them out. And so I storm out, and the whole room goes silent. There's like 50 people in this conference room. And 20 minutes later, Jeremy comes in. He goes, honey, like, are you coming back? I go, am I coming back? Get them out. You know, like, get them out. Listen, it was one person. There were a lot of lovely, wonderful people there. Please, just. This is just my story. And so I said, no, we're going to do this. We're going to do this on our own. But to elevate, we need help. Because, you know, Jeremy and I don't come from a corporate background, and every so often we bring help in, and we would learn a lot, and there were opportunities. It was like, how are we going to level up? Well, that didn't end up happening, right? And so a year later, they honestly, they paid over double for it.

[Sarah]

Did you think that this is where it was going to be? Years later? Like, back then, were you, like, it's going to be okay. They are trust.

[Jared Blandino]

I had to trust.

[Sarah]

I trust that they are going to do what's best for the brand. And they gave you these maybe false promises or at the time, this is what they told you.

[Jared Blandino]

Lauder didn't give me false promises. The people who are going to make a lot of money with us, it was so what I know now. I know that I had more choices than I had then. I didn't know that at the time. We did our best with what we had at the time. Again, it was a number that blew my mind, and there was a lot going on, but I honestly did believe we were going to get all of this amazing help and energy again. Wings to fly us into the. You know, up to the moon. And two of us will be around forever. And it's. I'm going to be, you know, I'm going to be able to go into more countries. And I was. I was excited about that.

[Kirby]

I have to ask. This.

[Sarah]

This is.

[Kirby]

And maybe you've seen this on social media, okay? You've sold the brand. You've moved on. Do you believe in what now some people deem the Estee Lauder curse or the acquisition affliction.

[Jared Blandino]

Okay. I want to tell you the truth, okay. And I want you to know that the Estee Lauder family are incredible Wonderful people. And Leonard Lauderdale was a gift to this world and one of the best people I ever met. The smart one of the smartest human beings, kindest, the whole family. There is a culture within that corporation that is not led by the Lauder family, that is threatened, in my opinion, by the artistic process. Artists, artists who have control. The heartbeat, the love, the passion for the product and the efficacy for that product and the way it makes someone feel when they hold it, when or when it, when they apply it, and the emotional element of that. There's a layer that I believe is not only threatened by that doesn't understand it or respect it. It was so painful for me because I lead with the artistic part first. I lead with the artists and the creative people. And whether you're a receptionist or you're, you know, you're an artist in the field or I don't care, I'm like,

[Sarah]

what do you think?

[Jared Blandino]

Do you like it? You know, what should we do? And everyone has a voice. It starts from love, it starts from creativity, it starts from passion. It starts. And then you have to figure out how you can afford to sell it. There was brought in something called value engineering and, and all of this bullshit that is anti productive to the creative process into the ultimate products that are developed. That I had creative control, which is rare and most people don't get. That's my husband again. So I wasn't behaving. And so when someone told me you can't do that or you can't make any more of those products and whatever that is, I had the ability to say that then we won't launch it at all. Or I can see that threatening, you know, because I'm not behaving, I'm not giving in or giving up. I fought for the customer, for the product, for the, for my team, for the heartbeat, for the brand to be the best it could possibly be and to be everything that you ever dreamt it to be. So when you spend your hard earned money on it and you take it home, it delivers on its promises and you feel great about it in it and it makes you feel something.

[Kirby]

So then if a brand founder comes to you and says, hey, we're in the market, we're looking to be acquired. Do you think there is an Estee Lauder curse? Is there a l' Oreal curse? Is there a conglomerate curse? This, this acquisition affliction, where you are, your great brand gets scooped up and then in a couple years time, I

[Jared Blandino]

think it would be a great thing if corporations and cosmetic Giants took a step back and respected the brands that they're hungry for, saw what makes them special, looked at the heartbeat and said, how can we continue that heartbeat and spread it around the world and not diminish it and force it into our arrogant idea of what a company could and should be, but learn from the rebellious creativity and innovation that these young people, these rebels, have created? Maybe there's something we can learn from that, but that can be threatening to people who don't, like artists do not hold value.

