From Yeshiva Dropout to White House Reporter

The best interviews come from the place of least expected. I have a letter from Ammy rejecting my submission that I wrote for like this is not going to work for us. It's like a letter of rejection from the magazine that I've been on the cover of six times now. >> None of your business, Oshi. None of your business, Michael. >> It's the None of Your Business podcast hosted by Michael and Oshi. >> Welcome back everybody to another powerful episode of the None of Your Business Podcast. Oshi, I pick powerful because this man is sitting in front of us is a powerful force of energy and I'm going to get into it in a minute. Thank you to all our subscribers. Thank you to our listeners. I'm Michael Greenfield. This is our co-host Lushi Schwarz. And our guest this evening, and I say this with a grin on my face late in the evening, Thanksgiving evening, the great, wonderful, powerful Rabb Schlommo Zans. Welcome to the program. >> Thank you for having me. >> Thank you for being here. It's amazing. Um, you know, we've been trying to get to each other for a while and uh we made it at pretty much midnight Thanksgiving evening because was it you missed your flight or something happened? >> I did not miss my flight. For the record, I arrived at the airport in time for the flight, but too late for my bag to be checked in with me. >> Oh, >> so they didn't let me board. And I learned something new today. I was years old when I found out that after 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving, there's pretty much no flights anywhere. The pilots want to be home for their Thanksgiving dinners. So, usually flights to Texas would be going like on the hour. Not today. Last one was at 2 PM. First one is at almost 6 tomorrow morning. So, I realized I was going to be there. I was like, you know, let's make the most of it. And I sent you a text and I said, I'm going to test your spontaneity. And you passed the test. >> Thank you very much. Anything for for you really. I I've been excited to do this ever since uh we we tried from before Sukus to make this happen. >> I think it's I think it's longer than that. I think since Pesak. >> Pes. >> You know who told me to to to come on the show? >> Who's that? >> Um Israel Hami. >> Okay. >> We did Pes together in Japan. >> Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Yes. I know what you're talking about. Yeah. >> So he on Pesaf. He was telling me like you got to go on this. >> It's someone I'm I'm literally I love him and I love a lot of people in this uh regard. He's a status friend, you know, like so you know what I'm talking about because when I say powerful, I want to go straight into this. >> You are doing so much. I can't even catch my own breath watching you and and I'm seeing what you're doing on status which by the way for the record uh you're in the 1% most people it's rides to my lakewood and bor park most people it's you know who's going to so the 1% of people that are actually keeping people entertained and enjoyed and educated and inspiring and is you you're you're I'm I you're one of the only people that are not muted and I'm watching you and I see your journey and it's fascinating to me and I'm loving every step of your senior White House correspondents to to so like the just the words coming out of my mouth is like unbelievable to me and um I see how much involved you are with Tadaka. I see how much you're involved with Fillin. I see how you started your own podcast and you're a force to be reckoned with. It's like literally watching you is just amazing. It's beautiful. >> Thank you. You got him all worked up, >> Michael. >> I I'm in awe of this. >> He's a fan. >> I'm a big big fan. Yeah. I don't need chat to say anything about you. I have it all right here and right here. I've been watching you for a while and you're making a difference in people's lives on a daily basis. You're representing us. You're doing you're making a kdeshm every day of your life. It's amazing. Really amazing. >> Try my best. >> All right, we can all go home now. That's it. [laughter] We're done. Okay, so we have a sec. Listen, I know that everybody knows pretty much, you know, they've seen your name. They've seen you on a magazine. They've seen you on on uh in videos and they've seen you in so many different ways. out there and they could see a little bit about what you're doing, but you still deserve a Chachi PT says what about you because the segment what we do and uh gets the people to know you a little bit better real quick and it also gets you to know what Chad says about you. >> Are you you legitimately like publicly make this everyone knows that Chad GBT is is formulating the questions? >> Yeah. >> Okay. I love the honesty. >> Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. I just got printed 90 seconds ago. >> We're not talking about the questions yet. The Chad GBT segment here is just says about you. >> Oh, it's like a summary. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. >> Yeah. This is what Chad GPT has to say about you. >> We'll be all out. >> By the way, sadly, people ask me, "How much research do you do?" You know how we were talking before, how transparent are you? And you're like, "Everything goes and we're good. We don't edit, right?" Same thing. Uh, how much research do I do? I know the person usually. And uh, I print it out. So, here we go. Ready? Um, he's one of the only people alive who can walk into a conflict zone, interview strangers in three different languages, and still remind a million people to put on fill in before breakfast. >> Uh, mostly true. I I think I would remind people to put on fill in before MKA. [laughter] >> But other people wake up late and eat breakfast late. That's just said breakfast. >> True. >> Before dinner time, I say actually. >> How many? Three languages. Let me guess. Uh, Yiddish, English, Hebrew. >> Correct. >> All right. You're not impressed. You're saying you're [laughter] not impressed. I mean, many people speak three languages. >> Yeah, that's for a Jewish person. It's not impressive. >> Right. Ch picks up out of those three languages. Impressive. But >> the truth is you've been spending a lot of time in like different kind of random countries, right? So like you haven't picked up on any of those languages. >> I know all the bad words in Russian and uh a little bit of Arabic, a drop of Spanish. Nothing nothing conversationworthy, but uh >> nice. All right, a couple of more. You ready? Sure. >> He's a kidic journalist who travels the world and works the White House beat. Basically, he's either the bravest man alive or really bad at staying in one place. >> Bad at staying in one place. [laughter] >> Um, when did you when did you become a White House journalist? What is that background about? >> That uh started just about a year ago when my uh I should say friend and mentor Jake Turks, who I believe was on the show. >> Yeah, he was. Um he was looking for other opportunities. He wanted to stay in the White House but he was thinking about leaving AMI and they offered me the gig and I decided to take it. >> Oh, so you took over his former position at the army. >> Correct. >> Oh, interesting. And he's at the Mishbaha now. >> Correct. >> Yeah. He was a great guest. Drake turts. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Very interesting guy. Very unique. >> Yeah. Exactly. Look, that's what you need to take over someone who's unique. Even someone who's more unique. No, but he he deserves a lot of credit because he created that position. Like there was never before was there a >> Jew in the White House like that. And um >> trailblazer. >> Yeah. And now you're the second. >> I am the second. >> The infiltrating the White House. >> Soon the White House real estate's going to go up. >> What about just Jews by the way? There's not that many Jews. >> Not not many religious Jews. I don't know whe there's any apparently there's a bunch. They're just working quietly behind the scenes. >> No, I'm talking about for press reasons. >> Oh, for press reasons. There's not. There are a lot of Jews in the press. I don't know how many of them are >> observably visibly Jewish would say. >> Right. >> Observance. >> You're not hiding it is what I'm saying. >> No. Or if I am, I'm doing a really bad job. [laughter] >> My question is when you travel to all these countries and you've gone to how many countries till now? >> I think we're at 58. >> 58, >> I believe. So, >> right. So, when you travel there, do you ever are you ever nervous? You have your you always with your garb, your pay us out, your yamaka. How does it work? How do you I mean like >> like how does a guy like you walk around Saudi Arabia? >> I'll be very honest with you. I I was just in New York City and I got out of my car and I was thinking should I be taking my yam off now? Like I was literally nervous and I'm like and then I'm thinking about people like you who travel to places that what do you do? What do you feel like? How is it like please if you don't mind? >> So I've been to Saudi Arabia three times. The first time I was completely in hiding. Um and in hindsight I think I could have walked around openly looking like a Jew. just didn't have the confidence in me, so I didn't do it. Second time, it was like half and half and I was there a couple months ago and I walked around literally wearing this suit dressed exactly like this and it was a really nice experience. >> Wow. The people there like nobody flinches like >> you get a lot of looks. Um people might whisper something about you to a friend or spouse if they're if they see you. But I if you're comfortable being in a place where everyone sees you as somebody who fell off the moon, then then it's fine. >> But you weren't scared. Like >> No, I wasn't scared. And even if there was hatred or somebody would want to do something, like the rule of law is very solid in Saudi Arabia and no one messes. Like you're you'd be 100% safe. >> What's the crime like in Saudi Arabia? You're saying that it's like you're safe over there? >> Very low. >> Really interesting. >> Cuz there are consequences to actions. There's no way. >> I think Abu Dhabi is similar also in a way. Abu Dhabi is very similar. Most of the Arab world. >> I've been very comfortable in Abu Dhabi. You're saying you feel like that going there as well. >> 100%. I I've said this many times. I'll say it again. I would feel more comfortable walking down the main street of Abu Dhabi in my stramash than I would feel in Manhattan. >> It's unbelievable. Ellie Coin sat in that chair like a month ago and she said the same exact thing. >> That's true. >> Literally that she said. >> So I'm not crazy. You're saying >> not crazy. No. >> But that's cra that is crazy though. >> It's more dangerous. 30 minutes from my uh then thousands of miles away in >> the heart of the Arab world >> in an Arabic country. >> Okay, one second. I'm sorry. I have to back up for a second. I'm a big New York City fan. So, you got to know that about me. I love spending time in Manhattan. I'm there usually once a week. >> Okay. >> And I've been doing this already for over 20 years. I absolutely love Manhattan. Um I found out recently just by getting to know you is that you don't live anywhere near New York. You live in the other hemisphere. I mean, just for our listeners who don't know this part of you, where do you live? Schlommo >> currently live in Texas. Texas. The great state of Texas. Just hearing that come out of your mouth that I live in Texas is just it's making me proud actually. I love that. Love that. You >> been to Texas? >> I've been to Texas for work. Just in and out. Nothing come for play. >> I should. I should. The truth is I don't only go to work anywhere I go. I usually play. Uh meaning I probably went to a nice restaurant there that I think that you guys had. Um >> what city were you in? >> Uh Houston. >> Okay. That's our city. >> Yeah. And uh it was nice. We have a conference there once a year. Um, honestly, next time we go, let's >> Yeah, I had my first cheeseburger in Dallas, Texas at a vegan place. >> Whoa, you scared me. >> I know. I said I did that for shock value. I first said cheeseburger cuz you weren't sure like maybe he eats cheeseburgers this guy cuz you never met me before. So, I could have easily have been that kind of you don't know. >> But [laughter] so, so I did that up front on purpose. I was strategic by the way. >> But in Dallas, Texas was the first place that I uh ever had such a thing. Um, cheese in my burger and it was very cool. I felt a little guilty while I was doing it. like it just didn't feel right. >> But uh yeah, apparently it's a thing over there. You know, you know which restaurant I'm talking about. >> No, but we we have uh I mean I in DC the restaurant has a lot of burgers with cheese on them. Cheese. And >> that's not your thing you're saying. You don't >> I do like it. >> Oh, you do like it? >> Yeah, sure. >> Oh, I love it. >> I just I just I don't like it as much since last week when I found out that those slices of cheese they're like 150 calories each. >> Oh, >> the vegan cheese is really really >> It's worth it. Best thing ever. What made you go to Texas? What what happened there? >> Okay, so we were living in Israel. >> Okay. Where in Israel? >> Um, Telstone. Okay. >> Telstone. >> Sure. >> It's a little town. >> I love Telstone. I never understood why more New Yorkers are not in Telstone to be honest with you. >> Okay. Well, I I can tell you why more New Yorkers. >> I'd love to. I'd love to learn. >> Telstone is a little town about 15 minutes away from your right next to Abu Gash, which is a large Arab town. And it's the roots of Tstone have a lot of Americans like in them. I I can't explain why this is. I don't know why, but a lot of the older folk and Tstone are Americans. Their kids kind of spoke English, but they were Israeliized. And then the grandchildren are just full full-blown Israelis. So, we went there thinking that this is like the little America within Israel. And for people aged 50 to 75, it is. But in our age group, not so much. And eventually my wife was I mean both of us weren't weren't thriving there but my wife was thriving less and she's like we really got to move back to the states and but we didn't want to be in the tri-state area. Um my wife appreciates warm weather. I appreciate warm and welcoming communities. And we basically went on a road trip across the entire I mean we went from we drove from Toronto to Tijana during COVID when everything was closed and we started visiting different communities. We'd been to Texas once in the past. We came again and we just fell in love with the place and we ended up staying for we visited twice that year. We came once for for about 12 days and once for three weeks and then we made a decision to move there. >> I'm a little bit blown away right now. Sorry. [laughter] >> That's fascinating. >> But she and I learned to listen. By the way, it's crazy. Uh 30, 40 episodes. I would have cut you off three times already. >> You have kids? >> We have three kids. At that point, we had two children. We had a four-year-old daughter and a six-month old uh baby boy. >> And you're traveling with them. Are you going from city to city? >> The smallest vehicle. >> So, this person who's in our audience right now who who's here, you know, cuz we do that sometimes, by the way. So, we invite people to always come. Yeah. We love it. But we've had it many, many times. Um, you met him there when you were there. >> I met him for the first time in >> What's your name again? I'm sorry. >> Ari Walby. >> Rabbi Walby who is a really dear friend of mine now. I met him November 2019. I came with my wife to Texas for just for a weekend. A year later in co we did this road trip and I met him a second time. We connected much better. And then in March of 21, my RV told me, he's like, "If you're actually thinking of moving to Texas, then you should visit for like an extended period of time just to make sure that you like it." Like kind of live there, but without living there. And I called Rabbi Walby and he hooked me up with a house. She just knows people. He gave me a house for 3 weeks. We lived there. And after those three weeks, we decided to uh to make the move. How many cities did you visit at the capacity of actually you know exploring if this is a place you want to live how many cities would you say? >> Um I think if if one wanted to to recreate this journey like if you really wanted to get a feel for a city you would want to be there for Chabas >> for sure >> but >> that's when everybody comes together so you can see the people >> but that would be very difficult. We went to Savannah >> in Georgia. >> Yeah. Um we went to we didn't go to many places for Shabas. We we kind of knew which ones we would be interested and which ones we wouldn't be interested. We passed through many cities. But for Shabas um we did one in Sav uh one in Savannah. We did one in multip one in Austin, one in Houston. We did one in Tijana. [laughter] >> Where's Tijana? You think of being to Mexico? You thinking of moving there? >> No. But I you shave No. >> I just kept telling my wife I'm not turning around until we get to Mexico. >> I love