Rick Caruso On The Keys To Success, Leadership, Fixing America, & How To Think Differently To Win In Business & Life

Summary

Summary of "Rick Caruso On The Keys To Success, Leadership, Fixing America, & How To Think Differently To Win In Business & Life"

Podcast: The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast
Hosts: Lauryn Bosstick & Michael Bosstick
Guest: Rick Caruso
Release Date: June 2, 2025

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I. Introduction to Rick Caruso

The episode opens with Lauryn Bosstick and Michael Bosstick warmly welcoming Rick Caruso, an influential figure in real estate, civic leadership, and philanthropy. Rick is renowned as the founder and executive chairman of Caruso, the company behind iconic U.S. destinations like The Grove and Rosewood Miramar Beach. With a multifaceted career spanning law, real estate, public service, and extensive philanthropy, Rick exemplifies building not just properties but enduring legacies.

Notable Quote:

Rick Caruso [00:16]: "Get ready for some major realness."

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II. Entrepreneurial Beginnings

Michael Bostick shares his early entrepreneurial spirit, influenced by his father. Growing up in Truesdale Estates, Michael reminisces about his childhood ambition to build big buildings, a vision that surprised his father.

Notable Quote:

Michael Bostick [01:58]: "I was wired, I was born that way, and I've always dreamed of business and entrepreneurship."

Rick commends Michael’s innate entrepreneurial mindset, reflecting on Michael’s challenges in formal education due to his unconventional thinking.

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III. Transition from Law to Real Estate

Michael delves into his academic journey, highlighting struggles in school and a transformative experience in law school that honed his analytical skills. Despite initial challenges, Michael capitalized on his strengths in business development within a law firm, ultimately transitioning into real estate.

Notable Quote:

Michael Bostick [05:17]: "There is a solution to every problem. It may not be the solution that you think is there or that you want, but if you keep working towards that, you will find a solution."

Rick admires Michael’s strategic shift from law to real estate, emphasizing the importance of leveraging one’s strengths to drive success.

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IV. Caruso’s Business Philosophy: Reinventing Retail

Michael articulates Caruso’s unique approach to developing shopping centers. Rather than building generic malls, Caruso focuses on enriching lives by creating inviting, pedestrian-friendly outdoor environments. This philosophy led to the creation of The Grove in Los Angeles, characterized by its trolley, fountains, and lush landscaping, designed to provide a memorable and enjoyable experience beyond mere shopping.

Notable Quote:

Michael Bostick [09:54]: "If you say we're going to enrich lives, all of a sudden at The Grove, the trolley makes sense, the fountain makes sense, the trees make sense."

Rick highlights the creative synergy between his and Michael’s businesses, noting their shared vision in reinventing traditional concepts to create exceptional experiences.

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V. Overcoming Pushback in Innovation

Michael recounts the significant pushback faced while implementing innovative ideas like The Grove’s open-air design. Despite skepticism, steadfast commitment to his vision allowed him to transform criticisms into strengths, demonstrating that resistance often signals groundbreaking progress.

Notable Quote:

Michael Bostick [11:23]: "When you get the pushback, you know that you're onto something. It's like a compass, you're onto something."

Rick concurs, sharing playful anecdotes about facing pushback, further illustrating that resistance can be a catalyst for success.

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VI. Addressing California’s Challenges

A substantial portion of the conversation focuses on California’s pressing issues, including high tax rates, inadequate infrastructure, crime, and homelessness. Michael expresses frustration over the state’s inability to effectively manage these problems despite ample resources.

Notable Quote:

Michael Bostick [17:49]: "I don't mind paying high taxes as long as I get my money's worth. And I think what people in California are saying, we're not getting our money's worth."

Lauryn adds a personal perspective, comparing California’s challenges to more efficiently managed cities elsewhere, highlighting the inconsistency in policies and their real-life impacts.

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VII. Optimism for LA’s Recovery

Despite the immense devastation from recent disasters in Los Angeles, Michael remains optimistic about the city’s resilience and rebuilding efforts. He envisions a rebirth with enhanced infrastructure and community spaces, driven by public-private partnerships.

Notable Quote:

Michael Bostick [31:48]: "It's going to come back and it's going to be all new. If done right, the infrastructure is going to be new, the parks will be new, the churches, the synagogues. And so there will be a rebirth."

Rick echoes this optimism, recognizing the monumental challenges but believing in LA’s capacity to recover stronger and more unified.

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VIII. Habits and Routines for Success

The discussion shifts to personal habits that contribute to Rick’s and Michael’s success. Michael emphasizes the importance of dedicated thinking time, prioritizing faith, family, friends, and fun alongside work. He shares his evening routine of having cocktail and think time, underscoring the balance between professional rigor and personal relaxation.

Notable Quote:

Michael Bostick [35:31]: "I try to prioritize my life into buckets. And I prioritize my life with my faith, my family, my friends, and fun."

Rick highlights the significance of strategic thinking, likening it to a "strategy session with yourself," which Michael naturally incorporates into his daily life.

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IX. Family and Parenting: Raising Confident Children

Michael discusses his approach to parenting, emphasizing the importance of fostering confidence and independence in his children. He advocates for empowering them to solve their own problems while providing a supportive and loving environment.

Notable Quote:

Michael Bostick [45:34]: "The confidence that they can solve their own problems. I'll give them my best thinking, but it's more of a conversation."

Rick underscores the value of this approach, stating that encouraging autonomy is crucial for children’s development.

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X. Advice to Young Entrepreneurs

When asked about advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, Michael advises focusing on one’s strengths rather than solely on passions. He believes that excelling in what one is naturally good at leads to greater success and fulfillment.

Notable Quote:

Michael Bostick [47:44]: "Do what you're really good at, not what you really love. If the two come together, it's magic and powerful."

Rick adds that exceptional success requires dedication and hard work, dismissing the notion that minimal efforts can yield outstanding results.

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XI. Managing Time and Business Operations

Michael outlines his approach to time management and business operations. Rejecting the traditional need to be physically present in the office, he prioritizes productivity over hours clocked. He emphasizes the importance of attending only necessary meetings and delegating tasks to maximize efficiency.

Notable Quote:

Michael Bostick [67:02]: "Do not go to a meeting unless you're the one that needs to either make the decision or help make the decision."

Rick complements this by emphasizing the necessity of hard work and commitment to achieve an exceptional life, contrasting it with the desire for a relaxed, average lifestyle.

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XII. Conclusion: Leadership and Legacy

The conversation concludes with reflections on leadership, the importance of making principled decisions, and the enduring impact of building strong, supportive communities both in business and personal life. Michael reiterates his commitment to public service and innovative problem-solving through his foundation, Steadfast Lady, which focuses on rebuilding communities affected by disasters.

Notable Quote:

Michael Bostick [75:58]: "Steadfast Lady... Get people back in their homes as quickly and safely as possible. We're literally solving problems and then handing it off to the city, the state, and the county."

Rick praises Michael’s dedication and strategic approach, acknowledging the profound influence of strong leadership in driving meaningful change.

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Key Takeaways

• Innovative Thinking: Reinventing existing concepts to create unique and engaging environments can set a business apart in a competitive market.

• Resilience Against Pushback: Facing and overcoming resistance is often a sign that one is pursuing groundbreaking ideas.

• Balanced Priorities: Success requires a harmonious balance between professional ambitions and personal life, emphasizing the importance of family, faith, and personal well-being.

• Empowering Leadership: Making decisions based on what is right rather than what is politically safe can lead to substantial positive outcomes for communities.

• Practical Time Management: Focusing on productivity and meaningful engagements rather than adherence to traditional work structures can enhance efficiency and business growth.

• Confidence in Parenting: Encouraging children to solve their own problems fosters independence and self-assurance, preparing them for future challenges.

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This episode offers profound insights into the mind of a visionary leader like Rick Caruso, exploring the intersection of business innovation, civic responsibility, and personal growth. Listeners gain valuable lessons on leadership, overcoming obstacles, and maintaining a balanced, fulfilling life while striving for excellence in their endeavors.

Transcript

[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 are bringing you along for the ride.

[Rick Caruso]

Get ready for some major realness.

[Lauren Everts]

Welcome to the Skinny Confidential. Him and her. Hello everybody. Welcome back to the Skinny Confidential him and her show. Today we're sitting down with one of the most influential and visionary minds in real estate, civic leadership and philanthropy, Rick Caruso. He's the founder and executive chairman of Caruso, the company behind some of the most iconic destinations in the U.S. including the Grove and Rosewood, Miramar Beach. With a career that spans to law, real estate, public service, and giving back on enormous scale, Rick has redefined what it means to build not just properties, but legacies. From serving as president of the LA Police Commission to endowing entire departments at USC and Pepperdine, Rick's impact is felt far beyond business. It's deeply personal and profoundly civic. And today we dive into his mindset, his mission, in the key moments that shaped it all. This was one of my favorite conversations in a long time. Lauren and I both personally admire Rick, not only for his business savvy, but him as a father, husband, family man and just a good all around person that does a lot to give back to the community and provide so many others with so much inspiration, hope, dreams, you name it. Rick is one of those guys with that. Rick Caruso. Welcome to the Skinny Confidential, him and her show. This is the Skinny Confidential him and Her.

[Rick Caruso]

I feel like we have one of the ultimate godfathers of entrepreneurship on the show right now.

[Michael Bostick]

Oh my God, what a title. Thank you.

[Rick Caruso]

Truly.

[Michael Bostick]

I sort of like that. That's okay.

[Rick Caruso]

It's like a octopus of entrepreneurship.

[Michael Bostick]

Oh, thanks.

[Rick Caruso]

At what point in your life, when you look back on everything, did you realize that you had that entrepreneurial vibe in you?