[Kirby]

Looking at P L's.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

Because for them, it's like profit, loss, that's all they really care about.

[Jared Blandino]

There's an element of, I own you now. I'm going to tell you what to do. And like, you don't fucking know me. You didn't buy me, you bought a pantone and a logo. Sit the fuck down. Do you know what I mean? There's an element of that and that's what a founder feels. I don't care. Unless she builds it to sell it. Maybe there's something else there. But if you're a passionate founder who loves your brand and has been blessed enough to be acquired and change your life and change your family, and if you want to stay, which I did, it should be more of the good. Obviously. You have to learn, you have to adapt. I'm not like Pollyanna here, but you shouldn't go after the heartbeat of the brand. And I became a threat to some people there and it became more.

[Sarah]

Yeah, but I think too, like, as a consumer and fan of a brand, you can tell quickly when the heartbeat is gone and dead.

[Jared Blandino]

Yes. And that's why polite society is so important, because I couldn't let that be my last chapter. I was in such a dark place at the end of that. I was waking up at like 4am Clutching my heart, like I. It was a physical, painful, ultimate ending that I am grateful for because it lit a fire under my ass and made me want to do this again. Bring back that everyday glamor, that rebellious creativity, the love for the product and the people wearing it, and give them a home and a space and build a world where they can exist and be free and celebrate the joy of getting ready every day.

[Kirby]

We joked on this podcast, like, why do founders not go off to an island and just be.

[Jared Blandino]

I never wanted the island, so I loved what I did. I was so grateful every day that I had this life and I got to affect people all over the world and build products with the most incredible, amazing people that would ultimately spread the love we have for them through the world. We're in a place where everyone's looking for the worst in each other and we're all looking for what divides us. Polite society, two faced. We're homes for people who want to look for the best in each other, who understand that more unites us than separates us. And maybe some of those things that make us different are kind of cool if you let them be or, you know, you look at them a different way or I just think that, you know, people think that beauty can be just this frivolous thing and it's the furthest thing from it because it's the thing that touches your skin. It's the thing that helps you express how you feel on the inside and the outside. It's a part of your soul, your self expression, the way you view yourself in the mirror. And for me, it was a privilege and an honor to do it and I loved it and so I had to continue.

[Sarah]

Do you have any friends, founders that have sold their brands who have had the opposite experience that you have or are happy with how things are?

[Jared Blandino]

Not on my level?

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

Yeah.

[Jared Blandino]

And that has a lot to do with it. Guys. Like when we created Too Faced, I. I would have never believed in a billion years. You said it would sell for one and a half billion dollars. That wasn't the goal. I'm not motivated by money. Say that sitting in Chanel. That's a joke. I get it. But what I mean is money does not motivate me. It is not a motivator. I honestly stay away from it. And maybe that's part of my problem because I'll spend money and just, I don't, I don't know how much things, you know, I don't want to know how much money I have. I don't want to how much we're making. Like, I have to sit within the art space because I learned years ago who and what do I bring to the table in this beauty world. I have to think of myself as a rebellious, creative artist and a gay best friend. That is my lane. You know, I'm not the makeup artist who's going to do the Academy. Right. I could have and tried, but I would get really frustrated when I was doing something I loved or creative and the client was like, my brows are too dark or my lip is. I'm like, you look amazing. Shut up. Just shut up and be amazing. You know, So I was like, that's not my life. Yeah, I'm not good in a service oriented environment. So I like, what could I bring to the table? Oh, I could dream up products that have never been there. You know, when the peach palette happened, we were talking about the peach party. I had created a little nine well palette. And I remember this song in my head when I was a kid during the summers, and it was like, summer, summer, peach. It wouldn't be summer. And it was all about, like, fruits. And it was a grocery store commercial. And I remember looking at these peaches when I was a kid. I'm like, ooh, they're, like, pink and they're burgundy, and they're orange and they're yellow, and peaches are so pretty. And I just got this idea in my head, I'm going to make a palette based on that peach. And it was little, and I'm like, oh, I want it to smell. It should smell, you know? And I had this whole idea. I go in and I'm presenting it to my team, and people are like, whispering. They're like, no one's gonna want to, like, have their eyeshadow smell. No one's gonna want to look like that peach isn't. And everyone's, like, doubting me. And I was like, oh, no. Like, you don't always have to get or believe in the idea, but you have to believe in me. So now it's gonna be 18 colors. I'm gonna make it bigger. And those are blessings because I need something to push up against sometimes. And it became one of the, like, best selling makeup items in the world.

