Happy Hour: Fixin' For A Good Time

Summary

Podcast Summary: Kennedy Saves the World Episode: "Happy Hour: Fixin' For A Good Time" Release Date: August 8, 2025

Host: Kennedy (FOX News Podcasts)
Guest: Marcus Lemonis
Co-Host: Austin

---

1. Introduction and Guest Background

The episode kicks off with a lively introduction as Kennedy welcomes Marcus Lemonis to discuss various topics over what is aptly titled a "Happy Hour." The conversation quickly delves into personal backgrounds, with Kennedy inquiring about Marcus's heritage and upbringing.

• Kennedy [00:26]: "Are you not Greek?"
• Marcus Lemonis [00:27]: "I'm actually Greek. I was adopted by a Greek family."

Kennedy humorously adds, "From a lesbian orphanage," to which Marcus confirms, highlighting a light-hearted start to their conversation.

2. Transition to Business Ventures and Media

The discussion shifts to Marcus's transition from CNBC to Fox Business, emphasizing the authenticity and better ratings of Fox compared to his previous stint.

• Marcus Lemonis [02:12]: "There's just like... authenticity of everybody that works here and the authenticity of the information that we provide people."
• Kennedy [02:16]: "It's really interesting you say that because a lot of times, especially from leftists, they start a conversation by saying, so Fox forces you to say A, B and C. Right?"

Marcus defends Fox's platform, asserting that the network does not impose specific talking points, allowing for genuine and independent discourse.

3. Business Philosophy and Capitalism

A significant portion of the conversation centers around Marcus's staunch belief in capitalism and responsible business management. He contrasts his experience at CNBC with Fox, emphasizing truth and meritocracy.

• Marcus Lemonis [03:37]: "But not wanting stuff for free."
• Marcus Lemonis [06:18]: "You should know math."

Marcus elaborates on the importance of hard work, merit-based rewards, and the pitfalls of entitlement in the modern workforce. He underscores the necessity of understanding business fundamentals, particularly mathematics, for success.

4. Emphasis on Mathematics Education

Kennedy highlights the critical role of mathematics as a gateway to freedom, aligning with Marcus's belief in its importance.

• Kennedy [16:21]: "It is the gateway to freedom because that is the universal language, whether you own a business or not."
• Marcus Lemonis [16:25]: "It doesn't all have to do with money. Yeah, it has to do with understanding, just general principles."

They discuss the challenges in contemporary education, where quick fixes via online tutorials are favored over deep, iterative learning necessary for true understanding.

5. Entrepreneurship and Investment Opportunities

The hosts explore potential business ventures, with Kennedy proposing a math tutoring business aimed at young women to ignite their interest in mathematics.

• Kennedy [15:09]: "I would love to have a really good math tutoring business for young women because I feel like young women learn math differently..."
• Marcus Lemonis [18:36]: "But I would want to control the math."

Marcus expresses interest in investing in such a venture, emphasizing the high margins and scalable nature of tutoring businesses.

6. Philosophy and Objectivism

Kennedy delves into his philosophical beliefs, identifying as an Objectivist and discussing the importance of objective truths.

• Kennedy [21:00]: "As an Objectivist, I believe that there are objective truths."
• Marcus Lemonis [21:08]: "Define for people what an objectivist is."

He contrasts Objectivism with Subjectivism, asserting the value of understanding an objective, defined nature of the universe through rigorous inquiry, much like ancient Greek philosophy.

7. Political Views: Capitalism vs. Socialism

The conversation intensifies as Kennedy and Marcus debate the merits and drawbacks of capitalism and socialism, expressing strong stances against socialist policies and advocating for capitalist principles.

• Kennedy [23:13]: "Socialism is very subjective. It's horrible. It is a zero sum redistribution proposition manufactured by jealous people who want to take your stuff."
• Marcus Lemonis [24:28]: "Socialism is great in concept for those people until it applies to them."

They discuss the detrimental effects of socialism on personal responsibility, business incentives, and societal morale, arguing that it undermines the American dream of individual achievement and ownership.

8. Personal Anecdotes and Lifestyle Choices

The hosts share personal stories that reflect their values and lifestyles. Marcus discusses his passion for raising the American flag, which he considers a "love letter" to the country, despite facing legal challenges.

• Marcus Lemonis [12:17]: "This is my love letter to all the people who let me come here legally..."
• Kennedy [12:16]: "It's gorgeous. Why would they want you to take it down?"

Kennedy reciprocates with his love for traveling and experiencing different parts of America, emphasizing his appreciation for the country's diverse landscapes and communities.

9. Workplace Dynamics and Leadership

Marcus shares his approach to leadership and workplace culture, advocating for independence, open dialogue, and merit-based advancement.

• Marcus Lemonis [08:06]: "I want you to be independent. I want you to have your own thought."
• Kennedy [08:55]: "Those are called rules."

He criticizes modern workplace policies that hinder effective management and employee accountability, advocating for clear rules and responsibilities to maintain business integrity.