it. Absolutely love it. >> Interesting. And your wife uh like she enjoyed this process. So, she was doing it because you have to. >> You don't have to. Um, I definitely was the one pushing for it. The reason I the way I convinced her to go on the trip in the first place was during COVID, I don't know about you guys, but I was losing my mind. My job involves travel and I literally lost my ability to do my job. So, I was traveling 10,000 mi a month and then all of a sudden I'm locked into one square kilometer in Telestone for like 8 months. I'm losing my mind. So, I'm just surfing the internet all day trying to plan trips for if and when the world ever opens up again. And I came across a video about a park in the state of Arkansas. It's called Diamond Crater State Park. You're not going to believe this, but it's 100% true. You can check it. Fact check me. There's a park in the state of Arkansas where for some reason the the earth turns out diamonds. And some of like three or four of the world's largest diamonds. Largest diamonds ever found were found in that park. Anybody can go to this park. It's like 10 or 20 bucks for an admission fee. You take a sifter and a shovel and whatever you can dig. If you find a diamond, you keep it. My wife is like, "We got to go to this place and find some rocks." So I told her, "Let's do a road trip. I'll drive you to Arkansas and then, you know, I want to continue on to Tijana." And she said, "I'll go till Arkansas and then we'll turn around." So we got to Arkansas. We did the the whole diamond thing. terrible day. I mean, she had a blast, but it was just like it's really hot. A lot of people go there for their retirement. They buy like a a a uh RV and they just live in the parking lot and they look for diamonds and then they find them and they sell them. That's like people turn this into a living and like dozens of older people who've retired have heart attacks and die digging for diamonds cuz the heat is the sun's baking down on you and it's it's it's intensive work. It wasn't for me. She enjoyed it. I didn't. And then after the park, I was like, "Okay, so let's go to Tijana." She's like, "Let's turn around." I said, "No, I really want to continue on the journey." She said, "No, let's go back to New Jersey." And I said, "You know what? We're going to drive for a couple hours and then we'll stay at a hotel in the morning. You decide we can turn around and we can keep going." And every day we like we'd have this conversation. Should we turn around? Should we keep going? And thank God I I managed to keep her on board until we got to Mexico. >> And you were there for >> for just for chabas. >> Did Did you or anybody you know around you during that day find any diamonds? >> We still have like a huge bucket of of >> rocks. Yeah. Rocks that we don't know. We're not sure if they're diamonds [laughter] or not. Somewhere in my >> You can tell me it's sitting there. You're not >> It's in my in-laws house. >> Sitting there. Are there not mining companies that are there that are professionals that are digging out? >> I don't I don't think they let the companies come. I think it's like a state state thing. It's natural, whatever. >> I don't know. It's It's for regular people like you and me. >> But you could strike like uh gold, so to speak. >> Yeah. A couple weeks ago, somebody found the one of the top 10 largest diamonds ever. >> No way. >> Yeah. worth probably millions of dollars. >> Stephan, are you chat GPing this, please? >> This is insane. This is crazy. >> I'm so curious about this. I want to see like what it looks like. >> Yeah. Diamond. Uh, >> believe me. >> Yeah, there it is. >> There it is. >> Creator of Diamond State Park. >> Wow. >> By the way, 100% I believe everything you say, but you are just unbelievable. >> Yeah, you understand. >> Um, Rabuli, I have to ask you, you know, how long did you live there before joined? >> 15 years before he came. >> 15 years. in Houston. >> How did you end up there? >> 2005. >> How did you end up there? >> So 17 years. >> When did you move? >> Summer of 22. >> 22. So 17 years before you >> Okay. >> Uh I came uh to run a Kiraov organization. >> Got it. >> Torch. >> Nice. >> And how many Jews lived there back then in 20? >> About 60,000. About 70,000 now. >> No. How many were then in 2005? >> Yeah. He's saying this >> 60,000. So it was a community of 60,000 from Jews. Not from. >> Not from. So how many from Jews lived? >> 150 from Jews then? >> 150. >> 200 families. >> Yeah. And now >> about 700. >> Okay. It's not crazy. It's not huge. >> It's not huge, but it's enormous growth. >> Yeah. It's double. It's more than double. It's really nice, actually. So there's more than one jewel. >> Oh yeah. [laughter] >> And we have 13 kosher restaurants. >> Oh, that's nice. >> We lost two this. >> What's um what's schooling like uh for is there vouchers for children? >> Starting next year. Yeah, really end of 26. >> That's a big deal. I want everyone hearing this to like spread the word. Like whenever I hear of places that have vouchers and are nice communities to live, I always want people to learn about it. You know, people who are starting off like you have opportunities. Take a drive to Mexico, get stuck in Texas, and live your life. It's not a bad idea. >> It's a good life, right? >> I hate that somehow the Jewish uh people just somehow got situated in New York, New Jersey, like in this part of the country. I hate it. I don't know who was responsible to make, you know, that started out here and settled over here, but there's so many better states that are out there and I feel like we're stuck here. We can't go anywhere. Your whole life is here. Like, we can't just pick ourselves up and leave. Like, we built a massive infrastructure already. Like, everything we all know is like right here. >> But how nice would it be if we could live in Texas? How nice would it be if we could live in like, you know, Missouri? Well, not Missouri. It's a cool place. The thing is, there's so many other places. I'm I'm agreeing with you. >> What's stopping you? >> No, not you. He's already too structured right now perhaps especially because work the the biggest challenge in my opinion why it's hard to leave the tri-state area or Chicago or Los Angeles when you're you know is work is you know you need to make a living and it's hard to find a new living that will pay for what your needs are especially when you have kids that have to go to schools and private camps and that's why the first question ask is vouchers so if you find out there's vouchers I always tell young people that are thinking not like what you're saying actually think of going and doing it but one of the challenges is that besides vouchers that I've always heard from people because I I love this conversation is making friends >> won't be a problem in Houston. >> I believe you and I obviously look at the two of you. You guys are you guys you can't move without each other on a Thanksgiving night at midnight. >> It's really a beautiful >> No, I really I like it. I like it. And I I want people to also understand and feel that that that you know you can actually move to another town. The challenges still work though. I don't have a solution for that. >> Do you know how many nursing homes are in Texas? >> Yes. You know that we on a regular night if I go into the fanciest restaurant in town. >> I agree with you. If you want to get healthier, if you want to get into healthcare, you can definitely go to Texas. >> All these see them who are just from the tri city, people who we don't see around our neighborhood, but they're there for business. >> Great point. Any other industries that are strong in Texas that Jews can feel comfortable to go? Also regular real estate. Yep. >> Um what else do we have, Rabbi? >> Tech. Technology. >> Oil and gas. >> Oil and gas. Okay. Good to know. Good to know. >> Guns. [laughter] Lots of guns. >> Do you own guns? >> We own some guns. >> I want to take a step back if you don't mind. Sorry. Did you want to say something? >> No, I was I wanted to get back to the fact that he was in Saudi Arabia like what the heck was he doing? >> I know, but it's probably where you're going. So, go ahead. >> Yeah. No, it's going to to the place of Let's rewind a little bit. >> Let's rewind. Let's rewind. Who are you? How does a person like you grow up to wanting to go to Mexico and be comfortable in Texas and got lucky to marry a woman that will go on this journey with you and find diamonds? And it's very interesting like where'd you meet her? I'm I'm so curious about your just where where were you born? >> I was born in Brooklyn. >> Okay. >> Bor Park, Flatbush. >> My parents lived in Bor Park at the time. My father is from Canada. So, I grew up in in Toronto because when I was almost 3 years old, my parents moved there. My father got a really good job there and his family's from there, so they moved there. >> And then when I was 16, I was sent to Yeshiva and Lakewood. 17 got kicked out of Yeshiva and Lakewood. 18 my father sent me to Yeshiva in Israel. >> I'm sorry. What'd you get kicked out for? I have to ask. Oh, guess you went to shoot pool. >> No. >> Was there something specific that happened or was like a cultivation culmination of a lot of things? >> You were working out. >> No. >> No. No. You went to a movie theater. >> No way. >> Are we way off? >> I'm not such a Russia. [laughter] >> Was it something like minute? Something like >> I had a phone with talk and text. >> Oh my gosh. >> I was a real bad boy. >> Wow. And they caught me with the phone and they kicked me out for two weeks and they and then after two weeks I was taken back in. On the first day back they found the phone again. >> Why do you need that phone so badly? >> Because I was like I was like I'm probably one of the first 10 from Jews on Twitter. >> Wow. [laughter] I was like I I joined Twitter to follow Lepa Schmeltzer in I think 15 or 16 years ago and and I needed the phone just in case he's going to like you know drop an update [laughter] >> a new song a new voice. >> Wait a second. It was a smartphone. >> It was a Palm Centro. >> There was TW How many years ago was this? >> There was no Twitter app on the phone. Maybe I don't even know if the Twitter app exist. I guess it did. It was It was Twitter through text. You remember this text hello to 4044? >> You don't know this. Twitter started as a text platform. Yeah. >> Did it? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. How many uh years ago is this? What you were talking about? >> I was kicked out of yeshiva. I Well, I was 17 and my bar mitzvah was in 2006. So, this is probably 2010 or something. Yeah, 2010. >> Can you make it easier for me? How old are you? >> I'm 32. >> Thank you. By the way, I wasn't going to ask, but I was trying to like [laughter] I was trying to do the numbers in my head and it wasn't working. >> You know, you can get away, by the way, with looking younger or older. >> You could be [clears throat] 25, you could be 40. Like, I wouldn't be surprised by either answer. >> I got card of Shabas last week in Texas and I could not buy wine for Chabas. [laughter] >> You don't have a lot of facial hair >> and I did not have my license on me. >> Yeah. So, you could look, you know, you could get away with being very young. >> I'll take it as a compliment. >> Yes, it is. It is. It is. Looking [clears throat] young is always a compliment. >> Yes. Unless you're trying to get people to take you seriously and and you need like a degree of age to be taken seriously and then like, "Oh, you're just a kid." But it's fine. >> You have that issue potentially. >> It hasn't come up, but I could see hypothetically why why like someone who takes themsel very seriously wouldn't take me seriously, which is totally fine. That's the way God God made me like this is my journey. >> So, I'm I'm um >> I'm curious to take it a little slower because I enjoy this process. I'm sorry if you don't mind. I know it. Right. So, so you get kicked out of yeshiva, >> you're on the phone, you're getting busy on Twitter for for Lipa Schmelzer updates >> and you're getting to know what's going on in the world in the outside and like you're absorbing it all, I guess, is what you're up to. So, you get what are you doing when you get kicked out? 17 that age alone in Lakewood. >> Yeah. And it was especially difficult because I didn't live in Lakewood. >> So, my parents are in Toronto. There's nothing to do in Toronto. >> I just kind of I honestly I look back, I was like, I'm not sure what I did. I really don't know. Um, I had a secret iPod touch which was what I would use to connect to the internet in addition to my Palm Centro. I think I just binge watched a lot of movies and TV shows. And >> where were you living? You weren't in the dorm at >> I wasn't in the dorm. So my father had a friend has a friend. the nicest people and like also this they live in Lakewood and this family is like really I don't want to I'm thinking how to say this the right way. They're like really from but not better than thou from just like genuinely >> accepting dig from but also very accepting. And they put me in their son's bedroom like with their son who was my age and like and like he's in one bed >> saying and I'm in the other bed with my iPod watching a movie and >> wow >> and like >> I I don't think I would do the same thing if if I was in his position but that's what they did >> and >> that's very risky from their part. That's what I'm saying. >> Shout out to them. Big shout out to them. >> Special people. >> Very nice. And like I was like smoking on their front porch and like it wasn't a like I'm I'm assuming their neighbors weren't pretty happy about it and it just really special them to take me in and it gave me a place like a home. There was food. >> How long were you there for? >> About 6 months. >> Wow. He obviously trusted your father. He knows him. It's a friend. >> I knew him also. I used to go for meals. >> It's almost like you felt like you're going to uncle whatever. >> I remember like my I got kicked out. I called my father. He's like, "Okay, let me see what I can do." He called his friend. Yeah, come over right now. I walk into the house. He takes me in. He's like, "This is your room. This is your bed. Make yourself comfortable." Said, "This is the fridge. This is the pantry. I'm not showing it to you again. This is your house. Whatever is here is yours." >> Supportive. >> Yeah. >> Nonjudgmental. >> Are you still in touch with these people? Like, do you >> Unfortunately, not. But, but my sister got married two weeks ago and he came to the wedding in Toronto and I recyc him again. >> Yeah. And I and I I went over like one of the most special parts of the wedding for me was just sitting down with this person and telling him like, "You have no idea what you did for me back then." Like giving me a place really was uh very >> Wi-Fi code. >> He didn't have Wi-Fi. [laughter] >> So what' you do? >> He still doesn't >> Oh, we There was like a a spot in Lakewood. Okay. So you'd have to go to the public library, which is on Clifton Avenue, and stand outside and you know, like it it's so shameful cuz you're standing there with your hoodie. You don't want to get recognized, but everyone knows what you're doing. Like everyone passing every you know that they know. They know that you know that they know and you're just it was it was terrible. >> But you got to do it. You got to download that movie. >> You got to download that movie. >> Wow. Did you become a fan of any television shows or movies? Cuz we're big movie and TV lovers. >> So yes, but I I don't want to go into that because I don't want to encourage anybody to get into that world. Not that there isn't entertainment value there. I just feel like we can do better things with our time. So if somebody if somebody's there like do your thing no judgment but >> let me ask it this way then if you don't mind. Oh >> sure. >> If an actor or actress was walking by which one will you would say oh I would love to see meet that person that's did that happen to you or >> it hasn't happened but I I would would not mind having with Adam Sandler. >> That's a good one. >> We love Adam Sandler. >> I would love to put the fill in on him. That would be uh that would be cool. >> Um did Jesse Pharaoh get him yet? >> No. No he has not. Someone else did. He once stopped I think he stopped at a fillain stand on on the Hollywood Boulevard. >> Why? How did you get so into filling? But I love that you're doing it. >> So you also do that filling thing where you chase people down to try >> No, I don't I don't chase people down. My thing is is a little different. I reach people through their phones. So something I've I've discovered and Rabbi Walby can also tell you a lot about this is that in the world and in the in the from world in general, there are a lot of people who are wearing the clothing. they're not necessarily there ideologically or they're struggling quietly with with their um with their beliefs and their practice. And there's a lot of people who I know who would like to put on film every day. It's just not something that happens for them first thing in the morning and once they go to work or they get busy with whatever it a lot of times they miss it. So I make a point every day if I remember which I usually do to like sometime an hour or two before sundown to put out a message you know don't forget to put on fill in today and every day I have multiple people sending me pictures of them rapping fillin somewhere in the world. So like yesterday we had one from a guy in Hawaii and the day before was like a guy in the airport in Qatar and we so we post this picture every day. It's like today's strapped photo comes from Hawaii. Thank you so and so for sending it in and don't forget to put on film today. >> Interesting. >> And you have no idea how many people who like look the part. You think they're regular Yeshiva guys are are sending me messages privately telling me you saved me today. I almost I almost missed it. >> Wow. And this is like a chat like a WhatsApp chat? >> It's on my status. >> Oh, so people see it from your status? >> Yeah. >> So you post in your status a picture of somebody else that puts Fillain on like something I guess unique like you wouldn't think they' put Fillain on. >> It's not It's usually not faces. usually just like an arm at a landmark or >> it's honestly it's a very nice reminder and it works. It worked for me already in the past and it's like oh my gosh wow and uh not since I've been at Oshlamo though I have to shout out to Oshlamo. I've been there for three weeks. Are >> you an Oslo guy? >> I became an Oshlamo guy and the most welcoming shul in the world for me at least in my experience. >> Have you experienced the hal yet? >> Yeah I've experienced the hal I've experienced. experienced the but I also experienced not going there and I experienced traveling while I wasn't there. I experienced missing what it offers but also connecting without it which is what it's helped me in my life. But >> I'm so honest thanks giving I'm so thankful for this podcast that I get to learn something about Michael because I wouldn't know otherwise that you're going to for the last three weeks and it's becoming a thing for you. Had no idea. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Uh that's great. I'm so happy for you. >> Yeah. It's awesome. I love it. It's beautiful. I could talk about it all day but again it's not about me right now but the tin thing that you do is awesome. I love it. And um Michael Rapidport also got involved in the Tillin chat with Yasu Faroh, which is so cool. >> He's sending Tillin pictures from from Kyifa. Where was he? Not Kyifa, but he was in Herzel, I think it was. I I saw the background of it. >> I sent him a message and I'm like, come on our podcast. >> Yeah. Mother Marina. Exactly. It's unbelievable. It's just inspires others. You see it and you're like, okay, you know what? Yeah. And uh it's pretty cool. But how did you get into it though? What happened that you got? Oh, so there's a story. About 2 months after uh October 7th, I had just come back from Israel and I was filming some content uh post whatever happened there. And when I was in Israel, I had some merch made. I basically took Do you know what the fist of resistance is? >> I I've seen you I know I know your picture is I've seen your tone thing. Yes. >> So there's like this fist that's been used by like the communists and the socialists and I think there was some guy that was involved in some French revolution or something. And I basically wrapped the fist in fillain. And to me it symbolized like the struggle of of our people in today's day and age when there's so much anti-semitism and hatred towards us. And we're expected to or expected or you know a lot of us look outwardly Jewish and walking in the street looking like a Jew can uh be uncomfortable at best and sometimes dangerous at worst. So, I basically created this image and I wanted people to I wanted to make some merch to inspire people to be more proud of their Judaism. And I was wearing this uh sweatshirt with this logo on it. I was flying to Florida for an event. I took a selfie of myself. In hindsight, it was a little bit like the the wording I used kind of cheesy, but I made a I wrote a tweet or what do you call it now? An X like [laughter] >> Yeah. And I said something like, "I'm trying to look as Jewish as possible on my flight today. No anti-semit is going to make me hide my Jewish pride." It's a picture of me with this uh with the shirt I'm wearing. And in like in less than 2 minutes that had 100,000 views and some reason all the Nick Fuentes type people jumped on the post and it ended up getting 14 million views and the the nastiest, most disgusting, hateful comments you'd ever seen in your life. Like the one I'm pretty good with comments, by the way. I get a lot of hate and I usually just slides right off me. There was one comment that really made an impression on me. Someone wrote, >> "I wish the Holocaust had happened." >> That's a double whammy, right? Cuz a Yeah. First denying it. >> He's denying it happened and saying, >> if you really think it did happen, I wish. [laughter] >> Yeah. So, >> it's a lot of hate. And when I saw that, I was like, you know what? I'm going to double down. We don't run away from this kind of thing. we'd go further into it. So I started posting pictures of myself wearing fillin every day and people started telling me, you know, it reminds me to put on fill and I forgot or didn't get around to it. And then I as started asking other people to send in pictures of themselves putting on fill and it turned into a thing that we do every day now. >> That's amazing. I I like that background by the way that you're saying because uh I I I'm I'm conflicted. I I really am conflicted when it comes to going to New York City and and being proud to be Jewish and and being nervous and uh but having a movement and saying something like that. I'm of the opinion not to look at comments. I I stopped looking at comments. I don't know how I mean we manage our comments on our channels on YouTube and Instagram, but it's not me. It's personally I'm saying it's not me. I I would never be able to go through hate comments and and and and and take it. It would be it would be like I you're doing God's work is what I'm trying to say. You're doing it. You're out there. You're fighting the fight. You're putting it up with, you know, you're not that 17-year-old kid on Twitter anymore. You're actually making an impact. So, thank you for what you're doing. I wouldn't be able to see all that and like it would it would drive me nuts. >> I eat that stuff for breakfast. It fuels me. >> Amazing. Good for you. Then then then why should we be afraid in New York then? >> We shouldn't be afraid. I'm just saying I I have more confidence in the government of Abu Dhabi that they Okay. >> will punish somebody who messes with me >> over the no cash bail system we have in New York. >> Okay. Cool. Cool uh concept that you're saying. Very interesting. >> But at the end of the day, going into New York right now, are we are we supposed to feel afraid or >> No, of course not. >> Not of course not. Right. >> Right. >> I mean, let's put it this way. Realistically speaking, there's no doubt that if you're wearing a yamaka on your head, you're a little more likely to get punched than somebody who's not wearing a yam on their head, but you still shouldn't be afraid, >> right? >> If your whole existence has to be hidden, what kind of existence is that? Like, I think it's worth the risk. Maybe there's a half a percent chance you get punched or someone says something nasty or throws a penny at you or whatever the anti-semits like doing and that's life. But you can't live in hiding. That's that that would be a really terrible way to live. >> Okay, I'm agreeing with you. I just I want to tell you that for the first time when all this is happening and it could be just hearing it from people and just getting nervous from what I'm hearing that I thought should I take off my amaka going into the >> I understand why you're nervous. >> Yeah, because I because I started putting on my yamaka a few years ago everywhere I go. I used to have the notion of I'm going to take it off at a bar or if I go into, you know, a place to, you know, >> um >> but now >> that's a separate issue though. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Taking it off at a bar is not because of safety. Is it? >> Yeah. No, I would I would I would No, I >> You take it off at the bar cuz you're embarrassed. You want to fit in. >> I already I had a story with him. I'm not going to go over it again. I take it off at the bar because I know back then I'm misbehaving. I'm I'm don't want to have my yam. I want to, you know, but now I make a conscious decision to behave because I I have the Yamakan and that's it. And that's my decision. I I rather have it on. It's just that it bothered me that I even thought about taking it off. That's all I'm saying. And I'm happy you're saying this and I want the message to be clear to every Jewish person that visits New York. Be proud, be out there, be aware of the situation, and that's it. >> Yeah, [clears throat] you like look around, make sure you know what's going on, but don't don't hide. Definitely don't. >> Right. And don't have as much confidence, unfortunately, in New York that you would in Abu Dhabi. Good point, by the way. Very good point. >> Yeah. I'm not I don't think for a second that um the entire Arab world is more friendly than New Yorkers, >> but I have more confidence in the government that they will deal seriously with >> That's an interesting point. That's an interesting point. >> Michael, can we get to uh this man here and what he does? >> Yeah, but I want to go back then. Let's go. I agree with you. Then let's go back to 17. I'm sorry. >> I think we haven't scratched the surface yet. >> Okay, good. So, let's keep going. So, we're back at 17. >> We're doing a lot of bantering here, but I I would love to know. I mean, he's This guy's a famous guy sitting over here [laughter] like uh he's been plastered on the army magazine. That's where I saw you. I remembered early on we were talking about uh you mentioned the army. That's when it kind of triggered for me that I remember like you were on the army cover. That's where I think the first time I really saw your face. >> Okay. >> And then I started seeing you everywhere. Then I just started seeing all his but yeah let's uh you know get there. But what were you saying? You want to go a little bit? >> Yeah. No, I know. I know. Yeah. It's I'm curious like if you know uh I I know it could take a long time to get there, but I rather go slowly. I I rather learn about >> Not too slowly, please. [laughter] >> I think it's interesting. I think it's interesting. >> You got kicked out of the stream at 17. Yeah, but you would never have heard of of Twitter and and X and the the phone the first time if I wouldn't have slowed down and said, "Tell me about your 16 and 17year-old self. I like learning these things." And by the way, if the audience disagrees with me, then they could write it. I'll never read it anyways. >> Let's skip ahead to when things got interesting for you. I'm sorry. >> Things have always been interesting. >> Thank you. 161 17. I know my character in front of me. I understand what's happening here. Every day of his life is so unique. The opportunity to come in. That's why we woke everyone up. We got the cavalry. Um, so 17 you got kicked out of school that you're this person took you in. Thank you. Amazing. Right. That's where we're up to. I'm going back to that page. And then thereafter. >> Okay. Then I ended up getting a job um at a electronic store in Bay Ridge. Okay. Which was owned by a bunch of them. >> Did you know what you wanted to do then or you were just getting a job? >> No, I just needed money. >> That's exactly. He's 17 years old. He kicked out his >> I actually did want to be a singer at one point. But [laughter] >> see what just happened? For for many years I said maybe he wanted to be a singer. He said I actually wanted to be a singer. >> Can you sing? Is that something >> I can sing and I've composed over 200 songs. >> Yeah. For many years I thought that was going to be my path. >> Look at that. What's one of your favorite songs that you composed? Did anybody pick it up? >> No. I've kept them to myself. >> Why? >> I I will one day when the time is right. >> Can you give me a one melody of one nice thing that you've done? >> I'd rather not. >> Okay. >> None of your business. >> Oh, you [laughter] can use it. You have one time. He's not going to waste it on this. >> What's the Oh, there's You get one question. >> I forgot to tell you. >> No. Everything's your business. I'm just not [laughter] I'm just not going to sing. I'm not a singer. >> Let a puppy. Perform for us. >> No. No. I'm not looking at the puppy. If he's a musician, he appreciates it. >> There there will come a time when when you'll see it. >> Yeah. There will come a time that he'll do it gladly. >> Okay. >> Yeah. By the way, I'm looking forward to that. Is that like >> I'm also looking forward to it. It would be a childhood dream, too. >> A fiveyear plan. Five year plan. >> Not necessarily. What? Whenever the time is right. when the time comes. >> I'm very into like feeling the the universe's energy. >> Okay. >> And when I feel it, I I'll I'll know. >> Okay. So, it's not really a goal or something. Okay. Anyway, so Okay. Got it. So, back then you're So, you're you're you're writing music. You love music, but you also need a job. So, you go take a job selling electronics. >> I wasn't selling electronics. I was actually a security guard. [laughter] >> No, no, I'm not kidding you. >> Did you get trained? >> No. They basically It's the wildest thing. So, okay. So, >> and he wanted to skip this. [laughter] You understand? >> Okay. So, so basically when Okay. I hope you have a long I hope you have time. >> We have time. We have time. We're trying. >> Not too much time. Not too much. >> He wants to get to the hot tub. >> His shoes are off already. He's trying. >> By the way, maybe we just move the whole thing to the hot tub. >> I am ready. >> Okay. [laughter] So after I left this, I was in this this my father's friend's house for a while and then I got sick of Lakewood cuz everyone else was in yeshiva and like if you're the only guy who's not in yeshiva it's kind of like kind of sucks. So I went to Bar Park and my greatgrandparents lived in Bar Park at the time. My grandfather when I was 12 years old, my great-grandfather walked out on a Friday morning from behind a double parked car. Another car came, hit him. He was killed on the spot and they sent him to be buried in Israel. So my great-grandmother, his wife went for the Shiva to be in Israel when they and they buried him and she had some children living there. She ended up staying there permanently for the rest of her life. So there was this huge house four stories in Borrow Park at 13th and 53rd which is like >> it's like this is it's like Time Square of Borrow Park. Okay. And they had this house and I had once we had once stayed there and they made us a key. So I got my hands on this key and I basically just moved in. >> You're kidding me. >> So I'm 17. I have this whole house to myself. >> Two blocks from Amnes basically. >> Um >> on the corner of Iklers basically. >> Yes. Yes. Two blocks down from >> two blocks down from >> Shmer Chavez Smer on that block. Wow. The best place. >> And Poshkus. [laughter] >> Poshas. There was a Poshkus store. >> 13. >> What? >> Man, I remember my generation. Mrs. Lieberman's Cafe uh up 13th I remember all of Bor Park but anyways go ahead. >> So I had the that was the house and I used to like have friends over and and make parties. That's where like it started costing money. So I had to get a job. So one morning maybe it was the afternoon I was woken up by the sound of my cell phone ringing in I'm in the house and a friend is on the other line. He's like um Schlam are you looking for a job by any chance? I said yeah sure why not. So he says, "My grandfather's opening electronic store in Bay Ridge and they need a security guard. Can you come?" I'm like, "I have no background in security." Like, "Don't worry, you don't need anything. It's just just a buzzer. We're going to give you a buzzer and you're going to decide who who gets to come in, who doesn't get to come in." Like, how much are they paying? 