[Michael Bostick]

I had a very entrepreneurial father even growing up as a little kid. A story that I haven't told in a long, long time. We lived up in Truesdale Estates and there wasn't many homes at the time. It was mostly empty lots. And I remember one day I was maybe five or six years old and I was standing there with my dad and I jokingly said, dad, one day I want to build in this city. You know, I'm going to build big buildings and whatnot. And he just sort of looked at me like, that's sort of surprising for a little kid. I just think, you know, I was wired, I was born that way, and I'VE always dreamed of business and entrepreneurship and being involved and connected. And I find it really exciting.

[Rick Caruso]

Michael, when. Cause I've known Michael since we were 12, and he's an entrepreneur. He had trouble in school. He was like, he would get seized because they don't really know what to do with you.

[Lauren Everts]

Cs is being generous.

[Rick Caruso]

Especially, I'm thinking, like, at your point, they don't know what to do with you when you are thinking outside the box and you are entrepreneurial. Did you find that or were you really good in school?

[Michael Bostick]

I struggled in school and I. I didn't really get my footing in school. Yeah, I was definitely a C student at best. And I didn't really get my footing in school, actually, until I went to law school. And then I sort of realized, okay, I've got to hunker down here and really be serious about it. But I did struggle in school.

[Lauren Everts]

The difficulty for me personally was I. I couldn't relate to why the lessons were applicable to what I ultimately wanted to do or find interesting. I remember sitting in a bunch of these classes being like, what is all this stuff? But then whenever I would get. Fortunately, my father was very entrepreneurial. Whenever, like, they would come to him and say, hey, we got a real problem with Michael over here. He would say, no, I've seen him get super interested in things. When he gets interested, it's like, very laser focused. And, you know, I went through all of that until later I realized, like, oh, like, I. Once I found a purpose, then I.

[Michael Bostick]

Then I could go, yeah, I think that's fair.

[Rick Caruso]

What happened when you were at law school? What's the first thing?

[Michael Bostick]

There was no escaping having to perform. Right. You sort of can fake it in grammar school, you sort of fake it in high school. You can sort of fake it through college, law school. You know, you gotta be disciplined. And I didn't want to fail. I'm generally insecure, even though people don't think I am. And so the idea of getting into law school and then not doing well, I didn't do great in law school, but I did well enough and I was lucky I passed the bar and all those kind of things. So I had to really learn how to learn. And that, like, flipped a switch for me, which was really cool because I felt my brain becoming more analytical in terms of the process of problem solving and whatnot. And that did change my life in a lot of ways.

[Lauren Everts]

When you say insecure, were you insecure of flunking out of that situation and the perception of what People would say around you or what? What do you mean by that?

[Michael Bostick]

I. I was always insecure when I was young of not being as good as my peers and being called out for it. You know, I was never like a great athlete. I was never like a great student. And so what sort of am I great at? And an interesting way that really propelled me because I wanted to prove that I could be good at something, whatever that something was going to be. What was made me work harder.

[Rick Caruso]

Totally. It's like ammunition.

[Michael Bostick]

That's right.

[Rick Caruso]

When you were in law school, were you. Were you doing things that were entrepreneurial during law school or does that come after.

[Michael Bostick]

It really came after. The most entrepreneurial thing I did in law school was figure out how to get through law school and still have fun.

[Rick Caruso]

Right.

[Michael Bostick]

Love it. Because I like having fun and I also like to work. So that's always the, you know, how much how you manage your time. So I really learned how to manage time. And can you have a group of people over and have a barbecue and have fun and study? Right. How do you wrap around the work? With fun. And I've lived my life that way now, and I've built my business that way. Resourceful. Work hard and have fun.

[Rick Caruso]

Really resourceful.

[Lauren Everts]

Yep. I was saying one of the difficulties with you before we started is like, this bio is the next great American novel we could go through. And there's so many things too generous that you've accomplished. What was the first thing that was a real hit for you that. That started driving some real success?

[Michael Bostick]

You know, I practiced law. I went to law school and practiced law. I. I knew it was really great training for me. My dad really wanted me to go to law school. He really wanted me to practice law for a while. And it was figuring out how to be successful in a law firm. This is going to sound like a terrible thing, how to be successful in a law firm and not have to practice law too hard. And so what I realized was there's a road in a law firm that becomes really important, which is driving business. After about three years of typical grind of working 20 hours a day, I went to the managing partner and I said, I think I can make you more money by bringing business in than billing hours. And so I'll take a cut in salary and I'll take a percentage of what I bring in and let's see how it goes. And that was sort of the first business move.

[Lauren Everts]

So instead of doing a lot of, tell me if I'm wrong, the law work, you would figure out how to go get the clients to go and spend more at the law firm. Okay.

[Michael Bostick]

Exactly. And I still did law work, but I didn't have the billing requirement. And then it sort of triggered to me, how can I add value in an industry that's pretty staid, where you sort of take a common multiplier and sort of bend the curve, do something a little bit differently. And that led me into real estate, which I always wanted to be in. And I think I had the great benefit in real estate of not knowing the rules. And when you don't know the rules, it gives you permission to break the rules. Cause you're not worried about breaking the rules. And you know, got a great team that feels the same way and built the company on that.

[Rick Caruso]

It's so funny because Michael used to be like, Lauren, you're the creative one. And what I've realized as we've been married is he's the creative one because he sees creative angles and deals. And it sounds like. It sounds like you guys are very similar. Like that you figure out different ways to work a deal. Or as you said, Ben, to pull.

[Lauren Everts]

That clip and put it. Play it to me.

[Rick Caruso]

Cause I'm lucky. You got a big compliment.

[Michael Bostick]

But I think what you're doing is the fun talent. If you're lucky enough to have it, is to be able to look around a corner. You guys have done that. You've created a whole industry. You're ahead of the curve. And that's exciting.

[Lauren Everts]

Well, I think what I get excited about is looking at things that have been done one way for a very long time and then tapping into the things that obviously work, but kind of evolving those things so that they don't.

[Rick Caruso]

That's very similar what he's saying.

[Lauren Everts]

I get very bored and uninterested if it's like, hey, even if it's driving success, if it's just the same thing, redundancy over and over, I just. I kind of lose interest. Zone out.

[Michael Bostick]

Yeah, that's cause you're creative. But here's the other thing that I've always thought of. Somebody told me this, so it's not my great thinking on this. The genius of Steve Jobs was never inventing anything. The genius was reinventing something to the point that people needed it. Right. And now we live with an Apple phone. Like, you would die if you didn't have your Apple phone. Right. I'm exaggerating. And so to your point, take something that's out there. That's what I did with shopping. Take something that's already out there and just reinvent it to make it more relevant to your guests, to your customer, to people, to the public. And it's fun doing that.

[Lauren Everts]

Can we talk about that? So we're, you know, California natives, originally lived in la, very familiar with your properties. They're iconic properties out here. Anyone that lives in la, the Grove and many of you know, the Rosewood, all these places. But for people that are unfamiliar with your work and have not been here, how did you flip kind of shopping and retail on instead? Like, what was your approach?

[Michael Bostick]

The approach was to do it in a way that was all about. Let me back up a minute. If you ask me or anybody in my company, what business are you in? The answer will not be, we build shopping centers, we build a resort, we build apartments. The answer would be we enrich lives. That's the business we're in. And the reason we say it is because when you have a big platform, you get permission to do things that other people won't do. So if I said we build shopping centers, I'm going to build shopping centers that look like every other shopping center. If I said we're going to go enrich lives, all of a sudden at the Grove, here in Los Angeles, the trolley makes sense, the fountain makes sense, the trees make sense. So the big move for us was there's certain things that human beings have always enjoyed. They've always enjoyed being connected, having fun, feeling safe, triggering all your senses when you walk into a space. So why would you walk into an indoor mall that's artificial? So the big move was we do everything outdoors, we do everything pedestrian scale, we do everything about welcoming people for no other reason. Just come and have fun and relax. We're going to transport you to a better place in time. And then of course, they're gonna shop, and of course they're gonna sit and dine. And of course they're gonna spend more time. And if they spend more time, they'll also spend more money with us.

[Rick Caruso]

With the Grove, when you had this idea and you had this whole concept, did you get pushback or was everyone on board?

[Michael Bostick]

Oh, massive pushback, massive pushback, of course. But you know, it's like, have you been up to the resort? Our resort up in Montecito?

[Lauren Everts]

Sure.

[Rick Caruso]

The Rosewood. Of course.

[Michael Bostick]

The Miramar.

[Rick Caruso]

Yes. Beautiful.

[Michael Bostick]

We'll use that as an example. Announce that you're going to go build a five star hotel, albeit on a beautiful beach. You're going to go build a five star hotel and have a train run through the middle Right. It's like my dad came to me, who wasn't in the real estate business, but he came to me. He said, are you nuts? And he was my best friend. He's passed away since, but he was my best friend. He said, you've never built a hotel, and you got a train running through the middle of it. Well, now that train is an attraction at that hotel. All of a sudden, it's this amenity that people enjoy seeing come through because it's so unique. So that goes to the point. Any piece of real estate or, I think, any business, there's things that you can isolate or celebrate. You can't isolate a train, so you better figure out how to celebrate it the same at the Grove. It was an old part of Los Angeles that people had long forgotten. Why would you be building in the Fairfax district? Why wouldn't you be building the Fairfax district? It's near Beverly Hills, near Hancock Park, West Hollywood. The demographics are unbelievable. But when we turned it inside and turned our back to 3rd Street, I mean, you could pull up the articles widely criticized. Why would he turn his back to 3rd Street? Because I was trying to create my own environment for people.

[Lauren Everts]

Because third seat was for people that don't know is very busy.

[Michael Bostick]

Very busy boulevard, which most retailers would say, I want to be along a busy boulevard. We had to convince the retailers the actions on the inside because we're creating this environment where people want to hang out, feel safe, have fun, sit and read the paper, have a cup of coffee, let your children run around in the park. You know, all of those kind of things.

[Rick Caruso]

Do you almost like when you get pushed back Cause you know you're onto something?

