
#868: Join us as we sit down with Nikki Reed & Ian Somerhalder – acclaimed actors, entrepreneurs, environmental advocates, & Co-Founders of The Absorption Company. After building remarkable careers in the entertainment industry, they’ve...
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Lauren Everts
The following podcast is a Dear Media Production. She's a lifestyle blogger extraordinaire.
Michael Bostick
Fantastic.
Lauren Everts
And he's a serial entrepreneur, a very smart cookie. And now Lauren Everts and Michael Bostick.
Nikki Reed
Are bringing you along for the ride.
Michael Bostick
Get ready for some major realness.
Lauren Everts
Welcome to the Skinny Confidential.
Nikki Reed
Him and her.
Lauren Everts
Hello, everybody. Welcome back to the Skinny Confidential, him and her show. Today we're sitting down with two incredibly multifaceted, purpose driven people, Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder. You probably know them from the big screen. Nikki from her breakout role and co writing debut in the raw cultural shifting film 13. And of course as Rosalie in the global phenomenon Twilight. Ian skyrocketed to fame as Boone and Loss and became a household name playing Damon Salvatore. I hope I'm saying that right in the Vampire Diaries. Sorry, Ian, I don't know if I was the target audience. One of the most iconic TV characters of a generation. But what's even more impressive is who they are beyond Hollywood. Nikki and Ian have transformed their lives from the chaos of the entertainment industry to living intentionally on a regenerative farm, raising their children close to the land, and building conscious companies that reflect their values. From sustainable fashion to clean supplementation, environmental documentaries on soil health. They're living proof that fame doesn't have to define you. Purpose does. So today we're going deep into the spotlight, into the soil, into love, parenting, wellness and what it really means to evolve. Please welcome Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder to the Skinny Confidential, him and her show. This is the Skinny Confidential.
Ian Somerhalder
Him and her.
Michael Bostick
You guys seem to have stepped away from the Hollywood spotlight. What was that decision? Like, why did you guys decide to make this evolution?
Nikki Reed
No one would hire me. No, we had. What was yours, Mama? Well, yours was like 10 years ago.
Ian Somerhalder
I had a. I had a moment. So I was pregnant and I'm a busy bee, so I wanted to keep doing, doing, doing. So I thought, what can I do? What can I create in this chapter? And I launched my first business, which is Bayou with Love. So in that moment, I had the opportunity to sort of, I think, take creativity and this desire to maybe move culture forward in a different way, inspire people in a different way, through consciousness, through sustainability. And once I started, I just, I couldn't stop. I mean, I love, I love my company, I love our company together. And never say never. It's not. He's very serious about, like, that door is closed for me. The door is not closed. I mean, we're the yin and the yang in that way. I'm I just don't like to speak in definitive terms.
Nikki Reed
I mean, I just got. I did get the rights back to V Wars, but I don't. I wouldn't do anything outside of that. I just wouldn't. I mean, I doubt Stacy's gonna call next week and say, like, hey, hey, it's Marty. Come do this movie with me. I doubt that's gonna happen.
Michael Bostick
What if it did?
Lauren Everts
Well, he's a big listener, so you never know.
Michael Bostick
Yeah.
Lauren Everts
Tunes in every.
Nikki Reed
Well, you know what it is, man, we did really well in those careers.
Michael Bostick
Yeah.
Nikki Reed
And we. We hit a very unique flashpoint in culture, in. In television entertainment culture. Hers was on the film side. Obviously. The enormous success of Twilight gave light to that genre and jacked it up again, which is where we got our green light. And then they played themselves. I mean, they played themselves out in a very massive way. Them and a huge commercial film side and us on the television side on the. You know. But I did eight years and 172 episodes.
Ian Somerhalder
Wow.
Nikki Reed
And. And so to be on a set, like, we have three companies together. Two of those companies are sort of bigger scalable companies. So we're here like building billion dollar companies. To think of. I don't know how. I don't think I'd ever do this again. Launch two films, raise two kids, build two companies and do 110 flights a year. I would never do that again. It's a lot, but we're doing it and we're in the thick of it. And I just don't know where I would ever have the ability to be on a set doing all that. Doesn't. Wouldn't make sense.
Lauren Everts
What requires more of your time being on a set like that or doing what you're doing now?
Nikki Reed
Well, being on a set will require a ton of time.
Lauren Everts
Okay.
Ian Somerhalder
I don't know if that's a fair statement. I mean, it would require a lot of time that would pull you away from this. But the travel schedule and life schedule that you have now is, you know, in many ways, you're. You're pouring all of yourself into it.
Lauren Everts
Right.
Nikki Reed
But we're building glow. We're building like things that are actually going to shift not just consciousness, but they're about to shift the planet.
Ian Somerhalder
And it's a different level of fulfillment and purpose.
Nikki Reed
Yeah. I mean, the Absorption company is about to. Is effectively like the most disruptive supplement in the entire category, which is a 55 billion dollar a year category. That to me seems like such a higher calling and better use of my time.
Michael Bostick
Than it's almost like with acting. And correct me if I'm wrong, because I've never acted. I know that's surprising.
Nikki Reed
You're acting like you like us right now. You're acting pregnant.
Michael Bostick
I'm pregnant. Acting seems like you're working towards fulfilling someone else's dream for fans.
Nikki Reed
Good point.
Michael Bostick
It's almost like you're working for the fans. And when you do something as big as Twilight and what you've. I mean, you really were at this, like at this sweet spot.
Lauren Everts
There's vampires everywhere.
Michael Bostick
There's vampires everywhere. But it seems like what you guys are doing now, it's like it's something that is more purpose towards doing what you want as opposed to building someone else's dream.
Nikki Reed
I wouldn't say it was for fans. I would say it's more for producers and studios and stuff.
Michael Bostick
You're like, working for.
Ian Somerhalder
No, I would say that there's an emotional connection and a way of storytelling that can be very impactful. Right. And I think he and I are both very impact driven. We want to create impact in everything that we do. And so storytelling is one form of that, but so are, you know, supplements are very emotional. Right. So we're creating things that have that same level of impact and storytelling but in a different capacity. So I actually see them as like almost parallels as opposed to like polar opposites in a way. I just feel like I transferred, you know, whatever creative fulfillment I was finding in that place and just sort of shifted it 100%. Whether that's permanent or temporary, who knows? But for me, I've just shifted it into a new space.
Nikki Reed
Yeah, no, it's a. That's a really great way to. To put it. Taking that energy and understanding of storytelling and then use, you know, taking passion or specific categories or whatever it is. You know, she pioneered a type of basically jewelry that people no one was ever talking about. She created that. But that came from passion and expertise and storytelling. Same thing that we were doing. I started working on this 10 years ago of realizing, like, wait, people are buying, spending billions of dollars on supplements that don't work and some of them are toxic. This isn't fair. Let's change that. And then I also own a whiskey company which is like building the truly first regenerative whiskey company in the world, which is, you know, sequestering enormous amounts of carbon. And so like, these are impactful and amazing aspects of our lives. But the storytelling is what's the through line. And I think that's what you meant is like, that's what's kind of great is shifting that focus into.
Ian Somerhalder
And energy and fueling.
Michael Bostick
Do you guys think it's because you went to the moon with acting? Like you went. You. You. To me, it's like you checked the box.
Lauren Everts
I was going to ask a lot of people and maybe many that listen to this show, they glamorize and they fantasize about doing something like that and reaching that level of notoriety and being able to be in the types of pictures and shows that you guys were in. What are maybe some of the misconceptions or pitfalls, things that maybe people think they should be aspiring to, but maybe you would caution against?
Ian Somerhalder
Well, it's an interesting question, because I. The ultimate goal, I suppose, if you look at it from a bird's eye view for an actor, is to reach a level of success where people recognize you and your work. Right. And that comes with a very, very steep price. And it just depends on whether or not you're willing to be okay with the unintended consequences of that, which is, you know, your freedom and your privacy and your life being compromised. And I was not. So, you know, and I'm very vocal about that. I say this all the time, Tim, you know, even doing, like, you know, being in this podcast setting where there's like, actually a camera, I'm sorry, far away from cameras being on me now. And that's an intentional choice. So I love that he can be out there and sort of be the face and talk about everything in front of the camera, and I can be the creative force behind the camera. So I launched my company in that way up until last year. I say this with a smile on my face, but it was such an uncomfortable transition for me to go from spending the last six or seven years just behind the camera to now. There are responsibilities, of course, that come with owning companies and being in front of the camera again.
Nikki Reed
Yeah. So much so that she would. When she would photograph all of her jewelry and stuff, my hands.
Ian Somerhalder
It would just be her hand or.
Nikki Reed
Her ear or her clavicle, which is a great clavicle, by the way.
Ian Somerhalder
Thank you so much.
Nikki Reed
But, like, she wouldn't even put her face in this stuff. And then cut to, you know, we launched the absorption company and she launches. She's like, do I. Do I really need to launch a TikTok page? We're like, yes, you gotta do it. It was the single largest TikTok launch. She was getting flowers from the CEO of, like, ByteDance.
Ian Somerhalder
I don't know if that's True. Is that true? I don't know.
Nikki Reed
They were coming in gifts. They were like, we've never seen anything like this. And she's just like, I don't know.