10 bucks an hour. Be there in an hour. So, I just I took a bus down there. They gave me a vest with the logo of the of the store. I don't know if it said security on it or not. And I just I would like stand inside and if somebody came in, I had to profile them and decide whether they should be allowed in the store or not. >> Did you ever stop anybody? >> No. No one came in. [laughter] >> Easy job. >> Yeah. So that went on for a while. >> Keep going. >> And then and then eventually like two like probably three or four weeks later, my father called me and he said, "Uh, you know, I want you to go back to yeshiva." I wasn't really interested. I was I felt like I was done with the system, but he managed to convince me and he they sent me to yeshiva in Israel. I actually really liked it. It was one. It's called >> Aradashadesh. Okay. >> Um it was in Talstone. >> Oh, >> it doesn't exist anymore, but it was a very special place. >> That's how you found out about Telstone, I guess. >> Yeah. It was a really special place and I was there for three years and then I got married. >> Beautiful. In Israel? >> No, I got married in the States. the states >> to a girl from the States. >> A girl from New America, whatever. >> Union City, New Jersey. >> Oh, okay. Cool. Wow. Fantastic. And this was a shock, I'm assuming. >> Very much so. >> Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Very cool. Okay. So, continue. >> So, then um I was very idealistic at the time and I said, "We're going to live in Israel for the rest of our lives." So, we moved to Israel without a plan. >> You basically fell in love with it when you were there in Yeshiva. >> I couldn't I couldn't see myself living anywhere else. It's beautiful. >> We lived in your shell for two years. Got very expensive. So we moved to Tstone which was cheaper. But then like you're not in Shalime anymore. >> And during this time what are you doing? >> So in the beginning I thought I was going to be in Kyle. >> Okay. >> But turns out that's not my thing. I I I love Kylo. I support Kylo, but I I don't belong there. >> Okay. >> I I don't think God wants me there either >> to be honest. No, I'm serious. [laughter] >> Get out of here. I know a lot of Russas that were not going to like what they just heard. >> That's okay. They don't listen to your podcast. [laughter] But are you kidding me? The prophet wants you there. >> No, no, absolutely not. Absolutely. I will go I'll fight to the death on this one. God doesn't want everybody in. >> Okay, I agree with you. I'm just saying that, you know, >> it's You want to hear something crazy? >> Please. >> When I was in yeshiva in Israel, um I have a very hard time with Gumarra till today. My father told me that I should start learning agata which is like the easy readable story parts of the garra. So I started doing that and I got into it and one day I was learning something and was it I think so and the garra talks about a it says that hashem cries for three people he cries for somebody who can learn well but doesn't somebody who can't learn but does and a asken a community activist who is corrupt and the mafaram ask why would God we understand why god would cry for someone who can learn but doesn't and why he would cry for somebody who is corrupt using community funds. What about a person who can't learn but does learn? Why would God cry for someone like that? And the answer is because God feels his pain. And I repeated this to a friend of mine. He said, you know that there's a different answer. A different rabbi says God cries because if you can't learn, what are you doing yeshiva? You should use your talents that God gave you. Didn't didn't want you to be the next uh rabbi. He wants you to be somebody who uses the your, you know, use the strengths that God gave you to make an impact on the world in business or in charity or some someplace else. So, God didn't create you for that. Of course, he wants you to partake in the Torah, but to be learning all day, I think not. >> Makes a lot of sense. >> I I'm I'm listening to what you're saying, I'm not disagreeing with it. Um I I'm just what I'm thinking about when you're saying that is then if you're in Ko and um and you're not becoming someone that making an impact then then what are you doing in Col? >> That's exactly what he's saying. >> See I can't judge for anyone else. I would tell someone like that, take a good look inside your soul and if you have a rabbi who you trust to help you to guide you to make a decision, then say to him, listen, I'm in K and I don't feel like I'm living up to my true potential and should I continue or should I leave? But don't just do it cuz it's the end thing. >> Okay. So, if someone feels their potential is to learn, then that's of course and that's it. Of course. >> Yeah. All right. >> Got it. I'm not going to beat this up even though I'm curious about this topic, but it's another time because >> we're we want to move forward and again I could do a whole podcast on that topic and we'll hopefully we'll have time when the energy in the world allows it. We'll do it another [laughter] time but for now continue Ver. >> So I thought I was going to be in >> look at me speaking of this >> um that did not work out. Um I started looking for like odd jobs just to pay the bills. I was I worked in a bakery for one day until they found out I wasn't Israeli. They had to fire me because I didn't have a work visa. I also got burned that day. Um >> physically burned. >> Yeah. Like I they they like they literally brought me from Kylo to and the next thing I know I'm in an oven. Like >> Right. >> Yeah. >> Um don't ask. I did I did like anything that would pay the bills that wasn't immoral. >> Okay. That's a lot. By the way, >> I I Oh my goodness. >> What pops into your memory? What other What other >> I worked in a restaurant. It was just the worst. They they they told me I was going to be like at the front like taking orders from people. I ended up washing dishes in the back. And then they made me take out the garbage, which I didn't mind. But one night, it's a whole long story, but one night these workers, they were closing up and they said, "Can you just take this bag of chicken wings, chicken wing bones to the dumpster?" I'm like, "Sure." And it was a little odd because it was never my responsibility. Someone else would do that. And they locked up and left me with this bag. And just, you know, dumpsters around the corner. When I picked it up, I realized the bag was torn and that's why no one else wanted to do it. So, they gave it to me and I the place was locked. It's midnight and I just picked it up and all like 4,000 chicken wing bones just fell down the stairs leading up to this restaurant. >> I didn't even have a way to clean it up. >> And I was just like, I'm out. I [laughter] just left the beer. You >> left it. Left it. Walked away. >> You said your moral. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. >> They set me up. >> They set you up. You quit though. You quit your gun. Oh, I came to back to work the next day. >> Oh, you did? Yes. >> So, who cleaned it up? >> I don't know. But when I came back to work, the boss is like, you know, I don't think this is going to I don't think this is going to work. Oh, really? Okay. And that was the end of that. >> Oh, okay. Cuz you got fired then. >> I got fired for for not passing the test with the chicken wings. Yeah. >> Okay. Beautiful. Beautiful. It's experiences that you're going through. By the way, this is the greatest thing that ever happened to me cuz what after that chicken wing thing, I realized that I wasn't meant to work for anybody else. A, and B, I wasn't in stuff that I was passionate about. I was like, I'm never doing that again. I'm not taking odd jobs anymore. I'm going to find my strengths, capitalize on them, and build an empire out of them. >> How? So, tell me what you did. What happened next? >> So, then I started pursuing journalism. >> How did that come to you? From where? >> Finally. >> Okay. [laughter] So, >> okay. It only took us an hour, an hour and a half. Finally. All right. >> I'm sorry. I'm loving every part of you. >> I'm tuning in. I'm tuning in. You have all of my attention. >> I've always been a a big reader. I love reading. And I knew that I'm good at writing. I just No one else knew. And I had to convince people. So, I started like reaching out to different publications and trying to submit my work and nobody gave me the time of day. I even have a somewhere I have to find it, but I have a letter from Ammy rejecting my submission that I wrote for like this is not going to work for us. >> Please find it. >> Please. It'll be lovely for us. >> I'm going to You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to I'm going to I'm going to find it. I'm going to blow it up massively and frame it in my office. >> Please. >> It's like a letter of rejection from the magazine that I've been on the cover of six times now. >> That's great. >> So beautiful. >> So >> So what did you want to start writing about? Like what was your >> I didn't know. I just want I knew I wanted to be writing and talking to people and interviewing people. So I would send them these things like just cold like cold submissions and everyone was telling me no. And then I bumped into Turks at a sima. And >> how many years ago is this? At what point is this? >> This is less than a year after I got married. >> Oh, so this is you're like 21 22 at your time. >> I was 22. >> 22 at the time. Okay. >> So >> this is like 10 years ago. This is 10 years ago. Yeah. >> So, I bumped into Turks and I was like, "Hey, aren't you Turks?" He's like, "Yeah." And he was very nice. He gave me the time of day and I said, "You know, I really want to get into this line of work that you're in. Like, I want to start writing for magazines. Can you get me in?" He's like, "Yeah, I'll make some introductions for you." And um he made an introduction for me to a couple places. One of them was Ammy. And then they started taking me seriously. So, like I would they they weren't asking me to write anything, but it's like they you pitch us an idea and if we like it, we'll we'll we'll greenlight it. So, I would pitch them ideas and most of the ideas they said no to. Like, you know, like I remember one of the ideas is like, "Why don't you give me $600 so I can go to Jordan and I want to go to the caver of Iron A on his yard sites and write an article about it." They're like, "No." And then years later, that happened. >> Yeah. That's a pretty good idea. That that's >> Yeah, it was a great idea. >> That's not something people would read about, you know. Yeah. >> But no one no one I guess at that time no one saw my vision. there's like like it's just like this kid who wants us to pay for his travel. I was like, "No, you don't you don't understand what I'm going to build." But they didn't see it. I saw it. So, I just kept trying. Like every year around the yard site, I would I would call Mrs. Frankfurt or from mommy. He's like, "Hey, you know, it's that time of year again. Should we do it?" And she's like, "No, not this time. Maybe we'll think about it." And then in 2017, so I guess it's just about um two and a half years after I got married. It was literally this time of year. It was end of November. the labavage was taking place and I don't know how but I convinced someone in Kabad to get me a ticket and I went to this thing and I noticed that the all the rabbis were walking around with power banks. I was thinking like can't you just like get off your phone for 3 or 4 hours? Why do you need a power bank? And then I realized that every rabbi is like a rabbi, a therapist, kadisha, suicide helpline, anything that needs to be done in their community, it's all on their phone. So they absolutely need the power banks. Little epiphany that I had and I I wrote a word like a little piece like maybe 150 words. I sent it to Amy. I was like, "How about this? Would you print this little piece?" Like actually it's really cute. We love it. And there boom, they printed it. And once they printed one piece, then they just started coming to me like, "Why don't you do this story?" And that story and started sending things my way. >> So that was your breakthrough story. >> It was like a It was like a footnote at the bottom of an article that someone else wrote about the Kenneth. >> Wow. >> And they spelled my name wrong. [laughter] >> Interesting. That was your first like >> There were other Sorry. There were other articles that you wrote that were not submitted besides the one that they denied? >> No. Yeah. There were some things that I submitted that that they denied. None of those have ever been printed. Right. >> But there were ideas that they didn't greenlight until after that happened. >> Tell me about other ideas that you because you're not just a writer. You're like a walking uh storyteller. Like you're not just writing a story. You're creating the idea, the concept. You're there. You're vis. It's like, you know, I I guess I you know, I'm just comparing it to let's say my life and I'm walking around. I put on something on status. You know, you think of creative, you put it up there, but you're taking it in. You're you're putting it into a beautiful story. You're taking the thoughts and you're putting it out there. So, that happens to you a lot. >> Yeah. >> So, what happened after that? How tell me more stories that happened. Like, what are the stories? >> I So, I I remember after that, I was >> Tell me when you really impressed them or impressed the world. >> I didn't impress them. I So, basically after that one, they're like, they're starting to take me seriously. So, I asked for a meeting and I walk into their boardroom and it's like this big conference table and the publishers there and and all the editors and I said, "Okay, so I have this crazy idea. Okay, so here's what I want to do. I want to travel to let's say 50 countries and we're going to do a story about a kabad in this country and in that country and every week we'll have like a column about kabad in this place because I figured this is a way I could like travel the world and mix it in with Judaism and and it's going to be great." And they're like, "Cool idea." No. It's it's just not going to work. We can't do Kabad every week. You know, we could do Kabad some weeks, but there's so many other groups that that would want to be featured. And it's just logistically it's going to be very hard. And so that was the end of that. But and I ended up getting a column that was a weekly travel column that I did for a bunch of years. So all these ideas were changed a little bit, different iterations, but they ended up working out in the long run. I've seen someone I I don't know if it's on me or someone that does uh traveling when they picked a a city and a town and they highlighted all the things about the town. How is that is that what you guys were doing or is >> it I mean there was there were a few years that I had that Yeah. >> Yeah. Where is the Ammy headquarters? Like who are these people that are making these decisions to green light not to like this sounds like a really big business. This sounds like they're running a big corporation. >> Amy is is a big corporation. >> They're a pretty big Jewish media outlet, right? like they're responsible for a lot of the news that gets put out there and they're a reliable source, right? Like if they post it like you can has credibility. I mean it's a pretty big deal. Is that right? >> I believe so. >> So where are they? Like where's their headquarters? Like where >> Barab Park >> in Bar Park? >> Yeah. Now recently they opened another office in Lakewood cuz a lot of it's interesting but you know New York is kind of like Brooklyn is losing its uh it's not what it used to be. >> No for sure not. It's being taken over by cameras, by banks, by it's not, you know, >> Monti. >> Yeah, the Brooklyn stock is certainly declining. It's, you know, it's not what it once was. >> I last week I said, you know, I was talking to somebody and I said, I think within like 5 years, Lakewood might overtake Brooklyn. And everyone in the room was like, that happened a long time ago. >> Exactly. >> Really? [laughter] >> I knew they're paying you a salary. Like you're literally on working for them full-time. I don't I to be honest, I can't go into specifics about that, but at this point I I do have a full-time thing with them. Yeah. >> So, you have a contract with them, whatever that is, and and you have an arrangement >> and you're dedicating most of your time to work for the army and to find stories >> or your writing time, not write about it. >> The the writing doesn't take so much time. >> I mean, it takes time, but building it out. >> My week is built around what happens in the White House and in Washington, the president. >> Well, we didn't get to that point yet, so we got to rewind then a little bit. So the beginning of your role was to just find different interesting things >> and then you know put it together. >> Anything that you wrote I'm curious about that journey that was that stands out unique controversial something that got you in trouble throughout all those writings. Any any of those type of things happened to you. >> The most memorable piece that you put out that was like interesting. I think the fav my favorite piece I ever wrote um was an interview with a guy named Yoish Krauss who is a quasi member of Nur Carta but he doesn't doesn't go to like he doesn't partner with the Arabs >> he just has an issue ideologically with the state but he would never go with the enemies of the Jewish people so he's like it's an interesting balance and also the craziest thing is that every Shabas he has meeting at Shabas Where does he live? >> Mear. >> He's not the guy with the Palestinian flag, is he? So, there's other people there. >> There are some people there with Palestinian, but this is a guy who like loves every single Jew with his entire heart. Also is ideologically opposed to the current government in the state of Israel, but he pays taxes >> and he's okay living in Israel, obviously. I mean, >> yeah, he never left, >> right? It's interesting. A