[Michael Bostick]

Yes.

[Rick Caruso]

Yeah.

[Michael Bostick]

Yeah. I'm sure you do, too.

[Rick Caruso]

I love it.

[Michael Bostick]

Yeah.

[Rick Caruso]

I just launched toilet paper, and people are like, what the fuck are you doing?

[Michael Bostick]

I heard, you know, we have a big toilet paper debate at my house.

[Rick Caruso]

What's the debate, Gigi? There's a debate. What's the debate?

[Michael Bostick]

There is a toilet paper controversy. Since being married, my wife has a particular brand. We're gonna need to have to try yours. None of the kids have ever liked it growing up to this day. Right.

[Rick Caruso]

Okay.

[Michael Bostick]

But she will not like it.

[Rick Caruso]

But that's probably because it probably doesn't call chemicals. Tina, we're gonna try. We have to try mine because it has no formaldehyde and no chlorine in it.

[Michael Bostick]

Okay.

[Rick Caruso]

And you can't be wiping your intimate areas. But when you.

[Michael Bostick]

I do. I didn't think we were gonna go there, but I think I'm okay with that.

[Rick Caruso]

That's why we need it.

[Michael Bostick]

I'm okay. I'm okay with that.

[Lauren Everts]

You said to let me.

[Michael Bostick]

It's a necessity.

[Rick Caruso]

It is a necessity. You gotta get it daily high.

[Michael Bostick]

You gotta go with it.

[Rick Caruso]

But so when you get the pushback, you know that you're onto. It's like a compass, you know, you're onto something.

[Michael Bostick]

Yeah.

[Rick Caruso]

So how have you used the pushback to your advantage? I mean, obviously with the train, but what are other areas that you've used pushback?

[Michael Bostick]

You know, honestly, even running for office, when I ran for office a couple years ago, I just. I felt so strongly, I still do today, that all the problems. And this isn't supposed to be a commercial, but all the problems that we're facing in Los Angeles and most other big cities are solvable. And I loved when people kept saying, there's no way you can solve the homeless problem. There's no way you can solve the crime problem. There's no way you can do this. There's no way you can do that. That just gave me fuel. And I think it also got people to think, you know what, Maybe there is a solution to things. No different. When people told me, you can't build a shopping center without a roof on it. Really, every great street in the world doesn't have a roof on it, and people shop along it. So I think what's fun in life for me is taking really complex problems, breaking them apart into small pieces, and putting them back together in a different way.

[Rick Caruso]

You're also very practical with the way you approach it. Like, there's also a simplicity to it, which I think is nice. And sometimes I feel like with politics, people try to overcomplicate it and create all this chaos, which just. It makes it too crazy. And it doesn't have to be that crazy.

[Lauren Everts]

Well, I was saying to you, you know, we grew up not in la, but in San Diego, not too far down. I think they're, in a lot of ways, they're very different places, but share, obviously the same state. And then we left here in 2020. And what I was saying, one of the most frustrating things as a former California resident was how many things I personally believe are solvable, especially now because I live in another city where those issues were solved that don't get solved here. When you ran, we were super excited for you to be elected. Didn't happen. But why is it so hard for this state to take these issues? One of the highest tax rates in the country, greatest infrastructure, what needs to happen in here to start solving some of these issues.

[Michael Bostick]

Well, maybe we're at a tipping point. I hope we are. I mean, I hope we're at a point where people say, the state of California should be the best state in the country. We should be taking the lead. The rest of the country should be following us. We went down a path with, you know, a lot of experiments that just didn't turn out well, like in Los Angeles, too. And we did it statewide. And so I think now, and I hope now that people sit back and maybe the fires were really a trigger point for a lot of people to say, you know what, actual competency in our leadership is critical. And we got to start electing people that are competent or appointing people that are competent. And we have to get back to the middle and get rid of the extremes and start governing from the middle and be very practical. To your point, I think people just want to hear common sense, compassionate ideas of saying, let's figure out how you're gonna have a better quality of life. Let's figure out how you're gonna feel safer in your neighborhood. All of those kind of things are just critically important, but they're not talked about enough.

[Lauren Everts]

Yeah, I mean, I really am hesitant to publicly over and over criticize some of the policies in the state. Cause I don't want this to become the property. Oh, here he goes in California again. But I am passionate about it because my parents still live in California. I was born here. I was raised here. My first child was here. Half the company's here. And it's frustrating to watch some of these experiments, as you say, or policies, take what should be one of the beacons of. To your point, an example of what a great state should be and say, why do you have these kind of safety issues? I don't just know of people that have been harmed or hurt or robbed. I know them personally. Multiple people. I haven't just lived through one fire. We were here during that last round, which was terrible. But, like, multiple fires that have gotten out of control.

[Michael Bostick]

Right.

[Lauren Everts]

And it's. And as somebody who's seen it over and over, it's frustrating. And you're looking around, you're saying, well, where are all these tax dollars and resources going if not to support the infrastructure that should exist?

[Michael Bostick]

Well, I agree with you. And I think I know how I feel. I feel that I don't mind paying high taxes as long as I get my money's worth. And I think what people in California are saying, we're not getting our Money's worth. And I just. It. It kills me because our family is all here. Grew up here. I started my business here. Tina and I raised our family here. We love Los Angeles. We love California. It's the Golden State for sure. But we think about so many things now. We used to never have to think about. We don't go for a walk at night anymore. We used to always go for a walk after dinner in our neighborhood. Why do you not do that? I worry about where our kids are living or where they're raising their families or all of these kind of things. And it's so fixable if you have people that have the backbone and the courage, the will and the competency to just solve some of these problems, and it benefits everybody.

[Lauren Everts]

You know, it's funny, because people are like, oh, you live in Texas now. And obviously Texas is a completely different kind of state not to go into the gun world, but the gun laws are different. But what I tell people is, like, funny enough, I've lived in both, and I feel much safer over there. And I don't have to worry about my wife going on a walk in the night in the neighborhood. And I don't have to worry about, did you wear the wrong piece of jewelry or carry the wrong piece of clothes? We don't have to think about it. And I think that that's a commentary on experiencing both places. And if. If you are looking at one place that has much more, you know, strict regulations around, you know, firearms and stuff like that and safety, and another place that's a little bit more liberal with it, it's strange that the place that's more liberal with it feels safer.

[Michael Bostick]

Yeah. And I would also say, you know, we have a home that we use down in Newport Beach. I mean, we love Newport beach, and we've been down there for a long time, too. We go down for the weekends. Same laws apply. We don't think about locking our door. We're not worried about going for a walk at night, because the priorities are different. And what I would say is, in California, for Los Angeles, we've got to get our priorities where I think there's sort of two big priorities. Making people safe, which includes feeling safe, which is different than actually being safe. You need both, and giving people the opportunity to prosper. And in my mind, everything sort of stems from that. That means you're going to have great schools, great parks, clean neighborhoods. You're going to enforce the law. You're not going to have criminals run around and not be held accountable. You Know, all of those kind of things are important. Whether the gun laws are different to me is more about is law enforcement empowered to actually enforce the law? Is the district attorney actually holding people accountable? Do we have programs that allow somebody to be rehabilitated and get back on the streets and be productive again? Right? So it's a big basket of things, but none of it's complicated. And states like Texas or Florida or many other states have really figured this out. And the quality of life is up, the investment in the states are up. I mean, I go down to Florida, I'm just blown away. I was just in Austin. The amount of high rises are going up. Find a crane in Los Angeles. Find development in Los Angeles. It stopped.

[Lauren Everts]

Me and my dad years and years ago, built a medical building together. Okay, 12,000 square foot medical. Nothing big. It took like five years on the permitting.

[Michael Bostick]

It's crazy.

[Lauren Everts]

It was insane. And I was like, who has this time to wait on this kind of stuff?

[Michael Bostick]

Red tape. That's why people go somewhere else.

[Lauren Everts]

Was the partner.

[Rick Caruso]

You know, when you have all this going on with your career, the Grove, all you have what, your resort in Santa Barbara, all these different things you're doing, what makes you decide, you know, what I actually want to run? Like, what was the epiphany?

[Michael Bostick]

I've always believed in public service. I started when I was really young. I was appointed by Tom Bradley, who was way before your time, was one of the Great Mayors of LA. I was 26 years old, practicing law, and a mutual friend said, do you want to be appointed a commissioner? I didn't even know what a commissioner was. And I said, sure. I said, I love business. Is there a commission that's a business? He said, department of Water and Power, largest public utility in the country. I said, okay, great. And I loved being a part of the city infrastructure that were doing really cool things. And at that time, DWP was doing really cool things. We were building power plants and solving water rights issues. And so intellectually it was fascinating. But here's what I learned, the big takeaway and why I wanted to become mayor. When I was appointed the president of the Police Commission by Jim Hahn Some 20 years ago, crime was going out of control in Los Angeles. It was post the Rodney King beating. A terrible incident that happened in Los Angeles. Officers were quitting. It was just a bad time in la and we had a very, very popular chief of police. He looked like he came out of central casting. Couldn't have worn the uniform better. And a good human being, not a Good manager. And I had the job of having to fire him and bring in a new chief of police. I had to fire a very popular black chief of police. And I ended up picking who I believe was the best cop in the country, Bill Bratton, a white man from Boston. That wasn't the politically correct thing to do, but it was the right thing to do. And I called Jim Hahn, who's the mayor, and I said, this is what I'm going to do. He said, do what's right. There's going to be political fallout, but do what's right. Bill Bratton and his team, along with the police Commission, got crime down to levels not seen since 1950. It's amazing the work that he did. Still a great cop. And what I learned was if you make decisions not because you're worried about getting reelected or reappointed, but if you make decisions because they're the right decision for the right reasons, incredible things can happen. And I think what's happened in the state and the city, the county, we have elected officials that are on this carousel. They're in city council, get termed out, they go to the state Senate, they get termed out, they go to the LA County Board of Supervisors. And all they really start caring about is, am I going to get reelected? And that changes how you make really good decisions. And that's why we continue to have homelessness, we continue to have crime problem, we continue to have dirty streets because they just refuse to make tough political decisions that maybe will cost them their job, but will actually be good for the people they serve, including the people on the streets.