10. Closing Thoughts and Final Remarks

As the episode winds down, Marcus and Kennedy exchange light-hearted banter about sports and personal preferences, maintaining an engaging and personable atmosphere.

• Kennedy [30:15]: "Yes, I am." (Regarding being a Yankee fan)
• Marcus Lemonis [30:27]: "They do, actually." (Responding to gluten-free options at baseball stadiums)

Kennedy concludes with well-wishes for Marcus's business ventures, celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship and dedication to capitalism.

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Notable Quotes

• Marcus Lemonis [02:12]: "There's just like... authenticity of everybody that works here and the authenticity of the information that we provide people."
• Kennedy [16:21]: "It is the gateway to freedom because that is the universal language, whether you own a business or not."
• Kennedy [21:00]: "As an Objectivist, I believe that there are objective truths."
• Kennedy [23:13]: "Socialism is very subjective. It's horrible. It is a zero sum redistribution proposition manufactured by jealous people who want to take your stuff."
• Marcus Lemonis [24:28]: "Socialism is great in concept for those people until it applies to them."

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Conclusion

In "Happy Hour: Fixin' For A Good Time," Kennedy Saves the World brings forward a compelling dialogue between Kennedy and Marcus Lemonis, intertwining personal narratives with robust discussions on capitalism, education, philosophy, and political ideologies. The episode underscores the importance of authenticity in media, the value of mathematics in education and business, and a firm stance against socialism, all delivered with humor and genuine curiosity. For listeners seeking insightful conversations that blend business acumen with philosophical depth, this episode serves as a valuable and engaging listen.

Transcript

[Kennedy]

Foreign. Hello, hello, hello, and welcome to this episode of Kennedy Saves the World.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Say it one more time.

[Kennedy]

Hello. It's where we get drunk. It's happy hour. Marcus Lemonis is here. Am I saying that right?

[Marcus Lemonis]

It's not Lemonis, but you're trying to be Greek now.

[Kennedy]

Are you not Greek?

[Marcus Lemonis]

I'm actually Greek. I was adopted by a Greek family.

[Kennedy]

From a lesbian orphanage.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Huh. Lesbian is right. This explains a lot about me, actually.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

So easy.

[Marcus Lemonis]

You got that from the Golden Girls. Are you Greek, Austin?

[Kennedy]

Cardia.

[Austin]

Ime, Elenica.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Are you Greek?

[Kennedy]

No, I'm Romanian. But I was. I was raised in the Greek Orthodox Church and then I studied Greek in college in Greece.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Did you do Greek Easter?

[Kennedy]

I do Greek Easter every week.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Where you have to, like, walk around the church for, like, four weeks.

[Kennedy]

No, my daughters have been raised in the Orthodox Church. I was raised in the Orthodox.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Let's move on. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

So here. This is a magical. Marcus, because I hear you are a vodka fan. I did not Tito. So I had great goose.

[Marcus Lemonis]

That's fine. I don't discriminate.

[Kennedy]

Vodka, a little Duke's orange liqueur, lemon juice, grapefruit juice, and cranberry juice.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Now I'd like to believe. Cheers.

[Kennedy]

Cheers.

[Marcus Lemonis]

I'd like to believe you did this just for me, but you did this for everybody. Not this drink, but does everybody get to drink.

[Kennedy]

On Fridays?

[Marcus Lemonis]

Why do you get to dress like this and I have to dress like this?

[Kennedy]

I don't know why you would choose to dress like that. It's so, like. It's fine.

[Marcus Lemonis]

I've worn a tie since I was on cnbc.

[Kennedy]

Okay, so you had your show on cnbc and now you're on Fox doing a show called the Fixer.

[Marcus Lemonis]

So. Yes.

[Austin]

On Big Fox.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Yeah, on Big Fox.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

That's exciting.

[Marcus Lemonis]

First of all, Fox Business TV to me is Big Fox.

[Kennedy]

Well, I agree completely.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Especially if you look at the ratings compared to cnbc.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, yeah, they're a lot better.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Yeah, they're a lot better.

[Kennedy]

Me, too.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Part of the reason why I wanted to come here and Rob Wade is over at Fox la. And what I like about it is that the authenticity of everybody that works here and the authenticity of the information that we provide people.

[Austin]

Yes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

There's just like. No, there's no.

[Kennedy]

It's really interesting you say that because a lot of times, especially from leftists, they. They start a conversation by saying, so Fox forces you to say A, B and C. Right? And I say, absolutely not. I do not have anyone call me. I do not have anyone say, well, since you're on this show today, we'd like to push these talking points. And since you're going to be on that show tomorrow, we'd like you to kind of take the opposite position. That doesn't happen. Like here they are very big on people doing their own research and coming to their own conclusions authentically and then communicating them through life experience.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Look, the truth always matters and the truth is told.

[Austin]

Yes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And then if you want to put your own POV on it, that's why people listen. They want to see if you have the same pov. When I first announced that I was coming to Fox, you know, I have friends from all places and sizes and shapes.