Lauren Everts
How appropriate that sounds. That CEO sending the flowers.
Nikki Reed
Well, no, it was like.
Ian Somerhalder
I think it was actually him.
Nikki Reed
No, it's just one of those things of saying, hey, wait a minute. I just worked so hard to go behind the camera just to creatively tell stories, and now I'm in front of it again. But it's for an amazing cause, which is to build a very disruptive and very, very authentically empowering business.
Lauren Everts
There was a guy speaking the other day. I don't know if you ever follow Naval Ravikant or if you've ever seen of his work, but he was talking about fame. And he was saying the best type of fame is the fame that you get because you've uplifted or helped the world. So, like, you think about Gandhi. He has a fame because of the things he did. Or if you think about Winston Church, those kind of people, and they become ultimately some of the most famous people in history because of their contribution to society. He said a dangerous type of fame is the fame, like we're talking about here, which is you put a product out that is kind of maybe like, let's take, like, acting or even doing this show, and you reach this level of notoriety. But then you get in this position where you feel like you have to keep performing in order to keep the fame, and you're scared of losing it. And he said that it's always fleeting, and that kind of fame is very stressful.
Ian Somerhalder
I don't have that fear at all.
Nikki Reed
But he was saying that would be a gnarly feeling. Oh, yeah, that would be a gnarly feeling.
Lauren Everts
But I imagine what you're doing now, it's like you're putting something into the world that's contributing to being able to help people. Feels so good. So it feels much better. Maybe that's why it's more comfortable to be in front where the other kind. Like you're saying a lot of actors, unfortunately get in a position where it's like, what's the next film? Am I going to the next job? Am I going to do the next thing? And I imagine that's a very stressful flywheel to be on.
Ian Somerhalder
Well, I think not to get too deep, but as a woman, I think I also didn't. I found it interesting that so many people were making decisions for what my life or career or, you know, physical appearance would Be. And I grew up in this business, so I wrote the first film that I was in when I was 13 years old. So I have, you know, decades in this. And I think I just got to a point where I. I said, you know, I kind of want to be in charge of myself and my life and my career. And again, like going back to impact, you know, just having impact driven businesses. But yeah, it's an interesting thing. It's nice to see how much the business has shifted since, you know, I was a kid doing this as a woman, especially to see that shift is really nice. But I.
Lauren Everts
In a good or bad way?
Ian Somerhalder
No, in a great way. I think there are rules that are put in place now that didn't exist, you know, 20 years ago when I was growing up in this business.
Nikki Reed
Your whole trajectory is always for whether it was intended or not has always been about impact. Like, you know, when she was 13, she wrote a unbelievably celebrated film where the lead actress was nominated for an Oscar. Like, that was crazy. And by the way, if you're a parent, it's interesting. I came across some of it not too long ago and obviously it has that. It's not as dated, but the shift shifted because of technology. But you go back and watch that film, you know, have you ever seen that film?
Lauren Everts
Of course.
Michael Bostick
Okay, so let me just give you a little context how I was introduced to you. A lot of impact through the film 13, which I'm sure you hear all the time. And I remember being like, who is that beautiful girl? I remember being super young and looking at you and being like, what year.
Lauren Everts
Did it come out?
Ian Somerhalder
Oh, no. But here's something so crazy naughty, it.
Michael Bostick
Was almost like, remember the Ophelia? Do you guys remember that book Ophelia? It was kind of had that.
Ian Somerhalder
It was in that same time period. So I think it was 2003. 4.
Michael Bostick
Yeah, 2003. But here's what's so interesting to me. I did not realize that you wrote it. And what's so interesting to me is what you're doing now is very synergistic to you writing that at 13. It's almost like you went back to your roots with what you're doing now because you control your creativity. How did you know how to write that at such a young age? That's wild.
Ian Somerhalder
I didn't. That's the answer. That's. You just did it. You know, there was magic that happened. I mean, I was to give myself my little self credit, you know, my six, seven, eight year old Self credit. I was very genius.
Nikki Reed
Weren't you tutoring people at like 9 years old?
Ian Somerhalder
Well, I'll just say writing was a passion of mine. She was tutoring.
Michael Bostick
How old were you when you wrote it?
Ian Somerhalder
13, but I co wrote the film.
Lauren Everts
So about what I was doing at 13.
Ian Somerhalder
And it was a series of, you know, diary entries and journal entries that a family friend who ended up directing and co writing the film, Katherine Hardwick, she said, here's final draft. What can you do with this? And we sat down together and over the course of six days wrote this film. But it was just one of those things like the stars aligned and it happened and there was magic in the air and it was supposed to happen and I couldn't do it again. I wouldn't do it again. No matter what, I wouldn't do it again. But there's a lot of beauty to that little happy accident that happened all those years ago. So I didn't know how to write a film. But I was, I was a gifted writer as a child. And you know, I grew up very humble beginnings. You know, we didn't have the money to go to private school or have tutors or things like that. And so the only way that I was able to have access to those types of programs was through my writing because I was sent to different schools based on my writing. And so, you know, that and then, you know, having a really amazing community of people that really fostered that and encouraged that, supported that, that was amazing. But yeah, that was just the stars aligned.
Michael Bostick
You, you said that you like threw yourself into it and didn't know what you were doing behind the scenes writing. And that sounds like what you guys have done with your company. It's like you threw yourself in and you make it work. And now you prefer behind the scenes. It's very like slight edge to go back to what you really loved at a young age. It's just interesting that you're doing what you're doing now.
Ian Somerhalder
So different the absorption company came from. This was there was 10 years in the making. So a lot of thought and premeditated formulation and discussion. But yes, you're right in the sense that I've always had the mentality of where there's a will, there's a way and you figure it out. So I put my head down and I do like I'm a workhorse. That's why I said earlier, I'm a busy bee. Right? You asked where my first company came from and I was like, well, I'm pregnant and I Have this amazing idea that I think will hopefully have a positive impact on the world. Let's figure it out. I had never. I mean, the way that came about was I started a company that was based on multipurpose apothecary. And within a couple of months, I got a phone call from Tech Dell saying, hi, we have all of this, you know, recycled gold from the motherboards of our repurposed computers. And we'd love to know if you have any ideas on what to do with this gold, because you're, you know, very vocal in the sustainability arena. And I was like, well, funny enough, I do have an idea what we can do with all that gold. And three months later, we had the very first fully circular jewelry line made of 100% recycled tech gold. And we launched at CES, which was a tech convention, and we won the audience award there. And all of that, literally, I just put my head down and say, I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna figure it out. I didn't know how to receive all of this gold. I didn't know how we were receiving it, how I was gonna describe this to the factory, what factory we were even gonna use. I just put my head down. And so in that sense, I'll say that the absorption company and Brothers bond and bayou with love all have that kind of energy behind them, where we just decide we have a dream and we're gonna figure it out and go for it. But with the absorption company, many, many years, a decade went into. And you can talk a little bit about that, the birth of that.
Nikki Reed
We knew we wanted to have kids. And one of the things that when you realize. When you want to procreate, probably good idea to be very healthy and cleaned out, living on sets. I had an integrated medical clinic I went to. And pop. You know, you're just popping so many. You know, you walk into my house and there's just thousands of dollars of supplements everywhere, just like yours. And we said, hey, you know what? We should. Because we check blood every year. We're obsessive about it. Let's go really, really, really deep and really see what's in there. And the results were astounding, which was heavy toxicity of metals. Some. One of the metals is 1100 x the amount I should have. Yeah, yeah, it's really bad stuff. And so when you started sort of like peeling an onion back, you realize, wait a minute. So I'm taking all of this stuff that I don't really know if it's doing what it's doing. It's a highly unregulated business.
Michael Bostick
As I take a vitamin shot, be.
Nikki Reed
Propolis, it looks like. Yeah, yeah, think of that. Think of the natural components of that stuff and where that comes from. Again, going back to nature. No, I'm saying it's amazing. Yeah, yeah.
Ian Somerhalder
I mean, that's one of my favorites, by the way.
Nikki Reed
Going back to nature. Oh, yeah. The properties of that are incredible. But going back to, you know, we live in a highly, highly toxified environment. We have a broken food system, broken water system, polluted air system. You know, our, our pharmaceutical industries. All these things are really not good for the average American. Well, you can tell that and identify that when you start going and looking at blood, like really doing a deep dive. So I realized in that moment I just said, all right, it's time to clean house, strip all of this out, do a couple of really powerful detoxes. And you know, what did those look like?
Lauren Everts
People are going to ask the detoxes that you do.
Michael Bostick
People want to know the details.
Nikki Reed
So Keely, you know, well, you're doing a number of things right. Like again, people always want to sell you things, right. So when you have heavy metal toxicity, you know, I had these integrative doctors that were like, it's going to be pretty simple. Here's what we're going to do.
Ian Somerhalder
A lot of cilantro.
Nikki Reed
Yeah, you're going to.
Michael Bostick
Oh, wait, hold on. Medical medium.
Nikki Reed
Oh, Anthony.
Ian Somerhalder
I do know. I've spent a couple afternoons. William Anthony.
Michael Bostick
Because you said cilantro.
Ian Somerhalder
Yeah. He is a big cilantro. And he's a celery guy.