[Kirby]

Yeah.

[Sarah]

Yeah. My favorite. My favorite eyeshadow palette.

[Kirby]

Ever have our originals we do in our little makeup library.

[Jared Blandino]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

We can't get rid of stuff like that.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

Yeah.

[Sarah]

Still smells delicious.

[Kirby]

Okay. Jared, I. I'm really fascinated about life after acquisition.

[Jared Blandino]

Okay.

[Kirby]

Like, I talk to Sarah about this stuff all the time.

[Jared Blandino]

I'm like, let's talk.

[Kirby]

They just wake up and like, yeah, things have changed. Their life is completely changed. I am fascinated by, like, the, you know, anthropology of that. So let's go inside. The actual handoff. You sign the deal.

[Jared Blandino]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

Money exchanges hands. The brand has a new owner. What happens the next day? I don't want to hear about the emotional stuff because we've been through that. I want to know logistically, like, are you given a therapist?

[Jared Blandino]

No.

[Kirby]

Money manager.

[Jared Blandino]

We did nothing. And throughout Jeremy's and my career, when really large, life changing things had happened, we went in it in a quiet way and didn't do anything. We didn't talk about it. It's this weird understanding we had of sit Quietly. And let's figure out what this means, because again, understand, when the big. When the billion and a half dollar deal happened, there was a lot of uncomfortableness, there was a lot of fear, there was a lot of pain behind it, and also a lot of excitement and opportunity. So there was this kind of like, am I happy, Am I scared, am I sad, am I thrilled? Like, you know what I mean? What does it mean? What does that, What. What's that kind of money mean? That was never my goal. And so we sat quietly and then the next thing I did for Christmas was buy everyone in my family a house.

[Kirby]

Yes, that's the right way to do

[Jared Blandino]

this and decorate it. I asked them during this time, if you could live anywhere, where would you live? Hey, I did a casual, silly. What would it look like? What would you like? What decor would you want? And I set about buying, remodeling and decorating houses for my whole family.

[Sarah]

Oh, my gosh, love. That's what I think. That's right.

[Jared Blandino]

We did. That's what we did.

[Kirby]

That's. That's how you do this, right? In my opinion, Take care of your people.

[Jared Blandino]

Honestly, for me, like, being an Italian kid, my dad was first generation. He just passed away three years ago. And he's. He's like a driving force in me. Like, family is everything. And if you can't share it, if you can't make someone else's life better through it, it's meaningless. I know billionaires who are miserable, miserable, you know, And I learned this from some of my friends. Madonna is one of my dearest friends. And what she's done with her service to AIDS activism, Malawi and orphans, and what she's been able to do with her success and not just internalize it. Not just, oh, she has a beautiful life. I do too. But what are you going to do with it that will make this world, other people, happier, healthier, safer, better. Money is just options, honey. And it's a magnifying glass. Money will magnify cruel, mean, selfish people or magnified, loving, generous, happy. You know, it's a magnifying glass and it allows you for opportunity. That is it. Better doctors, better zip codes. That's what is. That's money. Right? It's not going to make you happy. It sounds so corny, but you only stare that reality in the face when you're sitting in it and you're like, there are misery. It doesn't stop you from feeling sad, lonely. It creates other issues that are. Not everyone's happy for you. And you Think all your friends are going to be thrilled and happy for you? Maybe they're not. And, you know, it's. It's a trip. It's just a trip. And it, like, I just think, like, every phase of life, from not having money to having money and everything in between, there's lessons that you just learn and navigate through to realize people are the most important thing.

