Family, Finances & Football ft. TJ Earle

Summary

Podcast Title: Hot Mess with Alix Earle
Episode: Family, Finances & Football ft. TJ Earle
Release Date: December 5, 2024
Host/Author: Unwell

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Introduction

In this episode of Hot Mess with Alix Earle, Alix and her sister Isabelle take listeners on an intimate journey through their family dynamics, financial management, and the chaos of coordinating a Thanksgiving trip to a Packers versus Dolphins football game in snowy Wisconsin. Joined by their father, TJ Earle, and a special appearance by their grandmother, the episode delves deep into the intricacies of balancing family business responsibilities with personal lives and social media fame.

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Family Trip to Wisconsin: Togetherness and Traditions

Alix begins by sharing the excitement of organizing a family trip to Green Bay, Wisconsin, for the Thanksgiving football game. She reflects on the significance of bringing the entire family together, highlighting how this was the most exciting Thanksgiving they've ever had.

Alix Earle [05:45]: "It's actually the most exciting Thanksgiving we've ever had. We've never all been together like this."

The sisters discuss the challenges and joys of managing a large family reunion, emphasizing the importance of unity, especially in supporting their grandmother through a tough year.

Isabelle Earle [06:28]: "They all used to be friends."

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Balancing Family Business and Personal Lives

A significant portion of the episode centers around TJ Earle's role in managing the family construction company and his involvement in his daughters' burgeoning social media careers. TJ explains the responsibilities he shoulders as president and how working with family requires maintaining professionalism despite personal relationships.

TJ Earle [15:04]: "At my company, because it's me and my two brothers that own it, we have an office of the presidents, and all three of us are presidents, and we all run different areas of the business."

Alix recounts her early experiences interning at the family business, learning the ropes of marketing, and navigating the complexities of integrating social media into their operations.

Alix Earle [25:40]: "Social media can be a career, and I want to do that."

The conversation highlights the challenges of managing a business intertwined with family relationships, including handling conflicts and ensuring that business decisions are made objectively.

TJ Earle [15:53]: "When you work with family, whether you're having a shit day or stuff's going on, you want to take it out on your family... it's important to make sure you manage those barriers."

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Social Media Management and Growth

Alix and Isabelle discuss how social media has played a pivotal role in bringing their family closer together. TJ shares insights into how he assists in managing their online presence, ensuring that their personal brands remain authentic and professionally represented.

Alix Earle [33:11]: "He's like, whatever I'm doing now that is working, I'll just apply it here and hopefully it works. And it did."

The episode delves into the practical aspects of being influencers, such as handling taxes, securing fair contracts, and building a trustworthy team—all facilitated by TJ's guidance.

TJ Earle [25:33]: "You have to figure out what you want to be labeled as because you're putting yourself out there for the world. Just make sure you're comfortable with what you're putting out."

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Life Lessons and Advice from Grandma

Towards the latter part of the episode, Grandmother joins the conversation to answer listener-submitted questions, providing candid and straightforward advice on various personal dilemmas. Her no-nonsense approach offers a grounded perspective amidst the family's whirlwind of activities.

Sample Q&A Highlights:

1. Dealing with a Problematic Roommate's Dog:

   Grandma [50:32]: "Get rid of it."

2. Approaching a Crush at the Gym:

   Grandma [52:05]: "I'd move closer to him."

3. Handling Controlling Relationships:

   Grandma [56:21]: "You just gotta push her out of the way sometimes."

Her advice underscores the importance of self-respect and assertiveness in personal relationships.

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Concluding Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, Alix and Isabelle reflect on the unique dynamics of their family, emphasizing the balance between personal aspirations and collective responsibilities. TJ expresses pride in his daughters' growth and adaptability, while Grandmother's advice leaves a lasting impression on the listeners about the value of integrity and self-empowerment.

Alix Earle [43:35]: "I always called dad every single day on my way to class... I just feel like it's a cool relationship that we have with you."

The episode concludes with a festive tailgate scene, capturing the essence of family bonding amidst the excitement of football, laughter, and shared memories.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Alix on Working with Family:
  "Working with family... it's important to make sure you manage those barriers."
  [15:53]

• TJ on Social Media Management:
  "You have to figure out what you want to be labeled as because you're putting yourself out there for the world."
  [25:33]

• Grandma’s Straightforward Advice:
  "Get rid of it."
  [50:32]

• Alix on Family Unity:
  "We've never all been together like this."
  [05:45]

• Isabelle on Social Media's Impact:
  "I think social media has made us all closer."
  [07:20]

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Final Thoughts

Hot Mess with Alix Earle delivers a heartfelt exploration of family, business, and personal growth. Through candid conversations and invaluable advice, listeners gain insight into the complexities of maintaining familial bonds while navigating the pressures of modern fame and entrepreneurship. This episode serves as a testament to the strength of family support and the importance of balancing personal dreams with collective harmony.

Transcript

[Alex Earl]

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[Isabelle Earl]

It's kind of back.

[Alex Earl]

She's just letting everyone know it's not back. She's just wearing them. Misleading, you guys. It's kind of like the skinny jeans. They're not back. I'm just wearing them and pissing everyone off. Apparently you just be yourself, guys, please.

[Isabelle Earl]

You're just really good at pissing people off some for some reason.

[Alex Earl]

Everything I do, people just everyone off.

[Isabelle Earl]

Yeah, people just love to be pissed off at you.

[Alex Earl]

It's okay. I can take it. But anywho, we are in Wisconsin right now, and we've listened to you guys. I've. I've. I've been talking with you guys online, and everyone wants to see a little bit more of a vlog episode. So we're gonna do that with this episode. So if you're listening to this, I think it should be fine. There might be some moments where you're like, what am I listening to right now? But I think it would be better if you watch it and come get cozy with us and snuggle up in bed and hang out with the Earl girls, because I'm going to try and implement some vlogs into this episode as well. But we're in Wisconsin and it is Thanksgiving morning. Right now it's actually snowing, and I.

[Isabelle Earl]

I'm kind of excited. I feel like I haven't seen snow.

[Alex Earl]

I know I haven't seen snow in forever. And we're going to tailgate in this 20 degrees weather for four hours. Right now. We're in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and we're here, obviously, for the Thanksgiving packers versus Dolphins game. There's so many Dolphins fans here, which.

[Isabelle Earl]

I. Yeah, there's actually way more than I thought there were.

[Alex Earl]

The Dolphins are traveling well for Thanksgiving.

[Isabelle Earl]

But also, like, our entire family is probably taking up half of this hotel on its own.

[Alex Earl]

My mom's from Wisconsin, so my grandma, my cousins, my aunt, they all still live in Wisconsin.

[Isabelle Earl]

And they're huge packers fans.

[Alex Earl]

Huge, obviously. So I thought when I found out the schedule for when the Dolphins were playing the Packers, I would, like, organize a trip for everyone to get together and go to the game because it would be so much fun. So I'm waiting for the schedule to come out, and it comes out that it's on Thanksgiving night, like the 7 or 8pm Thanksgiving Night Football game. And I was like, oh, shit. So I guess we're doing this. And I knew that it was going to sell out. So immediately I got on my laptop, I looked up, like, best hotels in Green Bay, and I bought like, nine hotel rooms. And I just was like, everyone in my family is like, we were gonna make it. I'm gonna get us tickets to the game. Like, we're gonna make it work. But everyone just, like, clear your schedules for Thanksgiving because we're going to Wisconsin. It's actually the most exciting Thanksgiving we've ever had. We've never all been together like this.