Michael Bostick
Yes.
Lauren Everts
He was just on the show.
Nikki Reed
Oh, he was.
Ian Somerhalder
Oh, is he? Yeah.
Nikki Reed
Oh, yeah.
Michael Bostick
And he talked.
Lauren Everts
But he was talking about him a lot of us.
Nikki Reed
Yeah. He wouldn't talk to us anymore because he's like, I can't do this anymore. Remember, we talked to him on the phone. What, you set up a meeting with me? He's like, I don't do this anymore, but I want to help you.
Michael Bostick
Oh, he's.
Ian Somerhalder
Oh, yeah, sorry. I took that.
Lauren Everts
The reason, like, he just like, he's.
Ian Somerhalder
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Nikki Reed
He was like, I'm just letting you know, like, I love what I do, but I'm out. Because, like, everyone wanted to.
Ian Somerhalder
Yeah.
Nikki Reed
But he was super sweet with this time. And he talked to us. He talked to me for like, he's.
Lauren Everts
Pulled back a little bit from like the customer.
Michael Bostick
It's so funny that you said cilantro. Cause I just ordered a heavy metal detox smoothie from Cafe Gratitude. He does a collab with them with my cilantro, but go on.
Nikki Reed
Well, no, so. Well, so some people can't have cilantro because they have that in. Like, you love parsley, but cilantro makes you like.
Ian Somerhalder
Tastes like soap.
Michael Bostick
Yeah, it does taste bad.
Ian Somerhalder
Yeah.
Nikki Reed
See, no, no, for sure. But. So I love it. I crave it. My body and so. But I'm from the Mississippi river delta. I grew up in the water, on the water. When I was shooting Lost, I lived in Hawaii. I was already having, like. I remember one morning I got to set and I broke out in full body, head to toe hives. Like, what was that Will Smith movie when he breaks out into the crazy hives.
Lauren Everts
I know what you're talking about, but.
Michael Bostick
I thought you were gonna say Woogie from something about Mary. What about Woogie?
Lauren Everts
That's what that was from.
Nikki Reed
That was a. Yeah, that was from something about Mary. But J.J. abrams was like, oh, oh, yeah. I don't know how we're gonna shoot. I had always had like heavy metal toxicity on and off and throughout my life. Anyway, the long and short of it is it's so simple. We were taking bundles of cilantro and parsley, parsing it out over the course of three months in a low RPM auger like you would, right? Not the 1800 RPM juicers, you know, destroying all the cellular walls. You want low RPM augers, you want.
Michael Bostick
Things that you have to do so.
Nikki Reed
Something that goes slower and grinds so you're not destroying the cellular membranes or the cells of. Because a lot of these high, high, high RPM juicers, you know, you hear going, think about what those blades and that speed are doing.
Ian Somerhalder
It's destroying the molecular structure of the actual.
Nikki Reed
Of those cells that you need.
Ian Somerhalder
Plant or whatever you are.
Michael Bostick
Is there a brand of your slow rpm?
Ian Somerhalder
Yeah, Nama is good. The Nama juicer.
Nikki Reed
Yeah, the Nama's great.
Michael Bostick
Will you write that down for me?
Ian Somerhalder
I think it's the Nama because it's really easy to crush right now.
Nikki Reed
No, they're. And it's so.
Ian Somerhalder
Well, it took us a while. Yeah. What's funny is that I can see sort of where you guys are going with this too. Like, like knowing and understanding brands. And what's interesting about the two of us, and I'm listening to you speak too, is we are the anti business business owners. So you ask us what to do and I'm going to tell you the four things you can grow in your backyard. And I'm not going to Even give you a brand. I'm going to be like, here's the three or four things you can grow.
Lauren Everts
The reason we asked the details, because they want to know how to get the cilantro and then do it's. We also want to know.
Ian Somerhalder
Actually she's saying, I get you're going back to nature. Like, I love you were taking propolis. And I. And I remember when he did that cleansing, it literally was parsley, cilantro, and then some bentonite clays for binding. And you know, we live in a world and that was kind of the frustration and the birth of the absorption company. We live in a world where everyone's trying to sell you something at all times. And I was tired of being sold to, especially as a woman. Like you guys are not sold to in the same way that we are sold to all day long ads and media. Like we are the perfect targets because. Well, I actually don't know what the because is. I think maybe women are thinking about that for the entire household.
Michael Bostick
Maybe you probably are also smarter and.
Ian Somerhalder
You read more than we do.
Lauren Everts
It's because whatever decision she makes is what we're doing.
Ian Somerhalder
So it's pretty much.
Michael Bostick
What you're saying is you didn't heal your heavy metal overload with a bunch of supplements that you were taking thousands of dollars worth.
Ian Somerhalder
No, we went back to nature, went back to basics. Supplements. This is the whole issue here, guys, is that supplements, currently, supplements in the marketplace are not designed for absorption. So we went out and discovered through our own research and data collection that of all major brands that you can think of, I'm not supposed to say the word all, so I'm going to save all major brands. But you know where I'm going with this? 84% of your supplements are being peed out, meaning they're not being absorbed.
Nikki Reed
There are other ways that they're excreting. We make the joke, like, don't pee out the good stuff.
Ian Somerhalder
I feel like they can take that scientifically.
Nikki Reed
We know that there's it excretes in other ways. But like, sure, 84% of your stuff is not being.
Michael Bostick
I've had enough excretion.
Ian Somerhalder
Right?
Michael Bostick
Yeah.
Ian Somerhalder
We're trying to hold. We're trying to hold now. I can use a break.
Nikki Reed
Third time's a charm, man.
Lauren Everts
That's how you describe it. Excreting me. But that's all I can think of.
Michael Bostick
When you say that.
Ian Somerhalder
Write the book. That's a good book title.
Nikki Reed
That's a good book.
Lauren Everts
Yeah.
Ian Somerhalder
Tired of excreting.
Nikki Reed
That's Your next Instagram handle.
Ian Somerhalder
Taking a break. Vacation out of office. Tired of excreting.
Lauren Everts
We will be the absorption company and we will be the excreting.
Ian Somerhalder
Excreting over here. There you go. I see a total business.
Lauren Everts
Different missions.
Ian Somerhalder
Yeah, but it's same mission actually.
Nikki Reed
Think about that. If anything, 84% of the stuff you're taking is not being absorbed.
Michael Bostick
How did you guys decide to solve that after you implemented nature? Like what to solve?
Nikki Reed
Well, because listen, we like Nick mentioned we come from. Saying that we come from very humble beginnings is quite an understatement.
Michael Bostick
We'll talk about that. Explain.
Nikki Reed
The audience we came from had pretty poor upbringings. And so to think about our moms working three jobs to provide for their families, to think that parents are out there spending their hard earned money on stuff that doesn't work is unacceptable. It did not sit right with us. So we wanted to change that and make sure to build a company that did do the research, that did third party tests, that did that looked out for the end user because they need it. You're not usually going and buying a supplement because you're just bored or you want to spend some money.
Michael Bostick
Intentional.
Nikki Reed
You need it.
Michael Bostick
Yeah.
Nikki Reed
And so if you're going to sell something to someone that doesn't work, you're taking advantage of them in a couple different ways. And that just did not sit right with us. So in such a highly unregulated industry where less than 4% of the companies actually third party test because why? I mean look, it's expensive.
Michael Bostick
Yeah.
Nikki Reed
We're a tiny company. It costs us an arm and a leg to third party test. And we publish that data. But the reality of it is is we know that investment over the course of time will pay off from a transparency standpoint. Like you have to build brands with trust and transparency. And as you go down the line, you make the investments early on to give people what they actually need. And I think those are the companies that stick with you.
Lauren Everts
Quick break to talk about Armor Colostrum. What if I told you there was a single supplement that you could take that would help you strengthen your immune system, which is going to optimize your whole body microbiome and strengthen your immune barriers. Fortify your gut health, which is going to combat bloating, to help you feel lighter, ignite your metabolism, which is going to strengthen your gut barrier and guard against toxins, chemicals and pollutants, vitalize your hair growth, enhance skin radiance, fuel performance and recovery. Well, that product exists and it's called Armor Colostrum. Here's the thing. We live in an environment our biology was never designed for. EMFs, artificial light, seed oils, microplastics, endocrine disruptors, chronic stress, and more. These modern assaults disrupt cellular signaling, negatively impacting gut health and accelerating aging. Armor Colostrum revives cellular signaling, bolstering our health from within to defend against everyday threats. And here's the thing. Colossium is nature's first whole food with over 400 bioactive nutrients that work at the cellular level to reactivate your body's innate to regenerate and thrive in everyday life. So if you're ready to reclaim your health, try Armor Colossian. We've been taking it ever since we had the founder of Armor on this podcast. The way I like to enjoy it is they come in these big jugs. I take a simple scoop, I add it to whatever beverage I'm enjoying, or I even enjoy a simple scoop right into my mouth. The powder tastes just like a Milk Dud. We give it to our kids, we give it to our dogs. We take it daily. They also come in these individualized travel packets that you could take to the office or on the go or when you're on a trip. And like I said, it's going to have so many benefits. They're going to help enhance your life. So check them out. We've worked out a special offer offer for our audience. Receive 15% off your first order. Go to tryarma.com skinny or enter skinny to get 15% off your first order. That's t R Y A R m r a.com skinny I am someone who.