[Kennedy]

Well, you've been driving around in an RV for the last 30 years.

[Marcus Lemonis]

People say to me, like, what are you doing? This is crazy. It's going to be bad for our business. Business. It's going to be this.

[Kennedy]

I was like, camping world People are like, your beyond.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Yeah, my beyond people like my bed, Bath and beyond people. My bye bye baby people. And I, what I said to them is, listen, at the end of the day, I'm delivering a message. And the message is around the importance of capitalism and managing your business right. And not being entitled and not wanting stuff for free. I don't think you can cuss on here. But not wanting stuff for free.

[Kennedy]

If it's bad, they'll beep it.

[Austin]

But yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

But not wanting stuff for free.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And at the end of the day, that's the way I was brought up and that's what I believe. And I want to be at a place where I can be my most authentic self. The second piece was in every episode of the Fixer. And, you know, I made the profit for 120 episodes. 10 years, had a lot of drama. And what I liked about what I had here was invest, don't invest, walk out, don't walk out. Episode ends well, it doesn't end well. We don't care.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

All we want is always tell the truth.

[Kennedy]

It feels so manufactured when it always ends the same way or when drama is created.

[Marcus Lemonis]

It was a move. I just said, I just don't want to make a move. That bus show.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And in fairness, CNBC gave me some of that too. But they were very. Fox was very deliberate with me here. We want to see real business. We want you to treat people right. Of course.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And we want to pick the right people. Like, we don't want axe murderers and people who don't pay their taxes.

[Kennedy]

That's the wonderful thing about small business owners in this country, they all have incredible stories and the amount of sacrifice and hard work. Not all of them belief in a dream. Not all of them, no, of course. I mean, you have people that, that do feel entitled, that do phone it in, that, you know, have substandard, shabby places of business and attitudes to match and they're really frustrating. And some of those people you can help, like, you always want to see the good ones succeed, you know, who maybe have not had the right consulting.

[Marcus Lemonis]

But Kennedy, I know how much you like entertainment.

[Austin]

Yes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And at the end of the day, the show's premise is we want to inform, we want to inspire, we want to give people ideas. Those are wonderful. We're also making television. And so as an example, like, but the episode that aired last week on Fox Business was a audio alarm, Recover your seat, get your rims place in Long Island. So if you can kind of visualize like I already gave you, like it's the guys that put boom boxes in your car in Long Island.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

You're already like, okay, I want to watch that one. I want to see it. And the key is really giving people a look, see into all kinds of business.

[Austin]

Yes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And having fun with it.

[Kennedy]

But there are universals in business, aren't there? And, and sometimes people, especially when they're just starting out and they're self made, they don't know those things. Like they, they don't have those tools.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Well, the one universal is you should know math.

[Austin]

Yes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And you'd be surprised how many adults and how many business owners struggle with it. And rather than being in it, living in a judgment zone, I'd say to them, listen, whatever you don't know, that's why I'm here. What matters to me is how you treat people and how you think about the customer and how you think about your employees. I'm a big believer in a meritocracy. And so if you perform, I'm going to give you more. If you don't perform, it feels like.

[Kennedy]

The meritocracy is making a comeback right now.

[Marcus Lemonis]

It's making the comeback because of this administration.

[Austin]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

So do you think it's short lived? Because obviously President Trump isn't going to be President Trump after 2028.

[Marcus Lemonis]

I think people are going to end up liking the feeling. They're going to like the euphoria of accomplishing something on their own. They're going to like the euphoria of being recognized for their good work, either in cash or in some other form. Of recognition. I think people are going to like it. I think that the idea of people being entitled and wanting to work from home all the time and wanting to work four hours in a day and get paid for an eight hour wage.

[Kennedy]

I think that I don't understand. I think that's like. I understand the four day work week if you're working 10 hours a day.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I don't understand. And, and, well, that's a four, by the way.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

But the math does not add up if you're doing a four day work week. Working eight. Eight hours a day.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

At best. From home.

[Marcus Lemonis]

The problem is, though, is that we've told people it's okay. We've told people they can go to their HR department.

[Kennedy]

Why? Because we're scared of millennials?

[Marcus Lemonis]

No, you. Maybe I'll liken it to something that probably people won't like. When I'm an only child and when I was a kid, if I misbehaved, my mom beat the shit out of me.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And it wasn't like it was like abuse where I needed to call somebody, but like I would get spanked or whatever the appropriate word is. My mother wasn't scared to hit me. And if anybody said anything, she said, I'll hit you too today. But. But what happened was she only had to hit me once.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And then I knew that the rules that she was establishing were for my own benefit.

[Austin]

Yes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And then you went. Then when I went to the workplace, I understood that when the boss tells me you show up early, this is what you do. You don't like there wasn't like a negotiation.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And I think what's happened is. And I'll probably get in trouble for this. Parents have gotten a little soft on discipline.