[Isabelle Earl]

I know.

[Alex Earl]

And it's. I think it's really sweet, especially because I think grandma's had a tough year and, like, for all of us to just be together. And it's just like such a good celebratory moment. And also. So the other part is my dad is here with Ashley and the Littles. And so now it's your guys first time meeting, like, all of our cousins on the other side. How do you like everyone? They're great. Yeah, they're great. So it's really just like a big, fun family money Archie affair this weekend. And we're getting the whole family together. And also people keep asking and they want to know about how, like, dad is coming around with, like, mom's family.

[Isabelle Earl]

They all used to be friends.

[Alex Earl]

I'm like, I don't know.

[Isabelle Earl]

Literally, like, what do you want?

[Alex Earl]

But seriously, like I said, well, it wasn't until last Thanksgiving that we spent with, like, my mom and Todd. Yeah. So before that, we've never spent Thanksgiving with our parents together. Really?

[Isabelle Earl]

I feel like we did it the last two or.

[Alex Earl]

No, no, I think it was just last year.

[Isabelle Earl]

Yeah, last Thanksgiving was just. We had dinner at our dad's house, and mom and Todd came over and we just did like, our little.

[Alex Earl]

And you know what? I have to blame for this.

[Isabelle Earl]

What?

[Alex Earl]

But in a good way. I think social media and like, introducing my family to you guys on social media has made us, as a family, closer, because now that, like, we'll get the opportunities to go do things and, like, everyone wants to come and everyone wants to be together, and it sounds weird, but, like, I feel like it's made us closer as a family.

[Isabelle Earl]

I do, too. Honestly. We used to do things separately, like, we do stuff with mom or we do stuff with dad, and it, like.

[Alex Earl]

Yeah, it really wasn't as much as it is right now. Like, what you guys see is really.

[Isabelle Earl]

New for us, but I think I love it.

[Alex Earl]

No, I've been having so much the best treat ever. I don't know. I'm so grateful, and I really feel like social media made us all closer, which sounds really.

[Isabelle Earl]

Social media is at the core of this family.

[Alex Earl]

I feel like once, I don't know, I started, like, being online. No, I'm not crying. I just look ugly right now. I have, like, hives on my eyes. But I think once, like, I. I don't know, we would have to deal with, like, outside perception. I feel like it made us all just, like, we're all on one side together, and, like, we're all together as a family and, like, stick up for each other, so it really made us closer. What are your thoughts, Isabelle? I think that, like, mom told me that, like, I was the miracle baby because I'm the reason that you guys.

[Isabelle Earl]

Are closer to you guys. No, I. I agree with that. I feel like.

[Alex Earl]

So mom said that I was the miracle baby. I feel like before, it's just built different. Wait, no, I feel actually crying and I've gotta go. No, you are the miracle baby because I'm just so different. I'm just so good.

[Isabelle Earl]

No, but I agree. I feel like I wouldn't have, like, gotten so close with dad and Ashley if it weren't for you kids.

[Alex Earl]

We're actually gonna sit down with my dad for this podcast episode and my grandma because we want to talk to you guys about what. What we do with what we do with dad and our relationship with dad, and I think he's gonna be really funny. Before we sit down with dad, let's play you guys, our little travel vlog and how we got here and us going out for blackout Wednesday last night on the way to the airport. It's still dark out right now, and I'm a little nervous that the other half of is going to make the flight because they're still at home and this is the busiest travel day of the year. So the Griswold's got to get it together over here. We made it to Wisconsin. And Mickey's here. Hey, Mickey. Hey. Yay. All 45 of us in the airport. Isabelle's here for the vibes and the good times. I'm currently Googling bars in Green Bay that we could go to for Blackout Wednesday. We're back from our dinner. I think I'm going to go out to the bars and I'm trying to convince all my family to come with me. I don't know which ones to go, though. I'm looking like a loser. I'm looking up on Tik Tok, like, Best bars and Green Bay. There's this one called Stirrups, which seems like that just sounds like a good time. I hate.

[Grandma]

Family.

[Alex Earl]

Cheers. Cheers. We're going out. Okay. We're going to Black Saddle. Mickey. Cheers. No, she can't come. I'm sneaking in, everyone. Just kidding. Thanks. Hello. Big Al's taking everybody out. Everybody out. To the bars. Let's go. Family reunion. I was looking on Instagram at all the bars in Green Bay and I went to DM this one and they messaged me saying to come in and that they would let us in through the side door. So that's the bar we're going to. Oh, my God, Lucy, I love your hat. I love what you've done with the place. Okay, bye. I love you. We're lost. We're shooting videos. My pants are in P.E. oh, no, here she goes. Ashton's. This means Ashton's done for now. Ashton, you have wet shoes too. Did you say wet shoes too?

[Grandma]

Wet shoes?

[Alex Earl]

No, this is what she does. She folds and then she just goes flat. Can you force. Look at her security.

[Isabelle Earl]

That was fun.

[Alex Earl]

She starts doing poses.

[Isabelle Earl]

I think we're in the wrong guys.

[Alex Earl]

We're in the wrong section. Let's film this Tik Tok and leave. The New Balance 1080 is the ultimate daily trainer, combining reliable comfort with top tier performance. I love New Balance sneakers. I mean, for the girls who are running. Good for you. I'm not a runner. I'm probably more so wearing these to like the coffee shop or the grocery store. But The New Balance 1080 features a cushion midsole for secure support and comfort. It's lightweight, breathable, and it is good for an everyday on the run, on the go shop. The 1080@New Balance.com if you dunk Michelle.

[TJ Earl]

You could dunk a dunk your way back into the competition.

[Alex Earl]

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[TJ Earl]

MTV with show stopping Celebrity guest judges.

[Alex Earl]

Like Katy Perry, Dochi, Sam Smith, Adam Lambert and more. The splashiest season in herstory is making major waves.

[TJ Earl]

Raider Queen is back. I hold their face in my dainty.

[Alex Earl]

Little hand because wetter is better. RuPaul's Drag Race is back. New season tomorrow.

[TJ Earl]

Weddings have been sent on mtv.

[Alex Earl]

Hey, dad. Welcome to Hot Mess. Welcome, dad. Thanks for having me, tj. Our father is also our manager, and I feel like that's a cool relationship that we have. And we call him our Kris Jenner. And we wanted to pick his brain today about some work stuff and share it with you guys and how that relationship looks. So, dad, give us a little, a little background on yourself.

[TJ Earl]

TJ Earl, father of five. I started working when I was very young, 10 years old, working in summers for my father at our construction company. And then obviously through the years, I went to school and graduated school. After school, I came back and worked full time for our company. And my father died about 24 years ago, I think it was. And my brothers and I took it over. I was probably in my early 30s at the time, and my brothers and I took it over and have been running it ever since.

[Isabelle Earl]

And what is your job title?

[TJ Earl]

I'm president.

[Isabelle Earl]

And what do you handle at the Earl companies?

[TJ Earl]

At my company, because it's me and my two brothers that own it, we have an office of the president's and all three of us are presidents, and we all run different areas of the business. And then we come together collectively for the entire operation or the holding company to manage or steer strategic direction and things of the company.