Michael Bostick
Likes to take the pain points out of things and that really is happening with Taylor Farms chop salad kits. It's so easy to get your salad together. These are amazing. If you work in an office, you can bring them in. Everything is all ready to go. So there's no chopping, slicing, or leaving a half eaten cabbage in your fridge that goes bad. It's just fresh greens with yummy dressing and toppings. How I personally use this is I use it in my daily meat bowl. But you could get creative with it. I mean, you could use it with chicken on top. You could make a steak salad. You could even use this in a smoothie if you wanted to. Just add some extra greens. What I like about this though is there's no like insane cleanup. It's, it's quick. You don't have to pull out a cutting board, a knife, the whole thing. Sometimes with my kids, what I'll do is I'll make these muffins. They're like, they're green muffins really. And I put, I'll put like chocolate chips in them and all the things. But then I'll put in like the Mediterranean crunch into the muffins and they turn green and the kids love them. So you can also get really creative with kids and be like sneaky with how you're getting in extra nutrients and minerals. Taylor Farms Chop salad kits really make everything so easy. If you have not checked them out, you have to. So easy to grab and go grab a Taylor Farms Chop salad kit and get your salad together.
Lauren Everts
Quick break to talk about Element. If you're somebody that constantly find yourselves chugging water, trying to hydrate and not quite getting there, maybe you're peeing it all out or maybe you're getting that midday slump. You're still getting headaches, you're lacking a little bit of clarity. It's likely because you're drinking enough water water, but you're not hydrating properly. This is likely due to an electrolyte imbalance. And this is why Lauren and I love Elements so much. Element is a zero sugar electrolyte drink mix and sparkling electrolyte drink born from the growing body of research revealing that optimal health outcomes occur at sodium levels two to three times. Government recommendation. Each serving delivers a meaningful dose of electrolytes and Element is formulated for anyone on a mission to restore health through hydration. It's perfectly suited for athletes, folks who are fasting, or those following keto, low carb whole food or paleo diets. The way that I personally take this is when I go for a workout, when I know I'm going to be sweating a little bit more, I dump this into my water. They come in these individualized travel packs that make it really easy and convenient. And then I drink it throughout the workout. This summer's a hot one. It's setting records. So it's even more important this year to take some Element with you when you're on the go. Whether you're on that summer hike or that summer trip, they've recently just introduced a new summer favorite called Lemonade Salt. We personally love this one. It gives you that kind of like little lemonade flavor. And right now, Element is offering a free 8 count sample pack with their most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase. This is a great way to find your favorite element flavor or share with a friend. Get yours@drinkelement.com Skinny this deal is only available through our link. You must go tO-R-I-N-K-L-M-N-T.com skinny.
Michael Bostick
What I'm realizing as a brand founder myself, is that a lot of brands launch, and then they have to build community and audience. What's cool about what you guys are doing, and I tried to do this with my own brand, is is we both, in different ways, built community and audience and then launched the brand, which I think you're gonna see a lot of people doing now. To just launch a brand, it doesn't feel purposeful or authentic. Like, to hear your story about the detox and the thousands of supplements and where you guys came from and your humble beginnings. There's. It's more than just like launching a brand because you want to make money. Do you know what I mean? It's different. And then you already have the community, who's obviously obsessed with both of you guys. The TikTok thing, it's pretty crazy.
Ian Somerhalder
I don't. That you didn't hear that from me. I don't know if that was.
Nikki Reed
She wanted to shut it down. She was like, I don't need this.
Ian Somerhalder
He's making a lot of bold statements right now, you guys.
Michael Bostick
I'm fatigued with being on the camera. Camera all the time with a camera in your face all the time. I can imagine she's fatigued with it. I understand that. I get.
Ian Somerhalder
No, I'm just really happy for him to be in front of the camera. He's beautiful. He's so smart. He's so charming. He should be.
Michael Bostick
You do have a good jawline.
Ian Somerhalder
Yeah, he's a great jawline.
Michael Bostick
You have a great jawline.
Ian Somerhalder
And that's just the start.
Michael Bostick
But I also just saw you using a sheet mask out there and ice rolling.
Nikki Reed
So I'm. Yeah. Because I'm in my fort.
Ian Somerhalder
Actually, I can give you the brand name of that.
Nikki Reed
It really works.
Lauren Everts
I was in a meeting next door, and I saw all the ladies heads whipping around, back and forth. I'm like, what's going on?
Ian Somerhalder
It wasn't the sheet mask, dude.
Nikki Reed
30 minutes ago, I looked like a crinkly, like, desert rat. Now I look like a. You know. What do you call it?
Ian Somerhalder
Like a Dewey.
Lauren Everts
Dewey.
Ian Somerhalder
Oh.
Nikki Reed
Oh, thanks.
Ian Somerhalder
I don't know. I thought we were going to.
Lauren Everts
How did you two meet originally?
Nikki Reed
Dewey Mushrooms.
Michael Bostick
Oh, that's. Yeah. Michael just went off on a tangent because I was gonna ask a business question. Okay. Michael.
Lauren Everts
No, it's because I think it's. Listen, we are a couple that works together. I mostly tell people not to do it. You guys seem to have figured out how to do it. I want to know how you guys met.
Ian Somerhalder
Oh, well, you remember how we met a little bit more than you have a very similar 16 and you didn't.
Nikki Reed
Get together for a long time. Well, you were doing all this external stuff for 13. But I was. Yeah, I was 20. I was thinking I was still shooting lost. I was 26 and you were 16. I was like, wow, this chick is on. I mean, she's so smart, so sharp, holding court. Everyone wanted to talk to her. Because if you think about it, her life really went like this. She wrote this film.
Ian Somerhalder
I'm gonna hide behind her giant microphone. Now there's a camera angle.
Nikki Reed
But it became a huge cult hit. Holly Hunter was nominated for an Oscar off of this film. But then all of a sudden, she was shot into the spotlight where she was on Oprah and doing all this stuff, and they wanted her.
Ian Somerhalder
You wanted to talk to me because I was on Oprah. That's what you're trying to say?
Nikki Reed
Only reason.
Ian Somerhalder
Yeah.
Nikki Reed
But the reality of it was, was this was a kid who had no formal media training. No one really looking out for the fact that, like, so she was like, all right, I'm just here, I'm gonna do it. I know what I need to do, blah, blah, blah. And I was like, wow, this is a 16 year old young woman just out there just killing it.
Ian Somerhalder
In his defense, I don't think he knew I was 16 till after we had our first conversation. So don't run this. And then the headline is like, oh.
Nikki Reed
God, no, we didn't get together at point A, 11 years later or something crazy.
Lauren Everts
Let's go clarify that.
Michael Bostick
That we'll get to, by the way. We met at 12, but we were both 12.
Nikki Reed
Oh, my God, that's hilarious.
Michael Bostick
That's a great story.
Ian Somerhalder
Is that true?
Michael Bostick
Yes. But you guys get to get together 11 years later.
Ian Somerhalder
We stayed friends because we had a lot of similar interests. First of all, I was already moved out and, like, I was very much an adult, but we, like, connected over philanthropy and some shared passion areas.
Michael Bostick
Did you think he was cute when you saw him at 16 or were you like, not.
Nikki Reed
We don't.
Ian Somerhalder
I have to say, I don't even remember. I know. That's so. I just don't have a memory.
Michael Bostick
They get obsessed, though, when you don't remember.
Nikki Reed
But this was a kid.
Michael Bostick
I was like, it wasn't. Brain wasn't firing like that.
Nikki Reed
No, I was a 20. I was like 26. I was like, I Was not at.
Ian Somerhalder
Some point, maybe 17, 18, 19, I'm not sure. But we connected over philanthropy because he had a foundation and we were both.
Nikki Reed
On these massive vampire things.
Lauren Everts
Did they both come simultaneously, or did one come first, one comes second, Twilight hit boom.
Nikki Reed
And we were on the air like, 18 months later.
Lauren Everts
Okay.
Nikki Reed
So it's just Warner Brothers just greenlit that boom, and it was off to the races.
Lauren Everts
Okay.
Ian Somerhalder
Yeah.
Nikki Reed
And it just so happened in the sort of outlier moment to drop in a little Malcolm Gladwell there, who's obviously a great literary hero of so many of ours. But it just so happened that in 2009, so you guys launched, I think, in 2008, obviously, the whole world shut down. Big, you know, financial collapse. And it just so happened in 2009, which is where Summit and where Warner Brothers really got to excel was, I have to remember. But don't quote me on the numbers, but I think because of the way that the financial structures had all just fallen apart in 2009, the value of an ad dollar was something like 5x because the economy had shut down, and so you could sell and buy ad space for infinitely less than it had cost even 12 months prior to that. So Summit and Warner Brothers took real advantage of that. So they took, like, $25 million to launch Vampire Diaries. But the thing about it is, we got, like, $125 million worth of P and A out of it. We had jumbotrons and, you know, Times Square everywhere. Every bus, every billboard, every phone boot or, you know, every bus station. I mean, I would be getting calls from people going. I mean, listen, man, I'm all about, you know, free market capitalism and promoting your media, but it's disgusting how much I see your face. Do you know much paper this is using? I mean, people were kind of, like, grossed out.