[Kennedy]

I agree.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And then the kids think that's the way it is. And then they go to their boss and they talk to their boss like they talk to their parents. And the boss is like, what? What is this?

[Austin]

Yes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And then the kid says, well, the employee says, well, I'm going to tell HR that you blah, blah, blah. Me and I have operated very differently at Camping World. Couple things I always tell people, I want you to be independent. I want you to have your own thought. If I'm wrong and I own the business or I'm the leader of the business and you don't tell me that I'm wrong. If I'm asking you to do something that you don't agree with, tell me that you don't agree with it, but give me a better solution.

[Austin]

Yes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And you want to have business. You want to have employees have free dialogue. So in working at Fox, the one thing that I did my research on before I came here is that if you don't agree with your supervisor, you can have an intelligent discussion around why they're wrong. At the end of the day, they may say to you, hey, that's the way it is.

[Austin]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

And that's fair.

[Marcus Lemonis]

That's okay.

[Kennedy]

Those. Those are. Those are called rules.

[Marcus Lemonis]

That's why they're in charge.

[Austin]

Yes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

But at least the conversation can happen in. In some businesses in America, we've gotten to the point where, you know, you can't discipline the employee, you can't fire them, because there's going to be consequences. I always tell people, if they're going to fire me, let them. I mean, if they're going to sue me because I fired them because they showed up late 37 times. Let's roll.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Like, I'm.

[Kennedy]

I'll put it in front of a jury. There is in the world who would look at that and go, oh, I feel so bad for you, but even if I lose, you were insubordinate and lazy.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Even if I lose and have to pay it, the rules aren't changing for the other people that are still there.

[Austin]

Yeah, good.

[Kennedy]

That's. I've always wanted to just get in an RV and drive.

[Austin]

Why?

[Kennedy]

Because it sounds so wonderful and romantic, and there's so much about this country that I absolutely love and places that I've never seen. And I feel very lucky to have grown up in different parts of the country that have, like, different strengths and, you know, things to offer that feel incredibly unique. And I want to see more of those places.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Here's how I would think about it. As a capitalist and the reason I love the RV business and the reason I had the administration. I fought hard with the administration.

[Kennedy]

Sprinter vans count as an rv.

[Austin]

Okay, yes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

But the administration and the big, beautiful bill did a lot of work to really focus on recreation in the US Big tax benefits for the consumers, big tax benefits for recreation dealers like myself, because ultimately, the money stays inside of the borders. And so rather than you taking your cash and going to the Bahamas, you take your cash and you go to Yosemite. You take your cash or you go to a small town. If you could visualize yourself driving from point A to point B, you could. You want to eat, you need to sleep, you need to, you know, buy something. You're going to do that in small towns and small businesses, and you're keeping the money inside of the system.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

That is why I love it. And I, you and I think, have traded on online a little bit on social, that I get sued for my flag. I don't know if you've ever heard that before.

[Kennedy]

Do you know that every time we drive to our house upstate, every time, like it has now become Kingston, a family joke. Because I point at that flag every time. And I go, and now you can finally settle the dispute. Because I look up and I go, not only is that the most beautiful flag I've ever seen, that flag is made of a special material because that flag does not droop. That flag does not sag. That flag catches the wind so perfectly and moves in this angelic pattern. Is it made of something special?

[Marcus Lemonis]

It is. It's thicker material.

[Kennedy]

What is it that holds its flag? But it is, right? It is. It is a special material for that flag.

[Marcus Lemonis]

It's got a little polyester in it.

[Kennedy]

Okay, that's fine.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And a traditional flag does not. It's made of, like, rayon. And I put a heavier fabric. It's thousands of dollars.

[Austin]

Yes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And you have to take them down and put them up. So you have to change them a lot. Cost me a hundred and seventy thousand dollars to put up a flag pole and a flag and the lighting that goes with it. And I've had. Right now, I'm in two lawsuits with two cities, two more coming.

[Kennedy]

I know. Good. And I don't. I. I don't ever want you to go broke because you have such a beautiful flag.

[Marcus Lemonis]

I would.

[Kennedy]

I enjoy that flag. Usually twice a week. And I. I comment on it every single time.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Is it Kingston that you go up to?

[Austin]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

No, it's not Kingston.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Hudson Valley. Where do you go?

[Kennedy]

Catskills.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

So you're on your way out.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

But it's awesome.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Love it.

[Kennedy]

What a flag.

[Marcus Lemonis]

You know why I put it up?

[Kennedy]

I'm so glad. I almost feel like I should have bet my sexy teenage boyfriend money because now it's a joke. So anyone who's in the car, he's over 18, right? Yeah, barely. But they all look up at the flag and go, oh, wow, that must be a special material. I'm like, say what you will, Jack is that flag is special and it means something, and it's gorgeous. And it waves in a way that most flags do not.

[Marcus Lemonis]

People want me to take it down.

[Kennedy]

Don't ever.

[Marcus Lemonis]

I won't.