[Alex Earl]

Do you guys ever fight now or. No, because. Yeah, yeah. How do you. Working together? Yeah, well, like, working with family, because that's a big thing. And now we all work together. There's a difference. Like, you called me like last month and you were like, you have to separate, like, sometimes from when it's like family talking. He's like, you're. I'll always be here. I'll always be your dad. But then sometimes, like, more so when it's business and stuff, because you would text me and I would be like, grumpy or not answer. But he's like, this is like, we work together. You have to answer anyone else that.

[TJ Earl]

When you work with family, obviously, whether you're having a shit day or stuff's going on and you want to take it out on your family, where you wouldn't take it out on somebody else that works for you, when it's family, you have to manage that. So even though you're having a shit day or you're aggravated, you know, in terms of business and things. And for the. For the benefit of the business, you have to treat each other with the same respect that you would treat another employee. It's easy to take it out on your family where you wouldn't do with an employee, but it's important to make sure you manage those barriers.

[Alex Earl]

Yeah, I think we should go back to the first days of, like, us having our first job. And we've kind of always been involved with the family and working with family. And this is when our first job was at this ice cream shop that my family opened for us called Surfside. And I feel like it's really funny from your point of view because, like, we were so little that we barely. We were in sixth grade. You were in fourth grade, which is crazy that we were like, what were you, 10 years old? And we were the employees and all, like, from my point of view. And Dad, I want you to tell it from your point of view, but from my point of view. All I remember is one day, dad was like, yep, like, we're opening an ice cream shop so you guys can work.

[Isabelle Earl]

And I was like, learn bit of work ethic. And we're all like, this is horrible.

[Alex Earl]

I was like, this is really bad. I was like, are you kidding me? Like, what about my summers? And it was. It's only open during the summers, so.

[Isabelle Earl]

We would work, like, every summer. I worked. I honestly, I still work there in college.

[TJ Earl]

You're still working there now.

[Isabelle Earl]

It's my favorite job.

[Alex Earl]

Basically. They put us in this ice cream shop. I remember them being like, all right, here's how you, like, make the ice cream really quick. Here's how you scoop it. Here's how you run the register. And it was only cash. There was no credit cards.

[Isabelle Earl]

And they were upgraded since then. We take cards now.

[Alex Earl]

Yeah. I was never there when there was cards. And they were like, okay, just go. And I remember, like, opening night.

[Isabelle Earl]

It was like, a shit show.

[Alex Earl]

It was so funny. They literally just put us out the counter. And, like, we had no idea what we were doing. And they were standing in the background watching us. And, like, people were coming up through the window. We're, like, spilling. Like, we were just. We had no idea what we were doing. So, like, give us. Run us through it from your point of view in the beginning.

[TJ Earl]

Because my brothers and I started working when we were really young, and all of our kids are now of the age where they're in their teens, and we wanted to make sure that we were giving our kids the same kind of introduction into working that we had, because we think it was good for us. So we said, what can we do to. We had been thinking for a couple years about different things that we could do with you guys in terms of introducing you to work as early as, like, 12 years old, but in an environment that was safe and healthy and that you could do. So clearly, our business was not.

[Alex Earl]

I don't know if we really did it.

[TJ Earl]

Well, no, our business was not really suitable for that. So we said. And it was actually Ashley's idea because we'd been thinking about it for a while. And I was talking to her about it, and she was like, what about an ice cream shop? The idea of opening a business for you guys to run was.

[Alex Earl]

I didn't know that.

[Isabelle Earl]

I didn't know that.

[TJ Earl]

But the ice cream shop idea or doing it with an ice cream shop. So I had texted my brothers, and I was like, hey, guys, what do you think about. Because this was an ongoing conversation between us about what we could do? And I said, what do you think about doing an ice cream shop? And they were like, okay, that sounds like it would work. Let's start to figure out how to.

[Alex Earl]

Wisconsin is where you got the idea for frozen custard.

[TJ Earl]

I said, if we're doing an ice cream shop, we have to do frozen custard, because frozen custard is way better than ice cream. And they. I don't think had. Had frozen custard at this point. So they're like, I don't really know what you're talking about, but whatever, ice cream's ice cream. So I kind of took the lead on setting it up and researching the machines and bringing it to our ice cream shop in New Jersey and then all the cousins. So it would be obviously, you guys. Any cousin that was of age started working there. I think the age was like 12.

[Alex Earl]

So Ashton was 10 when we.

[Isabelle Earl]

I might have been 11, maybe.

[TJ Earl]

Maybe she skated in. But anyway, we made all our kids work there and work together, which we thought was important for you guys to figure out how to work together, because when you get to the other, you know, to our big company, you know, we wanted you to understand how to work with each other, how to communicate and that whole dynamic.

[Isabelle Earl]

That was also another problem we had.

[Alex Earl]

Working with our cousins. I was like, she put me on the shit schedule. Like, I'm working every Saturday, Friday night. And the older cousins would get to, like, manage it at first. So we were like, on the younger Side. And, yeah, working with family was another.

[Isabelle Earl]

Thing because it caused a lot of drama. It was really funny.

[Alex Earl]

Yeah. Like, we would just be like, she's not, like, scooping the ice cream.

[TJ Earl]

It was actually great that we worked through all of that at the ice cream shop.

[Isabelle Earl]

Yeah. Now I feel like, where it's kind.

[TJ Earl]

Of harmless, but, I mean, it was great. The ice cream's great, the shop's doing great. The kids did great. Some did better than others. But as parents, we got to see our kids in a working environment, which was great. And quickly, I think it was within a couple of years, you decided, Alex, that you were. Like, I said, bye, I'm out of here. I'm not doing this. And then she went and went to go work at a clothing boutique, and Ashton stayed. And, you know, we just. We had. Every year we had to grind this out, but it was.

[Alex Earl]

It was really good. And I think we learned a lot from it. And, like, by the end, also, this ice cream shop, like, we were making the ice cream ourselves. Like, we were churning and turning the milk and, like, these big bags of milk that probably remember being, like, so little.

[Isabelle Earl]

Being, like, trying to, like, I would.

[Alex Earl]

Always spill them and, like, taking inventory and then dealing with the cops. And, like, our register was always off every night somehow. And I was like, we're down 300 again. I feel like we really, like, each.

[Isabelle Earl]

Year we improved and learned a lot more.

[Alex Earl]

We learned a lot.

[TJ Earl]

You guys felt uncomfortable charging your friends, so everything was free for your friends.

[Alex Earl]

Yeah. Or if, like, a boy came that, like, we had a crush on, we were, like, literally take the whole bucket.

[Isabelle Earl]

I used to make boys wash the dishes in the back, and I would give them a free milkshake for it. That was early days, though.

[Alex Earl]

It was really good. And I think something you've always done, dad, that has been. It's just, I guess, a good thing you did. It's like, you've always instilled in us that, like, working is really important and, like, making your own money and paying for your own stuff. And, like, I remember when I went to college, I just like seeing everyone there and, like, they would have, like, their dad's credit cards.

[Isabelle Earl]

I was like, that's real. Like, people have their dad's credit cards.

[Alex Earl]

Which, like, obviously we grew up very, very fortunate in a. Very great. Grateful for that. But you never. Yeah, you spoiled us in a way where, like, we learned, you know. Yeah.

[Isabelle Earl]

Like, you wanted us to learn how to use our own money and how to, like, budget and be grateful for that and I think I'm so grateful for that because I just know so many people now that have no concept of money.

[Alex Earl]

I have, like, a lot of friends that have never had jobs. And I'm like, how do. How have you never had a job?

[Isabelle Earl]

That I've never had a job. And I'm like, what?