Michael Bostick
They're mad at you.
Nikki Reed
Well, no, they were just saying, like.
Ian Somerhalder
They just wanted someone to tell their story.
Nikki Reed
It was just kind of wild. Yeah. When you're driving and every single bus stop and every bus and everything you see is your face on a show that really no one had even seen. It was just based off of the bet that Twilight was so big that they bet on it and it. And it hit. And so these were these sort of, like, outlier moments that we had where you had an economy, global economy that had just. Just collapsed. And you had media companies that knew, hey, we're going to invest really heavily into the success of these two pieces because it's a very famous genre. It's a new spin New take. And we can buy a lot of ad space right now for really cheap. And it was like, it hasn't happened again since. Probably didn't happen before then. Not like that. So there are these little moments, these sort of, like, outlier moments, which is what you had when Michael Dell decided he was sick of seeing his name on plastic, computers, and landfills and told his team, do something about this. Start recycling all this. So he did. And that's where you got all that gold and started that. I had gotten. Been really sick and wanted to have kids and wanted to make sure that my body was clean. So did a deep dive into my blood and realized that I was toxified in so many levels. But it also been on one of the. What would become one of the biggest TV shows in the world. So you have a massive voice to share and spread story. Right. Those are pretty significant.
Lauren Everts
Yeah. Like, all. It all culminated into this moment. Yeah.
Michael Bostick
How did you guys go out to lunch?
Nikki Reed
What do you mean? How did you go?
Lauren Everts
Like, when that's all going wrong, she wants to know how you guys would actually go.
Michael Bostick
I'm really curious about this. I just. I just heard from, like, one of the most famous podcasters, not directly from his mouth, but from someone else, that he was at an event, and everyone, the entire event for three hours was just staring at him like they couldn't concentrate on what the event was about. It was about charity. They just stared at this podcaster. And when you're this famous and you're everywhere. How did you guys go to lunch? I'm being serious. Like, do you. Did you go to lunch?
Nikki Reed
We don't go to lunch. We make amazing lunch at home. We're also farm people, so you literally. It's a pain in the ass to, like, get anywhere.
Michael Bostick
Okay, but how did you guys go outside?
Lauren Everts
I think she's asking, like, during that.
Ian Somerhalder
Moment of security means, like, in the moment. We got together and we go to lunch. Is that what you meant?
Nikki Reed
Yeah.
Michael Bostick
Like, how do you. You have to go with security?
Nikki Reed
Well, yeah. I mean, primarily, how do you go to the bathroom? They follow you sometimes.
Michael Bostick
Is that annoying being that famous that you literally can't go out without, like, having someone follow you and comment?
Nikki Reed
We go separately. We just are. We don't, you know, you can't go to dinner.
Michael Bostick
We do our thing at this time.
Nikki Reed
It's all good. Listen, people are amazing. We were able.
Michael Bostick
You're appreciative for it.
Nikki Reed
We love people, and they've been so loving and generous with us. We also understand The. The psychology of seeing someone and wanting to say hello to them.
Michael Bostick
Yeah.
Nikki Reed
It is a very unique way to live.
Michael Bostick
Yes.
Nikki Reed
Which is why we live.
Ian Somerhalder
If we can use this as an educational moment, which is how I always think as a parent, I'll just say the world changed a lot with the invention of the iPhone. So I think as human beings, technology has moved so fast, and we have not put parameters in place to continue to view ourselves and other people as human beings, just in general. So my goal, or teach our children to do that, is to not just sit around and feel sorry or complain about what the consequence of that might be, but instead take it as a moment for education, which is we have to talk to and teach our children how to be conscious of other people. We also, and I'm not talking about celebrities, I'm talking about in general. I'm talking about the fact that we, none of us sitting at this table, had to deal with going to a party in high school and having to worry about being filmed and having it put on social media. Right. We see the emotional toll this takes on young people. We see it with suicide rates going up. We see this. And where this lies, guys, is in a parenting fail. This is not the responsibility of tech companies. It's not the responsibility of community. It's a responsibility of parents to teach children how to be mindful human beings, how to respect people's privacy. And I'm starting to see schools do that now.
Lauren Everts
So some states are passing it too, saying, getting the phones out of the.
Ian Somerhalder
Classrooms and also just teaching people how to, you know, privacy. I say this, and I mean this. Privacy is our greatest form of currency in a world where everything lives out there. We are a culture of oversharing because you know why? We need connection. We're a culture that's starved of connection this day and age.
Michael Bostick
That's interesting to you for. To hear you say that about privacy.
Nikki Reed
Like, because she dropped that one time, and I was like, no, you're right.
Michael Bostick
But it's. It's interesting coming from you, because there has been lack of privacy whatever with everything you've done. So, I mean, if anyone knows about privacy, this is.
Lauren Everts
We were talking about this the other day, I think in the platforms that you guys have built, I think people glamorize and glorify celebrity, Right? Just, you know, especially if you don't have it. But it's one of those things where once you reach that level of notoriety, you can't just one day say, actually, I don't want anymore. I'm Turning it off like it's there. It's, you know, it's now you're out there, now you're known. And I think people don't account for that. And it's interesting coming from both of you because you have lived through it and have it and have been at the top of it. And to hear you say privacy is your greatest commodity, I think is a real educational moment for people because many people don't think about the repercussions of having that level of attention even doing this show. And I love doing the show and I love interacting, but it's something that I talk about with her all the time, especially when with our kids and what you share and what you don't share. And again, so grateful for the opportunity and being able to build businesses and brands and get great messages out there. But it's not, not the normal experience to sit in a public place and.
Nikki Reed
Then what are we doing to our kids?
Lauren Everts
Yes.
Nikki Reed
So that's, that's like you mentioned. So you want to give them the best ability to have a good, solid.
Ian Somerhalder
Normalized life, but take the celebrity component out of it and just speaking human to human, kids deserve, human beings deserve the opportunity to make choices for themselves. What they want to put on the Internet, what they don't. And that involves what other kids put of other kids on the Internet. So a child shouldn't have the right to even film another child because that child might not want that. We don't teach that. We teach people in school like, hey, that's not your body. Don't touch that person's body. It's not your body. But what about their essence? What about their aura? What about their soul? What about their life? We don't teach that here, but there are other countries that view taking an image of someone or recording someone without them knowing as a violation. Right. And I think that innately as human beings, our ability to maintain a level of personal boundary is a fundamental right. And this again, like, please take the celebrity component out of it. I think my passion area for this comes from just watching kids with kids. So that's our. If there was any reason to be on podcasts and talk in these types of forums and platforms, for me, it's really like that kind of mission driven. That's what we need to be teaching.
Michael Bostick
I feel like you guys could do a law.
Ian Somerhalder
I've tried.
Michael Bostick
Go. Can you go?
Ian Somerhalder
I'd like to try, actually.
Michael Bostick
She's gotten really close to the White House and make a law that you can't.
Ian Somerhalder
She's actually gotten really well. I don't think you can just like walk up and knock on the door. Although if you could, I would. But I've actually pursued this for a while and I'm not saying the door is closed. I'm still pursuing it. It takes a little bit more than what I. What I realized.
Michael Bostick
Not Elle Woods.
Nikki Reed
It got done in Maui.
Ian Somerhalder
I think Elle woods is pretty amazing.
Nikki Reed
Steven Tyler get something passed different.
Ian Somerhalder
I'm trying to pass something very different. So like I am kid. You mean my passion has nothing to do like Steven Tyler did something amazing, but again it's focused on celebrity. I think there becomes a big boohoo world when you make it about. She's.
Michael Bostick
You're saying about like. Like you're saying people don't empathize with.
Ian Somerhalder
I'm saying about life in general. I'm saying that parents need to understand when they go up to a school play and there's 15 kids in that school play and they video all those kids in that school play, they put it on the Internet and they tag the location of the the school. There are pedophiles on the Internet that go there and all they do is look at schools or they hashtag, you know, different. There's different hashtags. I don't want to say on here because it's so freaky and gross and people don't realize that everything you do is trackable. So you look at the increase in child abduction and I mean, I don't even want to go there. But you look at the increase in these things and it comes from innocent moves that people make on social media. Everybody does geotag.
Nikki Reed
People love to geotag.
Ian Somerhalder
I never understood a school video. And all the kids are wearing a school uniform or they're all wearing a.
Michael Bostick
Background or you can see the background and they can see totally.
Nikki Reed
They just didn't know.
Michael Bostick
I also think there should be a thing that like you can't take video at school plays of all the other children. It's like it's faith.
Ian Somerhalder
People don't realize it, so it's all very innocent. And again, it comes from connection. Everyone wants to connect. They want to share the amazing things that people are doing that their kids are doing. And it comes from a beautiful place. Unfortunately, we don't have tech boundaries in place and they need to be.
Michael Bostick
I think she should run for like some kind of position in the White House.
Nikki Reed
No, you don't want to do that. You can change more from out here than you can from in there.
Ian Somerhalder
I don't know Again, I'm like, door is open, I'll, I'll walk in.
Nikki Reed
Yeah, go get on in there.