lot a lot of people all the conflict you could all these people they they they understand that the land was given to us by God. >> No, I get it. I just thought a lot of nut people live here in >> in my >> Yeah, >> there are there. Yeah, there's a bunch. >> I thought that's where most of them lived. I didn't know >> the the noisy ones are in my >> I see. So, >> don't most of the real believe that like have that type of model that that mentality? >> Most the mainstream that's their belief. There shouldn't be an Israeli state. They don't support it. They're not against it. They're not going to vehemently go and protest and side with the Palestinians. They would never do that. But >> siding with the Palestinians is I don't >> That's what character does. They're very extreme. Crazy in the head. >> I don't know of any uh rabbi who I respect who wants us to side with our enemies. That's that's a crazy thing to do. >> But it sounds like this guy is not siding with the enemies, right? So that's most like this guy. That's what they >> No, no. Most you know how many there there are hundreds of thousands of them who vote volunteer for national service. I was in Benedra this summer um was doing a collab with a restaurant. They asked me to come in. They wanted to show me so I could show my followers whoever were sitting. They accomplish this meal and all of a sudden this huge group of them walk in talking probably 30 or 40 guys and all of them are have these lanyards hanging from their around their necks and the owner of the restaurant nudges me and says do you know what that is? I said looks like a bunch of them. He says you see the lands where do you think those are? I said I don't do they work for some for a company they're all like it's like a corporate lunch and he said no all these guys are in military intelligence. You're talking long pis, long beards, the long suits and is all of them are giving their heart and soul to this country and they eat here for free every day. >> Wow. >> So there's a lot of a lot of big rebas tell their to vote and be there's basically when it comes to Zionism in theish world there's two different uh two different ways to go about it. There are some who believe that the state is no good, don't want to have anything to do with it and they even believe it's against to vote or to be a part of it in any way. And the other I think an even more common uh practice is for people say listen I don't agree with everything the state does but it's here it's not going away and I have an opportunity to influence the way the state goes based on voting and and being involved. So that's the practical approach that most people take. >> Let's go back to your writing. So you're writing and by the way thank you for that story. I love it. I love I wish I could see them and and experience. >> You can I'll tell you where to go. >> Please do. You're saying it's a specific restaurant that they go to every day. Where's the restaurant? >> Um Oh, this this could be an intelligence issue. >> I'll tell you off camera. >> Yeah. Yeah. By the way, if anyone wants to know, they can DM me and I'll I'll go with them. How about that? You know, but but that is a place I would love I would be proud to see. And uh I've heard of this things, but seeing it is next level, which is amazing. Um, someone just told me there's a software engineer that he's hi hiring that lives beyond the gulan. You know what I mean? Like someone like and there's a whole team of them and he's like, "Oh, hold on one second. I might have an intruder. I got to I'll be right back." You know, put in the middle of a Zoom call. Um, so these kind of things, they they're amazing to see. Um, go let's go through the journey. So, what happened after the writing and you're doing the columns and it's going well for you and you start to get paid, I guess, right? >> Yeah, you get paid, >> right? So, that and that becomes your job. That's >> becomes my job. But even more so, I started doing travel pieces. >> Got it. >> And >> by the way, you've done things on YouTube and stuff that I've seen. Incredible. Nothing to do with any of these things, right? I mean, that's a >> what what did you see on YouTube? >> I've you were in a in an Arab country somewhere and uh you were in a hotel room and you were videoing uh >> so so I'd say a lot or most of those trips were funded by AMI. >> Okay. >> They would send me on a trip to write an article and while I'm there like I may as well take some footage. >> Got it. So you're building your brand so to speak as you're doing your thing >> and als >> Sure. Of course. Of course. >> Yeah. >> That's awesome. So you have experience and all that coming together, right? So you did that in the magazine. In the magazine you did those stories. Then what happened after that? Eventually, I think my my really big break um when it comes to social media and like being on the internet was when I reached out to a YouTube vlogger named Peter Santelo and I invited him to come see the community in Brooklyn. This was in September of 2020. >> This was Williamsburger. >> We did Burough Park, Williamsburg, and Crown Heights in one day. >> Wow. >> And he recorded this video. It got over a million views like in the first 24 hours. And then I spent a couple hours convincing him to come back and we did like a series of 15 videos which now have over 80 million views on YouTube. >> Wow. >> And and Facebook combined. >> What made you think of that? By the way, >> I always my wife tells me like the the most common thing that comes out of my mouth is I have an idea. >> This is like 45 times a day. Most of them I forget about, get lost, I write them down somewhere, nothing happens with them. But there's always ideas. My my my brain is like a like a dryer just always spinning with with stuff and you can't turn it off. It's it's like almost a problem cuz I don't I don't really get any peace of mind. Um so I'm always shooting out DMs or random texts to people. Oh, I just had an idea and I sent this off. Didn't think anything would happen with it. And within a few minutes the guy gets back to me. He's like, yeah, let's let's do it. I he he saw it as the opportunity of a lifetime to get into community. Being honest, I can't imagine if a person like you were saying that it's hard to get a peace of mind and then you're blowing up and it goes even crazier how your life must be now. >> It's hectic. He knows I don't get any peace of mind. >> I mean, you say peace of mind. Are you using those words on purpose or is it uh just coming out of your mouth meaning quiet? Is that what you mean? >> Uh you know, time for yourself. Like what do you actually mean when you say peace of mind? >> I have a turbulent mind. >> Right. I I just I don't there like I could think of maybe three or four instances when the in the last five years when I had a few moments that I my mind was relaxed that it just turned off and I was able to just be 100% in the moment. >> Right. Wow. >> You know they have some drugs for that that I can introduce you [laughter] to. >> I I prefer to stay away. What What would you introduce me to if I was into it? I have to tell you I would 100% recommend to you and this podcast has been changing my life for the better and it's been helping me grow tremendously. Fall Klein >> Phi Klein was on an episode that we had here and she spoke about breathing and I took one of her pieces of advice and I did it and it was very very helpful for me >> after we had her on. >> Yep. >> What's Do we like have [laughter] a relationship at all? >> Told you I don't see it anymore. We're literally like >> we're dividing and conquering. You're living a whole life outside of >> and conquering. [laughter] >> I feel like you're like betraying me like you're >> What's going on over here? >> Anyways, I'm telling this episode. >> How was that? How was that experience? >> It was great. It was great. It's It's another episode. >> I would have I would have done that with you. >> I'm going to talk about it when Ezra Max comes on. That's the person that she recommended. So, when he comes on, I'm going to tell him about the experience cuz he also knows about this world. But I'm recommend you would have done it with me. I would not have done it with you. Not because it's you. I don't like working out with other people. I don't want to do as I did this with other people. So you did this yourself as individual. >> Yeah. Myself. Intimate. A guy. A guy. Intimate. Aid. Shag guy from Monroe who is a superstar. >> Really? >> Yes. Superstar. >> How long was it for? How long did it take to hold? >> It was uh 2hour uh event. >> I think I know who you're talking about. >> Yeah. I don't remember his name. Say it, please. >> I don't know his name. I just know his face. >> Oh, he's a wonderful person. He also does uh consulting for businesses. >> I was in with him. >> Yeah. So, um, what I the reason why I'm saying it, by the way, and again, another podcast for another time and it's a whole other world is the concept of being present and having peace of mind and, you know, and and and being able to internalize what you're going through in life and appreciating the moments. And not saying that you're not appreciating it, you're just recognizing and you're conscious about the fact that your mind is a is spinning. But, but different than most people, your mind's not just spinning. It's spinning with amazing ideas. >> Yeah. and he's a content creator, so he has to have these ideas all the time. He's got to keep think of fresh new things >> that he's going to do. >> People interested by I don't necessarily see it as a problem. >> Yeah. >> It's just it's just my reality. Like I my mind is really busy. >> I'm not saying it's a problem. No, I'm just saying I can't imagine how the dryer is spinning and spinning and spinning. What it's like to be in your shoes right now cuz you have ideas, you execute and you do it and you move forward. No, >> 99% of my ideas go nowhere. >> That's how crazy it is. the 1% is so much that you're doing. That's what's wild about your lifestyle. I've been watching you. You can't hide it. I've been seeing it and it's amazing. So, it's just Yeah. So, not saying it's a negative thing, but it is a positive thing. It's a positive thing to breathe and take it easy. >> I think it's called ADHD. >> That's exactly what it's [clears throat] called. >> Yeah. >> I think some people have more worse than others. What What happens? So, now you are >> you're blowing up. You're blowing up. You have getting, you know, notoriety. People know who you are. Your face is out there. We're not up to the White House yet. We're almost there. So, okay. So, then I decided like I don't want to say I'm going to go all in, but I'm going to invest a lot of time and energy in social media. So, I started um making a lot of YouTube videos. I know you guys commented that I don't have that many, but 128, which for me was was hard. I have over a hundred travel videos from some of the craziest places on earth that are in the bank on my hard drive, never been released because I haven't gotten around to editing them. >> Give me some like where. um from Saudi Arabia, from Afghanistan, from Lebanon was was on my hard drive for like for over seven years until I put out the video. It did very well even seven years later. >> Um >> which one do you feel like you need to get out soon? >> Um I went to prison with Nissan Black in Texas. We visited a p uh prison to there's like a bunch of Jews in this prison. He went to sing for them. We we filmed a vlog and we got special access to like bring cameras into the prison. >> Really? >> I should put that out. That's awesome. What do you typically do when you go to a place like you said Afghanistan before? Like how long are you there for? What what is your agenda? Like what is your what's your steps? What do you do over there? >> So it really depends on on what the goal of the trip is and who the trip is for. Most of these trips were done for Ammy Magazine. So the goal is to have an experience, interact with people, find some Jewish history, interact with some Jews who might still be left there and tell the story very visually. um both like visually descriptive and with nice pictures >> in Ammy magazine and in addition to that I was filming you know why not if I'm here anyway and we can promote the articles by posting on social media and showing little clips and I started putting together vlogs based on my my experiences all around the world and a lot of them have been very very special very meaningful especially in the Arab world like I made a lot of nice connections with people and I before October 7th had considered myself to have a lot of friends there >> you got Tell me what's something that surprised you when you went to visit these countries or something that stands out right now in your head. >> Um I feel that the Jewish people and the Arab people, Muslim people have a lot of things in common specifically challenges for example with the youth. A lot of our youth are not connecting to our heritage and they feel like there's another way and maybe they should be looking outwards and the Arab world is struggling with this as well. And to see it happening and to meet with people who are like outwardly they look like very religious Arabs, but inwardly they're completely secular. It was just very interesting to see >> the commonalities. Yeah. >> Yeah. And I I feel like >> the struggle is universal. It really is. >> Yeah. >> It's it's a I think there's a big struggle in people who want to stay rooted in their past while moving into the future. And what's the right balance of that? >> Yeah. It's funny. We had a pastor on the podcast like four or five podcasts ago. We did. Yeah. >> Pastor Graham, he was appointed by Donald Trump as the uh as the pastor of America. Very interesting guy. >> He actually is part of the White House uh administration. So he has a what was the thing he said? It's called the president. >> The president has a book to fill >> to fill a certain amount of jobs. The plumb book. >> The plumb book or something. You know what I'm talking about? No. >> He mentioned that. Anyway, so he's he had that role. So he actually said that he's seeing that the younger kids in Christianity and their faith where they're actually reconnecting more than than it used to be. And uh like the conservative movement like is growing you know and uh the traditional movement is growing. That's what you know he felt like. I don't know. >> Yeah. I think I think Trump ushered that in >> for sure. He got them much more into politics. got them much more in tune with the world and the country, you know, became more nationalists and became uh more respectful to God and to the faith. He definitely was a big driver for that. >> Charlie Kirk also had a big big impact on Christians in this country. >> Take us there. Take us to how you got involved in this side of the world >> in Washington politics. Yeah. >> What how did you get into the whole world? Is it just Jake saying, "Hey, there's an opening." And >> for years, Jake has been telling me that if he was going to give up his job, he would want me to take it. >> Perfect. Okay. And I kept telling him like, "Not going to happen. Not my thing. >> I I like to travel the world. I like to hang out in the Middle East. This [laughter] just leave me in, you know, in Syria with my people and then you do Washington. Everyone's going to be happy." But he decided to leave. And Ammy was like, you know, he also had gone to Ammy and said, you know, we want like you should you should you should convince me to take this. So, I went there to meet them and they offered it to me and I said, "No, thank you. I appreciate the offer. It's like I I'm honored actually you want to put me there, but I really like what I'm doing." And they said, "You don't have to stop what you're doing, but we want you to add this to your portfolio." So, I'm like that I can do. >> Yeah. >> And then I stopped what I was doing. >> I like doing this full-time. >> Yes. I I I don't travel the world as much now that I'm in Washington every week, but I decided that I have to also do that more. Like I I really I miss traveling all over the world and I'm I'm going to be doing that again. >> So you are in Washington now? Like you go there >> every week? >> Every week? >> Yeah. >> You're in the White House once a week? I >> was there yesterday. >> And you're really? Yeah. >> Oh, wow. So you're like part of the press corp? >> Yeah. And you're asking questions like at the to what's her name? What's the >> I'm trying. It's very hard to get a question. >> Have you gotten a question yet? >> Not from her. No, >> but I got a question from the president. >> Did you? >> I did. >> Is that Is there a clip of that? >> There is. >> What did you ask him? What was the question? >> It was the day after Charlie Kirk was killed. I asked him if he had a favorite memory of Charlie. >> Okay. What did he say? >> Basically that Charlie brought in all the votes and he really liked that. [laughter] >> Now, how does >> What else do you expect Trump to say? I guess who decides who gets to ask a question >> in the press? >> Um, well, in in the press conferences, the press secretary, Caroline Levit, would do that. But