[Lauren Everts]

I think that's a commentary known not only on California, but many places in the country. So how do you start? How do you get out of that cycle?

[Michael Bostick]

Hopefully the electorate gets to the point again, what we were talking about, and maybe the fires, unfortunately, were the tipping point where people say, we've had enough. We're not going to worry about ideology, we're not going to worry about what party you're in. What we're going to think about is, does this person have a track record of making really good decisions and is he or she competent and do they have our back?

[Lauren Everts]

It's just terrible that events like that fire, which ruined so many people's lives, have to happen in order for us to get to that place. Right?

[Michael Bostick]

But you got to find a silver lining in it because everything else is so bad about it.

[Rick Caruso]

One of the main supplements that I've done this whole, whole entire pregnancy is Elderberry. And I get my Elderberry from Symbiotica. I actually learned about elderberry from another mother who was pregnant and she told me about all the immune benefits and so I've just done it the entire pregnancy. How I like to use Symbiotica's elderberry is I mix it in my morning water. So I'll do my beauty salt that has electrolytes in it. I'll do a little lemon, I'll froth it up sometimes I'll add collagen and then I'll add Symbiotica's elderberry. And it's so delicious and so good. And I know it has vitamin E in it, which is great for my immunity and the baby. If you're on Symbiotica and you already have a code, I would also recommend getting their magnesium lavender spray. I put it on my feet at night when I am winding down. I have my red light on my Hertz music and I put this lavender spray on my feet, on my kids feet. It is amazing. And then if you're looking for something kid friendly, they have these chocolate longevity mushrooms that I have completely rebranded as chocolate syrup. And I use it on my kids strawberries with whipped cream. I use it on ice cream. I use it for them to put on their toast like a Nutella. And it's absolutely delicious and full of benefits. Taking Symbiotica supplements is one of the easiest ways I have found to stay consistent with my health goals, even during a busy summer. And of course we have a code. Go to symbiotica.com TSC today you get 20% off plus free shipping. That's C Y M B I o t I k a dot com TSC you get 20% off plus free shipping. Everyone needs to know that my best friend Weston is obsessed with cats. He loves cats. And recently he told me about a new cat food that he is feeding his cat named Winston. Weston and Winston. It's by Smalls. Smalls cat food is protein packed and it's made with preservative free ingredients that you can find in your fridge. So if you're looking for something for your cat, this is the food that you want delivered right to your door. This is what I found and Weston agrees with this. You can't just feed your cat kibble because your cat actually descended from the ferocious desert cats who hunted live prey for food. And your cat isn't different. They need fresh, protein packed meals to be at their best. So Weston switched to Smalls and he is loving all of Winston's health improvements. He likes that they don't fill their food with a bunch of random products, artificial flavoring and preservatives. This is like the creme de la creme of cat food. They know that you're going to like it so much and that your cat will like it so much that you can try it risk free. Which means they'll refund you if your cat won't eat the food for a limited time only because you are a him and her listener, you can get 35% off smalls plus an additional 50% off your first order. All you have to do is use our code skinny50 again, that's an additional additional 50 off. When you head to smalls.com and use promo code skinny50 again, that's promo code skinny50 for an additional 50% off your first order plus free [e-mail] One of.

[Lauren Everts]

The biggest things Lauren and I have implemented recently to absolutely change our health, especially since we moved to Texas, is that we eat a lot more home cooked meals at the house without ordering in. Not doing postmates, not doing doordash. And did you know that the average American spends over $3,000 a year on dining out. All that being said, there's only one company we trust to our food and that is Caraway. Did you know that 95% of home goods on the market contain forever chemicals? Plastic cutting boards shed thousands of microplastics with every use. PTFE coated non stick cookware is the most common source of Teflon flu and the average adult unknowingly consumes 12 plastic bags worth of microplastics every year. This is a total disaster that can be easily changed by making the switch to products like Caraway. And listen, I know everybody is concerned about the dollar, so are we. But cheap pans come with a cost to your health which nobody wants to deal with. Caraway has premium cookware made from only the highest quality ingredients. All of Caraway ceramic cookware is free from toxic materials including pfas, pfoa, ptfe, lead, cadmium and other harmful chemicals. For guilt free cooking. Caraway's cutting boards are constructed entirely of FSC certified birchwood. No plastics, no bpa, no nonsense. So if you're going to cook your food and you want to have these healthy home cooked meals, make sure you're cooking it in a healthy way with clean cooking materials of course. We have an incredible offer for our audience. If you have been eyeing their Internet famous 12 piece cookware set, now is the perfect time to buy. You can shop Caraway risk Free. Enjoy fast shipping, easy returns and a 30 day trial. Plus, if you visit carawayhome.com theskinny10 you can take an additional 10 off your next purchase. This deal is exclusively for our listeners, so visit carawayhome.com theskinny10 or use code the skinny10 at checkout. Caraway non TOXIC COOKWARE MADE MODERN.

[Rick Caruso]

How do you think LA will recover from everything it's been through? How do you hope it will recover?

[Michael Bostick]

I think it's going to be great. I'm a big believer in la. I mean I'm, I'm, I'm optimistic about la. I'm optim optimistic about the rebuilding of the Palisades, Malibu, Altadena. Listen, it's going to be tough. This is a massive disaster on epic proportions that have never been seen in this country. We have lost two and a half times the size of Manhattan. The scale is insane. The work that needs to be done is huge. But I always try to look at the bright side. After the devastation and the heartache. I mean Gianna lost her home, my son lost his home standing. But it's destroyed because of fire smoke. We lost our a home of ours. So we understand the pain and the devastation of losing a home and what that means, losing a lifestyle that was so dear and wonderful in the Palisades or Altadena, Malibu. But it's going to come back and it's going to be all new. If done right, the infrastructure is going to be new, the parks will be new, the churches, the synagogues. And so there will be a rebirth. And you know, we're a part of that and I'm honored to be a part of that. So I think it's going to be great. I would bet on LA switching gears a bit.

[Lauren Everts]

What do you think some of the habits or thought process are that you have personally that have made you so successful? If you were coaching your younger self or just any young person listening.

[Rick Caruso]

Don't tell me you wake up at 4:30 or something.

[Michael Bostick]

No. Oh God.

[Rick Caruso]

Okay, got it.

[Michael Bostick]

No, no, no. I'm not an early riser.

[Rick Caruso]

Please.

[Michael Bostick]

No, I don't like people that wake up at 4:30. Neither do I. They just wait too. Now I like staying up late actually, because that's my think time.

[Rick Caruso]

Okay.

[Michael Bostick]

Yeah, I like having after everyone sort of settles in. Jana will tell you this. I got my routine as everybody settles in after dinner. We do a lot of family dinners together. We're very close. I go outside and I have my cocktail and I just like that think time and I have my music on.

[Lauren Everts]

What's the cocktail?

[Michael Bostick]

From time to time, I'll have my cigar with my cocktail.

[Rick Caruso]

Wait, hold on. What's your cocktail?

[Michael Bostick]

I drink Johnnie Walker Blue.

[Rick Caruso]

Okay. And what's your cigar?

[Michael Bostick]

Partagas.

[Rick Caruso]

Oh, Michael's gotten two cigar racks this week. You gotta get on it.

[Lauren Everts]

Yeah, Piers Morgan was on here yesterday. He said Monte Cristo, no, two.

[Michael Bostick]

It's a good one.

[Rick Caruso]

Yeah, but I think you gotta try it.

[Lauren Everts]

I never heard that one.

[Michael Bostick]

Okay, I'll send you a box.

[Lauren Everts]

You don't have to send me a.

[Michael Bostick]

Box, but we'll have a cigar and a blue together.

[Lauren Everts]

Okay, twist my arm.

[Michael Bostick]

It solves a lot of problems. It does, but it allows me to, I think, you know, And I've got a couple of really basic rules, and Gian and the kids have heard them all so many times, they're sick of them. But I really do believe in my heart there is a solution to every problem. It may not be the solution that you think is there or that you want, but if you keep working towards that, you will find a solution. And I just run heavily optimistic that in business, in life, whatever it is, there's certain things you can't solve. You know, a terrible cancer, those kind of things you can't solve. Other than that. I try to prioritize my life into buckets. And I prioritize my life with my faith, my family, my friends and fun. That's my priority. Work isn't in there because it's a given. I don't have a choice. I'm going to work hard, but I do make a choice to be faithful to my God, to be faithful to my family, to have great friends and to have fun. To just work to have fun every day.

[Rick Caruso]

I think that's really good advice. There's this book called the Road Less Stupid.

[Michael Bostick]

I love that. I've never heard of it, but I gotta get it.

[Rick Caruso]

He reminds Keith Cunningham. He talks about the importance of thinking time. How none of us want to sit with our thoughts and just. Just think. And it's not even meditating. It's like having a strategy session with yourself is so powerful. And I think that's so cool that you naturally do that.

[Michael Bostick]

Yeah. And then I repeat it in the morning because I'm really into taking a steam before I work out. And so I love infrared steams. I love a wet steam and then an infrared steam. And then, you know, I've talked about. I do my cold plunge, which is. I thought I would never be able to do, but I'm addicted to now you're into it. Oh, my God, I hate it. I did it this morning. It was cold out.

[Lauren Everts]

What kind of cold plunge are you using? Curious about this.

[Michael Bostick]

Oh, my God. What's the one? The. The boys recommended it about a year ago. Yeah, it's 50. I'm not, like, super.

[Lauren Everts]

You know what, though?