Michael Bostick
Talk to us about how you guys work together. You mentioned off air that you're on 6 million flights a year to tie in two. Yeah. How do you guys work together with what you're working on now? What does it look like from behind the scenes? Because you guys obviously were so front facing. Let's hear about the behind the scenes.
Nikki Reed
I mean listen right now. And again, it's not like a boo hoo, woe is me. It's again, I. We're extremely fortunate. We have three very successful companies within the specific categories in which they're in. They are over indexing and making huge impact. Meaning from a disruption standpoint, a true efficacy standpoint and one that makes impact, which is. And a huge component of awareness and building luxury and beauty out of it. Right. So they all. If you look at all these three different categories are vastly different but they feed into the same web which is impact and you know, driving, well, not just sustainability, but driving real change through business. Right. That's like what you aim to do as a business owner. But going back to it, I would never have done this like this, never. This is like.
Michael Bostick
I love the honesty.
Ian Somerhalder
People will love it.
Nikki Reed
I mean Spencer's in here with us and they were like, hey, how do you guys work together? And it is, you don't even know.
Ian Somerhalder
How to explain it.
Nikki Reed
It is the most nuanced. It's, you know, it's. Everything is scheduled to like the 10 minute mark and when something gets a little off, then everything falls apart. And you know, you can only live that way for so long. So what you want to do is focus on building really strong, amazing businesses, spending a lot of most of the time with your family, keeping yourself healthy and making real impact.
Michael Bostick
Why all the flights? Because you're meeting people in person.
Ian Somerhalder
Well, he has a. His other business is very focused on on premise stuff too. So that definitely.
Nikki Reed
Well, it's not just whiskey is on premise, but it's. No, I mean meaning it's a lot. Big retail but also too.
Ian Somerhalder
That's what I meant. I don't know. Sorry.
Nikki Reed
The term we also left left the only businesses that actually sustained our family. As you know, when you start a company, you're the only people in that company that don't get paid. So between the three of us, we own three companies.
Ian Somerhalder
Two of us.
Nikki Reed
I mean, sorry, between the two of us, we own three companies.
Ian Somerhalder
Hey, what's up?
Nikki Reed
It's my secret Friend over there. Well, you look good today. No, between the two of us, we own three companies that don't pay us. So on top of the optics are.
Ian Somerhalder
Like, oh, I see. Yeah. He's saying we also take on other jobs on top of our three companies. I grind to make ends meet. That's what you have to do. So that's a source of income. So we travel for other work partnerships, you know, strategic. You know, I have designed for other companies, for example, on the side of.
Lauren Everts
This, because you're reinvesting into your companies as they're everything.
Ian Somerhalder
Founders don't take a salary. So that's what we're doing.
Nikki Reed
You have to.
Ian Somerhalder
What he's saying is we're in the grind. So we're in the grind. It's not a schedule that he or I would wish upon anyone. We're working so hard. But, you know, there's payoff in the end when you're doing something that you love. I think there is, you know, a level of fulfillment to that, no matter how exhausted you are. And in terms of how we operate business, I think we are. We're polar opposites, and I think that's a good thing. I mean, there's a yin and the yang component to this, for sure. Like, I am such an earth sign. My feet are on the ground. There is no amount of money in the world that would have me on air airplanes like that. And he knows this. I mean, he. Travel is also an area of passion for him, and so he doesn't mind being on the road. And I manage from the other side of things. So I do a lot of computer work. I'm at a desk, you know, many hours a day. My feet are planted on the ground, and that's my area.
Nikki Reed
Before that, it was babies, breastfeeding, sketching, designing phone calls. I mean, I watched it.
Ian Somerhalder
Oh, yeah. I'm multitasking for sure.
Nikki Reed
It's crazy.
Ian Somerhalder
Yeah. I know.
Nikki Reed
You have eight. Eight arms, but she's literally, like, feeding this giant creature.
Ian Somerhalder
Every time I see you do that, it always creates a different vision. Well.
Nikki Reed
Cause I just see it all the time.
Ian Somerhalder
The grip. I don't think I've ever nursed like this.
Nikki Reed
Get in here. No, but it's a beautiful thing to see, like, her, you know, building all of this.
Lauren Everts
You don't just, like, grab it by the back of the head and it's.
Nikki Reed
Like, get in there. But so it is really like being able to take all of this full circle. Like, you know, the impact is huge. And like.
Ian Somerhalder
Yeah.
Nikki Reed
On Earth Day April 22nd, which is. Jeez, in eight days. Oh, my gosh, it's in eight days. We're launching this.
Lauren Everts
Hello, everybody. Quick break in the show to talk about one of my favorite things to talk about on this show. And that is the story. Astral Tequila. Today I have my sister in law, Mimi.
Ian Somerhalder
Hello.
Lauren Everts
Sitting right next to me.
Michael Bostick
Replacing Lauren.
Lauren Everts
Replacing Lauren. Because Mimi loves a free drink.
Michael Bostick
Yeah, I can't say no to tequila and chips and especially if someone else is paying.
Lauren Everts
Lately, we've been talking all about Austral Tequila on this podcast. It has quickly become our tequila of choice, which is why I'm so excited to talk to Mimi about what we have in front of us right now. We have the anejo and the blanco. This is what I've been making in the margaritas that I make you guys.
Ian Somerhalder
Michael's Margarita.
Lauren Everts
Michael's classic margarita. So this summer, it feels like people are being more intentional with how they spend their time, what they're drinking, who they're with. It's less about excess and more about quality. And for us, a straw is one of the elevated choices that fits into the lifestyle perfectly.
Michael Bostick
Exactly. It's simple, it's beautiful on the bar, but more than that, it's something you can actually taste the quality in. And it's become kind of a staple for us.
Lauren Everts
So like I've said before, it's agave forward, smooth with just the right brightness from the citrus. Whether you're making a full cocktail or just sipping it chilled like we are here, it hits every time. No harsh finish, no fuss.
Michael Bostick
I love that it's not overly sweet or heavy. It actually allows you to taste what tequila is supposed to be, fresh and elevated. If I'm making a margarita at home, this is what I'm using every single time.
Lauren Everts
There's just like this level of trust with the straw. Like you know, you're serving something good to your guests without having to overthink it. This is critical when you're hosting a dinner party or hosting a get together, knowing that you're going to have a consistent, quality taste every single time.
Michael Bostick
Are you organizing a lot of dinner parties?
Lauren Everts
Yes.
Michael Bostick
It feels effortless, which is exactly the point.
Lauren Everts
So here's the thing. Everything we do, from what we eat to what we drink, we try to keep it elevated and intentional. And a straw just fits into that rhythm perfectly. It's become part of the easy, meaningful rituals. Friday night drinks, dinners with friends, golden hour moments at home, and so much more. Even happy hours here at Dear Media.
Michael Bostick
You don't need an occasion. The ritual is the occasion. Pouring great tequila, sitting down with the people you care about. That's the energy.
Lauren Everts
Exactly. It's in those in between moments that make summer feel like summer. And Estrall's part of that.
Michael Bostick
If you're building out your bar cart for the season or just want one really solid bottle that can do it all, this is it.
Lauren Everts
I've said it once, I'll say it again. Estrall is my go to Tequila for margaritas at home. It's an affordable, great tasting tequila that mixes beautifully into just about any cocktail, especially margaritas. I recently did a whole Instagram about how I make the margarita, so check that out. Astral's award winning quality and taste has an agave forward citrus profile that adds a burst of brightness to any cocktail housemark. Summer is here. Time to stock up. Go to www.astral tequila. That's a S T R A L T Q u I l a.com to find a straw near you. And don't forget the limes. Please enjoy responsibly.
Michael Bostick
All right, so here's my story. I was first introduced to the real world because I was selling my own pieces on their sales site. So I would sell my handbags, my clutches, my coin purses, my slacks, my blouses on the RealReal. And then as I was selling my own stuff, I started shopping on the RealReal. If you're unfamiliar with their site, it's attainable luxury. Everything is designed to upgrade your personal style. It's great for the planet and your wardrobe. So the RealReal essentially is the go to place for your next next special piece, which we love. How I would recommend that you use it is that you find the perfect vacation sandals. But you also can sell your vacation sandals on the real real. It really does it all. The RealReal is the world's largest and most trusted resource for authenticated luxury resale. No one really does resell like the RealReal. The RealReal has found new homes for over 37 million authenticated luxury items. Items I like shopping the row, Chanel, Gucci, all the things on their site. They really have everything you could ever want. And they have pieces that are completely sold out, which I love. And now get 25 off your first purchase when you go to therealreal.com skinny that's therealreal.com skinny to get 25 off. Start shopping now at therealreal.com that's therealreal.com Skinny let's talk about my favorite female run nonprofit. I am so passionate about the charity I Stand With My Pack, it's dedicated to saving animals and preventing cruelty locally and globally. So I was introduced to this charity by a friend of mine, Lucy, probably about five years ago and she was really passionate about how much that I Stand With My pack helps dogs. So what they do is they rescue dogs from high kill shelters in Southern California and they help them find loving foster homes or forever homes. There is an urgent need right now for donations and fosters. So even if you can donate a dollar, every dollar counts. This goes to helping to cover medical care, food, transportation for rescue dogs. You can donate or sign up to foster@istandwithmypack.org that's istandwithmypack.org I also sometimes will just venmo them. It makes it really simple. More information@istandwithmypack.org tell us about each business and how everyone can support this film, which we are.