[Kennedy]

It's gorgeous. Why would they want you to take it down?

[Marcus Lemonis]

You know, I, truth be told, like, there are rules about Flagpole height and flag size. But there are rules that are local. They're, they're arbitrary. I don't ever put a flag up if the FAA says no, okay? So that is the one organization that I go to is like, I don't want people to die.

[Austin]

No.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Can I put my flag up? When they go like this, the flag goes up, and then the city will come and say, well, wait a minute, wait a minute. You know, we, we. You can only have 50ft, and it can only be this big. And my response is, listen, I, I'm adopted. I was born in a foreign country. I lived in an orphanage in Lebanon. I was given a chance to be an American capitalist. I employ 14,000 people. And you can kick rocks.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

This is my love letter to all the people who let me come here legally, who gave me the ability to borrow money and hire people and sell things that are made in America to see America, and it's my only way. I have no kids. My parents are both gone. I have no brothers and sisters. And this is my love letter to people.

[Kennedy]

That's beautiful, and it is, but it is a letter that, just for the record, it is deeply appreciated. And every time I drive by, I, I, I love it. And I'm, I'm so stoked for you. I'm stoked for the show. I love capitalism. I love creativity. I, I love the idea of people grabbing the bull by the horse and just writing. Here's what they can go.

[Marcus Lemonis]

I think you should come on the show with me.

[Kennedy]

Okay.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Because I think people could get a dose of reality from you too. Oh, style and reality. They can get both of those and.

[Kennedy]

A good cocktail you will hopefully mean. I hope you like it. Is it too bitter?

[Marcus Lemonis]

No, it says it doesn't have enough vodka.

[Kennedy]

Well, I didn't want to, like, drug you. I'm sure I could scare up a Mickey somewhere on this floor. The radio people, they're always popping Mommy's little helpers. It's crazy. That's not true.

[Marcus Lemonis]

What do you do for fun?

[Kennedy]

I do all sorts of stuff. I do triathlons. I like surfing. I like traveling.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Do you do triathlons?

[Kennedy]

I do, and I, I love.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Do people know that?

[Kennedy]

I think so. I mean, I post it on Instagram a lot. I usually do, like, one or two.

[Marcus Lemonis]

You run marathons, too?

[Kennedy]

I've run a marathon, and I liked it, but I prefer breaking it up. Like marathon running. All you do is run, and that's really boring to me.

[Marcus Lemonis]

I have one more question for you. You could own One business, one kind of business. And you can't pick one like, oh, I want to own Apple, that doesn't count.

[Austin]

No.

[Marcus Lemonis]

What kind of business would you want.

[Kennedy]

To open if you could open one that's really interesting. I would, I would love to have a really good math tutoring business for young women because I feel like young women learn math differently and when it sparks inside of them, it's a conflagration.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Why do they learn it differently?

[Kennedy]

I don't know. I just feel like I did and it wasn't until it was explained to me in a very enthusiastic way that I truly understood and then it made sense to me.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Do you think there's a difference between genders learning math?

[Kennedy]

I think there is, yes. So I had a physics tutor who explained it to me and she had a small child, she had a three year old son and he understood physics naturally, according to her because he would take cars and shove them off ramps and boys were almost encouraged to figure that out. And so like I always bought my girls cars when they were little because I wanted them to feel the physics. And I would tell them math is beautiful. That hasn't stuck so far, but I'm still optimistic.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Well, math is the gateway to freedom.

[Kennedy]

It is the gateway to freedom because that is the universal language, whether you.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Own a business or not. And it doesn't all have to do with money. Yeah, it has to do with understanding, just general principles. And you know, I think that, that if we can figure out how to just give people access to more information and truth be told, that's largely why I make the show because I feel like there's a gap of information and people are thinking that AI is going to solve all of that. AI only works if you ask the right question.

[Kennedy]

That's a very good point.

[Marcus Lemonis]

You have to ask the right question. You have to have the courage to ask the question and you have to know what the question should be. And so I remember we had a business out of the Jersey Shore apply for that show. And the gentleman said to me, I called you because I suck at math. And I just said like, then we can't do this because you can't call me to solve your math problems. You need to solve your math problem.

[Kennedy]

Don't go anywhere. More Kennedy saves the World Right after.

[Jason Chaffetz]

This, listen to the all new Bret Baer podcast featuring Common ground in depth talks with lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle along with all your Bret Baier favorites like his all star panel and much more. Available now at fox news podcasts.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kennedy]

That's the thing. Like, it is so contrary to where we are in society, because math is one of the things where you have to sit down and do it over and over and over again until it actually sticks and until you have those aha moments. And it. It takes work. And we're in an era where it's like, no, I just want to do the quick thing and I want to watch a tutorial on YouTube or TikTok and know how to do it and then just do it and be done with it. And to have someone call me an expert and tell me how amazing I am.

[Marcus Lemonis]

I'll teach you the principles you have to practice. Practice it?

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

You don't learn how to play in the NBA by watching it.