[Michael Bostick]

I'm not breaking ice to get in. Let me put it that way. I'll break ice at night to pour my drink, but not in the morning.

[Lauren Everts]

We talk about this stuff all the time. But we had somebody, Gary Breca, was on the show. Super. In a lot of that stuff, and he was saying, you don't need to go much lower than that. Like, a lot of people that think they need to get down into the 30s and stuff, you get the same effect.

[Michael Bostick]

Good to hear.

[Lauren Everts]

Yeah.

[Michael Bostick]

Because I. Yeah, good to hear. I'm glad. Now I got an excuse.

[Rick Caruso]

I like the. I like it freezing.

[Michael Bostick]

Really?

[Rick Caruso]

Just like. I like my cocktails insane. I like it so cold, and I like to sit in there for four minutes and.

[Michael Bostick]

Can you do it pregnant?

[Rick Caruso]

No, I mean, you. I. I guess I would just say blanket. No.

[Lauren Everts]

We're gonna just be destroyed.

[Rick Caruso]

No, no. People have done it pregnant. I intuitively don't feel like I can do it pregnant. I'm really about intuition with pregnancy and feel. Right. But you better believe after I'm done giving birth, I'm getting in that thing. I like it freezing.

[Michael Bostick]

Do you do it every day?

[Rick Caruso]

I probably do it about five days a week.

[Michael Bostick]

Good for you.

[Rick Caruso]

It's kind of like crack. Once you start doing it, it's like you have to get so uncomfortable to feel comfortable.

[Michael Bostick]

100%.

[Rick Caruso]

I love it. I think it makes you mentally tough, too.

[Michael Bostick]

Yes. Because for me, the decision point to do it is the toughest part. Because I'm not gonna say no, I gotta do it.

[Rick Caruso]

Yeah. And it changes. It kind of like. This is weird, but it feels like it's a windshield wiper and wipes the fog off your eyes. Like, you just have a clear.

[Lauren Everts]

Well, for me, like, I just. I think, as everyone listens, knows, like, life is hard. There's a million challenges, and I think the more difficult things you can do over and over. It just makes all of those challenges much more digestible.

[Rick Caruso]

What workout are you doing? You said workout.

[Michael Bostick]

So I have a. I have this routine that I do, but I. Three days a week, I have a trainer, so I do weights.

[Rick Caruso]

Okay.

[Michael Bostick]

And then the other three days, I do tennis.

[Rick Caruso]

Cool.

[Michael Bostick]

And I do. I do it with a pro so it's a workout for, like, 45 minutes.

[Rick Caruso]

Geez, you guys.

[Michael Bostick]

But I start my morning, I read my papers. You know, I got my routine. I like reading my papers, dating, emails, getting, like, everything pushed back, trying to keep up.

[Lauren Everts]

I'm just trying.

[Michael Bostick]

You're a stud. You look great. You both look great.

[Rick Caruso]

What he does is. It's very. You guys are very similar.

[Lauren Everts]

Recently got into tennis because as I've gotten older, I can't do the things that I used to do.

[Michael Bostick]

What did you used to do?

[Lauren Everts]

Just everything that I shouldn't do. All combat and, you know, getting hit and boxing, high Jiu Jitsu, and then never Jiu Jitsu.

[Michael Bostick]

One of my sons is really into Jiu Jitsu.

[Rick Caruso]

Tell him to cover his ears. Isn't that the one that gives you the ears they get?

[Michael Bostick]

Yeah, yeah, the puffy ears.

[Rick Caruso]

You gotta make ggc. Like, ear covers.

[Lauren Everts]

I want to get.

[Rick Caruso]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Lauren Everts]

We have the cauliflower. I want to get our son into Jiu Jitsu because I've heard so many benefits of doing it.

[Michael Bostick]

How old is your son?

[Lauren Everts]

He's two and a half right now.

[Rick Caruso]

Michael. He's literally a fetus.

[Lauren Everts]

But we were.

[Rick Caruso]

We can't throw him into Jiu Jitsu.

[Lauren Everts]

Listen, we were with a friend of ours, and he said, for young children, it's one of the better things, because the things that I would do would break the bones and you'd actually get hurt and head injuries and all these things. But with Jiu jitsu, you don't have that. And you also stretch the bones in a way that he was saying later. Guards you against osteoporosis and many bone degenerative diseases that will last their entire life. But anyways, back to the tennis. I love tennis now because it's so frustratingly difficult.

[Michael Bostick]

Yeah, it's a good challenge.

[Lauren Everts]

Every time you think you're getting it.

[Rick Caruso]

There'S good for your brain.

[Michael Bostick]

Oh, you're absolutely right.

[Rick Caruso]

Yeah.

[Michael Bostick]

It's good for your brain to exercise and see green at the same time. Huh? Stimulates your brain.

[Rick Caruso]

Yep, green.

[Michael Bostick]

That's what the doctors have told me.

[Rick Caruso]

Okay.

[Michael Bostick]

That's why tennis is so good. If you're in a landscaped area playing tennis.

[Rick Caruso]

Yeah, I'd like a landscaped area tennis court.

[Lauren Everts]

And you could do it together and travel.

[Michael Bostick]

Yeah, we'll have it. Blew a cigar, go to sleep, and then we'll wake up. We have our scenes. Play tennis, take a cold plunge.

[Rick Caruso]

What is the behind the scenes of the grove look like? Running it and dealing with all the different retailers. And how does it all come together? What does your day to day look like running that?

[Michael Bostick]

You know, for me, I have an incredible team of people that are managing that. It's a bit of what you would imagine. There's Showtime in the morning, right. So in the middle of the night and early, early in the morning, there's teams of people cleaning, replanting, trimming.

[Rick Caruso]

Like Disneyland.

[Michael Bostick]

Polishing just like Disneyland. And then boom, when showtime hits, they all go away. But we've got management teams on all of these properties that just do an incredible job. They're so dedicated.

[Rick Caruso]

What do you think makes it, like, so special? Obviously, it's outside. That's incredible. But whenever you say the Grove, it does evoke this warm, nostalgic feeling.

[Michael Bostick]

Well, that makes me happy. It was intended.

[Rick Caruso]

Yeah.

[Michael Bostick]

And every. Every project that we built, we start with a story and we literally put it on paper and we build to that story. And every contractor that's working on the property has that book and understands what they're building. So the Grove, the story behind the Grove was. It was this great old downtown that was built after World War II adjacent to the original Farmer's Market that fell into disrepair and now has come back to life. There's a rebirth to it. So that's the nostalgia of the Trolley of. And there's so many things that you're. And you guys know this because you're so successful in your businesses with your products and how you market it, the look and feel of it, what your eye sees and the signal it sends to your brain. There's sidewalks, curbs and gutters at the Grove. There's no cars on the street. Big battle with the landscape architects not to build curbs and gutters. People are going to trip. I said, they don't trip. Walking down a street, if we would have built it like a plaza, sends a different signal. You feel like you're on an old street and somehow you're not supposed to be there. But because you're there, it's sort of fun because you usually aren't walking down the middle of a street with a trolley near you. Right. So it evokes things in your brain. The music, the scent of the orange trees, the flowers, the lawn, the fountain. All of those things are very intended to just trigger a form of happiness.

[Rick Caruso]

My middle name is Five Senses, so I love this so much. When Michael and I got together, he didn't know about them, so I had to introduce him to the Five Senses. Michael would be woken up with a hundred lights in his face with no music.

[Lauren Everts]

Listen, I love my.

[Rick Caruso]

I don't even think you knew what.

[Lauren Everts]

A candle was, but I had a father that, in the morning, slammed the lights on full blast. Get up, wing the door open. That was dog, gang.

[Rick Caruso]

I want the. The light dimmer with the candle flickering.

[Michael Bostick]

Oh, yeah.

[Rick Caruso]

I have this theory that I think that the train and the trolley. The reason that it's. People love it so much is people. This is weird. Like, movement.

[Michael Bostick]

Yeah.

[Rick Caruso]

Like if you turn a fan on in your house and you get the energy moving.

[Michael Bostick]

That's a good point.

[Rick Caruso]

People, like, energetically, like, moving. It feels progressive.

[Michael Bostick]

I agree. That's a great point. I hadn't thought about that, but that's a great point.

[Rick Caruso]

It feels like. It's like there's. When I'm at that resort, it feels like there's movement and then you get the waves in the background. It's like. It's cool.

[Michael Bostick]

There's energy there.

[Rick Caruso]

There's totally energy there.

[Michael Bostick]

And it is funny when you think about that trolley goes nowhere and it's always full of people.

[Rick Caruso]

That's so cute.

[Michael Bostick]

It's always full of people. And it goes 1600ft.

[Rick Caruso]

That's so cute. And also the restaurant. Tell me the name of the restaurant on the corner that I love.

[Michael Bostick]

Piazza.

[Rick Caruso]

It's so good.

[Michael Bostick]

Yeah.

[Rick Caruso]

You feel like you're, like, kind of in Europe almost.

[Michael Bostick]

That's the. Yeah. Yeah. Well, thank you for being a customer there.

[Rick Caruso]

I'm a customer. I love it. How have you managed to raise children with such confidence? Gigi's obviously very entrepreneurial.

[Michael Bostick]

Yes, she is.

[Rick Caruso]

How did you think about raising kids when they were young? I would love to know, selfishly.

[Michael Bostick]

Well, I'm sure you're the same. It starts with a great spouse. I mean, Tina is an amazing woman and probably literally the best human being I've ever met. There's just a goodness to my wife. And so how could I not have great kids? Everything in our life, including today, starts, like I said, with family. I drove the kids to school every morning. I did carpool every morning. I was at every sporting event. It's what we do. It's what you guys do. And I just figured everything else I can find time for, but I'm never going to sacrifice time with the family now. There's always exceptions if I had to travel or things like that, but that was really pretty rare. And to. Even now, I mean, we as a family, probably have dinner two to three times a week. We're always together. They're always popping in the house. And I would always tell the kids, though, too, we're going to be your best friends or your worst enemies. You know, there's going to be rules. But in between all of those rules, we're going to create an environment that everybody just wants to be together.