[TJ Earl]

Well, I mean, that was the plan. I'm glad it worked. I'm glad it worked for you guys. It worked for us. I think it was great.

[Alex Earl]

So, yeah, and I think it's really, I don't know, it's been really motivational. But you always like the company. Like, you didn't grow up having the company as successful as it is. Like, it, right?

[TJ Earl]

Like, no. So when our father passed away, we had been working for the company, like I said, for a long time. But when we came out of college, we all started full time in the company. My father was very smart in making sure that even though the company being small at the time, that he kind of made sure that the three of us had our three independent areas so that we weren't mixing it up with each other too much. And we, you know, we went through some really tough years and then we kind of came out of them a little bit. But the company was very, very small at the time. And we gradually, while my father was still alive, kept working, kept hustling. We were growing it a little bit, little bit, little bit. And then he quickly was diagnosed with cancer and passed away about nine months later. He was 67 at the time. I think I might have been in your 30s. I was definitely, I think, in my early 30s, like maybe 30 or 31. He was very young. We were very young and. But we had a lot of knowledge of the business and we were, we were very involved in running the business with him. So when he had passed away, we took over and there wasn't a whole lot of like, you know, we kind of took over. It was seamless and we. But he did say prior to him passing away, but while he was sick, you know, we would meet with him every week. We had meetings with him after work, around 5:00. It was like one, I think it was like Monday nights. And he told us we would just talk about anything that was going on in the business. And he told us, you know, listen, you guys are going to have to grow this thing because it's not big enough for the three of you. So, you know, just whatever you do, you have to make sure that you continue to try and keep and grow it. So we did and we kept growing it and growing and growing it. We're still growing it today, but, you know, so it's. And our hope is that we continue to grow, but we don't want to do is. Is. We don't. We never want to jeopardize. We have a great company, a lot of employees, hundreds of employees. But we maintain a very strong relationship with all of our employees, very family based. So we run it like a small company, even though it's kind of a big company.

[Alex Earl]

Something that was really important that you also instilled in us is like, every summer we came home from college, we had to work. I mean, we had to work because he was like, I'm not giving you money for your own thing, so you have to. You. We had to work. And it, like, really wasn't a question. And I interned one summer at the Earl Companies, and I did, like, a marketing internship there. And I remember, like, at the time, I was like, trying to do the whole, like, social media thing. And I guess, like, people in the office were saying that, like, because I was, like, posting a bikini online or whatever, it was, like, inappropriate. And I got in trouble at the office. And I remember I got called into your office, and I was like, it was so scary. And we were talking about just. I was like, dad, I was like, I really want to try and make something work with social media. And you literally looked at me like I had eight heads. And you were like, yeah, yeah. Like, just. You were like. You just didn't understand.

[TJ Earl]

I honestly did not know at the time how you monetize something like that. How does that become a job? It seemed like more of a hobby.

[Isabelle Earl]

To me, posting Instagram.

[TJ Earl]

But that is the best part about. It was like, I. You were. When you were interning with us, like, you know, you were probably a sophomore at Miami at the time.

[Alex Earl]

No, it was after my freshman year because it was Covid.

[TJ Earl]

Okay, so it was like between freshman sophomore year, like. And you were dressing a little provocative for, like, an office environment.

[Alex Earl]

No, it wasn't.

[TJ Earl]

Clearly your social media represented, like, this was when you had, like, wearing thongs.

[Isabelle Earl]

And Alex loved. And you post her booty pictures.

[TJ Earl]

Yeah, yeah.

[Isabelle Earl]

So she was in, like, her Miami girl.

[TJ Earl]

So I call her in and I'm like, alex, you know, thigh high boots. It's probably not that appropriate in the office. And she's like, dad, what are you talking about? This is what people wear. And I'm like, all right, but they don't wear it in a business environment. But I said, neither Here nor there. I said, you know, you want to make sure it's one of these sessions, these coaching sessions that we had. I said, listen, I know what you're doing on social media. I don't see it. I don't know how flashing your ass cheeks on social media is going to get you any sort of a career. And, you know, I said, you're going to have to start thinking about that as you get older. You're going to have to start thinking about, like, how do I want to be represented? Because you're going to go get jobs, people are going to check your social media, and, you know, you got to make sure that what you're setting yourself up for is the career that you ultimately want.

[Alex Earl]

And I said, dad, I can. I said, social media can be a career, and I want to do that. And he, like, again, just looked at me like I had it. Yeah, yeah, okay. Like, whatever.

[TJ Earl]

Okay, well, let's say that doesn't work out and you end up in some sort of professional office somewhere. Like maybe the booty. The booty pictures aren't the best.

[Alex Earl]

So, yeah.

[TJ Earl]

So anyway, I said, listen, I do remember having this conversation, though. I said, whatever your brand is, just make sure you figure out what you want to be kind of labeled as because you're putting yourself out there for the world. Just make sure you're comfortable with what you're putting out. There is representing you is kind of authentic to what you want to be represented as. So don't fake it. Just be real and make sure that you're comfortable with it.

[Alex Earl]

And then I think I. I really internalized what you said there. And I took a turn from, like. I mean, I was just excited when we first got to Miami and, like, everything we'd wear to pool parties and whatever was just bikinis. So I was excited. But then I took a turn, and then I was on TikTok at the time, and I. I don't know, I was really trying to make something out of it. And nothing really happened until like, my junior year of college, I started to get some, like, like, smaller brand deals. So I'd call you because I was like, dad, like, I think I have to, like, pay taxes. And I had to know.

[Isabelle Earl]

I still don't know about tax.

[Alex Earl]

I really had no idea. I was like, dad, like, what does this even mean? Like, I have no idea. Because being an influencer is a little different. So, like, you have to go out and pay your taxes. Like, usually when you get a check from a job, like, the taxes are already Taken out. So we will have to like, take it upon yourselves to like, you know, file your taxes. And I was just like, what if you don't do that? Like, I would have never known if he didn't tell me that. So I was all confused. And then my senior year of college, like, it went from like 5% to 200% and like, I don't even know the span of a month. So I was so confused on what to do. I was out to LA taking meetings with everyone because everyone's like, you need an agent, you need a lawyer, like you need all these things. And I was like, I literally don't know what any of this means. And so I was taking meetings and for all of these I would have my dad zoom in because I was like, I don't know what I'm doing. I also don't want to get taken advantage of. Cause I think that's a big thing that happens in the beginning of people's careers, especially just in the entertainment industry is a lot of people will make things seem very glamorous or get you into a contract that you don't want to be in. And I don't know, I also just didn't really know that much. So he was kind of there as a sounding board for everything and he was always in the background, really didn't talk that much and he was just listening in on everything. And I was just trying to, like, explain to him more and more. And then I think during this time you probably downloaded TikTok and we're like, what is she doing on there? And then over time he became just more involved with the team and kind of like managing everybody. And like, I was still in college at the time, so it was really hard for me to balance, like classes and all that was going on and like my schedule and just so much was happening at once. So he like, really helped, like, coordinate everything and kind of teach me. And he was like, you have to like, do this a certain way. Like, you have to open your emails. That was a big thing for me. I was like, I was never checking my emails and now I, I, yeah.

[Isabelle Earl]

I do open my emails.

[Alex Earl]

No, she doesn't.

[Isabelle Earl]

I do.