[Kennedy]

No. And I need a.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Here's what I like about it. I'm going to give you the 32nd pitch. Here's the great thing.

[Kennedy]

But that's just me spitballing. It might be something else, but it's.

[Marcus Lemonis]

But it's an amazing idea. It has. There's no inventory, there's no capital. And the margins are. What are the margins? In a tutoring business?

[Kennedy]

I think the margins are very high, especially depending.

[Marcus Lemonis]

This is your math test.

[Kennedy]

What are they, 45%?

[Marcus Lemonis]

No, they're 100.

[Kennedy]

Well, depends where you go. Like, if you have a beautiful math tutoring office, then you have to pay overhead and a receptionist.

[Marcus Lemonis]

That's the bottom line. Yeah, but I actually would invest in your math business.

[Kennedy]

Solid.

[Marcus Lemonis]

But I would want to control the math.

[Kennedy]

That's fine. You can control the math. Like math is. I. I had a math professor. I failed algebra all four years of high school. That's why I. I don't have high school.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And nobody ever uses it. I shouldn't say that out loud, but nobody uses algebra.

[Kennedy]

I love using algebra. I love algebra. I love geometry.

[Marcus Lemonis]

You use algebra?

[Austin]

Yes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Give me an example.

[Kennedy]

When you calculate for X, whatever it is, like x over 100 equals, like a regression analysis.

[Austin]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

So just trying to figure out, like, some unknown quantity and, you know, when I was in math, I would actually use formulas to calculate how long it would take for one thing to go in one direction if the other thing was going in the other direction. That was really fun. And what was I going to say?

[Marcus Lemonis]

I hope the people that are watching slash listening to this are unbelievably impressed by what you just said.

[Kennedy]

They are not.

[Marcus Lemonis]

No, they should be. And I don't know if it's the.

[Kennedy]

Alcohol talking or there's not enough in it.

[Marcus Lemonis]

But the fact that you really do understand the necessity for information I think is underappreciated by people. And the fact that you do it in such a fun way is really special. I didn't mean to get corny, but I like. It's super cool.

[Kennedy]

Well, I'm glad that you love math.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Because now I feel like I'm not the only.

[Kennedy]

No, but it wasn't until. It wasn't until someone told me, Mr. Green, my professor at Santa Monica College, math is beautiful. And that stuck with me. And then I started studying ancient Greek philosophy. And you could not study philosophy in ancient Greece unless you understood math.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Are you a philosophy major? Yes, Analytic philosophy and a math major?

[Kennedy]

No, but we did a lot of philosophy of mathematics and. And I took calculus as an elective because I wanted to understand the proofs.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And so people learning a lot about you right this moment?

[Kennedy]

I don't know.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Do people know you're a philosophy major?

[Kennedy]

Yeah, I talk about philosophy on my podcast. I love philosophy. I think philosophy is amazing. It was the one subject where the more I read, the more I wanted to read.

[Marcus Lemonis]

It's the one thing that you can have an open debate and there's not a right or wrong.

[Kennedy]

That's what's so amazing about it. It's like one King's Lane. The motto is design is never done. But philosophy is the same way. Philosophy is never done. But you can't have things like quantum mechanics without philosophy.

[Marcus Lemonis]

What's your philosophy about people?

[Kennedy]

Oh, that's a good question. As an Objectivist, I believe that there are objective truths.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Define for people what an objectivist is.

[Kennedy]

So an Objectivist believes that there. As opposed to a subjectivist, which believes that things are always changing and only certain things need to be gleaned in order to have an understanding of them. Whereas an Objectivist believes that there is an objective, defined nature to the universe that is knowable purpose. But like Socrates said, there is a difference between wisdom and Socratic wisdom. Socrates said, I know that I know nothing. Meaning that the amount of information there is to know is so overwhelming compared to what one human can know. But it is the pursuit to understand the objective world that I think is super worthy.

[Marcus Lemonis]

So fascinating.

[Kennedy]

Ah, I don't know. But it's. But I like it.

[Marcus Lemonis]

But you make it cool, though. And that's the thing that I really admire about you, because I've always been a fan, is your ability to make being smart and being sophisticated and understanding math and being able to have an intelligent Dialogue. And it doesn't have to be anything but fun.

[Kennedy]

No, it does. I mean, but that's life. Like, that's why it's interesting, everybody. No, but it's interesting to cover politics from the perspective of we should all, we have so much more in common as humans. Like, we should all just be having fun. Like, by and large, we should all have that feeling we had when we were on our BMX bikes when we were 9 and 10 years old. You know, it's like, and that's how.

[Marcus Lemonis]

No fear, no fear.

[Kennedy]

And like, getting your, your bros, your homies with you. And like, it's us against the world. Let's all go together.

[Marcus Lemonis]

The outsiders.

[Kennedy]

Yes. And it's like, and that's what I try and do, like, everywhere I work. Like I say, the good ones stick together.

[Marcus Lemonis]

As an objectivist, how do you feel about this election in New York, in the city?