[Lauren Everts]

When your children come to you for life advice, what do you think the most important advice you give them is?

[Michael Bostick]

The confidence that they can solve their own problems. I'll give them my best thinking, but I think what Tina and I do, it's more of a conversation. How are you really feeling about it? What's really bothering you about that? You know, these are the different ways you might think about something, but somehow, some way, and I don't have all the answers. You know, they're all faithful. They're all just good human beings. They all have their priorities right. They just came together, and now they're a little ecosystem. They're all best friends. They all support each other. But I also learned something from my dad that I never understood until I was older. I would come home complaining about something, and my dad's response was, you'll figure it out. And it wasn't. I realized I used to think it was being dismissive. Like, I don't have time for that. It was empowering. It was literally, you will figure it out. And he was always there for me. But that. That helped me learn a lot to be a dad. But we haven't been perfect parents, but we try hard every day.

[Rick Caruso]

The you'll figure it out is so important, I think, to children. Yeah, I think it's honest. I actually think it's number one.

[Michael Bostick]

I think you're right. That's why I said it starts with giving them the encouragement that they can solve their own problems. Otherwise, you're so dependent on somebody else, you don't want to live your life that way.

[Rick Caruso]

When you come to me with one of your problems at an inconvenient time, I'm going to say, you'll figure it out.

[Lauren Everts]

What does it say? I need emotional residency? Is that what you're saying?

[Rick Caruso]

No. Yeah. Emotional residency is when I have an emotion, and I want him to match the emotion, and if he doesn't match it, I'm mad.

[Michael Bostick]

I've never heard of that.

[Lauren Everts]

Well, it's like, you know, when you're. When you're upset about something and you have somebody who's not upset, and you're like, well, why aren't you just.

[Rick Caruso]

But you also do that to me.

[Michael Bostick]

Oh, I get that at home. Yeah. Yeah. I have lived through that in that.

[Lauren Everts]

Same lane line of questioning and not only for your children, but when, when young entrepreneurs or career driven people come to you for advice, what are the things they're asking you mostly? And what is your, in your opinion, greatest pieces of advice?

[Michael Bostick]

I think the best piece of advice, I am not an expert on giving people advice, but what I say to anybody is do what you're really good at, not what you really love. If the two come together, it's magic and powerful, but if you do what you're really good at, you're going to be successful. I think what a lot of people start doing is, you know, I love real estate. Well, maybe you're not good in real estate, but maybe you're really good in technology. And what I do think happens, at least it's happened for me and I've seen it with other people and for you both also. When you do what you're really good at and then you love it, nobody can compete with you. You will run circles around people because it's not work. Then it becomes fun and exciting and a challenge and energetic and you're going to go crush, you know, everything. And so I think you have to really sit back and ask yourself, hey, what am I good at? What am I naturally good at?

[Rick Caruso]

When your daughter Gigi comes to you and she says, I want to launch my own business, I have this idea. It sounds like you started it with your mom. What did you tell her to do? Or were you like, figure it out.

[Michael Bostick]

I first said, do it, go for it. You got a passion for it, you got a talent and you're good at it. She was great at design, great at envisioning things. She still is. She's so creative. And even at a young age, what I noticed with her, she has an incredible business mind. So great combination, great combination. She's tough, sweet as can be, but she's tough. She's a good Italian girl. No, I just encouraged it along the whole way. And what I saw in her, and I see it in my sons, our sons, then they start getting inspired. We've got really creative kids and it's great. We've got one that's a lawyer, one is a great filmmaker, one that's in music. Now moving over into real estate, about to have a baby. So we're going to be grandparents, which we're excited about. And I, you know, Gianna in business and creativity and fashion.

[Rick Caruso]

I love your bathing suits. I'm such a fan. You guys all have to go check them out if you've Ever seen me wearing a long sleeve bathing suit? It's a GGC bathing suit.

[Michael Bostick]

Oh, that's sweet.

[Rick Caruso]

So everyone needs to go stock her bathing suits. You guys just gave me a couple. A baby blue, a white, a black. I love them. They're. They're so flattering, which is the best part. I want to go back to when you. You talked about your wife. It seems like you and your wife have an incredible relationship. What do you think? The. The secret. The secret sauces to marriage. Michael needs all the tips.

[Michael Bostick]

I doubt it. Michael looks like such a nice guy.

[Rick Caruso]

He is. I don't know about. That's nice.

[Michael Bostick]

I'm a nice guy. Some smart, talented. Rick.

[Lauren Everts]

I'm just gonna. I'm just gonna.

[Rick Caruso]

He is a great husband. He's a great husband.

[Michael Bostick]

Amazing couple. Listen, I think you'll learn as you go. We're Catholic, so I start from the point of view as this is gonna work. There's not an option.

[Lauren Everts]

No choice, Rick. My name is Michael. Joseph.

[Michael Bostick]

There you go.

[Lauren Everts]

My mom is half Italian.

[Michael Bostick]

Okay, well, that's why you're so great. Italian rule. You're very Catholic.

[Lauren Everts]

No, it's a very Catholic name.

[Michael Bostick]

It's a very Catholic name.

[Lauren Everts]

I should have been a priest or something.

[Michael Bostick]

Well, you could still do it.

[Lauren Everts]

I don't know.

[Michael Bostick]

You can be married, have kids and be a priest.

[Lauren Everts]

I would have to repent a lot of things.

[Michael Bostick]

Well, we all do, but Tina and I, I don't think there's any marriage that's perfect. Nobody has all the right answers. I think you gotta be super committed. You're gonna work through it. Raising kids, as you know, is a lot of work, and it's challenging at times. Nothing goes right all the time. And you just gotta say, you're a team. And, you know, listen, my kids will tell you there's been, you know, points in our marriage that have been tough. We've gotten through it. We've never gotten close to divorce or walking away from each other, but it's just life. And so you gotta also give yourself permission and grace to go figure it out. To say, okay, we need some help. I mean, sometimes you need to go get outside help, whether you're talking to friends or family or somebody who's a professional. But it's so worth it in the end if you stay together and have a family. And that's what Tina and I have both been committed to.

[Rick Caruso]

What's the yin and the yang of you guys, like, your personalities?

[Michael Bostick]

Who's what mom is? Mom is super smart and creative, like Gianna. And more reserved. Like, very low key. Super low key. Her favorite night is Uggs Cozy, the family dinner. Let's watch a movie together. You know, I love to travel. I like to get out there. I like having parties, you know? Right. Isn't that right? Am I missing something? And I love being with the family And Cozy, don't get me wrong, but she's just sweet and dear. Super smart, but she likes her family, her friends, and just being low key.

[Rick Caruso]

How did you guys meet?

[Michael Bostick]

Blind date. Oh.

[Rick Caruso]

And did you like her right away?

[Michael Bostick]

I did, but I go back to my shyness. If you ask Tina, she said, she'll say, he never said a word to me. I gotta embarrass my wife now you want me to embarrass my wife?

[Rick Caruso]

Yes.

[Michael Bostick]

She was like a supermodel. And so she walked in, and I go, whoa, that's amazing. She's gorgeous. And she just. She. You know, you see people like you, you have these beautiful eyes, and there's, like, happiness coming through their eyes. You've got that.

[Lauren Everts]

Rick, you better calm down. You're making me look bad. Like, you can't make me.

[Michael Bostick]

No, I just said you're a great Italian. But it's true. She's got those eyes, and Tina had those eyes. So I fell in love with her, but I was so intimidated by her because she really was just beautiful in a way, not in a model way, even though she was a very successful model, just naturally beautiful. She still is today, if you see Tina.

[Lauren Everts]

But when you set up on an official date and you didn't talk or you just were in the same.

[Michael Bostick]

It was an official date, and I swear to God I didn't talk.

[Rick Caruso]

Michael calls what you were describing, he says it features.

[Michael Bostick]

What's that?

[Rick Caruso]

That's what you say. You say you love features.

[Lauren Everts]

Yeah. Yeah, I like it. It sounds like Tina had fixtures, all of the things.

[Rick Caruso]

Yeah, well, fixtures, that's a different. That's something different. What do you think that if you could wave a wand, you would want to infuse our generation with, like, what do you think we all need more of? When you look from your bird's eye view of us, is it more work ethic? Is it more grit? What are the things that you think that we could use more of?

[Lauren Everts]

Don't hold back on me here now.

[Rick Caruso]

Yeah, don't hold back.

[Michael Bostick]

Oh, man, that's a great question. And I see it to some extent in business. Work ethic. We saw it at Covid. You know, I'll put it in those terms. Coming back to the office, that drove me crazy. This notion that you can be productive and work in your pajamas sitting on a couch. I just was so against it. I fought many people in my company that did not want to bring people back. And then I got people back three days a week. And then I said I'm sick of the three days a week. I think people, I think everybody needs to realize if you want to be successful, you've got to get up, get dressed, come to the office, have a sense of collaboration, work hard and then go enjoy your life. We are still in suit. I'm not today, but our company is suit and tie every day. I think we're the only people I know that get dressed up. But I think it's like going to the World Series. You get dressed up to play ball and be the best. And there's a transformation that happens actually in getting ready in the morning.