[Alex Earl]

I open my emails now. Like, I would say more than I open my texts. Like, I get an email and I'm like, I just like to get to it right away. But that was something that, like, for a while I was just like, why do I have to go on my emails? Like, what's on the email? So then over time we were working Together more and more. And now we were like, okay, he's. He's manager. He's our Kris Jenner. He's dadager. Yeah, I guess. How was, how was all that for you?

[TJ Earl]

It was great. I remember when we went back, like, from your previous manager who was doing a great job, I guess, for, you know, for where you were at the time, and she was, she was showing you, you know, giving you options and deals and things. That was all great. And I just remember, like, it seemed like it was September or October of. I don't remember what, the years of 2022 or 2022.

[Alex Earl]

That's so weird.

[TJ Earl]

Okay, 2022. And I remember, like, Ashton would joke around and be like, alex is famous. Like, she has like a hundred thousand followers or something. So I was like, all right, whatever, you know, this and that. And then it just really started to, like, take off. I would get feedback from other people too, but, like from Ashton and just other people that were on Tick Tock. And I wasn't even on Tick Tock at the time, they'd be like, wow, your daughter's really, like, taking off, like. So I'm like, oh, I gotta download this Tick Tock app. I started watching all her posts and then obviously, you know, I'm watching everything else that's going on and trying to learn and figure it all out, read all the comments. And I'm talking to Alex and I'm like, oh, you know, I see. I saw your Tick Tock this, that and the other thing. And she's like, yeah, you know, whatever. So that just kind of went on for a little bit and it kept building and building and building, obviously, and things really started to pick up. And you were. People were calling and making you offers and we were like. I was like, all right, wait a second, we got to, like, figure out what we're doing here. Because I, you know, I didn't know what we were doing either. And I'm like, I feel like we're going to make a bad move and we're going to make a wrong. You're going to get signed with the wrong people or do the wrong thing. So let's, let's take a breather here and try to figure it out. And we were contacted by Kevin, your attorney, who contacted your previous manager and said they wanted to meet you or wanted to talk to you. And then somehow we got connected. He made his way to us because I don't know if she set that up or if he just went direct. But anyway, he was a. You Know, Kevin is a very well established attorney in, in Hollywood, and he knows the deal. Great guy. And he said, listen, you know, whether you, whether you want to do business with me or not, you know, there's probably a lot to learn here and shit's going to move really fast for you. So I'm happy to be a sounding board. So we took him up on that and he set up meetings for us, and we never engaged him. He set up meetings for us to meet with different agents and different people in the business. And he said, just learn, listen, learn. See who it is that you like, see who resonates with you. And he's like, they're all going to be good people. I'm not going to introduce you to anybody bad. But he said, you got to figure out who you. Who you kind of gel with. And he was like a major sounding board for, at least for me. As we got started. I would call him all the time and ask him for advice. And he was great, always responded, never asked for anything. Ultimately, we ended up with putting together, piece by piece with him, what I consider to be the best team in the business. And I think they're fucking amazing.

[Alex Earl]

There we go.

[TJ Earl]

I think they're fucking amazing. But, you know, as somebody that stayed involved, and I'm still involved today, as you guys know, and I want to stay involved, you know, I didn't know the business, so the only thing I could do is I could. I could help you put together a team of people that I thought would be good for you, that you liked and that you could trust and make sure that obviously all the contracts and everything were fair in terms of how do we manage the team. Like, for me, it's just about managing the team the same way I would manage a team at Earl. Like, so what the things that I do at Earl that I think make at least for the areas that I run in the business that make them successful and they work for me. I just do the same thing with your team. And it's worked out really well, which.

[Alex Earl]

I think is like, having everyone involved in everything when, like, sometimes they don't need to be involved is something you've also taught me. It's a team and like, you can be more stingy in places or whatever. But he was like, you want to make sure everyone's involved and everyone's motivated. And I feel like that was just another thing that you taught me when dealing with the team and like, something that you guys do at Earl, I think, yeah.

[TJ Earl]

So we just. It's because I don't know the business and I didn't know the business, I just said it. Whatever. However, whatever I'm doing now that is working, I'll just apply it here and hopefully it works. And it did. But I always made sure, like, even though I was just kind of getting involved in the business, I'm constantly reading, researching, asking questions, talking of people. I'm trying to do everything I can to make sure I learn as much as possible.

[Isabelle Earl]

That's why I'm just so grateful for you, dad, because like, first of all, you're such a good businessman but you care so much. Like I don't think anyone else would have done this for Alex or I if like you just like care so much and like really wanted the best for Alex. And I just want to say thank you because that's really.

[Alex Earl]

Yeah, no, it means a lot. And I think like not saying that everyone should have their parents be their managers because, you know, but I don't.

[Isabelle Earl]

Think Alex would be where she is today if it weren't for you.

[Alex Earl]

No, I wouldn't. And I think also another thing is I think people would take me a little bit more seriously in meetings when I would have him sitting there because obviously it's like, okay, this 22 year old blonde girl that's like, seems to be partying every night. They're like probably thinking they can pull a fast one on me. So I was like, he's in the room, he's listening. Like I'm smart but he's smarter and you're not gonna pull a fast one on me. So I think that was another really big thing in the beginning too of having you on board. And we have made our fair share of like, not mistakes but like there's things we've learned and I think when it comes to like big game time decisions, like I feel so comfortable leaning on my dad. I think that's something is like I really trust you and having your advice on everything and your opinions and there's times where like we've done stuff and we'd be like, okay, like we didn't do that the right way. Like we're going to go back and we're going to fix it and we're going to do it next time. And we've had like a lot of learning moments and I think it's just been really, really great. It's been working really smoothly. And now obviously Ashton's doing some deals and whatnot herself. So dad's also overseeing Ashton. So dad, how do you find working with Alex versus working with Ashton.

[Isabelle Earl]

Oh, shut up. You know, you're more professional than me.

[Alex Earl]

I just want hyper. I just want you guys to know I'm better, so.

[TJ Earl]

Well, you're obviously totally different, which I do think is important that, you know, I think for. It would never work anyway to say for Ashton, you have to be like Alex or Alex, you have to be like Ashton. You're totally different. You do things totally differently. I think as long as you stay real to who you are and understand what that is and then stay real to it, I think you'll both be successful no matter what you do. Alex, obviously, as you know, you're much more high energy, much more. You want to move and you move fast. And Turtle is Turtle, Turtle is Turtle. So, you know, she's just. But she's also younger. So, you know, I look at her and I say, where is Ashton today versus where were you when you were.

[Alex Earl]

She's dealing with a lot in college.

[TJ Earl]

Yeah. So I mean, comparing her to where you are today when you're out of college and you've been out of college for a year or so and you're kind of much more established in the business is totally different. Where is she compared to where you were when you were at her age? Not too different, because I do remember calling you and being like Alex, you know, we got to make sure. You got to stay on emails. And these are all the conversations I'm having with her now. So I don't think if you compare age to age, I don't think there's that much difference. She has her own style. She's never going to be like you. You're never going to be like her. I think that's what makes it work. I feel like, you know, the fact that you guys get along so great and you are so different is a dynamic that works on this show. But I think in general it works. I mean, there's certain things. There's certain. There's certain things that just don't work for you in this business, but they might work for Ashton and vice versa. So I think it's. I think it's a good dynamic.

[Alex Earl]

I know. I think that you're very like. Because I do think Ashton does a really good job at managing everything right now going on. And, like, you have a lot of work that you do and a lot of travel and a lot of things, and you're also in school and want to enjoy your senior year of college and your podcasting with me. It's like you have a lot going on. And I really applaud you. Like, she doesn't have anyone helping her, like an assistant or anything. So I applaud you for doing everything.