[Kennedy]

Socialism is very subjective. It's horrible. It is a zero sum redistribution proposition manufactured by jealous people who want to take your stuff.

[Marcus Lemonis]

So I want to give you a slightly different spin on it, if I could, please. I agree with everything you said. I think it's demoralizing. And you don't give people an opportunity to find their own way and have their own accomplishment and fight for something and want to earn something and get the gratification of accomplishing something. And if you don't, if you don't subscribe to that, then when you buy your first home, somebody else gave it to you. And I know when I bought my first home and I had only $17,000 down, that I had worked my offer that 17,000, and my mortgage rate was really high and I know exactly what I paid for the house and all of that. It was the sense of accomplishment. And so I always get into debates with people that forget about socialism in, in terms of like, yes, if you are disabled or you have a handicap of some kind, I want to help you out. Sure, I get it. Like, that doesn't mean that I don't want to do that. But if you have two feet, two hands, two eyes, I expect you to show up. I expect you to put up. And if you don't want to do it, like, I'm not interested in being in business with you, nor am I interested in subsidizing your lifestyle. But if you show up and you work your butt off and you give me an A plus effort and you're loyal to the business or you're loyal to whatever it may be and you really believe that the American dream is about achieving something. I will help you.

[Austin]

Yes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

To my core.

[Kennedy]

Amen.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Even at my own peril. Yes, but it's my choice.

[Kennedy]

Yes, that is a choice, but that's a thing. You're absolutely right. It is demoralizing because the choice is taken from you. And also the accomplishment and the inspiration that you give other people for accomplishing something, that is all taken from you. And you know, the supposition is that was never yours to begin with and that is a falsehood. So it's either you believe in private property or you do not. And so I have a neighbor in my building who had a, you know, I voted sticker. I was like, oh, did you vote for Mom? Donnie is like, yeah, I did. And I was like, your shoes are expensive. You will not be able to afford those because all of the tax hikes are going to be passed on to you.

[Marcus Lemonis]

They're going to take.

[Kennedy]

Rich people are going to leave. And yeah, I should have just said, give me your shoes right now, because I want them.

[Austin]

Yeah, exactly.

[Marcus Lemonis]

I want to read this. I deserve them.

[Kennedy]

I don't have shoes like that and I deserve them. According to your ability and according to my need, I deserve those shoes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

That concept, the concept of socialism is great in concept for those people until it applies to them.

[Kennedy]

Yes, exactly right. And it is never applied to them.

[Marcus Lemonis]

I'm moving into your apartment and I'm going to move into your refrigerator.

[Kennedy]

Well, Zoran Mamdani, like, has a massive family compound in Uganda. He has a beautiful apartment, a two million dollar apartment in Chelsea. Why not just let people move in there? Because it has never applied to them. Yes, but fancy lads make horrible socialists because the rules of social have truly never applied to them. And you know, it's like those of us who have family members who escaped oppression, like my mom and her brothers and my grandparents, and came over, worked their butts off, worked their asses off, but had everything taken from them by the commies back in Romania and had no choice. And like, that is the end result of socialism. That is, those are the unintended consequences. But luckily for them, the consequences were all of their kids went to school, they went to college, they all got advanced degrees and had families. And how strict were your parents? My, My dad was really strict about some things, but then super loosey goosey about others, which is probably why my parents got a divorce. And your mom, she's. She was an artist. So it's like she would get really mad because she has a Romanian temper, but by and large, like, she just Wanted you to see the colors of the sunset and really appreciate that.

[Marcus Lemonis]

But you had discipline.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, for sure.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Like, you couldn't just tell him, like. No, no, no.

[Kennedy]

Because it's like, I always joke that, like, my mom's a peasant and my dad's a hillbilly.

[Marcus Lemonis]

So, like, between the combination, somebody's ass is getting more.

[Kennedy]

Exactly.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Doesn't go well.

[Austin]

No.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Where'd you grow up?

[Kennedy]

In Indiana and Oregon.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Oh. Cause you split.

[Kennedy]

No, because my dad got a job in Oregon, and they just drove west and stopped driving, and it was like, well, here we are.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Don't go back to Oregon.

[Kennedy]

Not right now.

[Marcus Lemonis]

No.

[Kennedy]

It's horrible. Like, the politics in Oregon are horrible. And they're as bad as California. And they just assume, these rich hippies assume that everyone is gonna stay there because it's so geographically beautiful. And people cannot get out of California and Portland fast enough.

[Marcus Lemonis]

I used to have a. In Montecito.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

That I bought right before COVID And my wife looked at me. She's like, I can't deal with these people. We got to get out of here.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And she was talking about Harry and Megan.

[Marcus Lemonis]

She was talking about everybody. We got to get out of here. You know what? I'll leave you with this thought on Mandami. We talked about it on Bottom Line a little while ago. I live in Chicago.

[Kennedy]

Nice.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And. No, not nice. Yeah, actually, I'm trying to be nice. Actually, really bad.