[Lauren Everts]

Here's the deal. Today I got in a ride share one of these rideshare apps. I'm not going to name which one. And I got in the car, very nice lady. There was so much perfume and artificial fragrance and that Christmas tree thing that hangs. I almost had a conniption fit and a convulsion. I had to hang my head out the window like Ace Ventura. Ever since we switched to Branch Basics and got all of these artificial fragrances and chemicals out of the house, we are so sensitive. And what I realized is that we do a really good job as human beings of ignoring these senses, these scents, these smells, these chemicals that are in our house, lingering around. It is so important to clean your house with healthy cleaning supplies that don't have hormone disruptors, chemicals and artificial fragrances. You don't need them. They don't do anything other than mask things that shouldn't be masked. This is why Lauren and I love Branch Basics. Branch Basics, one of our all time favorite cleaning brands is now available at over 600 Target stores nationwide and Target.com from countertops to bathrooms, even tough stains, Branch Basics All Purpose Cleaner, Bathroom cleaner and their new stain removal tackle it all. Plus their gentle on sensitive skin and safe for babies and pets. This is also going to be cost effective. You don't have to have a million different cleaning supplies with chemicals. You can just use the ones that I mentioned and they get the same job done. So if you're tired of toxic chemicals lingering in your home, it's time to make the switch. You can grab Branch Basics products now at Target. Find their concentrate all purpose Cleaner, Bathroom cleaner and stain Remover right on the shelves. Trust me, your home and your health will thank you. So shop branch basics and 600 plus target stores nationwide or target.com or you can use our code skinny15 to get 15% off at branch basics.com skinny again skinny15 for 15% off at branchbasics.com skinny15.

[Rick Caruso]

You know what I want in my delivery room besides my Kindle, little twinkle lights, a fresh cashmere baby blanket. I want a little cocktail. And the cocktail that I will be having is by Spritz Society. I actually had the opportunity with the Skinny Confidential brand to create a pink lemonade flavor with them. It is absolutely delicious. It became their best selling flavor and it's now at Target stores nationwide. So you can go buy the flavor that I created with Claudia and Jackie from the Toast podcast. The can is absolutely adorable. It's pink, it's cheeky, and it's really the ultimate pink sparkling cocktail. It's honestly perfect for me to put on ice. I like to put it in a wine glass with a sprig of basil if you're looking for a different flavor. And pink lemonade isn't your jam. They also have lemon iced tea. They have pickle and peach and they're all available at retailers near you. Everything's award winning. It's 4.5% ABV and it's a 12 ounce can. It's made from crisp white wine and it's 120 calories. I think you guys will love Spritz. If you haven't tried it, especially for summer, head to spritzsociety.com to find a store near you. And don't forget to follow Spritz on Instagram. They're always dropping exciting new flavors and throwing fun events. Spritz Society Summer starts here.

[Lauren Everts]

One of the greatest things that Lauren and I have experienced moving to the middle of the country, moving to Texas, is that we are now much closer to one of our favorite places, and that is Miami. Lauren and I have got to spend a lot more time in Miami ever since moving to Austin because. Because it's only two hours away. And it has quickly become one of our favorite places for an assortment of reasons. First, they have such a great art scene. They have museums, they have exhibits, they have things for kids and adults, whether it's the Perez Art Museum in Miami, the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami. They also have so many great outdoor activities, Lauren and I. Outside of loving the beach, you can go boating, you can go kayaking, you can go scuba diving, golf, tennis, pickleball you name it. What I love about that city is everybody is happy, they're fit, they're active, they're in the sunshine, they're moving, they're grooving and it's just a great time. It's great for family, it's great for adults, it's great for kids. And there's always something to do in a very active city. And let's not forget about the culinary experience. There are so many incredible restaurants in Miami. In Greater Miami and Miami beach, there is always mouth watering meal around the corner. With Michelin starred restaurants, food trucks and local favorites, you can pretty much throw a rock in any direction and hit a great restaurant. It's just a moving and grooving city. We spend a lot of time over there now. We have a lot of friends that have moved there. It is no surprise that it has stayed and continues to be one of the most popular cities in the United States. Many people are familiar obviously with Miami beach, but there's also downtown, the Design District, there's also Little Haiti, there's the Coconut Grove, Little Havana. There's so many places. Coral Graves, Miami Gardens and Miami Springs. So check Miami out. Learn more. Visit www.findyourmiami.com Again, that's findyourmiami.com.

[Rick Caruso]

Did you know that most toilet paper has formaldehyde and chlorine in it? It also has dyes. I was shocked to know I found out this probably a year ago that there's all of these crazy things in toilet paper. We're wiping our most intimate areas with this all day long. My daughter is using the toilet paper, my husband's using it. I went on this like wild goose chase to find the best toilet paper on the market. And while I found some brands that were great, I also wanted to create something better. And so that's what we've done at the Skinny Confidential. We have created a a better choice. I was involved in every single detail of this toilet paper. We took out formaldehyde, we took out chlorine, we took out the dyes, we took out all the things that I didn't want my family exposed to. And then of course, in our very Skinny Confidential way, we wrapped it in pink. As you can see, I wanted the experience of the delivery when you got it to be very romantic and pretty. Never are you excited about getting your monthly delivery of toilet paper? And I wanted to make you excited. So it kind comes in the most luxurious box. You open it, it's packaged, cute and it also has our little stamp on it. And you can put this on all of the rolls in your house and know that it's a better choice for you and your family. I am so passionate about this launch. We have been working on this launch for a long time. My team is so excited about it. It's shaking up the market and it's disruptive, and it's everything that we want to bring to the table. So if you're looking for a better choice when it comes to your toilet paper, go to shopskinnyconfidential.com grab it now. We will sell out, but we're doing subscription, so I would definitely say to subscribe so you can make sure that you get it monthly. That's shopskinnyconfidential.com.

[Lauren Everts]

We had Emma Greed on the show yesterday, who runs and is partnered with Kim Kardashian on skims.

[Michael Bostick]

I know Emma. Yeah, she's great. And Kim is great.

[Lauren Everts]

She was saying that if you want to be in ambitious company, which they want to do, like, you have to kind of operate that way. And if for people that don't want to operate that way, then it's maybe not the right company.

[Michael Bostick]

Right.

[Lauren Everts]

But I agree. It's like there was this. Even for this business, what happened is it started full in office, everybody together. Covid hit. Obviously, everyone had to go out of office, especially in la and then coming back, you know, I agree. I think you get the most not only out of productivity, but out of happiness over time with people, when you're actually with each other. Like, there's some people. I think for a short period, I'm like, I need to be home. And I like this. But I've seen that manifest over years where people eventually don't have any connection to the people they work with. And so I think that's a challenge. But I was joking the other day, and a young lady that looked at me when I said, we need to start getting a little bit more back in time, she's like, I thought this was a modern work culture. And I was like, well, what does that mean to you? Because I don't understand that term. Because we all came up in a time when you had to be interacting with everybody.

[Michael Bostick]

And there's something so powerful to me about the hallway running into somebody having an idea and say, hey, I just thought about this. What do you think? So many of those great ideas happen in just the random interaction in an office. You never get that on a zoom.

[Lauren Everts]

I like seeing people, too. I mean, for somebody who runs an organ, I'm just gonna be honest about this as performance reviews come up and promotions and all this stuff, if I don't know you difference from a screen. And by the way, people look different on a screen. Like I see people and they say, oh, nice to meet you. I'm like, I don't know if I've met you through the screen. I can't. I need to feel this. And so I'm going to just be honest. As an employer, more of that visibility and more of that in person interaction is going to put those people in a better position to even just catch my attention in the first place. I don't see people through the screen in the same way.

[Michael Bostick]

Exactly. Right.

[Rick Caruso]

There's a softness about wanting to work and I'm just being really honest three days a week from home and then at the same time wanting an exceptional life.

[Michael Bostick]

Life.

[Rick Caruso]

If you want an average life, work three days a week from home. I can tell you from my experience, I have had to work seven days a week.

[Michael Bostick]

Right.

[Rick Caruso]

To get to an exceptional life. And I want to go further and I know what it takes. I think you have to just come to terms with what you want. Because what I see right now is people who want to work three days a week and then they want an exceptional life.

[Michael Bostick]

Yeah.

[Rick Caruso]

And from what I've seen in all the high performers I've interviewed, that's not the way it works.

[Michael Bostick]

But practically speaking, absolutely right.

[Lauren Everts]

I mean if I worked for you and I worked in your organization and the only time you ever saw me was through a screen somewhere. Like you're not going to register that you have too many people that you're, that you're already interacting with in person. Like I'm just never going to get your attention.

[Michael Bostick]

Right. And from the, and from the employee side, if you really want to build your career, your boss or your supervisor needs to know you. Yep. To your point. Right. How you get, I don't know. I think it's a no brainer. But I know there's people that just like being.

[Lauren Everts]

So you would inject that our, that you know, next generation to get some of that, I don't want to call it work ethic, but just some of that, you know, tenacity back in the workplace.

[Michael Bostick]

I think it's more the realization of. Really. To your point, the realization of understand really what your goal is and marry your work ethic to your goal.

[Rick Caruso]

Yes.

[Michael Bostick]

And if, if you want to be home and you want to just do what you want to do, great. I have any problem with that. But if you want to be part of an exceptional team, be creative, inventive, and be an innovator, an entrepreneur, all those kind of things. You've got to earn it. You got to put the time in or it's not going to happen. I don't care if you're a great chef. Whatever it is, it takes time and a lot of work.

[Lauren Everts]

I mean, we refuse to do this show on a screen, like through a zoom for a million reasons. Yeah, but what I want to tell people is in the early days when we had no business and we're making no money doing this, we're working other jobs. We would get on commercial flights with little suitcases, with the equipment, and no matter who it was, would go to people just to do that. I know. And I, you know, people ask me now like, oh, what makes this. And they start the conversation with like, how much money am I going to make and how can I do this the easiest way possible? And what's the way where I don't have to. I can only take a little bit of time. Like, it's just such. It's a wrong way to think about. It's exactly doing a business.

[Michael Bostick]

That's exactly right.

[Rick Caruso]

I want to know how you manage your time. You have all these different projects, you're involved, and we're going to talk about the foundation, But I just. How are you managing everything? Do you time batch certain days? Like on Mondays, are you on one project, and Tuesdays you're on a different. How do you do that with your schedule?