if you have an opportunity to meet the president, for example, at an event or if he's getting onto the helicop to to Marine One before flying out or when he comes back from a trip, you can just stand on the lawn and if he if he walks past you, you can ask him a question. >> So, he literally just picks who he wants to, you know. Yeah. But if he doesn't see a familiar face, he doesn't know who you are. He doesn't want to take the risk of you asking a question that he probably he probably won't like and probably won't pick on you. >> But he took the risk with me. >> He took the risk with you. Interesting. So Karen Le never yet asked you for a question. >> I've asked her questions in private like I I've met her, been to her office stuff, but at a press conference. No. >> I I'd like to hear about that if you don't mind because I look at her as also a very powerful person in general. I mean it's like >> I mean she's got the most direct access to the president. The craziest thing about her is I forget the name. I'm sorry. But the one before her, >> Kayie Mcini. >> Yes. >> Amazing. I thought when I was watching her, I was like, "Wow, I've never seen anything like this. I don't think there's anything." And then suddenly someone who came on, I'm like, "Wow." Respect. >> Yeah. You She was really good with the um Kaylee was really good with the with like the facts. >> So like she would just do these mic drop moments and then the you know, you hear the thug life music and the glasses fall down, the the joints in her mouth. >> Yeah. Yeah. Of course. Oh my god. But they're both great by the So tell me about her. Like I'm just curious about, you know, when you're talking to her, you ask her questions that you can cheer, like things that you've wrote about. >> So the way it works is if you have a question, you can go to the press office and submit the question and somebody in the administration is supposed to get back to you. Obviously, they're dealing with a massive uh load of questions. So you're not always going to get a response, but they try. They try their best. And you can also ask for a meeting with anybody in the in the administration. You're not necessarily going to get it, but you can ask. But over the, you know, over the past year, I've met with a bunch of different people and um a lot of them are really nice. >> Who else have you met like one-on-one? Who have you interview? Have you interviewed anybody? >> No. >> A senator or none of that. >> Oh, so sure. I So that's a different part of my job. I hang around in the in the capital. So go like to the House floor, the Senate. >> And you could roam freely over there. like you can knock on people's offices like you know >> anyone can knock the the offices are not in the actual capital building they're in office building surrounding the capital anybody can go you don't have to have any credentials all you have to do is walk through metal detector and you're and you're good you can knock on anybody's office >> to which office where is this building what >> so let's say you go to the Russell Senate office building >> okay >> and senators are usually working there throughout the day >> they're coming in and out of meetings and committees and stuff so if you walk into the office you're going to be met by a receptionist or aids And then within the office there's like an inner office where they get caught in the hallways and that's where that's where all that happens. >> So you can anyone can hang out there but what I'm allowed to do is go into the capital and walk pretty much anywhere and you can interact with them because they're always coming and going from votes and committees and so you know >> what's your favorite room in the White House that you uh >> my favorite room in the White House >> that you appreciate that you have access to that you could see >> the press generally has access to one room which is the press briefing room. That's where um the briefings happen. And then behind the briefing room, there are a bunch of smaller offices where the large networks have like a little office within the White House. So CNN has one and Fox has one and AP has one. And um so the large networks have offices. There's a couple desks like kind of like a co-working space that anybody can work in. There's a little like break room/coff room with a couple vending machines. There's large uh outdoor area you can hang out at. But then when there's special events, which are almost every day there's something going on, they'll give not all members but many members of the press access to a specific event. So let's say if BB's coming to the White House, they'll do a joint press conference in the Easter room. So I was in the room when Trump announced that he was going to take Gaza and own it and do a job with it. It was like a very interesting day to be there. Um the the helicopters coming and going is also a very interesting thing to witness. There's the Rose Garden Club where he Trump likes to play DJ and there's always things happening like you know he put up this presidential wall of fame with all the gold pictures and then with the auto pen. >> The auto pen ultimate troll move by the way. >> That's right there. >> We we have access to some parts of the building but not all of them. So your job is to [clears throat] just be around, be there, and report back to the I mean, write an article about the interesting things that happened. And that's what the reviewers, the readers want to know is your perspective and what's going on in the White House and >> try to interact with with the leaders as much as possible. Um, obviously we understand that you're competing with every other news company in America and a lot of people have been there much longer than you. So, you know, you got to >> I got to tell you, I I I'm being serious when I say this. I could be wrong, but I really believe this. In the firm world, no matter where you are in the world, in the firm communities, I think the ammy has the most clout. I think the ammy is the is the number one source of where you can trust information. It's coming from. Am I wrong on this? >> You're not wrong, but there is a mishbaka also. I'm saying there's two. >> Not more than the mishbuck. >> I don't know. The mishbaka was first, then came ami. So, you have two. >> Mishbaka was first. My understanding is that Ammy sells more copies. >> I would think so. Again, I think they're both headto-head. I don't know. There's no way to chat GPT this, right? So, but they're both out there tremendously and they're both doing these representations. >> But I'll tell you what, they should do they have like a like a digital social media platform, Amy? Like, are they out there? They're not doing a great job with that. >> They Well, that's not their focus. First of all, it's a from magazine. The focus is is creating something that is printable that you read once a week. >> The digital there is a digital version that you can get of Ammy. So, let's say you live in Timbuktu, you can get the ammy and download a digital digital version. >> I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about like a social media presence. But the social media present that they're putting out. >> The social media presence at this time is to let people know the magazine is out. What's in the magazine so they can get the magazine? >> Boring. I'm saying could they do something like they have a platform now? >> They definitely can. We talk about it sometimes. >> Somebody's dropping the ball on this like they're making a decision not to go social decision. >> Why are they making that decision? They got to play in this arena. It's out there. Too bad. The army needs to be out there making sure that the right information is being spread and it's being controlled and someone's got to get ahead of it or someone's going to do it and go rogue and then it's going to be, oh, we should have done it. It's going to be too late. >> You do understand that a large part of the Ammy clientele is not on social media. Doesn't want to have anything to do with social media. Well, let's extend the clientele beyond just those people because there's a lot of people like me and Michael and I would be interested in watching and listening to a reliable source like this and hearing their perspective and their views and getting some analysts on of people you know amongst our like we don't this is probably why Israel by the way has a big problem in the social media presence and we're hated universally unfortunately is because the the wrong messaging is putting out there. we're not doing a great job at portraying ourselves and delivering our message. Like we're not doing a good job at it. >> I would respectively uh have to disagree with you on that one. I think Israel has issues uh with the way it's being portrayed and the way that things went after the war. But Ammy and Israel have it's two completely different things. Ami is a magazine that is that wants to be in your home and sell you a magazine every week. Israel is a country that's fighting for its existence. And Ammy has not invested a ton in social media, although it's something we talk about from time to time. >> Like you have Ben Shapiro, he's got a big platform and he does this, right? But other than Ben Shapiro, like you know, I could list you 30 like, you know, with the Turks, you know, the the other side of Ben Shapiro. I can list you so many of those other channels that are out there that are making waves and that have a big voice that are out. But on our side, how many of that do? I'm going to I'm going to clarify I think what he's saying if you don't mind because I actually agree with something that you're saying >> and uh maybe maybe it's clear to you and and you just don't agree and it's okay. But I think what Oshi's also saying is that if you have a magazine that's putting so much time, attention, money, and effort, and resources into representing the Jewish, you know, people and what what's happening in the world, you almost have an obligation to put yourself out there more because you're the people that are helping us represent who we are as a people. So therefore, you're just hurting us in a way. Not you're hurting us, but meaning you're not really doing us people who are on social media all day a favor by because all the work that you're doing all week is all that's fit to print for Chabas. That's what it is. It's not like you're reporting every day for I'm here live in the White House. That's what you're doing on your status. That's what you're doing personally. That's your brand and it's okay. I think what you're saying is that it's they're missing out on a very important but they have to make a business decision. This is not their clientele. >> Don't defend it first because you you actually articulated it very very well. I feel like you guys are missing an opportunity. Like you're on to something and you you stop. >> Make it closer. Why not make social media because we need more uh we need more voices to be heard. Not just from us, but by the Yes. Even from us for reinforcement like you know guys, we also want to see that stuff. It's inspiring. It's great. It's nice to see you know that you know somebody's representing us well and he's doing a good job and and it gives a lot of you know but even for the other the non-Jews of the world and the people that don't know a whole lot about us, why should they only hear the other side? right? And we seem like we're awful people when there's so much beauty to it and there's so much nice things about our communities. Let's showcase that more. And we need guys like you that are like somewhat of an influencer that you're you're you're bringing in a lot of that that fun factor and you're doing it in in a cool way. You know, guys like you, let's promote this. Let's do more of this. Let's invest in this so we can get a better messaging out there. >> That's what I'm saying. >> I I think I agree with what you're saying. We definitely need more voices and it's something that I've been trying to do on a personal level and I think in many ways I've done with my platform but I don't know that Ammy necessarily sees themselves as having to solve every problem. They they got their magazine locked down. It's the number one bestselling magazine in the room world. They are very happy with it. Everyone on the street loves it. Um they're constantly making news having interviews with the biggest names. We've had Trump on the cover. Trump's children have been on in the magazine. um heads of state from other countries, big people in Israel, the the greatest rabbis that we have today, they're all on AMI. So AM is doing is totally killing it in the magazine department. And when it comes to social media, I don't think they see that as their role, but we definitely do need voices in in more voices in our community. Yeah. >> Right. It's interesting. >> All right, Stephan, you ready to start? Stephan, we're going to Let's get Stefan on the case. Let's start let's start a channel. Let's start some type of, you know, Are you thinking that the only thing There's a lot going on, by the way, on social. I'm not on social media so I don't know but I know I mean personally who and exactly what but I see what you're doing through your status and I see that the promotion of good things that are coming out of a lot of people and uh the world can use more of it >> one big massive very wellknown no not social media influencer that's from and that's that's a Jewish person >> so you said already Ben Shapiro which was a big one >> Ben Shapiro is the biggest one it's the only one and you know what Ben Shapiro has his style and it you know caters towards you know certain demographics and certain but will tell me a little bit more diversified than just Ben Shapiro. >> Ellie Zyler, >> I don't know who that is. >> She's this girl from California who recently I don't know the past couple years became from. She has over 10 million followers on social media and I think on Tik Tok and she like stopped everything, went to seminary for a couple months or for a year and she's a very powerful voice. I haven't met her. I have nothing to do with her but I know that she exists and she's doing wonderful work. Love this. >> Yeah, >> this is what I mean. We if this is exactly what I was saying. 10 million followers, right? >> She has like a huge jewelry company. >> Oh, you know who she is? >> I know who I know who she is. Yeah. She she shared her story on social media going to seminary and like going through her whole journey. At the same time, she also has this huge jewelry company. Yeah. >> That she promotes on social. >> I think she was on a podcast. >> She was on Yakov Linger's inspiration for the >> living. Nice. Yeah. >> Okay. So more people like that. So we could combat what's happening. >> It is interesting though. I'm buying more into what you're saying because imagine if like you know all the people that are like can't go out to social media like I don't know who they are but even ama whatever it is starts blasting all their efforts on social media but it's a challenge because it's >> in a way the the the future is going to be you know ready is here but it's going to get even worse is digital warfare right eventually you're not going to even have to send soldiers into other countries. >> I know but I rather my kids >> cyber warfare right that's coming. It's the wave of the future. So unfortunately there's going to be a whole digital world out there as well and that's going to hurt or help the Jews and we want to preserve what we have, right? We want to stay relevant. So we want to stay ahead of the curb. So this is something where I feel like we're sort of dropping the ball a little bit and we don't like it and it's it's not preferable to do it. We want to get involved in that, but we may have to. We may not have a choice. Wake up. >> It might be too late at some point, God forbid. And if it can help. >> You don't feel like we're dropping the ball? >> Not at all. I I'm very involved in the social media space. I know >> pretty much everyone in social media and the from world um a lot of people are working on a lot of cool projects. I would say the I don't know I don't have exact figures but I can tell you that tens of millions of dollars this this social media economy in the film world is worth tens of millions of dollars. A lot of people are working on a lot of cool things myself included. I have something that I that I think is going to address exactly what you talked about earlier and I don't think we're dropping the ball. I mean, you could share already or it's not you're not ready for it? >> Um, I guess I could share. I mean, I'm I'm working on a podcast that's going to be unlike anything ever that has ever been done in the front world and I recently launched one in Yiddish, but this one is going to be English language. >> Your Yiddish one is called TIF. >> TIF. >> I love it. >> I see I see it on your status. So, I I love the people that you're bringing on. You're filling that gap for people that need more podcasts for Yiddish speaking people. >> Yes, for the It's also in Yiddish. There's nothing else like it. It's like it's a it's a platform where anything goes. >> So, you're going all English now. >> I'm