[Kennedy]

But Chicago has, like, good sausages.

[Austin]

It. It.

[Marcus Lemonis]

That's Milwaukee.

[Austin]

Wrong.

[Kennedy]

No, Chicago. Gage. That restaurant Gage in Chicago has fantastic homemade sausages.

[Marcus Lemonis]

I know, but you used to. You ever been to Michigan Avenue?

[Austin]

Yes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Like, back in the day would be beautiful in the Ferris wheel. And everybody was happy in the conventions. I live on Michigan Avenue. And what I told the team on Bottom Line was, if you want to know what New York could look like if this guy wins, then just go get a preview to the movie and come spend a day with me in Chicago.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And I just had a business there, my wife's business. I closed it. She was very mad. We got ransacked twice. Couldn't get insurance.

[Kennedy]

But also, that's the thing. I was just going to say, the insurance company stops paying. They're like, sorry, you got your windows broken. And everything in the cash register was taken. Not our problem anymore. We already paid you three times.

[Marcus Lemonis]

We couldn't get insurance. We lost $1 million operating. We operate on Michigan Avenue. It wasn't like it was in some weird neighborhood. And so what I would. What I would caution New Yorkers, and I have a place here. What I would caution New Yorkers to understand is that you have a choice, and choices have consequences. And whether your real estate value goes down or whether the stock market moves to Miami, if people believe that responsibility and law and order and capitalism is a good thing, then we know what's going to happen. If they don't, then they just should understand that New York's going to change.

[Kennedy]

It is going to change. And unfortunately, and this is what I try and explain to people, it's a bell you can't unring.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And.

[Kennedy]

And they're like, oh, that's okay. And I have a lot of friends like, well, maybe people have to see how bad it can get. I'm like, no, because unfortunately, you can get to a point where your entire look at Detroit, like, look at their tax base left, and they're not coming back.

[Marcus Lemonis]

I know that if I drive a car while I'm drinking, I'm gonna have an accident. I don't need to know what that looks like.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And so if I. If I pick a path that I know has a bad consequence to it and it's bad for the people that don't know it's going to be bad.

[Austin]

Yes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Then that's what's gonna happen.

[Kennedy]

Well, Marcus Lemonis, thank you so much. Cheers to you.

[Marcus Lemonis]

You didn't even drink. I think this was a setup.

[Kennedy]

I gotta do the five.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Are you a Yankee fan?

[Austin]

This.

[Kennedy]

Yes, I am.

[Marcus Lemonis]

I was just. I was just curious.

[Kennedy]

Oh, they're horrible right now. I'm mad at them. I'm not mad at you. You go play shortstop.

[Marcus Lemonis]

You ever get to go to a Mets camp?

[Kennedy]

Yeah, I've been to the Mets. They have better gluten free options than Yankee Stadium. They do.

[Marcus Lemonis]

They do, actually.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

No, I know. I have celiac. It sucks. There's one. There's one gluten free kiosk at Yankee Stadium.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Worst business I ever invested in. There was a gluten free bakery in Chicago, in the suburbs. And I watched the news one night. I'll leave you with this. I watched the news, it was like maybe Christmas Eve, and this couple had to shut down their gluten free bakery. And here comes me. I was like, I'll save it. And I spent probably $400,000 over a series of like 12 or 24 months.

[Austin]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And see, I would say I would start a gluten free bakery or a caftan company. Horrible margins in fashion. Too much work.

[Marcus Lemonis]

No, that's good margins.

[Kennedy]

Really?

[Marcus Lemonis]

Yeah. How much do you think that costs?

[Kennedy]

Well, I know how much you paid.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Hundreds of dollars.

[Kennedy]

I bought this for $35 on Amazon.

[Marcus Lemonis]

And it cost them, I don't know, 12. How much?

[Kennedy]

Four? I don't know.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Thank you for having me.

[Kennedy]

You're amazing.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Appreciate it.

[Kennedy]

And may every world be a camping world and beyond.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Oh, he is fixer. You know, Bed, Bath and Beyond had a grand opening today for sure. Nashville.

[Kennedy]

Oh, I wish it was here. Our clothes.

[Marcus Lemonis]

Yeah, we can't afford the rent.

[Kennedy]

I'm like 68th and Broadway. Whatever it was, I'm very sad. All right, well, cheers to you.

[Austin]

Thank you.

[Kennedy]

This has been Kennedy Saves the World along with Marcus Lemonis. I'm Kevin. Listen ad free with a Fox News podcast plus subscription on Apple Podcasts and Amazon Prime. Members can listen to this show ad free on the Amazon music app. Oh, go ahead and leave me a review while you're there. I'd love to hear what you have to say. You've been listening to Kennedy Saves the World on the Fox News Podcast Network.

[Jason Chaffetz]

This is Jason Chaffetz from the Jason in the House podcast. Join me every Monday to dive deeper into the latest political headlines and chat with remarkable guests. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you download podcasts.