[Isabelle Earl]

Thank you. And thank you both for helping me. DOT officially became my manager this year. And I remember he. When he first sent me his, like, little, like, compiled email of, like, agency, like, publicist, like, stuff going on for the week and then he just signed it and he was like, love you, have a great week, dad.

[Alex Earl]

I was like, there was one time this summer, dad sent me a breakdown of, like, our whole team, like, just structure by structure and, like, what we're gonna do this year. And like, whenever you send you, like, your notes and your documents and I was with Kristen and I was crying in the car and she was like, why are you crying? I was like, because my dad just like sent me this document. It's like our team. And like, she's so perfect, so nice for doing this. And yeah, I mean, it's really. We just, we appreciate you so much. You're literally present 24. Like, it's literally. My dad would go to bed at like 5pm and now I call him at 10pm and he's up on the phone, he's like, talking to other people and I'm like, do you sleep?

[TJ Earl]

Not much. I definitely don't sleep. I sleep probably about six hours a night and I work every hour that I'm not sleeping. So I'll wake up really early in the morning, probably around four or so, and I go downstairs and I bang out a couple hours worth of work for you guys. Then I then I'll get ready, I'll leave, work out or go to work. And then intermittently throughout the day, I obviously take some meetings with you guys. And then in the evening, I'm back to work again for you guys. So. And it works out kind of well, actually, because most of your team is on the west coast. So if it's like 5 o'clock our time, it's only 2 o'clock their time. So they can go. I can go up to like 8:00 at night with them. 8 or 9:00 at night. It's just a normal work day day for them. So it works. It's a lot, but it works and I get it all done. And so far, I'm still accomplishing what I need to accomplish at my core job.

[Isabelle Earl]

And, and how do you manage this with the fact that you are chronically on tick tock? You are obsessed and you see more tick tocks than I do? About myself.

[TJ Earl]

I do. I see a lot.

[Isabelle Earl]

He sees everything.

[Alex Earl]

I might hire him to do my social media.

[Isabelle Earl]

He does. He does. He knows too much.

[Alex Earl]

He knows the trends. He knows everything. He's like, this is what's cool.

[TJ Earl]

I make sure I pay.

[Alex Earl]

He reads all the comments, too. Good and the bad. And he's like, hey, this is what the people are saying about you.

[Isabelle Earl]

There's no keeping secrets from that anymore.

[TJ Earl]

If you're trying to work with somebody and you're trying to help them manage their career or help them achieve what they want to achieve, you have to know exactly what's going on in their business. Like, and it's different for both of you. Like, so I have to do it for both of you. But you know the comments, and you get a lot of information from the comments. Like, you get a lot of sentiment of what's going on and stuff. So if you're not doing that, if you're not that plugged in, I don't understand how you could have a qualified conversation with either one of you guys about where things are going or what you're seeing or liking or not liking.

[Alex Earl]

Yeah, and it has gotten awkward at times. And, like, there's been things where it's like, I don't really want. Even with the podcast and stuff I say on here, I'm like, oh, my gosh, I don't want my dad to know that. But, like, as our manager, like, you need to know some things and, like, what's going on. And, like, I feel like it really has.

[Isabelle Earl]

I feel like we've gotten so much closer with you, dad, through all of this.

[Alex Earl]

I always. And Ashton definitely didn't do this, but I always called dad every single day on my way to class. And, like, we would catch up with everything, and, like, just every day I would tell him how classes are going, what was going on in my life, and then all of a sudden, when our calls turned into for more work stuff, I feel like we've gotten so much closer. And it's really, like, a cool relationship that we have with you because, like, obviously, you're our father, but you also literally know more than, like, my best friends at times. And I just feel like it's a really. It's a cool. A cool dynamic that we have.

[Isabelle Earl]

Yeah, I'm definitely closer with dad now because I never talk to anyone on the phone. I never. I would never tell dad anything about my life.

[TJ Earl]

So now you have no choice.

[Isabelle Earl]

I remember I, like, never even, like, told anyone I had a boyfriend. And, like, Alex was Always the one to, like, tell my family stuff about me because I never talked to anyone. But yeah, now we're super close and I kind of love it.

[TJ Earl]

Yeah, I love it.

[Isabelle Earl]

It's so much better.

[TJ Earl]

As long as it's working for you. That's the most important from a business perspective. Right. Like, so if it ever gets to the point where you feel you're being underrepresented by me, then you have to do what you have to do.

[Isabelle Earl]

No.

[Alex Earl]

Fired.

[TJ Earl]

Yeah. So, and.

[Alex Earl]

And I'm not a fire dad, and.

[TJ Earl]

I totally get it. Right. Like, if it ever gets to a point where you feel you're being underrepresented, you got to do what you have to have to do for your business.

[Alex Earl]

Don't make us try.

[Isabelle Earl]

I think you go above and beyond, and I don't think anyone else could do for us what you do.

[Alex Earl]

And it's, it's also so cool too, because just with everything and like every deal, like, he's just always thinking outside the box and he's like, no, no, she could do this better. She could do this. And like, he'll have a lot of those hard conversations for me sometimes that, like, I can't have with people and he's like, no, no, like, this is what she needs to be doing. And like, puts their foot down. Because like, sometimes that's a little hard for me to do.

[Isabelle Earl]

Yeah.

[Alex Earl]

Because that can be scary.

[TJ Earl]

It's also not your job. Right. It's nice to have somebody there that can do that stuff for you. You tend to be very hands on. You have a hard time, I think, pulling back a little bit. Like, you'll stay engaged too engaged in some stuff. So you'll have to. As you get busier and busier, that'll be hard to maintain and it'll actually distract you from what you're best at and what your whole business is revolves around, which is your content creation.

[Alex Earl]

There was a, what was a deal, like in October that you guys were trying to get done, and I found out that, like, conversations were being had with different people behind my back and I got a little mad at you. And he was like, you just can't be involved in all these things. Like sometimes, like until the end of things, like, you're just not involved. And I was like, oh, okay.

[TJ Earl]

Yeah, well, that was, that was a little bit of a different situation.

[Alex Earl]

Yeah.

[TJ Earl]

For two reasons. Reasons. It was a business situation, but it was also something else, which I was not happy about and I'm still not happy about. But, you know, I felt it was important to so.

[Alex Earl]

But it's good. I think we've. We've learned a lot, and I think we've definitely matured really fast and even with, like. But still, I don't understand taxes. I don't. I don't understand. And like, thank God we have you, because if you guys, like, if you don't have a parent out there telling you what to do, like, I would not be going. They don't teach you this stuff in school. They don't. Why don't they teach us that in school?

[Isabelle Earl]

Like, that's so important, like, necessary thing.

[Alex Earl]

In my real estate stuff. And, like, buying a house or a mortgage and, like, they teach you none of that. I would have had no idea. And I'd probably be in jail and arrested. Another thing that was like, really cool that we got to find out from dad, which when I found this out my senior year of college, is that there's a lot of stuff that we can write off, which is like a tax write off is basically. I thought at first that it meant that, like, basically it was free.

[Isabelle Earl]

I still don't understand that.

[TJ Earl]

So you made 10. You made $10, right? And you had $2 worth of legitimate business expenses. Maybe it was traveling here or there or whatever you were doing right for your business. A legitimate business expense. You didn't actually make $10. You made 10 minus the 2 that you spent on legitimate business expenses. You only made eight. They tax you on the eight that you made, not the 10. The expense gets charged against the business. The $2. The business paid the $2. So the profit left is only $8. And you pay taxes on the eight. So the government doesn't pay you back for all of your business.