[Kirby]

Wait, can I ask a Madonna question?

[Sarah]

Yes. By the way, she looked.

[Kirby]

Well, actually.

[Sarah]

Good.

[Kirby]

Yeah, she looks amazing. And it's not even a question. I went to her tour two, three years ago, and I picked up both of the glosses. Oh, yeah. I created her.

[Jared Blandino]

So we were sitting on her sofa eating popcorn, and she was telling me about the tour, and it was the first tour she did that. She did Greatest Hits. She had never done that before. And we were like, yes, we've all been wanting it forever. So I'm like, ooh, girl, you need to bring that red lip back from Blonde Ambition. Oh, you need to bring that highlight. And I was telling her, like, different periods of her life and what she should bring back and the looks and the makeup, and she goes, you do it. And I was like, really? Okay. So we, together, we created this line, this makeup line for her tour. So, yeah, thank you for saying that. And you know when you buy something at a concert and they don't give you a bag, So I created these crucifix boxes, necklaces that held the lip plumper and the lipstick that you could wear.

[Kirby]

So I have them.

[Jared Blandino]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

And literally I was wearing them at the concert.

[Jared Blandino]

Yeah, you have to hold it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But she's amazing.

[Kirby]

Dancing to Borderline with my.

[Jared Blandino]

I know. Living. Living the whole fantasy, honey. I know.

[Kirby]

So good.

[Sarah]

So freaking incredible. So I asked about, you know, if you have any founder friends who you communicate with, but are there any newly acquired brand founders that you have spoken with, with, that have offered advice, sort of maybe like how Bobby Brown did for you?

[Jared Blandino]

No, no. And I would be happy to.

[Sarah]

What advice would you give them if they were to come to you?

[Jared Blandino]

I would say, don't say if you don't have control and you. Or you don't have a really planned out purpose and like, vision for the brand. You know, Bobby Brown told me, like, don't look back, it's going to be painful. They're going to do things you would never do. And. And the. Some things that I saw that were incredibly frustrating for me. And so I learned that's. That's something. Don't look back. Like you have to release it with love and move forward. And also get great lawyers, great lawyers and insulate your vision for the, for the transaction and protect you and the brand in the best way you can. If that is your goal.

[Kirby]

Is there anything that you wouldn't have done after that? You saw 2 face do after you left?

[Jared Blandino]

Oh, there's too many. And I don't say that in a shitty way. I say that in a way that it actually angers me because I left a lot of people there. I raised a lot of them. They knew better. They knew what was right for the brand. It isn't about me. It's not about my vision. It's not about I'm right. It is not. The brand has a heartbeat. It's alive. It was. And there were things I left. I left a bible of do nots and, and can you give us a do not, do not change the pantom. Don't change the logo. Don't feed into the idea that you're. You're for 12 year olds because I know the corporate machine might see you that way. Keep the integrity into the product, into the packaging. Stay on course. And there was just a list and very quickly popcorn and purple cloud showed up at a red logo and. But it's okay. But it's kind of like your kid get marries someone that you end up not liking and he cuts her hair and he changes her clothes and starts talking different. You're just like what happened to my baby? But also you don't. Your baby's an adult and your baby left. So there's a part of just having to just deal with it and move on. But some of the people that knew better and created this environment with some people that I were, the people that I love and honor and respect are now left sheltering and shouldering the majority of the disappointment and pain and those people knew better.

[Sarah]

Can I ask how long your non compete was?

[Jared Blandino]

Five years.

[Sarah]

Okay. And during that period were you already dreaming up polite society or were you even allowed to be dreaming up polite society?

[Jared Blandino]

I could do anything I want. First of all in my brain.