Ian Somerhalder
It's a film, it's a movement.
Nikki Reed
It's a huge movement. We're executive producers on Cool the Husband wife, powerhouse directing company couple, Josh and Rebecca Takel, which I did Kiss the Ground with. We made Kiss the Ground. It took us seven years to make that film.
Michael Bostick
Wow.
Nikki Reed
Goes way back.
Lauren Everts
Is that common to take that long?
Nikki Reed
No, no, no, no. And it's in. It's pretty wild. But Josh Takel and I went to the same high school in Mandeville, Louisiana. I'm talking. This goes deep.
Lauren Everts
Knew each other, did not know each other.
Nikki Reed
Same time we were there from the bayous of Louisiana, two poor kids go out and then we were able to touch a billion people with this movie. Not only that, we can't say it's all the, all the movie. But mysteriously in September recently, after a few years of being launched, all of a sudden there were $20 billion that were appropriated out of the IRA for soil regeneration in this country, both from Republicans and Democrats. This is a bipartisan, huge thing. So we have effectively created the wheels and mechanism to build effectively the single largest carbon capture food economy in the world. And by pushing out the agrochemical companies and restructuring how pharmaceutical companies are going to work, we're effectively going to create an agricultural food economy where even just in the United States alone, the amount of thriving that's going to happen, we're about to literally change the entire economy.
Michael Bostick
And are you launching that with the documentary?
Nikki Reed
No, no, this is the documentary.
Michael Bostick
This is the documentary that we're going to be able to see.
Nikki Reed
Yeah.
Ian Somerhalder
And it's called Common Ground. This is just.
Nikki Reed
So the idea is, the idea is that we're so divided that the soil is our only common ground. And effectively, when people say, well, what the hell is this regenerative action agriculture thing? Why do you talk about this? What does it mean? Really simple. The 8 second version is regenerative agriculture is just the use of planned grazing methods and using living growing plants, agriculture at scale to sequester enormous amounts of carbon dioxide and store it safely back in the ground where it belongs.
Michael Bostick
Really cool.
Nikki Reed
Now when you do that, you basically, you know, you feed all the vital microorganisms in that soil. Well, that soil, the health of that soil is directly related to the planetary health. Just like the human body. The health of the human body is directly related to the gut microbiome. Soil is the same biological process.
Michael Bostick
And there's no pesticides when you do it like that.
Nikki Reed
Right, exactly. And so as we, so those, all those pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, fertilizers, all this stuff costs money. So farmers have to buy that stuff. They have to borrow money from banks every year. Well, guess what? Region ag saves about $400 an acre.
Ian Somerhalder
Acre.
Nikki Reed
So when you start adding those numbers up, it's really cool. It's massive. So even like grain, like I make whiskey too. We use a lot of grain. There's 200 million grain acres in this country. Multiply $400 times 200 million, it's 80 billion a year that we're going to start injecting back into middle America. These are, this is big, scalable, massive stuff. And when you take that on a global level, we're effectively going to build a trillion dollar a year carbon capture food economy.
Michael Bostick
But I also think it's so much more than even what, what you're saying. Like there's, there's women dealing with fertility issues and there's cancers and there's all these. And you get a kiwi the other day and I washed it off with vinegar and baking soda. I do. And it looks a different color. And I'm like, this is, it's just so crazy. You can't even eat a kiwi. I think it's so cool.
Lauren Everts
It's funny. We'll have people on this show that are starting to talk about these issues more and more. And we had this, we had a doctor on recently and he's like, we're not like. One thing that's not for debate is the rising amount of illnesses and cancers and autoimmune diseases and all these things.
Nikki Reed
We're the sickest of developed nation in the world and we're only that way because of our high use of synthetics. When you start pushing out those synthetics and then also, like, you have to see the film because I think when you see Common Ground, you see Kiss the Ground. Well, in Common Ground, we basically uncover the money pipeline on film. How agrochemical companies have been secretly micro financing the university agricultural curriculum in this country for 40 years.
Michael Bostick
Are you guys in the film or behind the scenes only?
Nikki Reed
We're in the film. Well, she was super pregnant. You're in the end.
Ian Somerhalder
I'm more behind the scenes. Yeah. I make a brief appearance.
Nikki Reed
We're really fortunate to be executive producers on this. Kiss the Ground was an enormous feat to get done and I unknowingly shot the first footage of kiss the ground 14 years ago in Zimbabwe. So this is something that's been part of our household. Sold since the beginning that we had a household. This has always been, I am, I'm not a farmer yet. When I retire in about four years, I'm going back to my roots.
Michael Bostick
Four years.
Ian Somerhalder
It's what he says.
Nikki Reed
Yeah.
Ian Somerhalder
I don't think you heard it here.
Michael Bostick
No, I don't think.
Nikki Reed
No, no. All my, my board members, investors, partners, everyone knows I want to be done and out.
Ian Somerhalder
It's now on camera. So.
Nikki Reed
Yeah, no, no, well, because I think I want to, you know, I want to go back to doing what I, I know that my family did. I mean, these are multi generational farmers and I think the best way to actually do it is put your money where your mouth is and actually just go back to nature.
Lauren Everts
So when you say retire, you're not like just doing, you're not being unproductive. You just want to go back to that way of life.
Nikki Reed
Meaning retire from this level of life.
Michael Bostick
This is like you're not going to be on podcasts in five years, on planes everywhere.
Nikki Reed
Oh, I might do podcasts. I'm sure as hell not going to do 110 flights.
Michael Bostick
Got it.
Ian Somerhalder
He's just retiring from flying, guys.
Michael Bostick
And what about the absorption company? Can you tell us how everyone can go check that out and what they can see there?
Ian Somerhalder
Yeah, absolutely.
Nikki Reed
Absorbmore.com or go to our Instagram absorb.more.
Michael Bostick
Where should they start?
Ian Somerhalder
So we're such a mission driven business. It's about education. So I think at the end of the day, supplements aside, if we can educate people on the importance of absorption and the lack of absorption in the supplement industry, I think we've done our job right. So if we can, if, if people can become curious as a result of these companies, I think we've done our job.
Michael Bostick
I'm curious after this episode and I interview all different kinds of people about supplements. It's a, it's a very important question to ask because what's the point, in my opinion of putting the cap, even the capsule on the outside. Like what's in that? Putting those all in your mouth all the time, if it's not absorbing most.
Ian Somerhalder
Of the time, you don't need to, by the way, you can actually take your supplement out of a capsule. I don't know if you know that. Just dump it. You can just dump them in. Yeah. Unless there's some sort of time release. Most of the time you can. And you don't want to actually take those anyway. There's a lot of gunk.
Nikki Reed
Well, I was just saying one thing that we have not discussed really quickly, which is the genesis of, or let me say, let me rephrase that. The ability that we have to make these pretty bold statements is we basically have. We work with a company, it's called Capsoil and it allows us to do what we do. Basically we have a piece of proprietary technology that allows us to take lipophilic material, a liposomal material. The patent is in Liposome. It's. It's in lipids, not liposomes. We can take a lipophilic material, a vitamin, a mineral, and basically turn it into a. Take it from a liposomal material to a, a water soluble material that is a nanometric particle.
Ian Somerhalder
Can I break that down really quickly for your audience? Have you ever taken a liposomal vitamin C or it comes in a goo.
Michael Bostick
Right.
Ian Somerhalder
And most people, first of all, it's not very palatable. It's definitely not a form that is friendly for children. Right. But it's a necessary form. And what makes our company so special is that you can have that same material but. But instead of having it in a goo, you can stir it into a cup of water. And so things like glutathione, which is incredibly important, which up until now you've only been able to take in this goo. And it's very stinky and it kind of smells like a rotten egg and you're trying to swallow this. How are you gonna get that into your body or into your kid's body or into your kids bodies. We have the ability to do that in a water soluble powder and it tastes great and it becomes a part of your day. And so I'm sorry, I just wanna make this a little bit more digestible because sometimes, sometimes the science can be a little bit overwhelming for people.
Michael Bostick
Yin and yang.
Nikki Reed
Well, no, no, no. I mean, we simplify it. We. No, we simplify it really well. I just wanted to get that tech piece out because at the end of the day.
Ian Somerhalder
And it's 500% more absorbable. That was the end of that video.
Nikki Reed
It's 500% more absorbable. Or we could say bioavailable. This is a game changer in this industry.
Ian Somerhalder
Yeah. We wanted to create supplements you could feel. Because at the end of the day, if you open your cabinet right now, or you. When you go home, look in there, I want you to count every single supplement in your cabinet and tell me which ones you take that you can actually feel when you take them.
Michael Bostick
Well, now I'm gonna DM you pictures of mine.
Ian Somerhalder
I can promise you you're gonna look at them, and 99% of them, you're gonna go, I don't know. I don't think so. I don't know. No, definitely not that one.
Nikki Reed
It's pretty wild.
Ian Somerhalder
Supplements. You're meant to feel them, guys. They're meant to be a part of. They're meant to change your day or change your life.
Nikki Reed
You can't feel what you don't absorb.
Ian Somerhalder
That's right.