[Alex Earl]

You just pay.

[TJ Earl]

They just. It just reduces the amount of profit that you made. So you pay on only the profit.

[Alex Earl]

Interesting.

[Isabelle Earl]

I'm still kind of confused, but okay.

[Alex Earl]

Anyhow, we have to go to this football game. We got to go. We're late.

[Isabelle Earl]

Yeah, we got a tailgate. It's 4:30.

[Alex Earl]

Oh, we got to go.

[Isabelle Earl]

We really got to go. Everyone's yelling at us.

[Alex Earl]

Yeah. Any thanks for being the best manager?

[TJ Earl]

You're welcome. Love you guys.

[Alex Earl]

Happy Thanksgiving. Super thankful. Let's play a little Thanksgiving game day vlog. Come. Come hang out with us.

[Isabelle Earl]

Come hang out with us.

[Alex Earl]

Bye. Bye. Okay, here we are at the stadium. It's snowing out right now. I'm so excited. I feel like we're gonna get cursed out from the packers fans. I mean, this is a time. I like it here. What are you getting? Thomas, how are we feeling? Wait. We're missing a lot of people. We're missing people.

[Isabelle Earl]

Where are the children?

[Alex Earl]

Oh, there's Penelope. I found Penelope. I was just bawling my eyes out.

[TJ Earl]

Huh?

[Alex Earl]

What?

[Grandma]

Your jacket is beautiful. Are you videoing me?

[Alex Earl]

Y. Oh, boy. We realized the whole night that Penelope only wore a windbreaker. And I don't know how she doesn't have pneumonia and she has a cold. And she has a cold.

[TJ Earl]

If you dunk, Michelle, you could dunk a dunk your way back into the competition.

[Alex Earl]

RuPaul's Drag Race is back only on MTV.

[TJ Earl]

With the show stopping celebrity guest judges.

[Alex Earl]

Like Katy Perry, Dochi, Sam Smith and Adam Lambert and more. The splashiest season in her story is making major waves.

[TJ Earl]

Raider Queen is back. I hold their face in my dainty little hand because wetter is better.

[Alex Earl]

RuPaul's Drag Race is back. New season tomorrow at 8, 7 Central on MTV. All set for your flight?

[Isabelle Earl]

Yep. I've got everything I need. Eye mask, neck pillow, T mobile. Headphones.

[Alex Earl]

Wait. T mobile?

[Isabelle Earl]

You bet. Free in flight. Wi Fi 15 off all Hilton brands. I never go anywhere without T mobile. Same goes from a water bottle, chewing gum, nail clippers. I'm gonna leave you to it.

[TJ Earl]

Find out how you can experience travel better@t mobile.com travel qualifying plan required. WI Fi were available on select US airlines. Deposit and Hilton Honors membership required for 15% discount. Terms and conditions apply.

[Alex Earl]

We're gonna attempt to get a family picture right now, but I don't really know if this is gonna work out with everyone. I mean, you would think coordinating to get a family photo. We were running a New York marathon. New York marathon. All marathons are the same length.

[Isabelle Earl]

Are we done with pictures?

[Grandma]

She wants both families now.

[Alex Earl]

I'm a whole production fan. Everyone say, champ. Champ. Champ. Thanksgiving Sexy.

[Grandma]

All right.

[Alex Earl]

I took a bunch. Champ was, like, smiling and went over there. We have Grandma. Grandma here. Grandma. Grandma. And she's gonna answer some questions for the Earl Girls. For what would Alex do? We're doing what would Grandma do? Okay. Hi, Alex. So, hi, Grandma. My roommate got a dog, which I was fine with, but it has now bitten me three times. She's trying to train it and is doing. Is really doing everything she can, but so badly behaved. And now I'm scared to hang out in my own living room. And I have no clue how to handle this with her.

[Grandma]

Get rid of it.

[Alex Earl]

The dog?

[Grandma]

Yes.

[Alex Earl]

How do you get rid of it all?

[Isabelle Earl]

Roommate?

[Alex Earl]

I feel like you can't just be.

[Grandma]

Like, get rid of your dog and the roommate.

[Alex Earl]

See, this is why Knee would be so good at these. Oh, okay.

[Grandma]

Well, yeah. What choice do you have?

[Isabelle Earl]

That's what Grandma would do.

[Alex Earl]

Yeah.

[Grandma]

You know, somebody bites me once, you know I'm not gonna let them do it twice.

[Alex Earl]

Okay. Help. How do I break up? Or do I break up with my boyfriend of over a year? Even though we live together, I don't want to move back in with my parents. And I really love where I live. I just don't know if my boyfriend will ever mature and be able to talk about her feelings without starting an argument. I feel like he doesn't seem like a great guy. Then.

[Isabelle Earl]

Yeah, get rid of him.

[Alex Earl]

Kind of just wanted to get rid of him.

[Isabelle Earl]

Sounds like you just want to stay with him for the house.

[Grandma]

That was another one you toss to the curb and, I don't know, find somebody else to room with. Go get somebody's dog.

[Alex Earl]

This girl can room with the girl with the dog.

[Grandma]

Yeah, right. There we go.

[Alex Earl]

Grandma.

[Grandma]

Yes.

[Alex Earl]

I have been eyeing this guy at the gym for about a month now, and I think he's starting to think I'm cute, too. He recently has been making eye contact with me and coming to machines near me. I want his Snapchat or number, but I'm not sure how to approach or make a move. What would you do?

[Grandma]

Oh, I'd move closer to him. Yeah.

[Alex Earl]

Grandma, would you make you say, like.

[Grandma]

Sure. Would you go up to them to say hi? You are adorable.

[Alex Earl]

Really?

[Grandma]

Yeah. Why? Yeah. Would you like to hug?

[Alex Earl]

Would you do that? When you were dating guys, you would say, you are adorable.

[Grandma]

No, not at that. Now I would. It's a. You're a hunk. I just dumped a punk. Yeah, I would do something. Like, I would. Yeah, I would make an approach. Yeah, sure.

[Alex Earl]

And she should just ask for his number.

[Grandma]

Well, not quite like that. You say, hi. You seem to be interested in me.

[Alex Earl]

Yeah.

[Grandma]

Who would you like to.

[Alex Earl]

What if he says he has a girlfriend?

[Grandma]

Say, oh, okay. Well, then quit looking at me the way you do.

[Alex Earl]

Okay. There we go. That's pretty good advice. All right. Back in June, I got dropped by my friend group and have ever since been trying to get back in the group, but it doesn't seem like it's going to work out. This other friend group seems open to letting me join, but please excuse me for saying this. I just don't like them as much as they like me. I just don't know what to do. Should I keep trying to get back with my Old one, Should I suck it up with the new one? I literally have no clue. Please help. What would you do?

[Grandma]

Somebody doesn't like you, they don't like you. And you know what? Why would you waste your time?

[Alex Earl]

Exactly.

[Grandma]

Yeah, yeah. You've just better yourself and say goodbye.

[Alex Earl]

Goodbye. I have a friend that can't handle her alcohol. Every time she drinks, she gets blacked out and she tries to fight everyone and even gets naked in front of our guy friends and even my boyfriend. She wakes up and says, I don't remember so it didn't happen and thinks it's not a big deal. What would Alex do?

