VIEWS with David Dobrik & Jason Nash

Episode: Never Hire Your Friends
Date: November 13, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives humorously and candidly into the blurred lines between friendships and work within David Dobrik’s circle, discussing how hiring friends impacts business, daily life, and personal relationships. The gang also digresses into pop culture, love in LA, their current social lives, and reflects on their distinctive work environment, all delivered in the signature fast-paced, self-deprecating, and irreverent VIEWS style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Fun Facts & Juicy Intros (01:05–04:10)

• David opens with a wild Billy Idol story — apparently, Idol was removed from a Thai hotel with $150k in damages and tranquilized because the president needed the penthouse.

  “I want us to give a fact so people that are listening can leave this immediately with something they’ve learned.” – David (02:05)

• Jason’s Fun Fact: Guys who get morning wood are less likely to have a heart attack. Natalie chimes in on the "benefits" of morning sex.
• Honesty Hour: David reveals he’s never been happier since quitting working out, reversing the "health grind" narrative.

  “I did not realize how miserable I was being in shape.” – David (03:24)

Close Friends, Social Secrets & Mall Survival (04:10–08:54)

• Natalie receives a flood of DMs about her "secret" (diarrhea), spawning a running bit on trusting podcast listeners.
• The group jokes about “Close Friends” Instagram stories for airing dirty laundry, sometimes even excluding each other for a laugh.
• Mall Rethink: Ferris proposes malls need to become indoor activity centers (mini-golf, courts, etc.) instead of old-school shopping.

  “Activities will never die unless we figure out VR properly. So I don’t understand why malls aren’t converting to activity hubs.” – Ferris (07:24)

Love, Relationships, & LA Culture (08:56–16:03)

• Natalie references a recent Vogue article: Is having a boyfriend embarrassing? This spurs a discussion on the "anti-boyfriend" trend and the pressures of LA "scene" life.
• David admits to preferring the comfort of hanging out with friends over the effort of seeking relationships.

  “I’d rather sit with John and Alex all fucking day than be with a woman.” – David (12:54)

• They discuss overstimulation from their social/work lives and how it drains motivation for romance.
• Natalie, in contrast, finds herself “crushing in the men department” since acquiring a Ferrari, sparking playful debates about material status and dating in LA.

Hiring Friends, Vibes, and The Work-Life Blur (33:04–42:36)

• Taylor vs. David: Taylor and David air out a dispute—Taylor’s upset at being called a “vibe hire,” feeling she does more substantive work. After discussing the emotional impact, they squash the beef.

  “Anybody can do the other parts of your job… but to bring the vibes—especially with me—is very tough. One in a million.” – David (34:11)

• Vibe Hires: David unabashedly admits he hires for fun: "I hire them because I want to hang out." (35:14)
• Over-hiring friends: The team acknowledges they've hit their max of "vibe hires" and now need more structured hires (“real people”).
• Brooke’s Segment: Brooke, notable for her actual work-life balance, shares her structured approach compared to the others who blend work and friendship incessantly:

  “That’s like our first person that has a separate life, that has actual work-life balance.” – David (42:49)

Movie Manifestation: Jonah’s Full-Circle Moment (24:26–29:38)

• The team celebrates Jonah landing a real movie role after years of joking, pestering, and failed promises. David expresses genuine pride and sees it as a vindication of Jonah’s relentless (and, at times, delusional) ambition.

  “That’s a lesson for everybody out there, man. Just fucking keep going and just be delusional. Be delusional until it comes true.” – Dave (28:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• David on “overstimulated” LA romance:

  “There’s no love… Someone has squeezed the love out of our bubble.” (11:10)

• On Ferrari as a dating magnet:

  “I’ve gotten hit up so much more since I got the Ferrari.” – Natalie (15:56)

• On hiring for vibes over skill:

  “Do you think I hired Ilya to run Dobriks and Zela because he was the smartest in our school?… I don’t hire people because I believe that they’ll go far in the business world. I hire them because I want to hang out.” – David (35:10, 35:14)

• Taylor defends her position:

  “Of course I bring the vibes. But there are days when it’s like, okay, what really should I be doing?” – Taylor (31:57)

• On unique work environment:

  “People got it really good around here.” – Dave (41:07)

• Jonah’s perseverance:

  “He made it happen. He willed it.” – Dave (28:15)

• Brooke on maintaining boundaries:

  “I feel like I have my own schedule outside. You guys all kind of live in this area. I live somewhere else… I have a life outside of it.” – Brooke (45:04)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Fun Facts, Billy Idol Story – 01:05
• Morning Wood = Heart Health Debate – 02:18
• Natalie and Diarrhea DMs, Social Media Close Friends – 04:02
• Malls in America need to evolve – 06:13–08:54
• Vogue “Embarrassing Boyfriend” Trend, Modern Romance in LA – 09:01–14:40
• Natalie’s Ferrari, Perceived Status in Dating – 15:53–19:20
• Jonah’s Movie Dream Manifested – 24:26–29:38
• Taylor and David Squash 'Vibe Hire' Drama – 29:41–38:16
• Hiring friends, Vibe Overload, Need for Real Hires – 35:14–42:36
• Brooke on Creating Work-Life Boundaries – 43:41–45:51

Episode Takeaways

• Never Hire Your Friends? The title is a running joke—the group recognizes that hiring friends means a fun but chaotic, boundary-less workplace. Most are “vibe hires,” and it takes real intention (per Brooke’s example) to separate work and social life.
• LA Romance is Hard – Overstimulation, status games, and scene-driven romance make relationships in their social bubble unusually fraught—though Natalie’s Ferrari saga provides comic contrast.
• Persistence Pays – Jonah’s acting story underscores the odd combination of delusion, resilience, and luck needed to break through in showbiz, with the group reflecting both pride and disbelief.
• Value in Vibes – In David's world, being fun and easy to hang out with is often more important than technical skills—though they're realizing they might need some “real hires” too.

This episode is a quintessential inside look into the VIEWS ecosystem: funny, chaotic, revealing, and ultimately anchored in real friendship dynamics and modern young adult dilemmas.