[Michael Bostick]

Well, I have great help and support in doing that at the office. But I look at it this way. There's 24 hours in a day. On average, you sleep seven. Now you got 17 hours. That's a lot of hours.

[Rick Caruso]

Agreed.

[Michael Bostick]

Okay. So you can get a lot done. And I am not a believer that I used to love it in the office. Let me back up. I used to love it in the office. Years ago, people would say, you know, I was in the office at 7:30 this morning, and somehow that made you a great executive. I frankly don't care if you come in at 7:30 or 10:30. What I care about is that for the time that you're spending in the office, the eight hours, whatever, you're being productive. Right. So I organize my day around the way that I feel like I'm the most productive, But I don't the. I sort of touch everything every day, whether it's the nonprofit, whether it's the company. I don't time batch at all. And a lot of it is Driven by what bubbles up that needs my attention. But here's a really important rule that I heard from somebody else that I've tried to follow. Do not go to a meeting unless you're the one that needs to either make the decision or help make the decision. And so a lot of times, meetings are called or you show up to places you really don't need to be there. I try not to go places where I don't need to be. I want to spend my time in a meeting, on a call, on a zoom, or whatever the case is, because I can move the needle or help people move the needle together.

[Rick Caruso]

So, for instance, this podcast, you can't outsource. You have to be here. You can't delegate that. But if you could delegate it, you delegate it where you can.

[Michael Bostick]

Yeah, because delegation is important to grow an enterprise.

[Rick Caruso]

Anyway, it sounds like you're just doing whack a mole all day. Whatever problem comes up, you're whacking the molecule.

[Michael Bostick]

No, now I'm doing really creative. Listen, there's some days, to the horror of my team, that I'll pull everybody together and say, I walked the Miramar the other day and I'm not happy with the flowers. What are you guys thinking? The other day I walked the grove and I said, who played with the play mix? There's some songs on there I don't like. And there's other days I'm dealing with big financial decisions.

[Rick Caruso]

So it's very creative decisions.

[Michael Bostick]

It's a whole spectrum. And that's what's fun about my business.

[Rick Caruso]

How do you relate to anyone with your business? Your businesses are so unique. Like, do you like when you go home, do you want to talk about it to your wife? Do you call a friend? Or do you just like your thinking time and your Johnnie Walker Blue with your cigar?

[Michael Bostick]

I like talking to the family. I like talking to Tina. One of my favorite times is in the morning. We have coffee together every morning. So we start the day off together. Together. So we can compare notes and just talk and have fun, whatever the case may be. Now, I don't really talk about business at home much. We'll talk about all the kids are on the board.

[Rick Caruso]

Cool.

[Michael Bostick]

We're a private company, you know, it's family owned. So they're all on the board. They all understand the business, they're all engaged. So we do have conversations about what's happening. But I don't like to relive my day necessarily. I do love being with other executives that are, like, so smart. I randomly Call people that I think are just amazing and introduce myself and say, would you have a cup of coffee? I've got no agenda, but I love talking to super smart people. So I go out of my way to do that or have dinner or coffee with other executives.

[Rick Caruso]

Before you go, you have to tell us what you're reading, what you're listening to, if you're meditating, what are the things that you consume, content wise. Are you looking at Instagram?

[Lauren Everts]

Are you on TikTok?

[Rick Caruso]

Yeah.

[Michael Bostick]

No, I'm not on TikTok. We just talked about on the elevator. I'm not on TikTok.

[Lauren Everts]

I'm not on TikTok either.

[Rick Caruso]

He's got enough going on.

[Michael Bostick]

I don't spend a lot of time looking at a screen. I look at Instagram a little bit, not a lot. I'm a big reader of newspapers and periodicals. So every morning I start my morning coffee with Tina and that's about 30 minutes, usually about 7 or 7:30. And then I'm into diving into newspapers and I'll read six newspapers in the morning and then I'm online reading articles. I'm watching cnbc and if something pops up, I chase it down. I'm fascinated by what's going on in the world and the economy right now, trying to understand it. I'll call economists that I know around the country and ask questions and I'll do that for about an hour and a half every morning. But I don't. I'm not a book reader. I wish I was.

[Lauren Everts]

And what are you looking for in the papers? Like what? What kind of nuggets are you trying to pull out?

[Michael Bostick]

Sometimes it's like a business article that maybe will help my business solving a problem. Sometimes it will be a headline that we need to worry about something. This morning in the Wall Street Journal there was an article about how the tariffs are affecting the building of apartments. We have a division that just does apartments.

[Lauren Everts]

Weren't they saying about office buildings too?

[Michael Bostick]

Office buildings, you're right. The same page. Office buildings are now getting. They were starting to come back and now they're declining because of the tariffs. We're not in the office building business, thank goodness. So it could be that. And then I'm so low tech. This is so embarrassing. I don't know how to find links. So I take, I'll show you my phone. John is so embarrassed. I take a picture of the article like I took a picture of the newspaper today and I send it out to my executives and I'll say, okay, worth reading. Look into this and I'll do that in the morning. So that's how. That's what I do.

[Rick Caruso]

What do you think about the tariffs? What's going to happen? What should you do if you're a small business?

[Michael Bostick]

I worry about the tariffs a lot. I think there's been damage to the economy. I think the small business owners are who I really, really worry about on how they're going to survive this. And people are being wounded, I think unnecessarily on this. I agree that we have a problem with China that we need to solve. Meaning we are so dependent on certain supplies coming out of China and we should have learned from COVID Let's just take medical supplies. We are still dependent on medical supplies coming out of China. We can manufacture those in the United States or somewhere else. But the idea that there's going to be massive blanket tariffs, that the way it was started with Trump, did so much initial damage to the economy. I'm not sure we're going to recover quickly from it. And I worry about that. But here's the other thing I worry about the most. And you both know this. Running a significant business, whether you're a small business or a big business, if you don't have predictability, you cannot run a business. And everything is changing every day. How do I run my business? What is loan cost going to be? What are the tariffs going to be? How is it impacting products when we're building things? We have a restaurant division. What's the impact on our restaurant division? There was another article in the Wall Street Journal about that a couple of days ago on just the ingredients going into the food supply and the cost of that going up so much. Do you know the number one provider of garlic is an Italian family in China that produces like 90% of the garlic in the world. Their business has basically. Maybe it's not 90, maybe it's 80.

[Lauren Everts]

Still significant.

[Michael Bostick]

Significant. Their business has basically stopped because in our restaurant division, why are we going to buy garlic? That's now 150% more than garlic we can get somewhere else.

[Lauren Everts]

So.

[Michael Bostick]

The impact of this is so huge. But the fact that we can't be predicting our future, I think is really tough on business.

[Lauren Everts]

You mentioned that you don't read a lot of books, but there's maybe one randomly. I came across this. It was just on Amazon. It showed up and it's called how to Be Rich. And it was by John Paul Getty, and he wrote it years ago. And the reason it's relevant is I was just Reading about this guy obviously had a huge footprint in la, oil, all these things. But he starts talking about tariffs and trade and he said even back then there's a lot of politicians that start rattling their swords about how we need tariffs and trade. And he was vehemently against that because he predicts that over time you actually need to rely on open trade and a global economy. And it's weird to read that book that I had no idea was talking about that, that was written so long ago, talking about how this would happen and how he was, was very much against this approach. Anyways, I thought it was just like.

[Michael Bostick]

A no, I need. That's one of my things that I gotta start doing is reading.

[Rick Caruso]

You got a lot to do.

[Michael Bostick]

I know, but I start with the premise you gotta have a free open market in the economy and then of course there's gonna be tariffs at some level. But I do worry about that.

[Lauren Everts]

That was his premise, that's why I.

[Michael Bostick]

Brought it up to you. Yep.

[Rick Caruso]

You just really quickly have to tell us about your foundation, your nonprofit, tell us about that.

[Michael Bostick]

Steadfast Lady. I'm so proud of the people that are part of Steadfast la. So I started this foundation right after the fires and it's got a singular mission. Get people back in their homes as quickly and safely as possible. And we are, roll up your sleeves, issue oriented. I asked a whole bunch of people who are the best in their industries, bankers, engineers, insurance people. All these senior executives are donating their time and their talent and we're literally solving problems and then handing it off to city, the state and the county. Because this disaster is so big, government alone can't do it. It's gotta be a public private partnership. And the private side brings innovation and urgency. And just like we announced the rebuilding of the park out on the Palisades the other day, it's the center of that community. It's also to bring hope. But we went to the city and said, said we'll raise all the money, you let us build it. But the community has to operate it. It's going to be a public private partnership. A new way of operating a park for families. The undergrounding of the power lines critically important in the county, Altadena, Malibu and city. We pushed the elected officials to underground the power lines. They finally agreed to it. So it's all of those kind of issues that we're working to solve where government may have the right intentions, but they just don't have the ability to quickly and maybe creatively solve problems. And that's what we're doing.

[Rick Caruso]

Wow, Rick Caruso, you're great on a mic. Start a podcast, add it to your list.

[Michael Bostick]

I don't want to have to compete with you, that's for darn sure.

[Lauren Everts]

No, no, no.

[Michael Bostick]

No way.

[Rick Caruso]

GGC bikinis. Do you want to do a code? I didn't ask you this off air for the audience. Like skinny for 10% off. Okay. GGC bikinis.com code skinny for 10 off. Everyone go buy the long sleeve bathing suits because they're so preventative. You don't get all the sun all over you. I'm a big preventative beauty person and I love your long sleeve bathing suits. The biggest fan.

[Michael Bostick]

What an endorsement.

[Rick Caruso]

Well, they're beautiful. They're beautifully designed. Thank you for coming on. Come back.

[Michael Bostick]

I'm so honored to be here.

[Lauren Everts]

Rick, we could talk to you.

[Michael Bostick]

Great to meet you. You guys are amazing. Thank you so much.

[Rick Caruso]

Thank you.