[Grandma]

I'd go get her some help. She needs help. Yeah, yeah. Because she's killing herself in more ways than one. Yeah, definitely. Yeah, go get some help. Yeah. If you get naked to one thing, you know, you black out. That's getting bad. And I don't know, it's not good.

[Alex Earl]

Not good. No. Do you know, one time, one of my roommates in college, she was just, like, very outgoing, very fun, but it was someone I roomed with that, like, I didn't really know before. And she would come in my room and, like, with her robe open in front of my boyfriend, like, nipples and taco out. Taco.

[Grandma]

Oh, my God.

[Alex Earl]

Yeah. But it was like. It was like, in such an innocent way that I couldn't. What did you say? She just was like that, you know?

[Grandma]

I don't know if that's innocent.

[Isabelle Earl]

Do you ever say anything to her about that?

[Alex Earl]

No, because, like, you don't get it. Like, she just was like that.

[Isabelle Earl]

Yeah, I don't.

[Alex Earl]

I wasn't, like, friends with her really that close. But, yeah, that happened.

[TJ Earl]

Yeah.

[Grandma]

Yeah. No, that's another red flag. Is anybody normal? Colin?

[Isabelle Earl]

No.

[Alex Earl]

No. So they're going in. All right, first off, I love you so much. And I look forward to the next episode of Hot Mess every week. Oh, my gosh. I love you. All right, basically, I'm a freshman in college right now and my roommate is so pretty and so perfect. Like, we will go up to guys at parties and they immediately start ignoring me and talking to her. Or if I'm talking to a guy, she comes up and then they'll switch to her. I love my roommate. She's one of my best friends. But it's hard not to be insecure about myself and compare myself to her. What would you do?

[Grandma]

She apparently is very shovey and she wants to be the showboat. And you know what? You just keep on talking and shove her out of the Way I don't like shovey people.

[Isabelle Earl]

I think she's saying more so that.

[Alex Earl]

Like she likes her, but she just.

[Isabelle Earl]

Is like insecure because her friend is so mean.

[Grandma]

Well, yeah, you just gotta push her out of the way sometimes.

[Isabelle Earl]

You gotta be a little aggressive back.

[Alex Earl]

Is that what you're saying?

[Grandma]

A tit for tat.

[Alex Earl]

I've been with my boyfriend for a little over a year now. He's a great guy, but I'm struggling with something. I'm 20, he's 23. While I love being with him to be controlling. Oh, and while I love being with him, I've noticed he's very insecure and tends to be controlling about what I do. For example, I wanted to go to a concert with my friends for my birthday and as soon as I mentioned it, he shut it down completely. Meanwhile, he's fine going on trips with his friends, going to bars, living his life. I don't want to break up with him because I care about him deeply. But I also don't want to look back on these years and feel like I missed out on these experiences I wanted to have.

[Grandma]

Oh, oh, without a doubt. Go and tell him. You know, too bad. You know what I mean? You're going, you're not. You know, we're not even married. And when I get married, I don't get buried. You know what I mean? I want to keep going the way I am and do what I want to do.

[Alex Earl]

I think that's important too. I don't think you should stop living your life like you. I mean, you make compromises, sure, but like not if someone's like telling you you can't do things with your life.

[Isabelle Earl]

Especially when they're doing things.

[Grandma]

What are you marrying your father or dating somebody? Nobody should control you. Nobod you, buddy. You do your own thing.

[Alex Earl]

Do you ever have a boyfriend that was controlling?

[Grandma]

Yes.

[Alex Earl]

Or cheated?

[Grandma]

Yes. Oh, cheated. I don't know about that.

[Alex Earl]

I hope not.

[Grandma]

I mean, I ignored it. If they did, I don't know. No, I didn't have a lot of boyfriends. This is a poor subject for me.

[Alex Earl]

Really?

[Grandma]

No. I had a couple boyfriends and then I got married.

[Alex Earl]

Yeah.

[Grandma]

Then I got married again and.

[Alex Earl]

Oh, well, this is good. I feel like you have good advice. Yeah, I like your advice. Grandma's very straight up.

[Isabelle Earl]

I'm start asking.

[Grandma]

Oh, definitely straight up.

[Alex Earl]

Every. Her advice is always going to be kick them to the curb.

[Grandma]

Well, you don't let anybody control you. You know what I mean? You take advice especially from your parents and Stuff like that. Take it and you weigh it out. Because sometimes their advice isn't the best either. It really isn't.

[Alex Earl]

So.

[Grandma]

But Grandma's always an old best.

[Isabelle Earl]

Grandma always does.

[Grandma]

Yes.

[Isabelle Earl]

Unless it's your grandma.

[Alex Earl]

Unless it's your grandma. Don't take their advice.

[Isabelle Earl]

Don't let anyone control you. Unless it's Grandma.

[Grandma]

Exactly. Now, you girls are learning a lot.

[Alex Earl]

Oh, well, we love you, Grandma.

[Grandma]

We love you.

[Isabelle Earl]

Bye.

[Alex Earl]

Bye.

[Grandma]

This is a long time for me. Okay, am I off air here?

[Alex Earl]

Yeah, we're off. Oh, all right.

[Grandma]

That was so stressful.

[Isabelle Earl]

You did great, Grandma.

[Grandma]

I didn't swear, did I?

[Alex Earl]

No, you didn't swear. Okay.

[Grandma]

That was the main thing.

[Alex Earl]

Very good. We'll see you next week for another episode of Hot Mess with Alex Earl. Bye. Wait, Did I just turn that off? How do I get that back on? I'm a hot mess. All set for your flight?

[Isabelle Earl]

Yep. I've got everything I need. Eye mask, neck pillow, T mobile, headphones.

[Alex Earl]

Wait. T Mobile?

[Isabelle Earl]

You bet. Free in flight. Wi Fi 15 off all Hilton brands. I never go anywhere without T Mobile. Same goes from a water bottle, chewing gum, nail clippers. I'm gonna leave you to it.

[TJ Earl]

Find out how you can experience travel better@t mobile.com Travel qualifying plan required. Wi Fi were available on select US airlines. Deposit and Hilton honors membership required for 15% discount. Terms and conditions apply. Jews might sound like they're arguing, but that's just how we have conversations.

[Alex Earl]

And we have lots of them on.

[TJ Earl]

Podcasts from Tablet magazine. Want politics? There's rootless with urgent and sometimes uncomfortable discussions. Or what really matters with Walter Russell Mead.

[Isabelle Earl]

For deeper looks at world events.

[TJ Earl]

Want pop culture? Check out our brand new show, how to be a Jew, about finding meaning in everyday life. Want Jewish learning? Learn Torah with Sivan says and Talmud with.

[Alex Earl]

Take one.

[TJ Earl]

Drop by tabletmag.com podcasts and join us. Cheers to a great day and this ice cold Corona. You know what would make this day even better? My grandma's carne asada. Or your grandma here with us making carne asada. She does love a cocorona. Throw in some dancing, we can watch the game.

[Isabelle Earl]

I'll drink to that.

[TJ Earl]

So a backyard concert with football, food, dancing and Corona and your grandma. Or we could keep it simple.

[Alex Earl]

Simple is good.

[Isabelle Earl]

Want a Corona?

[TJ Earl]

Thanks. Salute to the perfect day. Corona la Vida Masvina.

[Alex Earl]

Get your [e-mail] Relax responsibly.

[TJ Earl]

Corona extra beer imported by Crowning Port Chicago, Illinois.