[Kirby]

Yeah. We've learned.

[Sarah]

Could you have like if you hired anyone to help you.

[Jared Blandino]

I didn't do a thing until midnight on June was it 30th, it was over. And so the very next day began the pulling the things out of my head into reality.

[Sarah]

Okay.

[Jared Blandino]

So no, I could not do anything, talk to anyone. Was I dreaming? Were the last two years so frustrating and so, so just creatively frustrating and you know, fueled by hurt and Disappointment that I began to dream of a world that would allow people like me and the people who grew up with us and the people who love a little bit of glamor for every day that relax California luxury, love getting, you know, like standing out a little more than their friends and just like being just a little bit extra but with formulas that deliver on their promises and packaging. That is inspiring. Yes, I did started when I couldn't do it, when I was told you can't do that, no more of that. Even though I had the best selling, one of the best selling products in the world, you can't make any more of those because some lawyer decided it fueled that, that need to express myself through creativity and through hopefully the goal of empowering and enlightening the world and people to feel their best selves and with the absolute best products I can create.

[Kirby]

So you've talked about the evolution of yourself as a founder. You leave and then you come up with all these ideas of like what you want to do next.

[Jared Blandino]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

And it's color cosmetics.

[Jared Blandino]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

So how do you ensure this is not just too faced 2.0?

[Jared Blandino]

So that's a very interesting question. For the first year of development, in the first year in the marketplace, I was kind of running from myself because I was told by people who love me, by friends, by people in the industry, people who care, people who, who have a stake, don't be too two faced, don't make it to two faced. And I was very two faced is me, by the way. So the funny thing about it is it's me and my, my perspective of the world. I want you to look your best, I want you to be the sexiest version. I want you to get the job you want and dump the loser boyfriend that doesn't deserve you. That's my perspective. And so I was kind of running from myself. But as two faced became less and less and less me when they started doing things that I would never do and it stopped being the version of me that it was, it freed me up to be more of myself. And when that happens and you get to step into yourself and stop being afraid of yourself and say if I were going to do this today, if I were going to build two faced today, what would it look like? It would not look like that. What would it look like? And you're seeing that develop in polite society and, and you're going to see more embellishment, you're going to see a little more creativity, a little more fun, a little more flair, a little more glam. That's my perspective. I wear diamonds to breakfast. I'm like, I don't care. I like to celebrate life. I want to feel my best. I want to be a little extra. And you're going to start seeing that show up. And our new mascara Misbehave is a perfect example of that. And also, what didn't I do then? How can I make this experience better? I had the number one selling mascara in the world. How can I elevate? I know how to create a mascara. I know, right? But in a clean, modern way. How do I make the most thick, voluminous mascara possible? I was eating Cheetos, and there were cheese puffs there. Why? Actually, let's. Let's be real. I wasn't eating them, but we were at work at an office party, and there were bowls of them. And I saw the Cheetos being dense and thick. And then I saw the cheese puffs being big and puffy even. They were the same thing, but one was puffy. So I went about trying to create a pigment that would puff so you could get the volume and the thickness without the weight. Okay, great. We're working on that. How could I make the experience of applying mascara better? I wrapped a tube of. A basic tube of mascara in clay. I crunched it with my fingers to get the best position, the best contour of control. Then I went about designing a brush that had different bristles on the top, bottom, and center so I could control the load, the pull through the volume. And so in the new mascara, it is held a certain way. It's contoured to your thumb. You hold it in a certain way. I can control quicker load, cleaner lashes, and f build through the science and innovation of just taking it a step further.

[Kirby]

I haven't tried it yet, but I'm

[Jared Blandino]

a master, so it's here. So if you see, there's also a little gold ring in the center.

[Kirby]

Yes.

[Jared Blandino]

My grandmother, my blessed grandmother, who's so chic and fabulous, and she would take me to Rodeo Drive, and my first wallet was from Gucci. She was glam. And I had another scrappy Italian side, so. So I got these two sides. But she was always so just lovely and beautiful. And she always wore silk blouses and she wore a Tiffany bone cuff. And I love her, and I get so much of my appreciate. Appreciation for style and femininity women from her. And that is a nod to my grandmother. It's a version of my brain, of. Of her bracelet.