Nikki Reed
And that's why we literally named it the Absorption Company. And we have this unbelievable, tiny, but mighty team. Guys, think about what we're talking about here. We're effectively other than, like, an iv, and we're not scientists. We leave that to the scientists. But we worked with PhDs, we worked with nutritionists, we worked with scientists. We worked with all of these people to build this together so that. That people don't have to worry about it. We did that because we know. I actually, to be honest with you, selfishly, I made this shit for myself. I cannot do people say, oh, you're so successful. You have all these things and you're doing all this stuff. How do you do it? And it's like, listen, first and foremost, the grass ain't always greener. It's a grind. But I literally would not be able to do what I do without the absorption company. And sheet map and sheet masks, by the way.
Ian Somerhalder
Look, they work.
Nikki Reed
I mean, it'll crinkle up in the next, like, couple hours, but until then.
Lauren Everts
What'S the sheet mask brand?
Michael Bostick
I already took a picture of it. He was out here doing a sheet mask.
Nikki Reed
But. And again, like, when you think about what we have, the Absorption Company, when you talk about not just adults, children, our ability to make things absorbable beyond what anyone else can do. It's a big deal, and I highly recommend anyone.
Michael Bostick
What's the point of it if it's a small part?
Ian Somerhalder
I don't mean to be the anti business business, but you can make the same level of sheet mask if you want to. Just use coffee grinds and then. Manuka, honey, it's really great. That's my sheet mask. I'm just saying you can use what's in your home or.
Nikki Reed
Yeah, she makes all. She makes so much of our own stuff, like body scrubs.
Ian Somerhalder
Take some coconut oil, and she makes all this stuff. You can scrub your face. It's so fantastic.
Nikki Reed
She makes my full body scrubs.
Ian Somerhalder
Aloe. Manuka, honey, what the hell are you doing over there?
Michael Bostick
Lauren, I'm not sure.
Ian Somerhalder
She's spilling a baby, sir.
Michael Bostick
Yeah, you want me to, like. You really want me to be.
Lauren Everts
Yeah, but get the. Those hands are free.
Michael Bostick
I don't have my nails.
Ian Somerhalder
She's not doing the anti business, but.
Nikki Reed
The anti business business owners. I will tell you, though, I can say this confidently. Our products, they don't exist anywhere else.
Michael Bostick
Can we have a code? I didn't ask you guys this. Do you want to do a code for the audience?
Ian Somerhalder
Oh, sure.
Nikki Reed
Let's get a code.
Ian Somerhalder
I'd love to.
Michael Bostick
Let's get your code skinny.
Ian Somerhalder
Sure.
Nikki Reed
Let's make a skinny code.
Ian Somerhalder
You want to do 15 skinny.
Nikki Reed
It's code skinny 15. Off they go to absorbmore.com.
Michael Bostick
Okay.
Nikki Reed
And. Or you can look at us on Instagram. You can obviously, if. If you obviously can't remember, just look at any of our social feeds and you go, oh, that's the company. But if you want to, like, again, I know now it's April, but it's still like that. Well, now that we're in Q2, but it's still that New year. New you. You have the ability right now. Listen, let's just break this down. People don't feel good. It is hard out there. Like, we're overloaded with chemicals and pesticides and polluted air and polluted water. We're really wreaking havoc on our systems. If you want to feel good or if you have a bit of stress in your life. I'm not a doctor. We can't technically say anxiety because apparently it's a medical term. But we know there's a lot of that out there. Our calm supplement. I have people, because I live in airports, come up to me in tears saying, hey, I just started taking this. I've been taking it for two months. I just called my doctor and I'm coming off of this pharmaceutical brand. We all know like there are. There are pharmaceuticals out there like that 26 million Americans are on. They're taking our calm supplement that has this unbelievable. The stack in it you look at, right? We have a nanometric liposomal molecule of Saffron that is so highly potent that it just works. You feel it.
Ian Somerhalder
Saffron's amazing, but most people don't bring me the calm. I might actually have some in my bag.
Nikki Reed
I meant to bring all the stuff for you guys. Spencer was like, you have the bag, right, Spencer? Well, I brought the wrong bag. I brought this bag, but it's got everything else in it but the products. I left them in my driveway. People that haven't slept in 20 years are taking our sleep supplement and sleeping. This is changing the game.
Michael Bostick
Really cool, you guys.
Nikki Reed
And our energy one, we put this stuff called Dynamine and a couple of other in our. Couple other elements in our stack where there's no jitters and there's no crash.
Michael Bostick
Can I take this like now or do I have to take it at a certain time?
Ian Somerhalder
Oh, that's restore. You can take that anytime.
Nikki Reed
This is basically just an unbelievable. It's not just electrolyte. I mean it's not just a hydration play, it's an immune play. Because check this out, we have liposomal glutathione. Well, this isn't just liposomal. This is a nanometric particle of glutathione. Nanometric vitamin C. These are the single. Other than an iv, I can say to you this is the most absorbable forms of these molecules and these elements. That is powerful. And I don't want to show you.
Ian Somerhalder
Meaning most of what you get in a hydration stick. Guys, I'm not going to name other brands, but you look in them and it's a bunch of junk. It might have some sodium, maybe a little potassium and then a lot of sugar and a lot of natural flavors and some citric acid. And they call it a day.
Nikki Reed
And that's it.
Ian Somerhalder
This is a multi use case product that's meant to be so much more than hydration or an electrolyte because it's also for your immune system. So I look at that and that's like a multi for me.
Nikki Reed
I do this. This is the first thing I take when I. The first thing I. Cause you know, used to do like I've had trainer, like amazing trainer. Well, Jantz is like an Olympic trainer. My trainer almost 20 years. But you know, I would do, you know, pink salt and lemon, which you can do. Warm water, you need that in your body. But this, we created this. This is the first thing that touches my lips every day.
Michael Bostick
Wow.
Ian Somerhalder
Okay.
Michael Bostick
You heard it here first. You guys, thank you for coming on. You guys are great.
Lauren Everts
That's a good opening. Class clip of the promo.
Ian Somerhalder
Wow.
Michael Bostick
People want to know.
Ian Somerhalder
He should have been holding this when he said it, though.
Lauren Everts
We're gonna dub it in with AI.
Nikki Reed
Yeah, right.
Michael Bostick
You guys, thank you so much for coming on. Thanks for having us. Soon. I can't wait to hear how your documentary goes, too. I can't wait.
Lauren Everts
When does it come out?
Nikki Reed
April 22nd.
Lauren Everts
Okay.
Nikki Reed
No. Eight days.
Ian Somerhalder
Eight days.
Nikki Reed
Global Watch party. It is going to change the game. You. When you see this film, you can't unsee this film. And just so you know, we're about to shift the entire agricultural U.S. economy. And it's a bright step into a bright future. Like, I know there's a lot of doom and gloom out there, but the future's bright. Like, get your sunglasses.
Michael Bostick
We can't wait. Thank you guys so much for coming on.
Podcast Summary: Ian Somerhalder & Nikki Reed on The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Show
Episode Title: Ian Somerhalder & Nikki Reed On The Truth About Hollywood, Sustainable Living, & Values That Matter
Release Date: July 21, 2025
Duration: Approximately 73 minutes
Hosts: Lauryn Bosstick & Michael Bosstick
Guests: Ian Somerhalder & Nikki Reed
In this episode of The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Show, hosts Lauryn Bosstick and Michael Bosstick welcome actors Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed. Both guests are renowned for their roles in major franchises—Nikki in Twilight and her involvement in the groundbreaking film 13, and Ian as Damon Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries. Beyond their on-screen personas, Ian and Nikki have ventured into entrepreneurship, focusing on sustainability, wellness, and impactful business practices.
Notable Quote:
Ian and Nikki discuss their conscious decision to step away from the Hollywood spotlight. They emphasize a shift towards building businesses that reflect their values around sustainability and regeneration.
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The duo elaborates on their entrepreneurial journey, highlighting their commitment to creating products that offer real value and sustainability. They discuss their ventures, including sustainable fashion, clean supplements, and a regenerative whiskey company.
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Notable Quotes:
Ian and Nikki reflect on the challenges of their new path compared to their acting careers. They find fulfillment in creating impactful businesses, despite the grind and extensive travel involved.
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A significant portion of the conversation delves into the implications of fame, the importance of privacy, and the responsibilities of parenting in the era of social media.
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Ian and Nikki shed light on how they collaborate as a couple, balancing their distinct strengths and managing multiple ventures simultaneously.
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Towards the end of the episode, Ian and Nikki discuss their upcoming documentary "Common Ground," which focuses on regenerative agriculture and its critical role in carbon sequestration and environmental sustainability.
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The episode concludes with reflections on their journey, emphasizing the importance of pushing for impactful change and maintaining personal well-being amidst their busy schedules.
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This episode provides an in-depth look into Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed's transition from mainstream acting to leading purpose-driven businesses. They share their motivations, challenges, and the profound impact they aim to make through sustainability and wellness initiatives. Additionally, their insights on privacy and parenting in the digital age offer valuable perspectives for listeners navigating similar concerns.
Relevant Links:
Disclaimer: All timestamps referenced correspond to the podcast transcript provided and are intended to guide listeners to specific sections of the conversation.