doing I'm going to keep the Yiddish one, but I'm going to start something cuz my my English language audience, which is most of my audience, is complaining like you're putting so much effort into this. >> What are you doing? I love it. >> I don't want to share exactly what I'm doing, but it's going to make a lot of noise. It's going to be >> Oh, I could say none of your business. No, it is your business. Just not >> Is it going to be controversial? >> It's going to be controversial. Yeah. >> You ready for that? >> All my life, baby. So you have uh like you're you're a free agent like you you beat to your own drum like you don't care what you know. >> Does your does your friend will be here know what you're doing? Does >> he know what I'm doing? >> He knows. I see him smiling. >> Will it be like your >> He's very soundly what we go on walks like at 2 in the morning sometimes. >> Really? >> Yeah. And and uh >> Can we go on a walk please and just tell us what's going on? >> You don't like to walk with other people. >> I love walking with other I don't like exercising with other people. Half my conversations are on walks with people. a pacing up and down. Um, you have to tell me a little bit more. I mean, I I love this stuff. I love creativity and and new ventures and entrepreneurship thinking and >> Well, I'll say this, okay? It's going to make a lot of people very um concerned. It's going to make a lot of people think like, what is he doing? It's also going to make anybody with an open mind who's willing to listen to a few minutes of of what is going to be happening on my channels is going to say, "Wow, that that I did not see that coming. That's something unique. We actually haven't had something like this before." I think it's going to be very refreshing, but it's going to make a lot of waves, and I don't think everybody's going to be happy with it. >> I'm excited. Is it a weekly thing you're going to do? >> I'm excited. Like podcasting, >> my goal is for it to be weekly. Okay. Okay. Um, in a very powerful lesson I've learned after my whole in like when after Peter Santella when we could say I quote blew up. Um, I jumped into a lot of things way too fast and then I crashed and burned. So now I'm in this mindset where I know how to build things and it's done in silence and you don't talk about your plans until they've been done. You don't say I'm going to do this. Say I did this. It's so interesting to speak to someone who going through that process and now you're doing it the smart, thought out, methodical way, but you're dropping hints. You're getting people curious, which is a good thing. >> This project is something I've been working on since that house he got me in 2021, March of 2021. That's when the concept was launched. And I was telling people back then, oh, by by April, it's going to be out. It's going to be on YouTube. And it did not happen. >> And I learned my lesson. >> And now I know how to build things slowly. And I'm also so thankful it didn't happen back then. >> So getting a time frame. When do you think it's going to happen by? >> When it's ready. >> It's a regular podcast model. Just you're saying the topics are going to be >> the conversations that are going to be had are going to be newsworthy conversations that are going to make a lot of people uncomfortable, but also is going to open our minds to I think in the in the big picture make us expand beyond ourselves and and make ourselves beautiful. By the way, it doesn't go back to what I mean it doesn't take away from what we were saying earlier. I'm with Oshi on this. I think that you know >> I think that people are comfortable doing what they're doing and they don't want to go too much out of their comfort zone because they don't want to risk things. It's like until competition starts so to speak and then you know it's like someone told me recently that the local supermarket here in Muny used to close 1:00 on Friday. Now they close 10 minutes before Shabas because everyone else closes 10 minutes before Shabas. So like you know >> you got to pick up on it. So, I hope that more and more people uh come to the realization that if you have the resources and you're doing it, put yourself out there more. Take the steps, take the bold steps, create that other competition so that people can wake up. >> Okay. I assume we're wrapping up uh shortly. I want to get one topic in before we wrap up. I just want to get you guys opinion on it because this just happened last night. >> Oh, I'm involved. >> Yeah, both of you. I I want to take a little poll in. I'm sure you know some of the viewers are going to hear this. I want I want to hear from them as well. >> Uh and this happened last night. It was a debate between 10 of us. 10 of us in a room. >> It's unbelievable. By the way, 10 friends hanging out in a regular night. That's all she >> What room is this? >> It's somebody's house. Friend of my house. We're in, you know, >> drinking or we were playing all the all the above. >> Keep going. >> No, I'm going to stop there. >> At one point, we said we we got to order foods. >> Okay. >> So, one guy whips out his phone and places an order on Uber's on Uber Eats. And uh you know, somehow he mentioned, you know, oh, they ask for a tip. Now, I'm not tipping. Why should I tip the driver? It's on Uber. What am I doing that for? No, I'm not tipping. And I'm like, what do you mean you're not tipping? What? Why aren't you tipping? Wh why is this any different than anything else where normally you would tip? Like why what? It's not even like the driver like doesn't know who we are. He's not going to see us. He's dropping off the food. Like what's the point? Why should I tip? And you're like all of a sudden it became a conversation amongst everybody. And half the room agreed and half the room didn't agree. But I vehemently didn't agree. I was mortified. I almost lost a little respect for this person. Like I don't know if I can still be so such good friends with you anymore. Like like I want to understand like you you're not tipping because you think you can get away with it or because you don't think he deserves it. Like what's the reason you're not tipping? And as I'm hearing more the way he I'm understanding from him is he doesn't feel like he deserves it. He doesn't feel like he should get this guy's working for probably $8 an hour, $10 an hour. This guy's hustling. I promise you he's a lot less fortunate than you are. And he's he's going phase dollar. He's going where he is to the store to pick up your hot food and deliver it to you all for like why wouldn't you give him a $3 tip, a $4 tip? Why wouldn't you do when you go to a restaurant, you tip your waiter? Yeah. Because that's you know what's Yeah. I said basically if there's an industry standard to tip, you should tip. And if you don't, you're a bad person. Now, if you can't afford is another story, but just out of principle, you don't tip. I was so angry. I was so angry and like I don't know if I could I like I think of it the same way. I want to hear your thoughts on this. Is he are is he wrong for not tipping? >> I have my instant reaction answer, but I'm curious what you have to say. [laughter] >> Do you have an hour? >> An hour? You touched on so many things. Number one, you're like he's a bad person. Unless he's poor. If he's poor, he's not a bad person. But anyway, let's let's take a step back. Why do we tip people >> when there's an expectation to tip? Why? Why does somebody get a tip? >> Cuz they're not making enough money from what they're doing and part of their income is coming from tips. >> No. If somebody does a good job, they get a tip. Imagine like imagine somebody has a spear. >> What goes on top is the tip of the spear. >> Okay. So, they get some kind of base pay from Uber or for the restaurant they work in. And if they exceed and excel at what they do, then of course be nice. Give them a bonus. >> Yeah. The problem with tipping culture is that today when you order food with one of these food ordering apps, they ask you straight away, do you want to tip before the food comes? Let me Is the driver going to going to spit in my food? Is he going to take a fry out? That's people do that. Drivers are are siphoning off food from from orders. Drivers are nasty. They drop the food. They leave it not under the awning when it's raining. So tipping is a wonderful thing when it's for somebody who needs it or deserves it and they act in accordance with somebody who deserves a tip. But just there's something wrong with society today where you go to you'll go to like SIBO in the airport. Okay, this literally happened to be at Newark airport. You know there there's these stores called SIBO where it's just a big fridge. It's just a big fridge. There's nobody there. >> Nobody there. And there's bananas and snacks and magazines and whatever. And I take a bottle of water and a banana and I go tap my card and it says, "Would you like to leave a tip?" >> Now that's crazy. >> For who? >> Yeah. For who? Yeah. For >> for Mr. Sibo. Absolutely not. That's why I bought the banana from you. So, no, I'm not tipping you. But then there's times when like you go to a fast food place and this is already like going to get controversial, but like somebody packed your burger for you and put it on a tray and then you had to go pick it up yourself from the counter. And when you're paying, they do that casual thing where they flip the thing towards you and they look the other way, but they're kind of like their eyes are like on the screen to see whether you tip or not. What's that all about? Why are we picking up the slack for restaurant owners who don't pay enough? I have no issue if every restaurant I go to raises their prices by 30%. So they can pay their workers, but don't Basically what's going on is restaurants are like, "We're going to be cheap, not pay our workers, and then we're going to guilt the customer into paying the tip cuz we're cheap. I want the worker to get paid, but don't guilt me into it. Take my money by charging me more money. >> Pass the buck on to me." Yeah. >> Yeah. But my issue with this guy, I want to clarify, is that he You're right. It was I don't know why Uber Eats does that. >> That's what my answer was going to be. I love tipping. Why do they make the food has this ridiculous thing? I that's what I was going to say. >> If the person deserves it, they should get a >> tip. But let's just say that let's just say that uh you order the food, you expected it to arrive in a half an hour. It arrived in exactly in half an hour and the driver left it there by the front door and everything, you know, he didn't do anything spectacular. He's not curing uh cancer here. He's delivering your food, but he did exactly what he should be doing. Everything's correct. And then afterwards, it pops up. Do you want to give him a tip? This guy also believes I don't I wouldn't tip He wouldn't give him a tip. He would person No, no thank. That's what bothers me. I want to know if that is okay. Are we okay with this? Or should he have tipped this poor guy $5 for delivering his food? >> You get Go ahead. >> I was going to say I need to hear his version. I don't know why would anyone say, "I'm not tipping a guy." Middle of the night, cold coming out doing his Yeah, it's doing your job, but still, you know, he's not making a lot of money. Of course, you tip him. What's the question? But I want to hear his theory. He must have something. Maybe he was saying that >> that he can get away from the fact that Uber pays a lot and they take half the tips or whatever. >> No, that's not what he was saying. Just simply I don't need to. Why should I pay you? Like why should I pay him for what? What did he do for me? He did his job. That was not what he said. That's what he said. He did his job. I'm like, what do you mean? Everybody else that you tip in the world did their job. That but you still tipped them. Your barber gave you a haircut. You still tip them. >> Do you tip your airline pilot? >> No. There's no expectation in the industry to tip your airline. >> Why not? >> Cuz there's no expectation in the industry. We all know which industries which type of jobs you're supposed to tip. We know. >> Why is that? >> I I want to get to the figure. I'm >> asking a great question. >> Why in certain industries do we guilt people into tipping? And >> social standards became that you have to tip the the guy in Uber, but you don't have to tip. >> You tip a waiter. Uh you tip your steist. >> You tip your your >> steist is a is a waiter on the plane. >> Literally. Why don't you never tip your stewartist? >> I hear. >> By the way, I know people who do that. >> Really? I don't know if they can take money, but you want to want to get a real insider tip. If you fly a lot, buy snacks for your flight crew cuz they have the standard issued snacks from their airline. They never get anything else. So, if you come on the plane and you're like, "Hey, I got these chips. They don't have access to you made their day." >> Great idea. >> What do I What do I need to make their day for? What's that going to serve me? >> It won't. It serves them. [laughter] >> A and B, if you fly a lot and you have a status airline and you're seeing the same flight crews regularly, it's going to serve you as well. >> That happens. Do you see the same like you know? >> Yeah, I see the same people. Yes. Going. Yeah. >> I don't think I've ever recognized one flight crew ever. >> Okay. He's on a plane every week. >> I multiple times a week. I know I know some of them by name. There's a there's a You're not going to believe this. United has a set of twins, identical twins who are stewardesses. They're they they're definitely in their 50s, probably 60s or higher. Brenda and Glenda. I've bumped into them a bunch of times. This cute set of older sisters and they fly everywhere together. They've been together for like decades on the same plane every day. >> We got to have them. >> That's hilarious. >> That's very cool. >> Do you get this worked up about other people not doing things your way in all areas of life or just with tipping? >> It's a great question, by the way, and you only know me for like a couple hours, but I get very passionate about things that I believe in. >> Okay. >> Um I don't get like if I see something that I don't think is right, I feel compelled to say something. I'm not I I can't hold it back and it gets me in trouble a lot. It really does. Like I should mind my own business, but like I just I feel like I should set the world right. Like this is not okay. And I I hate to stand up for what's right, you know? So it really bugged me that this guy just like doesn't want >> What's your ultimate answer? So I'm curious. >> Well, I want to get to the root cause of tipping and try to figure out why someone deserves or doesn't deserve a tip. Why certain industries were >> He's saying just random social standard. That's what you gave the psyche of tipping and why it's okay. Of course you do because is it mainstream to tip your delivery driver? That's what I'm asking. Is it the norm? Right? Like if you had a room of 10 people, would eight out of 10 people tip this delivery driver? Could we all agree that he is outside of what the mainstream would do? >> If the man deserves it, you give him a tip. >> No, he did his job. He picked up your food and delivered it timely, normal. He didn't come in late. That's it. Does he get a tip? >> If you can afford it, sure. Assuming you could afford $3 for all How many people out of 10 people would have pushed the button $3 tip? >> Probably most >> most, right? >> Probably most >> only tipping is only an American thing. If you go to Europe, most of the time, especially in restaurants, when you give a tip, they actually sometimes they look at you like, >> do you know that >> in Japan it's offensive to tip people? If you give a tip in Japan, it's like, how dare you? I gave you this service from my heart and I gave it to you wholeheartedly and now you think you can buy me with a tip. >> Will your friend >> I'm not trying to buy them. I gave you money after the fact. That's not >> Will your friend say thank you to their housekeeper after they paid them? Meaning they worked for me, I paid them. Do I also have to say thank you? It' >> be the nice thing to do. Yes. >> Right. But but I paid them. Like why do I need to say thank you? And I've I've had people actually deal with this like they're like struggling. I paid them like I don't need to owe I don't owe them also a thank you. >> And I I believe you do. And I think the tip is the tip culture is more a thank you than giving them something. It's it's acknowledging their existence and their humanity. And yeah, the guy slept out and did his job. But it's a it's a form of thank you. And it's not like you're giving a lot of money. You're giving $2. Now I know why you hang out with this guy at 2 in the morning. By the way, kudos to you. And I am going to from now on when I pay my housekeeper every week take my time out and say thank you. I've never done it before and I think it's a great idea. I don't I don't ever do it. You pay her. Here's your We leave it on an envelope. It's on the counter. She takes it and she goes stop for two seconds. Say, "Thank you for working so hard this week and keeping our house so clean and so shiny and so nice." >> Can we take it a step further? >> Yes. >> Should we tip our wives for doing the laundry? [laughter] >> They did their job. That's controversial. People, oh, how dare you say it's her job. >> I believe they should be acknowledged. >> I'm a fan. [laughter] >> But how about how about tipping? >> Is this going on your podcast? This conversation is that conversations going to be dish. But it happens to be that I I just last week spoke to a restaurant owner and I said to him, I go to your place like tell me like what am I supposed to do? Like I'm there. It's a fast food. He has a sit-down restaurant next door. I understand that when you when you order at a sit down restaurant, you give a tip. That's obvious. >> But at a takeout, like what am I supposed to do? He says, "Don't tip." But if you Uber and you want to get your food, I recommend that you tip >> because it's an advance, but it's also standard. It's like almost a minute, right, >> of like, you know, it's it's the becomes like a >> By the way, shout out, you know, shout out. >> I was going to say my dad taught me. Shout out to my dad Aba who taught me that when you throw a party, you throw an event, you're spending a lot of money and you know you're going to tip the person at the end after the service, give the person a tip in the beginning. Whatever minimum you think you're going to give them, split that in half. Just [clears throat] give them something. Here's something I just want you to tell you. Thank you for being here tonight. >> Give them a half up front. >> Something up front. It makes the service that much better. >> Romo, it was so nice having you here. I really appreciate Oh, what do your friends call you? >> Schllemi. >> Schlley. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Can I call you Schlimy? Sure. >> Okay. >> You're my friend. >> Thank you, Schlamy. I appreciate it. And Rev Schlamy, because I learned something from you today. Um, I learned what it's like to live your life a little bit. We got a little bit of a glimpse, but I learned also what it's like to be MS, to be truthful, to be honest, because that's who you are. You're looking for truth. It's like almost like every I feel like that's a common denominator where everywhere you go, whether you're in Syria, whether you're in uh Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, New York City, Texas, you seem to be to me to be a person that's searching for always truth and the realness of what's happening around you and I appreciate that very much and I know that everybody's listening also appreciates it. So on behalf of all of us, thank you for all the work that you're doing. Really, it's amazing. It's beautiful. >> Thank you. Words and for for having me. >> I love what you're doing. I love your brand. I love everything you're about you and how you're growing so much. Um, we two questions before you leave is of course, do you have any questions for us? And then we're going to finalize our We're going to finish our podcast with our famous question of who do you think would be a good person on the podcast, but because it's past 1 in the morning. I don't know if we're going to be able to call them. >> I'm I'm sure I have someone I can call. >> Oh, really? Yeah. I like that. Okay. What's your question for us? >> Okay. First question for you. How do you get such great hair? [laughter] First of all, please follow me around more often so you can ask me more of these questions because uh this is great for me. I love it. Um I don't know I I don't know what like good hair. Um I make sure to comb it in the morning. >> But that's it. I I don't touch it beyond that. >> You have a skinare and I eat a lot of a lot of pizza. I don't know. I think I think that might have something to do [laughter] with it. >> That's definitely definitely uh going to help. I think I think in general it's a good advice for life. Like eat a lot of pizza. It's good for your health. >> Love pizza. Any excuse pizza. I mean, I had pizza tonight. >> Nice. >> On Thanksgiving. Can you imagine? >> Was there turkey on the pizza? >> No, no, just just just good oldfashioned cheese pizza. >> I had I had turkey. I had stuffing. I had cranberry sauce. Shout out to people that joined us for dinner. >> And I probably had uh I would say out of 365 days in a year, I probably eat pizza 250 days a year. >> Wow. >> Wow. Yeah. I mean, I don't go a week ever without not eating at least once or twice a week pizza. >> So, one second. Mr. Jewish world needs more voices. When are we getting a from Dave Ram uh Dave Porter style pizza? Go >> to do that. >> What are you waiting for? >> Dave Porner does a good job. I don't need to steal I'm not going to open a competition to a fellow. >> I want you showing up to Mendelson's giving them a 9.9. >> Yeah. The hala question. Can you say that their pizza is bad publicly? >> Oh, I could technically, you know, hurt somebody's business if I give him a 5.8 on the pizza score. You know, it's not >> Here's my I have a I have a solution to that one. I've dealt with this many times in the past. >> If I go to a restaurant and I have a great time, I'll tell people I really had a great time here and you know, highly recommend. If I go to a restaurant and it's no good, I just won't post about it. So, I'll tell you where the good places are, but I'm not going to put anybody down. >> Interesting. Okay. >> So, if anybody goes below like a six, you just >> don't don't post it. But how many Jewish grocery pizza stores are there? like I'll be out of business afterwards. >> No, you won't. Once you get to Israel. >> Oh, Israel is a whole story. Anyway, uh, next question. [laughter] What is one piece of advice you would give to somebody who's in the content content creation world that you've seen uh, brings you success in general in business? That can be applied to the content world. I love how I got the how do you have good hair question and he got the like the intelligent, you know, give me advice in the stat contrast of how you look at the both of us. By the way, I happen to agree with you. I am a, you know, a shallow person by nature and and [laughter] he's he's certainly much more eloquent than I am. So, so it makes sense. But it's funny that you like picked up on this in just two hours. >> He's a smart guy. >> Yeah, I see that. >> I was also going to ask him where he got those boots. [laughter] >> Marshalls, baby. Go ahead, Michael. give you advice. [laughter] >> I'm going to say two things. Uh number one is consistency with whatever it is that you're doing. That's like, you know, I heard this from Yakov Langanger when I first started and I asked him and uh but I don't know if that's the answer that you're looking for or or answering the question that you're asking. And and that's not the answer I really want to give you. The real the real answer that I want to give you is that you and this is something that I learned after eliminating social media from my life. So I'm in a different position than you. So 5 years ago I used to fall asleep with uh it was Facebook and LinkedIn on my nose. Like literally >> it happens to me. [laughter] >> It happens to you. You know exactly what I'm talking about. The beginning of that journey. So >> meaning and you're living in that world and kudos to you for doing this. I'm telling you I the the amount of strength that you have. It's amazing. It's really really amazing. It's inspiring for me and for many others. Um I I learned how to control it and not have it control me. >> And that's something that it took time. But of course, because I eliminated social media, it hap it helped me tremendously. >> But is that something you took from your business life that can translate into your content life? >> Um, no. It's something that I learned from just living life and it's that if you Okay, so here's what happened. I'm just going to be vulnerable with you and tell you uh before the podcast happened um I knew I wanted to promote it and therefore I opened status to the world. It used to be for 17 people which are my family and closest friends or you know it jumped up to 30 people and after years my marketing department is like maybe you should if we're going to do a podcast open it to the world and it would be cool and I'm like oh my gosh cool anyways I went into this world of status and I realized that it was controlling me and what happened was is every time I would go into a restaurant or an event or automatically I was like okay so we're here and it was too much for me so what I did was and I shifted and thank God you know the podcast grew and it allowed me. I had the ability to do this is that I would experience something that I'm experiencing and I would record whatever I want to record, you know, quietly myself and then afterwards I would write the story. So I controlled the environment as opposed to it controlling me. So I walked into a restaurant brand new and I took it all in. I didn't have my camera on. It was just this is the way I do it now. Anywhere I go, anything that I'm experiencing, I saw cats in Manhattan today and I saw them out there playing and I was like, "Wow, this is amazing." And I went to them. I played with the cats for five minutes. I spoke to the guy and say, "If you don't mind, I have the camera. I'm just going to put it back on. You know, I want to put it on. I just to record." And he loved it. And I said, "Let's repeat again. How what are you doing, man? My cat caught 19 rats today on in New York City streets." I'm like, "Wow, that's amazing. And this cat had world record. He's breaking 13 kittens. He just had and he just told it to me already." But the fact is that the audience doesn't know he told it to me. And that's what I think that is helpful in my life that I hope that it would help you in some way. >> Just experiencing things first and then share it later. >> Exactly. >> Nice. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. We're good. Okay. I have so many more questions for you, but we're going to have to wrap it up. My final question is, who would you recommend to sit in your seat on this podcast? >> Let me let me see if I can make a call. >> Oh, you're not even going to tell us who it is first? >> You want me to call the person on here? I definitely want you. I'd love to hear >> usually uh people tell us who it is, who they're calling. >> You're already ready to call. >> Well, I like this. The spontaneity. Yeah, this is great. Yeah, this is even better. The the thrill of who the you know this person is that it's going to it could be anybody. >> Watch. He's watching. >> And now we have to get him on. >> Wy's phone is going to ring. Watch. [laughter] >> Is that what's happening? Oh god. >> Get out of here. Is that true? >> That's 100% true. >> He's in the room. I'll just get up from the chair and you you he can sit down right now. >> Yeah. Yeah. Sure. Sure. >> He's not answering. I don't know why. You live in Texas. >> Hello. Oh, long [laughter] time no speak. >> Yeah, he's here. I absolutely. You should totally have money. This is an incredible man. Um, >> do you come to New York often? >> Yeah, >> I can let you in on a little. He's here till Monday morning. So, if you guys can get him tomorrow or Matzah Chaveis or Sunday night, you have a wedding Sunday night. >> Yeah. >> But if if you're down, get him while he's here. >> Wow. Okay. So, tell us a little bit about him and why you think he would be a good fit. He is a powerhouse of outreach. He has an amazing way of connecting with people and he is like the big him and his wife are like the big brother and big sister to like the whole city of Houston. It's it doesn't really make sense but everything going on the city passes through his house >> and they're very special people. the Askin of Texas. >> I think Askin is like it's almost derogatory at this point. I know I'm going to get flagged for saying that, but like I'm actually agreeing with what you're saying. No, it's meaning people look at it maybe as a >> Askin is like a guy who wants he has four radios on his belt. >> A few of the ask for everybody usually asks are good. >> This is like moving in silence quietly doing what needs to be done. special people. >> By the way, I accept and I love it and I appreciate it. I don't think we'll be able to have it by the Sunday night, but we'll do it next time you're in town. But before I let you go, do you have Jared Kushner in your phone? I'm just curious because I'm trying to get him. >> I do not. >> No. >> What about the press secretary lady? What was her name again? >> I have her in my phone, but I can't share her [laughter] number. >> So, you can't call her, right? >> You have her cell number? >> Not at this hour. >> But you have her cell number. >> I do have her cell number. >> You think she's a person that would come on our podcast? >> I think it's entirely possible. Don't take us in the wrong way. Highly unlikely, right? cuz she's I mean she's not even go like she goes on Lara Trump's show, >> right? >> Very rarely does she do it's a very high pressure >> the highest profile person that you know period >> in the world. >> Yeah, >> that's a great question. Um first of all, by the way, I I don't I don't feel like I I know that many super high-profile people. So the few people that you know >> um I would have to think about that because I don't I'm not sure what kind of high profile you're like you're referring to government referring to >> referring to someone who's making an impact and the world knows who he is like a Ben Shapiro >> he's in my phone >> is great by the he just did a podcast I don't like recycling people from podcast so Mit in a few months from now I'd love to get him but yeah but someone yeah someone that's impactful in the world that's high-profile was your your OG he was the one you got kicked out of yes yes for >> well I didn't get kicked out for him He got me on Twitter. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, you know him? >> I do know him. We traveled to Iraq together. Uh we went for a week uh to He wanted to >> make music. >> Really? >> Inspired by Talmud Bavi. So, he wanted to go to Bavl and And there was no one else. He didn't trust anyone else to take him but me. >> And you did it. >> Yeah. >> And it came out. >> He made a whole album. Yeah. >> Oh, beautiful. Okay. I don't follow his music so much, but he I love some of his songs are my favorite. Mhm. >> So, um, Hidden and America, you know what I'm saying? Like, uh, I know that was done with other people also, >> but would you like to have a guy like Schmatzer on a podcast? What do you think? >> Uh, sure. >> Yeah. He's not thinking high profile like he he wanted a Jared Kushner or a uh, you know, one of the Trumps. >> Yeah. >> Can I share with you one little piece of advice that I've learned? I don't want to say the hard way, but from experience over eight years of interviewing people, I think the best interviews come from the place you'd least expect it. Not the the high-profile people. There's some superhero like superhero of a human sitting somewhere that no one knows who he is and no one will probably ever know. And if you somehow manage to pick that person out of the crowd, they'll probably never agree to come on the podcast. But there are some really highprofile souls running around this world that under the cover of night nobody. >> I love uncovering those and we get them on our podcast by the way. >> Yeah. Sometimes we realize that you know we're talking to someone like they're special. >> Yeah. And just like out of the blue like will surprise us with things and it's amazing. It's amazing. I was just curious who's in your phone like you know if you had a if you were in a situation and you were someone you knew was getting in trouble who would you be calling? That's what I was asking. >> Let's put it this way. I am connected with people who are connected to people in really high places. >> How many calls are you away from Donald Trump realistically? >> Um, one. >> Okay. Okay. >> And multiple people probably >> multiple people who I who I could call who are who have a cell phone number who could call him. Yeah. >> Who would be able to actually call him and get him on the phone and >> people who work for him? >> People work for him. All right. Who will be able to get him within hours? I guess >> I think uh shorter than within hours >> within minutes. Unless there was something massive going on at the time. Yes. >> Wow. Okay. I look forward to hearing your voice more. I look forward to seeing your face more and uh to seeing you impact the world and keep growing with us and we really appreciate you being here. Thank you to all our subscribers. Thank you to of course the Prime Source production team and uh to all of our listeners. We are growing Goshi. It's happening whether you like it or not. >> I'm not paying attention. I'm just [laughter] I'm just doing my thing. It is what it is. >> Okay. Good. Well, thank God we have Stefan and Will and the whole team behind us who does their thing, responding to every comment and being on top of it and sharing it with us. All the love. We really appreciate it. Thank you everybody. That's a wrap. >> That's a wrap. Wow. Wow.