[Kirby]

And it's ergonomic.

[Jared Blandino]

And the ring Is not, but the handle is. Do you see how there's, like a gold ring in the center?

[Kirby]

Yes.

[Jared Blandino]

That's nod to my grandmother to classic glamour. And then see, the handle perfectly molds to your thumb. And now I can control what bristles are where. Because in a round mascara, I can't control. They have to be the same all the way around.

[Kirby]

Oh, my gosh. I can't wait to try this. I know.

[Sarah]

I can't wait.

[Jared Blandino]

Faster volume, thick, crazy, lush lashes. It's like sex in a tube.

[Kirby]

Sex.

[Sarah]

Better than sex in a tube.

[Kirby]

Better than sex in a tube.

[Jared Blandino]

Oh, did I say that?

[Kirby]

Oh, no, we said that.

[Jared Blandino]

That's Freudian.

[Sarah]

We said that.

[Jared Blandino]

Sorry.

[Sarah]

Yeah, Sarah said it, I said it.

[Kirby]

Way to go.

[Sarah]

Come after me.

[Jared Blandino]

Oh, no.

[Sarah]

I can't wait to see the before and afters. Speaking of. Yes, Jared, you have said that every product needs a tik tok.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

Wow.

[Jared Blandino]

Yeah.

[Sarah]

So how much does the ability to create this dramatic before and after influence what actually gets developed?

[Jared Blandino]

It has everything to do with it. Because you need to see a demonstrative before and after. Now it is the road that I and others help pave in the cosmetic world is the same road. It's just so much more crowded now. So how do you break through the noise? You have less time to hook someone, inspire them, to get them excited. Things must react quick. So like my rose milk. Bam. You get a glazed face. My highlighter that has no glitter, no frost. It's like a light sponge. Bam. You see it immediately. The lashes. Our lip plumper, which is our number one selling product. The number one lip plumper at Ulta. Hey, Big mouth. Big mouth xl. Number one lips like that. Bam. Faster.

[Kirby]

Do not kiss your baby.

[Jared Blandino]

No, don't kiss your baby with it, honey or a dog. Go ahead, kiss your man. That's fine.

[Kirby]

Kiss your man.

[Jared Blandino]

Like it.

[Kirby]

Set him on fire.

[Jared Blandino]

Set him on fire. But it is about quicker, faster results. Products that deliver on their promises with efficacious, clean ingredients that deliver on their promises on a level that you're never even going to expect them to. That's polite society.

[Kirby]

Okay. I think.

[Sarah]

I think we should go into this rapid fire.

[Kirby]

I agree. Yeah. This has been such a fun combo, unfortunately.

[Jared Blandino]

I want to thank you for the opportunity to talk to you. You are the most incredible women who have done the most incredible thing with this podcast. Congratulations.

[Kirby]

Thank you.

[Jared Blandino]

It's not easy. And you just such positive, wonderful lights in this world. And I appreciate you and thank you for letting me be here.

[Kirby]

We appreciate you. Thank you. For coming on Long overdue, our friend.

[Sarah]

And thank you for all the gifts that you have given us over the years.

[Jared Blandino]

Yeah, my pleasure.

[Kirby]

Okay, let's do this rapid fire. Okay. You can also plead the fifth on some of these. I got a little spicy. I got a little spicy.

[Jared Blandino]

I'm getting nervous. Okay. Okay.

[Kirby]

Jared, how much money do you actually see from a $1.45 billion acquisition?

[Jared Blandino]

A lot.

[Kirby]

Okay.

[Sarah]

The fact that he was able to buy his whole family houses and decorate

[Jared Blandino]

them, and it's generational wealth that I want to make sure lasts for generations and does good for a lot of people. And I have causes that are near and dear to my heart, and I. I want to make this world a better place.

[Sarah]

What's one thing you can never do again? Once you sell a brand for that

[Jared Blandino]

much money, what's the one thing you can never do again? Not have people Google how much money you have. Having neighbors come up, having people talk about it. It's not only kind of, like, embarrassing, but it's dangerous.

[Kirby]

Did Too Faced create glitter eyeshadow?

[Jared Blandino]

I did. I am too faced. So say what you want to say. I don't care how you define that.

[Kirby]

I'm asking because Aaron Parsons, I'm sure you maybe have seen a video.

[Jared Blandino]

No.

[Kirby]

Oh, okay. The claim is, is that there was another brand that created glitter eyeshadow before Too Faced.

[Jared Blandino]

Well, guys, listen. In a world where creativity popping, just because I. I never saw it, and I chopped glitter into it, and. And I thought, I. I don't have proof. I don't know. Who's Aaron Parsons? I mean, it's possible.

[Kirby]

She is an amazing makeup artist. I think you would love her.

[Sarah]

Historian.

[Jared Blandino]

Like, I don't know, like, again, my last job was at the mall. I'd never seen it. Yeah, it came from. There was a club in Hollywood called Club 70s 1970s. And I got this black shirt at Aardvarks on Melrose and had silver thread running through it. And so when I was in the lab creating our first collection, I said, oh, can we make a shadow like this? And the lab studies lady said, no, you can't. And across the department, across the lab were there were jars of glitter, because that's where they did lip gloss. And I went over and I grabbed a big jar of silver glitter and I brought it back, and I go, can't you put this in the black matte shadow? And she said, no. And I said, why? And it was something about binders. And I said, put more binder in it. And so, like, three tries it worked.

[Kirby]

I can't remember what, who it was, who she said it was, like which brand. But she's a historian.

[Jared Blandino]

I don't think there was a brand in retail that had it because otherwise

[Sarah]

you would have have known or purchased it.

[Jared Blandino]

I do. I did this in 97.

[Kirby]

Okay.

[Jared Blandino]

Okay, so. But if there is, I relinquished the crown and bravo. Like I don't have proof of that.

[Sarah]

We'll have to, we'll have to follow up. We'll have to follow up. Let me know.

[Jared Blandino]

Let me know if I've been a fraud.

[Sarah]

No, you're not a friend. Okay. What is something founders need to stop doing, in your opinion?

[Jared Blandino]

Talking about other people's products in a negative way. You don't need to pull somebody down to lift yourself up. No one needs to lose for you to win. Be a fan of other brands. I saw recently another brand who's going to be launching a product comparing her new product to other people's best selling products. You don't need to do that. All you do is you're opening yourself up for direct comparison. And obviously more people like that than like yours. That's just not smart. But it's not the right way to approach this industry, this world. Again, let's lift each other up. Love each other. You know, when there was an artist who maybe copied another artist and there was a bit of controversy recently, I don't think that founder meant to copy necessarily something that inspired him. But you have to be so careful of giving credit to the people who deserve the credit and simply just saying this I saw over here and it delighted and it excited me and this is my twist on it. Pull each other up. Give her or him an opportunity to have their name said in a room of people who would never heard their name. It doesn't diminish you or what you created. It's my spin on what I saw and what I created. But isn't that wonderful? And I kind of made it easier to achieve or whatever. That's all you have to do.

[Kirby]

Okay. Alternatively, what do conglomerates need to stop doing?

[Jared Blandino]

Killing the heartbeats of the brand and over dominating the people they acquire as though they're threats and that their artists, artists must disrupt the piece. That's why they're here. That's why they're successful. If you could do what they did, you wouldn't be spending a billion and a half dollars on their shit. So respect it, appreciate it, protect it and love it.

[Sarah]

If you could own any other brand besides your own, what would it be?

[Jared Blandino]

If I Can own any other brand. What I want to own. I don't want to own any other brand. But I'm a huge fan of so, so many. And I love that there is a lot of opportunity for new brands. But what I don't love is how quickly they are edited and killed, which thus requires huge amounts of money to launch a brand. Because what I achieved in 10 years, I had to achie and two with polite society because the world won't wait. And so I think we have to allow for space of growth for a creative, amazing young people to create brands that are going to take five years to pop, protect and incubate them and give them space to do so. Because although there's more room for more people now because it's like more is more. There's. It's harder to do on a budget.

[Kirby]

Okay, can you name a brand or two that you love and want to uplift right now?

[Jared Blandino]

Oh, my gosh. There's so many. Oh, my gosh. Now you're putting me on the spot

[Kirby]

as our, like, makeup forefather. Like, listen, I don't want to hurt

[Jared Blandino]

anyone's feelings by not mentioning them, but I want to say, I see you, I believe in you. Goliath does not. More than Davey. Does not know more than Davey. Fifth Avenue addresses and pedigrees and big, huge resumes cannot overpower or replace your artistic vision. Stay true to your vision. It cannot all be about making money. It has to be about how can I improve the world, improve her life, his life. How can I make the world better, prettier, more colorful? Money will come. Stay true to that vision. Stay true to the purpose, why you're doing it. And don't believe the lie of you can't. It's too impossible. I broke the odds. I'm here to tell you you can break the odds. Odds aren't for you. They're for other people. You be the one who makes it through and get it done.

[Kirby]

Why don't you want to say a name of another brand?

[Jared Blandino]

I will. Okay. I will.

[Kirby]

Okay.

[Jared Blandino]

Okay. Do you want me to.

[Kirby]

Yeah, just go.

[Jared Blandino]

I just. Because for me, sometimes this will come back at me like, okay, okay. I think merit is a fabulous reinterpretation of an authentic human being. And look and category that I think is so fresh. I think medicine by Dr. Diamond is creative and efficacious and kind of cool in this weird way. Their packaging is cool and weird. There are. There literally are so many that I would never want anyone to feel bad that I didn't mention you or I don't support you, I don't love you, or I don't see you.

[Kirby]

I don't think anybody thinks that. That's just like brands that you are a fan of.

[Jared Blandino]

Okay, fine.

[Sarah]

Love that.

[Kirby]

Love that. Okay, this is the last one. This is like, just personal for me. Like, I want to be as fabulous as you when I go to somebody's home. What's the best gift to give a host or hostess?

[Jared Blandino]

Oh, okay, two things. Diamond drunk. Because everyone needs it and they all need it on their counter and they all have. If they have fabulous jewelry. I love a great candle that you have fallen in love with that you use in your own home. Like a kind of a piece of you. It's an easy way that, that someone can easily use or something edible from either your culture or brand you love. Like if I'm Italian, I love a certain pasta or a certain. Certain tomato sauce or a certain salt. I think that's a really fun gift, especially for someone who's got a lot and they don't need, you know, another. Bringing flowers makes them feel like they have to display. Bringing wine or champagne, they have to serve it. Give them something that's kind of for them to discover and that it's for them to.

[Sarah]

Yeah, for them. Yeah. I love.

[Kirby]

Awesome. Jared, thank you.

[Sarah]

We love you so much.

[Kirby]

You're the absolute best. We really appreciate you coming on and just sharing your story with us.

[Jared Blandino]

Thank you so much. This was fun. Let's do it again.

[Sarah]

Come back when the book is out.

[Jared Blandino]

Let's don't wait 600 episodes, okay?

[Sarah]

No, please, no.

[Kirby]

We're not doing that. We're not waiting that long again.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

Now is your time to get into a new Dr. Horton home by taking advantage of its national red tag sales event going on right now through Sunday, August 2nd. Stop by any of its participating communities and find select red tag homes at incredible pricing. So whether you're buying your first home or looking for an upgrade, you don't want to miss the red tag sales event going on right now. Discover the Dr. Horton Difference at drhorton.com America's Builder and Equal housing opportunity builder.